The Near Witch

The Near Witch is a newly reissued edition of V.E. Schwab's debut novel, originally out of print. This deluxe edition includes the in-universe short story "The Ash-Born Boy" and a never-before-seen introduction from the author. In the town of Near, children are told that the Near Witch is only an old story meant to frighten them. The wind at night is lonely and always searching for company. There are no strangers in Near—or so Lexi has always been told. When a mysterious boy who seems to fade like smoke appears outside her home on the moor at night, Lexi realizes at least one of these truths no longer holds. The next night, children begin disappearing from their beds, and suspicion falls on the stranger. As the search intensifies, Lexi becomes determined to uncover the truth about the witch, the wind that speaks through the walls, and the history of the nameless boy. The novel blends elements of fairy tale and love story, described as both entirely original and achingly familiar.