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The Grimoire Chronicles #2
Winter Shock
“Trenton drugged and kidnapped me. I was powerless.”
Cassie’s neighbors have secrets, and she is one of them.
Taken against her will to an isolated, frozen wilderness on an impossible quest, Cassie defends herself against Trenton who has gone over to the dark side. One minute he’s adorable and charming, and the next weird, uncaring, and hostile. And now, Cassie fears for her life.
Winter Solstice draws near, and Cassie performs magical spells to gain clarity. Instead she is shocked by visions and mind jumps into the lives of strangers on the brink of disaster.
Why is she in a hostile, threatening wilderness? What is causing the horrific visions? Cassie discovers there is much more at stake than her own survival. To survive, she must overcome impossible odds.
“Winter Shock” is a paranormal fantasy novel that you’ll never forget! If you love paranormal romance, urban fantasy, Witches and Wicca, paranormal mystery, paranormal horror, action and survival, “The Grimoire Chronicles” series is definitely for you!
Cassie’s neighbors have secrets, and she is one of them.
Taken against her will to an isolated, frozen wilderness on an impossible quest, Cassie defends herself against Trenton who has gone over to the dark side. One minute he’s adorable and charming, and the next weird, uncaring, and hostile. And now, Cassie fears for her life.
Winter Solstice draws near, and Cassie performs magical spells to gain clarity. Instead she is shocked by visions and mind jumps into the lives of strangers on the brink of disaster.
Why is she in a hostile, threatening wilderness? What is causing the horrific visions? Cassie discovers there is much more at stake than her own survival. To survive, she must overcome impossible odds.
“Winter Shock” is a paranormal fantasy novel that you’ll never forget! If you love paranormal romance, urban fantasy, Witches and Wicca, paranormal mystery, paranormal horror, action and survival, “The Grimoire Chronicles” series is definitely for you!
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2012
About the author
Sally Dubats
5 books54 followersSally Dubats is the author of "Natural Magick: The Essential Witch's Grimoire" which has been translated into German, and "The Grimoire Chronicles: Veil Between Worlds", the first in a planned 8-book series about a Wiccan protagonist.
Sally has held editorial positions for green non-profit organizations and was the editor of a metaphysical newspaper for several years. She has organized several writing groups and plans to create an inspirational e-zine for young writers.
Sally owned her own theatre company, writing, directing, and producing award winning theatre, and was a theatre critic for many years. She currently writes the blog "From One Witch To Another".
Sally is a student of the Tarot, reading professionally for fifteen years, and practices various healing modalities including Reiki and laying on of stones. She is a certified Sivananda Yoga instructor and loves to read.
Sally is Wiccan, choosing to practice and learn about a variety of Craft traditions which uphold the spiritual principles found in many religions.
Sally has held editorial positions for green non-profit organizations and was the editor of a metaphysical newspaper for several years. She has organized several writing groups and plans to create an inspirational e-zine for young writers.
Sally owned her own theatre company, writing, directing, and producing award winning theatre, and was a theatre critic for many years. She currently writes the blog "From One Witch To Another".
Sally is a student of the Tarot, reading professionally for fifteen years, and practices various healing modalities including Reiki and laying on of stones. She is a certified Sivananda Yoga instructor and loves to read.
Sally is Wiccan, choosing to practice and learn about a variety of Craft traditions which uphold the spiritual principles found in many religions.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 9, 2012
Very difficult to put this book down. The adventures of Cassie and Trenton, and their friends kept me riveted. But more than the adventure, are the insights into the metaphysical and the nature of our universe(s) that cause one who is open-minded to ponder. A dip into the mythological, as well as a deeper understanding of Wiccan belief and ritual help round out this tale of trust, truth and passion. Throughout the story, the weaving of the multi-layered mystery of love, with its twists and turns, help us to understand that things aren't always as they seem. But while the journey of our lives may often seem directionless or stalled, "We walk toward our Highest Self, in perfect time, with each perfect event taking us toward our own divinity."
