This was rather underwhelming, but I suppose that was expected, given I started with Schwab's better and more famous works. Darker shades of Magic was so deliciously complex and layered, that the Near Witch's story fell slightly flat. However, it would be wrong to compare these two. It's an enjoyable read - Schwab always sets the atmosphere, and her language is so fluid that you can roll off her words in a smooth pace. A lot of the book's aspects left me wanting for more details, and some didn't seem very natural with the story's pace. It wasn't very engaging, but it was a light fun read.