The Witch's Boy (2005) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Characters/People edit see section history

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• Lump: An ugly person who was abandoned as a child, but was adopted by Elisande. He can speak with animals and burrow/travel through the ground. Once he realizes his unfortunate appearance, he dons a mask to spare people from having to see his true face.
• Elisande (the Witch): A witch and adoptive mother of Lump.
• Ysul: A female bear who acts as nurse and caretaker for Lump.
• Bagordax: A demon captured by the witch, who creates Lump's nursery and acts as tutor to him.
• Falance: A grey cat with green eyes who is the witch's familiar.
• Meregild: A witch who buys Lump's adoptive mother when she was a child and uses her as a slave for seven years in an effort to use the young girl's youth so as to live longer.
• Tippy, Lons, and Mank: The first children Lump ever sees.
• Captain Huon: A faery.
• Gretl: Johannes' sister, who mans the sword station at the swordfighting stand she and her brother own.
• Johannes (aka Hansel): Johannes' brother. He is a skilled swordsman who befriends the Witch, Lump, and Falance after Falance, in human form, fights him at a town fair.
• Aude: The miller's daughter.
• The miller: The father of Aude and Mostin.
• Mostin: The miller's son, who is cunning and manipulative. He discovers Lump's true name and tells his sister, Queen Aude, so she does not have to forfeit her baby to Lump.
• Dusty and Desire: Two mice the Witch turns into horses in order to pull her carriage.
• Robard: A lean, sour-faced, rather cruel, and unfair jeweler who Lump first tries to sell his gems to.
• Pa'aili: A girl from the Land of Pearls--a realm which Lump can see through the enchanted window of his nursery. When a great storm blows her from her home, Robard rescues her and enslaves her to be his shop sweeper. When Robard goes bankrupt, Lump purchases Pa'aili.
• Jack: A fair jeweller Lump eventually sells his gems to. In his youth, he purchased "magic" beans, which grew large beanstalks.
• Djer: A boy from the Caravanserai of the Three Palms--a realm Lump can see via the enchanted window of his nursery. As a child, Lump sees Djer kidnapped in his land. When Lump is older, he finds him in his own world and employs him as coachman and master of the horses.
• Nuala: Bluebeard's blind daughter and Lump's wife.
• Troon: Master mason for the construction of a royal chapel who takes Lump under his wing and helps him earn his membership in the guild.
• Captain Woak: Master of the brig "Marvelous."
• King Magnus II: The king who Aude marries.
• King Magnus III: aka Magnus the Cruel. King Manus II's and Queen Aude's son.
• Phyllis: Rapunzel's adoptive mother.

Quotes edit see section history

• “He did not tell. It was his first secret, and by it the lesson of secrecy was laid down at the foundation of his character, and shaped the whole, as the first course of bricks determines how the wall will lean. (page 51)”

  Narrator

• “Hatred breeds best in the soil of ruined dreams. (page 120)”

  Narrator

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Once upon a time in a faraway country
• Faeryland (aka Tir Nan Og, Avalon, or the Country of a Thousand Years): The mystical realm where faeries live.
• The Hot Fair
• The Cold Fair
• Marvelous: A ship helmed by Captain Woak that takes Lump and Nuala to Minch of Morr where the Witch and Falance have finally settled.
• Clinky Town
• Minch of Morr
• Vandy

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Glossary edit see section history

• Permalion: A kind of gateway
• Kobold or Nibelung: A dwarf

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Michael Gruber (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

There is little in this story that isn't in other fairy tales in some capacity and, quite frankly, Grimm's tales can be darker/more horrible than the yarn Gruber spins here.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Children's Books › Literature › Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths › Stories
• Books › Children's Books › Literature › Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror › Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
• Books › Teens › Science Fiction & Fantasy › Fantasy
• Books › Teens › Science Fiction & Fantasy › Science Fiction