What do you think?
Rate this book
The Drake Chronicles #1
Wicked
For brother and sister, Ethan and Emma Drake, their world is about to get flipped upside down when they discover a malicious warlock is after their power and they are descended from a dark bloodline.
And not to mention their deceased father was the most wicked warlock to walk the earth.
While attempting to uncover their spine-chilling ancestry and keeping themselves alive at the same time, Ethan becomes tempted by the dark magic that lies within him...
Can Ethan and Emma figure out how to stop the warlock and save each other all at once? Join Ethan and Emma as they race against time to save their lives, their world, and fall in love in all the wrong places.
The first in THE DRAKE CHRONICLES by Clover Donovan.
GLBT/Fantasy/Paranormal/Young-Adult
And not to mention their deceased father was the most wicked warlock to walk the earth.
While attempting to uncover their spine-chilling ancestry and keeping themselves alive at the same time, Ethan becomes tempted by the dark magic that lies within him...
Can Ethan and Emma figure out how to stop the warlock and save each other all at once? Join Ethan and Emma as they race against time to save their lives, their world, and fall in love in all the wrong places.
The first in THE DRAKE CHRONICLES by Clover Donovan.
GLBT/Fantasy/Paranormal/Young-Adult
222 pages, Paperback
Published January 11, 2015
3 people are currently reading
1201 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 22, 2015
I first decided to get this book when the author advertised it on You Tube. It sounded like it would be a good witchy, magic, paranormal read. I don't normally read with books so I was not to sure about this one but decided to read it anyway.
In this book we have twins, Ethan and Emma who are witches from a long and pretty powerful and dark blood line. As young children they are taken to the mortal world and are cloaked for protection sake. For several years they are there surviving in the mortal world until things start to happen and they have a mission to figure out why they are now in danger and who is after them.
First off I loved the plot to this story, which is great since I don't normally tend to lean towards which stories. There were some great twists involved which livened the story up more. I also loved that it did not take forever to get to the point, since there was no instalove going on where our characters were falling all over each other. The story stayed focused on the plot. This story was so fast paced and full of action and adventure that I could not stop reading it. I was completely engaged from start to finish. Once I finished I wished that I could move on to the next one.
Our protagonists were likeable even though there were a couple of times I wanted to beat Ethan with a stick. I would have liked to have seen a bit more backstory of when they were much younger though, I think that would have allowed us to have a bit more insight to the story and characters. I just feel like we need to know them a little bit better than we did. I do however think these two characters will develop well throughout this series and I look forward to seeing that happen.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes witch stories or paranormal stories. It is a fast paced, and easy to read that will engage most readers. Looking forward to the next book in the series, Tainted.
In this book we have twins, Ethan and Emma who are witches from a long and pretty powerful and dark blood line. As young children they are taken to the mortal world and are cloaked for protection sake. For several years they are there surviving in the mortal world until things start to happen and they have a mission to figure out why they are now in danger and who is after them.
First off I loved the plot to this story, which is great since I don't normally tend to lean towards which stories. There were some great twists involved which livened the story up more. I also loved that it did not take forever to get to the point, since there was no instalove going on where our characters were falling all over each other. The story stayed focused on the plot. This story was so fast paced and full of action and adventure that I could not stop reading it. I was completely engaged from start to finish. Once I finished I wished that I could move on to the next one.
Our protagonists were likeable even though there were a couple of times I wanted to beat Ethan with a stick. I would have liked to have seen a bit more backstory of when they were much younger though, I think that would have allowed us to have a bit more insight to the story and characters. I just feel like we need to know them a little bit better than we did. I do however think these two characters will develop well throughout this series and I look forward to seeing that happen.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes witch stories or paranormal stories. It is a fast paced, and easy to read that will engage most readers. Looking forward to the next book in the series, Tainted.
Want to read
March 30, 2013That cover...
That synopsis...
Gay MAIN characters...
O M G! I cannot right now. I am too excited for this!
MOTHERFGT$HTEH$#Q$#%@^@GRDHBFUTKBSGF!!!!!
That synopsis...
Gay MAIN characters...
O M G! I cannot right now. I am too excited for this!
MOTHERFGT$HTEH$#Q$#%@^@GRDHBFUTKBSGF!!!!!
January 14, 2015
Not my cup of tea
Now, now settle down ladies, allow me to elaborate, yeah?
I've never been a huge fan of fantasy. I don't know how many times I'm going to stress this, but I really want you guys to understand that this is big for me ya know. Reading about all these . . . mystical creatures and such. I made a resolution this year, that I would start stepping out of my zone, and venturing into the uncharted land of castles, and 3 headed dragons, and male characters with wings . . . you know those types of things. So I was surprised that after reading the synopsis of Wicked, I was actually intrigued to read it. Go head and gasp . . . I know you want to.
Twin towers, I meant powers
Things take off pretty quickly from the very beginning of this book. It wasn't very hard to keep up, but it was a bit overwhelming when trying to piece together all the information that was given.
Tika's Dictionary Translation: So much tea being spilled, so little time to sip.
Wicked takes us on an interesting ride as we meet our two main characters, Emma and Ethan. Twin brother and sister (obviously) are the spawns of a witch named Marina and the most feared and evil warlock in all of Elsmere, the infamous Nicholas Drake. With their dad being killed by a hellhound, (I pictured a huge dog with rabies) and their mother mysteriously murdered, the children were left in the care of their mother's close friend, Mason King. He vowed to raise both Emma and Ethan in the mortal world as " normal " kids, and also decided to leave them out of the loop regarding their dad and the powers they've inherited. But with dark magic running through their blood, it was only a matter of time before the twins discovered their ultimate potential.
Rollercoaster
Let me tell you right now, Wicked has alot going on. Like, a whole lot. From the very beginning we're discovering new secrets, and uncovering old ones, as we're thrown into the middle of the mortal, and magical world where vampires, warlocks, witches, and other creatures reside, better known as Elsmere. What I liked about the book, was that it was very fast paced, but this proved to be a bit of a problem for me as well. There were times where the plot would be accelerating at full throttle, and times where it would drag, almost like it was creeping up on you, before it took off again.
Have you ever visited an amusement park, and the first ride you went on was incredibly fast? I'm talking snatch your wig off your head, make you have a asthma attack even when you don't have asthma, type of fast? Yeah? Okay well how about this . . .
Then have you ever got off that ride, and rode something a bit more slow? Like you're sitting next to a 5 year old, and in front of someone's grandparents type of slow? Well if you have experienced this, then you understand my feelings towards this plot, and if you haven't just . . . hush and imagine you did!
" I put a spell on you, & now your gone, gone, gone . . . so long! "
You win so many cool points if you know where that's from!
Two of my favorite things about this book were the characters and how the author weaved so many magical elements into the story. We're introduced to a slew of people, which at times made it hard to keep up with everyone. But, there were two characters that not only bought some interest to this story, but some boy candy as well, and they are:
Logan Hardwicke and Adam Corwin.
Logan Hardwicke is the twin's new next door neighbor. He delivers a package that supposedly was accidently sent to his home, and immediately Ethan knows something is up with him. " He was cute, but he's not human, at least not fully. " They had little time to ponder about this revelation, because soon the siblings found themselves in serious need of help, and Logan is just about the only person who can lend a hand, until . . .
Dark warlock Adam Corwin steps on the scene with his beautiful self. He was confident, and had such a fiery personality, that I find myself eagerly awaiting his dialogue. " He's gorgeous - the guy's chin was square with a jaw-line that could chisel granite, and he had black tattoos teasing from beneath his sleeves. " Looks like Ethan and I have similar tastes. If you haven't already guessed, Ethan is gay, and soon takes a bit of a liking to Adam. I believe the feeling is mutual, being that they're dialogue has so much chemistry. These guys definitely mesh well together, making them so entertaining! Not to mention I adored their fighting scenes, especially when they kicked some vampire ass! Now Emma and Logan on the other hand . . . not so much. I'm not sure if this was intentional, but there is definitely some sort of division between these four characters. You see, on their 18th birthday, the twins will either remain good, or turn dark because of the magic they've inherited from their father. Like Logan, Emma has avoided taping into her dark magic, to avoid the change that could be made on her bday. Like Adam, Ethan taps into his dark magic a little more than he should, and will probably face the consequences of doing so in book 2.
That's a wrap!
Overall, the book was pretty enjoyable. I did stumbled across parts where I rolled my eyes, (mainly at Emma . . . well always at Emma actually) and times where the plot dragged and the dialogue became a bit choppy and confusing, but I still managed to finish. I jumped off my bed, yelling at Ethan towards the end, and that cliffhanger has left me feeling like Tainted, book 2, couldn't come fast enough. Who in the world is the mystery woman ?!
Now, now settle down ladies, allow me to elaborate, yeah?
I've never been a huge fan of fantasy. I don't know how many times I'm going to stress this, but I really want you guys to understand that this is big for me ya know. Reading about all these . . . mystical creatures and such. I made a resolution this year, that I would start stepping out of my zone, and venturing into the uncharted land of castles, and 3 headed dragons, and male characters with wings . . . you know those types of things. So I was surprised that after reading the synopsis of Wicked, I was actually intrigued to read it. Go head and gasp . . . I know you want to.
Twin towers, I meant powers
Things take off pretty quickly from the very beginning of this book. It wasn't very hard to keep up, but it was a bit overwhelming when trying to piece together all the information that was given.
Tika's Dictionary Translation: So much tea being spilled, so little time to sip.
Wicked takes us on an interesting ride as we meet our two main characters, Emma and Ethan. Twin brother and sister (obviously) are the spawns of a witch named Marina and the most feared and evil warlock in all of Elsmere, the infamous Nicholas Drake. With their dad being killed by a hellhound, (I pictured a huge dog with rabies) and their mother mysteriously murdered, the children were left in the care of their mother's close friend, Mason King. He vowed to raise both Emma and Ethan in the mortal world as " normal " kids, and also decided to leave them out of the loop regarding their dad and the powers they've inherited. But with dark magic running through their blood, it was only a matter of time before the twins discovered their ultimate potential.
Rollercoaster
Let me tell you right now, Wicked has alot going on. Like, a whole lot. From the very beginning we're discovering new secrets, and uncovering old ones, as we're thrown into the middle of the mortal, and magical world where vampires, warlocks, witches, and other creatures reside, better known as Elsmere. What I liked about the book, was that it was very fast paced, but this proved to be a bit of a problem for me as well. There were times where the plot would be accelerating at full throttle, and times where it would drag, almost like it was creeping up on you, before it took off again.
Have you ever visited an amusement park, and the first ride you went on was incredibly fast? I'm talking snatch your wig off your head, make you have a asthma attack even when you don't have asthma, type of fast? Yeah? Okay well how about this . . .
Then have you ever got off that ride, and rode something a bit more slow? Like you're sitting next to a 5 year old, and in front of someone's grandparents type of slow? Well if you have experienced this, then you understand my feelings towards this plot, and if you haven't just . . . hush and imagine you did!
" I put a spell on you, & now your gone, gone, gone . . . so long! "
You win so many cool points if you know where that's from!
Two of my favorite things about this book were the characters and how the author weaved so many magical elements into the story. We're introduced to a slew of people, which at times made it hard to keep up with everyone. But, there were two characters that not only bought some interest to this story, but some boy candy as well, and they are:
Logan Hardwicke and Adam Corwin.
Logan Hardwicke is the twin's new next door neighbor. He delivers a package that supposedly was accidently sent to his home, and immediately Ethan knows something is up with him. " He was cute, but he's not human, at least not fully. " They had little time to ponder about this revelation, because soon the siblings found themselves in serious need of help, and Logan is just about the only person who can lend a hand, until . . .
Dark warlock Adam Corwin steps on the scene with his beautiful self. He was confident, and had such a fiery personality, that I find myself eagerly awaiting his dialogue. " He's gorgeous - the guy's chin was square with a jaw-line that could chisel granite, and he had black tattoos teasing from beneath his sleeves. " Looks like Ethan and I have similar tastes. If you haven't already guessed, Ethan is gay, and soon takes a bit of a liking to Adam. I believe the feeling is mutual, being that they're dialogue has so much chemistry. These guys definitely mesh well together, making them so entertaining! Not to mention I adored their fighting scenes, especially when they kicked some vampire ass! Now Emma and Logan on the other hand . . . not so much. I'm not sure if this was intentional, but there is definitely some sort of division between these four characters. You see, on their 18th birthday, the twins will either remain good, or turn dark because of the magic they've inherited from their father. Like Logan, Emma has avoided taping into her dark magic, to avoid the change that could be made on her bday. Like Adam, Ethan taps into his dark magic a little more than he should, and will probably face the consequences of doing so in book 2.
That's a wrap!
Overall, the book was pretty enjoyable. I did stumbled across parts where I rolled my eyes, (mainly at Emma . . . well always at Emma actually) and times where the plot dragged and the dialogue became a bit choppy and confusing, but I still managed to finish. I jumped off my bed, yelling at Ethan towards the end, and that cliffhanger has left me feeling like Tainted, book 2, couldn't come fast enough. Who in the world is the mystery woman ?!
Want to read
November 8, 2012OH MY SEVERUS! THIS SOUNDS FRIGGIN EPIC.
\
March 6, 2016
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story follows a brother and sister, Emma and Ethan, as they try to escape a warlock who is after their powers. Emma and Ethan come from a dark bloodline and they find themselves tempted to use dark magic on many different occasions. During their adventures, they meet many new faces and try to learn about their ancestry.
Without giving anymore away, I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and I found myself connecting with the main characters quite well. This book reminds me a little of the Mortal Instruments series, in that there is a world in this story that is different from the mortal world.
The only criticism that I have is that the amount of characters in this book can be, at some times, overwhelming. I would recommend reading carefully and fully understanding the characters and their backgrounds before continuing on to the next page. It may even be beneficial to write them down (which I do anyway for reviewing purposes).
Aside from that, I found this book to be beautifully written and action packed. Highly recommended!
This story follows a brother and sister, Emma and Ethan, as they try to escape a warlock who is after their powers. Emma and Ethan come from a dark bloodline and they find themselves tempted to use dark magic on many different occasions. During their adventures, they meet many new faces and try to learn about their ancestry.
Without giving anymore away, I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and I found myself connecting with the main characters quite well. This book reminds me a little of the Mortal Instruments series, in that there is a world in this story that is different from the mortal world.
The only criticism that I have is that the amount of characters in this book can be, at some times, overwhelming. I would recommend reading carefully and fully understanding the characters and their backgrounds before continuing on to the next page. It may even be beneficial to write them down (which I do anyway for reviewing purposes).
Aside from that, I found this book to be beautifully written and action packed. Highly recommended!
February 16, 2016
I really liked this book.I had to keep reading it until it was done because I didn’t want to stop. The twins Ethan and Emma are really great characters. I loved seeing the similarities and differences between the two.I was really rooting for Ethan the entire book and I really connected to the character.
I really loved the dialogue between two pairings that happen in the book. The action scenes were enjoyable. They were really well written. I also really loved that one of the main characters in the series is gay. A gay lead in a fantasy series that is well written is major plus points.
The only thing I don’t like is that I have to wait for Tainted to be released now.I need to know what‘s going to happen. I need more Ethan in my life. I need more Adam in my life. I am eager to experience more of this world.
I really loved the dialogue between two pairings that happen in the book. The action scenes were enjoyable. They were really well written. I also really loved that one of the main characters in the series is gay. A gay lead in a fantasy series that is well written is major plus points.
The only thing I don’t like is that I have to wait for Tainted to be released now.I need to know what‘s going to happen. I need more Ethan in my life. I need more Adam in my life. I am eager to experience more of this world.
May 2, 2015
I very rarely give negative reviews, but in this case it unfortunately can't be helped.
The premise sounded great - which is one of the reasons why I picked it up in the first place. But there were just too many things that bothered me.
First, it seriously needed further editing. Too many typos and wrong use of tenses within sentences.
Secondly, there was next to no world building. We were literally dropped into this world with no background or explanation of what sort of world we were in. This meant that the supernatural elements came across as if the author had just thought of them so should add them in - which is actually unfortunate because I thought they were good.
Thirdly, the girl character kept wavering between being utterly weak (crying at the drop of a hat) and then being described as a powerful witch! Actually there were a LOT of crying characters.
Fourthly, the belief system was at times contradictory. On page 39..."Emma and Ethan yearned to become an elder witch and warlock. It meant their power would be greater" just 2 (short) paragraphs later..."She would be able to remain as normal as possible, she thought. If she could get rid of her powers, she'd do it in a heartbeat."
Fifthly, there was no character development AT ALL. We had no background to the main protagonists other than the prologue - had no idea what they had been doing for 11 years. Adam and Logan were introduced, but again very very little character background. This meant I never really had a sense of who they were. Which again was a shame, because I think they could have been awesome, they were just a little two-dimensional for me.
Lastly, the format made for an extremely quick read - and I guess if it had of been formatted like usual books it would have only been 100 pages so hard to count that as a "novel". But it also meant that it was extremely hard to see who was who and where the transition was to other scenes in the story.
Actually looking back on it, this read like a long short story - if marketed as such it would have rated higher.
The premise sounded great - which is one of the reasons why I picked it up in the first place. But there were just too many things that bothered me.
First, it seriously needed further editing. Too many typos and wrong use of tenses within sentences.
Secondly, there was next to no world building. We were literally dropped into this world with no background or explanation of what sort of world we were in. This meant that the supernatural elements came across as if the author had just thought of them so should add them in - which is actually unfortunate because I thought they were good.
Thirdly, the girl character kept wavering between being utterly weak (crying at the drop of a hat) and then being described as a powerful witch! Actually there were a LOT of crying characters.
Fourthly, the belief system was at times contradictory. On page 39..."Emma and Ethan yearned to become an elder witch and warlock. It meant their power would be greater" just 2 (short) paragraphs later..."She would be able to remain as normal as possible, she thought. If she could get rid of her powers, she'd do it in a heartbeat."
Fifthly, there was no character development AT ALL. We had no background to the main protagonists other than the prologue - had no idea what they had been doing for 11 years. Adam and Logan were introduced, but again very very little character background. This meant I never really had a sense of who they were. Which again was a shame, because I think they could have been awesome, they were just a little two-dimensional for me.
Lastly, the format made for an extremely quick read - and I guess if it had of been formatted like usual books it would have only been 100 pages so hard to count that as a "novel". But it also meant that it was extremely hard to see who was who and where the transition was to other scenes in the story.
Actually looking back on it, this read like a long short story - if marketed as such it would have rated higher.
Want to read
February 12, 2015Gay-main-character in a fantasy book? Yesss
So excited for it, hope it won't disappoint.
So excited for it, hope it won't disappoint.
Want to read
March 6, 2018Is there a way to get the ebook? I couldn’t find it...
February 10, 2016
My favourite thing about reading Clover's books is definitely that they're super fast paced and they don't need 200 pages to get to the point!
I found this book intriguing and I wanted desperately answers!
Even though I was in a massive reading slump, I think finishing this book most certainly helped!
But I need to say that what I hate the most about his books is the need for more!!! I need Tainted to be released now, please! I need more of Ethan! (Whom is one of my favourite characters now...)
From the books I've read by Clover so far, I think this is the best written and developed.
(If you're reading this, Clover/Richard: I am still waiting for Kill Me If You Can!!! Why do you create amazing characters an then leave me hanging? No, but really... Please e-mail me what happens to all of your characters, I need to know!)
I don't think I need to recommend this book, because you just need to read it. — I'm sorry for hyping it, in case I did..
I found this book intriguing and I wanted desperately answers!
Even though I was in a massive reading slump, I think finishing this book most certainly helped!
But I need to say that what I hate the most about his books is the need for more!!! I need Tainted to be released now, please! I need more of Ethan! (Whom is one of my favourite characters now...)
From the books I've read by Clover so far, I think this is the best written and developed.
(If you're reading this, Clover/Richard: I am still waiting for Kill Me If You Can!!! Why do you create amazing characters an then leave me hanging? No, but really... Please e-mail me what happens to all of your characters, I need to know!)
I don't think I need to recommend this book, because you just need to read it. — I'm sorry for hyping it, in case I did..
June 17, 2015
I liked this book. It was a fast paced easy young adult read, and it kept my interest the entire way through. The characters were interesting but need some growth, and the plot was exciting. I'm interested in how the story will pan out in the next book of the series. There is only one small criticism I can give this book. Probably because I read this on the kindle I did notice some repeated spelling errors, such as the word "smelt" (which is a fish, or a process of heating and separating metals), instead of "smelled". I found this was a bit distracting as it would break up my feverish reading flow. But it didn't take away from the story, which I really enjoyed. I find in the conversion of books to kindle format these errors pop up frequently so it may not necessarily be in the original text of the book. Overall great book.
December 27, 2014
Such a dark, twisted, magical book. This books sure takes you on an adventure you surely never forget. From the world to the characters Wicked is such an great and captivating book. Can't wait for the second book, and after reading this book I will surely be picking up Clover Donovan's other book
in the near future ^^
in the near future ^^January 21, 2015
5 STARS - This was such a fun and amazing journey. I got an ARC of this to write how I felt about it and honestly I'm speechless. I knew it was gonna be fan-damn-tabulous cause Richard wrote it but it blew me away and I can't wait for the Second Book ☺️
January 12, 2015
Received as an ARC from the author. Paperback and kindle publication Jan 13th, 2015.
Super quick read lots of errors still.
Interesting story idea, love the girl/boy twins (Emma & Ethan), loved the magical elements. The dialogue needed some work, but it had lots of interesting and unique ideas. I did like that the characters said exactly what I wanted them to sometimes.
The downfall for me was the unbalanced detail. There was either too much for not enough.
Characters 3
Plot 3
Setting 4
Purpose 2
Resolution 2
Of course there is an opening in the last chapter that has be intrigued. I hope the finished product comes off more polished because this definitely has potential.
2 stars as an ARC.
Super quick read lots of errors still.
Interesting story idea, love the girl/boy twins (Emma & Ethan), loved the magical elements. The dialogue needed some work, but it had lots of interesting and unique ideas. I did like that the characters said exactly what I wanted them to sometimes.
The downfall for me was the unbalanced detail. There was either too much for not enough.
Characters 3
Plot 3
Setting 4
Purpose 2
Resolution 2
Of course there is an opening in the last chapter that has be intrigued. I hope the finished product comes off more polished because this definitely has potential.
2 stars as an ARC.
July 28, 2015
This book surprised me. I don't read a lot from this genre and OMG this was so good. I loved the plot it was awesome and the characters were so real feeling. Everything was so explained and the structure was good. However its not 5 star because of the all the action in each scene but that is just me this book is truly amazing, I love it can't wait for the 2nd won. THIS BOOK ONE OF DA BEST
February 12, 2019
This was not very good. The writing style was childish, the characters were poorly developed, the plot was fairly basic and a lot of aspects didn't flow well or make much sense. I do think the concept was interesting but the world building was poor and nothing was executed well. I did finish the book but that was almost entirely because it was short and I knew I could get through it fast.
January 14, 2015
Quick, fun, and dark and that ending, oh my goodness. I luv anything with witches. Now off to binge watch Charmed.
January 14, 2015
Review to come... 4/5 rating.
January 29, 2015
Childish writing style
Lots of head hopping
Lots of head hopping
September 27, 2015
The plot is poor, so is the writing style and the characters. DNF at 67%.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews