I honestly have NO idea how anyone saw this book as a racist book.
It is indeed about racism in this imaginative society.
It is about an inherently bred racist girl and her racist friends who break norms and see through the hate down to the heart of species different but equally similar to their own.
It is about a girl who after being nasty and horrible realizes she was wrong and dedicates herself to righting those wrongs and helping others in need even when others don't...nay refuse to see beyond their haze of hate and prejudice.
How anyone can view this book as racist Is quite honestly beyond me. Enough of this! Time to get down to the meat of this review!
The black Witch is a narrative which follows sheltered Elloren Gardener, granddaughter and exact younger replica, of the previous and widely famous Black Witch.
Elloren suddenly finds herself in her aunt's care prior to starting at The University with her brothers.
Elloren is beyond excited, however, her Aunt Vivian has other plans. Well... just one, really: That Elloren wand fast (aka magical binding marriage) to the elusive bachelor Lukas Grey who has taken a keen interest in Elloren. The situation essentially plays out like this:
Aunt: "Marry him Elloren!"
Elloren:
So, off to University Elloren goes where she meets a slew of species who hate her and she them in return. Elloren swings back and forth for about 50% of the book being cruel and prejudiced to others and then feeling guilty when she hurts them. However, time comes where she must eventually choose a side. Follow in the footsteps of her grandmother and help subordinate or kill all other species, or follow her own moral compass that is pointing far south of her grandmother's own.
I enjoyed the meld of dyatopian fantasy. We deal with topics of racism, sexism, all the evil isms, basically. At the same time, the author keeps us riveted to these topics by creating an intriciate fantasy and magic system to get sucked into. Honestly, I wish it was a bit less tumultuous. All the new names, creatures, and their separate issues had my head spinning a bit right till the very end. Nevertheless, it was a highly entertaining and touching way talk about very sensitive issues in a way that that the reader is able to practice a suspension of disbelief.
So, let's talk ROMANCE . I know, finally right?
The romance is light and widely not a major driving force in the story. On one hand, Elloren is atteacted to the handsome and attentive Lukas Grey. On the author, there's inhumanely beautiful Yvan (pronounced E-vhan) who hates her but she finds him kind, gentle, and passionate when off his guard. The story actually focuses a lot on Elloren's friend and brothers' forbidden romantic interludes. Don't fear, the author sets it up so Elloren's romance will be more in the forefront in the sequel coming out later this year.
All in all, solid 4 out of 5 stars but rating it a 5 because people are stupid and don't understand the blasphemy that is rating without reading.