Night's Child by Cate Tiernan

Title: Night's Child
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-14-131717-5
Pages: 318
Series: Wicca/Sweep #15
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Moira Byrne has grown up hearing hushed whispers about her mother, the great Morgan of Belwicket, and the awesome powers she is said to possess. Moira just knows her as Mum and has only ever seen her work as a witch and healer. But when strange dark signs begin to plague Morgan and her daughter, Morgan fears that the darkness of her past has once again arisen to be fought once more and Moira begins to realise just how dangerous her mother can be.

This is the fifteenth and final book in the Wicca series (which began with Book of Shadows) and it set twenty years after the end of the previous installment. Morgan now resides in Ireland with her daughter Moira having been contacted to help rebuild her ancestral coven of Belwicket. Morgan thought she'd left the darkness behind, but this rollercoaster of a story proves her wrong.

From the tragic heartwrenching beginning, through the many unexpected twists and turns to the incredible conclusion this is a thrill ride of a book with heaps of tension. One thing that stood out for me in an outstanding way was the parallels between Moira's life and Morgan's. Moira is drawn to a young witch Ian Delaney whose mother is suspected of working dark magick and their relationship parallels Morgan's relationship with Cal in a fascinating way.

Moira herself is more like her mother than even she herself thinks, struggling with the balance of morality and discovering secrets her family had hidden for her whole life. It is also interesting to see how different Moira's life at sixteen is from Morgan's as she has been brought up surrounded by magick and is studying for her initiation. I loved seeing how Morgan managed to achieve her goal of becoming a healer, even if certain events are not what she wanted to experience.

The only thing that bothers me, and it is a tiny thing, is that while pretty much all the major characters from the previous books get updates Alisa does not. Whether this was to leave her storyline open for the possibility of continuance I don't know but a quick 'Alisa is doing...' could have easily been worked in.

All in all this was a great read and I heartily recommend the entire series.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

Full Circle by Cate Tiernan

Title: Full Circle
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-14-131710-8
Pages: 190
Series: Wicca/Sweep #14
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads



Morgan has battled great evil and found great joy since discovering Wicca and her own inner magick. She's come to terms with her heritage and learnt to balance the magickal aspects of her life with the mundane. Now she is looking forward to a bright future. So when Morgan begins having nightmares she ignores them at first. But when Morgan realises that she has been sleepwalking she realises that some dangers from her past aren't as defeated as she thought.

This is the fourteenth book in the Wicca series (which began with Book of Shadows) and returns to Morgan as a narrator although this role is once again shared, this time with Hunter. It is interesting that the narrative is shared by a couple as it gives additional insight into the romance angle, but also Morgan and Hunter are beginning to formulate their future plans which gives the book a sense of movement.

Morgan's nightmares are an ideal way to build the tension in the book, of which there is a steadly building amount from the start through to the shocking conclusion. There are many twists and turns and it is interesting to see just how deadly something so mundane as a nightmare can become when magick is introduced. Even Morgan herself initially dismisses the danger as just another nightmare. Instead the danger grows out of sight until lives are threatened and life-altering choices must be made.

I liked how Morgan and Hunter are looking to the future. This is the last book before a large time jump and so it is great to see them deciding what their individual paths will be. It also impacts their relationship in a realistic way as most couples will eventually have to deal with the possibility of separate futures and whether their relationship is strong enough to survive. As it is, it is fascinating to see how Hunter brings Morgan to an unusual situation and helps further both their life plans.

All in all this was another great read and I'm looking forward to Night's Child.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 47/50

Teaser Tuesday (25)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My teaser:

"I was happy, lying there in the sun and dappled shade. It felt normal, natural, light. I hoped that the rest of the year would be more like this and that the darkness we'd been facing had finally gone for good."

~ Page 31, Full Circle by Cate Tiernan

Reckoning by Cate Tiernan

Title: Reckoning
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-14-131707-8
Pages: 188
Series: Wicca/Sweep #13
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Alisa Soto grew up thinking that she was a normal girl and her biggest worry was the impending marriage of her father and his young pregnant fiance. Then Alisa discovered Wicca and with it a world of temptation, beauty and fear. With it, Alisa discovered that she is incredibly unique - a talented half-witch, unheard of even in the magickal world. Now Alisa is determined to seek out her mother's family and learn more about her heritage.

