BITCH WITCH by @SRKarfelt Fun #Contemporary read #TueadayBookBlog @JustAddBlue

Bitch Witch by S.R. Karfelt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bitch Witch is a fun contemporary read. Set in Massachusetts Sarah Archer comes from a long line of bad witches. But Sarah wants to change her fate and leave the dark side behind. She leads a boring life, has a regular job as a clerk and she tries to keep the dark energy at bay, but never “P*** off a witch”.

Caught out with raging monthly hormones Sarah is abused by an aggressive truck driver. One step too far and she sends out a destructive spell which has a heavy aftershock. Blasting Sarah off her feet she is rescued by a delicious cowboy. Paul Revere Longfellow has age old family connections in Massachusetts and tattoos to match a famous poem.

It appears a love spell binding the two gets cast that night. One more thing for Sarah to deal with. Try as she might to ignore the dark stuff it tempts her. The battle between light and dark crescendos with an almighty spell which leaves Sarah in a coma with decisions to make.

There’s plenty to keep this book fun and light-hearted as well as it being about a personal battle which many can concur with, I’m glad Paul was there for Sarah and I loved the bit part played by Father McCloud, I could just see a movie part for Morgan Freeman there.

This review is based on a copy of the book sent to me by Blue Harvest Creative

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

View all my reviews on Goodreads

Witch Crystal by Malika Gandhi

Witch Crystal, The Adventure Begins by Malika Gandhi

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Witch Crystal is a paranormal fantasy suitable for the young adult market. The book opens with a woman and child fleeing from the Empire witches of Zrotaz and taking a shuttle to Earth.

Several years later the child Larissa is now fifteen years old, she knows little of her past, however she does know she is a witch herself. When the Empire witches try to capture Larissa, her mother finally explains why Larissa is so important. A prophecy has foretold that she will be the one to save the witches from evil. But first she has a quest to repair the holes in the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)

Larissa is aided by a crystal and many other witches and magical folk, whilst others who are commanded by the High witch try to stop her. Friends back on Zrotaz are also working to stop the High witch and they face their own trials.

The quest will continue in the second book.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

View all my reviews on Goodreads

Rosie’s Book review Team #RBRT Jessie reviews Desprite Measures by Deborah Jay

Today’s book review is from Jessie, she blogs at http://behindthewillows.com

Jessie chose to read and review Desprite Measures by Deborah Jay

First things first.

There is a vampire in this book and he can’t tolerate the sunlight.

I like to get these kind of facts in the open right away so that if you are like my husband you will at least consent to hear about the rest book. Some people, are so touchy about these things. I mean seriously, what’s wrong with a little sparkle now and then?

But I digress.

Vampires, elementals, witches, fey… There are loads of creatures in this book living alongside humans in the Scottish Highlands – which is the best part of the book. Not just that they exist, but that they do so with a fairly well thought out strategy of how the creatures live aside humans and why they act the way they do. Fantastic for people like my vampire persnickety husband who can then just enjoy the story without shaking their heads too much over the technicalities. Even better, the author fits that information into the writing smoothly enough that the book doesn’t bog itself down with the details. Well some of the details. Apparently elementals need DNA to support a human guise and sometimes a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do in order to get some… DNA…

Would I recommend it?  This book is good! It’s quick and fun, with a well written, solid plot. If I weren’t warming my toes by the fire and battened down for cold weather I’d call this a perfect beach read!

Be warned, if you search for this book search engines everywhere will try hard to convince you that you mean “desperate measures” don’t believe them!

 Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

This honest review was given in return for a free copy of the book from its author.

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Crystin reviews The Black Hours by Alison Williams

Today’s book review comes from Crystin, she blogs at http://crystinlgoodwin.wordpress.com

Crystin Chose to read and review The Black Hours by Alison Williams

The Black Hours – Alison Williams

Title: The Black Hours by Alison Williams

• Genre: Historical Fiction

 

First off, I’d like to mention that this novel is very different from my typical reading preferences. This isn’t a young adult novel, nor is it fantasy. There is very little romance, and there isn’t really a happily ever after. The Black Hours is a very dark tale; written like fiction, but based on actual events that occurred in 16th century England.

The story follows two main characters – Matthew Hopkins, a documented witch hunter during the 16th century, and Alice Pendle, a fictional young woman who is suspected of witchcraft. The story goes through the process of how women were first suspected of witchcraft during those times, then goes into further detail into their trials and how the witch hunters would ‘prove’ the witches guilty.

Again, this is not a happy book. It is dark, gritty, and gruesome at times.

It was still fascinating.

The story was extremely well done – one could read the novel as fiction and it would provide everything a fiction reader would need. Suspense, action, resolution – even some much needed karmic retaliation. The hero and the villain were both fleshed out beautifully – you could see the reasoning behind both views – but the villain stayed very much a villain. (Yes, I’m being vague. I don’t want to ruin it for you.)

