The first book in a spellbinding trilogy from Yorkshire based author James Nicol. I was completely bewitched by the story of Arianwyn failing her witch assessment and being sent to Lull.. a sleepy little place that is anything but ordinary. Packed with wonderful characters and world you could easily step into.

Really looking forward to seeing how our children's book group enjoy this read and of course meeting you in May! I have fond memories of the worst witch series from childhood - so I already had high expectations for the book... It certainly did not disappoint! We start of with a struggling witch who is sent to work in a quiet village....expecting disaster to strike... No spoilers here - so you are simply going to have to read it for yourself to see what happens! Great adventure with a potentially sinister twist?

Arianwyn is an apprentice witch and when she fails her witch assessment she is sent to a town which is notoriously quiet, however this is far from the case which she soon realises as she is caught up in magical problems even before she enters the town and more and more strange things occur. I loved Arianwyn she was very relatable with insecurities just like any child who is finding their place in the world and finding out that mistakes can happen and that we learn and grow from them. The story itself was charming, exciting, filled with magic and strange creatures and reminded me a bit of reading Harry Potter. Nichols has created a world with characters that I certainly want to read more about! With lots of mystery and excitement this is a story that you won't want to put down until you have read the last page!

'The Apprentice Witch' has been on my radar for a while but I only wish someone had zapped with a spell orb to make me read it sooner. What a brilliantly entertaining and engrossing children's book this is! Reading this charmed me in that same warm, cosy and exciting feeling that Harry Potter first did. And with Arianwyn with a truly great character to feel for and champion along the way. James Nichol has created a new series brimming with magic and bursting with heart. While most may be familiar - magical training, monsters, darkness and absent parents - a lot  of 'The Apprentice Witch' feels refreshing and electric. To a large extent this is due to Nichol's excellent characterization. Not only is there Arianwyn as a quirky, lovable and vulnerable character to root for, but there is also a well-realized cast of friends, antagonists and doubters who all have their own arcs. I loved the mayor's journey. Such a seemingly minor character is rendered so vividly it makes the rises and falls of the narrative all the more rewarding. The final chapters are addictively good and the ending is one of the most triumphant and uplifting I have read.  ​There are many questions left to be answered for the sequels. Plus a whole wider world to explore. Nichol has created a tantalizing mythology - one which has got me quickly under the spell. Fabulous stuff!

A lovely tale, reminiscent at times of Bedknobs and Broomsticks, set in an alternative version of Britain in WW2, where witches protect the realm. Many of the best witches are away assisting soldiers fighting, so young apprentices are being dispatched to rural outpost to protect these communities. Arianwyn is one such apprentice, and not a very good one at that. She's failed her qualification assessment and is sent to remote Lull in disgrace. But there she learns courage, friendship and discovers more powers within herself than she ever thought possible. There are three books in the series.