Witch & Wizard (series)

Last updated
Witch & Wizard
Witch and Wizard Cover.jpeg
Cover of first novel

Witch & Wizard
The Gift
The Fire
The Kiss
The Lost
Author James Patterson
Witch & Wizard
Gabrielle Charbonnet
The Gift
Ned Rust
The Fire
Jill Dembowski
The Kiss
Jill Dembowski
The Lost
Emily Raymond
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Publisher Little Brown and Company
Published2009-2014
Media typePrint (hardback, paperback), ebook, audiobook
No. of books5

Witch & Wizard is a series of dystopian fantasy novels written by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet. The first novel in the series, Witch & Wizard, was released in 2009. It was followed by a new book in the series each following year, with the exception of 2012, until the release of the last book in the series, The Lost, in 2014. Two graphic novels set in the series' world were released in 2010 and 2011 through IDW Press.

Contents

Synopsis

Witch & Wizard

The novel follows fifteen-year-old Wisty and her eighteen-year-old brother Whit in a dystopian future where people can be brought up on charges of witchcraft. The teens and their parents are charged with witchcraft despite their claims that magic does not exist. They are taken from their parents when they begin to show magical abilities after receiving a book and drumstick. The children meet The One Who Is The One, the leader of the political party the New Order. The teens are sentenced to be executed once they turn eighteen years of age.

Whit is reunited with his long-lost girlfriend Celia, who reveals that she's a half-light spirit that exists in an alternate dimension called the Shadowland. She teaches the two of them how to travel to and from Shadowland, through which they escape to a haven for persecuted children named Freeland. The siblings choose not to remain in the haven, as they wish to find their parents, and learn of a prophecy where they are Liberators who will bring about an end to the New Order. Wisty and Whit begin to plan to take down the regime and reluctantly accept help from Byron, a former classmate who had heavily taken part in their persecution and had been changed into a weasel by Wisty. The trio eventually return to their hometown, where they discover that the siblings' home has been demolished. There, they discover that their parents can communicate with them through magic. During this process, their seemingly worthless book and drumstick are transformed into a spellbook and a magic wand. Byron is also changed back into a human and charged with looking after the siblings.

The Gift

When Whit and Wisty Allgood were imprisoned by the wicked forces of the totalitarian regime known as the New Order, they were barely able to escape with their lives. Now part of a hidden community of teens like themselves, Whit and Wisty have established themselves as leaders of the Resistance, willing to sacrifice anything to save kidnapped and imprisoned kids.

At the same time, the villainous leader of the New Order is just a breath away from the ability to control the forces of nature and to manipulate his citizens on the most profound level imaginable: through their minds. He needs only one more thing to triumph in his evil quest: the Gifts of Whit and Wisty Allgood. And he will stop at nothing to seize them.

The Fire

The siblings Whit and Wisty Allgood have every reason to want to take down Nick, especially as he has taken everything and everyone from them. The One has continued his oppressive regime, going so far as to enforce strict censorship where any form of creative output, such as music or even one's imagination, is banned. A showdown is imminent between the three, which will decide the fates of their world.

The Kiss

With The One Who Is The One defeated, the siblings find that they face new challenges. Wisty is falling for a mysterious and possibly untrustworthy stranger named Heath, and a new power now poses a threat to their world: a Wizard King that has come from the mountains to wage war.

The Lost

After defeating not only The One Who Is The One but also his father and son, Whit and Wisty have finally started to relax and take on new roles. However, their peace is soon shattered when it becomes evident that a new magical threat is endangering their city, resulting in the city turning against magic and the siblings seriously doubting themselves and each other.

Characters

Bibliography

Novels

  1. Witch & Wizard (December 14, 2009, Little Brown and Company)
  2. The Gift (November 4, 2010, Little Brown and Company)
  3. The Fire (December 5, 2011, Little Brown and Company) [1] [2]
  4. The Kiss (February 4, 2013, Little Brown and Company)
  5. The Lost (December 15, 2014, Arrow)

Graphic novels

  1. Battle for Shadowland (August 26, 2010, IDW Publishing) [3] [4] [5]
  2. Operation Zero (April 12, 2011, IDW Publishing) [6]

Reception

Critical reception for the books was mixed to positive and the first novel in the series received reviews from Publishers Weekly, the Horn Book Guide, and the School Library Journal. [7] A reviewer for Booklist praised the prologue as "enticing" while criticizing the first entry by stating that the "meandering plot seems to make up the rules as it goes along.”. [8] The Guardian reviewed the second novel, The Gift, marking it as a recommended read. [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Sword of Truth</i> Series of 21 epic fantasy novels

The Sword of Truth is a series of 21 sword and sorcery novels and six novellas written by Terry Goodkind. The books follow the protagonists Richard Cypher, Kahlan Amnell, Nicci, Cara, and Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander on their quest to defeat oppressors who seek to control the world and those who wish to unleash evil upon the world of the living. While each novel was written to stand alone, except for the final three that were intended to be a trilogy, they follow a common timeline and are linked by ongoing events that occur throughout the series.

<i>Howls Moving Castle</i> (novel) 1986 fantasy book by Diana Wynne Jones

Howl's Moving Castle is a fantasy novel by British author Diana Wynne Jones, first published in 1986 by Greenwillow Books of New York. It was a runner-up for the annual Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, and won the Phoenix Award twenty years later. It was adapted into an animated film of the same name in 2004, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothy Gale</span> Fictional protagonist in Oz novels

Dorothy Gale is a fictional character created by the American author L. Frank Baum as the protagonist in many of his Oz novels. She first appears in Baum's classic 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reappears in most of its sequels. She is also the main character in various adaptations, notably the 1939 film adaptation of the novel, The Wizard of Oz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wizard of Oz (character)</span> Character from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs is a fictional character in the Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. The character was further popularized by a stage play and several films, including the classic 1939 film and the 2013 prequel adaptation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glinda</span> The Wonderful Wizard of Oz character

Glinda is a fictional character created by L. Frank Baum for his Oz novels. She first appears in Baum's 1900 children's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and is the most powerful sorceress in the Land of Oz, ruler of the Quadling Country South of the Emerald City, and protector of Princess Ozma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Land of Oz</span> Fantasy land created by L. Frank Baum

The Land of Oz is a magical country introduced in the 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edmund Pevensie</span> Fictional character in the Narnia universe.

