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The Thaumaturgy #1
Bewitched
Is it love or is it witchcraft? He’ll never find out if he kills her first.
The first time Darren saw Samantha, she was floating above his high school gymnasium during a basketball game, invisible to everyone but him. Next time he sees her, she's sitting in front of him in class, wowing his friends and causing unexplainable things to happen that only he seems to notice. But things really get strange (and complicated) when his dying grandfather tells him that he is part of an ancient order, the “Pessum Ire,” whose duty is to destroy witches. What does he do now, since he’s almost positive Samantha is a witch…and he’s crushing on her pretty hard?
The first time Darren saw Samantha, she was floating above his high school gymnasium during a basketball game, invisible to everyone but him. Next time he sees her, she's sitting in front of him in class, wowing his friends and causing unexplainable things to happen that only he seems to notice. But things really get strange (and complicated) when his dying grandfather tells him that he is part of an ancient order, the “Pessum Ire,” whose duty is to destroy witches. What does he do now, since he’s almost positive Samantha is a witch…and he’s crushing on her pretty hard?
331 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2013
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56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 14, 2013
With a book cover showcasing a boy playing with fire, I sort of assumed the protagonist would be somebody who had already mastered the art of fire magic …
I was wrong.
Darren leads a relatively normal life. He is a basketball team player. He has a few good friends. He likes to have fun and he has a pretty girlfriend. Life on the outside seems good but he knows his parents are still mourning the death of his big brother. When he discovers the secret compartment in his big brother’s room and retrieves its content, he knows his dying grandfather has been telling him tales that are not fabricated but real. Being a part of an ancient order, the “Pessum Ire”, whose duty is to destroy witches, Darren feels helpless – his grandfather is not in the right state of health to be his mentor and he has no idea how to prepare himself to face the evil witches. Will he suffer the same tragic death just like his big brother?
I must say I was a little disappointed at first when I learned that Darren did not know what he could possibly do to tap into his supernatural power. It’s like he’s so clueless about himself. How can he be so powerless?? I was baffled, but as I read and got to know him a bit better, I started to see him more as a determined survivor and less as a frustrated teenager. No doubt, it’s unfortunate that he had no one to “show him the way” but it didn’t necessarily mean he had a lesser chance to stay alive.
In the story, Darren suffers not just from his ill-fated duty, but also from betrayals of those who are around him. I’m pretty marveled by the number of evil witches that are in disguise and because Darren is not trained to discern witches from normal people, he is defenseless. But I like that Darren never uses his lack of training as an excuse to enslave himself as a helpless victim. His determination to get out of his mess opens him to uncover a world of allies, magic and power and I like that the outcome and reward are both pleasing and satisfactory.
I guess what intrigues me the most is that I could never be certain about whether a person is a true friend or foe until the very last page of the book. The hint of what’s truly evil lies not just in those who are power hungry but also in the deceptive, self-fulfilled nature of foresight and prophecy. There are so many intricate layers to the plot that I can’t help but be amazed.
And while my assumption about Darren being this skilled teenager with fire magic was not entirely accurate, the image on the book cover does capture the essence of the climactic moment of the story. Although I feel somewhat relieved that most of the evil people are now identified, I know something devilishly sinister is looming and I look forward to reading the next installment when it’s available.
--
Originally posted on Leisure Reads.
A copy of the book was provided by publisher for review purposes.
I was wrong.
Darren leads a relatively normal life. He is a basketball team player. He has a few good friends. He likes to have fun and he has a pretty girlfriend. Life on the outside seems good but he knows his parents are still mourning the death of his big brother. When he discovers the secret compartment in his big brother’s room and retrieves its content, he knows his dying grandfather has been telling him tales that are not fabricated but real. Being a part of an ancient order, the “Pessum Ire”, whose duty is to destroy witches, Darren feels helpless – his grandfather is not in the right state of health to be his mentor and he has no idea how to prepare himself to face the evil witches. Will he suffer the same tragic death just like his big brother?
I must say I was a little disappointed at first when I learned that Darren did not know what he could possibly do to tap into his supernatural power. It’s like he’s so clueless about himself. How can he be so powerless?? I was baffled, but as I read and got to know him a bit better, I started to see him more as a determined survivor and less as a frustrated teenager. No doubt, it’s unfortunate that he had no one to “show him the way” but it didn’t necessarily mean he had a lesser chance to stay alive.