May 26, 2013
Winter Shock is book two in “The Grimoire Series” having reviewed book one, I was asked to review book two. YA is usually not my favourite genre to read, for a lot of the books are all the same and formulaic. But the Grimoire series is different and takes the reader into a completely different direction that one thinks. Having reviewed “Veil between the Worlds” I was eagerly waiting to read book two and as always I really enjoyed this story.
Winter Shock picks up a few weeks after the first book and as we find Cassie and her Aunt preparing for their Winter Solstice celebration when things take a scary turn and all that Cassie thinks knows is not what it seems. From the beginning of the story the author slowly weaves in a twist that left me feeling a bit miffed at what was going on. I started to question and realised I was sounding just like Cassie as she questioned what was happening around her. Ok I admit it – I was talking back to the book! This was a first for me!
The characters in this book are familiar if you have read the first book in the series, Cassie as a character is evolving and feels like she is coming more into her own even though she has the awkwardness as a teenager, we see her moving from teen to adult as she faces the obstacles that are placed in front of her. As for Trenton Cassie’s love interest, we are shown another side to his character and at first I was not happy with where the story was going, but as the story unfolded I began to understand. We do see some familiar faces in this story along with a few new characters that are introduced and I look forward to see how these new characters flesh out in the next book in the series.
The plot line was fantastic! For a YA book it was very exciting, the author blends adventure and spirituality in a very unique way. I was emotionally engaged with every aspect of this book and I felt like I was walking beside Cassie for the duration. The author threw in a few sub plots that enabled me to get to know some of the sub characters a bit better which I liked. I have a feeling these characters will be playing a bigger part in future books. I could find no fault with Sally’s writing as always the book is written extremely well. Thinking back about the book, I have to say you can feel the author’s passion for her story, her characters and this shines through every word that she writes. She brings emotion into her stories and that is what keeps me coming back for more.
This ebook is available on Amazon for $2.99, which is a great value and well worth it.
All in all this is a superb follow up to “Veil between the Worlds” and I for one am looking forward to the next book in the series. I recommend this book for anyone who has a love for witchy tales; myth and magic....with that said I give this book 5 stars! Reviewed for DarkissReads. www.darkissreads.com
Winter Shock picks up a few weeks after the first book and as we find Cassie and her Aunt preparing for their Winter Solstice celebration when things take a scary turn and all that Cassie thinks knows is not what it seems. From the beginning of the story the author slowly weaves in a twist that left me feeling a bit miffed at what was going on. I started to question and realised I was sounding just like Cassie as she questioned what was happening around her. Ok I admit it – I was talking back to the book! This was a first for me!
The characters in this book are familiar if you have read the first book in the series, Cassie as a character is evolving and feels like she is coming more into her own even though she has the awkwardness as a teenager, we see her moving from teen to adult as she faces the obstacles that are placed in front of her. As for Trenton Cassie’s love interest, we are shown another side to his character and at first I was not happy with where the story was going, but as the story unfolded I began to understand. We do see some familiar faces in this story along with a few new characters that are introduced and I look forward to see how these new characters flesh out in the next book in the series.
The plot line was fantastic! For a YA book it was very exciting, the author blends adventure and spirituality in a very unique way. I was emotionally engaged with every aspect of this book and I felt like I was walking beside Cassie for the duration. The author threw in a few sub plots that enabled me to get to know some of the sub characters a bit better which I liked. I have a feeling these characters will be playing a bigger part in future books. I could find no fault with Sally’s writing as always the book is written extremely well. Thinking back about the book, I have to say you can feel the author’s passion for her story, her characters and this shines through every word that she writes. She brings emotion into her stories and that is what keeps me coming back for more.
This ebook is available on Amazon for $2.99, which is a great value and well worth it.
