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The Portal #1
Mark of the Witch
From New York Times bestselling author Maggie Shayne comes the first novel in her thrilling new trilogy, THE PORTAL She was born to save what he is sworn to destroy...
A lapsed Wiccan, Indira Simon doesn't believe in magic anymore. But when strange dreams of being sacrificed to an ancient Babylonian god have her waking up with real rope burns on her wrists, she's forced to acknowledge that she may have been too hasty in her rejection of the unknown. Then she meets mysterious and handsome Father Tomas. Emerging from the secrecy of an obscure Gnostic sect, he arrives with stories of a demon, a trio of warrior witches-and Indira's sacred calling. Yet there's something even Tomas doesn't know, an inescapable truth that will force him to choose between saving the life of the woman he's come to love-and saving the world.
A lapsed Wiccan, Indira Simon doesn't believe in magic anymore. But when strange dreams of being sacrificed to an ancient Babylonian god have her waking up with real rope burns on her wrists, she's forced to acknowledge that she may have been too hasty in her rejection of the unknown. Then she meets mysterious and handsome Father Tomas. Emerging from the secrecy of an obscure Gnostic sect, he arrives with stories of a demon, a trio of warrior witches-and Indira's sacred calling. Yet there's something even Tomas doesn't know, an inescapable truth that will force him to choose between saving the life of the woman he's come to love-and saving the world.
394 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
87 people are currently reading
1600 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Shayne
258 books2,575 followersI live in the teeny, tiny town of Taylor, NY, (Alliteration Alert!) though my mailing address is Cincinnatus, my telephone exchange is Truxton and I pay taxes and vote in Cuyler. All of these are at least in the same rural county in the southern hills of New York State; Cortland County. There are more cattle than people here. The nearest “big” cities are Syracuse and Binghamton and they are an hour away, in different directions, and not really all that big by most standards, though they both seem humongous to me. I look out my window to see rolling, green, thickly forested hills, wildflower laden meadows and wide open blue, blue skies. My road is barely paved. The nearest neighboring place is a 700 acre dairy farm.
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
July 2, 2012
I am so proud of this book and the new Portal Series. I just read the galleys for this one, and I honestly feel it's one of the best books of my entire career. I hope everyone loves it as much as I do. It's so nice to get a chance to use my 18 year history in The Craft of the Wise in my fiction. If you want more info, excerpts, free trading cards, the video trailer, more, visit http://www.ThePortalBooks.com
August 1, 2012
Our Review [by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha – Michelle L Olson]:
I have been a fan of Maggie Shayne and her writing for quite some time. Her Wings in the Night series was my support system during a very rough patch of my life and after that I pretty much started to devour everything I could find.
When I heard about Maggies new PORTAL series I was ecstatic! A Wiccan High Priestess writing a Paranormal Romance about witches...truly, what could be better, right!? When Maggie sent me an Advance Reader Copy of Mark of the Witch (book #1) to read and review I literally did a happy dance. :) I wasn't sure exactly when I was going to be able to get to it, but I was excited none-the-less.
Ironically (or maybe not so ironically!??), my life took a tumble and I ended up in another rough situation health-wise. Knowing that I had Mark of the Witch sitting on my dresser, it was the very first thing I asked for after being hospitalized. I settled in, and like usual with Maggie's books, was transported away to a world I never wanted to leave.
Indira is a lapsed Wiccan who has lost her faith and a bit of her way. She's had a rough childhood, has suffered loss, has some trust issues, and has basically given up on love. In spite of all of that, she is one tough heroine! She's iron willed, strong minded, and even a bit feisty, all with a layer of vulnerability that makes you love her even more. When things start to happen that she can no longer ignore, she's forced to open her mind, try to put aside her doubts, and join up with some unusual allies in their mutual quest for truth.
Father Tomas isn't your everyday hero. He's multi-dimensional and incredibly fascinating - not to mention sexy as sin. A Gnostic priest from a secret sect, he too struggles with aspects of his faith and his decision to put his life and his fate in the hands of one man who claims to know what he is meant for. Smart and strategic, he attacks everything in life with a plan, but also with a passion that borders on abandon. You can't help but get swept away...
Indy and Tomas together are electric. A forbidden passion that burns bright despite the roadblocks of their quest and the chastisement of their conscience. Add in the revelation of some long buried secrets, and theirs is a relationship for the ages (literally).
Mark of the Witch gives the reader intense intrigue, exciting plot twists, loveable sidekicks, antagonists that make your lip curl, beautifully crafted landscapes, action, drama, sizzling romance, and so much more. It was literally spell-binding (pardon the pun)! I absolutely cannot wait for Daughter of the Spellcaster, book #2, in October!
LITERAL ADDICTION gives Mark of the Witch a well deserved 5 Skulls and would recommend it to everyone! Paranormal Romance enthusiasts as well as Urban Fantasy lovers will adore this new series.
I have been a fan of Maggie Shayne and her writing for quite some time. Her Wings in the Night series was my support system during a very rough patch of my life and after that I pretty much started to devour everything I could find.
When I heard about Maggies new PORTAL series I was ecstatic! A Wiccan High Priestess writing a Paranormal Romance about witches...truly, what could be better, right!? When Maggie sent me an Advance Reader Copy of Mark of the Witch (book #1) to read and review I literally did a happy dance. :) I wasn't sure exactly when I was going to be able to get to it, but I was excited none-the-less.
Ironically (or maybe not so ironically!??), my life took a tumble and I ended up in another rough situation health-wise. Knowing that I had Mark of the Witch sitting on my dresser, it was the very first thing I asked for after being hospitalized. I settled in, and like usual with Maggie's books, was transported away to a world I never wanted to leave.
Indira is a lapsed Wiccan who has lost her faith and a bit of her way. She's had a rough childhood, has suffered loss, has some trust issues, and has basically given up on love. In spite of all of that, she is one tough heroine! She's iron willed, strong minded, and even a bit feisty, all with a layer of vulnerability that makes you love her even more. When things start to happen that she can no longer ignore, she's forced to open her mind, try to put aside her doubts, and join up with some unusual allies in their mutual quest for truth.
Father Tomas isn't your everyday hero. He's multi-dimensional and incredibly fascinating - not to mention sexy as sin. A Gnostic priest from a secret sect, he too struggles with aspects of his faith and his decision to put his life and his fate in the hands of one man who claims to know what he is meant for. Smart and strategic, he attacks everything in life with a plan, but also with a passion that borders on abandon. You can't help but get swept away...
Indy and Tomas together are electric. A forbidden passion that burns bright despite the roadblocks of their quest and the chastisement of their conscience. Add in the revelation of some long buried secrets, and theirs is a relationship for the ages (literally).
Mark of the Witch gives the reader intense intrigue, exciting plot twists, loveable sidekicks, antagonists that make your lip curl, beautifully crafted landscapes, action, drama, sizzling romance, and so much more. It was literally spell-binding (pardon the pun)! I absolutely cannot wait for Daughter of the Spellcaster, book #2, in October!
LITERAL ADDICTION gives Mark of the Witch a well deserved 5 Skulls and would recommend it to everyone! Paranormal Romance enthusiasts as well as Urban Fantasy lovers will adore this new series.
d-n-f
April 19, 2017This book won awards? What?
This girl is supposedly destined to summon a demon that will destroy the world. So the guy that's going to stop her decides to take her to a demon portal? Like, if I have a sudden craving to murder pregnant women, the police would not lock me up in a lamaz class, you feel me?
This makes zero sense. If the stars align for one night when this chick can bring out a demon, why don't you just take her out of commission? Temporarily or permanently, whichever. You don't need a 400 pages of super catty first person POV and a priest with a boner.
I'm too annoyed at the plot to continue reading.
This girl is supposedly destined to summon a demon that will destroy the world. So the guy that's going to stop her decides to take her to a demon portal? Like, if I have a sudden craving to murder pregnant women, the police would not lock me up in a lamaz class, you feel me?
