James Patterson's Witch and Wizard: The First is the debut novel in the Witch and Wizard series. Published in 2009, it is a young adult fantasy novel set in a dystopian world where magic is strictly forbidden. The story follows siblings Whit and Wisty Allgood, who discover they have magical abilities and become targets of the totalitarian government known as the New Order. The book begins with Whit and Wisty being torn from their home in the middle of the night and taken into custody by the New Order. They are accused of being a witch and wizard, which is a crime punishable by death. The siblings are thrown into a highly secure prison called the New Order's "re-education" center, where they are subject to brutal treatment and mind control.
Wisty knows that the time has finally come for her to face The One. But her fight and her fire only channel more power to this already invincible being. How can she and Whit possibly prepare for a showdown with the ruthless villain that devastated their world-before he can truly become all-powerful?
In this stunning third installment of the epic, bestselling Witch Wizard series, the stakes have never been higher-and the consequences will change everything. But the growing strength of the siblings magic hasn t been enough to stop The One s evil rampage, and now he s executed the only family they had left.
The siblings are thrown into a highly secure prison called the New Order's "re-education" center, where they are subject to brutal treatment and mind control. As Whit and Wisty adapt to their new reality, they meet other young prisoners who have also been accused of having magical abilities. Together, they form a resistance group called "The New Order", and they work to uncover the truth behind the New Order's rule and their own magical powers.
James Patterson’s Witch & Wizard Novels: STAY AWAY
[wikipedia] James Patterson is a well known author, particularly for his Alex Cross detective series. He has received the Guinness World Record for the first author to sell a million e-books (probably way more now). This is a man who has out sold Stephen King, John Grisham, and Dan Brown COMBINED. Patterson doesn’t need much more of a recommendation than that. Therefore, when I saw the Witch and Wizard series I felt like this was a good investment of my time and would at the very least be passable read.
The Witch and Wizard series falls under the young adult category, where my reading interest usually lies. Having heard about Patterson being such a prominent author, I decided to pick up these books in good faith. Horrible mistake. The plot centers around a brother, Whit, and a sister, Wisty, that have magic powers in a suddenly (with almost no explanation) dystopian universe.
The central theme is that children have all the imagination and that they are the future in a dystopian world. Literally almost all of the adults are useless and/or evil. I could almost hop on board with all of that. The explanation of why this was happening was shoddy at best until book two or three, but if that was my only issue I think I could get over it. Unfortunately, it was not my only issue with the series.
[pinterest] Patterson jumps back and forth in extremely small chapters between the two main characters, which led to discrepancies in the action occurring. Both of them can be a part of the same event and yet one person describe the actions so differently despite experiencing it together that you have to re-read it just to make sure it’s the same scene. Some novelists pull this off wonderfully, but here it seems like a rough draft error that never got resolved.
Then there is the actual descriptive writing of this series. Besides lacking consistency on more than one occasion, the description was much too sparse for my liking for a novel. This noticeable occurred for the first two novels. I don’know if it had anything to do with the sub-authors that helped write the book, but it was bad. After half of the first novel I wanted to put it down, but couldn’t because I have to finish every novel I start. After a while it just became this mildly amusing annoyance. I finally reached the end of book three, considered that a satisfactory ending and ended my self-induced torture.
While the story line had an interesting concept and could be used to raise the self-esteem of children, I think anyone used to reading novels with descriptive events or with a higher standard in mind for what they read will find this series disappointing.
Many reviewers here are dead on (particularly from Goodreads and Amazon). The story line held great potential, but was written poorly. It was reassuring to find other readers thought the same thing I did – that this was not a finished, edited novel. The dialogue between the characters was overly cliche and sometimes horribly predictable. There were even spelling and grammar issues! One review really nails it on the head: “In a trite and oversimplified manner, we learn that our political system crumbled overnight and was replaced by the New Order.”
[comicvine]
Manga Adaption The main characters were a bit confusing, and at one point I thought they were going to be lovers because of the creepy closeness of their relationship. Overall, this is just a bad, not worthwhile series. Maybe the manga adaption would be better, but I’m not sticking around to find out.
Have you read the Witch and Wizard series? Would you recommend it?
Join Whit and Wisty on a magical quest to defeat the villain, once and for all, who has devastated their world.
Throughout the novel, Whit and Wisty face numerous challenges and encounters with the New Order's enforcers, known as the "N.O. guards". They also meet a mysterious and wise character known as "The One Who Is The One", who guides them on their journey. The book is fast-paced and filled with action, suspense, and supernatural elements. It explores themes of freedom, oppression, and the power of friendship and family. Written in short, alternating chapters from Whit and Wisty's perspectives, the narrative keeps readers engaged and invested in the characters' struggles. Witch and Wizard: The First is an exciting introduction to the Witch and Wizard series, setting the stage for further adventures and challenges for the protagonists. With its combination of magic, dystopia, and teenage rebellion, the novel appeals to young adult readers who enjoy fantasy and adventure stories with a hint of rebellion against authority..
Reviews for "The Journey of Self-Discovery in Witch and Wizard: The Firs by James Patterson"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Jamespatterson Witch and Wizard: The First". The story felt rushed and the characters lacked depth. The magical elements were interesting, but they were not explored enough to capture my attention. Additionally, the writing style was too simple and predictable, making it hard for me to fully immerse myself in the story. Overall, I was not satisfied with this book and I don't plan on continuing with the series.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - I found "Jamespatterson Witch and Wizard: The First" to be extremely boring and poorly written. The plot was clichéd, and I couldn't empathize with the main characters, who were one-dimensional and lacked development. The dialogue was cheesy and the overall pacing of the story was off. It was a struggle to finish the book, and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating fantasy read.
3. Emily - 3/5 - While "Jamespatterson Witch and Wizard: The First" had an interesting concept, I was left feeling underwhelmed. The plot had potential, but it felt rushed and lacked proper execution. The character relationships and dynamics also felt forced and unrealistic, making it hard for me to invest in the story. However, I did appreciate the imaginative world-building and some of the action sequences. Overall, it was an okay read, but not something that I would highly recommend.