Her (adoptive parents) were very violent people who constantly fought one another, hitting one another, and beat Alice just as much. Ages 8 12.Alice Deane was supposedly born into the Deane and Malkin witch clans, her father a Deane, her mother a Malkin. Still, Nicol lays enough groundwork to support future stories. Nicol presents a world filled with magic and strange creatures, but unexplored plotlines such as the ongoing but vaguely described war that has caused a shortage of witches, allowing Arianwyn the opportunity to be reevaluated and underdeveloped characters don't let the book to live up to its full potential. After arriving in Lull, Arianwyn realizes more is afoot: evil spirits from the Great Wood (a 'dangerous and remote' forest filled with ancient spirits) are causing mayhem, a hex infection has taken root in the Great Wood, and a shadowy creature begins terrorizing the town, too. After Arianwyn botches her evaluation, she thinks her dreams of becoming a full-fledged witch and member of the Civil Witchcraft Authority are over, but she's given a second chance: she will continue to be an apprentice witch in the small town of Lull until the time of her reevaluation.

In Nicol's charming debut novel, failed witch Arianwyn Gribble learns of the power that comes with knowing one's self-worth and conquering the darkness within. For a sinister darkness has begun to haunt her spells, and there may be much more at stake than just her pride. With every spirit banished, creature helped, and spell cast, Arianwyn starts to get the hang of being a witch-even if she's only an apprentice.

Strange things are sighted in the woods, a dangerous infestation of hex creeps throughout the town, and a mysterious magical visitor arrives with his eye on her. Declared an apprentice and sent to the town of Lull in disgrace, she may never become a real witch- much to the glee of her arch-rival, Gimma.But remote Lull is not as boring as it seems. 'Will at once open a new and imaginative world and feel like a book you have loved forever.' -Jennifer Nielsen, New York Times bestselling author of The False Prince A special middle grade debut of magic and courage in a world of witches, written with the charm and enchantment of Circus Mirandus and The Apothecary.Arianwyn has flunked her witch's assessment: She's doomed.

The apprentice witch book