Archibald Finch and the Lost Witches

Synopsis:

“Archibald is a risk-averse boy with quirks that earn him plenty of eye-rolls, especially from his older sister, Hailee. Things get worse when his parents move the family from London to his grandmother’s creepy manor in the English countryside. Now he has to deal with hairless dolls in the library, weird stone creatures on the roof, and a spooky forest at the edge of the backyard. But these turn out to be the least of Archibald’s problems . . . 

One day, as he’s exploring the cavernous house, he finds a curious globe that whisks him away to a secret world, hidden for 500 years. Archibald finds himself on a thrilling adventure full of medieval magic, mysterious symbols, and the strangest beasts, while Hailee—who witnessed her brother’s disappearance—embarks on a daring quest to find him.”

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Review:

So, I’ll start off by saying that this isn’t something I would normally pick out for myself. I received this from the publisher in exchange for a review. And, I’m so glad I tried it out! I don’t typically say that fantasy is my go-to genre. But, this book combined the mystery of what happens to Archibald in our world with his story. The combination kept me engaged as his sister began to piece together the mystery, while Archibald learns about witches and maradors in Lemurea.

Throughout the story there are illustrations that are almost woven into the text, sometimes spilling onto the next page to really bring both worlds to life. But, I think what I enjoyed the most was to see a boy on an fantastical adventure. I seem to come across a lot more female protagonists in this genre. And at the same time, Archibald hhadave even more heart, courage, and compassion that his female witch counterparts in Lemurea. It’s not always easy to find that combination and it worked so well for this story.

Plus, a huge reveal at the end of the story left me wanting more, but in a good way. I hate reading a series that is still being published, because I don’t want to wait for the next installment. With this story, it definitely left on a huge ending, but it worked perfectly. I’d love to share more, but I definitely don’t want to spoil it for you!

If you’re interested in purchasing Archibald Finch and the Lost Witches by Michel Guyon, please use my affiliate links for Bookshop.org or Amazon.com. When you purchase from either of these links, I will earn a commission as an affiliate.

Verdict:

For anyone looking for a book with surprising twists and turns and engaging characters as they fight mythical beasts to learn the truth, this is the book to hand them.

Need to Know:

Title: Archibald Finch and the Lost Witches
Author: Michel Guyon
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Publication Date: October 19, 2021
Page Number: 352 pgs.

I received a physical copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.