Witch Born

Witch Song #2

by Amber Argyle

A witch. Her guardian. Centuries of secrets . . .

Brusenna defeated the dark witch, saving her fellow witches from imprisonment and death. She found love and a place to belong. But the longer she stays with the witches, the more disturbing secrets she dredges up from their sordid past.

Secrets that threaten to destroy them all.

A new threat merges with the old as the witches' dark history begins to catch up to them. Only Brusenna realizes the extent of the danger and how to stop it, though doing so might cost her everything.

Including her life.

Dying for a witchy read that will keep you up all night? If you enjoyed the sweet romance, daring adventure, and unique magic in books like SHADOW AND BONE and THE BLACK WITCH, the Witch Song Series will leave you breathless for more. Read now and let yourself be bewitched!

OTHER TITLES BY AMBER ARGYLE

Witch Song Series
Witch Song
Witch Born
Witch Rising
Witch Fall

Forbidden Forest Series
Lady of Shadows
Stolen Enchantress
Piper Prince
Wraith King
Curse Queen

Fairy Queens Saga
Of Ice and Snow
Winter Queen
Of Fire and Ash
Summer Queen
Of Sand and Storm
Daughter of Winter
Winter’s Heir

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Witches, Paranormal, Magic, Romance, Fiction

330 pages, Paperback

First published August 10, 2012

About the author

Amber Argyle is the bestselling fantasy & romance author of the Forbidden Forest, Fairy Queens, Witch Song, & Wild Heart Ranch Romance series. Her award-winning books have been translated into several languages and praised by such authors as NYT bestsellers David Farland and Jennifer A. Nielsen.

Amber grew up on a cattle ranch and spent her formative years in the rodeo circuit and on the basketball court. She graduated cum laude from Utah State University. She’s delightfully sarcastic, loves all things outdoors, and believes spiders should be relegated to horror novels where they belong.

She has completed three series and is working on a fourth.

To receive her starter library of four free books, simply tell her where to send it: http://amberargyle.com/freebooks/

Reviews

[Amber Argyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing Witch Born took more than I thought I had to give. It's the end of Brusenna's journey (which started with Witch Song), and I'm not sure how to say goodbye. I've been wandering the house, glassy-eyed and lost for days now.

It consumed so much of my life, and now it's over.

But that's the beauty of being an author (insert evil laugh). It's not over unless I want it to be. I'll be writing a prequel about a minor character's life. After you read Witch Born, you'll know which one.

Perhaps then I'll be ready to move on. I have so many stories calling for me.

[Giselle]

How gorgeous is THIS!!

[BookLoversLife · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber Argyle has, without a doubt, become a firm favourite of mine. Her writing is amazing and her attention to detail is phenomenal. She has never failed to grab me right from the start and take me on a magical, often times tragical, journey. Every one of her books has been action packed and intense. They have caused me to cry, to gasp, to shout out and to have a book hangover! This one is no different.

May contain spoilers for book 1!!

Brusenna is once again in a fight for her life. She thought that after defeating the dark witch, her life would be easier now, but she is wrong. She has to defeat a much more dangerous foe and try to save her fellow witches. All the while trying to have a life with Joshen. Can she do it, or will her story end tragically?

I fell in love with Senna and Joshen after book one, and this one just cements it. Senna is such a worthy heroine. She knows her own mind and even when she is told not to do something, if it's the right thing to do, she will do it no matter the consequences. She is strong willed, kind, capable and loyal. She has been through so much, and even more during this one, yet she stays true to herself.

Joshen is such a dolt!! How could he be so stupid and not trust Senna after everything!!!! (You will have to read it to see what I'm talking about) My heart was in my mouth wondering if they would make up or not! I love these 2 and they are perfect for each other so I'm glad it was all sorted.

The plot is once again extremely fast paced. I loved that we get to see the dark witch again and what Senna does for her just goes to show her character. There are secrets revealed, lives lost, friendship destroyed, and even worse, a deception that is hard to take. Basically we have a book filled with everything a great book should have.

Everything about this book, and indeed the series, can be summed up in one word.... amazing! It's a book that once you start, be prepared to be up all night because you won't put it down. The world Amber created is magical and one I know I will revisit again and again. Highly recommend her work and I can not wait to read more from her.

