The talent of creating a single novel is commendable as it is, but to be able to develop an entire book series that wins the heart of millions worldwide is more than applause-worthy. If there is one author who deserves all the praise in this regard, it has to be James Patterson.
Known to be the king of mysteries and thrillers, James Patterson has made a name for himself by developing innumerable novels in his career so far, with many of them being book series. Of those series, there is one that’s liked by younger and older audiences alike, and that’s the Witch & Wizard series.
Made up of five books, Patterson has collaborated with different authors for this series, including Gabrielle Charbonnet, Ned Rust, Jill Dembowski, and Emily Raymond. The reason this series is particularly special is because it’s a fantasy and dystopian series in addition to having elements of mystery.
The novels follow the lives of two siblings, namely Wisty and Whit, who discover shocking truths about themselves and embark on a thrilling journey together.
If you’re wondering whether you should pick up the Witch & Wizard series or not, let us provide you with a detailed analysis of the book series so that it becomes easier for you to make up your mind.
Table of Contents
The Chronological List of Witch & Wizard Series
Summary of the Witch & Wizard Series
Let’s get into the summaries of the books in the Witch & Wizard series:
| Sr. No. | Title | Publication Date | Print Length | Publisher | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Witch & Wizard | December 14, 2009 | 320 pages | jimmy patterson | |
| 2 | Witch & Wizard: The Gift | October 25, 2011 | 399 pages | jimmy patterson | |
| 3 | Witch & Wizard: The Fire | December 5, 2011 | 352 pages | jimmy patterson | |
| 4 | Witch & Wizard: The Kiss | February 4, 2013 | 368 pages | jimmy patterson | |
| 5 | Witch & Wizard: The Lost | December 15, 2014 | 384 pages | jimmy patterson |
1. Witch & Wizard (2009)
The readers are introduced to the setting of the series, where a dystopian government is trying to control every single aspect of society. As kids continue to disappear, we meet the protagonists of the series, Wisty and Whit Allgood, who are 15 and 18 years old, respectively.
One night, their life changes completely when they are taken away from their parents and thrown into a secret prison without any rhyme or reason that they know of. Known as the New Order, the government is trying to control everyone’s lives and freedom.
The siblings soon discover that they have powers. While the witch and wizard learn how to manage their abilities, they also realize that they may just be the key to saving their parents and also the world.
2. Witch & Wizard: The Gift (2010)
Whit and Wisty somehow manage to escape from the shackles of the New Order. They go into hiding and create a community filled with teenagers with similar abilities as themselves. They call it the Resistance, aiming to rescue the kids who have been imprisoned and kidnapped.
Meanwhile, the leader of the New Order is trying to control the citizens by taking over their minds. Wisty and Whit find out about this and must do everything in their power before the evil leader succeeds.
3. Witch & Wizard: The Fire (2011)
Wisty and Whit continue to be the leaders needed by the Resistance. They now live in a world where The One Who Is The One, the title given to the villainous supreme leader of the new government, has banned everything, including imagination, art, music, and books.
Wisty realizes that she must now encounter The One to put an end to his tyranny. Together, she and Whit must stop him before he ends up becoming too powerful for the world.
4. Witch & Wizard: The Kiss (2013)
Whit and Wisty have finally managed to defeat the cruel leader who had been creating havoc. However, the siblings find themselves in an odd position with each other for the very first time when Wisty’s attraction increases toward a stranger who goes by the name of Heath.
The two grow closer as they experiment together with their magic. The happy moments are short-lived, though, as a Wizard King announces his will to go to war.
Wisty must now make a choice between fighting alongside her brother to destroy the new villain or trusting the new boy in her life.
5. Witch & Wizard: The Lost (2014)
Whit and Wisty have defeated all the villains who have stood in their way and threatened to destroy the world so far, including The One Who Is The One and also his son and father.
As they get ready to take on their new positions in the government, a crime wave ripples through the city, signaling the presence of someone even deadlier than The One.
The siblings face personal issues as the city begins to question everyone with magic, leading Wisty and Whit to question their own powers. The novel explores whether they can save themselves and the city just in time before everything crumbles.
Review of the Witch & Wizard Series
James Patterson strikes gold with the Witch & Wizard series by creating a world that appeals to people of all age groups. He, along with his co-writers, develops an ambiance where young blood takes things into their own hands to fight against evil in all forms and shapes.
The readers get attached to the sibling duo of Whit and Whisty from the very inception of the series. Not only are they endearing and powerful individuals themselves, but they become even more likable when they fight together.
All the novels in the series maintain a pace that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what fresh hell the characters will face in the next installment. By incorporating elements of politics and rebellion, Patterson makes your heart skip one chapter at a time.
Quotes
Much like every other literary creation by James Patterson, the Witch & Wizard series has plenty of dialogues and quotes that stay with you. Some of the ones that keep ringing in your head include:
“They’re afraid of change, and we must change. They’re afraid of the young, and we are the young. They’re afraid of music, and music is our life. They’re afraid of books, knowledge, and ideas. They’re most afraid of our magic.”
“Until now, I never noticed how much fantasy had to do with reality.”
“Literacy rots the brain, I’m afraid. And a rotten mind is of no use to the New Order. Sadly, there must be consequences.”
“You know things have gone bad when military marches pass for pop music.”
“When you read a good enough book, you have somehow done the things you read about.”
“Free will: A delusional idea that humans are in control of their own destiny and not subject to the benevolent rule of The One Who Is The One.”
“I was never a coward. I was just sensible.”
Conclusion
Dystopian and fantasy novels never go out of style. There is something about the amalgamation of imagination and the blurry details of a fictional dystopian future that makes everyone interested in these genres. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why the Witch & Wizard series is so beloved.
Filled with delightful twists and turns, the novels grab your attention from the very beginning and don’t let you go till you’re done devouring all the pages of the book.
Whether you’re an ardent Patterson fan or someone about to pick up one of his books for the first time, this series will surely win you over.
