The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks
Fantasy Romance
11/2/2021 by Owl City Press
ARC

Review by Jen

I was so excited to read an ARC of The Witch Collector from new to me author, Charissa Weeks!! The cover is beautiful, the fantasy theme is right up my alley and the story did not disappoint! This is book one in trilogy. And I am now anxiously awaiting books two and three!

The book follows Raina Bloodgood, a witch who can’t speak and uses her own sign language to communicate. Every year, a man called The Witch Collector (his real name is Alexus) rides into Raina’s village to take a witch and bring her back to their ruler, The Frost King. Every year, Raina isn’t chosen. Her sister was chosen several years ago and Raina hasn’t seen her since. 

Raina has built up considerable anger for the Frost King, and misses her sister dearly. She thinks the Frost King is an evil selfish person, and concocts a plan to kill Alexus on Collection day and get the King next. The day arrives and things go horribly wrong. She and Alexus find themselves battling together against a truly sinister dark army that is destroying villages across the countryside. Raina has to pull from her strongest magic to save Alexus, a man she considers to be her enemy. She doesn’t trust him. She’s not sure about his truth or if what he says about The Frost King and her own sister can possibly be correct. It takes a long time to believe him. No insta love or immediate respect.

This was a thoroughly original story. The marketing is spot on- if you like Jennifer L. Armentrout and Sarah J. Maas- this is for you. Both MCs were terrific unique characters. Alexus has a complicated past. The romance is so real, it’s also a very slow, delicious and sexy burn. I enjoyed Raina so much! Without a voice, she was so expressive, and the concept of her having a special sign language that the people most important to her understood, was one of my favorite things. It’s written with dual POV, there is a cliffhanger, next book isn’t out until May. The side characters were also intriguing and I can see a spin-off series in my dreams. I’d love a peek into the Frost King and Raina’s sister’s story. If the author reads this, please make it so. :)

Grade A

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