This makes zero sense. If the stars align for one night when this chick can bring out a demon, why don't you just take her out of commission? Temporarily or permanently, whichever. You don't need a 400 pages of super catty first person POV and a priest with a boner.
I'm too annoyed at the plot to continue reading.
August 14, 2013
But then we began to move again in a rhythm as old as time, in a love almost as old, carrying each other to the closest place to paradise this side of heaven.
Love will always find a way, even if it has to wait for 3500 years...
I really enjoyed this book but I took out a star for the real slow beggining (the book actually picks up at 27%, I couldn't put it down after that point) and the abrupt ending. Yeah, there will be two more books, but I was hoping for this couple to settle completely! Don't get me wrong love isn't in question, but well everythig else is! Even the fate of the world....
I also expected Amarrah and Harrison from the prequel to make an appearance, but no they didn't even get a mention.
Besides these littles nuisances, I found the story really original. I loved all the Wiccan rituals and the general respect to all the religions and I was pleasantly surprised in a few twists and turns I certainly didn't see coming.
If you want to get sucked into the story right away, I strongly suggest you read Legacy of the Witch (prequel to this story) first, to better understand the origins of the story and its mythology.
I'm anxiously waiting for the next book!!!
Love will always find a way, even if it has to wait for 3500 years...
I really enjoyed this book but I took out a star for the real slow beggining (the book actually picks up at 27%, I couldn't put it down after that point) and the abrupt ending. Yeah, there will be two more books, but I was hoping for this couple to settle completely! Don't get me wrong love isn't in question, but well everythig else is! Even the fate of the world....
I also expected Amarrah and Harrison from the prequel to make an appearance, but no they didn't even get a mention.
Besides these littles nuisances, I found the story really original. I loved all the Wiccan rituals and the general respect to all the religions and I was pleasantly surprised in a few twists and turns I certainly didn't see coming.
If you want to get sucked into the story right away, I strongly suggest you read Legacy of the Witch (prequel to this story) first, to better understand the origins of the story and its mythology.
I'm anxiously waiting for the next book!!!
February 24, 2015
WOW!!!!! I don't think I can write a review to do this book justice it was absolutely amazing. It took me over so fast that I was lost for hours and refused to put it down.
First if you read Legacy of the Witch the prequel to this book you will know a little bit more than I did while reading this book. Legacy really sets up the world you are about to dive into.
I didn’t read Legacy first I received an ARC of Mark of the Witch from Maggie Shayne herself and read this first so while reading it I was able to experience a little mystery but it all wrapped up at the end and I love when that happens.
BUT I WANT TO STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU READ LEGACY OF THE WITCH FIRST!!!
Indy is a witch who is questioning her own beliefs but cannot ignore what is happening to her, I loved Indy she is a strong woman with a resolve to not let anyone sway her path to figure herself and her beliefs out.
Thomas, it’s funny how he and Indy are on the same path of questioning their religious beliefs, it is written so well that anyone who has been on this journey can relate to the push and pull they both feel thru out the book.
Father Dom….well I’m not going to comment on him cause than that would spoil the plot but I will say from the very beginning something nagged the back of my mind about him.
Rayne, O I love her, she is written with such grace and humility and confidence that I found myself admiring her. And I love how she will not fight people with closed minds instead she lives by her beliefs and holds her head high. I also love how she guides Indy, like a big sister would.
The Plot had me sweep up into a world that has you going between today and ancient Babylonian times. I love how Maggie reveals the visions/memories to the characters and how she transports us back and forth. I love the twists the story takes and literally already up to the end your still wondering what’s going to happen, you won’t be able to put it down.
I have heard it many times that Maggie Shayne know how to cast a spell on her readers and in this book you will feel like time stops and nothing else exists till you finish. I’m not usually a fan of ‘witch” books I’m drawn more to vampire romance but I loved this book from beginning to end and I’m dying to get my hands on Book 2.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars; I could find anything I didn’t like about this book at all. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO EVERYONE!!!!
Charity Costa~Bewitching Bella Emissary of Literal Addiction, Admin of Maggie Shayne’s Street Team and most Importantly a HUGE Maggie Shayne Fan
Note: I received an ARC of this book via the author for review purposes.
First if you read Legacy of the Witch the prequel to this book you will know a little bit more than I did while reading this book. Legacy really sets up the world you are about to dive into.
I didn’t read Legacy first I received an ARC of Mark of the Witch from Maggie Shayne herself and read this first so while reading it I was able to experience a little mystery but it all wrapped up at the end and I love when that happens.
BUT I WANT TO STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU READ LEGACY OF THE WITCH FIRST!!!
Indy is a witch who is questioning her own beliefs but cannot ignore what is happening to her, I loved Indy she is a strong woman with a resolve to not let anyone sway her path to figure herself and her beliefs out.
Thomas, it’s funny how he and Indy are on the same path of questioning their religious beliefs, it is written so well that anyone who has been on this journey can relate to the push and pull they both feel thru out the book.
Father Dom….well I’m not going to comment on him cause than that would spoil the plot but I will say from the very beginning something nagged the back of my mind about him.
Rayne, O I love her, she is written with such grace and humility and confidence that I found myself admiring her. And I love how she will not fight people with closed minds instead she lives by her beliefs and holds her head high. I also love how she guides Indy, like a big sister would.
The Plot had me sweep up into a world that has you going between today and ancient Babylonian times. I love how Maggie reveals the visions/memories to the characters and how she transports us back and forth. I love the twists the story takes and literally already up to the end your still wondering what’s going to happen, you won’t be able to put it down.
I have heard it many times that Maggie Shayne know how to cast a spell on her readers and in this book you will feel like time stops and nothing else exists till you finish. I’m not usually a fan of ‘witch” books I’m drawn more to vampire romance but I loved this book from beginning to end and I’m dying to get my hands on Book 2.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars; I could find anything I didn’t like about this book at all. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO EVERYONE!!!!
Charity Costa~Bewitching Bella Emissary of Literal Addiction, Admin of Maggie Shayne’s Street Team and most Importantly a HUGE Maggie Shayne Fan
Note: I received an ARC of this book via the author for review purposes.
August 4, 2012
I am a latecomer to Maggie Shayne's books and I must admit starting a 20 book series is a little daunting but I did and I am working my way through them. When I heard she was starting a new trilogy changing her focus from vampires to witches, I was intigued. Even more so when I discovered that Maggie herself is a Wiccan High Priestess. I went in to this book with high expectations and even then Maggie surprised me.
Indira is a multi-faceted character, she is a strong woman who has suffered a lot in her past both physically and emotionally. Having recently had a lapse in faith and turning her back on her religion she has no choice but to go to her former High Priestess for help and advice when life suddenly takes a surprising turn.
Father Tomas belongs to a secret sect of Gnostic Priests and he provides us, and Indira with a delicious distraction. However, Father Tomas is beginning to question his faith and the actions of his superior, leaving him unsure of his future in the priesthood.
When Indira and Tomas are together the sparks fly, you can almost feel the passion leaping from the pages. A forbidden romance that had both them and me in knots.
I loved the history involved, the intensity and intricacies of the plot, the twists and turns, character development. All in all I found this an amazing read and I can't wait for the next part!
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review/
Indira is a multi-faceted character, she is a strong woman who has suffered a lot in her past both physically and emotionally. Having recently had a lapse in faith and turning her back on her religion she has no choice but to go to her former High Priestess for help and advice when life suddenly takes a surprising turn.
Father Tomas belongs to a secret sect of Gnostic Priests and he provides us, and Indira with a delicious distraction. However, Father Tomas is beginning to question his faith and the actions of his superior, leaving him unsure of his future in the priesthood.
When Indira and Tomas are together the sparks fly, you can almost feel the passion leaping from the pages. A forbidden romance that had both them and me in knots.
