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Keepers of the Stones #0.5
Witch Flame
Feira, a fledgling witch just discovering her own powers, must battle warriors and monsters before she and her true love can find a safe haven away from the vengeful eye of a jealous goddess.
Bonus origin myth included: The Beginning of Time.
This short story is a prelude to Curse of the Ice Dragon, Keepers of the Stones, Book One.
Bonus origin myth included: The Beginning of Time.
This short story is a prelude to Curse of the Ice Dragon, Keepers of the Stones, Book One.
48 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2012
29 people are currently reading
493 people want to read
About the author
Tara West
84 books1,158 followersTara West writes books about dragons, witches, and handsome heroes while eating chocolate, lots and lots of chocolate. She's willing to share her dragons, witches and heroes. Keep your hands off her chocolate.
Tara West's young adult and new adult romances have been Kindle bestsellers. A former high school English teacher, Tara is now a full-time writer and graphic artist. She enjoys spending time with her family, interacting with her fans, and fishing the Texas coast.
Hang out with her on her Facebook fan page at: https://www.facebook.com/tarawestauthor
Keep up with her latest news at: www.tarawest.com
She loves to hear from her readers at: tara@tarawest.com
Tara West's young adult and new adult romances have been Kindle bestsellers. A former high school English teacher, Tara is now a full-time writer and graphic artist. She enjoys spending time with her family, interacting with her fans, and fishing the Texas coast.
Hang out with her on her Facebook fan page at: https://www.facebook.com/tarawestauthor
Keep up with her latest news at: www.tarawest.com
She loves to hear from her readers at: tara@tarawest.com
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 24, 2013
I'm going 4.5 but because its just a novella and a bit of a teaser holding back the final star.
I intitally wanted to check this out because I'm always on the lookout for something...different. I really haven't come across any witch books yet and thought it would be a cool change of pace. It is an introduction book into the Keepers of the Stones series. Totally Loved the book up to the 49% mark. The characters were cool and the world building was being done during the story which I love. Feira is a witch who must hide her identity. In the land that she lives in the Goddess Eris made it law to kill anyone that shows any powers apparently not wanting any competition. Tumi is her childhood best friend that is now turning out to be more than "just" her friend. Tumi's mother is an evil bitch who wants to put a stop to either of them having any happiness.
After the 49% mark it kind of went into an info dump on how this world was formed. I was really okay with it especially since its a new fantasy series and it really didn't go on that long. It just felt a little out of place compared to how the world was building.
BTW its an Amazon freebie. The writing was excellent! The characters cool and a pretty interesting world being built. I will definitely be moving on with the series!
I intitally wanted to check this out because I'm always on the lookout for something...different. I really haven't come across any witch books yet and thought it would be a cool change of pace. It is an introduction book into the Keepers of the Stones series. Totally Loved the book up to the 49% mark. The characters were cool and the world building was being done during the story which I love. Feira is a witch who must hide her identity. In the land that she lives in the Goddess Eris made it law to kill anyone that shows any powers apparently not wanting any competition. Tumi is her childhood best friend that is now turning out to be more than "just" her friend. Tumi's mother is an evil bitch who wants to put a stop to either of them having any happiness.
After the 49% mark it kind of went into an info dump on how this world was formed. I was really okay with it especially since its a new fantasy series and it really didn't go on that long. It just felt a little out of place compared to how the world was building.
BTW its an Amazon freebie. The writing was excellent! The characters cool and a pretty interesting world being built. I will definitely be moving on with the series!
January 2, 2013
Witch Flame is a well written prequel to Tara West's critically acclaimed novel Curse of the Ice Dragon. We are introduced to Feira, a young beautiful witch with frightening powers and her love, Tumi. The prose is magnificent in the way the author has created this fantasy world in which the story unfolds. Plenty of action, characters worth caring for, and brilliant descriptions make Witch Flame an entertaining and enjoyable read. It's short so can be finished in one setting. An added plus is an introduction and explanation about the myth used in the story--The Beginning of Time! Highly recommended as a prequel to Curse of the Ice Dragon.
January 23, 2013
What an amazing short story. It’s a companion to the “Curse of the Ice Dragon” series and it so reels you in and left wanting more.
Possible spoilers...
It follows Feira, an elemental witch who must hide her powers from the villages of Aloa-Shay, where she now resides after being chased from her home deep within the dark forest. After avenging her mother’s killer but unable to stay, she stumbles into an old woman named Akahi who becomes aware of her special gifts, the danger they present and takes her under her wing. But the villagers of Aloa-Shay serve the envious evil Goddess Eris and Feira’s powers could get her killed. It’s only a matter of time before trouble comes to find Feira, taking what she holds dear and sends her and Tumi fleeing to the land across the sea to a place called the Shifting Sands, where they hope they can find sanctuary.