In the story, Darren suffers not just from his ill-fated duty, but also from betrayals of those who are around him. I’m pretty marveled by the number of evil witches that are in disguise and because Darren is not trained to discern witches from normal people, he is defenseless. But I like that Darren never uses his lack of training as an excuse to enslave himself as a helpless victim. His determination to get out of his mess opens him to uncover a world of allies, magic and power and I like that the outcome and reward are both pleasing and satisfactory.
I guess what intrigues me the most is that I could never be certain about whether a person is a true friend or foe until the very last page of the book. The hint of what’s truly evil lies not just in those who are power hungry but also in the deceptive, self-fulfilled nature of foresight and prophecy. There are so many intricate layers to the plot that I can’t help but be amazed.
And while my assumption about Darren being this skilled teenager with fire magic was not entirely accurate, the image on the book cover does capture the essence of the climactic moment of the story. Although I feel somewhat relieved that most of the evil people are now identified, I know something devilishly sinister is looming and I look forward to reading the next installment when it’s available.
--
Originally posted on Leisure Reads.
A copy of the book was provided by publisher for review purposes.
March 12, 2013
Blog Tour! Check out my blog for review, excerpt and giveaway of Bewitched
@Jackie's Book World
The story starts of with Ethan's funeral, Darren's brother, who at the time was a normal high school student until he started seeing weird things happening around him that he could only see. Unaware of what was happening to him, he decides to ignore them, but it was hard to do so when his grandfather start telling him what he is and what he is destined to do. The story takes off from there, and it becomes one with twists and turns that left me wanting for more. It was well written, full of action, secrets and surprises. When a new girl, Samantha, enrolls as a student in the same high school, Darren is left to wonder whether or not there is a reason why she was there. The interactions that he has with those closest to him are vital in order to fulfill his destiny, they all play an important role in his life. The complexity of the characters make the story just that much more interesting and exciting to read. Mark's use of detail and history (with a twist) made the story believable. The ending left me wanting for more. Overall, Mark Harris has created a world that is exciting, where witches, demons, and those that are after the witches coexist. From the first page to the last, I was able to go into this world that he has created with so much detail. I was intrigued and bewitched by this story, and I can't wait to read the next book of the series, “The Return of the Familiar.”
@Jackie's Book World
The story starts of with Ethan's funeral, Darren's brother, who at the time was a normal high school student until he started seeing weird things happening around him that he could only see. Unaware of what was happening to him, he decides to ignore them, but it was hard to do so when his grandfather start telling him what he is and what he is destined to do. The story takes off from there, and it becomes one with twists and turns that left me wanting for more. It was well written, full of action, secrets and surprises. When a new girl, Samantha, enrolls as a student in the same high school, Darren is left to wonder whether or not there is a reason why she was there. The interactions that he has with those closest to him are vital in order to fulfill his destiny, they all play an important role in his life. The complexity of the characters make the story just that much more interesting and exciting to read. Mark's use of detail and history (with a twist) made the story believable. The ending left me wanting for more. Overall, Mark Harris has created a world that is exciting, where witches, demons, and those that are after the witches coexist. From the first page to the last, I was able to go into this world that he has created with so much detail. I was intrigued and bewitched by this story, and I can't wait to read the next book of the series, “The Return of the Familiar.”
March 28, 2013
This is an amazing story. Full of Magic and twist and turns, full of action, and secrets and many surprises. It sure left me wanting more. It’s very well written too.
The complexities of the characters really make this story very intriguing for sure, and very exciting to read. The author uses great detail and history, which is twisted some, but made it all very believable too. That ending really made me wish book 2 was here now.
I think the world Mark created was very exciting, full of witches, demons, and also those that are after the witches too. I just loved it all.
The character development of Darren and Samantha was great, these two alone would have made for a great story, but the other characters just brought so much more, like Mike, Andrea, Serena and Atacus. They bring a little comic fun to the mix along with more background.
I think all lovers of paranormal books will love this book too.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars, and anxiously await book 2.
I was provided a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.
October 1, 2013
[3/5]
Check back here on April 6 onwards for my tour stop of the book, also featuring a giveaway with 7 chances to win a copy of this book!
It's been a while since I read a witch or wizard book, the last being SPELL BOUND by Rachel Hawkins back last year in 2012. Then when I got an invite for this book and saw the blurb (and, erm, the gorgeous cover), I was pretty psyched about the book! That being said, I definitely got my fix for a good witch-type of book, though I still had a few issues with the book...