Melissa Reizian Frank has such a great voice for this series. It feels like she is the perfect Senna and really gets the story. Her tones inflections are perfect and she brings this story alive.

[Deea (Andreea) · Rating 5 out of 5]

O.M.G. If Witch Song was amazing, Witch Born was downright mind-blowing! Usually, I'm not one to dwell on the ending of a series; if the characters get their closure and/or their HEA, I'm OK with it and I move on; this time though, I really, really feel like stalking Amber Argyle and begging her to write more books in this world. I didn't want the story to end!!! *sob*

If you loved Witch Song, but you're worried that Witch Born might have some second-book-in-a-series-syndrome symptoms... Do. Not. Worry. In fact, read it as soon as possible, because Witch Born is so much MORE! (After reading the first book, I didn't think the second one could get better, but I was wrong). More tension, suspense, intrigue, mystery, action, adventures, drama, heartbreak, but more power, magic, wonderment, beauty, love and hope as well. The plot thickens, the stakes are higher and everything changes: the characters, the world around them, the power of the elements, and nothing and no one is what they seem anymore. You never know what to expect, if you can trust or believe anyone. There are twists, turns and dangerous, scary, unpredictable situations all throughout the book. Phew, what a ride!

Senna thought that once she saved Haven and the Witches, all was going to be well. But she was wrong. There's no peace and happily ever after at Haven. Actually, living there is not easy at all: there's tension everywhere: the Witches don't trust her, some of them fear her and she still has a lot to learn. But she does her best to adjust and to recover after the events from the previous book. Not an easy thing to do, when her life is in danger (again!): there seems to be a new, bigger threat on the horizon, there might even be a traitor in their midst and everyone keeps secrets from her, even the people closest to her. Some new powers and old legends surface and no one is safe anymore. She knows something huge, dangerous and life changing is going to happen, but she doesn't know what. Yet. Her powers are changing as well, but, unfortunately, "her power came with a price—a burden every Witch born bore, especially one as strong as her." She feels helpless, overwhelmed and out of control, but, as always, she's fierce and determined and she's set to do anything to figure it out and to put an end to all the chaos around her: “I refuse to live in ignorance and helplessness."

But when she digs deeper, she finds out scary things that should have never been uncovered. Things that could change everything. Things that could be the answer to all the weirdness that's been happening lately. Things that could threaten the balance of the entire world - and once again, she's caught in the middle and she seems to held the final answer.

And like that wasn't bad enough, things with Joshen are not going well either: he loves her, he wants to protect her and he would do anything to keep her safe, even if that means to stay in her way and to try to stop her from getting involved in anything that could threaten her life.

“So I’m just supposed to accept that I might lose you?” His voice was thick with anger.
She rubbed her face. “I am Witch born. It’s what I am.”
He took a step towards her. “What you are is my love. ”

But all she wants is to keep fighting and trying to make things right in the world again.

“I spent too much time on Haven doing the smart thing,” she replied. “Now I’m going to do the right thing.”

Like I said, in Witch Born the stakes are even higher. Senna's powers grow and grow every day, no one trusts her and she can't trust anyone either - there's danger, secrets and conspiracies everywhere around her and there's something more powerful and dangerous than anyone ever imaged even existed coming from some higher forces. Obviously, she has to act. Fast. But at least this time around, she's not alone when she sets out on her journey to save the world. That doesn't mean she's safe though; she makes new allies, as well as new enemies, and when the situation gets seriously dire, she has to turn to unbelievable sources for help.

There were so many twists, surprises and "OMG I would have never seen that one coming!" moments in the second part of the book, they made my head spin. While reading the last chapters of the story, my stomach was twisted into knots, my mind was reeling, my emotions were all over the place, I was gripping the edges of my seat and I even got teary-eyed at some point. When something totally unpredictable and heartbreaking happened, I literally just wanted to scream "WHY??? HOW COULD YOU DO THAT???" But I kept reading, my heart in my throat, my fingers crossed, hoping for the best. And of course, I loved every second of it.

The ending was bittersweet: full of action, tension and impossible situations, yet emotional, sweet, and heart-melting; it brought the hope and closure the characters and their story needed. It was perfect.

I really liked how the characters and their relationships developed. They went through a lot, changed and learned a lot about the world and about themselves. With every new challenge, Senna grew and learned to believe in herself, in love, in a better future.

Just like in Witch Song, in Witch Born the nature, the magic and the elements are as much characters of the story as the Witches and everyone else:

"Wind was like a half-wild colt—full of wild energy. Earth reminded her of an old man with arthritic bones—slow and sleepy. Water was like a temperamental woman—full of secret moods and hidden places. Sunlight was a playful child—subject to sulks and fits of laughter. And plants…"

Add to all that the beautiful, lyrical writing, the stunning world building, the fast-paced plot, the strong characters, and you get a magnificent (and no, I don't think I'm exaggerating at all saying that) story that will stay with you for days!

I feel like my review doesn't make the book justice, but I highly recommend it! Also, if you like books like The Iron King, Born Wicked or The Girl of Fire and Thorns, I'm sure you'll enjoy this one (maybe even more.;))

Oh, and I need to mention the scene from the cover. It was so beautiful, so magical, yet so vivid and realistic, I could only stare in awe at my screen:

A soft touch startled her. She looked down to see a moth skimming along her palm. Another landed on her wrist. She brought the insect close, studying the intricate patterns on its wings. A third moth clung to Senna’s smallest finger, its tiny legs tickling so she had to fight to keep from wiggling and scaring the moths away.

The rest of the scene is kind of spoiler-y, but it was all amazing and played an important role in the story.

Initially posted on my blog at http://deeas-journal.blogspot.ro/2012...

*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Obsidian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Ms. Argyle's Witch Song novel more than a year ago and I really liked it. Her world of witches and Guardians was very exciting and I loved the thought of witches having power through their songs. There were some pacing issues that I didn't care for and a whole secondary plot that would have been more suited in a sequel since in my opinion it made the first book overly long. However, I still really liked the novel and was pleased to see that there was another novel about the world of witches and Guardians.

In book two of her "Witch Song" series we still follow Brusenna otherwise known as Senna who due to her saving all of the witches in the last novel is now an Apprentice. Finally getting to work with other witches Senna has never felt more alone. Someone is targeting Senna and trying to delay her attempts to lift a curse that the witches leveled at Tarten in the last novel. Readers also get to catch up with Senna's Guardian and also betrothed Joshen.

All in all I found this novel was much improved when it came to flow and through the main character Senna. The novel had very short chapters and all the while you can feel the tension building in the novel until the very end. I also loved that Ms. Argyle introduced more back story into the history of the witches and that we had some more songs that were not introduced in the last novel.

However, there were some issues that I had with some of the writing that ended up distracting me. For example, in one passage we have Senna "traveling" and to do that a soul leaves a body. Well then all of the writing afterwards talks about how the air felt against Senna's body, how the wind ruffled her hair, etc. To me that was strange since I had just read she left her body so I really don't follow how she was able to feel anything. There were several other parts of the novel that had writing such as this which made no sense as you read.

Also Senna's relationship with Joshen I thought were clumsily done. Joshen and Senna's fighting throughout the novel made very little sense since Senna acted as if Joshen was betraying her by wanting to keep her safe. Considering the fact that both of them are portrayed as older teens in this novel I can excuse common sense from them but other than that I felt like it was a poor move to try to introduce a not needed love triangle into the mix.

Finally, though I liked the main plot and Senna finding out more about the witches I really didn't understand how such secrets were kept from all of the witches at Haven. Especially since we have Senna talking about them with a main character who recalls what happened in the past. As I said things like that made no sense in the overall story.

I still really did enjoy this novel though I had the issues I mentioned above.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witch Born is book two in the Witch Song series, and the last one centered around Brusenna. Senna has defeated the Dark Witch and saved Haven, but something else is beginning and she’s becoming more powerful as time goes on. It was a real treat to be able to finally get back into the world of Witches and elements, and in a different format!

There may be spoilers for book one below this!

I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t remember all that happened in the first book since it’s been awhile, but I found it easy to slip back into the world Argyle has created. Senna is having trouble moving past the devastation they have wrought on the country of Tarten, and wants to put the world to rights. However she finds herself in the middle of another battle, one that the Witches of Haven thought long over. Witch Born is a book centered around coming into one’s own, and putting aside differences. Senna is not thriving the way she had hoped in the tutelage of Haven, instead she feels stifled and isolated. Many of the witches do not trust her, others simply don’t like her, and a few wish to keep her cooped up and out of harm. But Senna longs to fix Tarten, and in trying to do so she finds herself brimming with new power and finding a veiled threat. I really loved getting to learn more about the Witches lore, and getting more explanations of how the four elements play into the structure of the world. There is a ton of action, vivid magic, and a lot of twists & turns as Senna tries to discover the unseen threats origin and fix Taren. As short as this novel is I still found it to be rich in descriptions, and I could easily picture the dusty lands of Tarten, the tall ancient trees of Haven, and the dangerous swells of the ocean.

I love strong female characters and that is one of Argyle’s strongest points in her writing. The witches in this book are fierce and independent, and for the most part live apart from men and outsiders. Senna’s journey in this book is just as much about finding her own independent strength as it is about finding her power. Her relationship with Joshen is still sweet, and a great addition to the story but I really appreciated that Argyle took the time to force Senna to find herself without Joshen and to find that she can stand strong on her own.

While I will admit that our narrator, Melissa Reizian Frank, is not among my favorites I did enjoy her rendition of the tale. I’m notorious for being ansty with audiobooks since I read much faster than they can, and I did feel a bit of that with this one as Melissa’s pace is a slower one. However I did enjoy her accents for each of the regions, and thought she gave the witches voices of their own.

I’m a bit sad to see the end of Senna’s journey, and what an end it was, but I’m glad I got to enjoy yet another one of Amber Argyle’s rich tales.

[Kirsty (Amethyst Bookwyrm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This and my other reviews can be found at http://amethystbookwyrm.blogspot.co.uk/

The Dark Witch has been defeated and Senna is engaged to the man she loves, everything should be perfect, but it is not. Haven is not the paradise she thought it would be, Tarten is still suffering from the witches curse and there is a new threat that could destroy everything Senna holds dear.

Witch Born is a brilliant sequel which has lots of twists and turns and is much more unpredictable than Witch Song. Also this book is more action-packed and involves additional characters than the first book.

Senna has really grown up since the Witch Song but she is still finding out who she wants to be in life, which causes tension between her and those who care about her. I really like Joshen in this book as he is everything a love interest in a light YA fantasy and while they may be away from each other more in this book you can still tell they love each other very much.

I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to see what else Amber Argyle is going to write. I would recommend this series to people who like Shannon Hale and Gail Carson Levine.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a tiny bit conflicted by this book. It did pick up rather quickly from the ending of the first book, and very quickly pulled me in, and built up the action nice and fast, which made this rather difficult to put down. The build up to the climax was even better, but to my mind, the wheels fell off during the climax, and the resolution didn't help matters. I think I am invested enough in the world that the author has woven that I'll need to finish the series.

[Les Lectures de Loow (Laura) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un second tome mieux que le premier.

Dans celui-ci, on découvre la vie de Senna au sein du Refuge après qu'elle ait libéré les sorcières. Même si j'ai adoré découvrir le Refuge habité par les sorcières, je les ai toujours autant détesté. Leur comportement envers Brusenna est toujours autant énervant.

On découvre aussi un autre clan de sorcières, qui sont contre celles du refuge. Une guerre se prépare et Brusenna se retrouve malgré elle au milieu de tout ça.
J'ai préféré ces sorcières car je les ai trouvées plus ouvertes et plus sympathiques avec Senna. Ensuite, j'ai adoré découvrir leur lieu de vie et leur façon de faire, totalement différente de celles du Refuge.

De nouveaux personnages font leur entrée. Et parmi eux, Cord, que j'ai vraiment apprécié. J'ai beaucoup aimé sa relation avec Senna et la façon dont elle évolue. Pour moi, il était beaucoup mieux que Joshen, le fiancé de Senna.