Wow, the world building was amazing in such a short tale. I was completely enchanted and left aching for more. Feira uses her powers only for good and the way it’s described on how she uses them, really puts a picture in my mind’s eye on how it feels, smells and hurts. The everyday lives of Feira, Akahi and Tumi are elegantly woven for us to get a peek into their turmoil. Feira and Tumi’s love is very believable and you are left cheering them on, in hopes that they make it. I can’t wait to read onto the novel in this series “Curse of the Ice Dragon” in hopes these two amazing characters are in it.
This also includes a background mythology segment “Origin Myth from Keepers of the Stones” which gives us insight and background on how the world was made, who rules it and what has to happen to keep it balanced. An excellent companion for what looks to be an epic series. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Possible spoilers...
It follows Feira, an elemental witch who must hide her powers from the villages of Aloa-Shay, where she now resides after being chased from her home deep within the dark forest. After avenging her mother’s killer but unable to stay, she stumbles into an old woman named Akahi who becomes aware of her special gifts, the danger they present and takes her under her wing. But the villagers of Aloa-Shay serve the envious evil Goddess Eris and Feira’s powers could get her killed. It’s only a matter of time before trouble comes to find Feira, taking what she holds dear and sends her and Tumi fleeing to the land across the sea to a place called the Shifting Sands, where they hope they can find sanctuary.
Wow, the world building was amazing in such a short tale. I was completely enchanted and left aching for more. Feira uses her powers only for good and the way it’s described on how she uses them, really puts a picture in my mind’s eye on how it feels, smells and hurts. The everyday lives of Feira, Akahi and Tumi are elegantly woven for us to get a peek into their turmoil. Feira and Tumi’s love is very believable and you are left cheering them on, in hopes that they make it. I can’t wait to read onto the novel in this series “Curse of the Ice Dragon” in hopes these two amazing characters are in it.
This also includes a background mythology segment “Origin Myth from Keepers of the Stones” which gives us insight and background on how the world was made, who rules it and what has to happen to keep it balanced. An excellent companion for what looks to be an epic series. I look forward to reading more from this author.
April 11, 2013
So normally I don't read prelude's to bookies but when the author emails and asks you to ever so nicely you seriously can't say no, and I'm so glad I did because this Tumi' character woo baby, "Tumi' was lying on a woven mat, his body propped up on one elbow. A threadbare tunic was pulled tight across his broad chest. His long, black braid, intricately woven with golden fau feathers, hung over one shoulder." That's not all ladies and gentlemen listen to this, "His full lips were pulled back in that same wolfish, grin the smile Feira had loved since they were children. Only in Tumi's eyes, Feira read his hunger, reminding her that they were children no more." Mhmm exactly what I thought HOT! Not to mention when a man says "I will follow you anywhere" that is when you know the boy is a true keeper. This was a short story and I was sad to see it in, it felt like just as you were getting into it, the book goes POOF and ends.
January 2, 2013
I am giving five stars to Tara West’s prelude to the *Keepers of the Stones* fantasy series on its own terms. As packaged here, “Witch Flame” is an introduction to the world, deities, and mythology of the larger fantasy setting underlying additional books. It combines a short story describing an important character (Feira’s) early life and her flight from her homeland, with an origin myth of the world. As such, I don’t feel I can really “rate” the book just in terms of the story itself, but rather as what it is: An entry point to a larger world. Much like Tolkien’s Silmarillion, “Witch Flame” is an augmentation to a larger story, and as it does manage to display West’s storytelling abilities along the way to good effect, I’m confident reading these pieces may serve to draw the reader into the bigger works.
August 14, 2013
This is a short but very sweet prelude to the world of the Keepers of the Stones and is followed by Curse of the Ice Dragon.
You are immediately swept away into the world of Feira and the village in which she lives. You are given an incredible amount of knowledge in a short time but in no way overloaded. She has the power to heal but also to harm as there must be balance in all things.
Absolutely brilliant and also loved Curse of the Ice Dragon. Looking forward to reading more of this series as soon as it's available.
You are immediately swept away into the world of Feira and the village in which she lives. You are given an incredible amount of knowledge in a short time but in no way overloaded. She has the power to heal but also to harm as there must be balance in all things.
Absolutely brilliant and also loved Curse of the Ice Dragon. Looking forward to reading more of this series as soon as it's available.