This is the thirteenth book in the Wicca series (which began with Book of Shadows) and is narrated by Alisa. The previous installment was jointly narrated by Alisa and Morgan and it's great to have a book purely from Alisa's perspective as she's a really great fascinating character. This is probably one of my favourites of the series as I really like Alisa's voice.

The setting of the book has also changed as Alisa goes to Gloucester, Massachusetts in search of her mother's family. Turning up on her uncle's doorstep she is thrown in at the deep end, and in doing so she soon discovers that her family need her just as much as she needs them. Strange telekinectic incidents have haunted the family for generations and Alisa may just hold the solution within her.

I really liked Alisa's family, especially her Uncle Sam and her reunion with her family is particularly well written. Some family members are thrilled by her presence, some take it in their stride and others are reluctant to acknowledge her. It is also great to see how someone with a mundane childhood reacts when introduced to a family immersed in magick. The other thing I loved is that Alisa manages to use her experience to grow as a person, becoming more focused and centered in herself and using it in a positive way.

The romance angle is also a little different. Alisa finds herself irrevocably drawn to Charlie Findgoll, a geeky witch who is open and friendly from the moment they meet. But Charlie is Alisa's newfound cousin's boyfriend and so the attraction becomes something they both resist from the beginning even as their friendship grows.

All in all this was an awesome read and I'm looking forward to Full Circle.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

Eclipse by Cate Tiernan

Title: Eclipse
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-141-31553-9
Pages: 187
Series: Wicca/Sweep #12
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Morgan Rowlands has discovered much about magick and love, but when strange events start happening Morgan isn't sure what to do. It is like a cloud of darkness is hovering over the heads of her and her friends, and soon Morgan comes to fear the worst. Putting on a brave face she tries to hide the possibility of danger but there's a problem. Alisa isn't fooled by Morgan's pretence and she too can feel the darkness surrounding them...the question is how is she able to?

This is the twelfth book in the Wicca series (which began with Book of Shadows) and sees another change in style. The narration is now split between Morgan and Alisa, who previously has been a member of Kithic and a good friend of Morgan's sister Mary K. This is really well written and both voices are distinct, allowing the reader a great view into the events in Widow's Vale.

Alternating between Morgan and Alisa also means that the two stories can be both intricately intermeshed and also completely unique. Morgan is dealing with the lengths her biological father will go to in order to either win her to his side, or remove her from his path while Alisa is beginning to realise that her family tree holds just as many secrets as Morgan's.

I also found the story of Hunter's father Daniel's recovery to be very interesting. He questions Morgan's loyalties and his gradual trust parallels his improving health. There was a possibility Daniel would magickally recover and I'm really glad the book chose to take a more mundane route to health.

At this point it is important to have read the books in order (even the previous somewhat disappointing Origins) as the dark wave plays it's most pivotal role yet. Alongside this there are loads of twists and turns that I didn't expect and an outstanding action-packed conclusion.

All in all this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Reckoning.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 48/50

Origins by Cate Tiernan

Title: Origins
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-141-31552-0
Pages: 184
Series: Wicca/Sweep #11
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


In 1682 Rose MacEwan lived in dangerous times, more so because she was a witch. The daughter of her coven's High Priestess, Rose always felt that she was being held back from her magick by her mother. So when Rose meets the mischevious Diarmuid in the woods, she seizes the opportunity to work greater more powerful magick. But Rose's choices have consequences even she could never have predicted.

This is the eleventh book in the Wicca series (which began with Book of Shadows) and again is from a perspective other than Morgan's. In this installment, Morgan's ancestor Rose narrates the tale of the creation of the dark wave. Morgan and Hunter appear briefly in the prologue and epilogue but otherwise the entire book is given over to Rose's story.

The movement of the story to seventeenth century Scotland is an interesting choice. I enjoyed the opportunity to discover how and why the dark wave was created, and the circumstances fit well with the morality issues raised in previous installments. However, I didn't really warm to Rose as a character and the pace of the book is quite a lot slower than before. To this point the rest of the series is set over around four months, whilst this book is set over the course of almost a year. This means that a lot of the tension depends on the witch hysteria rather than Rose herself.

