Wildwitch

Wildwitch (Danish: Vildheks) is a children's/juvenile fantasy novel series published by Danish-born writer, Lene Kaaberbøl, from 2011 to 2014. The six-part series had its first four novels translated into English by Charlotte Barslund in 2016. A Danish feature film, Wild Witch (Vildheks), based on the series was released in 2018. The stories centre on Clara, a 12-year-old, who has a love of animals and nature. She struggles to become a wildwitch and encounters deadly enemies, Chimera and Bravita Bloodling.

Wildwitch
  • Wildfire – 2010
  • Oblivion – 2011
  • Life Stealer – 2011
  • Bloodling – 2012
  • Enemy’s Blood – 2013
  • The Return – 2014
AuthorLene Kaaberbøl
Original title
Vildheks
TranslatorCharlotte Barslund
IllustratorAnders Walter, Rohan Daniel Easton
Cover artistAnders Walter
CountryDenmark
LanguageDanish
DisciplineFantasy
children's literature/juvenile literature
PublisherAlvilda, Pushkin Press
Published2011–2014
Published in English2016
No. of books6

Book series

Wildwitch is six-part book series.[1]

Wildfire (Ildprøven) – 2010

The first book, Wildfire (Ildprøven) introduces the central character, Clara, a 12-year-old Danish student. She has a friendship with Oscar – they share a love of animals and nature. Oscar is considered "weird" by the popular students as he challenges teachers in class. Clara encounters a black cat, which scratches her cheek. Her mother, Mille, takes her to a remote forest to her previously unacknowledged aunt Isa. After treating her wounds, Isa starts to instruct her in the ways of a wildwitch and helps protect her from evil witch, Chimera.[2][3] Guardian Australia's reviewer summarised, "a stunning and wonderful short novel for kids."[4]

Oblivion (Viridians blod) – 2011

The second book, Oblivion, has Clara attacked by wild animals, which have been enslaved by the evil Chimera. With the help of her wildfriend and guardian, Cat, she defends herself and learns more about her wild witch powers.[2][5] Love Reading's Andrea Reece observed, "Young readers will love these stories, the magical world is full of just the right sort of dangers and mystery, while the bonds Clara forms with animals and the wild world are just as satisfying."

Life Stealer (Kimæras hævn) – 2011

The third book, Life Stealer, finds Clara extending her powers while being careful not to be drawn into the minds of animals locked in their predator-prey roles. She receives more training from aunt Isa. A new set of dangers develops from Chimera's interfering with wild magic.[2][6] John Millen of South China Morning Post finds the author treads a familiar path and warns that some sections are "a bit strong for the readership of this otherwise inoffensive mid-grade."[7]

Bloodling (Blodsungen) – 2012

In the fourth book, Bloodling, Clara must finish a difficult task to become a full wild witch. A set of attacks on her family leads to a confrontation with Chimera's boss, the undead witch Bravita Bloodling.[2][8] Kirkus Reviews' writer summarised, "There’s plenty of action, but it's hard to tell where this episode fits into the main storyline (if there is one)."[9]

Enemy’s Blood (Fjenblod) – 2013

The fifth book, Enemy's Blood, Clara becomes increasingly troubled by the death of numerous ravens, which threatens the ruling council of wild witches, the Raven Mothers. She has to help them and protect the last raven in the world from Bravita.[2]

The Return (Genkommeren) – 2014

The sixth book, The Return, finds Bravita Bloodling making malicious and threatening moves against Clara and all other wildwitches. Bloodling's evil witches combine to try to return her fully into the world. They would end natural wild magic and bring back the unbearable dark.[2]

Film adaptation

On October 11, 2018, the film version of Wild Witch (Vildheks) was issued in Denmark.[10] It was released to streaming services on February 14, 2020.[11] It stars Gerda Lie Kaas as Clara a wildwitch apprentice, Sonja Richter as her aunt and wildwitch instructor Isa, Vera Mi Bachmann as fellow apprentice Kahla, Signe Egholm Olsen as her mother Mille, May Lifschitz as the chief antagonist Chimera and Albert Werner as Clara's long-term school friend Oscar.[11] Director Kaspar Munk also worked on the script with Poul Berg and Bo Hansen.[11]

Filming had started in May 2017 on location in Hungary.[12] Gerda Lie Kaas is the daughter of Danish actor Nikolaj Lie Kaas and granddaughter of actor-director Preben Kaas and actor Anne Marie Lie.[12][13] Danny Brogan of Common Sense Media felt, "[it] is an uneven Danish movie... [with] messages of self acceptance and standing up against bullies, but there are also many scary moments, most notably involving the evil witch [Chimera]."[14]

References
  1. "Vildheks". Vildheks.dk (in Danish). Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  2. "Vildheks Series by Lene Kaaberbøl" (in Danish). Good Reads. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  3. Kaaberbøl, Lene; Eason, Rohan Daniel, (illustrator); Barslund, Charlotte (2016), Wildfire, London: Pushkin Press, ISBN 978-1-78269-114-3{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. bunkbedbobby (March 15, 2016). "Wildwitch: Wildfire by Lene Kaaberbøl - review | Children's books". The Guardian. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  5. Kaaberbøl, Lene; Eason, Rohan Daniel, (illustrator); Barslund, Charlotte (2016), Wildwitch. Oblivion, Pushkin Children's Books, ISBN 978-1-78269-113-6{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. Kaaberbøl, Lene; Eason, Rohan Daniel, (illustrator); Barslund, Charlotte (2016), Life Stealer, Pushkin Children's Books, ISBN 978-1-78269-085-6{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. Millen, John (April 9, 2017). "Scandinavian spin on the teenage witch story doesn't really say anything new [Review] – YP". South China Morning Post. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  8. Kaaberbøl, Lene; Eason, Rohan Daniel, (illustrator); Barslund, Charlotte (2016), Bloodling, Pushkin Children's Books, ISBN 978-1-78269-086-3{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. "Bloodling". Kirkus Reviews. March 6, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  10. "Vildheks" (in Danish). Det Danske Filminstitut. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  11. "Wild Witch (Vildheks) (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  12. Pham, Annika (May 15, 2017). "Sonja Richter Cast in Wild Witch". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  13. Svensgaard, Karina (November 2, 2012). "Nikolaj Lie Kaas: Mine forældres selvmord er et traume der vil følge mig altid". B. T. (in Danish). Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  14. Brogan, Danny. "Wildwitch (Vildheks) Movie Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
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