May 3, 2013
Finally I found a free e-book that I actually enjoyed! It's obvious that this is just a promotional piece in order to get more people interested in her series, but I liked it. I found that it was original and interesting to read and easy to follow the story. I also liked that the characters were so well developed for such a short piece of writing. I felt that it didn't take that long to know and like the main characters, Feira and Tumi.
January 18, 2014
This was an excellent read which from the moment that I started reading I could not put it down, I was hooked.
It moved along at an amazing pace, had amazing characters and an awesome story, really looking forward to reading more from Tara West.
Tara West is an amazing author whose books take you away from your reality for a few hours, and when you are done you need more. Everyone should eperience her books, you won't be disappointed.
It moved along at an amazing pace, had amazing characters and an awesome story, really looking forward to reading more from Tara West.
Tara West is an amazing author whose books take you away from your reality for a few hours, and when you are done you need more. Everyone should eperience her books, you won't be disappointed.
June 4, 2018
This novella really sets the stage for this series, and it did it’s job in gaining my interest in this series and new-to-me author. In a short amount of time, the author builds a world with a strong character in Fiera and a backstory not always found in the novella length books.
Even though I connected with Fiera well, I wanted to have more of a connection with Tumi. It does a good job setting up the series and I’m planning on revisiting soon.
Even though I connected with Fiera well, I wanted to have more of a connection with Tumi. It does a good job setting up the series and I’m planning on revisiting soon.
February 1, 2013
At first I wasn't really into this short story but about half way through I started to enjoy it. The characters aren't developed very well and the story is far too short for the amount of things that happen in it. However, I did find the characters likable and it's full of drama and action. With much more description and more attention the the characters this could have been a really great novel.
January 16, 2014
It was free on my kindle so I gave it a whirl. The cover looked rad. It's a short prologue to the Keepers of the Stones series. We are introduced to a powerful witch named Fieara and learn about the lore of this world. Based on what I read, I'd like to check it out. My only hesitation being that the next book is about some hunter dude, and I was really digging this fire witch.
October 23, 2015
This was a short fantasy story that I just couldn't get in to. The characters were not well developed, which left me not caring for them. The story itself was dull for me. I had a hard time getting interested in it. It's just not a book for me.
April 3, 2013
This is a huge tale packed into a little book. It is obviously headed for bigger things. The characters are great. All in all, I have no complaints. It is a great prequel and I can't wait to read more of Tara West's work.
June 2, 2013
This short story catches you immediately and keeps you until the very end wanting more. This was my first time reading a book like this but I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the series as it is published.
June 19, 2016
Short and sweet. This book is very short but it is about a witch that uses her powers to heal warriors and is a prelude to a series of books by this author. It is a fantasy book and would recommend it to anyone that likes fantasy books.
May 15, 2017
Primal prequel
Very nicely written enjoyed both stories especially the creation and mistakes made by the elements,look forward to reading more in this series and hopefully more surprises such as the dragon
Very nicely written enjoyed both stories especially the creation and mistakes made by the elements,look forward to reading more in this series and hopefully more surprises such as the dragon
March 22, 2020
Typical prequel - short. Didn't really grab me. Maybe if the series was about Feira I'd be more interested in reading. She was an alright character. But the world building was pretty thin and without the character I've been introduced to or a better blurb - doesn't interest me to read further.
January 2, 2013
This novelette is a great intro to West's new YA Fantasy series. I love the world building and there's a little touch of romance. A nice quick read.
January 30, 2013
Is a great book to read
April 12, 2013
This is an amazing prequal to an amazing series. A must read for all that read the Keeper of the Stones series.
September 23, 2013
I loved this short story. It was intriguing. I received a copy of the first Keepers of the Stones book from NetGalley, so hopefully I can read that sometime soon.
October 16, 2013
need to read the rest of the series
November 19, 2013
Truly enjoyable! I want more.
July 21, 2014
loved it review to come
November 30, 2014
This prelude did not grab me at all. It lacked detail and jumped around all over the place. I will not read on.
April 11, 2017
The book cover looks nice. I give this book 5 stars.
April 28, 2018
This mini story started off strong, yet I felt that it lacked depth. Even a short story can give more. It’s a very quick read. I loved how it started, I’m sad how it finished.
May 8, 2018
A good short story. Interesting Characters - and love the myth / paranormal of it. Looking forward to read more of this series.
August 10, 2016
a wonderful short story, that is a prequel to Curse of the Ice Dragon! in this book you meet and fall in love with the character Feira, a young beautiful witch with frightening powers. You will fall in love with this book it is a great prequel to a wonderful series!
August 18, 2013
There really wasn't enough story to get me interested. Very, very short. It did not interest me enough to continue with the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews