Welcome to my latest post about Books We Love where fellow book lovers showcase books that they have particularly enjoyed. My guest today is Fred from the #SixOnSaturday gardening group. Fred is an avid reader and read this book in … Continue reading
An Inheritance of Curses by Dee J. Holmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
An Inheritance Of Curses is book one of The Four Houses series of urban fantasy tales. Here the four houses are represented by fae, vampires, werewolves and witches.
The story opens with Rose LeFey, witch descendent from the renowned Morgan LeFey, who has been asked to check in with her estranged aunt. There is no sign of her aunt, but Rose discovers horrors in the basement: an iron cage with two fae, a vampire staked to a wooden table and a werewolf held by silver chains.
This is not all. The small town is eerily silent, its inhabitants held captive and sleeping by strong magic, a dark magic Rose had vowed to turn her back on. Faced with lethal warriors and a town to save, Rose must trust that her own strength is greater than that of her inherited magic.
I liked the complexity of four paranormal societies working together, while the setting and story theme were very believable. The pages were filled with magical spells and old family threads. In places the pace slowed, but as the story continued I was keen to keep reading, and have already bought book two. Although the main elements of this story conclude in book one, there were enough interesting loose ends to carry the characters forward to book two. The denouement is more like a soft cliff-hanger than an abrupt and jarring one that can leave the reader frustrated.
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Book description:
Driven by a lust for powerful blood, the first LeFey plunged the Four Houses of Magic into a century of conflict. Survivors of the Great War, desperate to repair their tattered worlds, signed a treaty banning any contact between the Houses of fae, werewolf, vampire and witch. And for over a thousand years that treaty has held strong…
Haunted by the dark talents she once embraced, Rose LeFey is determined to confront her manipulative aunt and prove she’s finished with blood magic. Instead, she finds a basement full of prisoners and a false-mate bond with an insanely attractive, and utterly forbidden, werewolf.
As lust tears into her hard-earned self-control, Rose realizes the werewolf was bait. Her aunt wants to unleash war on the magical Houses and humans alike—with Rose at her side. To stop that from happening, Rose must deny both her own deadly powers and the temptation to turn the false mate-bond real.
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
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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
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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…
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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Welcome to my world: digging, harvesting and other stuff
bestselling author, also known as Victoria Hawthorne
A quest for the magic in life, language, and literature
Tonight I Dream. Tomorrow I Do!
Part of something bigger in a small town garden.
Sayling Away
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adventures in my gardens
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Sharing thoughts on the books I read, new authors, favourite authors, classics re-visisted
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Rosie Amber 