The romance angle between Rose and Diarmuid was also a little disappointing as she uses magick to capture his attention which always makes the relationship seem unbalanced. Rose's determination to maintain their connection is understandable but I have to say I wasn't really surprised when Diarmuid's true intentions are revealed.

All in all this was an interesting read and I'm looking forward to Eclipse.

Plot: 8/10
Characters: 8/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 42/50

Seeker by Cate Tiernan

Title: Seeker
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-141-31551-2
Pages: 172
Series: Wicca/Sweep #10
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Hunter Niall's parents disappeared eleven years ago, trying to save their children and outrun a mystical dark wave. Hunter was left with a lot of unanswered questions and has been looking for his parents for years. Now he has finally tracked his family down and he is travelling to Canada in search of answers. But all is not as Hunter expects and soon he finds himself with more questions than ever before, questions that place his dedication to the International Council of Witches in doubt.

This is the tenth book in the Wicca series (after Book of Shadows, The Coven, Blood Witch, Dark Magick, Awakening, Spellbound, The Calling, Changeling and Strife) and is the first book to be written from Hunter's perspective. A change in narrator like this can often spell trouble for a long-running series, but I liked Hunter's voice and found it interesting to see things from his perspective. Morgan's diary entries are also included so the reader can also keep track of events back in Widows Vale.

The mystery of where Hunter's parents are has been a key part of his character development and plotlines since his introduction and now there are finally some answers. To me, the most interesting part of this book is Hunter's internal struggles with what has become of his family and whether he is happy with the direction his life has taken. Hunter has always seemed very self-assured and confident in his role as a Seeker so it is great to see that he has doubts sometimes.

Once more morality is a big part of the storyline, although this time it is focused more on the question "is the wrong thing done for the right reasons still the wrong thing". Morals become clouded, choices aren't clear cut and the characters all deal with this dilemma in different ways. Hunter strives for the right thing to do while his father Daniel no longer cares about right and wrong.

All in all this was a fun read and I'm looking forward to Origins.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 45/50

Strife by Cate Tiernan

Title: Strife

Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-141-31550-4
Pages: 188
Series: Wicca/Sweep #9
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Morgan has experienced both the beauty and the terror that magick can bring yet she has managed to find a place of peace within herself. With her boyfriend Hunter by her side she is looking forward to learning as much as she can about the craft. But when strange telekinetic events start to occur around Morgan, a dangerous question arises. Is someone deliberately targeting her, or are the events somehow being caused by Morgan herself?

This is the ninth book in the Wicca series (after Book of Shadows, The Coven, Blood Witch, Dark Magick, Awakening, Spellbound, The Calling and Changeling) and causes Morgan to take somewhat of a step back and leaves her without her magick. The threat in this book is more insidious than before as no-one can determine it's origin. Morgan has drawn the attention of powerful dark witches but the randomness of the events doesn't seem to fit. This means that the tension is brought up a notch and the unseen foe adds an air of mystery.

One thing I liked about the storyline is that as Morgan begins to doubt her magick, her parents force her to look at what her interest in wicca has cost her. Her life is out of control with her grades freefalling and a lack of connection with her family. It is the first time Morgan has had to work at her mundane life and it is great to see how realistically this is dealt with.

There is also more of a focus on Alisa, the youngest member of Kithic and one of Mary K's closest friends. Alisa is terrified of Morgan's powers and so there is the introduction of witch hysteria into Morgan's world. This, strangely, also leads Morgan to connect with her healing gifts adding a new dimension to her studies.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Seeker.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 47/50

Teaser Tuesday (24)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My teaser:

"Wave after wave of emotions flooded over me - despair, agony, longing, regret, fear. Deep fear."

~ Page 32, Strife by Cate Tiernan

Changeling by Cate Tiernan

Title: Changeling
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-14-131484-2
Pages: 188
Series: Wicca/Sweep #8
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Morgan Rowlands has discovered a terrible secret about her origins that has thrown her entire life into doubt. She pushes her beloved Hunter away, determined to isolate herself so as not to threaten the lives of those she loves. But as soon as she does Morgan is contacted by the International Council of Witches. It turns out she is uniquely qualified to help them deal with a dangerous witch...but doing so could cost her her life.