Edmund Pevensie is a fictional character in C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia series. He is a principal character in three of the seven books, and a lesser character in two others.

The Wicked Witch of the West is a fictional character who appears in the classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), created by American author L. Frank Baum. In Baum's subsequent Oz novels, it is the Nome King who is the principal villain; the Wicked Witch of the West is rarely even referred to again after her death in the first book.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wicked Witch of the East</span> Fictional character

The Wicked Witch of the East is a fictional character created by American author L. Frank Baum. She is a crucial character but appears only briefly in Baum's classic children's series of Oz novels, most notably The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900).

<i>Charmed Life</i> (novel) 1977 fantasy novel by Diana Wynne Jones

Charmed Life is a children's fantasy novel by British author Diana Wynne Jones published by Macmillan Children's Books in 1977. It was the first Chrestomanci book and it remains a recommended introduction to the series. Greenwillow Books published a US edition within the calendar year.

<i>Chernevog</i> 1990 novel by C. J. Cherryh

Chernevog is a fantasy novel by American science fiction and fantasy author C. J. Cherryh. It was first published in September 1990 in the United States in a hardcover edition by Ballantine Books under its Del Rey Books imprint. Chernevog is book two of Cherryh's three-book Russian Stories trilogy set in medieval Russia in forests along the Dnieper River near Kyiv in modern-day Ukraine. The novel draws on Slavic folklore, the title of the novel being a variant name of the "black god" Chernobog, and concerns the fate of a girl who has drowned and become a rusalka. It is also an exploration of magic and the development of a young wizard.

<i>The Wonderful Wizard of Oz</i> (TV series) 1986 TV series

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, known in Japan as Ozu no Mahōtsukai (オズの魔法使い), is a Japanese anime television series adaptation based on four of the original early 20th century Oz books by L. Frank Baum. In Japan, the series aired on TV Tokyo from 1986 to 1987. It consists of 52 episodes, which explain other parts of the Oz stories, including the events that happened after Dorothy returned home.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magician (fantasy)</span> Magicians appearing in fantasy fiction

A magician, also known as an archimage, mage, magus, magic-user, spellcaster, enchanter/enchantress, sorcerer/sorceress, warlock, witch, or wizard, is someone who uses or practices magic derived from supernatural, occult, or arcane sources. Magicians enjoy a rich history in mythology, legends, fiction, and folklore, and are common figures in works of fantasy, such as fantasy literature and role-playing games.

<i>House of Many Ways</i> Book by Diana Wynne Jones

House of Many Ways is a young adult fantasy novel written by Diana Wynne Jones. The story is set in the same world as Howl's Moving Castle and Castle in the Air.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Shoes</span> Magical shoes in L. Frank Baums novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Silver Shoes are the magical shoes that appear in L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as heroine Dorothy Gale's transport home. They are originally owned by the Wicked Witch of the East but passed to Dorothy when her house lands on the Witch. At the end of the story, Dorothy uses the shoes to transport her back to her home in Kansas, but when she arrives at her destination finds the shoes have fallen off en route.

<i>The Frog Princess</i> (novel) 2002 novel by E. D. Baker

The Frog Princess is a novel by E. D. Baker. First published in 2002, the story is a spoof on the German fairy tale "The Frog Prince." The 2009 Disney film The Princess and the Frog is loosely based on this novel.

<i>Half Bad</i> 2014 young adult novel by Sally Green

Half Bad is a 2014 young adult fantasy novel written by English author Sally Green that won the 2015 Waterstones Teen Book Prize and was shortlisted for the 2015 Branford Boase Award.

<i>The Wicked Will Rise</i> 2015 novel by Danielle Paige

The Wicked Will Rise is a young adult novel by Danielle Paige, and the sequel to the 2014 book Dorothy Must Die. It was published by HarperCollins on March 30, 2015. It continues the story of high school girl Amy Gumm in her mission to assassinate Dorothy Gale, who has become twisted and evil.

<i>Half Wild</i> 2015 young adult fantasy novel by Tautis

Half Wild is young adult fantasy novel, and the second book in the Half-Life series by Sally Green. It was published on 24 March 2015 and is the sequel to Half Bad, which was released the previous year. Half Wild is the second book in the trilogy.

Elena and the Secret of Avalor is an American animated musical children's fantasy television movie crossover between Sofia the First and Elena of Avalor and the backdoor pilot of the latter series, while the events of the film take place during the third season of Sofia the First. Jamie Mitchell served as director, Craig Gerber served as screenplay writer, and both served as executive producers.

References

  1. "The Fire (review)". Publishers Weekly.
  2. "Witch & Wizard: The Fire". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  3. "Battle for Shadowland (review)". Publishers Weekly.
  4. "Battle for Shadowland". School Library Journal.
  5. "Battle for Shadowland". Booklist.
  6. "Operation Zero". Booklist.
  7. "Witch & Wizard, reviews". Horn Book Guide, School Library Journal. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  8. Kraus, Daniel. "Witch & Wizard". Booklist. Retrieved Dec 15, 2009.
  9. Starburst (2011-07-18). "Witch and Wizard: The Gift by James Patterson - review". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2019-09-20.