Sheila's Books Read

Sheila's bookshelf: read

The Best Intentions
Scotland's Melody
The Secret Society of Salzburg
Secret of the Sonnets
20-40-60-Minute Dinners: Meals to Match the Time You Have
Through the Wilderness: My Journey of Redemption and Healing in the American Wild
Secret Santa Claus Club: A Tool to Help Parents Unwrap the Secret of Santa
Mr. Pudgins
Revenge Never Rests
The Best Mistake
Meriden Park
More Inspirational Stories for Young Women
The Great Tree: A Christmas Fable
To Capture His Heart
The Call of the Sea
Esperance
Livvy and the Enchanted Woodland
Come, Gentle Night
The Bad Boy Theory
Guide To Smart Wedding Planning: What You want to know and everything you haven't thought of yet.


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2024 Goodreads Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge
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Thursday, August 23, 2012

Review of The Witch Song Series: Witch Song and Witch Born by Amber Argyle AND WIN Your Own Copy of Witch Born!! Enter Here!


Product Details:

  • Title: Witch Born (Book #2 in The Witch Born Series)
  • Author: Amber Argyle
  • Paperback: 330 pages
  • Publisher: Starling Books (September 5, 2012)
  • Genre: YA Fantasy
  • ISBN-10: 0985739401
  • ISBN-13: 978-0985739409

Book Description:
September 5, 2012
Brusenna thought it was finished. She defeated the Dark Witch, saving the Haven Witches from imprisonment and death. She found love and a place to belong. She was wrong. Haven is not the sanctuary it appears to be. Even love is in danger of slipping away like water through cupped hands. Some things can't be saved. A new threat merges with the old as the Witches' dark history begins to catch up with them. Only Brusenna knows the extent of the danger and how to stop it, though doing so might cost her everything. Including her life. Will Brusenna be required to make the ultimate sacrifice?

Product Details:

  • Title: Witch Song(Book#1 in the Witch Song Series)  
  • Author: Amber Argyle
  • Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  • Paperback: 325 pages
  • Publisher: Rhemalda Publishing (September 1, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1936850168
  • ISBN-13: 978-1936850167

Book Description:

September 1, 2011 11 and up6 and up

The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons-but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fade, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.

My Review:
I was so lucky to be able to read both books, one right after the other. If I hadn't been able to, I would have gone a little crazy! I had to start book two immediately to see what would happen. I let the author know how I felt about her books when I sent her a message on Facebook, here is what I said...

"There is something missing in your books...a warning at the beginning that your stories are so addicting that you won't be able to put the book down."

When I wrote this to Amber I truly meant it. I took my Kindle to work and it was so hard not to sneak a peek when I shouldn't during the day. I did read it during Silent Reading Time and during my lunch time. That is my warning to you also, once you start reading this series, you won't want to stop reading.

Things I Liked:
-Beautiful Writing Style: Amber has such a beautiful way with her words. The Witches in this series cast spells by singing. I loved the words sung by the witches as they cast protection spells. I hate to admit, even when they cast spells to hurt their enemies. Here is an example of main character Brusenna's, or Senna as she is called mainly in the story, her spell casting...

"Let not the curse of Witches
Destroy a land of natural riches.
Plants, preserve life in thy roots,
Seeds sleep in earth, send forth
no shoots
Until the Witches shall disperse
This terrible and unjust curse."

I am a singer, so I loved that singing was the method of yielding the Witches power. To cripple a witch and put a stopper to her powers, they gag her. But, you will be amazed at everything the witches can do with their powers.

-Great Main Character Senna: Here is why I loved this character;though she is a truly powerful witch, she is still very "human" in many of her actions. She is not perfect. She has doubts about herself and what she can accomplish. She has feelings and often puts them on the line. In other words, she is very relatable. I like this in a character. It is very easy to put yourself in her place with what she is thinking and feeling. 

-Interesting Magic System and History: I loved figuring our how the witches gain power, and what the power is. I also was intrigued with how the witches could control the natural elements.  The history also unfolds in the second book, Witch Born. By no means does this make the book boring. It only enhances the story as events unfold.

Gorgeous Covers: 
Do I need to say more???

-Great Love Story: 
Senna and her Guardian, Joshen, have a very sweet, but normal relationship. They share a great love, but they also have their share of arguments. Through most of both books there is no love triangle; and that is all I am going to say. ;)

-Refreshing and Original Storyline:
I have been reading a lot of fantasy and paranormal stories the past two years. The Witch Song Series is very different from other stories that have witches in them. If you're tired of vampires, this is a great choice! The author states at the beginning, "The Author wished to use America's resonance with the Salem Witch Trials. Therefore, the technology and setting for Nefalie are loosely based off of seventeenth century New England" and this time period has always fascinated me. There is also a lot of action that leaves you sitting on the edge of your seat, from chapter to chapter. I couldn't read fast enough!

Overall, I really loved this series full of interesting characters with such a refreshing storyline. I recommend Witch Song and Witch Born to ages 11 and up. With a main character that grows and matures, you grow to love and admire her. This is a fantastic read which I will read again!

Now you have a chance to win an e-copy of Witch Born and some Witch Born Swag! Enter below on the Rafflecopter form. 

Also, don't forget to enter the Feed Your Reader Giveaway at this blog! Lots of things to win! Then in September, come back to my 1000+ Followers Celebration to enter to win many more things! All that you need to do is be a follower of my blog.



About this author
:

Amber Argyle grew up with three brothers on a cattle ranch in the Rocky Mountains. She spent hours riding horses, roaming the mountains, and playing in her family’s creepy barn. This environment fueled her imagination for writing high fantasy.

She has worked as a short order cook, janitor, and staff member in a mental institution. All of which has given her great insight into the human condition and has made for some unique characters.

She received her bachelor’s degree in English and Physical Education from Utah State University.

She currently resides in Utah with her husband and three small children.You can follow her on:
Twitter
Facebook
Blog
Website

Purchase your own copies of Witch Song and Witch Born at Amazon.com.


 
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13 comments:

  1. Fun review. Both books sound like a great read ! I love the cover of witch born. There's so much movement to it. And yes a book cover makes an impression. We judge a lot of things on looks whether we mean to or not. Books, cars, houses, people, etc. it just happens. And a comment for Amber...Go Aggies!

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  2. The Witch Born cover is my favorite. The girl looks so pretty! I love her hair in it.
    And yes, I really pay attention to covers and I usually choose the book that I want to read based only by its cover.
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  3. I'm lucky to already have both books. I really loved Witch Song, and I'm in the midst of reading Witch Born. I just want a day to read it. Amber writes beautifully. Great review!

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  4. alilacey: Another Aggie fan! Whoot!
    Evie: I buy on covers too. Publishers spend more on covers for books they think will do well, so it often works.
    Cherie: Thanks! I sure try. :)

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  5. Totally love these books! they are great and keep you entangled in every word ready for the next one. I highly recommend them to all young readers and old.

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  6. I like the Witch Born cover more because it looks more real. Yeah, I have to admit that I sometimes only take notice of a book if I the cover art pulls me first. xD

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  7. I love both and they would definitely make me buy the books.

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  8. The cover of Witch Song captivated me and made me want to read the book. Witch Born seems like Senna has grown stronger and I am dying to get me hands on it!

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  9. Cryscringle: I like the second one better too.
    nat: :)
    Tim and Shiree: Exactly what we were going for. Glad it worked.

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  10. I heard about this series awhile ago, but haven't gotten my hands on a copy of Witch Song yet. Sounds like it's definitely worth pushing up on the to-read list.

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    Replies
    1. Covers definitely influence my decision on reading and/or buying a book. I like the Witch Born cover best.

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  11. Covers can definitely influence whether or not I want to read a book but sometimes I can get past a really bad cover and love the book. I think both covers are fabulous and seem to have a great theme going from one to the next.

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  12. I like the witchborn cover better. It rocks. Of course it makes me want to buy it. Love it

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