This is the eighth book in the Wicca series (after Book of Shadows, The Coven, Blood Witch, Dark Magick, Awakening, Spellbound and The Calling) and it picks up shortly after the last left off. Morgan has broken up with Hunter and distanced herself from her friends and so this story takes a more introverted view. A large part of the story comes from Morgan's inner thoughts and, with her family away on vacation, this guides her choices throughout.

The morality of good versus bad has been covered before in the series but this installment takes it one step further by looking at how much personal choice is involved. Can a person be predestined to be either good or bad, or can they choose their own path? For that matter is it a one time choice or something that must be repeated? Heavy themes but well handled so that the characters and reader can come to their own conclusion.

With Hunter and Morgan separated the romance angle of the storyline is less than previously and this gap is filled with tension, not only from Morgan's work with the council but from the strained relationships throughout the book. Killan makes a welcome return and he manages to spread both joy and chaos in his wake, giving the book some lighter moments to balance the dark.

All in all this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Strife.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 47/50

The Calling by Cate Tiernan

Title: The Calling
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-14-131483-4
Pages: 189
Series: Wicca/Sweep #7
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Morgan Rowlands has discovered magick and with it love, danger and betrayal. Now she has escaped from the grasp of dark witches who wanted only her powers and has found peace within herself. With her boyfriend Hunter, Morgan is ready to face anything...or so she thinks. When she begins to have disturbing dreams about the death of a young witch, Morgan and her coven travel to New York to help but end up changing their lives forever.

This is the seventh book in the Wicca series (after Book of Shadows, The Coven, Blood Witch, Dark Magick, Awakening and Spellbound) and begins a new era for Morgan. Cal and Selene are gone and Morgan is now in a relationship with Hunter. Morgan is also starting to grow into her powers and become more accepting of who she is. This also marks somewhat of a turning point for the series - from this point on the battles are bigger, the highs higher, the lows lower and the magick steps further from modern wicca into the realm of fantasy.

By moving the setting to New York, there is also the opportunity to focus back on a smaller group of characters. Previously the two covens of Cirrus and Kithic had united which meant a lot of characters with not much pagetime. In New York there is only Morgan, Hunter, Bree, Robbie, Sky and Raven which not only means a tighter focus and more depth but also a romantic angle that is far more prevalent than before. It is interesting to read about how different each of the three couples are, and how each has their own unique strengths and weaknesses.

One thing that has remained from the previous books is the careful crafting of tension. Morgan's time is spent looking for a witch in danger, but also on discovering more about her past. Her birth parents lived in New York for a while and Morgan's search to find out more puts one friendship in jeopardy. There are also several twists and turns I didn't see coming leading to a shocking conclusion.

All in all, this was an interesting read and I'm looking forward to Changeling.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 47/50 

Spellbound by Cate Tiernan

Title: Spellbound
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-14-131405-2
Pages: 190
Series: Wicca/Sweep #6
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Morgan is a blood witch with a huge amount of innate power. Initially introduced to magick and then betrayed by her boyfriend Cal Morgan is now studying with Hunter Niall, a member of the Witches' Council. Her world has been a mix of darkness and light and she has been forced to confront dark magick. Now Hunter is having accident after accident and Morgan wonders what could be causing this chaos.

This is the sixth book in the outstanding Wicca/Sweep series (after Book of Shadows, The Coven, Blood Witch, Dark Magick and Awakening). The storyline is action packed and full of twists, and this book is unique in that the danger comes from mundane accidents.

Morgan is finding an inner strength and she and Hunter are tentatively exploring their feelings for one another. They know that there is some kind of emotional connection but are reluctant to overcome their pasts and define their relationship. It is really interesting to see Morgan in a romantic situation where she is forced to take a leading role as she was very passive in her previous relationship.

With the two covens of Cirrus and Kithic now joined, there are more additional characters most of whom don't really get much page time. That said there is a lot going on for Morgan and Hunter in the story and too many side plots would have been very distracting. Mary K is still reeling from her relationship with Bakker, and Morgan is still rebuilding her friendship with Bree. Alice is also left dealing with the events of the previous book which echo throughout this narrative.

All in all, this was another great read and I can't wait to get stuck into The Calling.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 48/50

Awakening by Cate Tiernan

Title: Awakening
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-14-131404-4
Pages: 188
Series: Wicca/Sweep #5
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Morgan Rowlands has discovered magick, love and power but with it has found secrets, betrayal and death. Her world has changed since Cal's betrayal and Morgan is trying to adjust to the shock. When someone begins to work dark magick in Widow's Vale, Morgan wonders if Cal and Selene have returned for her. But she is about to learn that there are varying degrees of black and white, and not all are clear to see.

