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When it comes to magic, women have always been in control. Until now.
For centuries, only gifted young women have been able to wield magic, using their special talents to protect those in need.
But a powerful wizard has appeared, attacking empowered women across multiple worlds.
A young Terran-based sorceress, the strongest of her generation, must find and stop the magical madman before he can bend the Coven to his depraved will. Along the way, she must also confront doubts about the role her fellow witches may have played in her own family's demise.
When it comes to magic, women have always been in control. Until now.
For centuries, only gifted young women have been able to wield magic, using their special talents to protect those in need.
But a powerful wizard has appeared, attacking empowered women across multiple worlds.
A young Terran-based sorceress, the strongest of her generation, must find and stop the magical madman before he can bend the Coven to his depraved will. Along the way, she must also confront doubts about the role her fellow witches may have played in her own family's demise.
84 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2011
21 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Phil Stern
16 books48 followersPhil Stern is an author of Dark Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy, and Science Fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 17, 2011
Title: Witches
Author: Phil Stern
Publisher: Phil Stern
Publication Date: August 2011
Genre: Fantasy
Main Themes: Magic, Witches, Family Issues, & Alternate Worlds
Plot: (From Goodreads)
"They've lived among us for centuries, protecting those in need. But now a powerful wizard has appeared, attacking empowered women across multiple worlds.
A young Terran-based sorceress, the strongest of her generation, must find and stop the magical madman before he can bend the Coven to his depraved will. Along the way, however, she must also confront doubts about the role her fellow witches may have played in her own family's demise."
Phil Stern created a magically horrific story that I found truly intriguing, imaginative, and grisly. Seeing that it was a short read it didn’t take long to blow through. It was very fast paced, even though the first half of the book was building up the storyline it lead into some great action scenes.
Witches held captivating characters that added so much to the story. My personal favorite was Tiffany, she was unrelenting and adamant as she pushed forward to hunt down the warlock that was pursuing her sisters and holding them captive. I did love that there were two perspectives, besides Tiffany there was the warlock, Evan Gensrow. As an evil kid the witches punished Evan and as result he ended up a tortured soul who was obsessed with revenge.
There were a few things about this story that I wasn’t fond of but overall it was a good read. The first thing was I found the story too short for the information it held. I really think Phil Stern had a great idea for a story and I wanted it to be longer and more in depth. The second thing that I didn’t like was the witches in the coven were very pompous, domineering, and came across as man haters. I felt they needed a little more development to show that might not have been the case.
Overall gave this book a B, as it was an appealing and vigorous read. Although I would not recommend this one to early teens as there are some graphic scenes that aren’t quite appropriate for them.
My Rating: 17/20
Originality: 5
Plot: 4
Characters: 4
Writing Style: 4
Author: Phil Stern
Publisher: Phil Stern
Publication Date: August 2011
Genre: Fantasy
Main Themes: Magic, Witches, Family Issues, & Alternate Worlds
Plot: (From Goodreads)
"They've lived among us for centuries, protecting those in need. But now a powerful wizard has appeared, attacking empowered women across multiple worlds.
A young Terran-based sorceress, the strongest of her generation, must find and stop the magical madman before he can bend the Coven to his depraved will. Along the way, however, she must also confront doubts about the role her fellow witches may have played in her own family's demise."
Phil Stern created a magically horrific story that I found truly intriguing, imaginative, and grisly. Seeing that it was a short read it didn’t take long to blow through. It was very fast paced, even though the first half of the book was building up the storyline it lead into some great action scenes.
Witches held captivating characters that added so much to the story. My personal favorite was Tiffany, she was unrelenting and adamant as she pushed forward to hunt down the warlock that was pursuing her sisters and holding them captive. I did love that there were two perspectives, besides Tiffany there was the warlock, Evan Gensrow. As an evil kid the witches punished Evan and as result he ended up a tortured soul who was obsessed with revenge.
There were a few things about this story that I wasn’t fond of but overall it was a good read. The first thing was I found the story too short for the information it held. I really think Phil Stern had a great idea for a story and I wanted it to be longer and more in depth. The second thing that I didn’t like was the witches in the coven were very pompous, domineering, and came across as man haters. I felt they needed a little more development to show that might not have been the case.
Overall gave this book a B, as it was an appealing and vigorous read. Although I would not recommend this one to early teens as there are some graphic scenes that aren’t quite appropriate for them.