All in all this is a superb follow up to “Veil between the Worlds” and I for one am looking forward to the next book in the series. I recommend this book for anyone who has a love for witchy tales; myth and magic....with that said I give this book 5 stars! Reviewed for DarkissReads. www.darkissreads.com
December 6, 2012
I love this for so many reasons.
The story continues in a way I never expected. Hard to write a review without giving away key plot points, but it was a ride! At times I wanted to scream "what are you doing?" about things, but trust the author.
The imagery in this book is so vivid it is like stepping into a world you never want to leave. One scene in particular had me in tears of bliss wishing was & feeling like I was there. Such a beautiful depiction that seems so real. I find myself returning to the scene while meditating and it gives me a great sense of calm.
While the books do share aspects of pagan beliefs and the lives of witches, you don't have to be one or be interested in becoming one to enjoy this book. It may give you a better understanding of the true nature of what it means to be a practicing witch in modern america. The elements are woven into the story in a way that explains for those who are not aware yet respectfully so I doubt it would anger or offend those who have been practicing the craft their whole life.
I adore this book so much that the only downside I have about it is that now I am very eagerly waiting on the next one! I paced myself slowly to enjoy this one as much as possible. Just that good.
Thank you again Sally for sharing Cassie's world.
The story continues in a way I never expected. Hard to write a review without giving away key plot points, but it was a ride! At times I wanted to scream "what are you doing?" about things, but trust the author.
The imagery in this book is so vivid it is like stepping into a world you never want to leave. One scene in particular had me in tears of bliss wishing was & feeling like I was there. Such a beautiful depiction that seems so real. I find myself returning to the scene while meditating and it gives me a great sense of calm.
While the books do share aspects of pagan beliefs and the lives of witches, you don't have to be one or be interested in becoming one to enjoy this book. It may give you a better understanding of the true nature of what it means to be a practicing witch in modern america. The elements are woven into the story in a way that explains for those who are not aware yet respectfully so I doubt it would anger or offend those who have been practicing the craft their whole life.
I adore this book so much that the only downside I have about it is that now I am very eagerly waiting on the next one! I paced myself slowly to enjoy this one as much as possible. Just that good.
Thank you again Sally for sharing Cassie's world.
February 22, 2013
I truly love Sally's books! Winter Shock is the second book in the series, continuing Cassie and Trenton's story from the first novel, Veil Between Worlds. As much as I loved the first novel, I think I loved this one even more. The intrigue and suspense in this book was even greater than that of the first. For most of the first half of the book, all I wanted to do is reach into my Kindle and slap Trenton silly. His behavior was just as confusing to me as a reader as it was to Cassie, his girlfriend. This truly added to the suspense of the story, as we just couldn't figure what he was up to!
Things to love about Winter Shock...
---The twists and turns. There is so much to left to the imagination, especially in the first half of the book, that it lets the reader's mind jump to conclusions. And just when you think you have it figured out, something happens to change that. The possibilities are wide open and it makes for some fabulous suspense.
---The magic and witchcraft. I love, love, LOVE that the depiction of witchcraft and magic is true to form, with none of the inaccuracies or even degradation that can be found in so much fiction that touches on witchcraft. The author effortlessly weaves knowledge into the story so that everything can be understood even by those who know nothing about true witchcraft. And she does it in a way that doesn't come off as "lecturey" in the slightest.
---The characters. From Cassie and Trenton, to Maeve and Aunt Faye, to Holly and Laine, and all of the others in between... no matter what the role of the character is, they are made to be real people that we can all relate to in some way. I love that!
My recommendation: A definite must read if you enjoy witchy fiction. It's truthful and completely easy to lose yourself in!
Things to love about Winter Shock...
---The twists and turns. There is so much to left to the imagination, especially in the first half of the book, that it lets the reader's mind jump to conclusions. And just when you think you have it figured out, something happens to change that. The possibilities are wide open and it makes for some fabulous suspense.
---The magic and witchcraft. I love, love, LOVE that the depiction of witchcraft and magic is true to form, with none of the inaccuracies or even degradation that can be found in so much fiction that touches on witchcraft. The author effortlessly weaves knowledge into the story so that everything can be understood even by those who know nothing about true witchcraft. And she does it in a way that doesn't come off as "lecturey" in the slightest.
---The characters. From Cassie and Trenton, to Maeve and Aunt Faye, to Holly and Laine, and all of the others in between... no matter what the role of the character is, they are made to be real people that we can all relate to in some way. I love that!
My recommendation: A definite must read if you enjoy witchy fiction. It's truthful and completely easy to lose yourself in!
June 5, 2013
My only complaint is that I was confused as to what was going on for the first third of the book. After that, it made sense and helped me to enjoy the story more. An excellent and original story.
March 14, 2013
Actual rating: 3,5 stars.
I have to admit that I didn’t get a chance to read Veil Between Worlds, the first book in the series before starting on this one. It was pretty easy to follow though, but I checked a few reviews to see what Veil Between Worlds was all about.
Trenton is one of my favorite love interests in YA literature. Why? Because he confused the hell out of me. Pardon the language, but I spend more pages saying “what the hell” than anything else when reading this book, up to the point he made so many twists and turns I was ready to give up. But then I began to understand that this was what he’s all about. He’s the epitome of mystery, a character you can never quite grasp or understand. He spends the entire book dabbling between the good and the dark side, and it tears him apart inside-out. That’s the kind of storyline I love, the kind of love interest I adore.
Then there’s Cassie, the main character. She didn’t whine, like some teenage protagonists, but she wasn’t exactly the most charming protagonists either. I liked her flawed sides though, whenever an author can give a flawed protagonist I enjoy reading about anyhow, that makes my day. What also intrigued me was the setting: this mysterious, abandoned island in the middle of nowhere. The island itself is quite hostile as well, and it’s clearly not an easy ride out.
What made the most intriguing part of this bok though was the dynamics between Trenton and Cassie, their constant bickering, their lingering attraction. And talk about attraction. This puts Bella and Edward from Twilight to shame. The romance itself is well done, the build up goes great, and there was tension from start to finish.
However, there were some downsides as well. At times, the dialogue was a little immature. Cassie is supposedly seventeen years old, but most of the time she acts like a fifteen year old. I can easily forgive this for the greater good of the book though. The plot was solid, and had plenty of surprises along the way.
I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series. I would recommend this book to all fans of YA fantasy and paranormal romance novels looking for something new.
I have to admit that I didn’t get a chance to read Veil Between Worlds, the first book in the series before starting on this one. It was pretty easy to follow though, but I checked a few reviews to see what Veil Between Worlds was all about.
Trenton is one of my favorite love interests in YA literature. Why? Because he confused the hell out of me. Pardon the language, but I spend more pages saying “what the hell” than anything else when reading this book, up to the point he made so many twists and turns I was ready to give up. But then I began to understand that this was what he’s all about. He’s the epitome of mystery, a character you can never quite grasp or understand. He spends the entire book dabbling between the good and the dark side, and it tears him apart inside-out. That’s the kind of storyline I love, the kind of love interest I adore.
Then there’s Cassie, the main character. She didn’t whine, like some teenage protagonists, but she wasn’t exactly the most charming protagonists either. I liked her flawed sides though, whenever an author can give a flawed protagonist I enjoy reading about anyhow, that makes my day. What also intrigued me was the setting: this mysterious, abandoned island in the middle of nowhere. The island itself is quite hostile as well, and it’s clearly not an easy ride out.
What made the most intriguing part of this bok though was the dynamics between Trenton and Cassie, their constant bickering, their lingering attraction. And talk about attraction. This puts Bella and Edward from Twilight to shame. The romance itself is well done, the build up goes great, and there was tension from start to finish.