This is the fifth book in the awesome Wicca/Sweep series (after Book of Shadows, The Coven, Blood Witch and Dark Magick) and this starts somewhat of a new era for Morgan. She has realised that Cal was only interested in her power and so she has to begin to rebuild her life without him. The storyline flows well at a reasonable pace and once more has several unexpected twists and turns.

Morgan is once more in a painful situation, but this is realistically written. The main emotional focus of the book is on pain and loss and it is incredibly well done, presenting various situations and allowing the characters to deal in their own ways. The storyline also focuses on the morality of dark magick and carefully shows that no situation can ever truly be black or white. Even the purest heart can do horrific things in the name of good and Morgan is forced to deal with this apparent dichotomy.

The other members of Cirrus are given the space to grow as well, and Morgan begins to tentatively rebuild her relationship with Bree. Hunter and Sky spend more time with Morgan and she begins to form friendships with them, gradually overcoming her initial fear and dislike. Another story thread is given over to Morgan's Aunt Eileen and her partner Paula who are being tormented for being gay.

All in all, this was another awesome read and I can't wait to get stuck into Spellbound.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 48/50

Dark Magick by Cate Tiernan

Title: Dark Magick
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-14-131403-6
Pages: 186
Series: Wicca/Sweep #4
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Morgan Rowlands has discovered her magickal heritage and with it has found power, love and conflict. Deeply in love with her boyfriend Cal she was drawn into a shocking confrontation with Hunter, a member of the witches' council who claimed Cal and his mother were working dark magicks. Cal seems so devoted to her, but even so Morgan begins to question whether Hunter may have been telling the truth...and what that could mean for her.

This is the fourth book in the brilliant Wicca/Sweep series (after Book of Shadows, The Coven and Blood Witch) and picks up immediately after the shocking conclusion of the previous book. The plot is incredibly fast-paced and action-packed with a host of unexpected twists and turns, not to mention a mindblowing conclusion.

Morgan is forced to grow up fast in this installment given her actions at the end of the previous book. She has to reconsider everything she thought she knew about herself and about Cal and her confusion is heartwrenchingly well written. The distance Morgan creates between her and Cal also isolates her and allows her to deal by herself which is interesting.

There are also some changes happening for the rest of Morgan's friends. Relationships are beginning and ending and the rest of Morgan's coven Cirrus are creating deeper connections with magick. Mary K's tumultous relationship with Bakker is back on and adding more stress to Morgan's life. This time the Book of Shadows entries are from two perspectives, a present thread from Sgath and historical entries from Giomanach. The two styles are distinct and allow for a fair amount of backstory which enhances the main narrative.

All in all, this was another awesome read and I can't wait to get stuck into Awakening.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 48/50

Teaser Tuesday (23)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My teaser:

"His words fell like quiet leaves onto the snow as I stood, trapped by his eyes. My chest hurt, as if I had too much emotion inside, and to let it all out was unthinkable: I wouldn't know where to begin."

~ Page 122, Dark Magick by Cate Tiernan

Blood Witch by Cate Tiernan

Title: Blood Witch
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-14-131402-8
Pages: 202
Series: Wicca/Sweep #3
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Morgan Rowlands now knows that she is a blood witch and through realising her power has found a new life and new love. But while Morgan thinks she knows all there is to know about her past, she is mistaken and the discovery of her birth mother's Book of Shadows stands to reveal more than ever. This combined with the arrival of two English witches in town threatens to destroy the balance Morgan thought she had found.

This is the third book in the awesome Wicca/Sweep series (after Book of Shadows and The Coven) and, like the last novel, continues directly on from the previous installment. A new conflict is introduced with the arrival of two English witches (Hunter and Sky) and a second coven setting up in Widows Vale. There is also a mystery element introduced with Hunter and what is relationship to Cal really is. This time the journal entries are from the perspectives of Sgath (in the present) and Giomanach (from the past) which supports the mystery aspect well.