J'ai vraiment aimé ce tome-ci. L'intrigue est plus intéressante et j'ai aussi eu l'impression qu'il était mieux écrit. En tout cas c'était un plaisir de voir Brusenna évoluer de nouveau, la voir se trouver une place et créer de nouveaux liens avec d'autres personnes.

P.S.: pendant ma lecture de ce tome, j'ai appris qu'il s'agissait d'une duologie. Et que l'autre tome que j'ai encore à lire, Witch Fall, est en fait un prequel.

[Jessica (Goldenfurpro)]

DNF 9% in

I’m struggling to get into this book. I’ve had this book on my TBR since 2013. I’m trying to clean out my older TBR, so I decided to dive into this book, but I’ve had this on currently reading for almost a week and I am barely making any progress. I find myself disinterested in the story, and maybe that it because not much has happened in the book so far, but I also remember nothing about the first book and I’m not sure if I’m still interested in this book. I’m dnfing it for now, maybe someday I’ll go back and reread book one, but no promises.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredibly surprising and fun to read.

[Deborah Andreasen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second books in a series are always tricky. The first can be a home run, and the second has such high standards to meet that, on its own its good, but as part of the series its a stinker. Or, the first can be just average, nothing great, and the subsequent books get better and better. The trick is then luring readers into being interested.

Witch Born was kind of a mix of the two. Witch Song (book 1) was excellent, and Witch Born was equally awesome. We see Senna as a stronger character in a lot of ways. We see Joshen as stronger in some ways, and yet not as strong in others. And Senna's mother seems to have crumbled a little bit as a person, but not as a character. We are introduced to a lot of new characters that you hate to love but love them regardless.

The book was filled with mystery and intrigue. There were definitely a few plot twists that surprised the heck out of me. In short, I was completely enthralled and engrossed for the days I was reading Witch Born.

It was more mature than Witch Song, simply because Senna and Joshen are more mature. Don't misunderstand, Witch Born is still very clean. No swearing or sexual content. Just some kissing and a few instances where Senna realizes she's not completely modest in her shift. And, of course, some fantasy violence.

The ending was good in showing that all endings can be happy, but there is no such thing as a perfect happy ending. Not to mention it makes me excited for the future of the series.

My only complaint, which may not qualify as a complaint but more as an observation, was that since it's been so long since I read Witch Song, I was sometimes lost. Ok, there were a lot of times when I was a little lost. I felt a tugging in my memory where I thought, "OK, I think this was important in the first book...but I don't remember." Or, "Who?" It frustrated me simply because I think I would have emotionally connected to the book a little better if I could remember the details from the first one. It might have been nice if the author could have given a few more prompts instead of just expecting the reader to remember everything. However, that is very tedious to write, and can be boring to read through if you recently read the first book.

My advice is just make sure you remember Witch Song before reading Witch Born. But make sure you read Witch Born! It was definitely worth it, and I cannot wait for the third book. It might be a while since Witch Born was just released yesterday. :)

And PS. I know you love that cover as much as I do.

PPS. I just found out this could be the final book in the Witch Song series, which makes me very sad. Though the ending was left open for more, I can see how it would be a goodbye as well. And if that's the case, I'm satisfied. Though if you're reading this Amber Argyle, I'd be a lot MORE satisfied if there were three books in the series. I'm just sayin'.

[Lex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eep!!! I was given the eARC by the author herself... And was asked to post a review by September 5. And well, I just finished it today. Cause I said to myself that I still have time. Apparently, not true. For starters, I fell in love with the cover. It's so pretty!!!

In all honesty, when I started reading this second AND last book of this series, I can't even remember what happened in first book. Please don't kill me. I read it a long time ago, like last year. So you can't really blame me if my memory is foggy. But still, somehow, the lost memory came back piece by piece as I continue to read Witch Born.

In the first book, the Witches have destroyed Tarten, cursed the land even, then Senna was taken by Haven as an Apprentice. In the first pages of Witch Born, Brusenna was trying to lift the curse from Tarten. The story revolves around that, well almost. Plus a new revelation to what really happened with the First Witch War. Senna grew stronger day after day, and she wished to free Tarten so much, she'll do everything for it.

Joshen and Reben were still there as Brusenna's Guardians. Joshen was against Brusenna's plans. I understand his point, but he just became too whiny for my taste. And... and... there's this new character named Cord and I just knew he'll be attracted to Senna. >:( After reading like 60% of it, Cord just came out from nowhere (well, actually he appeared... uh, not spoiling it...) and I feel that it'll start a love triangle! And well, I'm partly right but... you have to read the book. LOL. When I read that, I want to throw my phone and I was so frustrated I got teary eyed. I was also so mad with that Composer. >:(

I guess, that just show how good Argyle is in writing this story. How she twisted it in that 70% until the end. But I know that something is wrong with that one character and I suspected she is the spy. I'm giving it a 3.5 stars but I rounded it up to 4-star. I really liked it although there's a time I want to beat some sense into some of the characters.

[Elvynaa Crow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un deuxième tome et fin de la duologie, ma foi, agréable à lire.

On retrouve Brusenna dans son refuge avec les autres sorcières en proie à la culpabilité suite à la malédiction qui s'est emparée de la Tartennie. Joshen, son protecteur, est toujours aussi bienveillant et amoureux d'elle. Elle poursuit son apprentissage auprès des maîtresses et devient même l'objet de toutes les convoitises car elle a été touchée par les Créatrices... Elle va se lancer dans la course contre la malédiction et s'attirer les foudres de toutes ses comparses, mettre la vie en danger de son protecteur, et devra faire face à un choix draconien. Elle découvrira, bien sûr, qu'elle est plus forte qu'elle ne le croit !

Je ne dois plus faire partie de la cible de ce livre malheureusement car je l'ai trouvé très niais. Les personnages sont un peu mous et m'ont ennuyé. Je n'ai pas vraiment vu l'intérêt de ce second volet surtout vu le temps que met l'intrigue à se corser et se règle en quelques chapitres.

L'écriture, néanmoins, est fluide, le niveau de langue est correcte mais parfois un peu enfantin, c'est ce qui m'a le plus dérangé. L'intrigue est bien mené mais il n'y a pas de quoi se relever la nuit. Pour dire vrai, la meilleure partie est le dénouement. Le reste n'est que mise en place de la géographie, du complot, de l'amour et c'est très long par moment.

Encore une fois, je ne dois plus être la cible de ce livre. Il doit donc convenir parfaitement de par sa facilité de lecture, son thème de magie et ses relations amoureuses émoustillantes.

[Elli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting and innovative story. Great entertaining!

In the second book of the Witch Song Series the protagonist Brusenna has much character what I have missed in the first the book. Furthermore, there was much more profoundness in the whole plot and sometimes I had really stopped reading and thinking about the difficult situations the characters had to handle.

I really like the unpredictability of the story and felt really entertained.
The end was well-rounded, so I have no idea what will come in the next two parts, but I will definitely read them.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riding the waves of this adventure, a reader might believe that this book has been sung into being, as well!

Read full review in the 2014/2015 Holiday issue of InD’tale Magazine.

[Monia Sommer · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'avais eu un gros coup de cœur pour le premier tome de cette série. J'étais donc très impatiente de lire « Witch Born » et je dois dire que je n'ai pas été déçue !
Nous retrouvons donc Senna qui vit désormais au Refuge, entourée de toutes les sorcières qu'elle a sauvées, et de sa mère. Pourtant, rien ne se passe comme elle le voudrait. Elle doit travailler dur pour mériter sa place parmi elles, malgré tout ce qu'elle a déjà accompli. Et les règles sont très strictes. Les hommes sont interdits sur l'île et Brusenna a donc été contrainte de dire au-revoir à son cher Joshen pour un temps indéterminé. Pire encore, une nuit, alors qu'elle tente en secret de remédier à la malédiction qu'elle a aidé ses consoeurs à lancer sur les terres de Tartennie, deux personnes s'attaquent à elle et tentent de l'enlever. Seules les sorcières peuvent entrer au Refuge. Pour Senna, cela ne peut vouloir dire qu'une seule chose : il y a quelqu'un dans son entourage qui l'a trahie. Et les suspects ne manquent pas…

J'ai été embarquée dans l'histoire dès les premières lignes, envoûtée par les personnages, vivant les événements à travers eux. Encore une fois, j'ai particulièrement apprécié la forme de magie utilisée ici par les sorcières, une magie qui semble si réelle !
Concernant l'histoire en elle-même, je m'étais demandée ce qui allait bien pouvoir se passer après la victoire de Brusenna sur la Sorcière Noire et je me suis rendue compte, à la lecture de ce second opus, que l'auteure a imaginé une intrigue bien plus complexe que ce que laisse présager le premier tome. Ce que j'ai adoré, c'est le fait de ne rien pouvoir prévoir à l'avance. J'ai été surprise de nombreuses fois au cours de l'histoire et je l'ai vraiment vécue aux côtés de Senna.

En ce qui concerne les personnages, j'ai encore plus apprécié l'héroïne que précédemment. Les épreuves qu'elle a vécues l'ont changée. Elle a ses peurs, ses faiblesses, ses envies, ce qui la rend particulièrement humaine et attachante. Malgré tout, elle possède une grande force de caractère et est prête à tous les sacrifices pour accomplir ce qu'elle croit juste.
Joshen, l'homme qu'elle aime et qui est également son Protecteur, peut paraître agaçant par moments, mais il suffit de se mettre à sa place pour le comprendre. Il veut tout faire pour protéger la femme qu'il aime, même si parfois c'est à l'encontre de la volonté de cette dernière. Ses nerfs sont mis à rude épreuve tout au long de l'histoire et il m'a vraiment touchée, de par ce qu'il traverse.
Enfin, j'ai beaucoup aimé Reden, son charisme et son professionnalisme à toute épreuve. Il assume ses choix jusqu'au bout, sans jamais les remettre en question.
Il y a quelques nouveaux personnages que j'ai réellement aimés également, mais je ne détaillerai pas pour ne pas risquer d'en dire trop...
À part cela, parmi les sorcières, il y a quelques personnages qui font figure d'autorité et qui remplissent parfaitement leur rôle en étant tout à fait détestables ! Mais les apparences sont parfois trompeuses et les vrais méchants ne sont pas toujours ceux qu'on pense…


Bref, je n'ai vraiment rien à redire sur les protagonistes. Ils sont tous différents les uns des autres et chacun apporte sa pierre à l'édifice pour permettre le bon déroulement de l'intrigue.

En résumé, je n'ai trouvé absolument aucun point négatif à ce roman, c'est un vrai coup de cœur ! J'ai été séduite une nouvelle fois par l'univers de Brusenna, qui a su me captiver du début à la fin. En parlant de la fin, justement, une fois encore, je me demande bien comment l'auteure va pouvoir poursuivre après cela ! Je suis certaine qu'elle nous réserve encore plein de bonnes surprises et j'ai vraiment hâte de lire la suite !

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than the first, more excitement and intrigue and magic!

I think this second book was better than the first one, with lots of tense situations that you didn't know how they would get out of, powerful Witch songs, and uncertainty about how this could possibly end on a good note.

I disliked the arguments and mistrust between Senna and Joshen, but in the end they were able to grow stronger as individuals and as a couple. I was also really frustrated with the Haven leaders and the way they always handled things. Everyone thought they knew what was best and they all tried to force it when there was obviously a better way! So annoying and belittling and acting with fear and power instead of genuine concern and wanting the whole story before deciding how to proceed. Dumb!

I do have to say that every so often, the author would pick up on a thought from 2 paragraphs back without referencing it again first, and I had to go back until I could find what that pronoun was referring to, or what she was saying before she stopped to have an internal thought before continuing the dialogue. Things like that happened enough that I noticed it and had to break my flow to go back and sort it out. Things that could be solved with a bit more careful rereading.

I wish we had learned a lot more about Caldash, how they developed into a thriving culture in secret, some of their history, and more about how their magic was different from that of Haven. Had they come up with new, more powerful spells, or is it relatively the same as centuries ago but Haven has become so much weaker and diminished over time that they just lost what they used to have? Hopefully we'll get some more details in book 3, Witch Fall.

Other than that, the timing felt better in this book than the first one, no crazy jumps in time that are explained away with a line or two (one of my biggest issues with Witch Song). I liked the new characters introduced in this book, and the surprises that came with some of them, quite unexpected. I am satisfied with the way Witch Born wrapped up and how things were permanently changed to correct the world and set right some of the things that witch wars and humans had messed up. Looking forward to Witch Rising and Witch Fall to fill in some gaps and see what happens next!

[Michealla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love fantasy of all types, including witches and vampires and werewolves and whatever else gets thrown into the mix. For whatever reason, this series just didn't speak to me as much as some others. The characters were one-dimensional with a few notable exceptions, and it seemed like any side characters were only present to add confusion. Like Cord, for example. What was his purpose, exactly? Some suspense added to the straightforward love story aspect? He literally was there only to be bound to Senna and then almost immediately killed. Whaaaaat?? The story is bogged down with too many unimportant characters that could be combined or remain nameless and it wouldn't have been as distracting.

3 stars for an entertaining story that I finished all the books in less than two weeks, not counting the gap between reading book 1 and 2. I liked it enough to finish all of the books about this world, including the shorter novela.

[Tiffany Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brusenna thought it was all finished when she rescued the other Witches from imprisonment and death by defeating the Dsrk Witch, Espen. She thought she had found a place of safety and love, a place of acceptance. She thought wrong. The Witches’ dark past comes back to haunt them, causing a new threat to combine with an old enemy determined to destroy them. Brusenna is the only one who knows the extent of the danger they face, and setting things right may cost her everything, even her life.

Witch Born is an excellent follow up to Witch Song. The world building that Amber has done is nothing short of amazing. Everything is described so well, you can see it as plainly as if you were watching it as a movie. You really get to know the characters from book one a lot better, both the good and the bad. You learn a lot more about the Witches’s history and the mistakes of the past. Additional characters were also introduced and they are just as well written as the previous book’s characters. I really feel like things ended up with everything as they should be. I am looking forward to reading more of the series, and much more of Amber’s work.

[Selaya Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marginally better than Book #1 although I still have my sticking points about story lines etc. I also repeat comments from previous series about overall mistakes with writing, proofing, editing, spelling, grammar etc. The mere fact that it took me four days to read speaks for itself. The most prolific example is when Senna can't "drudge" something up. A drudge is a description for an overused servant or slave. The actual vocab would be "dredge." Check it out. I think you'll see the difference.

Despite all this, I'm going to persist with the culmination - Books 2.5 & 3 - and see if there are any improvements. Persistence sometimes pays off; right?

[Ivory Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SO good. It made me sad that Senna and Joshen were fighting. I hate Arianis for being such a brat. And I still hate Mistin for betraying Senna. On the part where Cord becomes Senna's guardian, I could actually feel her pain. I always hated Cord and thought he was a creep. I felt so bad for her. But I didn't hate him as much in the end. When Senna became a creator, I couldn't believe she decided to go back and loose her creator abilities. But in the end, I guess it was a good decision.

[Kanon20731 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unfortunately.... there's no 6 or more stars for me to give to this book.
So many twists and turns, I couldn't even put it down!
It's the first book ever that unsettles me and my feelings this much.
I almost couldn't sleep or do anything but think of all that happened in the story.
It's so sad that Brusenna's journey ended now. I wish it would be longer. I really love her.

Thank you Amber Argyle for this fabulous and the most wonderful journey I have ever been.

[Laurie Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping

This story bring you on a journey, up, down, love, hate fear, destruction, forgiveness, healing, it's all there. Senna has to find herself through all this and find a way to be with her love, Joshen.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I' m préfet Witch Born at Wirch Song, I like No more bouncing and his dark side.
I loved the world that the author imagined. liked the character Senna who evolved and who won't be allowed to do and continues in his intuition. Very Good Read

[etherealfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited e-book

[Pat Raab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite exceptional.

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much Better

I truly enjoyed this book. The story otis still very confusing with too many parts but the characters are more developed and their actions explained.

[Caroline G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Certains passages sont vraiment intéressant et l'histoire est sympathique, mais on a dû mal à s'attacher aux personnages et à entrer dans l'histoire. La fin est sympa mais un peu décevante.

[Barb VanderWel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this & I can't wait for more.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.