Release: June 9th 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers
Source: Amazon
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N
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“Worthy of every magical ounce.” – Kirkus, starred review
On Emblem Island all are born knowing their fate. Their lifelines show the course of their life and an emblem dictates how they will spend it.
Twelve-year-old Tor Luna was born with a leadership emblem, just like his mother. But he hates his mark and is determined to choose a different path for himself. So, on the annual New Year’s Eve celebration, where Emblemites throw their wishes into a bonfire in the hopes of having them granted, Tor wishes for a different power.
The next morning Tor wakes up to discover a new marking on his skin…the symbol of a curse that has shortened his lifeline, giving him only a week before an untimely death. There is only one way to break the curse, and it requires a trip to the notorious Night Witch.
With only his village’s terrifying, ancient stories as a guide, and his two friends Engle and Melda by his side, Tor must travel across unpredictable Emblem Island, filled with wicked creatures he only knows through myths, in a race against his dwindling lifeline.
About the Author:
Alex Aster is the award-winning author of the Emblem Island series, the Lightlark series, and a graphic novel series.She recently graduated summa cum laude from UPenn, where I studied English. Also, she is a digital creator with over 80 million views on my videos, and with feature on NBC News, Bustle, and Teen Vogue.
Her debut Emblem Island: Curse of the Night Witch received starred reviews from Kirkus & Publishers Weekly, was on Good Morning America, was named a “Most-Anticipated Book of 2020” by Seventeen Magazine, was named one of the 20 Best Books of the Year So Far by Amazon, and was selected to be Barnes and Noble’s Book of the Month.
She lives in New York. Explore the world of Emblem Island at www.asterverse.com.
Curse of the Night Witch Review:
Snow beasts, trolls, and witches, oh my! The Curse of the Night Witch did not disappoint!
Firstly, I commend the author for writing such an exciting middle-grade fantasy novel. I cannot believe it is the author’s debut novel because she delivered it flawlessly. I loved the concept of the story about Emblems, markings, symbols, lifelines, and curses. The way the author constructed the world is also very innovative. We see different sides of Emblem Island, from the mountains to the Troll Tunnels and the rain forests.
Moreover, I adored the concept of a story within a story. Some of my favorite ones were The Weeping Woman, the history of Estrelle, and the Cave of Cosas. The author weaves the main story with these standalone tales so nicely, and I loved how the three characters used their knowledge to go about their quest.
The author also wrote the emotions of the characters nicely. In the beginning, you see that Tor and Melda don’t get along with each other. However, as the story progresses, you notice the bond they form. I loved the bond that Tor, Engle, and Melda share as they go on their journey to see the Night Witch. Frankly, I thought Tor was great in the lead with the various emotions he goes through. Some passages in the story touched me, like when Tor realizes he had never known hunger or struggle and realizes how lucky he is in some ways. I loved how the author matured him in the tale. Similarly, Engle and Melda are charming. The story also ends in a cliffhanger that makes you want to read the next book.
Overall, “Curse of the Night Witch” is a lovely start to the Emblem Island series, and I look forward to reading the continuation.
