Book Review: THE WINTER WITCH by Paula Brackston

"Mayhem, Witch Trials, and Magic in an Unpredictable Tale"

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The Winter Witch is set back in a time when people where suspicious but not necessarily on witch hunts. It seems they suspect but don't immediately kill in this book. This is a battle for love, life, and an understanding of hard times mixed with magic in unusual ways. There is sorrow in this book, happiness, and mayhem in ways that only this time could convey.

If you enjoy this book you may also enjoy: Books by Deborah Geary, Witch Child, Born Wicked, Star Cursed, books by Gail Carriger, Thirteenth Child, and Shadow and Bone.

BOOK REVIEW: Endless Knight UNABRIDGED by Kresley Cole

"You will be surprised who you love & who you hate."

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  The ending makes me sad. Full of unanswered questions but too many assumptions. It's interesting and odd the turns the story takes in this section of the series. I'm at once riveted by the love story (very pg 13) and saddened by choices made. The story lets loose some of its edginess, and deftly turns into a triangle of sorts.
  The first book in the series, "poison princess" had a Texas chain saw massacre meets zombie apocalypse with a touch of shady back country southern swagger.

BOOK REVIEW: The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic UNABRIDGED by Emily Croy Barker

"Hours of Entertainment that will Fly By on Magic"

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  Noami is a sad somber character in a normal gray world dropped out of the fictional boredom into a Wizard of Oz style version of Pride and Prejudice. The story will set you up with tid bits to be explained far later, which is the best part. I promise my analogies will not ruin the story for you or give you any insights what-so-ever.
  
  This is a love tale awry. The puzzle of Naomi's life smoothly cleans up in a way you wouldn't expect as the story progresses. Unlike many modern magical tales this author, Emily Croy Baker, does a good job of not leaving you hanging at the end.

BOOK REVIEW: Born Wicked: The Cahill Witch Chronicles, Book One UNABRIDGED by Jessica Spotswood

• "So Good I Went to the Library for the Next Book"

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  This series has a second book that is not yet available in audio, sigh, but I was so addicted to the story I couldn't wait and wait to the library to get the next book. The young narrator gives life to this story and depth to the character's enchanting lives.
  
  To enjoy this book you will need to enjoy stories of enchantment, duplicitous mystery, and a setting back in time. This is an old world tale from when witch hunts, burning, and magic ruled. Well in this story, the order of the brothers ruled with an iron clad fist. This is not a historical tale that will give light to a witches point of view in the 1800s, its fantasy brought to life in a parallel world with a similar feel to that time.

Secondhand Spirits: A Witchcraft Mystery, Book 1 by Juliet Blackwell

BOOK REVIEW: Secondhand Spirits

A Witchcraft Mystery, Book 1

by Juliet Blackwell

"Give the book at Least a Hour Before You Give Up"

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Story

Agree with other reviewers the book starts off slow, but since it is a series I listened all the way. You don't get addicted or find a hook in this book until almost the end of the book. I wonder if the rest of the series follows from the first so if you get past this one, you will already have the gist and plenty more books to entertain you for hours. The narrator has a definite accent but since the main character has one too I suppose it's suppose to fit.

Fated by Alyson Noël

BOOK REVIEW: Fated

The Soul Seeker Series, Book 2

Author: Alyson Noël Narrated: Brittany Pressley

"Enchanting and Sad"

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This book has some very lovable and hate-able characters. I love the native american influences and magical intrigue. This book doesn't seem to end the series, just wish I'd know that first, so I could have waited before starting a series with no ending. I'm a little shocked and confused by it. The is a teenage magic love mystery. You will likely be confused until about 30 minutes into the book, stick with it. Feel sorry for the characters and move forward. It will all make sense.. eventually.

TIP: If you don't want to listen to the boring descriptions of what animals mean to the author, skip the first 5 minutes and 17 seconds of both books!

Purchase

  

Fated

UNABRIDGED

by Alyson Noël

Narrated by Brittany Pressley

View Series

Reviewed: 9/9/13

About the Book

From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Immortals, Alyson Noël, comes Fated - a breathtaking new saga brimming with magic, mystery, and an intoxicating love story that will steal your heart away.

Meet The Soul Seekers.

Strange things are happening to Daire Santos. Crows mock her, glowing people stalk her, time stops without warning, and a beautiful boy with unearthly blue eyes haunts all her dreams. Fearing for her daughter’s sanity, Daire’s mother sends her to live with the grandmother she’s never met. A woman who recognizes the visions for what they truly are - the call to her destiny as a Soul Seeker - one who can navigate the worlds between the living and dead. There on the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico, Daire sets out to harness her mystical powers. But it’s when she meets Dace, the boy from her dreams, that her whole world is shaken to its core. Now Daire is forced to discover if Dace is the one guy she's meant to be with... or if he’s allied with the enemy she's destined to destroy.

Editorial Review

"Alyson Noël paints a magical New Mexican landscape."

–New Mexico Style

"Noël does a terrific job of slowly unspooling secrets and motivations with writing that is both charismatic and spunky."

–LA Times

"A rush of romance will sweep you away in this hauntingly mystical read. I'm already as addicted to Daire and Dace as I was to Ever and Damen. Next book please!"

–Janet, teen reader from Kentucky for Justine magazine

"An adventurous page-turner. Dreams and reality bleed into each other in this dangerous and edgy romance. Another home run series for Alyson Noël!"

–Anna, teen reader from NY for Justine magazine

"Emotional, fast-paced, romantic. I love Alyson Noël’s lushly descriptive writing –I could hear the beating of the crow’s wings, feel the blue-eyed boy’s embrace and smell Paloma’s coffee in this new Soul Seekers series."

–Catherine, teen reader from Florida for Justine magazine

"With fantastic characters and an amazing plot,　Fated will suck you in and leave you breathless.　Noël is a master with words…with passion and thrills around each corner, this book is a must read."

– Romantic Times (Top Pick!)

"Atmospheric and enjoyable...Noël's　many fans will be eager to find out what happens next."

–Publishers Weekly

"Readers will feel the pull of Daire's quest just as forcefully as Daire herself does, and will count the days until the release of Echo."

–Shelf Awareness, Maximum Shelf

"A fast and enjoyable read...with some very unique plot twists and balance among the romance, conflict and family relationships."

--Deseret News

"Two boys, one light and one dark, factor heavily into the intriguing, twisting story line, which is sure to draw Noël’s numerous fans."

–Booklist

"Another captivating series from Alyson Noël. Fated did an excellent job setting up everything for the next books in the series. …I’m really looking forward to seeing where this series goes!"

–The Story Siren

"Fated reads very well and the descriptions set the scene perfectly. Noel takes the time to set the story up right so it never feels rushed or that any details were missing. …I’m glad there’s not too long to wait for the sequel – Echo is due out in November of this year."

—The Reading Date

"If you're looking for a new series to get stuck into "The Soul Seekers" is out of this world."

–Dark Readers

"I found myself unable to put this book down, completely captivated by　the narration and the beautifully crafted world. It was a refreshing YA fantasy with new elements I’ve never before."

–Love, Literature, Art and Reason

"A superb thriller. The key to this absorbing tale is the heroine who makes the Noël mythos seem genuine as she enters the underworld while wondering who she can trust. Filled with twists, this is a winning opening act."

– Alternative Worlds

"This book has it all—magick, spookiness, cute boys, a little romance, danger, fun and light-hearted moments, some mystery, and there's even good/evil twins (cute ones, too!) What more can you ask for? I am very intrigued by this new world that Alyson has created, and I cannot wait to read more about Daire and her friends in the future."

–Once Upon A Twilight

"Noël has surpassed all of my exceptions with a new world filled with magick, trust, and love. . . . It just mesmerizes me how [she] can create a world filled with fast-pacing, heart-breaking plots along with awesome characters and such a magical world."

—Cover Analysis

"I loved this book. All the characters were beautifully developed including some of the minor characters. . . I for one had high expectations of this book because of Evermore and Fated defiantly met those standards."　

—Flamingnet

"The world-building in Fated is fantastic. …The plot is amazing and the rich Native American history along with the supernatural elements of the book, just made it even better...Fated is a story of pure magic—breathtaking and wonderful, all at once." 　

—Kindle & Me

"Fated was absolutely original in its own way! From the vivid descriptions to the spiritual world the author, Alyson Noël, has cleverly created, I was so intrigued and stunned by this book that I can't wait to see where Noël takes this series to because she sure as hell has a winner right here!"

—Tales of the Inner Book Fanatic

"This novel is something different than anything I've encountered. Fated has a rich mythology, full of spirit animals, spirit journeys, fate, soul-seeking, and of course, good and evil."　

—Thirteen Days Later