Review - House of Ivy & Sorrow by Natalie Whipple

by Natalie Whipple
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: April 15, 2014
format: eGalley
pages: 352
source: Edelweiss
buy it: House of Ivy & Sorrow

From Goodreads:

Josephine Hemlock has spent the last 10 years hiding from the Curse that killed her mother. But when a mysterious man arrives at her ivy-covered, magic-fortified home, it’s clear her mother’s killer has finally come to destroy the rest of the Hemlock bloodline. Before Jo can even think about fighting back, she must figure out who she’s fighting in the first place. The more truth Jo uncovers, the deeper she falls into witchcraft darker than she ever imagined. Trapped and running out of time, she begins to wonder if the very Curse that killed her mother is the only way to save everyone she loves.

House of Ivy & Sorrow took some serious thought when it came to rating it.  There were elements I did like, elements I didn't like, and elements I didn't quite know what to make of.  There were times that it was deliciously creepy, and times when it was just too cutesy for words.  Where does that leave me?  So far as I can tell, I'm thoroughly on the fence about this one, which is a very bewildering place to be, much like opening one door and finding yourself somewhere you didn't expect to be (you'll see what I did there).

Josephine Hemlock is no ordinary teenager.  Her grandmother, known as an entomologist to the citizens of their small town, is in fact a talented witch and the head of the Hemlock witch family.  Orphaned by the death of her mother at age 7, Josephine has been learning everything from her eccentric grandmother and is proving to be quite the talent, herself.  You may think that with how seriously she regards her abilities she wouldn't have time for mooning over some guy.  Well, dear reader, you would be wrong.  Here is exactly where the super cutesy aspect of the story I mentioned comes into play.  I read a lot of YA since that's mostly what I review.  That's not to say I'm against some romance.  When I feel as though I'm reading about a 13 year old rather than a 17 year old, as Josephine is portrayed, it's a problem.  You don't want to read bits of "romance" that make you roll your eyes rather than sigh wistfully.

Much of the plot was preferable to me over the characters.  The ways in which magic are presented are different than your average witch story.  Rather than being dark and light, all magic is said to come from the dark.  It is a witch's level of control that dictates what "side" they are on, so to speak.  To completely give in to the darkness is to be Consumed, at which point a witch is virtually eaten alive by the power and becomes a power mad, evil being.  This concept is certainly an inventive one and made the magical aspects of the book more interesting.  There were, however, issues that bothered me to no end.  One such issue is continuity.  There comes a point when the Hemlock's are in need of an ancestor's journal (here called "history").  There is much talk of how important it is that they find her long lost house and, subsequently, her history.  However, at some point along the way it is apparently no longer imperative and it ceases to be mentioned.  At all.  What happened to it?  Wouldn't it still be a good idea to have it?  Why mention it at all if you're just going to forget it exists?  So many questions.

Overall, House of Ivy & Sorrow was a fun way to pass the time.  I don't know that I would necessarily want to read a follow-up, but for what it is, I enjoyed it.  If you're more plot driven, you might find this one enjoyable thanks to the different descriptions of magic, the setting (a truly intriguing one with its magical doors and enchantments), and the conflict.  If you can overlook the overly cutesy parts of the romance, definitely try it out.  Otherwise, proceed with caution.  I almost gave up on it, but in the end I'm glad I stuck it out.

Review - Covet by Melissa Darnell

by Melissa Darnell 
Paperback, 488 pages

September 25th 2012 by Harlequin Teen

Source: ARC, NetGalley

From Goodreads:

Dangerous to be together. Painful to be apart.Savannah Colbert knows she broke up with Tristan Coleman for the right reasons. Most of all, to keep from killing him with her new vampire abilities. But try telling her heart. Now, lost in a sea of hostile Clann faces, Sav tries to come to terms with what she's becoming and what that means for her future. And that someone is doing their best to bully her into making a terrible mistake.

Tristan can't believe Sav won't even talk to him. If being apart is her decision, fine. Just don't expect him to honor it. But even as he prepares to fight for the girl he loves, forces beyond their control take them both in directions neither could have foreseen or prepared for.

A reckoning is coming …and not everyone will survive.

Covet throws us back into the world of the star-crossed teenagers, Savannah and Tristan. I couldn't wait to find out where Darnell took our teens in this book, especially after the ending of Crave. Just when things couldn't get worse for our heroes, they of course do. 

Savannah was a quick and snarky character in the first book. Unfortunately, the events she goes through then and now brought her spirits down and it shows in this installment. She still has the strength that carries her through the tough times, but she is definitely more reserved this time around. You will understand why when you go through the personal and relationship events of the book with her, my heart broke with hers. I do like the details Darnell added in for Savannah. I can a definite advantage for these in the future. It may sound sad for me to say it, but I like Savannah better this time around. She actually stands up for herself and you will get to see her mature more this time. Tristan is very much the same person to me this time around. He does have his moments, but I am still not too attached to him. Something I did adore this time was Sav's friends. You will grow to love them for antics they pull off. A surprise for me was Sav's father. I actually enjoying reading his scenes. There is a lot of background info in them and a lot of  heart felt sentiments in his actions.

The plot really improved a lot as well. It held a better speed and balance of action, turmoil, and romance. The situations that the characters have to go through are heart-breaking, inspiring, and thought provoking. Darnell provides a good ride for readers this time, a definite step up from Crave. If I had to complain, it would be the amount of angst. A good helping is ok, but both Tristan and Savannah go over the top a few times with it. It will be interesting to see where Darnell takes the teens next time. There is a whole lot new concepts to incorporate and it definitely has the makings of a grand finale!

  

Buy the Book!   Amazon : B&N : IndieBound : The Book Depository

Review - Taken at Dusk

by C.C. Hunter
publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
date of publication: April 10, 2012
format: paperback
pages: 380
source: purchased

From Goodreads:

Step into Shadow Falls, a camp for teens with supernatural powers.  Here friendship thrives, love takes you by surprise, and our hearts possess the greatest magic of all.

Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she’s meant to be with—and the truth about what her emerging powers mean.  But she’s about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever…and not always for the better.

Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together.  Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it’s not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different—and more astonishing—than she ever imagined.

I really liked the first two books in this series, Born at Midnight and Awake at Dawn, but Taken at Dusk hit all the right chords. I absolutely loved it and would have picked up the next book immediately if I had had it on hand. Alas, I must wait, but while I do, I'm going to tell you about all the things that made Taken at Dusk such a great read. This series just keeps getting better and better. I'm looking forward to seeing where it will go next.

Kylie continues to intrigue me as she discovers more and more about herself. I especially admire her determination to do right by the ghosts who seek her help. Her interactions with Miranda and Della run the gamut from easy jokes to heartfelt conversations, all of which provide hilarity and touching moments. Her moments with Lucas are, as always, quite intense, though I would love if she would just pick one guy already. I'm a wee bit impatient, you see. Also, as I learn more about Kylie's past, I feel for her. I am not afraid to admit that I was in tears by the end of the book. That's right. I cried.

Since the book takes place in the same setting as the first two books in the series, there's not much I can say to build upon that aspect. However, I will say that the writing in Taken at Dusk was, simply put, awesome. The story built up very well and contained just the right amount of twists and turns. I've already mentioned the ending that made me cry. It is but one of several poignant moments throughout the book.

I'm very much at risk of going all fangirly over this series. I can barely imagine how it can get any better than Taken at Dusk, but I am definitely open to surprises. As Kylie's story progresses, I am looking forward to finding out the entirety of her past. C.C. Hunter hasn't left me wanting yet when it comes to her stories. What I am waiting for is the next book, Whispers at Moonrise, but I have the feeling that it's well worth it.

Buy Taken at Dusk at the Following Locations:

Amazon /  IndieBound  /  B&N  /  The Book Depository

Review - Spell Bound

by Rachel Hawkins
publisher: Disney Hyperion
date of publication: March 13, 2012
format: hardcover
pages: 327
source: purchased
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted.

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

What I Thought

Can you believe it?  The infamous cliff hanger at the end of Demonglass finally has a continuation!  It has been a long, long wait, but answers are to be had at long last.  This is one of those books that had me feverishly shuffling my review pile just so I could at long last see what the heck happened to Sophie.  Let me tell you: it was very much worth the wait.  Sophie is back with in all her snarkastic glory (hey, it's a word; just watch Gilmore Girls!) and has some huge surprises in store.

I'm so glad to say that Sophie hasn't lost her touch.  I spent just as much time giggling through her exchanges with Archer as I did getting very, very nervous about how she was going to get herself out of her situation.  As it turns out, there is still so much to learn about Sophie, so much so, in fact, that there were several moments during which I was completely blind-sided.  How such a familiar character can still contain that many huge surprises, I'll never know.  As for new additions to the cast of characters, I just have to say it: The Brannicks left me feeling awed.  They are quite the family: red-headed warrior women?  Heck, yeah!  They are the very definition of formidable and I absolutely loved the contribution their addition made to the story.

Spell Bound takes the action from the second half of Demonglass and kicks it into overdrive.  The book pretty much hits the ground running and it seems that there is always something major going on.  There is little time to settle in before the bomb shells start dropping and things start happening.  It is everything I hoped it would be and provided hours of riveting entertainment that didn't quit until the very last page.  Everything from the realization of the villains' master plan to the tragedy that strikes, Spell Bound will leave you seriously considering taking up nail-biting. 

Since I suspect giving away anything major will cause those who haven't had the chance to read it yet to chase me through the street with torches and pitchforks, all I have left to say is that Spell Bound was truly worth the wait.  Rachel Hawkins put some incredible spins on various situations that will definitely leave you reeling.  I know this review gushes more than usual, but it's hard not to get swept up in the humor and light-hearted side of it all.  I absolutely loved it and encourage you to pick it up ASAP!

Review - Spellcaster

by Cara Lynn Shultz
publisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: March 27, 2012
format: eGalley
pages: 376
source: Netgalley
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Finding your eternal soulmate - easy.

Stopping a true-love-hungry evil - not so much…

After breaking a centuries-old romantic curse, Emma Connor is (almost) glad to get back to normal problems. Although...it's not easy dealing with the jealous cliques and gossip that rule her exclusive Upper East Side prep, even for a sixteen-year-old newbie witch. Having the most-wanted boy in school as her eternal soul mate sure helps ease the pain-especially since wealthy, rocker-hot Brendan Salinger is very good at staying irresistibly close....

But something dark and hungry is using Emma and Brendan's deepest fears to reveal damaging secrets and destroy their trust in each other. And Emma's crash course in über-spells may not be enough to keep them safe…or to stop an inhuman force bent on making their unsuspected power its own.

What I Thought

It's a little hard to believe that just a year ago Spellbound was one of my first ever Netgalley review books.  That was my introduction to the awesomeness that is Cara Lynn Shultz.  I adored Spellbound with every fiber of my being, so imagine my excitement when Spellcaster popped up on Netgalley.  Though I had to wait to read it, I was still just as excited to begin as the day I received it.  Now that I've read it, I find myself in a bit of a quandary.  You will soon see why.

Emma and Brendon are back in all their witty, sarcastic glory.  After surviving the violent attack of their former classmate, Anthony, the happy couple are ready for rest, relaxation, and lots of kissing.  Little do they know, however, that things are about to get dangerous once more.  As Emma and Brendon face this new enemy, they remind us about who they are and how they operate.  As Emma develops magically, she also begins to grow stronger as a person.  She learns much more about herself than she could have bargained for, which adds even more interest to the story.  Brendon, however, is thrown into unfamiliar territory when he learns just what fear is.  He, too, must learn more about himself in order to grow in strength and perseverance.  All of these character developments combined with loads of witty banter that kept me giggling throughout the book makes for a really fun, engrossing read that I simply couldn't get enough of.

Spellcaster improves upon all that I enjoyed about Spellbound, in that the threat is so much more insidious and spine-chilling.  Ms. Shultz has really ramped up the effectiveness of Emma and Brendon's opponent this time.  I found myself beyond creeped out by all that is thrown at the two this time.  The amount of magic involved is also much more, which definitely made me very happy with the plot.  The pacing of the story was all the more stimulating because of these factors.  I had to know what was going to happen next, making it very hard to put the book down.  I couldn't have asked for a better storyline.

Now we arrive at the dilemma.  What do you do when you're so pleased with a book that you don't feel your top rating is enough?  Spellcaster has definitely made me reconsider my rating system to the point that I am contemplating an addition.  In any case, Spellcaster is one of those books that will have you reading all through the night or, in my case, until the battery in the ereader is depleted.  If you're looking for a read with both humor and chills, Spellcaster is the way to go.    

Obligatory legal statement: This eGalley was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.   

Review - The Demon Lover

by Juliet Dark
publisher: Ballantine Books
date of publication: December 27, 2011
format: eGalley
pages: 371
source: Netgalley
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

I gasped . . . or tried to. My mouth opened, but I couldn’t draw breath. . . . His lips, pearly wet, parted and he blew into my mouth. My lungs expanded beneath his weight. When I exhaled he sucked in my breath and his weight turned from cold marble into warm living flesh.

Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly erotic dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of writing her bestselling book, The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. After all, Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she finds herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.

But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: He’s not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the incubus, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this demon lover from her heart.

What I Thought

I was quite taken by surprise when I began to read this book.  I went in expecting an adult paranormal romance with an intriguing premise.  What I found was so much more.  The author took the time to fill out her story with such amazing background information and character development in such unexpected ways that I couldn't help but become more intrigued.  The Demon Lover is one of those books that comes out of left field: you expect to enjoy it, but it surprises you in some way in the end that leaves you feeling refreshed and pleased.  

The Demon Lover is just the type of book that I look for when I need a slight break from YA novels.  Before I began reading YA books again, I read quite a number of adult paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and high fantasy novels.  This is just the type of book I would have gravitated toward then.  Filled with intriguing elements such as folklore and mythology, a town established to house varying supernatural creatures, and enough literary terminology to make an English major feel warm and fuzzy, The Demon Lover takes what is already an intriguing premise and runs with it.  I was especially pleased to find mention of a bit of Celtic lore that I have read about before, though the Anglicized version of the name threw me off (leave it to me to know the Irish word before the English one).  The gean-cānach (or Ganconer, as he is known in the book) is such an interesting version of the incubus.  While he isn't entirely recognizable in this book, I did like the changes made to the character that rendered just the right adversary for this book.  It wouldn't have worked quite as well had he been more like folklore describes him when held up next to the other characters at play within the story, which range from witches, faeries, and brownies to lidercs (a Hungarian version of the succubus) to vampires.  This book is a mythological free-for-all that left me very excited to read all of these old stories once again.  I'm sure the main character, Callie, would approve of that, as she is very much a researcher and a huge fan of literature.  For the most part, I adored her and can't wait to read more about her in subsequent installments.

While there is much about The Demon Lover that I loved, there was one issue that I became disappointed by.  About half-way through the book, the plot seems to lag in a way that felt disruptive to the reading experience.  I can see now what was taking shape, but it made for a halting flow for the plot that I wasn't too fond of.  While it gave time for some of the subplots to float to the surface and gain attention for a little while, it just wasn't done as though it were all part of the same book.  The best way I can describe it is to say that it felt almost as though I were reading a book within a book (which actually does take place, oddly enough, although with less fits and starts).  This aspect left me feeling frustrated with my own rating system, as it isn't quite adequate for a situation such as this.

The Demon Lover is a great read for fans of adult paranormal romance.  I wouldn't recommend it for young teen audiences, as it gets quite racy at times, but it also isn't so over-the-top as other novels of its kind.  If you love novels containing lots of mythology and folklore, then you should definitely give this one a chance.  It was vastly entertaining and I couldn't have been more pleased to have been approved to read it.  I think it is safe to stay that I've still got it when it comes to selecting adult novels for myself to read.  The Demon Lover rates as a 3.75 for me, so it earns a 4 hoot distinction.     

Obligatory legal statement: This eGalley was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.    

Creature Feature Review: Crave

Welcome to Vampiric Thursday, where we will be discussing all things vampire! To kick things off today, I have a review of Crave by Melissa Darnell, which just hit store shelves on Tuesday. Later today, I have another fun guest post, this time by Louise from Between the Covers. I hope you all will stop by to check it out!

Crave
by Melissa Darnell
publisher: HarlequinTeen
date of publication: October 25, 2011
format: eGalley
pages: 432
source: Netgalley
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

Savannah Colbert has been shunned all her life by the kids of the Clann. And when she undergoes some drastic changes after a strange illness, Savannah learns secrets about the group and about herself—dangerous secrets. For the Clann are powerful magic users, and Savannah herself is half Clann and half vampire—a forbidden, unheard of combination. Falling for Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman isn't just a bad idea—it could be deadly if anyone finds out. But her attraction to Tristan—and his to her—isn't something either of them can resist for long.

What I Thought

It has been quite a while since I have read vampire novels. Crave makes just the second I have read this year. While I was wary at first, I found that there are still a few tricks up the sleeves of the authors who write using vampires as their characters. Crave was a book that I found myself pleasantly surprised by. While parts of it are what you would expect from a vampire novel, there is still enough originality and action to present, which kept me immersed in the story.

The premise of this book is a rivalry between witches and vampires, which has resulted in strict rules for both races. The idea of the dhampir is another aspect of the plot that surprised me and kept me ready to learn more. That, along with a Romeo & Juliet-like relationship between a dhampir girl and a witch boy, all came together for an intriguing read that kept me guessing all throughout the book. Though the way in which time passes in the book is a little difficult to adjust to, I was easily drawn into this world of magic, blood, and rivalries. The plot is most definitely my favorite aspect of this book.

There is a fairly standard mix of characters in this book. From the token bullies that often appear in books such as these, to the shy girl who comes into her own, everything is well-covered. I found that I enjoyed Savannah as a character. When she began to come into her abilities and learned to handle whatever the bullies would throw her way was an aspect of the story that I thoroughly enjoyed. I wasn't sure what to make of Tristan, at first. I was turned off by his need to storm in and protect Savannah behind her back. However, I did feel for him due to the pressures put upon him by his family. One thing I wish is that we had been given more of a glimpse into the lives of Savannah's parents. I would have liked to know more about the way in which they met, fell in love, and had a baby. Overall, however, the characters played their roles very well and I wasn't left feeling sorry.

I am glad that Crave was able to overcome my reticence about picking up another vampire novel after such a long moratorium. I feel that it is imaginative, interesting, and a lot of fun as a read. Though I wasn't too wild about Savannah's paramour, I enjoyed the dynamic of their relationship insofar as the difficulties they had to overcome were involved. If you're looking for a fun vampire read, this could be a good book to take for a spin.






Obligatory legal statement: This eGalley was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Bump in the Night Brawl #3: Witches

Welcome to the continuation of Witchy Wednesday at Starting the Next Chapter. Today I have a very special guest post to share with you all. My oldest friend and number one book buddy Nikki from Books Most Wanted agreed to tackle the Bump in the Night Brawl with her thought-provoking take on witches. Come on in and make yourselves comfortable!

Ahhhhhhh………Hello, my pretties……..

So, you’ve come to see what’s so great, or maybe not so great, about witches, right? Well, my friends, I have always been on the fence about witches. Growing up, I both read and watched stories that had either a good or bad witch in them. It’s no wonder many children I know have the same conflicts with them as I do. It is this uncertainty that makes them truly scary, to be feared…and loved.

I’ll start off with the first film that comes to mind when I think of good vs. evil witches. The Wizard of Oz has a special place in my heart. It was always one of my favorites growing up and contains two of the most recognized witches in entertainment:

Glinda, the Good Witch of the North (not South, as it was depicted in the book),

and

Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.

The story revolves around the two characters interchangeably. It may not be the main story line, but it affects every aspect of all the rest. In this, the rivalry began between the forces of good and evil.

HOWEVER….

Some years later, in 1995 a little book called Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West changed my view on this. This book made me realize that there may be another side to the story. I’ve heard that It was actually here that the WWotW got her name, Elphaba, by author Gregory Maguire. The name is a “play on name” for the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Lyman Frank Baum (from his initials being sounded out: L-F-B).The book mesmerizes me to this day, but nothing compares to the Broadway Musical based on the book. Unfortunately, I’ve not gotten to see all of it, but for now I can make do with clips and soundtracks. The songs have so much meaning behind them, not only to the characters, but also the audience watching their interactions.

Here’s a clip from Wicked at the 2004 Tony Awards with my favorite witches, Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth: http://youtu.be/ejGLmx7ZH0c

or on stage: http://youtu.be/Y2wAyC1LPqI

Sadly, the show (minus Idina and Kristen, of course) is in Nashville now and nosebleed seats are close to $200 apiece. Doesn’t go well with a grad school budget. ::weeps::

So, no, I do not have the conventional frame of mind when it comes to witches. They are simply some of the most magical and versatile people in my fantasyland. In one story you may read them as being very elemental and supernatural witches, such as Victoria Schwab’s The Near Witch, and in another they may be quite horrible, like in the classic Hansel & Gretel story.

Yet, there are witches that we can humanly identify with. These witches are an iconic part of pop culture and have made their way as a staple on bookshelves and in theaters alike.

Yep, you are right. One of the most popular witches of our generation is Ms. Hermione Granger. This is one of my favorite scenes from the movie series. I’m sure many of us can watch and read this series and think “Yeah, been there done that” with a lot of the teenage situations. Many conceptions that kids have now are being based on these from popular books instead of the horror stories of the past. Books abound for these wicked ladies. Young adult authors have embraced them and put their own spin on the concepts.

Now that I have explained my perspective on witches, I don’t expect you to see it the same way. That’s the beauty of these stories; they all mean something different to everyone. I do want you to remember something, though. You know the saying, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.”? I think it applies to witches very well. They can be your best friends, or your worst enemies. You may not even know if they are your family or a neighbor down the street. Witches can be the masters of the unknown. That, friends, scares me more than blood, guts, and gore ever could.

Thanks, Nikki! If you haven't yet, stop by Books Most Wanted and check it out. Though she is very busy with graduate school, Nikki still finds time to post some awesome reviews. For all of you on Team Witch, we'll see you at the polls!

Creature Feature Review: Witchlanders

It's Witchy Wednesday at Starting the Next Chapter, meaning that today is all about witches. To start things off, I have a witch-centered book review for you all, Witchlanders by Lena Coakley. Granted, witches aren't creatures per say, BUT they do play a huge role in the supernatural figures most often thought of during Halloween. I hope you will all join me later today to welcome Nikki from Books Most Wanted, who will be dropping by to speak up in favor of witches for the Bump in the Night Brawl.

Witchlanders

by Lena Coakley
publisher: Atheneum
date of publication: August 30, 2011
format: hardcover
pages: 400
source: purchased
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

High in their mountain covens, red witches pray to the Goddess, protecting the Witchlands by throwing the bones and foretelling the future.

It’s all a fake.

At least, that’s what Ryder thinks. He doubts the witches really deserve their tithes—one quarter of all the crops his village can produce. And even if they can predict the future, what danger is there to foretell, now that his people’s old enemy, the Baen, has been defeated?

But when a terrifying new magic threatens both his village and the coven, Ryder must confront the beautiful and silent witch who holds all the secrets. Everything he’s ever believed about witches, the Baen, magic and about himself will change, when he discovers that the prophecies he’s always scorned—

Are about him.

What I Thought

Prior to reading it for myself, I had heard great things about Witchlanders. When I commenced my adventure with Ryder and Falpian, I was concerned that I was going to have a difficult time in enjoying it, myself. However, as things progressed I began to see what others were talking about and soon grew more and more immersed in the fascinating world that Lena Coakley constructed in this book. Though heavy on the details, Witchlanders is written in such a way that makes you feel as though you share knowledge right along with the main characters. As you realize just how much of a foundation the initial information at the beginning of the book created, it becomes much easier to understand its purpose. What results is a tantalizing, mystical world where nothing is quite what it seems.

At first, I wasn't sure exactly where the plot was going to go. It begins with the detailing of Ryder's immense frustrations with his life and with Falpian's low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It wasn't until more information was garnered with regard to the great war between the Witchlanders and the Baens that I began to unravel the line the plot was taking. At that point, I was caught up in a whirlwind of intrigue, danger, and fear. The descriptions of the magic that swirls throughout this book are almost lyrical, which is very fitting due to how it is performed. As Ryder and Falpian get to know each other better and begin working together, more is revealed that left me astounded and truly speechless. Ms. Coakley certainly knows her way around a plot twist!

Ryder was a bit difficult to get to know as a character, at first. He came off as a very conflicted person, as well as a reserved and bitter one. This made him a little difficult to connect with, but once he began to come out of his shell and began to realize some things, he became much more easy to relate to. As for Falpian, he seemed to be a somewhat weak character, at first. He seemed to be all bark and no bite when he first encountered Ryder. As he began to realize the true depth of his own power and his budding friendship with Ryder, he became a much more dynamic character, one which I preferred most out of the two.

The setting for Witchlanders is one of the most intriguing parts of this book. The forests and the mountain seemed to be very breath-taking, and the network of caves that the witches utilize is mysterious, eerie, and awe-inspiring. It seemed that every turn uncovered something new for Ryder and Falpian to discover, which I absolutely loved.

Witchlanders is a wonderfully imaginative story with elements of high fantasy and an epic adventure. Though it doesn't seem to have been announced yet, the end is left wide open for a sequel or even a series. If so, I look forward to reading more by Ms. Coakley in the future. This is a great book for fans of fantasy fiction to try out, as well as for those who enjoy stories surrounding witches and magic. Kudos to Ms. Coakley!