Witch World Review

Witch World 
by Christopher Pike
Expected Publication:
From Goodreads:

Witches are real—and each of us may be one—in this all-new paranormal suspense novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christopher Pike.Heading off for a weekend in Las Vegas with her friends, Jessie Ralle has only one worry—how to make it through the road trip in the same car with her Ex, Jimmy Kelter. The guy who broke her heart five months ago when he dumped her for no reason. The guy who’s finally ready to tell her why he did it, because he wants her back.



But what Jessie doesn’t realize is that Jimmy is the least of her problems.

In Las Vegas she meets Russ, a mesmerizing stranger who shows her how to gamble, and who never seems to lose. Curious, Jessie wants to know his secret, and in response, alone in his hotel room, he teaches her a game that opens a door to another reality.

To Witch World.

Suddenly Jessie discovers that she’s stumbled into a world where some people can do the impossible, and others may not even be human. For a time she fears she’s lost her mind. Are there really witches? Is she one of them?

#1 Bestselling author Christopher Pike offers up another classic edge-of-your-seat thrill ride that keeps you guessing right until the last page.

Midnight Thoughts

"What if they torture me? You know, I just graduated high school, I'm not psychologically prepared to have my fingernails slowly ripped from my hands"
     ~Jessie, ARC edition.

~A new Christopher Pike book always feels like a birthday present!  Thank you, Mr. Pike. 

~I've mentioned this a few million times, but I really love Christopher Pike.  So much.  In a way that probably would be a problem for him if he wasn't such a recluse.

~Witch World starts like old school Pike, the main character has a semi-hopeless crush on her ex-boyfriend, her friends are funny and witty.  There's a road trip.  Then come the witches!

From Goodreads

~The witches aren't typical incense burning, spell muttering witches, and they aren't even that close to the witch in Christopher Pike's earlier book Witch.  Witch is just a name those with powers adopted.

~Pike is not afraid to bring up deep issues or complicated science in YA books- part of the reason I respect him so much.  However, because science was my absolute worst subject in school, I don't know if those who actually have science-y knowledge would have a problem with Pike's theories.  But it sounds sufficiently complicated to me. ;)

~Jessie is our main girl, ex-boyfriend Jimmie is the love interest.  Her best friends are Alex, Debbie and Ted.  Debbie and Ted get a bit lost in the book, which took some of the potential fun away.  I really thought Ted was going to have a larger role.  Maybe in the next book!

~Witch world is a parallel world to ours (or vice versa?) and the rules are intriguing, even if they're a bit confusing.  Except: Jessie is Jessica in Witch world, Russ is Russell, Jimmy is James, and so on.  Can you still exist in both worlds if you don't have a nickname? With all the changes P. Diddy has gone through, exactly how many freaking alternate worlds does he exist in?

~This book has some mature themes.  It explores the question of sacrificing the few to benefit the many.  Julius Caesar and President Eisenhower- are they heroes for the lives they saved, or barbarians for the lives they took?  And there's sex and teen pregnancy.  Obviously if you have lots of witch genes you don't just take your sex partner's word for it that they've got the birth control covered. 

~The book is a fast paced read, but there's a lot going on, so you are going to need your thinking cap.  Mine is purple with green paisleys on it.  What does yours look like?

~Favorite characters- Kendor and Al.  I would have no problem with the CW picking this series up and hiring a bunch of hotties to play them.  Although, this could probably fit in with HBO or Showtime, just amp up the sex and curse words.  {side note: does it sometimes feel like everyone on cable series are suffering from some form of Tourettes or is it just me?}

~I hate the names of the opposing forces in Witch world- Tar and Lapras.  Tar is the worst though.  I'm not admitting to being shallow enough to pick sides based on name alone, but Team Lapras does have nicer ring to it then Team Tar.  And the Tar are the good guys... I think...

~While I like the cover, the girls look like they have blonde hair.  Which bothers me, because Jessie has reddish hair. Yes, I realize that the cover is all red and black, but still, it just looks to much like Sita from the Last Vampire books.  Still, I dig the redness. 

~Kendor has some of the best quotes, but here is my favorite:

"You want heroes who only perform noble acts.  But the greatest heroes often make the most bitter decisions."

~If you enjoy The Last Vampire series then no doubt Jessie and gang with satisfy your Pike needs.  Although I will always prefer Pike's earlier books (Weekend, Chainletter, the Final Friends series), he still entertains the hell out of me. 

Witch World gets a Midnight Book Rating of:

**Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through Around the World ARC tours in exchange for my honest review.  All opinion, snark and wit are my own.  The book was, sadly, only mine for a week  before I passed it on to the next blogger.**