Traque blanche
by Sally Green
7.54 / 10 58K ratings
- Language
- French
- Published
- 2014
- Publisher
- MILAN
- Pages
- 382
- ISBN
- 9782745965806
In a modern-day England where White and Black witches live in a tense, warring coexistence with humans, sixteen-year-old Nathan Byrn exists as an anomaly. Born of a White Witch mother and Marcus Edge, the world's most feared Black Witch, Nathan is a "Half Code," viewed with suspicion and fear by both factions. Trapped between worlds that see him as either a threat or a weapon, his very existence challenges the rigid divisions of good and evil.
Monitored and held captive by the Council of White Witches, Nathan endures abuse and isolation as he struggles to understand his own identity and powers. Time is running out; before his seventeenth birthday, he must escape his confinement and find his elusive father to receive three crucial gifts that will unlock his own magic, or face madness and death. His journey is a desperate fight for survival, forcing him to confront who he is meant to be in a world determined to define him.
Monitored and held captive by the Council of White Witches, Nathan endures abuse and isolation as he struggles to understand his own identity and powers. Time is running out; before his seventeenth birthday, he must escape his confinement and find his elusive father to receive three crucial gifts that will unlock his own magic, or face madness and death. His journey is a desperate fight for survival, forcing him to confront who he is meant to be in a world determined to define him.
Original edition
Half BadOriginally published in 2014 English Recorded Books
Other editions (78)
Listen to the summary Narrated summary
You exist in a world cleaved by magic, where White Witches are deemed good and Black Witches are condemned as evil. But you, Nathan Byrn, are neither truly one nor the other. Your mother was a White Witch, your father the most feared and notorious Black Witch of all time, Marcus Edge. This lineage makes you a Half Code, an anomaly, and a constant source of suspicion and fear for the White Witch Council. From birth, you are marked by this duality, your every move scrutinized, your very existence a threat to the established order.
Life with your White Witch family is a precarious balance. While your gentle half-brother, Arran, offers unwavering love, and your sister Deborah some kindness, your eldest half-sister, Jessica, harbors a venomous hatred, blaming you for your mother's death and actively tormenting you with her powers of disguise. You endure endless "Assessments" by the Council, intrusive interrogations designed to determine if you possess the darkness of your father. These constant evaluations, coupled with the ingrained prejudice of your community, forge a deep sense of isolation within you.
As you grow, the burden of your heritage intensifies. You find a fragile solace in Annalise, a White Witch girl who dares to defy her family's strictures to befriend and, eventually, love you. Their clandestine meetings are a rare pocket of warmth in your cold existence, but their forbidden affection only draws more danger. Annalise's brothers brutally punish you for crossing the boundaries of blood and code, leaving you with scars that mirror the emotional ones.
The looming shadow of your seventeenth birthday hangs heavy. It is the day when all witches receive their three gifts from their parent and come into their full powers; without them, you will die. But with your father in hiding and the Council's grip tightening, escape seems impossible. You are eventually taken from your grandmother's care and imprisoned in a cage by a cruel White Witch named Celia, subjected to relentless abuse and isolation. The trick, you learn, is to not mind the pain, to become numb to the indignities, a desperate coping mechanism to survive each day.
Your yearning for freedom and survival fuels a desperate plan: you must escape before your birthday and find your father, Marcus Edge, the only one who can grant you your gifts. The journey is fraught with peril, a brutal education in a world where good and evil are far more complex than you were taught. You discover that those deemed "good" are capable of immense cruelty, and the "evil" might not be as straightforward as they seem.
Along the way, you encounter Gabriel, a Black Witch trapped in a Fain body, who becomes an unexpected ally. He guides you through treacherous landscapes and helps you navigate the hidden world of Black Witches. Your path leads you to Mercury, a powerful and feared Black Witch rumored to consume boys. Her help is your only hope, but it comes at a price that you may not be able to pay. The closer you get to your father, the more you are forced to confront the darkness within yourself and the true nature of your powerful, terrifying heritage.
Life with your White Witch family is a precarious balance. While your gentle half-brother, Arran, offers unwavering love, and your sister Deborah some kindness, your eldest half-sister, Jessica, harbors a venomous hatred, blaming you for your mother's death and actively tormenting you with her powers of disguise. You endure endless "Assessments" by the Council, intrusive interrogations designed to determine if you possess the darkness of your father. These constant evaluations, coupled with the ingrained prejudice of your community, forge a deep sense of isolation within you.
As you grow, the burden of your heritage intensifies. You find a fragile solace in Annalise, a White Witch girl who dares to defy her family's strictures to befriend and, eventually, love you. Their clandestine meetings are a rare pocket of warmth in your cold existence, but their forbidden affection only draws more danger. Annalise's brothers brutally punish you for crossing the boundaries of blood and code, leaving you with scars that mirror the emotional ones.
The looming shadow of your seventeenth birthday hangs heavy. It is the day when all witches receive their three gifts from their parent and come into their full powers; without them, you will die. But with your father in hiding and the Council's grip tightening, escape seems impossible. You are eventually taken from your grandmother's care and imprisoned in a cage by a cruel White Witch named Celia, subjected to relentless abuse and isolation. The trick, you learn, is to not mind the pain, to become numb to the indignities, a desperate coping mechanism to survive each day.
Your yearning for freedom and survival fuels a desperate plan: you must escape before your birthday and find your father, Marcus Edge, the only one who can grant you your gifts. The journey is fraught with peril, a brutal education in a world where good and evil are far more complex than you were taught. You discover that those deemed "good" are capable of immense cruelty, and the "evil" might not be as straightforward as they seem.
Along the way, you encounter Gabriel, a Black Witch trapped in a Fain body, who becomes an unexpected ally. He guides you through treacherous landscapes and helps you navigate the hidden world of Black Witches. Your path leads you to Mercury, a powerful and feared Black Witch rumored to consume boys. Her help is your only hope, but it comes at a price that you may not be able to pay. The closer you get to your father, the more you are forced to confront the darkness within yourself and the true nature of your powerful, terrifying heritage.
What other readers say
Liked
The book is widely praised for its unique and refreshing take on young adult fantasy, offering a gritty, brutal, and often heartbreakingly real experience. Many reviewers found the narrative original and distinct from other popular fantasy series, appreciating its eerie English countryside atmosphere. A significant highlight is the protagonist, Nathan, who is consistently described as a well-developed, sympathetic, and resilient character. Readers connected deeply with his struggle for identity amidst constant prejudice, admiring his strength and determination in a harsh world. The author's ability to craft complex characters who evoke reader empathy, even when making questionable choices, is also noted. Furthermore, the distinctive writing style, which occasionally shifts between first and second person, was lauded by some for its immersive quality, allowing for a profound connection with Nathan's internal journey and intensifying the emotional impact of the story.
Disliked
Despite its strengths, the book garnered considerable criticism, primarily concerning its world-building and lack of magical elements. Many reviewers expressed disappointment over the minimal presence of magic in a story about witches, expecting more spells and fantastical occurrences. The world-building itself was often described as vague, unclear, or underdeveloped, providing insufficient background or explanation for the core conflict between different witch factions. Pacing was another contentious point; while some found it fast-paced, a significant number of readers felt the narrative dragged, particularly in the middle, with long stretches perceived as repetitive or slow. This often led to frustration with the plot, which was criticized for being vague, lacking compelling progression, and culminating in an anticlimactic ending. Additionally, the constant depiction of Nathan's suffering, torture, and discrimination, while intended to be realistic, was found to be emotionally draining and repetitive by some, overshadowing the story with pervasive angst.
In short
Overall, the reviews for this debut novel are notably polarized, indicating it is a book that deeply resonates with some readers while alienating others. Its core strengths lie in its profound character study, its unflinching exploration of prejudice and survival, and its bold, experimental narrative voice. However, potential readers should be aware of its weaknesses, including a sparse magical system, less-developed world-building, and a plot that prioritizes emotional realism and character struggle over fast-paced action or intricate fantasy mechanics. This book would likely appeal to readers who enjoy dark, gritty, and character-driven young adult stories that delve into themes of identity, discrimination, and the blurred lines between good and evil. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate unique writing styles and are prepared for a narrative that focuses heavily on a protagonist's internal and external suffering, rather than a traditional, magic-filled adventure.
No reviews yet. Be the first.