However, there were some downsides as well. At times, the dialogue was a little immature. Cassie is supposedly seventeen years old, but most of the time she acts like a fifteen year old. I can easily forgive this for the greater good of the book though. The plot was solid, and had plenty of surprises along the way.
I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series. I would recommend this book to all fans of YA fantasy and paranormal romance novels looking for something new.
December 26, 2012
Adrenaline Rush, Magick Surrealism, and Metaphysics ...
Who could ask for anything more?
The only time the adrenaline rush abates in this new novel, Winter Shock, the second in the series, The Grimoire Chronicles, is to take you on a journey into the world of Wiccan ritual, or to provide stunningly beautiful, enlightening, and inspiring metaphysical passages.
Honestly I do not know how Ms Sally Dubats manages to so deftly combine these three experiences while maintaining a page turner nail biting pace. There really should be a WARNING with Dubats books..."You are going to lose sleep, because you will not be able to put the book down."
This is a work that shouts out the message "Love is all you need." Dubats' respect and depth of understanding of diverse religions, mythologies, and archetypes is humbling. But none of this slows down the plot that has the reader holding their breath, or shouting out loud..."NOOOO!"
I would give this book to any avid reading 12 year old up to any adult with an imagination and a desire to experience a thrilling story that offers new levels of understanding and appreciation for the world we live in. I consider this series of books Literature.
This may sound cliche, but I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE MOVIES" based on these books. Some day (I believe soon) this book will be on Best Seller lists. Read the book and then think back to this review and say 'Thank You.!' (You are welcome.) The best news is that there are 6 more books to go!
Bravo Ms Dubats.
PS It is not mandatory, but try to read Veil Between Worlds (Book 1) first. I could have written the same review for Veil..
Who could ask for anything more?
The only time the adrenaline rush abates in this new novel, Winter Shock, the second in the series, The Grimoire Chronicles, is to take you on a journey into the world of Wiccan ritual, or to provide stunningly beautiful, enlightening, and inspiring metaphysical passages.
Honestly I do not know how Ms Sally Dubats manages to so deftly combine these three experiences while maintaining a page turner nail biting pace. There really should be a WARNING with Dubats books..."You are going to lose sleep, because you will not be able to put the book down."
This is a work that shouts out the message "Love is all you need." Dubats' respect and depth of understanding of diverse religions, mythologies, and archetypes is humbling. But none of this slows down the plot that has the reader holding their breath, or shouting out loud..."NOOOO!"
I would give this book to any avid reading 12 year old up to any adult with an imagination and a desire to experience a thrilling story that offers new levels of understanding and appreciation for the world we live in. I consider this series of books Literature.
This may sound cliche, but I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE MOVIES" based on these books. Some day (I believe soon) this book will be on Best Seller lists. Read the book and then think back to this review and say 'Thank You.!' (You are welcome.) The best news is that there are 6 more books to go!
Bravo Ms Dubats.
PS It is not mandatory, but try to read Veil Between Worlds (Book 1) first. I could have written the same review for Veil..
February 15, 2013
The book is the sequel in The Grimoire Chronicles, Veil Between Worlds. Even though I have not read the first book, I think we can catch up without knowing much details in the first book. I think the story was ok. I was not really excited reading it because I dont really into the characters. I think the chemistry between the two character of love interest is not really there. I would say Trenton is trying too much to be cool. Hey, maybe it's just me. But I must admit, the story has good plot line.Minus the dialogues. I feel awkward about those quite immature dialogues. Also, maybe it does not have a complementary between the plot line and the characters that made me less drawn to. The magic and fantasy the author created was quite realistic and me me wondering al the time. Of course, there's twist and turn that spice things up, which is a good thing and made the book better. But I still recommend readers to try. Maybe you will have different opinions about it.
3.5/5
3.5/5
December 7, 2013
AMAZING I wish there was a third book to read it seems like another should be written to follow the journey of clearing the other chakras of the earth. More on Holly and he interest in the craft and Mouse of course. I really loved this book it was a good following from the first book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews