British author, Martin Howard, has written yet another story of witches.     Set in modern times, orphan Sam (short for Samantha) escapes from the orphanage, to learn magic, and seeks out the witch- Esmelia Sniff in the middle of the deep, dark Pigsnout Wood. There Sam becomes her apprentice. Unbeknownst to Sam, Esmelia needs her help if she is to compete for the position of MOST SUPERIOR HIGH AND WICKED WITCH. Sam has three weeks to became a witch. This is done more by reading Esmelia’s books then through Esmelia’s tutelage. Just in the nick of time Sam passes her witch exam and becomes a licensed witch.  The competition for the Most Superior High and Wicked Witch begins, but there is a surprise entrant – Sam. Nastiness and treachery abounds, because these are witches we are dealing with after all.

This book has just the right amount of old-fashioned witchery in it: warts, black hats, frogs, flying broomsticks,etc. ,  because #1 Esmelia wants to bring back the old-good days of witches, and #2 that’s what the reader expects after seeing the cover art by illustrator, Colin Stimpson. Stimpson’s charcoal gray sketches appear in every one of the 29 short  chapters ( about 10 pages or less) . The short chapter length will help readers who are venturing out into longer books keep interest.  Character names like: Diabolica Nightshade, Boodie Hodure, and Mistresss Smellie-Dogbasquet  don’t hurt, either.