I loved the history involved, the intensity and intricacies of the plot, the twists and turns, character development. All in all I found this an amazing read and I can't wait for the next part!
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review/
August 12, 2012
Just WOW! This book not only gives outsiders a rare and beautiful glimpse inside the amazing world of witchcraft (truly in fantastic and gorgeous detail), but it also makes you want to laugh with the wicked awesome heroine as she fights through her journey and wish you could personally know and support her. Vivid scenery, deep and emotional characters, powerful moments, and plot were all fantastic. The whole book left me guessing what was going to happen next (wishing it was possible for me to devour pages quicker and still retain all the glorious words on each page) and by the end, I was literally sitting on the edge of my chair, with tears in my eyes, goosebumps on my skin nearly begging that things ended the way I wanted them to. Not only did Shayne tease all of my senses (even making me wish I had cozy pajamas and a cup of hot cocoa as I read), but she made me love some characters and hate others. The pacing was brilliant also. Readers can feel Shayne's love for her work, her story, and her unforgettable characters. I cannot WAIT for the rest of the series! Great work!
September 25, 2012
Can someone tell me why there aren't more than 5 stars?
This book was so incredibly amazing I want to re-read already! Legacy of the Witch started the series off but WOW!!! This book....WOW! Maggie Shayne never disappoints!
Indira is an amazing character! She's strong and has a mind of her own. Tomas is a fantastic hero and am glad he can think for himself. Father Dom, well I just plain hated him.
Fantastic read and I'm so sad then next book isn't out until December!
This book was so incredibly amazing I want to re-read already! Legacy of the Witch started the series off but WOW!!! This book....WOW! Maggie Shayne never disappoints!
Indira is an amazing character! She's strong and has a mind of her own. Tomas is a fantastic hero and am glad he can think for himself. Father Dom, well I just plain hated him.
Fantastic read and I'm so sad then next book isn't out until December!
March 4, 2021
*sighs* Well, this book was far and away different from Eternity, my favorite book of hers. I wasn't expecting the same book obviously but the same caliber of writing and love story. Both seemed to fall flat. Maybe it's because I haven't read a Maggie Shayne in years or what, but this book just was not like her older books.
✦ Never connected to either character. The heroine was so adamant about not believing in witchcraft, she got annoying
✦ They both smoked. Yuck.
✦ The love story fell short because I didn't connect to the characters.
✦ It took me forever to finish this book. I had to make myself go back to it.
✦ I found it too easy to believe that Tomas would betray Indy, again, because I didn't feel anything for their love story.
✦ The constant doubt between both of them.
✦ Reincarnated lovers is my jam but this was just blah.
✦ However, I'm interested enough in how this entire thing with Demetrius and her other sisters (from like 3500 years ago) will play out that I'll continue with the next book of the series. But not right away.
✦ Never connected to either character. The heroine was so adamant about not believing in witchcraft, she got annoying
✦ They both smoked. Yuck.
✦ The love story fell short because I didn't connect to the characters.
✦ It took me forever to finish this book. I had to make myself go back to it.
✦ I found it too easy to believe that Tomas would betray Indy, again, because I didn't feel anything for their love story.
✦ The constant doubt between both of them.
✦ Reincarnated lovers is my jam but this was just blah.
✦ However, I'm interested enough in how this entire thing with Demetrius and her other sisters (from like 3500 years ago) will play out that I'll continue with the next book of the series. But not right away.
August 19, 2012
FANGS, WANDS AND FAIRY DUST Open the Door to Maggie Shayne's New Portal Series
MARK OF THE WITCH
The Portal Series: Book I
by Maggie Shayne
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA (September 18, 2012)
Print Length: 400 pages
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA (October 1, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Loaned by publisher via NetGalley.com
No remuneration exchanged and unless otherwise noted, all opinions are my own.
Maggie Shayne is pulling out the stops on this new series with a website and videos.
There's so much passion, well-drawn unique characters and a great plot. Lies and betrayal run rampant through the contemporary and through the past.
The plot: The unique premise of a group of three women trying to counter a destructive curse over a series of lifetimes to save one of the woman's lovers is the setting for this thriller. Faith, religion, history, and betrayal in many forms are important in the story. While there is some romantic and sexual tension it is just barely resolved before the end of the book. Indira is a very interesting character, although a flower shop employee would have a tough time affording an apartment on her own and a shoe addiction. Perhaps she has a trust fund.
Tomas, the man she falls for is a priest of a gnostic order. But he has been her lover through many lifetimes. Will he betray her or save her. I found him a little annoying, too easily swayed. But, with his whole belief system being thrown into chaos who should he trust the woman he just met or the man who raised him. And, where were the young, hot priests when I was growing up?
Her friend Rayne is solid and earnest. The man who raised Tomas' is deluded, and cannot give up his dubious beliefs. Only his fanatical beliefs matter, everyone else is wrong. So the characters are interesting and unique, human and entirely fallible.
MARK OF THE WITCH
The Portal Series: Book I
by Maggie Shayne
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA (September 18, 2012)
Print Length: 400 pages
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA (October 1, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Loaned by publisher via NetGalley.com
No remuneration exchanged and unless otherwise noted, all opinions are my own.
Maggie Shayne is pulling out the stops on this new series with a website and videos.
There's so much passion, well-drawn unique characters and a great plot. Lies and betrayal run rampant through the contemporary and through the past.
The plot: The unique premise of a group of three women trying to counter a destructive curse over a series of lifetimes to save one of the woman's lovers is the setting for this thriller. Faith, religion, history, and betrayal in many forms are important in the story. While there is some romantic and sexual tension it is just barely resolved before the end of the book. Indira is a very interesting character, although a flower shop employee would have a tough time affording an apartment on her own and a shoe addiction. Perhaps she has a trust fund.
Tomas, the man she falls for is a priest of a gnostic order. But he has been her lover through many lifetimes. Will he betray her or save her. I found him a little annoying, too easily swayed. But, with his whole belief system being thrown into chaos who should he trust the woman he just met or the man who raised him. And, where were the young, hot priests when I was growing up?
Her friend Rayne is solid and earnest. The man who raised Tomas' is deluded, and cannot give up his dubious beliefs. Only his fanatical beliefs matter, everyone else is wrong. So the characters are interesting and unique, human and entirely fallible.
September 18, 2012
Review Courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
MARK OF THE WITCH is a clever and thought provoking journey of magical discovery, betrayal, and entwined destinies. I loved how Indira’s past life is slowly revealed through a dream of her sacrifice that becomes more detailed over the course of the story.
A part of her destiny involves Father Tomas, a man who struggles with his faith and uncovers some startling facts about his own life that are connected to Indira. It was a refreshing change of pace to have Tomas be a priest which made his budding romance with Indira taboo, but after seeing how well they fit together and how much they sparked, I was rooting for Tomas to leave the priesthood. The themes of faith and trust are amplified in this romance between a man questioning his beliefs and a woman who has lost them entirely.
MARK OF THE WITCH was a beautifully detailed story with compelling, complex characters, and an intense romance. I look forward to meeting the next warrior witch and learning about her journey of discovery in the next book in The Portal trilogy, DAUGHTER OF THE SPELLCASTER coming out November 20, 2012.
Sexual content: multiple sex scenes
MARK OF THE WITCH is a clever and thought provoking journey of magical discovery, betrayal, and entwined destinies. I loved how Indira’s past life is slowly revealed through a dream of her sacrifice that becomes more detailed over the course of the story.
A part of her destiny involves Father Tomas, a man who struggles with his faith and uncovers some startling facts about his own life that are connected to Indira. It was a refreshing change of pace to have Tomas be a priest which made his budding romance with Indira taboo, but after seeing how well they fit together and how much they sparked, I was rooting for Tomas to leave the priesthood. The themes of faith and trust are amplified in this romance between a man questioning his beliefs and a woman who has lost them entirely.
MARK OF THE WITCH was a beautifully detailed story with compelling, complex characters, and an intense romance. I look forward to meeting the next warrior witch and learning about her journey of discovery in the next book in The Portal trilogy, DAUGHTER OF THE SPELLCASTER coming out November 20, 2012.
Sexual content: multiple sex scenes
August 24, 2012
This is the first book in a new series, which I was excited to read. I wasn’t sure what to expect but let’s just say it was twist and turns throughout the journey.
Meet Indira “Indy”. She’s lost and trying to find out who she is, she has given up on her Wiccan roots or so she thinks. She has been having these dreams but they feel real and
When she asks for help from her former High Priestess Rayne she has to remember the past and the person Rayne feels can help might just do the opposite.
Father Tomas was sent to help. He has been following the church since childhood and Father Dom has been his father. Tomas is here to try and help Indy but will it be his past that interferes? Father Dom is guiding Tomas, which might not be a good thing.
Indy and Tomas must find the solution together…but is it to late. Is Faith bigger then Love? You will have to read this book to find out.
I will be waiting patiently for the next installment and recommending this series to my fellow readers.
Mark of the Witch
August 27, 2012
Mark of the Witch.
Amazing book. Beginning of a series. Portal of the Witch.
I loved the story line, hard to put down the book. I have to admit this is the first book I have ever read with witchcraft in it. I was a bit apprehensive, but a friend told me I would love it, and she was so right. It opened my eyes to other beliefs and helped me to understand so much. I loved the characters, and what they had endured. Amazing back story that draws you in. I absolutely can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. I want to know more about these sisters and their lifetimes. I am a huge fan of paranormal books and this rates up there. I have read Maggie’s work before but I think this series is a new breath of air for her. There is great movement in this book and descriptive characters that all draw you in and make you want to get to know them as well as stay with them.
Amazing book. Beginning of a series. Portal of the Witch.
I loved the story line, hard to put down the book. I have to admit this is the first book I have ever read with witchcraft in it. I was a bit apprehensive, but a friend told me I would love it, and she was so right. It opened my eyes to other beliefs and helped me to understand so much. I loved the characters, and what they had endured. Amazing back story that draws you in. I absolutely can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. I want to know more about these sisters and their lifetimes. I am a huge fan of paranormal books and this rates up there. I have read Maggie’s work before but I think this series is a new breath of air for her. There is great movement in this book and descriptive characters that all draw you in and make you want to get to know them as well as stay with them.
Want to read
July 6, 2012This is #1 on my list of upcoming books to read...By the time I finish a Maggie Shayne book, I feel as if the characters are all personal friends, and I hate saying goodbye! However, the anticipation of a new read makes it all worth it...
August 11, 2012
Review to come. I loved it !!!
July 2, 2012
Another Maggie Shayne HIT!
October 12, 2012
wow wow wow this book was really good! I enjoyed every single line and I'm looking forward to read the second one :-)!
April 24, 2018
The Mark of the Witch is a delightful soft paranormal romance. Unlike many books in the genre, Mark features two human protagonists in a recognisable contemporary world with just the perfect amount of magic sprinkled in.
Indira is having strange dreams of a former life. Though she is a lapsed Wiccan, she turns to a witch friend to make sense of what is happening to her. Father Tomas, on the other hand, has been trained his entire life to stop a witch from summoning a demon – but whatever he was expecting that witch to be, it wasn’t someone like Indira.
The central conflict in The Mark of the Witch is that Indira has no idea what is happening to her, while Tomas has more information about the situation and is charged to stop her. Perhaps even to kill her, if all else fails. While this premise could have been pretty horrifying (I’m honestly kind of tired of people falling in love with their murderer-to-be), both Indira and Tomas are down-to-earth, grounded people. The threat of violence never materialises, and though there is plenty of conflict to be navigated, they’re pretty great together from the get-go.
Since this is a (paranormal) romance, the plot is a vehicle to develop the relationship of the hero and heroine. There was a good balance between plot and character development, keeping up the suspense through blurred loyalties and slow reveals of Indira’s past life. Though mythology doesn’t feature heavily in the book, it does provide a sensitive and positive portrayal of pagan religion. I especially liked that faith is never an issue in the book – even though Indy is a (former) witch and Tomas is Christian, they fully respect and appreciate each other’s views. Even reading this as an atheist with a low tolerance for strong religious overtones in fiction, The Mark of the Witch never gets preachy.
I don’t often read romance, and while reading The Mark of the Witch I realised why. Especially within the paranormal subgenre, the alpha male is the stereotype. Stern, overbearing, macho – the muscular alpha male will grunt and brawl his way into the heart of the heroine, usually by physically threatening anything in her vicinity. The Mark of the Witch features the complete opposite: Father Tomas is a gentle, steadfast man. He wants to help Indira, not intimidate her. He is supportive, sweet, and though he is conflicted about the whole she-might-summon-a-demon thing, he never lashes out in anger or fear. There is an element of forbidden romance which was resolved neatly, and though the ending of the book was rather abrupt, the characters development was satisfactory. The book deserves some final extra brownie points for featuring a female friendship that passes the Bechdel test.
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Trigger warnings:
Indira is having strange dreams of a former life. Though she is a lapsed Wiccan, she turns to a witch friend to make sense of what is happening to her. Father Tomas, on the other hand, has been trained his entire life to stop a witch from summoning a demon – but whatever he was expecting that witch to be, it wasn’t someone like Indira.
The central conflict in The Mark of the Witch is that Indira has no idea what is happening to her, while Tomas has more information about the situation and is charged to stop her. Perhaps even to kill her, if all else fails. While this premise could have been pretty horrifying (I’m honestly kind of tired of people falling in love with their murderer-to-be), both Indira and Tomas are down-to-earth, grounded people. The threat of violence never materialises, and though there is plenty of conflict to be navigated, they’re pretty great together from the get-go.
Since this is a (paranormal) romance, the plot is a vehicle to develop the relationship of the hero and heroine. There was a good balance between plot and character development, keeping up the suspense through blurred loyalties and slow reveals of Indira’s past life. Though mythology doesn’t feature heavily in the book, it does provide a sensitive and positive portrayal of pagan religion. I especially liked that faith is never an issue in the book – even though Indy is a (former) witch and Tomas is Christian, they fully respect and appreciate each other’s views. Even reading this as an atheist with a low tolerance for strong religious overtones in fiction, The Mark of the Witch never gets preachy.
I don’t often read romance, and while reading The Mark of the Witch I realised why. Especially within the paranormal subgenre, the alpha male is the stereotype. Stern, overbearing, macho – the muscular alpha male will grunt and brawl his way into the heart of the heroine, usually by physically threatening anything in her vicinity. The Mark of the Witch features the complete opposite: Father Tomas is a gentle, steadfast man. He wants to help Indira, not intimidate her. He is supportive, sweet, and though he is conflicted about the whole she-might-summon-a-demon thing, he never lashes out in anger or fear. There is an element of forbidden romance which was resolved neatly, and though the ending of the book was rather abrupt, the characters development was satisfactory. The book deserves some final extra brownie points for featuring a female friendship that passes the Bechdel test.
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Trigger warnings:
September 9, 2012
POV: Alternating, 1st person with Indira and 3rd person with Tomas.
This was an intense, action filled ride! I will be the first to admit that it took about 15% into the book for me to be hooked but once it happened I really didn't want to put it down. This is probably why it only took me a little of a day to finish it, despite it being 400 pages.
The story follows Indira who is a witch who has turned her back on her faith and religion. She has been having a recurring nightmare of being sacrificed along with two other women in an ancient Babylonian time. It wasn't until she starts waking up with cut marks and rope burns around her wrists that she starts to take the nightmares seriously. She turns to her friend and High Priestess, Rayne for help. Then enters the tall dark and sexy Tomas... only what is this? It's Father Tomas to be exact, from a secret Gnostic sect. However, we learn early on that Tomas has also been doubting his faith and calling as a priest. He has been told his entire life that his only duty is to stop one of three witches from releasing an evil demon from Hell, the only way to stop her is to kill her.
Indira and Tomas (Toe-mas) are drawn to each other. They know their feelings are forbidden but the more Indira starts to remember about her past the more they realize that they are meant to be together. Can their love overcome everything that is standing in their way?
This is my first Maggie Shayne novel and I have to say I am impressed with her writing style. She describes a scene beautifully and it was not at all difficult for me to imagine the surrounds. And the romance... it is HOT! Every time Indira and Tomas interacted there was electricity. The looks, their actions, every time they touched, brushed up against each other... it was all smouldering.
I also loved how the story unfolded, the twists and turns and revelations along the way. It reminded me a lot of a Dan Brown novel in the way the history, religion and relics all came together. As with the twists and turns, it really did have me guessing as to how it was all going to play out.
I would have to say for me the story was original, I myself have not read anything really like it which was nice. Since it is to do with witches one must class it is a paranormal but there are no vampires, werewolves, angels, etc... so that was a nice change. Most paranormal books nowadays include one of those so that was refreshing.
If I had to fault it at all I would have to say that I felt the ending was a little abrupt. As it appears this is the first of three books in Maggie Shayne's new Portal Series I was preparing myself for a cliffhanger. It was not until after I finished reading that I realized that the three books in the series are linked however each book follows one of the three witches. Not that I am not happy about the way it ended, it just seemed to end. I felt maybe another half chapter could have brought everything to a more fluid conclusion.
All in all I did very much enjoy it and I will be reading the next two books in series. It appears we do not have very long to wait because Daughter of The Spellcaster is due out in November 2012 and Blood of The Sorceress will be out in January 2013. I have also recently found out that there is a prequel Novella, Legacy of the Witch. I did not know about it so I will be reading it just before book two is released but I would suggest picking it up before Mark of the Witch as I have been told it ties the three stories together quite nicely and will set the scene for the entire series.
Christine
Rainy Day Reads
Note: I was given an ARC copy of this novel directly from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an intense, action filled ride! I will be the first to admit that it took about 15% into the book for me to be hooked but once it happened I really didn't want to put it down. This is probably why it only took me a little of a day to finish it, despite it being 400 pages.
The story follows Indira who is a witch who has turned her back on her faith and religion. She has been having a recurring nightmare of being sacrificed along with two other women in an ancient Babylonian time. It wasn't until she starts waking up with cut marks and rope burns around her wrists that she starts to take the nightmares seriously. She turns to her friend and High Priestess, Rayne for help. Then enters the tall dark and sexy Tomas... only what is this? It's Father Tomas to be exact, from a secret Gnostic sect. However, we learn early on that Tomas has also been doubting his faith and calling as a priest. He has been told his entire life that his only duty is to stop one of three witches from releasing an evil demon from Hell, the only way to stop her is to kill her.
Indira and Tomas (Toe-mas) are drawn to each other. They know their feelings are forbidden but the more Indira starts to remember about her past the more they realize that they are meant to be together. Can their love overcome everything that is standing in their way?
This is my first Maggie Shayne novel and I have to say I am impressed with her writing style. She describes a scene beautifully and it was not at all difficult for me to imagine the surrounds. And the romance... it is HOT! Every time Indira and Tomas interacted there was electricity. The looks, their actions, every time they touched, brushed up against each other... it was all smouldering.
I also loved how the story unfolded, the twists and turns and revelations along the way. It reminded me a lot of a Dan Brown novel in the way the history, religion and relics all came together. As with the twists and turns, it really did have me guessing as to how it was all going to play out.
I would have to say for me the story was original, I myself have not read anything really like it which was nice. Since it is to do with witches one must class it is a paranormal but there are no vampires, werewolves, angels, etc... so that was a nice change. Most paranormal books nowadays include one of those so that was refreshing.
If I had to fault it at all I would have to say that I felt the ending was a little abrupt. As it appears this is the first of three books in Maggie Shayne's new Portal Series I was preparing myself for a cliffhanger. It was not until after I finished reading that I realized that the three books in the series are linked however each book follows one of the three witches. Not that I am not happy about the way it ended, it just seemed to end. I felt maybe another half chapter could have brought everything to a more fluid conclusion.
All in all I did very much enjoy it and I will be reading the next two books in series. It appears we do not have very long to wait because Daughter of The Spellcaster is due out in November 2012 and Blood of The Sorceress will be out in January 2013. I have also recently found out that there is a prequel Novella, Legacy of the Witch. I did not know about it so I will be reading it just before book two is released but I would suggest picking it up before Mark of the Witch as I have been told it ties the three stories together quite nicely and will set the scene for the entire series.
Christine
Rainy Day Reads
Note: I was given an ARC copy of this novel directly from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 9, 2012
Mark of the Witch approaches a new set of themes and ideas. Unlike other subjects, the ones promoted by Maggie Shayne weren’t covered very often in the fantasy literature. This is one of the reasons why I was curious to read this book. The novel displays the story of Indira, a former Wiccan witch. Because of some disappointing angles, a few years ago she stopped believing in magic and in the Wiccan religion basis. The book starts with a nightmare that haunts our heroine for a while and that starts being really scary. Indira finds physical evidences of the dream and the only person that can help her is an old friend, a Wiccan priestess. And because of her friend, Indira meets Tomas, a Gnostic priest, who tells her an incredible story about reincarnation, past lives, Babylon, witchcraft, demons and the end of the world. And unfortunately, the fantastic episodes that keep happening to Indira confirm what the priest tells her. The relation between Indi and Tomas starts exceeding some innocent limits and both characters have a close friend to support them, even if the directions the’re dragging them in are totaly different. The mysteries are thickening, scary memories from past lives keep coming back, the disbelief is raising and weird things start to happen more frequently. And Indira’s truth is more and more different of Tomas’s, but it’s impossible to discover which is in fact, the only truth. And a tiny mistake could mean the end of the world.
Despite the fact that the storyline is well built, the characters are described in a perfect manner and you can’t say that the story is missing something, I just wasn’t fascinated by the novel. In the first half of the book, the story has a slow rhythm and even if I knew the importance of any tiny mistake, I just didn’t feel the tension as I should have. You simply know all the time that you are reading a story, you’re not carried away in the world described by the author, you don’t feel the emotions, the tension and the suspense.
I liked the way the characters were created (even the negative ones). Indira accepts pretty hard what she finds out, despite the signs left by her dreams and other proof that show that what happens is real. I liked the fact that she is not throwing herself in the information avalanche, but she tries to slowly understand what’s happening and sometimes, she almost refuses to believe what she finds out. Her friend is perfectly mixing the discretion with the tendency to encourage her to believe again in magic and in herself, but she is not pushy or obtrusive. The interior fight of Tomas is also well written. He’s divided between the theories he believed in all his life and a new fact that contradicts everything he knows. And Tomas mentor is the perfect example of the ideologue character, which refuses any other version of the story he knows, no matter how well that version is built or how elusive his arguments are.
Pros:
- I liked the idea of reincarnation, the conspiracy theory carried through thousands of years and the way every character strongly believes in his aims. At the end, the novel becomes almost a thriller and the revelations are offering exactly the needed dose of drama and surprise.
Cons:
- The first part of the novel is a little too slow, the action is prolonged and the weird dreams and the paranormal experiences of the heroine are not able to balance the story.
Despite the fact that the storyline is well built, the characters are described in a perfect manner and you can’t say that the story is missing something, I just wasn’t fascinated by the novel. In the first half of the book, the story has a slow rhythm and even if I knew the importance of any tiny mistake, I just didn’t feel the tension as I should have. You simply know all the time that you are reading a story, you’re not carried away in the world described by the author, you don’t feel the emotions, the tension and the suspense.
I liked the way the characters were created (even the negative ones). Indira accepts pretty hard what she finds out, despite the signs left by her dreams and other proof that show that what happens is real. I liked the fact that she is not throwing herself in the information avalanche, but she tries to slowly understand what’s happening and sometimes, she almost refuses to believe what she finds out. Her friend is perfectly mixing the discretion with the tendency to encourage her to believe again in magic and in herself, but she is not pushy or obtrusive. The interior fight of Tomas is also well written. He’s divided between the theories he believed in all his life and a new fact that contradicts everything he knows. And Tomas mentor is the perfect example of the ideologue character, which refuses any other version of the story he knows, no matter how well that version is built or how elusive his arguments are.
Pros:
- I liked the idea of reincarnation, the conspiracy theory carried through thousands of years and the way every character strongly believes in his aims. At the end, the novel becomes almost a thriller and the revelations are offering exactly the needed dose of drama and surprise.
Cons:
- The first part of the novel is a little too slow, the action is prolonged and the weird dreams and the paranormal experiences of the heroine are not able to balance the story.
June 18, 2017
Forgive me, readers, for I have sinned. I'm a little tiny bit in love with Father Tomas!
This was my first book by Maggie Shayne. She's a rather well-established author, however, so even though it was my first time reading her, I felt I was in safe hands hands.
Her writing style—at least in this instance—was quite interesting in that she switched from first person narrative for the heroine, Indira's, POV, and then to third person for the hero, Father Tomas'. That's 'Toe-MAAHS', not 'Thomas'. A distinction made by the author several times.
The main themes of the story are those of lost or broken faith, self-doubts, guilt, beliefs, convictions, all wrapped around a wonderful story of three sisters from Babylonian times, and their connection to our current-day heroine, Indira.
Indira's character was likeable—she's smart, attractive, kinda quirky—but I couldn't help but notice that sometimes her light-hearted "voice" was often in direct contrast to the overall feel of the story. Her misplaced humour and flippancy grated initially, until I recognised it for the defence mechanism that it was. In times of trouble, she uses bad jokes or that old faithful 'denial', that so often comes in handy. But until I came to that realization, it was just annoying. And I also felt it lessened the impact of what was being revealed in the dreams, because if Indy wasn't taking things seriously, then why should I?
However, the second half of the book seemed to change Indy's character once the straits got considerably more dire, and once Father Tomas became that much more of a distraction.
He's a priest. A really good looking and somewhat tormented priest, just to make things more complicated. And that's not all he is, either, but you'll have to read it yourself to find out the rest.
I really enjoyed the slowly drip fed back story of the three sisters. We got a little nugget more each time. I also enjoyed reading about the Wiccan practices and rituals. And of course, the other issues of faith, the dangers of extremists and close-minded people in any religion, was all interesting to explore.
It did, unfortunately for me, utilise a plot device that I personally don't care for very much, and this is probably why I was unable to rate it quite as high as others have. But, overall, I thought it was an interesting, mostly fast-paced, read, with a nice romance and some good twists and turns. It was quite suspenseful and thrilling, and I'm interested enough to read the next two books in the trilogy.
4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided for an honest review.
This was my first book by Maggie Shayne. She's a rather well-established author, however, so even though it was my first time reading her, I felt I was in safe hands hands.
Her writing style—at least in this instance—was quite interesting in that she switched from first person narrative for the heroine, Indira's, POV, and then to third person for the hero, Father Tomas'. That's 'Toe-MAAHS', not 'Thomas'. A distinction made by the author several times.
The main themes of the story are those of lost or broken faith, self-doubts, guilt, beliefs, convictions, all wrapped around a wonderful story of three sisters from Babylonian times, and their connection to our current-day heroine, Indira.
Indira's character was likeable—she's smart, attractive, kinda quirky—but I couldn't help but notice that sometimes her light-hearted "voice" was often in direct contrast to the overall feel of the story. Her misplaced humour and flippancy grated initially, until I recognised it for the defence mechanism that it was. In times of trouble, she uses bad jokes or that old faithful 'denial', that so often comes in handy. But until I came to that realization, it was just annoying. And I also felt it lessened the impact of what was being revealed in the dreams, because if Indy wasn't taking things seriously, then why should I?
However, the second half of the book seemed to change Indy's character once the straits got considerably more dire, and once Father Tomas became that much more of a distraction.
He's a priest. A really good looking and somewhat tormented priest, just to make things more complicated. And that's not all he is, either, but you'll have to read it yourself to find out the rest.
I really enjoyed the slowly drip fed back story of the three sisters. We got a little nugget more each time. I also enjoyed reading about the Wiccan practices and rituals. And of course, the other issues of faith, the dangers of extremists and close-minded people in any religion, was all interesting to explore.
It did, unfortunately for me, utilise a plot device that I personally don't care for very much, and this is probably why I was unable to rate it quite as high as others have. But, overall, I thought it was an interesting, mostly fast-paced, read, with a nice romance and some good twists and turns. It was quite suspenseful and thrilling, and I'm interested enough to read the next two books in the trilogy.
4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided for an honest review.
June 15, 2013
Overall, I was really disappointed in this book. I haven't read Maggie Shayne in years, but I remember loving her early novels, so when I saw this series on sale at my local bookstore, I picked up all three books. Mark of the Witch wasn't horrible and the story eventually picked up enough that I wanted to know how it ended, but there were a lot of things that didn't work for me.
Indira is a lapsed Wiccan who's having awful dreams set in the distant past and turns to an old friend of hers, a Wiccan High Priestess named Lady Rayne, for help. Through Rayne, Indy and Tomas meet — and it just so happens that Tomas, a priest, is a member of a sect who has been waiting for 3500 years for Indy to fulfill a prophecy. Of course, nothing is as it seems.
I liked how Indy's choice in the prophecy wavered from the start of the book to the finish. It was refreshing that it wasn't a sure bet what she was going to do, or what the right choice was. I found that the revelation of the right choice was a little too convenient, however, another example of how the plot seems to be founded on coincidence.
The switch between Indira's first-person narrative and Tomas's third-person narrative was the biggest issue I had with the story. I haven't read a book that did that before, and I can see why it's not done often. I found the switch jarring and the first-person narrative wasn't as strong as the third-person. I had a better sense of who Tomas was than Indira, which seems counter-intuitive.
There were things I liked about Indy — she's definitely spunky — but overall, I didn't get enough of a sense of who she was outside of this series of events to decide whether I liked her or not. And I have to say, I thought her attitude and abandonment of magic to be largely inexplicable and very childish. I would have loved that flaw to be explored in more depth (because it's a great flaw!) rather than glossed over as it was.
I'll give the second book in the series a try, and I hope it's a bit more compelling.
Indira is a lapsed Wiccan who's having awful dreams set in the distant past and turns to an old friend of hers, a Wiccan High Priestess named Lady Rayne, for help. Through Rayne, Indy and Tomas meet — and it just so happens that Tomas, a priest, is a member of a sect who has been waiting for 3500 years for Indy to fulfill a prophecy. Of course, nothing is as it seems.
I liked how Indy's choice in the prophecy wavered from the start of the book to the finish. It was refreshing that it wasn't a sure bet what she was going to do, or what the right choice was. I found that the revelation of the right choice was a little too convenient, however, another example of how the plot seems to be founded on coincidence.
The switch between Indira's first-person narrative and Tomas's third-person narrative was the biggest issue I had with the story. I haven't read a book that did that before, and I can see why it's not done often. I found the switch jarring and the first-person narrative wasn't as strong as the third-person. I had a better sense of who Tomas was than Indira, which seems counter-intuitive.
There were things I liked about Indy — she's definitely spunky — but overall, I didn't get enough of a sense of who she was outside of this series of events to decide whether I liked her or not. And I have to say, I thought her attitude and abandonment of magic to be largely inexplicable and very childish. I would have loved that flaw to be explored in more depth (because it's a great flaw!) rather than glossed over as it was.
I'll give the second book in the series a try, and I hope it's a bit more compelling.
September 17, 2012
What do you get when you throw together a witch and a priest?
One hell of a sexy good time!
Mark of the Witch was an amazing read. It is different from any other book I have ever read. I really enjoyed seeing people from different religions being thrown together. It was incredible fun!
Indira is a witch that had given up on her faith years ago but now she is having these nightmares that are becoming more and more real. They are so real that they are now leaving evidence as injuries marked in her skin. She turns to her old high priestess for advice. Her friend sends her help in the form of a priest.
Father Tomas is a priest that has been chosen to stop a demon from entering this world. He must do this by finding and stopping a witch. Little does he know just how difficult his journey will be.
Both Indira and Father Tomas bring a friend with them to try to stop the demon and it seems like everyone kind of hated everyone else. It was great! Father Tomas brings Father Dom who has gone a bit crazy. He hates witches and is convinced that they are all doomed to the fiery depths of hell. Indria brings Lady Rayne who turns out to have a few secrets of her own. All of the characters in this novel are a little crazy but it made for one fun and exciting read!
I loved this book so much that I couldn't put it down. Indira and Father Tomas' connection is epic. they were meant to be together and while the reader can see it from the very beginning it was great to watch it all play out for them.
I look forward to the next book in this trilogy!
One hell of a sexy good time!
Mark of the Witch was an amazing read. It is different from any other book I have ever read. I really enjoyed seeing people from different religions being thrown together. It was incredible fun!
Indira is a witch that had given up on her faith years ago but now she is having these nightmares that are becoming more and more real. They are so real that they are now leaving evidence as injuries marked in her skin. She turns to her old high priestess for advice. Her friend sends her help in the form of a priest.
Father Tomas is a priest that has been chosen to stop a demon from entering this world. He must do this by finding and stopping a witch. Little does he know just how difficult his journey will be.
Both Indira and Father Tomas bring a friend with them to try to stop the demon and it seems like everyone kind of hated everyone else. It was great! Father Tomas brings Father Dom who has gone a bit crazy. He hates witches and is convinced that they are all doomed to the fiery depths of hell. Indria brings Lady Rayne who turns out to have a few secrets of her own. All of the characters in this novel are a little crazy but it made for one fun and exciting read!
I loved this book so much that I couldn't put it down. Indira and Father Tomas' connection is epic. they were meant to be together and while the reader can see it from the very beginning it was great to watch it all play out for them.
I look forward to the next book in this trilogy!
September 5, 2012
I received this book as a galley from NetGalley.
Having not read anything by Maggie Shayne, I wasn't sure what to expect. From what I've seen on Shayne's Goodreads profile, she's an accomplished author with many books under her belt. Mark of the Witch intrigued me due to the witchcraft angle. Although I'm not Wiccan, I've done my share of research on the religion and know enough about it to say this book was pretty accurate in it's descriptions and facts. I read somewhere the author is a Wiccan High Priestess herself...? If that's the case, it would explain the accuracy and detailed descriptions of the rituals within the book.
It interesting, yet somewhat trite, to have the main character, Indira "Indy", reject her Wiccan beliefs only to fall back on them once her dreams (nightmares, really) begin. The themes center around faith, religion, history, love, and betrayal - all of these make for a compelling storyline. I enjoyed the awkward beginnings of Indy and Tomas' relationship. The interactions and conversations felt natural, and didn't cause me to roll my eyes as some romances tend to do. If there was one character I liked it was Indy's friend, and Father Tomas (to-mahs)'s half sister Rayne. Her character was definitely someone I was able to relate to, and someone I'd love to befriend.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel! The back story regarding the three sisters and the reasons behind their scarification was original and kept me on my toes. It definitely made me want to read the rest of the books in the trilogy.
Having not read anything by Maggie Shayne, I wasn't sure what to expect. From what I've seen on Shayne's Goodreads profile, she's an accomplished author with many books under her belt. Mark of the Witch intrigued me due to the witchcraft angle. Although I'm not Wiccan, I've done my share of research on the religion and know enough about it to say this book was pretty accurate in it's descriptions and facts. I read somewhere the author is a Wiccan High Priestess herself...? If that's the case, it would explain the accuracy and detailed descriptions of the rituals within the book.
It interesting, yet somewhat trite, to have the main character, Indira "Indy", reject her Wiccan beliefs only to fall back on them once her dreams (nightmares, really) begin. The themes center around faith, religion, history, love, and betrayal - all of these make for a compelling storyline. I enjoyed the awkward beginnings of Indy and Tomas' relationship. The interactions and conversations felt natural, and didn't cause me to roll my eyes as some romances tend to do. If there was one character I liked it was Indy's friend, and Father Tomas (to-mahs)'s half sister Rayne. Her character was definitely someone I was able to relate to, and someone I'd love to befriend.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel! The back story regarding the three sisters and the reasons behind their scarification was original and kept me on my toes. It definitely made me want to read the rest of the books in the trilogy.
August 28, 2012
4.5 STARS
I received an eARC of this book for review from Harlequin MIRA via Netgalley.com
"I'm not sure of anything right now, Indy. Except what's between us. That's real."
I really liked this book. The concept is very original and interesting. The idea of reincarnation and past lives of witches and priests was quite unique. I have never read anything like this before. While being a paranormal romance, it also contains mystery, suspense and betrayal. The plot flowed really well and I loved the characters. I mean, read the following short excerpt-
He was gorgeous, that was for sure. Italian, or maybe Spanish. Sun-kissed bronze skin, hot Hershey Bar eyes, wide, kissable-looking lips, and a bod to die for underneath an all-black getup with-oh shit, I was going straight to hell-a white tab at the front and center of his collar.
Yes, you read that right. A priest as the hot male lead? Trust me, it works. You'll just have to read it and find out. This book contains equal parts romance and intrigue with just the right amount of wit and humor.
This is a fascinating start to what I expect to be an addicting new series. I highly recommend you give it a try if you like adult paranormal romances.
*Don't forget to grab the FREE prequel, Legacy of the Witch, from eHarlequin on September 1, 2012.
I received an eARC of this book for review from Harlequin MIRA via Netgalley.com
"I'm not sure of anything right now, Indy. Except what's between us. That's real."
I really liked this book. The concept is very original and interesting. The idea of reincarnation and past lives of witches and priests was quite unique. I have never read anything like this before. While being a paranormal romance, it also contains mystery, suspense and betrayal. The plot flowed really well and I loved the characters. I mean, read the following short excerpt-
He was gorgeous, that was for sure. Italian, or maybe Spanish. Sun-kissed bronze skin, hot Hershey Bar eyes, wide, kissable-looking lips, and a bod to die for underneath an all-black getup with-oh shit, I was going straight to hell-a white tab at the front and center of his collar.
Yes, you read that right. A priest as the hot male lead? Trust me, it works. You'll just have to read it and find out. This book contains equal parts romance and intrigue with just the right amount of wit and humor.
This is a fascinating start to what I expect to be an addicting new series. I highly recommend you give it a try if you like adult paranormal romances.
*Don't forget to grab the FREE prequel, Legacy of the Witch, from eHarlequin on September 1, 2012.
October 13, 2012
This is an awesome read by an extremely talented and awesome writer. It is so true: Destiny has but one beginning. I loved the descriptions that conjure up painted pictures as you read. Indira is a stunning beauty with Wiccan roots. As a child she was treated unfairly, suffered distressful losses and believes she will never experience real love. She appears to be a determined woman with a will of iron, even though she is very vulnerable. Indy begins having strange dreams and feels she may have been a witch from Babylon who was executed. Strange things start happening to her and she is unable to put aside who or what she might be. A handsome, very sexy Gnostic priest who embraces life with a passion enters Indy's world. Will Indira learn faith is larger than life or love? Will she be destroyed by the love she craves and needs? I hope you choose to read this incredible novel and learn for yourself the inescapable truth of a force bigger than life. Remember: To each his or her own...