However, the story is also extremely depressing. It was heartbreaking to realize that the events that unfolded could have (and probably did) happen in those times. The unfairness, the inequality … I found myself getting frustrated and angry at the ignorance of many of the characters multiple times while reading. Sadly, the ignorance was real back then. There were no lie detectors, no means of sending to another town for impartial witnesses. Doctors weren’t around then, either – in fact, to claim to be a healer was one of the ways to be suspected of witchcraft. The fact that the author was able to infuse the reality of those times so authentically … it was absolutely amazing.

I would highly recommend this book for history lovers, especially old English history, or anyone interested in the details surrounding witch hunts of the middle ages.

I would NOT recommend this book for children, anyone with a weak stomach, or anyone overly sympathetic. There are detailed torture scenes, rape, extreme prejudice, fanaticism, and death. It is not for the faint of heart, but for anyone who is interested in the real events of that time period – this book is gold.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Desprite Measures by Deborah Jay

Desprite Measures by Deborah Jay

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Desprite Measures has a terrific book cover for a start. This is a fantasy tale set in Scotland. Cassie is a water sprite an immortal element who has chosen to form a human existence in the last few hundred years. She enjoys the interaction with humans and they in turn help her exist.

We first meet her trapped in a dangerous and confusing situation in the hands of a magician, using her relationship with water she saves the situation and makes a lucky escape, but finds herself and her friends are in danger as the magician pursues them and their energies.

The first half of the book built up slowly, introducing us to the characters and teasing us with hints of what was to come. For me the book took off in the second half with lots of action. I liked the different witches and their covens. Gloria and Alistair both had great roles and I really enjoyed the astral plane and my own imagination filled in unanswered questions at the end as to who Michael could have been.

A fun slow burner with potential for a sequel.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

View all my reviews on Goodreads.

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Karen reviews The Black Hours by Alison Williams

Today’s book review comes from Karen, she blogs at http://mytrainofthoughtson.wordpress.com/

Karen chose to read and review The Black Hours by Alison Williams

The Black Hours – Alison Williams

My Opinion

The book introduces you to Alice, a 17-year-old girl and her grandmother Maggie. Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General accuses them of witchcraft. I will not tell you more about the story than shown in the Goodreads plot description. This would spoil the fun of reading this book yourself.

With The Black Hours, Alison Williams has created a compelling story of women accused of witchcraft and their Puritan prosecutor Matthew Hopkins. The Black Hours is a story based on historic events, Matthew Hopkins’ activities were done ‘in God’s name’, and show some pitch black hours of history, indeed; 200-300 women had to die. Alison Williams did a thorough research and elaborated a gripping read. It is a story that grips and holds you in its spell. I felt rather close to the events, at times a little too close for comfort. All characters very believable for this time in history. It is easy for the reader to decide if someone is friend or foe. The Black Hours is a good read for fans of history novels, readers who can put up with this intense story.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Melissa reviews The Black Hours by Alison Williams

Today’s book review comes from review team member Melissa, she blogs at http://mllegette.com/

Melissa chose to read and review The Black Hours by Alison Williams

The Black Hours – Alison Williams

Good golly. Talk about intense. I had never heard of Matthew Hopkins until reading Williams’ The Black Hours. Learning that he was in fact an actual human being was almost more than I could stand. (I was having a hard enough time when I thought he was fictional.)

The book is aptly named. Serious dark hours will be before you, reader, you have been warned. We are talking injustice piled onto injustice, served with a heaping side of (you got it) injustice.

But if you’re fascinated by history — especially Witch Trials — you will find this to be a trip back in time. It’s clear that Williams took great care in her research. The characters are vivid (I liked that both the persecuted and persecutor told their views — made it all the more horrifying), and the writing is smooth. If you’re looking for a Halloween read, check it out. You’ll certainly get chills.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Rosie’s Book review Team #RBRT Cathy reviews The Black Hours by Alison Williams

Today’s review comes from team member Cathy, she blogs at http://betweenthelinesbookblog.wordpress.com/

Cathy chose to read and review The Black Hours by Alison Williams

The Black Hours – Alison Williams

Here is Cathy’s review;

Having been born and brought up in Lancashire, the home of the Witches of Pendle, this book was of particular interest. Never thinking much of it as children, apart from trips to Pendle Hill and as something with which to scare each other, it was only as an adult the atrocities, the true horror and suffering were realised.

There has obviously been an enormous amount of research gone into this story and to have the narrative from the Witchfinder’s point of view as well as Alice Pendle’s makes for an even bigger impact. Added to that the fact that Matthew Hopkins is not a fictional character but was indeed a Witchfinder General, although this seems to have been self bestowed title, and believed to be responsible for the deaths of around three hundred women during the span of two years.

Hopkins, believing himself to be doing God’s work and regardless of how he acquires ‘confessions’ from terrified, tortured, persecuted and often elderly, women, is arrogant and condescending of those he considers beneath him. Reading from his point of view was quite unsettling because he is clearly deluded and totally self-absorbed, slyly influencing the superstitious, sometimes spiteful and misguided village people who need someone to blame for all that is lacking in their lives. He arouses only feelings of horror and incredulity at his actions and egotism. It’s a very powerful reminder of the prejudice and tyranny prevalent through the ages.

The mood and feelings of the time are captured perfectly. The small village of Coggeshall, where seventeen year old Alice Pendle lives with her grandmother Maggie, and it’s residents are described in fascinating detail, giving a comprehensive picture of life in the year 1647. A time when having skills in natural healing with herbs and plants could be misconstrued and used as justification for the charge of being in league with the devil.

Alice, in complete contrast to Hopkins, evokes complete sympathy, compassion and warmth. Her story is a living nightmare, chilling in the extreme, given these events occurred with regularity. Women can be, and are, accused of witchcraft for all sorts of preposterous reasons. If the unfortunate person has animals, a scar, a birthmark or forages for plants and herbs, as Alice and her grandmother do. Despite helping their neighbours when in need, they are denounced at the first opportunity. The methods used to ‘prove’ such claims are barbaric and illogical and quite often manipulated.

Despite the terrible ordeal and anguish she suffers, Alice still manages to grow in strength and regain her self-respect.

This is an extremely well written, very thought-provoking and authentic story of people involved in an appalling and menacing situation. I’m very much looking forward to Alison Williams’ next book.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Rosie’s Book review Challenge – A review by Cindy

Today we have a review from book review challenger Cindy Harrison. Her website is http://cynthiaharrison.com/

Cindy chose to review “The Black Hours” by Alison Williams.

The Black Hours – Alison Williams

Here is her review.

Although the chilling historical novel The Black Hours by Alison Williams is fiction, it is written with such detailed realism that readers will feel they are in the village of Coggeshall where the story is set. In this bucolic and tranquil place, Alice Pendle and her grandmother are midwives and herbalists with a deep affinity for helping those in need. When they come under the jealous eye of a competing midwife, Annie Everard, this woman spreads rumors about the Pendles, hoping to blacken their name and steal their business. In this, she more than succeeds.

Matthew Hopkins is an historic figure who here is known as the Witchfinder. When he comes to Coggeshall searching for witches, Annie is more than willing to point the finger at the Pendle family. With excruciating detail, Williams describes the horrors that were the witch hunts of old. Midwives were often blamed when a mother or child died, and herbalists were celebrated when they brought the ill back to health. As we now know, these early keepers of medicinal knowledge did not have the power or the wish to kill, only to heal. This is especially true of the Pendles.

                Superstitions of the times swept the lands and the horrifying portrayal of the torture and degradation suffered by Alice Pendle and her grandmother as they is put through the dishonest and shameful rigors of Hopkins’ Witchfinder ways is not easy reading. Williams is a skilled storyteller, but make no mistake, this tale is a dark one from a black chapter in human history. Williams does not shy away from the details that make it so, and for that she deserves highest praise.

                There are also moments of light, but to tell these would be to spoil the story for readers. Suffice to say, there is evil afoot in Coggeshall, and the good news is it does not entirely prevail. Williams is a writer of power and strength and deserves a wide audience for her compelling work. – Cynthia Harrison

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

The Spook’s Apprentice by Joseph Delaney

The Spook’s Apprentice by Joseph Delaney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s the Spook’s job to protect the County from such things as ghouls, boggarts, and witches. He’s getting on in age and needs to train an apprentice to take over. Tom Ward is the seventh son of a seventh son and that makes him special, he’s Mam’s gift to the County.

The Spook takes Tom on for a months trial, first they deal with the Ghasts at Hangman’s Hill, fragments of souls that have moved on. Next Tom must last a night in a haunted house. At the Spook’s home in Chipenden, up near the fells, Tom begins his lessons. First he must learn about boggarts and how to bind one. He’s also told not to venture into the garden after dark and to stay away from Mother Malkin who is kept in a pit in the garden.

Tom is warned to also stay away from girls with pointy shoes and his first big mistake comes when he is rescued from bullies by Alice. When the Spook is called away to deal with the witches of Pendle Hill, Tom falls into a trap laid by Bony Lizzie who intends to release Mother Malkin. Fearing the Spook dead, Tom takes on the evil witches, but it takes a lot to kill off a witch as strong as Mother Malkin as Tom is about to find out.

This is the first in the Wardstone Chronicles, written for older children. If they can cope with Harry Potter then this will be fine. The warning on the back on the book says “Not to be read after dark”. There certainly are some chilling pages which make me shiver as an adult. I’ve loved re-reading these books as an adult and shall continue with the series.
Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

View all my reviews on Goodreads