My Rating: 17/20
Originality: 5
Plot: 4
Characters: 4
Writing Style: 4
October 17, 2011
The more books I read that are fantasy based the more I realize it's a genre I've been missing out on for a while. Witches conveys in great dialogue, and smooth flowing descriptions another world that is in chaos. It is also the second volume in Phil Stern' Unbridled Boundary series.
A young witch finds her world is threatened by a wizard who is trying to claim power over the witches, and destroy the most powerful. The witch must also face her own family issues that she has yet to deal with.
I want to begin by saying that the writing has a very nice flow to it. You can get lost in the words by reading it because the words string together so smoothly. The writing was perhaps my favorite thing about this novella.
The characters are also very complex. There are many layers as to why they feel compelled to do the things they do, even the evil wizard. The book features a huge cast of characters from a variety of walks of life, and the reader can almost find something to identify with any of them.
If you are looking for an action packed fantasy then this is the book you've been seeking. It keeps you intently interested from beginning to end. You can check out Witches at Amazon. Also, you can find the first volume to Witches, A Time For Ryda, at Amazon.
A young witch finds her world is threatened by a wizard who is trying to claim power over the witches, and destroy the most powerful. The witch must also face her own family issues that she has yet to deal with.
I want to begin by saying that the writing has a very nice flow to it. You can get lost in the words by reading it because the words string together so smoothly. The writing was perhaps my favorite thing about this novella.
The characters are also very complex. There are many layers as to why they feel compelled to do the things they do, even the evil wizard. The book features a huge cast of characters from a variety of walks of life, and the reader can almost find something to identify with any of them.
If you are looking for an action packed fantasy then this is the book you've been seeking. It keeps you intently interested from beginning to end. You can check out Witches at Amazon. Also, you can find the first volume to Witches, A Time For Ryda, at Amazon.
September 25, 2011
The first thing that I noticed is the writing. Phil Stern has a way with language that left me envious ("I want to write like that!") Really good, tight and intelligent, engaging and all-over great.
The plot is a magic-imbued take on misogynistic men and how witches deal with them. It's not all black and white-on the contrary-sufficient background and psychological insight is given to properly evaluate both sides.
Since this is the second in a series, I don't know how much the story relies on the first novella. I had some troubles following dialogues, I didn't know whether it was because some things were explained in the first book.
I loved the world(s)-building. Some scenes were graphic and scary enough to etch themselves in my memory and spice up the plot, while others were more reminiscing, allowing me to enjoy the language.
This is a novella, 53 pages long, perfect for a coffee break. Don't be fooled by its shortness, it's bursting with action and magic.
Very well written, strong characters (if you're looking for stories with powerful, well-developed female characters, this is definitely something for you.
Many thanks to the author for providing a review copy.
The plot is a magic-imbued take on misogynistic men and how witches deal with them. It's not all black and white-on the contrary-sufficient background and psychological insight is given to properly evaluate both sides.
Since this is the second in a series, I don't know how much the story relies on the first novella. I had some troubles following dialogues, I didn't know whether it was because some things were explained in the first book.
I loved the world(s)-building. Some scenes were graphic and scary enough to etch themselves in my memory and spice up the plot, while others were more reminiscing, allowing me to enjoy the language.
This is a novella, 53 pages long, perfect for a coffee break. Don't be fooled by its shortness, it's bursting with action and magic.
Very well written, strong characters (if you're looking for stories with powerful, well-developed female characters, this is definitely something for you.
Many thanks to the author for providing a review copy.
September 27, 2011
Very fast paced, very well written...the magic was very uncomplicated, and it was easy to lock onto the characters and their personalities. The landscapes are rich, new and fresh. A very engaging story, but I would not recommend it to readers under age sixteen--or readers with conservative sensibilities. A very good read; I cannot wait to read more!
May 5, 2012
Witches by Phil Stern takes you on a journey with magic and a new universe. The plot of the story runs smooth even though new characters were introduced leaving room for a series. The short 51 page story kept me entertained and wanting more. I enjoyed this short read and I'm sure others who like the genre will as well.
June 1, 2020
Witches is an engaging science-fiction novel about a group of witches, part of the Coven, who travel between dimensions rescuing young girls and women from abusive men. I enjoyed hearing about the unique Conven customs, including their reproduction strategy. For a witch to reproduce, they first sleep with a man who will then pass on the magical gene to the next child they have with a mortal woman, which will be a daughter. The author did a great job constructing the Coven’s fictional world. It was entertaining and creative while avoiding the confusion that sometimes comes along with introducing a brand new world to readers.