Jeannie Walker - Award Winning Author of "Fighting the Devil" - A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder
Jeannie Walker - Award Winning Author of "Fighting the Devil" - A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder
August 21, 2012
From the very first line of this book (and what a line it was!) I was hooked. I had to know what the dreams meant, then I wanted to see where it was all going. Then I wanted to see what what going on with the Priests... oy.
Compelling paranormal read. You'll want to devour it in one sitting if possible. Underneath the story line, Mark of the Witch shed some light on the characters own internal struggles with beliefs and religion. It was nice to see alternative beliefs get their due as well. I liked the duality in this novel. Good versus evil, two sides to every story, priests working along side Wiccans.
Overall, Mark of the Witch is well written, flavored with great dialog and interesting characters, and is set up well to flow the story arc into a series.
**I received a copy of this novel via NetGalley for review purposes.***
Compelling paranormal read. You'll want to devour it in one sitting if possible. Underneath the story line, Mark of the Witch shed some light on the characters own internal struggles with beliefs and religion. It was nice to see alternative beliefs get their due as well. I liked the duality in this novel. Good versus evil, two sides to every story, priests working along side Wiccans.
Overall, Mark of the Witch is well written, flavored with great dialog and interesting characters, and is set up well to flow the story arc into a series.
**I received a copy of this novel via NetGalley for review purposes.***
September 17, 2012
An absolutely fantastic start to a magical new series!
Indira is a formely slitary witch who has given up practising her craft when the one spell to find her soul mate yeilds her nothing. When she starts having dreams about being a witch from Babylon who was killed things get really wierd. Tomas is a priest who has been charged with helping the witch to stop a demon from coming through the portal, but is everything as it really seems?
A great set of characters and an in depth knowledge of witchcraft and it's religion make it a remarkable book and you get really drawn in.
I cannot wait for the next installment of The Portal Series!
Indira is a formely slitary witch who has given up practising her craft when the one spell to find her soul mate yeilds her nothing. When she starts having dreams about being a witch from Babylon who was killed things get really wierd. Tomas is a priest who has been charged with helping the witch to stop a demon from coming through the portal, but is everything as it really seems?
A great set of characters and an in depth knowledge of witchcraft and it's religion make it a remarkable book and you get really drawn in.
I cannot wait for the next installment of The Portal Series!
August 11, 2012
What a fantastic start to Maggie Shayne's newest series! Mark of the Witch is definitely one you'll want to look out for because this book was fantastic! It's got it all. Witches, Priests, human sacrifices and murder, secret religious sects. Soul-mates, betrayals and past lives violently manifesting. It's a non-stop wild ride that's fascinating, unique and so damn good you'll want to savor it. Slowly. And, yeah, it'll totally mess with your head. In a good way.
Full review to come...
{An ARC was received from the publisher for an honest review.}
Full review to come...
{An ARC was received from the publisher for an honest review.}
January 14, 2014
**This review is based on an ARC received via NetGalley from the publisher. This in no way impacted my review of the book.**
Actual rating: 2.5 Stars
I recently became a Maggie Shayne fan with her new series Brown and Deluca. I really enjoyed her writing style and her crafting of a memorable heroine. As a result, I was more than excited to delve into the first book in her Portal series, MARK OF THE WITCH. Can I admit I came in with high expectations and left with some disappointment?
The premise of MARK OF THE WITCH is fantastic. A young woman, Indira, is a Wiccan who has lost faith and is suffering from nightmares of being thrown from a cliff – nightmares that feel too real to only be dreams. Enter a priest, Father Tomas, who is also questioning his faith, add to that a demon demanding to be set free, and finish it with a connection between all three of them that can change the course of the world and you have the ingredients of a great story. Indira has to figure out who she is and what her connection is to Tomas and the demon before it’s too late. The plot deals with past lives, Wiccan ritual, and religious intolerance. It’s a great premise, filled with complexity and mystery. I was drawn into trying to figure out who could be trusted and the role Indira must play in the course of events. There was something that felt fresh and different in the world and plot of MARK OF THE WITCH that kept me turning the page.
And of course there’s a “but.” BUT, I have to admit, I felt let down by certain aspects of the story. First, the reason Indira let go of her Wiccan beliefs -- because she did a spell to find her true love and it didn’t work? Seems like you should try a few more before wholly giving up on your faith. This is a story that revolves around past lives, reincarnation, and lovers fated to repeat history. I wanted to learn more about Indira’s past, some flashback to a childhood that made her feel different, how she came to Wicca, etc. There was a curious lack of backstory for her that felt strange. Also, some of the writing with regards to the romance felt melodramatic. I admit to rolling my eyes a few times. And Tomas…I just couldn’t get into him. He's faced with the tough decision of essentially choosing between the woman he is falling in love with or the man who practically raised him; he must choose between the beliefs he's been indoctrinated in his entire life versus the unknown that Indira represents. Yes, I understand he’s questioning his faith; yes, I understand he’s just met a woman who has majorly shifted his worldview. But honestly? Nut up, dude. Make a decision. Stand up for what you feel is right and don’t defer to someone or something you feel in your gut isn’t good. His constant waffling and deference to a man he soon realizes he cannot trust got to be too frustrating after a while.
In the end, MARK OF THE WITCH is a PNR that felt fresh and different with regards to the “paranormal” but weak in the “romance.” The strong premise just wasn’t enough for me to recommend it highly. Right down the middle: 2.5 stars!
This review is courtesy of the blog She-Wolf Reads.
Actual rating: 2.5 Stars
I recently became a Maggie Shayne fan with her new series Brown and Deluca. I really enjoyed her writing style and her crafting of a memorable heroine. As a result, I was more than excited to delve into the first book in her Portal series, MARK OF THE WITCH. Can I admit I came in with high expectations and left with some disappointment?
The premise of MARK OF THE WITCH is fantastic. A young woman, Indira, is a Wiccan who has lost faith and is suffering from nightmares of being thrown from a cliff – nightmares that feel too real to only be dreams. Enter a priest, Father Tomas, who is also questioning his faith, add to that a demon demanding to be set free, and finish it with a connection between all three of them that can change the course of the world and you have the ingredients of a great story. Indira has to figure out who she is and what her connection is to Tomas and the demon before it’s too late. The plot deals with past lives, Wiccan ritual, and religious intolerance. It’s a great premise, filled with complexity and mystery. I was drawn into trying to figure out who could be trusted and the role Indira must play in the course of events. There was something that felt fresh and different in the world and plot of MARK OF THE WITCH that kept me turning the page.
And of course there’s a “but.” BUT, I have to admit, I felt let down by certain aspects of the story. First, the reason Indira let go of her Wiccan beliefs -- because she did a spell to find her true love and it didn’t work? Seems like you should try a few more before wholly giving up on your faith. This is a story that revolves around past lives, reincarnation, and lovers fated to repeat history. I wanted to learn more about Indira’s past, some flashback to a childhood that made her feel different, how she came to Wicca, etc. There was a curious lack of backstory for her that felt strange. Also, some of the writing with regards to the romance felt melodramatic. I admit to rolling my eyes a few times. And Tomas…I just couldn’t get into him. He's faced with the tough decision of essentially choosing between the woman he is falling in love with or the man who practically raised him; he must choose between the beliefs he's been indoctrinated in his entire life versus the unknown that Indira represents. Yes, I understand he’s questioning his faith; yes, I understand he’s just met a woman who has majorly shifted his worldview. But honestly? Nut up, dude. Make a decision. Stand up for what you feel is right and don’t defer to someone or something you feel in your gut isn’t good. His constant waffling and deference to a man he soon realizes he cannot trust got to be too frustrating after a while.
In the end, MARK OF THE WITCH is a PNR that felt fresh and different with regards to the “paranormal” but weak in the “romance.” The strong premise just wasn’t enough for me to recommend it highly. Right down the middle: 2.5 stars!
This review is courtesy of the blog She-Wolf Reads.
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