Witch-Hunt

Lodestone #1

by Wendy Scott

ASIN B00AMQX7DO moved to the most recent edition here

Two tales entwine (excerpts below).
Sabrina is thrust out of her sheltered life at Mistress Florisah’s healing school after the destruction of the witch-ancestor portraits and the appearance of Lauren the Destroyer’s ghost. An anti-witchcraft regime is poised on Karthalon’s borders threatening full scale genocide, unless Sabrina, the last of Lauren’s bloodline, can destroy the Lodestone and restore magic to Valloaria. Hundreds of years before Lauren had wrought the cataclysmic demise of the Council of Witches by unleashing the Lodestone and now Sabrina is the only one who can undo Lauren’s legacy. Sabrina struggles to accept this suicide mission and is distracted by her inappropriate affection for Micah, a prospect monk. Lauren’s ghost haunts Sabrina’s dreams and her diary reveals the tragic events behind Lauren’s actions. With invasion imminent, Sabrina embarks on her quest armed only with a sliver of the Lodestone and Lauren’s diary.

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

239 pages, ebook

First published December 1, 2012

Reviews

[Emma Jaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic fantasy tale with an interesting theme. There are plenty of believable 3 dimensional characters, with their own agendas and personal conflicts. It’s an intriguing read and left me hungry to discover what happens to the main characters on an interpersonal level as well as in their society in general. The door is definitely wide open for future books in this series, although you aren't left hanging at the end of Lodestone, just very curious about how things will turn out.

Scenes are described beautifully, and draw you in, without the annoying repetitive details that some established fantasy authors insist on to pad their books. For example although setting up camp fires, cooking, eating and clothing is described in sufficient detail, you don’t suffer endless repeats of each meal while the characters travel.

The author weaves the ‘back story’ in via a diary, and although I found the ‘accent’ used a little irritating at times, it is well constructed, feeding in information at a suitable pace throughout the main tale.

I'd have given it five stars if they'd been a little more 'adult situations' between the characters, but then it wouldn't appeal to such a wide audience, and it is a very personal preference.

[D.L. Finn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Scott wrote an entertaining story told from two different time-lines. Sabrina the healer-witch lived in times when magic had been removed, while Lauren lived in the past when there was magic. How their lives intersected I found fascinating. As Sabrina sets out to right the wrongs of the past, she develops a relationship with an apprentice monk Micah. Their relationship was one of my favorite parts of “Lodestone”. Also, getting the history through Lauren’s journal showed that even with good intentions and a mother’s love things can go very wrong--was the strength of the story. It was a long process to get Sabrina to the place she needed to be, and many people suffered along the way-- and after. If you like a story with a quest, magic, forbidden love and fantasy with dark undertones you will enjoy this book!

[Sarah]

Spellbinding

I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next in the series. I will look for it after posting this review to see what happens in the next step.

[John Hugh Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Review of Lodestone (Witch-Hunt) by Wendy Scott

Review by: John H Glen
Date; 11-Sep-13
Format: E-Book
ASIN: B00AMQX7DO
Publisher: Wendy Scott; 1 edition (11 Dec 2012)
My rating: 4 stars

Authors/Publishers Book Description/Synopsis
Two tales entwine (excerpts below).
Sabrina is thrust out of her sheltered life at Mistress Florisah’s healing school after the destruction of the witch-ancestor portraits and the appearance of Lauren the Destroyer’s ghost. An anti-witchcraft regime is poised on Karthalon’s borders threatening full-scale genocide, unless Sabrina, the last of Lauren’s bloodline, can destroy the Lodestone and restore magic to Valloaria. Hundreds of years before Lauren had wrought the cataclysmic demise of the Council of Witches by unleashing the Lodestone and now Sabrina is the only one who can undo Lauren’s legacy. Sabrina struggles to accept this suicide mission and is distracted by her inappropriate affection for Micah, a prospect monk. Lauren’s ghost haunts Sabrina’s dreams and her diary reveals the tragic events behind Lauren’s actions. With invasion imminent, Sabrina embarks on her quest armed only with a sliver of the Lodestone and Lauren’s diary.

What Do I Think?

I really thought that this story-weaver’s imagination in this superb book is a breath of fresh air, she has crafted a world that is recognisable to us, however it is a world inhabited by individuals and animals that are new and utterly credible.
This story-weaver knows just how much to keep you enthralled every time I thought I identified where the story was moving, Wendy Scott took it somewhere else.
As I have already said, there is an abundance of believable three-dimensional individuals, with their own plans and struggles.
It's an enthralling story and left me eager to uncover what happens to the central characters.
The vistas are described superbly, and draw you right in to this world of Valloaria.
The weaver of this story weaves the back-story via a diary written by the heroine’s ancestor, and that is all I am willing to say as I just don’t like spoilers and will not spoil a well-woven story myself.
So in conclusion I have given this story and story weaver just 4 Stars, I liked it and think that Wendy Scott’s stories will tempt a much wider audience than you would think.

[William Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m trying to work my TBR down a little bit and here’s the review for Lodestone Book 1 Witch Hunt by Wendy Scott!

Synopsis (from the author): Sabrina and Lauren’s tales entwine – linked by blood and magic. Sabrina, a newly fledged healer, is thrust out of her sheltered life at Mistress Florisah’s healing school after the destruction of the witch-ancestor portraits. An anti-witchcraft militia is poised on Karthalon’s borders threatening full scale genocide, unless Sabrina, the last of Lauren’s bloodline, can destroy the Lodestone, and restore magic to Valloaria, but the Lodestone is buried deep within the heart of the Order’s headquarters. Sabrina struggles to accept this suicide mission, and is distracted by her inappropriate affection for Micah, a prospect monk. Lauren’s ghost haunts Sabrina’s dreams as her diary reveals the tragic events behind Lauren’s actions. With invasion imminent, Sabrina embarks on her quest armed only with a sliver of the Lodestone, and Lauren’s diary but how can a lone girl prevail against an army?

What I liked: I thought at first this book would be a run-of-the-mill fantasy, but I was pleasantly surprised. There were some common elements, but the idea of healers that were really witches was a nice twist. Sabrina graduates from the healing school and discovers she is the descendent of Lauren, who halted all magic in Valloaria. Told as a story that moves between Sabrina’s day-to-day journey and Lauren’s account through her diary, the tale moves along nicely. There are elements of romance, coming of age, sacrifice, and sorrow, with enough action to keep it interesting, and the development of Micah is intriguing.

What I didn’t like: The story did meander a little bit and, just for me, the graphic at the start of each chapter and on the cover seemed lighthearted for the story (sorry, but it did irritate me for some reason). Other than that, I couldn’t find much to dislike!

Overall impression: I liked the story, the characters, and the action. Sabrina takes on an impossible task and how she manages it was cool. I would recommend Lodestone Book 1 Witch Hunt to anyone who enjoys a nice fantasy read!

My rating: 5 Stars

[Jan Sikes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a book trailer blog party through the Rave Reviews Book Club and although I love paranormal books, I didn’t know what to expect. However, by the third chapter, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. What a story!!
Sabrina has been at the ‘Healing School’ since she was a very small child. Florsiah, the matron of the school, is the only mother figure she knows. Sabrina finds herself thrown into chaos at her graduation from the ‘Healing School’ when she learns she is the direct descendent of Lauren, a woman who is considered evil. Florsiah gives her a diary, written in Lauren’s own hand, and a sliver of stone, and is told she must leave the school.
Lauren’s Order has been established to stamp out any and all witchcraft. They are known as witch hunters and scour the countryside killing innocent people, destroying villages and taking slaves.
As the story unfolds, Sabrina travels in the company of a monk and three young monk apprentices to Sha’ La’ Shang, an idyllic city high in the mountains inhabited by monks. However, in the course of the journey, she falls in love with Micah, a young monk apprentice who has a unique talent of communicating with animals.
So much happens during the journey to Sha’ La’ Shang and I don’t want to give it all away, but there are grave troubles, fired up passions and danger lurking around every corner from the soldiers of Lauren’s Order to mythical birds who struggle to survive.
Once they reach Sha’ La’ Shang, she is given the task of finding and either destroying or changing the Lodestone to save Vallaoria. Being the direct descendant of Lauren, she is the only one who can undo the evil that has evoked terror across the land for many years. With the help of Lauren’s diary, the sliver of stone that burns brighter as she gets closer to the Lodestone, and many people from The Hidden, who strive to overthrow the evil that prevails, she takes on the task. At the cost of many lost lives, she finally makes it to her destination. What happens next is breathtaking and left me wanting to pick up the next book of this series to see!
If you like paranormal, fantasy and witchcraft, you’ll truly enjoy this book!

[John Horst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter are appropriate for readers of all ages, Lodestone (Witch-Hunt) will capture the attention of anyone interested in this genre, and even those who would like to venture out of their reading comfort zone. The story reads at a brisk pace, and is easy to follow, which can be daunting when delving into a fantasy world that one has obviously not experienced before.

The editing was fine, and the book was professionally prepared for the reader. There were no issues whatsoever with formatting, grammar or spelling errors. I think this is important to note.

I am looking forward to more from this writer.

[Donna Capil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story-telling Wendy. Once started, not only did I have difficulty putting this book down but I found myself thinking quite a lot about the characters and where to next for them. It tugged at many emotions as I journeyed along with the characters. Great plot, well-rounded, believable characters and loved the beautifully descriptive scene settings. I was on that mountain-top, right beside Sabrina and Micah. I could see the breath-taking view as they first laid eyes on Sha’ La’ Lang. Great job and an amazing imagination. I would highly recommend this book to all.

[Cas Peace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book with some very well developed characters. The writing flows easily and is a pleasure to read. There’s plenty of action and mystery, with the author drawing the reader forward with every scene. Sabrina is a character who is bound to attract followers. This is the first book in a series and I’m sure readers will be keen to know how her story progresses. I would recommend this book to YA readers and anyone who enjoys fantasy.

[Alexes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I was completely blown away by the author's imagination in this wonderful book. She has created a world that is familiar and known to us, but populated by characters and animals that are fresh and completely believable. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, Scott took it someplace else. Very well-written. Highly recommended.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this down once I started it. I didn't think it was going to be what it was and this book ended up being more than I thought. I can't wait for the next book.

[oakie · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was a run of the mill magic Harry Potter clone full of sexy making out scenes and an unoriginal plot.

some of the choices made don't make much sense to me. and this is where the spoilers will begin. minor, but still a warning.

her horse is afraid of everyone, it took Sabrina a year to get the horse to trust her. but she somehow managed to gallop across the country with her not ever freaking out or panicking outside of the normal horse amount. Sabrina freaked out thinking someone was in the horse's stall but let's ride her free across the world full of people.

she had horrible nightmares about her long dead relative haunting her, she most likely would have been talking in her sleep and freaking out like most people with normal nightmares. why did none of the boys question this during the months they traveled together? even just that she had nightmares, especially when she slept cuddled up to the young boy to comfort him.

the monks were said to be logical, would debate until long after they needed to make a decision on defense. yet the main chamber of the oldest monks, those who would talk the most, going by old folks in my life, they just quickly decide she needs to go after the lodestone and they will defend as best they can there while she destroyed it.

also where was that old master guy? they acted really suspicious when he was mentioned and nothing ever came of it. nobody batted an eye and yet it was made like it was important to the reader. not sure if this was supposed to be followed up and edited out or for the sequel or forgotten. but it left me frustrated.

the scenes with her and Micah stealing away for making out were so cheesy romance novel that I sent quotes to my friends and we laughed about it. "he touched where no one has touched before" was said so many times I could have made a drinking game out of it.

also did we ever figure out what that fire rain was because it was kind of important to stop that???

so basically, it was average, with quite a few plot Holes that were never talked about. if you don't think about that stuff you'll probably like it but I'm not one for being set up for information and then it drifting off as a past thought.

[John Podlaski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lodestone (Witch hunt) is in a genre that I don't read, however, the book description drew me in enough to give it a try. Wow, at first, I thought I was reading a "Harry Potter" story and felt surrounded by magic, mysticism, and secrets. I became more captivated as the story progressed and soon realized I was in for the long-term.

Sabrina is a trained witch healer and the sole blood relative of Lauren, the witch, who ages ago, used the Lodestone to prevent all magic in the kingdom of Valloaria. It was also outlawed and suspected witches were put to death by roaming parties called "witch-sniffers". Powerhungry, the leadership of Valloaria began to grow the kingdom - spreading out, plundering the populations and taking over the land. Lauren's ghost appeared to Sabrina, and informed her that she alone was the only one capable of destroying the Lodestone and putting an end to this madness.

The rest of the story follows Sabrina and her companions as they travel across the lands, aided by friends and a secret group of patriots who want to end the devastation. The group is constantly at risk and chased - barely escaping their clutches on a number of occasions. Sabrina finally comes face to face with Prime - the leader of the witch hunters and must depend upon her wits to succeed in her quest.

It's a suspenseful story filled with action, twists, and descriptions so detailed, readers will be able to "smell" their surroundings. Will she accomplish her goal and set everybody free, or will this be the end of her bloodline?

Highly recommended for readers to this genre or anybody else wanting to be mystified and thrilled by this fantasy. Even though this is a trilogy, Lodestone is a tale that can stand on its own.

[Vashti Quiroz-Vega · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lodestone: (Witch-Hunt) is a beautifully written, fascinating young adult horror fantasy about witches. The main character, Sabrina is a typical teenager with boy crushes, mood swings, insecurities and a bit of an attitude, which is to be expected. I didn’t like her love interest, Micah. He rubbed me the wrong way. I was on the fence about Deakon the monk, because he came across cold and I thought monks were supposed to be warm and kind, but I could be wrong. There were a few interesting side characters, but I felt all the characters, except Sabrina, could have been a bit more developed.

Lauren’s story was told via her diary, which was given to Sabrina and she read sporadically throughout the story. I found Lauren’s story heart-wrenching and fascinating––I wanted more.

I love the author’s writing style it is very descriptive and interesting. She hooked me from the beginning. She transported me to different places and times and I enjoyed this book very much, although I was disappointed with the ending. The conclusion seemed rushed to me, as if the author was running out of time to tie up loose ends. I also felt like the story was building to a spectacular finish and then . . . it was like running into a wall. I was dissatisfied with Sabrina’s role in the end.

This is a well-written, evocative and intriguing story. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading young adult dark fantasy and horror. It’s definitely worth reading and I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Yvette Calleiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Although it states that it's part of a series, it can be read as a standalone as well. The problem of this book is solved at the end, although the author hints at the problems to come in the rest of the series.

The main characters were well-developed, though I would have wanted more scenes with Micah. Lauren's story being told in first person was a treat because it made it real easy to understand her emotions and state of mind. I love the side-forbidden love story of Deakon and Miss Florisah and how it parallels Sabrina and Micah.

I also really enjoyed the plot and how good intentions don't always turn out well. I love how the misjudgments that characters have on one another led to the wrong conclusions (and thus, poor decisions). The scenes were well-described and kept me engaged the entire time I was reading.

It wasn't heavy into witchcraft, but it had enough paranormal to make me happy. Anyone who enjoys reading stories where the characters are more than what they seem will enjoy this book! :-)

[Tysh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really drawn into this story and this could have been a 4 star book for me, but I had to knock it down for a couple of reasons. First, I was never totally sure on the age of main character. That wouldn't have been much of a problem, I don't mind when we're just seeing the growth of a character through her adventures. However, she seemed very young until good looking boys entered the picture and then she suddenly seemed 25 and sex obsessed. I would get developing feelings being part of the story, but the way it was written somehow just didn't sit right with me. Also, another problem for me was that this doesn't wrap up enough of the side plot lines. Again, that wouldn't be a problem because this is intended to be a series, but after 5 years there's still not a second book to follow up.

[F.B. Veneziano · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book opens in the Hall of Ancestors where the witch ancestor portraits hang. Sabrina, our heroine, hears glass breaking and sees Pruddy, the school mistress’s cat running away.
Oh no, I thought, another witch/wizard, shades of Harry Potter book.
I WAS WRONG!
I’m so glad I forced myself to continue. As the story unfolds we learn that Sabrina is the ancestor of a woman named Lauren whose picture is hung upside down in the hall.
Lauren’s story is told through her diary which Sabrina reads on her travels to heal the lodestone and destroy the witch hunters, Lauren’s Order, and their evil doings.
(I actually enjoyed Lauren’s story more. It really pulled at my heart!)
The story has a good flow and is well written. I do feel some of the characters could have been better developed especially Micah, Sabrina’s love interest.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a YA paranormal series but it does not end on a cliffhanger. Sabrina is a witch and a healer, and the only one who can end the reign of terror by Lauren’s Order.

It took me a while to get into this story but I’m glad I stuck with it as it picked up at around the 35% mark, and then I couldn’t put it down. There were some tense moments that had me holding my breath, and the author did a great job of keeping me wondering as to what would happen next. The romance between Sabrina and Micah added to the story for me, and I’m curious as to how their relationship will progress, or not as the case may be!

[Myra Gabor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent this book by the author and voluntarily chose to review it.
Sabrina is a student healer. The story opens with the murder of witches. In Valloaria, ruled by Lauren's Order, magic doesn't work. So the mystery begins. Who really killed the witches and destroyed their spells? Sabrina has no ancestor witch. She has Lauren, who, as a ghost, tells her she must destroy the Lodestone. Her neck scar, which burns when Lauren is near, reminds us of Harry Potter's scar. Sabrina is the lead in the rebellion against the rules of Valloaria and she strikes the first blow in the war. It's an enjoyable read for all, but especially for younger readers.

[Karen Ingalls · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read but geared more the Young Adult audience. The main character, Sabrina is a witch with healing powers and the only one who can cast off the spell of evil in Valloaria. Can she do it? Does she do it? The build-up to this important part of the story took up almost the whole book and I think it her travels up to that point could have been shortened.
All in all I did enjoy the book, the characters and locations were well described and believable. Loved the scenes with the aeons (giant white birds).

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was captivated from beginning to the end. I didn't have to wait to get into the characters because they were developed from the start. Wendy Scott's writing made it easy to read and understand. The lead character Sabrina, is orphaned and part of a witch bloodline that was wiped out except for her survival.

I was not ready for the story to end because it was so enjoyable and full of suspense and action and magic. It was left open for a sequel. I recommend this book highly and look forward to more of Wendy Scott's writings.

[Emmalg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of fantasy but I found this dreadfully contrived. Whilst most fantasy is written to a clear formula this book feels like it has been fleshed out as part of an exercise - "Make three things happen during the journey through the wood. How do the characters react?"
Compared to other fantasies, passion and imagination are really lacking and the simplistic style of writing doesn't let you get lost in the story or really imagine the scenes. I doubt I'll read the sequels.

[bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good except for excessive timeline confusion between main story and diary. Main story sounds like Lauren is very historical figure and issues in Valoria have raged for generations. Rescue story and diary condense timeline to Sabrinas lifetime. She was baby when Lauren started things and has just barely reached maturity. Current leader of order to have ruled 30 years but Sabrina nowhere near that old. Low 3 because of this pervasive conflict!

[Keith Bornmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

The characters are lovable and the story is action packed. I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone under 18 though. The book seems present witchcraft as an innocent and victimized way of life. Also, in the world this author created, the sanctity of marriage seems irrelevant. I believe the reader is expected to hope for the two main characters to become lovers with no thought toward the commitment required of it.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing, surprising mystery!

Sabrina is graduating healing school. The next thing she learns is a that she must destroy the Lodestone. Wendy Scott writes so compellingly to keep your attention to see what will happen next. It was very difficult to put down this book. You must read this book to see how in unfolds! Happy reading! 😊

[Nancy Bennett · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has an interesting plot, but it was much darker with very graphic descriptions of things I wasn't expecting. For such a short book, it felt like a long read even though it kept my attention throughout.

It is labeled as the first in a series, but as far as I can tell, this was the only one written.

[K.J. Simmill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written, engrossing, imaginative, and most importantly, fun to read. I really enjoyed reading book one, and look forward to reading more of this series in the future.

[Roberta · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF - had interesting plot points, but too many horrible, serious things were happening/had happened for my taste.

[Diane Worthen]

Outstanding storyline

Such an engrossing story. I really had trouble putting it down, at the end of each day. Sabrina's story was so good. I really hope you write more of her.

[Sahara Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully written story of good versus evil, and the consequences of actions taken in the name of revenge. Sabrina is looking forward to her graduation as a healer through the Rite of Ancestors, but as an orphan, no one knows which witch, if any, will claim her as their bloodline. The only two people that know her dark past is Mistress Florisah, her teacher and a monk named Deakon. During the Rite, Sabrina discovers she is the last remaining descendant of Lauren the Destroyer. Armed with Lauren’s diary and a silver of stone from the Lodestone, Sabrina sets off on a mission to heal the Lodestone and undo the wrongs of Lauren the Destroyer.

The story from Lauren’s diary is interwoven throughout the main plot and I eagerly looked forward to each time I went back into that storyline. Scott uses two very distinctive writing styles between the two plots, which I really enjoyed. She’s a master of description and as the reader, you can’t help but feel Lauren’s plight as she searches for her stolen child.

I do feel that Lauren’s plot is stronger than the main one with Sabrina, but that’s probably from the effect of 1st person to 3rd person. Sabrina has to overcome her own insecurities and her budding romantic feelings for Micah. And at the end, she ultimately ends up feeling the same responsibilities for her actions that Lauren did for hers.

As stated this is book one of the Lodestone series, and I look forward to book two. What secrets is Mistress Florisah keeping? Who is Dandelin? What about Micah and Sabrina?

I highly recommend this book and give it my 5 feathers.