SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
When Paul's sister Julia is possessed by an evil witch, Paul ends up being sent to another world. There he must find and rescue his sister. But before he can do that he has to seek help.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Paul is reluctant to be a hero. He is confused and scared about what happened to his sister and for a long time, only moves forward because he doesn't know what else to do. Eventually he develops into a brave character.
Julia is horrified at the ragwitch taking over her body as well as what she witnesses. However, she is also quite stubborn and gradually develops into a heroine.
The ragwitch is an evil woman who has no sympathy for her victims. Her goal is ultimate power and she doesn't care who she has to kill to get to it.
Lyssa ends up being a mentor and comforter to Julia. She helps her learn to move through the ragwitch's mind.
Quigin is a young man that was told to assist Paul by master Thruan. He also serves Master Caegel. He has the ability to communicate with animals, which comes in handy. His title is an apprentice to “Friends of Beasts”.
Anhyvar is a woman that Julia is sent to find by Lyssa. She can help defeat the ragwitch.
Tanboule is a mentor character. He is rather stubborn and kind of vague. Eventually he directs Paul to what he needs to defeat the ragwitch and how to do so. Also he reveals some of the ragwitch's past.
PACING
The story's structure is set up going back and forth between the two main characters. This helps the story feel faster, the closer we get to the climax. Also, the story jumps right into things, and we get only a few pages before Paul is confronting the ragwitch, herself.
THE BOND OF SIBLINGS
My one issue is the relationship between Julia and Paul. It essentially drives the story. Paul's love for his sister pushes him to rescue her, even though he is scared and has no real confidence in his abilities.
I mentioned how fast the story jumps into the plot, which can be a positive thing. Unfortunately, I never got to understand the closeness and the dynamics of their relationship.
We see that Julia is bold and wants to explore, while Paul is much more hesitant. But that is all we see. Paul actually says later that he is a follower and needs Julia there with him (just in case you missed this in the beginning).
There is maybe one other scene where he misses her and thinks of her while witnessing the caring behavior of others around him. But it's so far and few in between. I would have liked a longer, more drawn out introduction that revealed their relationship. Or some flashbacks. Maybe even Paul explaining an important moment in his and Julia's relationship.
Were they really so close at all? Maybe they weren't and Paul deeply regrets it, and that's what pushed him forward. Or maybe he realizes he was the older one, and the boy, so it was he who should have had the role of the protector (being that he is more wise, stronger physically, and has an obligation to protect the younger, physically weaker, Julia).
Maybe there were issues regarding their parents and they learned to rely on each other, because they were all each other had. Any mention of their relationship would have been greatly appreciated.
THE WORLD OF MEMORIES
Julia spends her entire time in the Ragwitch's mind. There she meets people who have been her victims, as well as explore her past. I think it was important that the beings there were a real threat to Julia, so as to make her journey as dangerous as her brother's.
THE ELEMENTALS-SPOILERS
Paul has to meet the Masters of Air, Water, Fire and Earth. None of them are friendly, straight forward, or happy to help him. He meets the master of air while up in a balloon with Quiglin. He finds Paul amusing so gives him an item. I thought that was kind of silly, but he was only the first one we met.
Then meets the water Lord down in the depth so the ocean, thanks to a water witch that allows him to swim underwater. The journey is long, but he retrieves the item rather easily. It's the journey back that proves more difficult, when sharks show up.
The Fire Queen asks him to dance on fire coals, and he has to trust her to do so. I thought it was kind of silly that thinks he shouldn't say he will do anything for her, then says it anyway. Regardless he shows bravery and does it.
Lastly, he meets the Earth Lady, who oddly enough, gives him the last item after she finishes harvesting potatoes
Honestly, I didn't find the elementals all that interesting or entertaining. I kind of wish there had been more to the tasks that were required.
SIDE CHARACTERS
A weak point is that many of the side characters are not very distinct in personality. None really have a history. The best ones are probably Tanboule, for it's obvious what his role is (as well as his distinct personality). And Lyssa, who is obviously Julia's guide, while being kind and experienced.