My favorite part about the novel was probably the world and magic Mark Jay Harris created in the book. When I came looking for a good book about witches, I was really looking for something that could either totally creep me out or overwhelm me with fantastic magics. Harris's version was probably a combination of both - he had a good amount of spells, wand waving, cauldrons, and black cats, but also incorporated the darker side of witch hunting. Whenever Sam or Serena were explaining different types of spells, (especially the "blind man" and "deaf man" - imagine having a trick like that on your side!) I found myself completely immersed in the writing and magic of it. The idea of Warders, Oracles, Guardians, and witches or warlocks, and how they all came together also really interested me.
The down side to that, though, was that sometimes there seemed to be a lot of info dumping. This might be because I was reading the eARC on my phone, but it seemed like it could go for a large number of pages just describing the history. Personally, while I enjoyed the general story, sometimes it was a little too much.
As for the characters, personally I thought they were "okay". Like in many cases in the YA world, I thought they were likable but a bit undeveloped. Darren, for example, really is a nice guy, but I couldn't completely connect with his character. The same was true for Sam, Serena, Mike, and Andrea. I have to admit, though, that Sam or Mike had this sense of humor and snark that definitely brightened the mood and made me crack a laugh (:
The plot, though, was probably my biggest issue with the book. Firstly, I found that it could be really slow moving at times, especially when Darren didn't know about his powers or was just learning about it. In fact, I didn't feel like the action or excitement didn't come in until about 60% into the book. A lot of the book is also spent on Darren feeling guilty about liking Samantha. I also felt like after some really obvious foreshadowing, some of the "twists" in the book became obvious.
However, the part of the plot that I felt had a good amount of action was much more exciting! At that point, I couldn't stop reading until the very end. In a way, I felt like this suspenseful and break-neck ending was worth going through the somewhat slow moving beginning.
Nevertheless, overall I did enjoy BEWITCHED. It has a great concept surrounding witches and warders, and one that I definitely would love to explore more, hopefully in the next books. Fans of paranormal romance, other InkSpell titles like COLONIZATION by Aubrie Dionne or THE STAR CHILD by Stephanie Keyes, or readers looking for a quick fantasy read will probably enjoy this novel (:
* An eARC of this book was provided for review purposes. This did not influence by opinion of the book.
Check back here on April 6 onwards for my tour stop of the book, also featuring a giveaway with 7 chances to win a copy of this book!
It's been a while since I read a witch or wizard book, the last being SPELL BOUND by Rachel Hawkins back last year in 2012. Then when I got an invite for this book and saw the blurb (and, erm, the gorgeous cover), I was pretty psyched about the book! That being said, I definitely got my fix for a good witch-type of book, though I still had a few issues with the book...
My favorite part about the novel was probably the world and magic Mark Jay Harris created in the book. When I came looking for a good book about witches, I was really looking for something that could either totally creep me out or overwhelm me with fantastic magics. Harris's version was probably a combination of both - he had a good amount of spells, wand waving, cauldrons, and black cats, but also incorporated the darker side of witch hunting. Whenever Sam or Serena were explaining different types of spells, (especially the "blind man" and "deaf man" - imagine having a trick like that on your side!) I found myself completely immersed in the writing and magic of it. The idea of Warders, Oracles, Guardians, and witches or warlocks, and how they all came together also really interested me.
The down side to that, though, was that sometimes there seemed to be a lot of info dumping. This might be because I was reading the eARC on my phone, but it seemed like it could go for a large number of pages just describing the history. Personally, while I enjoyed the general story, sometimes it was a little too much.
As for the characters, personally I thought they were "okay". Like in many cases in the YA world, I thought they were likable but a bit undeveloped. Darren, for example, really is a nice guy, but I couldn't completely connect with his character. The same was true for Sam, Serena, Mike, and Andrea. I have to admit, though, that Sam or Mike had this sense of humor and snark that definitely brightened the mood and made me crack a laugh (:
The plot, though, was probably my biggest issue with the book. Firstly, I found that it could be really slow moving at times, especially when Darren didn't know about his powers or was just learning about it. In fact, I didn't feel like the action or excitement didn't come in until about 60% into the book. A lot of the book is also spent on Darren feeling guilty about liking Samantha. I also felt like after some really obvious foreshadowing, some of the "twists" in the book became obvious.
However, the part of the plot that I felt had a good amount of action was much more exciting! At that point, I couldn't stop reading until the very end. In a way, I felt like this suspenseful and break-neck ending was worth going through the somewhat slow moving beginning.
Nevertheless, overall I did enjoy BEWITCHED. It has a great concept surrounding witches and warders, and one that I definitely would love to explore more, hopefully in the next books. Fans of paranormal romance, other InkSpell titles like COLONIZATION by Aubrie Dionne or THE STAR CHILD by Stephanie Keyes, or readers looking for a quick fantasy read will probably enjoy this novel (:
* An eARC of this book was provided for review purposes. This did not influence by opinion of the book.
April 12, 2013
'Bewitched' is the first book in a young adult fantasy series that follows the main character, Darren, as he learns the truth that his grandfather has been trying to tell him for years: that witches and warlocks exist and that he is right in the middle of it all. Aside from still dealing with his older brother's death, his family, and school, now Darren must decide if the hot and mysterious new girl at school - Samantha - is a witch and which side she is on. Darren's grandfather finally reveals that he is a part of an ancient order known as the "Pessum Ire" and it is his duty to find and destroy witches. What does this mean for Samantha, and for himself?
This was a fun first book in a new young adult series focused on witches and warlocks. The author includes interesting histories and artifacts throughout the book, which I thought brought an interesting originality to the story. I liked learning about the ancient orders and the histories of the witches and the "Pessum Ire" and I hope that the next book will go into greater detail of them. The characters were written well, although they were all a big cliched and stereotypical - especially the secondary characters in the book, who were all pretty shallow. Darren was a good main character, although I didn't really feel like I was able to empathize with him. The dialogue and parts of the story felt a bit forced at times, which I think added to the fact that I couldn't seem to fully immerse myself into the book. The writing was otherwise well done and had a fast pace that kept the reader engaged in the plot. The storyline was exciting and had a lot of action and adventure mixed in with romance and fantasy, which made it a great blend of genres. Overall, this was a light and easy read and one that fans of young adult fantasy will be sure to enjoy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun first book in a new young adult series focused on witches and warlocks. The author includes interesting histories and artifacts throughout the book, which I thought brought an interesting originality to the story. I liked learning about the ancient orders and the histories of the witches and the "Pessum Ire" and I hope that the next book will go into greater detail of them. The characters were written well, although they were all a big cliched and stereotypical - especially the secondary characters in the book, who were all pretty shallow. Darren was a good main character, although I didn't really feel like I was able to empathize with him. The dialogue and parts of the story felt a bit forced at times, which I think added to the fact that I couldn't seem to fully immerse myself into the book. The writing was otherwise well done and had a fast pace that kept the reader engaged in the plot. The storyline was exciting and had a lot of action and adventure mixed in with romance and fantasy, which made it a great blend of genres. Overall, this was a light and easy read and one that fans of young adult fantasy will be sure to enjoy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2013
I have to say, I thought this book was pretty amazing. The cover was pretty cool, and I thought that it may be the best thing, but the story upped it by several notches. Just a warning for everyone who loves a good book.
Bewitched is about a boy called Darren who is your average high school guy. He plays basketball, has a girlfriend, very average. His brother died. Darren finds out that his brother died fighting witches and he's supposed to fight them too.
Only his grandfather has health issues and can't help him so he has to figure it out all on his own. And the new girl? Yeah, he thinks she's a witch. I mean, she was floating above the school gymnasium and all. And another fun thing? He has the hots for her. Very messy and complicated.
Suddenly he's not so average after all, is? And he is having trouble trying to tap into his magical abilities. Honestly, he's pretty clueless. Poor guy. You can't help but feel at least a little twinge of sympathy for him.
A lot happens in this book, and Darren has a lot to go through by himself. I'm not going to reveal and details--sorry, but your going to have to read the book yourself--but I will say that I thought this story was compelling and... magical. Pun intended.
When you read Bewitched, you'll love it. There's a lot you have to understand, and that takes time (don't all books?) but in the ended your left with a feeling of completeness as the story comes full circle. I hated not knowing who the evil person was in the story, and that drove me to finish the book as fast as possible. It was like an itch I couldn't scratch. Kudos to you, Mark Jay Harris. You really left me wanting more.
Bewitched is about a boy called Darren who is your average high school guy. He plays basketball, has a girlfriend, very average. His brother died. Darren finds out that his brother died fighting witches and he's supposed to fight them too.
Only his grandfather has health issues and can't help him so he has to figure it out all on his own. And the new girl? Yeah, he thinks she's a witch. I mean, she was floating above the school gymnasium and all. And another fun thing? He has the hots for her. Very messy and complicated.