At first glance, this book may appear to be heavily pro-women, given the all-female Coven’s superior position of power; however, in reality, the book challenges their questionable customs. In several instances, the witches are blatantly cavalier about their actions regarding the mortal men they sleep with. In other instances, they are downright cruel, seemingly without any cause or justification. While not all witches adhered to this blatant disregard for non-magical beings, it definitely put an interesting spin on the book since I had first expected it to be heavily pro-female.
Additionally, my favorite character was actually Lord Gesrow, the villain. Although he was undoubtedly insane and evil, the author avoided the stereotypical creation of a one-dimensional antagonist by providing Gensrow with an emotional and compelling backstory that truly made me sympathize with the warlock.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and found myself absorbed by the characters and storyline. I also appreciated the book’s sophisticated vocabulary. The only disappointment for me was the ending. I thought Tiffany’s final interaction with her mother was a bit disassociated from the rest of the book and could have been integrated better. Additionally, there were more typos than I am accustomed to seeing in a professionally-published book.
This was a thoroughly entertaining book
At first glance, this book may appear to be heavily pro-women, given the all-female Coven’s superior position of power; however, in reality, the book challenges their questionable customs. In several instances, the witches are blatantly cavalier about their actions regarding the mortal men they sleep with. In other instances, they are downright cruel, seemingly without any cause or justification. While not all witches adhered to this blatant disregard for non-magical beings, it definitely put an interesting spin on the book since I had first expected it to be heavily pro-female.
Additionally, my favorite character was actually Lord Gesrow, the villain. Although he was undoubtedly insane and evil, the author avoided the stereotypical creation of a one-dimensional antagonist by providing Gensrow with an emotional and compelling backstory that truly made me sympathize with the warlock.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and found myself absorbed by the characters and storyline. I also appreciated the book’s sophisticated vocabulary. The only disappointment for me was the ending. I thought Tiffany’s final interaction with her mother was a bit disassociated from the rest of the book and could have been integrated better. Additionally, there were more typos than I am accustomed to seeing in a professionally-published book.
This was a thoroughly entertaining book
May 25, 2020
First: This ebook was sent to me as a review copy by the author in exchange for an honest review:
Witches (The Cross-Worlds Coven Series Book 1)... I appreciate the vision, but the delivery was a flop for me.
Witches reminded me of a coven based "Underworld" where witches represented the vampires and men were the Lycans. The book seemed to ooze male fantasy/ fetish (the same as Underworld did), and it became an eye-roll at times. The witches' appearances became the spotlight of their characterizations, and the room to identify each witch's special ability dwindled with every "cascading hair fall" or "petite figure set ablaze" that stood in the way.
Rape... I wasn't digging how much of the book focused on the desire to sexually take advantage of others to benefit his or her end goal.
There were grammatical errors and the overuse of the same words... which is a pet peeve of mine.
The action scenes gave me a bit of excitement though... they were executed well. I could see the scene play out in my head, and it wasn't cheesy.
I enjoyed the parallel universe aspect of the story. A veil between worlds that can be revealed with the right words definitely tickled my fancy.
Overall, this book just didn't resonate well with me, regardless of the potential in the storyline or the pretty badass fight scenes.
Witches (The Cross-Worlds Coven Series Book 1)... I appreciate the vision, but the delivery was a flop for me.
Witches reminded me of a coven based "Underworld" where witches represented the vampires and men were the Lycans. The book seemed to ooze male fantasy/ fetish (the same as Underworld did), and it became an eye-roll at times. The witches' appearances became the spotlight of their characterizations, and the room to identify each witch's special ability dwindled with every "cascading hair fall" or "petite figure set ablaze" that stood in the way.
Rape... I wasn't digging how much of the book focused on the desire to sexually take advantage of others to benefit his or her end goal.
There were grammatical errors and the overuse of the same words... which is a pet peeve of mine.
The action scenes gave me a bit of excitement though... they were executed well. I could see the scene play out in my head, and it wasn't cheesy.
I enjoyed the parallel universe aspect of the story. A veil between worlds that can be revealed with the right words definitely tickled my fancy.
Overall, this book just didn't resonate well with me, regardless of the potential in the storyline or the pretty badass fight scenes.
Read
June 29, 2020I had a request from the author to review this book. I struggle to rate this because truly, this just isn’t my type of story.
Here’s the thing, I think a lot of people, especially women, would like this story. It’s takes off at breakneck speed, throwing you right into the midst of the conflict. It’s a story about some badass witches that use their power to get back at men who have been abusive to other women. Pretty cool. The writing was well formulated and there was some great imagery but it was DRAMAAAA and nonstop sass. The type of non-stop, flouncing-about sass that comes off as trying a bit too hard. When I was younger, I probably would have been into this story a bit more, but I think as a get a bit older, I don’t want never ending cheeky banter from women that ends up just being over the top.
If you like paranormal drama, this is definitely for you! If you like a woman’s revenge story, even better! I appreciate the author request, but I’d hate to rate this and have an effect on his rating when the book just doesn’t cater to my tastes. Thank you, Phil Stern. For everyone else, you can get this on kindle unlimited if you think this is up your alley.
Here’s the thing, I think a lot of people, especially women, would like this story. It’s takes off at breakneck speed, throwing you right into the midst of the conflict. It’s a story about some badass witches that use their power to get back at men who have been abusive to other women. Pretty cool. The writing was well formulated and there was some great imagery but it was DRAMAAAA and nonstop sass. The type of non-stop, flouncing-about sass that comes off as trying a bit too hard. When I was younger, I probably would have been into this story a bit more, but I think as a get a bit older, I don’t want never ending cheeky banter from women that ends up just being over the top.
If you like paranormal drama, this is definitely for you! If you like a woman’s revenge story, even better! I appreciate the author request, but I’d hate to rate this and have an effect on his rating when the book just doesn’t cater to my tastes. Thank you, Phil Stern. For everyone else, you can get this on kindle unlimited if you think this is up your alley.
September 25, 2024
loved it!
Witches - The Cross-Worlds Coven Series, is about the complexities of power and responsibility, particularly through the experiences of strong female characters who must balance their magical abilities with the consequences of their actions.
The story delves into the idea of hidden worlds and secret lives, showcasing how individuals with extraordinary abilities often have to navigate personal struggles while protecting others.
It also explores themes of identity, family, and the impact of past traumas, with the protagonist confronting both external threats and internal doubts about her own history.
Overall, the series highlights resilience, the bonds of sisterhood, and the strength found in facing one’s past to fight for a better future.
Witches - The Cross-Worlds Coven Series, is about the complexities of power and responsibility, particularly through the experiences of strong female characters who must balance their magical abilities with the consequences of their actions.
The story delves into the idea of hidden worlds and secret lives, showcasing how individuals with extraordinary abilities often have to navigate personal struggles while protecting others.
It also explores themes of identity, family, and the impact of past traumas, with the protagonist confronting both external threats and internal doubts about her own history.
Overall, the series highlights resilience, the bonds of sisterhood, and the strength found in facing one’s past to fight for a better future.
October 17, 2020
The book took a turn on an age old problem in society and made it believable.
March 21, 2017
these seem extremely short
April 27, 2012
Book Synopsis:
When it comes to magic, women have always been in control.
Until Now.
For centuries, only gifted young women have been able to wield magic, using their special gifts to protect those in need.
But now a powerful wizard has appeared, attacking empowered women across multiple worlds.
A young Terran-based sorceress, the strongest of her generation, must find and stop the magical madman before he can bend the Coven to his depraved will. Along the way, she must also confront doubts about the role her fellow witches may have played in her own family’s demise.
Author Information:
Phil Stern is the author of both Contemporary and Science Fiction.
His debut novel, The Bull Years, was published in 2011. A hard-hitting commentary on both the frustrations and ultimate validation of modern-day life, The Bull Years follows the lives of four people throughout the late 80′s, 90′s, and into the 21st century, directly addressing the gradual alienation and disconnection often experienced during young adulthood.
"I wanted to write about characters everyone could relate to," Stern says. "We've all had our ups and downs. I think people sometimes feel everyone else has experienced more success than they have, or are more firmly grounded in our world than they could ever be. My hope is that everyone will recognize a little part of themselves in Steve, Sophia, Dave, and Brooke."
Born in 1970 in Ossining, New York, Stern grew up with a love of all types of science fiction, including the works of Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey, John Wyndham, Piers Anthony, and more.
"Speculative fiction is so different today than it was back then," Stern says. "I wanted to write stuff a bit more recognizable to fans of my generation. Science fiction should be about ideas and alternate worlds, strong characters and good stories.
Going into talk radio after attending SUNY Albany, Stern hosted regular shows in the New York City area, Albany, Utica, NY, and Greenville, NC. He later went into the advertising and sales industries.
Stern now lives in Florida, and is working on his next novel.
Book Review:
Phil Stern is an unusual author. If you did not know that his name was Phil and he was a man it would be easy to think he was a female as his writings often have female leads and he is in tune with that strong, yet vulnerable side women really want to see in female leads. You know this is true, when you are alone at home you yell at the foolish girls in movies that go into dark basements with no weapons and die, or have to be rescued; wonder why anyone would go into the woods on a hike in skimpy clothing and high heels; and bemoan the weak woman who needs to be rescued.
Real women are strong, weak, vulnerable, powerful, and use all of that to take care of themselves and everyone around them. This is what Tiffany does in Witches. She has had a rough life, we find out, but she doesn’t whine or blame anyone. She works hard to help others and she is more powerful that you would think.
Phil Stern brings this world to life and makes you want to get in there and help Tiffany, not because she needs it but because she brings out that quality in you. I enjoyed this book. I read it in one sitting and was totally amazed to find that time had passed while I was in this other world.
My only complaint was that the story ends with characters that hadn’t been introduced before and I was really confused by it. I am going to hope that as I read more I can connect these character in another book to help me come to some sense as to why they suddenly showed up.
I give this 4 out of 5 clouds.
When it comes to magic, women have always been in control.
Until Now.
For centuries, only gifted young women have been able to wield magic, using their special gifts to protect those in need.
But now a powerful wizard has appeared, attacking empowered women across multiple worlds.
A young Terran-based sorceress, the strongest of her generation, must find and stop the magical madman before he can bend the Coven to his depraved will. Along the way, she must also confront doubts about the role her fellow witches may have played in her own family’s demise.
Author Information:
Phil Stern is the author of both Contemporary and Science Fiction.
His debut novel, The Bull Years, was published in 2011. A hard-hitting commentary on both the frustrations and ultimate validation of modern-day life, The Bull Years follows the lives of four people throughout the late 80′s, 90′s, and into the 21st century, directly addressing the gradual alienation and disconnection often experienced during young adulthood.
"I wanted to write about characters everyone could relate to," Stern says. "We've all had our ups and downs. I think people sometimes feel everyone else has experienced more success than they have, or are more firmly grounded in our world than they could ever be. My hope is that everyone will recognize a little part of themselves in Steve, Sophia, Dave, and Brooke."
Born in 1970 in Ossining, New York, Stern grew up with a love of all types of science fiction, including the works of Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey, John Wyndham, Piers Anthony, and more.
"Speculative fiction is so different today than it was back then," Stern says. "I wanted to write stuff a bit more recognizable to fans of my generation. Science fiction should be about ideas and alternate worlds, strong characters and good stories.
Going into talk radio after attending SUNY Albany, Stern hosted regular shows in the New York City area, Albany, Utica, NY, and Greenville, NC. He later went into the advertising and sales industries.
Stern now lives in Florida, and is working on his next novel.
Book Review:
Phil Stern is an unusual author. If you did not know that his name was Phil and he was a man it would be easy to think he was a female as his writings often have female leads and he is in tune with that strong, yet vulnerable side women really want to see in female leads. You know this is true, when you are alone at home you yell at the foolish girls in movies that go into dark basements with no weapons and die, or have to be rescued; wonder why anyone would go into the woods on a hike in skimpy clothing and high heels; and bemoan the weak woman who needs to be rescued.
Real women are strong, weak, vulnerable, powerful, and use all of that to take care of themselves and everyone around them. This is what Tiffany does in Witches. She has had a rough life, we find out, but she doesn’t whine or blame anyone. She works hard to help others and she is more powerful that you would think.
Phil Stern brings this world to life and makes you want to get in there and help Tiffany, not because she needs it but because she brings out that quality in you. I enjoyed this book. I read it in one sitting and was totally amazed to find that time had passed while I was in this other world.
My only complaint was that the story ends with characters that hadn’t been introduced before and I was really confused by it. I am going to hope that as I read more I can connect these character in another book to help me come to some sense as to why they suddenly showed up.
I give this 4 out of 5 clouds.
October 13, 2011
Witches is volume II of the Unbridled Boundaries Series.
The tale tells of a magical universe, made up for futuristic worlds and long ago magical lands....
The Witches, led by a Coven of Elders, populate their numbers by laying with men that they chose. These chosen men then impregnate their wives and they later become mothers to magical witch daughters. The husbands then invariably abuse or beat their wives and children, and the witches step in, removing the wife and daughter, restoring the wives and taking away their memories, while their daughters are trained to be the powerful creatures they were born to be....
Tiffany is one of these witches, but she does not agree with the Coven's ways....sexually abused by her father, and having had a childhood of being abused and watching her mother be beaten, she still loves her father and feels that he was trying to be a better man. Tiffany believes that the Witches' interventions into their lives have diverted the men's paths from the men they could have been, and set them onto the path to be the brutes they are.
Three of Tiffany's sisters are missing, stolen by a powerful, dark Wizard, a new and unknown danger to the witches, the Coven and their way of live itself....
The Coven dispatch Tiffany and 5 of her sisters to destroy the evil sorceror, Lord Gensrow and they set out on their dangerous, cross-world quest. With Tiffany's ghosts of the past haunting her, will she survive and defeat the dark Lord?
Lord Gensrow has an axe to grind against the witches, and a dark childhood of his own. His hatred of their way of life has propelled him to his murderous voyage, and he won't stop till he has tracked every young witch by their pulsating Earth Stone and made his own Wizard army......
This tale is enchanting, we encounter gnomes, unicorns, horny centaurs, dragon bats to name a few. I really enjoyed this foray into Phil Stern's universe,and I will be checking out his other works. At 86p on Kindle, why not dip your toe into this tingling, mesmerizing escapist tale....
This novella is available on Amazon now along with other works by Phil Stern
Follow him on Twitter at @Philstern100
The tale tells of a magical universe, made up for futuristic worlds and long ago magical lands....
The Witches, led by a Coven of Elders, populate their numbers by laying with men that they chose. These chosen men then impregnate their wives and they later become mothers to magical witch daughters. The husbands then invariably abuse or beat their wives and children, and the witches step in, removing the wife and daughter, restoring the wives and taking away their memories, while their daughters are trained to be the powerful creatures they were born to be....
Tiffany is one of these witches, but she does not agree with the Coven's ways....sexually abused by her father, and having had a childhood of being abused and watching her mother be beaten, she still loves her father and feels that he was trying to be a better man. Tiffany believes that the Witches' interventions into their lives have diverted the men's paths from the men they could have been, and set them onto the path to be the brutes they are.
Three of Tiffany's sisters are missing, stolen by a powerful, dark Wizard, a new and unknown danger to the witches, the Coven and their way of live itself....
The Coven dispatch Tiffany and 5 of her sisters to destroy the evil sorceror, Lord Gensrow and they set out on their dangerous, cross-world quest. With Tiffany's ghosts of the past haunting her, will she survive and defeat the dark Lord?
Lord Gensrow has an axe to grind against the witches, and a dark childhood of his own. His hatred of their way of life has propelled him to his murderous voyage, and he won't stop till he has tracked every young witch by their pulsating Earth Stone and made his own Wizard army......
This tale is enchanting, we encounter gnomes, unicorns, horny centaurs, dragon bats to name a few. I really enjoyed this foray into Phil Stern's universe,and I will be checking out his other works. At 86p on Kindle, why not dip your toe into this tingling, mesmerizing escapist tale....
This novella is available on Amazon now along with other works by Phil Stern
Follow him on Twitter at @Philstern100
August 2, 2012
This was a good story however with a little work I think this could be turned into a full novel. I felt it was original and entertaining. I give it 3.5 stars.
Plot – This was a good book. I felt that it would have been even better if it was a little longer and more developed. There were a few times I felt that the story did not flow as well as it could have. I was left wondering how I transitioned from one part of the story to the next. The plot combined inter-dimension travel as well as time travel with witches and magical creatures. The story has many worlds that are all connected to one central location. I liked all of this in the story. Again it was original and a good read just felt that needed to be longer and flow a little better.
Characters – I enjoyed the characters but I felt that the backstories could have been expanded more on the characters. I would like to know more about some of the other witches and the other worlds. The villain gets an honorable mention here because he was just so evil. I felt for him with all that was done to him when he was still a child however he still turned out evil anyway. Whether this was the witches fault or not I will leave up to another reader.
Setting – I liked the descriptions of the different worlds and Haven, the witches’ home. I would have liked to see more of the magical creatures in this story whether they be helping the bad guy or the witches or just living and existing on some of the various worlds. Also some of the world’s mysteries were mentioned like Stonehenge but not much was said about these. I hope that maybe the sequel will explore some of this?
The ending left this book open for a sequel. I would like to see if the villain makes another appearance and what happens to the son that was discussed at the end of the book. I would recommend this book if you like witches and a short read.
I received this free from the author for an honest review
Plot – This was a good book. I felt that it would have been even better if it was a little longer and more developed. There were a few times I felt that the story did not flow as well as it could have. I was left wondering how I transitioned from one part of the story to the next. The plot combined inter-dimension travel as well as time travel with witches and magical creatures. The story has many worlds that are all connected to one central location. I liked all of this in the story. Again it was original and a good read just felt that needed to be longer and flow a little better.
Characters – I enjoyed the characters but I felt that the backstories could have been expanded more on the characters. I would like to know more about some of the other witches and the other worlds. The villain gets an honorable mention here because he was just so evil. I felt for him with all that was done to him when he was still a child however he still turned out evil anyway. Whether this was the witches fault or not I will leave up to another reader.
Setting – I liked the descriptions of the different worlds and Haven, the witches’ home. I would have liked to see more of the magical creatures in this story whether they be helping the bad guy or the witches or just living and existing on some of the various worlds. Also some of the world’s mysteries were mentioned like Stonehenge but not much was said about these. I hope that maybe the sequel will explore some of this?
The ending left this book open for a sequel. I would like to see if the villain makes another appearance and what happens to the son that was discussed at the end of the book. I would recommend this book if you like witches and a short read.
I received this free from the author for an honest review
July 19, 2012
here are so many stories about the same topics including witches. It takes a talented author to come up with a new concept on an old topic to get you wanting more. That is exactly what Phil Stern does in his novel, Witches.
Witches are not described as being vicious or deliberately out to hurt people. Quite the opposite is true in this story. The women are out to save other women who are abused and to target abusive men. It backfires when a man discovers he too can possess magical powers and sets out to exact his revenge on all women who possess magical powers. It becomes a battle of survival and revenge.
Mr. Stern does a great job pulling the reader in even a reluctant one. There is so much shrouded in secrecy and mystery that it keeps you turning the pages. There is some mild language mainly from the evil wizard.
Keep in mind that this is a novelette. This means it is a quick read and will probably have you wanting more.
If magic is a topic you don't like to read about, this isn't the book for you. Otherwise, check it out. It is a very interesting concept.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of The Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely of my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides
Witches are not described as being vicious or deliberately out to hurt people. Quite the opposite is true in this story. The women are out to save other women who are abused and to target abusive men. It backfires when a man discovers he too can possess magical powers and sets out to exact his revenge on all women who possess magical powers. It becomes a battle of survival and revenge.
Mr. Stern does a great job pulling the reader in even a reluctant one. There is so much shrouded in secrecy and mystery that it keeps you turning the pages. There is some mild language mainly from the evil wizard.
Keep in mind that this is a novelette. This means it is a quick read and will probably have you wanting more.
If magic is a topic you don't like to read about, this isn't the book for you. Otherwise, check it out. It is a very interesting concept.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of The Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely of my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides
June 27, 2013
For centuries, witches have had one night stands with men to pass along their powers to the children. The witches will meet up with the men before they consummate their marriages. The key is that these men are likely to be abusive to their wives and/or children. Then the witches return, take the mothers and daughters into protection. Then release the mothers and keep the daughters to train in their ways.
Usually the children with power are female. But in this story, a man has powers and he is intent on using them to get revenge on the witches that stole his mother and sister from him then killed his father.
Tiffany is one of several witches that are sent from the Counsel to find and stop the wizard that is kidnapping witches. Tiffany has her own beliefs about how most witches behave and doesn’t agree to them. But she knows better than to argue with the Counsel. On her search, she comes across another former Counsel that hints about the ideas of the Counsel being wrong.
I liked this story. I started reading it them realized that it is the second book in a series. Without having any background it did take a couple pages to get into the story, but it wasn’t a big deal. I don’t know how I feel about how the witches have children. I understand the point but it’s just doesn’t flow. This is more my idea than anything wrong with the story.
Over all, I really liked this book and want to read the rest of the books listed in the series. I see lots of potential.
I received this book for free from a blog giveaway.
Usually the children with power are female. But in this story, a man has powers and he is intent on using them to get revenge on the witches that stole his mother and sister from him then killed his father.
Tiffany is one of several witches that are sent from the Counsel to find and stop the wizard that is kidnapping witches. Tiffany has her own beliefs about how most witches behave and doesn’t agree to them. But she knows better than to argue with the Counsel. On her search, she comes across another former Counsel that hints about the ideas of the Counsel being wrong.
I liked this story. I started reading it them realized that it is the second book in a series. Without having any background it did take a couple pages to get into the story, but it wasn’t a big deal. I don’t know how I feel about how the witches have children. I understand the point but it’s just doesn’t flow. This is more my idea than anything wrong with the story.
Over all, I really liked this book and want to read the rest of the books listed in the series. I see lots of potential.
I received this book for free from a blog giveaway.
July 10, 2012
For centuries, the witches have controlled the power of magic. They have travelled between the worlds and used their ‘gifts’ freely. But now a wizard has rising and challenging their powers. One by one, three young witches have disappeared. With notes left behind in their place, it was as if the wizard was mocking the witches. The council decides and sends six of their best to find and kill this wizard. With other dead or captured or injured, it falls on Tiffany to take care of the business herself. She is the strongest witch of their generation and turns out to be the only hope that her people could have of survival.
This is an action packed novella of some 55 odd pages. There’s a lot in those few pages. We learn a lot about the different worlds, how the witches’ council works and how the witches themselves live their lives. There is a lot of action, emotion and drama. There’s also a matter of domestic violence handled in this book.
Phil Stern’s writing style in unquestionably amazing. Few days back I had the chance to read & review another book of his, and though the plots of both the books are very different – two things about his writing has turned out to be consistently good – his writing style and his characters. I loved them both.
This is an action packed novella of some 55 odd pages. There’s a lot in those few pages. We learn a lot about the different worlds, how the witches’ council works and how the witches themselves live their lives. There is a lot of action, emotion and drama. There’s also a matter of domestic violence handled in this book.
Phil Stern’s writing style in unquestionably amazing. Few days back I had the chance to read & review another book of his, and though the plots of both the books are very different – two things about his writing has turned out to be consistently good – his writing style and his characters. I loved them both.
November 19, 2012
I had never read anything by this author before, but I found this novel free on Kindle and decided to give it a shot. It's a short read, about 64 pages, but it is a terrific story. It blends science fiction with fantasy and it is unlike anything I have ever read. I am not a huge sci fi fan normally, so I am always pleasantly surprised when I find something that appeals to me. The fantasy world exists perfectly alongside the real world and makes for a fantastically interesting story. Even more interesting to me is that the author is a man and writes such strong and real female characters. He captures the "strong but vulnerable" aspect that I enjoy in realistic women characters. The mix of mystery, magic, and science fiction was wonderful. I have seen this book listed in some places as the start of a series, and I truly hope that is the case.
January 29, 2014
It's a strangely empty book throughout. I liked the fantasy elements a lot, but the story lacked imagination. The author has NO characterisation whatsoever throughout and he seems to have gotten down the entire book in a single sitting. I say that because everything seems to be rushed, as if the author is harried and wants to finish it off as quickly as possible. Perhaps he thinks writing is a sin and wants to wash his hands off the dirt.
May 26, 2012
This book is about a coven of witches who basically prey on human normal men in order to basically breed. Definitely a unique concept, and an interesting one...
I enjoyed the plot of this book and the characters as well...
Here's the full review http://stephsgrn.blogspot.com/2012/05...
I enjoyed the plot of this book and the characters as well...
Here's the full review http://stephsgrn.blogspot.com/2012/05...
April 11, 2014
I liked the premise of this book. The story was quite good. I like the different aspects that were woven into the story line. Great descriptions. The characters were good. I'd like to read more of Tiffany's story. There are a lot of lives to follow up on. Good read. A great book to add to your tbr list.
November 2, 2013
This was a surprisingly good read. I wasn't expecting much from a free book, but I enjoyed it. I really loved the author's style of writing, and the story line was very original...never read or heard anything along these lines before. I just wish it was longer!
June 18, 2012
Great short story, great plot, wish there'd been more detail, but great short story!
March 6, 2014
loved
March 28, 2014
Just not good.
June 7, 2014
Not an overly spectacular work, but with enough thematic interest for me to not be able to rule out picking up the next. Womany, not that that's a bad thing in itself.
April 25, 2016
Interesting
Not sure how I feel about this book. Love the crossing worlds idea, not the way the witches interfere in lives.
Not sure how I feel about this book. Love the crossing worlds idea, not the way the witches interfere in lives.
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