Morgan continues to grow in confidence in this book, beginning to stand up to authority figures and state her own opinions clearly. Her relationship with Cal deepens and is beautifully written. The two new witches in town add another dimension to this book. Morgan dislikes Sky from the beginning and is jealous of her, but it is Hunter who she has an extreme reaction to. Morgan's magick also continues to evolve with her spending more time exploring different techniques like herbs and runes.

The other coven members continue to grow in their own right with more of a focus on the relationships between Sharon and Ethan and Jenna and Matt. Robbie spends more time with Morgan which allows a view to what Bree is doing away from Morgan. A great focus is given to Morgan's sister Mary K who is in a difficult relationship with an overly pushy boyfriend adding a touch of reality to the storyline.

All in all, this was another incredible read and I can't wait to get stuck into Dark Magick.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 48/50

The Coven by Cate Tiernan

Title: The Coven
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-14-131401-X
Pages: 185
Series: Wicca/Sweep #2
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads



Morgan Rowlands has discovered Wicca and in doing so she has changed her life. She has found love, magick and power but her newfound passion comes at a high cost. Morgan stands on the brink of losing all she holds dear. Her best friend has turned against her and her family are not who she thought. Soon Morgan finds herself asking for all the joy magick brings to her life, what is the cost?

This is the second book in the incredible Wicca/Sweep series (after Book of Shadows) and picks up immediately where the last one left off. Morgan has discovered her true power and it has cost her Bree, her best friend since childhood, but gained her the love of Cal. The book jumps straight into the action and the plot is tightly written but still allowing Morgan room to grow as a character. Again entries from a character's journal preface each chapter adding depth to the story.

Morgan is left in a crisis as Bree turns from best friend to worst enemy in a single moment and the ramifications of this echo through the entire book. The writing is brilliant and shows the conflict in a realistic way, along with how the friction between Morgan and Bree affects everyone else in their group of friends, especially Robbie who ends up almost stuck between the two by refusing to take sides.

The other members of the Cirrus coven are focused on a little more so we get to see them as more than popular Jenna, jock Matt, rich girl Sharon and stoner Ethan. Hints of their deeper personalities had shown though in the previous book, but this takes time to explore their likes and dislikes and deeper characters. It reveals a lot about who they really are as opposed to the labels given to them in a similar way to Morgan realising she isn't the shy girl.

All in all, this was an awesome read and I can't wait to get stuck into Blood Witch.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 48/50

Book of Shadows by Cate Tiernan

Title: Book of Shadows

Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-14-131402-8
Pages: 187
Series: Wicca/Sweep #1
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads



Morgan Rowlands is an normal 16-year-old girl with an totall ordinary unremarkable life. Morgan spends most of her time with her best friends Bree and Robbie. When Cal Blaire moves to her small town of Widows Vale Morgan finds her life changing. After being hosting a party Cal reveals that he is a practicing witch looking to form a new coven and Morgan finds herself intrigued. But when Morgan and Bree both become interested in Wicca and Cal personally, Morgan finds her mundane life thrown into turmoil.

This is the first in the Wicca/Sweep series which is hands down one of my favourite series of all time. I've read and reread these books countless times over the past ten years or so making an actual review way overdue. The book mixes magick (spelt here with a k) with normal teenage life in a fascinating way. The attention given to detail, especially in this first book shows that the author has done some serious research into modern Wicca and generally presents it in a realistic way, although a degree of artistic license is taken.

The storyline is well paced with Cal's appearance and the introduction of Wicca coming early on. From there the emotional ramifications of Morgan's choices keep the pace fast, and the writing makes the book really accessible and easy to read without being dull. Interestingly the start of each chapter includes a quote from a fictious magickal text and a segment from the journal of one of the characters which adds an extra dimension to the storyline.

Morgan is a brilliant lead character who really comes to life on the page. The first person narrative really allows the reader to get inside Morgan's head and experience things alongside her. Her inner turmoil about being drawn to Wicca is particularly well-written as are her family's reactions. As her life begins to change Morgan gradually becomes more confident and starts going after what she wants which is a brilliant characteristic.

The supporting characters are equally well written, with Bree pulling off the glamour-puss role without being irritating and Robbie being the ideal best friend. Cal is the perfect mix of gorgeous and tempting, especially with the additional draw of being the only witch Morgan and her friends know.

All in all, this was an awesome read and I can't wait to get stuck into The Coven.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50