Suddenly he's not so average after all, is? And he is having trouble trying to tap into his magical abilities. Honestly, he's pretty clueless. Poor guy. You can't help but feel at least a little twinge of sympathy for him.
A lot happens in this book, and Darren has a lot to go through by himself. I'm not going to reveal and details--sorry, but your going to have to read the book yourself--but I will say that I thought this story was compelling and... magical. Pun intended.
When you read Bewitched, you'll love it. There's a lot you have to understand, and that takes time (don't all books?) but in the ended your left with a feeling of completeness as the story comes full circle. I hated not knowing who the evil person was in the story, and that drove me to finish the book as fast as possible. It was like an itch I couldn't scratch. Kudos to you, Mark Jay Harris. You really left me wanting more.
March 17, 2013
Bewitched was an awesome read! The Young Adult genre has really blown up lately with a lot of paranormal based stories. Bewitched deftly navigates the paranormal genre. In Bewitched, we meet Darren. When we first meet him he is attending the funeral of his older brother. During the funeral he experiences some weird sightings that only he can see. It’s a few years later that an incident during a basketball game throws his world for a loop. He begins to believe the stories his crazy old grandfather had been telling since he was young. As Darren delves more into his new life and the new world in front of him he finds it harder and harder to do what is asked of him while trying to figure out how he plays in a prophesy of his enemies. While reading Bewitched you will keep asking yourself how will Darren choose his path and how will his choice effect those he cares about.
Mark Harris does a great job with this book. This being the first book in his series he does a phenomenal job introducing his characters and developing the world that they live in. The story is well conceived and developed. Darren and Samantha are great characters that you really develop an interest in. They alone could drive you to want to read more of this great story, but it is also the peripheral characters like Mike, Serena, Andrea and Atacus that bring comic relief and more insight into a murky undiscovered background. I would unequivocally recommend this book for all paranormal lovers. You will get sucked in and get to the end cursing that the next book isn’t out yet so that you can read it.
Mark Harris does a great job with this book. This being the first book in his series he does a phenomenal job introducing his characters and developing the world that they live in. The story is well conceived and developed. Darren and Samantha are great characters that you really develop an interest in. They alone could drive you to want to read more of this great story, but it is also the peripheral characters like Mike, Serena, Andrea and Atacus that bring comic relief and more insight into a murky undiscovered background. I would unequivocally recommend this book for all paranormal lovers. You will get sucked in and get to the end cursing that the next book isn’t out yet so that you can read it.
Read
March 29, 2013Mark Jay Harris did an outstanding job writing this book. It was a really interesting read. It grabs your attention from the beginning. He is such an excellent writer.
This book brings a new perspective into the world of witches. You could never tell what was going to happen next, it was so unpredictable. You can count on this book to add another twist into the plot and leave you wondering.
I love Darren he is such an amazing character, but not my favorite, but he does come in second. Mike is my favorite always lightening the mood with his banter and sense of humor. Samantha is such a sweet and beautiful character.
How do you know who you can trust. Everyone around you could be your enemy or they could be using you. What if the people you thought you could trust are the ones to destroy you? What if someone you never gave a second thought to watched your every move and planned against you? What if the people who were around you everyday, weren't who you thought?
Warders
Witches
Covens
Familiars
Oracles
The prize is a Gilmore.
Who will get to it first?
Who is on your side?
Will you survive the night?
Booksessions
madbookreader.blogspot.com
This book brings a new perspective into the world of witches. You could never tell what was going to happen next, it was so unpredictable. You can count on this book to add another twist into the plot and leave you wondering.
I love Darren he is such an amazing character, but not my favorite, but he does come in second. Mike is my favorite always lightening the mood with his banter and sense of humor. Samantha is such a sweet and beautiful character.
How do you know who you can trust. Everyone around you could be your enemy or they could be using you. What if the people you thought you could trust are the ones to destroy you? What if someone you never gave a second thought to watched your every move and planned against you? What if the people who were around you everyday, weren't who you thought?
Warders
Witches
Covens
Familiars
Oracles
The prize is a Gilmore.
Who will get to it first?
Who is on your side?
Will you survive the night?
Booksessions
madbookreader.blogspot.com
March 20, 2013
Incredible read. Sucks you right in. Cleverly written. Can't wait for the next one. This was very enjoyable to read.
July 8, 2013
I loved it! It was full of adventure, romance, and magic! It keeps you guessing through the whole thing! Everyone should read this book!
Read
June 15, 2014DNF at 35%. Not badly written, and interesting characters but this story just didn't interest me.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews