Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I was especially interested in checking out this book after seeing it unfairly trashed on Goodreads, mostly by people who haven't read it. Are there racist themes in this book? Yes. But people are acting like this book is a hate crime, and they're completely missing the point. Fiction is supposed to make you uncomfortable at times, and your characters need room to grow. The story revolves around a naive (but flawed) Elloren, whose harsh opinions of other races are the product of how she was raised. As the descendant of a famous witch, 17-year-old Elloren escapes marriage (or rather, the "wandfasting" ritual) and attends university instead, where she encounters many fantastical races. Obvious comparisons will be made to Harry Potter, but the world in "The Black Witch" felt totally unique to me. While it's not quite as addictive as Harry Potter, I thought it was imaginative and thrilling. Harry Potter was not without its share of prejudice either. Had it been published on 2017, would readers be offended by "mudblood?" One of the complaints about this book was the use of the word "half-breed" to describe certain races. I'm a mixed race reader, but I saw no reason to be offended. It was just the harsh reality of Elloren's world. All in all, I thought it was an enjoyable magical adventure. While it's not without its flaws, if you keep an open mind, the dialogue and world-building really pull you in. I look forward to reading the author's next work.