SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
Arriman is a successful evil wizard. But he's tired of waiting for a powerful one to come and replace him so he can retire. Not trusting the prophecy that said one would come, he instead sets up a contest to get a wife. Then, he hopes to have an heir. But he has his own doubts. Does he really want to marry a witch?
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Arriman is cartoonlike, but actually rather funny. He is dramatic and anything but confident about marriage.
Belladonna is the youngest of the witches and she is also a white witch. She is ashamed of it and is treated like an outcast by most witches.
Sir Simon is a ghost and also Arriman's best friend. He killed all seven of his wives.
Madame Olympia is a powerful and mysterious witch that isn't from the area.
Terrence is a young orphan boy, His only friend is his pet worm, Rover.
Mr. Leadbetter is Arriman's butler and friend. He becomes friends with Belladonna and Terence.
PACING
The pacing is slower but its not an action book. It's mostly comedy with some mystery.
STRUCTURE
The first part of the story introduces the main characters. The main part is where each witch gets to compete in the contest. They each have their own chapter. The climax involves truths being revealed and happily ever after.
HUMOR
Arriman can be funny, and Mr. Leadbetter brings some humor himself. The baby kraken that was mentioned was charming. And the idea that a witch would turn herself into a coffee table and not know how to turn back was silly and original.
My only gripe is that the majority of the book is this way. Because of that, it ranks with the lower status on my scale of Ibbotson's books.
HELPING BELLADONNA
After Belladonna meets Terence she somehow manages to do black magic. They both attribute this to one thing, and decide to work together.
CHANGE OF HEART-SPOILERS
Arriman see's Belladonna after she competes and realizes she is a white witch. But he doesn't care, he falls head over heels. I thought this was sweet, to see him act like a love-struck teenager.
CLIMAX
The story may be predictable in how it ends, but that's why it's aimed for children. It's not sophisticated but simple.
CONCLUSION
The story is simple and the characters cartoonish. It's fine for children but a story one would easily grow out of as there is no real depth.
It's good for what it is but I prefer Ibbotson's deeper stories, since I know what she is capable of: Stories that people of all ages can enjoy.
So I am being completely subjective when I give “Which witch?” two and a half stars. But in reality it's probably more like a three star story, a simple and silly tale, perfectly adequate.