Quigin has a distinct personality, being that he is rather energetic, sometimes pouty, whining about his lack of abilities. But he has no history, no family and no explanation to his motivations.
As for Alyene and Rellan they don't really have personalities. Perhaps its unfair, as many characters get such small roles that there is no time to develop them in any meaningful way. Like the waterwitch, who is barely in the story at all.
CREATURES OF THE WORLD
The magical world of the ragwitch is full of strange creatures. Paul meets strange beings called May Dancers, who are covered with leaves. Then he witnesses a huge creature, summoned, called an Ornware. The glazed beings are those that the Ragwitch has killed and then uses for her own purposes, basically zombies. Some animals are used by elementals as guides, like dolphins, while others are threats, like sharks.
THE TRUTH ABOUT ANHYVAR-SPOILERS
Julia is sent to go find a woman called Anhyvar. But she must go alone. Eventually, it is revealed to her by another just who this woman is. Turns out she is the ragwitch, but a younger version of her, before she was corrupted.
JUST LIKE THE RAGWITCH
Julia has to fight the ragwitch's ability to influence her and eventually absorb her. Lyssa helps her at first by creating a twig-maiden that is taken to be Julia so the real Julia is left alone. And by giving her a wand. She tries to act like the ragwitch in order to protect King Mirran. And she is surprised how much she sounds like her, and even feels like her, yelling orders to her slaves.
Eventually she is attacked directly by the witch, and has to fight her off. I think it would have been interesting if this had happened more gradually.
PAUL'S DECISON-SPOILERS
Eventually Paul is forced to make a decision when the meets the Patchwork King. He can only ask for one spell. At first he asks for a way for him and Julia to go home. But then he thinks what Julia would think if they left without helping.
I thought that was interesting, because he felt held accountable by his sister. He then thinks of the other people he would be leaving behind, but only Julia seems like she convicts him. Which makes sense, I suppose, as he didn't get particularly close with any one person. Though I still wish he had.
It is essentially this moment in the story where he fully evolves, consciously making the decision to stay and risk death, rather then go home.
IDEAS-SPOILERS
There are many different aspects of the book that I thought were interesting and original. For instance, Julia gets told that Lyssa cannot promise her life back, only that they could truly die and no longer be attached to the ragwitch. Most childrens' stories never touch on the idea of failure and of accepting death in any meaningful way.
Also, after their adventure is over, both Julia and Paul get the choice of forgetting everything, but decide that they want to remember. I have read stories where all memories, and even all sacrifices were wiped away, completely destroying any meaning from their story.
Julia completes her character arc by taking over the ragwitch and allowing Paul to kill her. And Paul never really knows if Julia will live, because he doesn't ask the Patchwork King. While Julia never knows what Paul's plan is. I wish this had been acknowledged as it would have deepened their characters. Their was either faith in each other, or perhaps sacrifice on both their parts.
CLIMAX
After receiving a weapon, Paul returns to battle, where he faces the ragwitch. With help from Julia and her friends, she is defeated. He and Julia are reunited.
AFTERMATH
I admit to being disappointed with Paul and Julia's reunion. I kind of wanted Julia to step back, maybe even during the battle and be in awe of how much her brother had changed. She does see him earlier and seem proud. But it's all very rushed and vague.
CONCLUSION
The world that Nix creates is detailed and the characters are likable. They both develop from scared kids to brave heroes. And the ragwitch is creepy, merciless and terrifying.
And yet the story has weak points. Mainly the relationship between the two siblings-they spend the entire book apart. And no real relationship is shown before they are separated.
I liked both Tanboule and Lyssa as mentor characters. Unfortunately, all other side characters were rather lacking in personality as well as any real relationship with the main characters.
There were many original ideas that had great potential. Unfortunately we barely skim the surface and I was left feeling disappointed. Still, it's a worthy read if you love fantasy. I give “Ragwitch” three stars.
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