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Witches of Galdorheim #1
Bad Spelling
A klutzy witch, a shaman's curse, a quest to save her family. Can Kat find her magic in time?
If you’re a witch living on a remote arctic island, and the entire island runs on magic, lacking magical skills is not just an inconvenience, it can be a matter of life and death–or, at least, a darn good reason to run away from home.
Katrina’s spells don’t just fizzle; they backfire with spectacular results, oftentimes involving green goo. A failure as a witch, Kat decides to run away and find her dead father’s non-magical family. But before she can, she stumbles onto why her magic is out of whack: a curse from a Siberian shaman.
The young witch, accompanied by her half-vampire brother, must travel to the Hall of the Mountain King and the farthest reaches of Siberia to regain her magic, dodging attacks by the shaman along the way.
If you’re a witch living on a remote arctic island, and the entire island runs on magic, lacking magical skills is not just an inconvenience, it can be a matter of life and death–or, at least, a darn good reason to run away from home.
Katrina’s spells don’t just fizzle; they backfire with spectacular results, oftentimes involving green goo. A failure as a witch, Kat decides to run away and find her dead father’s non-magical family. But before she can, she stumbles onto why her magic is out of whack: a curse from a Siberian shaman.
The young witch, accompanied by her half-vampire brother, must travel to the Hall of the Mountain King and the farthest reaches of Siberia to regain her magic, dodging attacks by the shaman along the way.
- GenresFantasy
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
1 person is currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Marva Dasef
28 books72 followersLots of interesting and economical books in scifi, fantasy, etc. for sale. Hell, I give 'em away. Just ask."
I have seven books in audio format.
I spent 35 years making a lot of money from writing. Probably more than most authors earn in their lifetime. But that was writing technical manuals and documentation. What that experience did was teach me how to write. This is not something many other writers learn to do until they decide to write their first fiction book.
I'm a professional writer. What this means for the reader is they won't get clumsy, ungrammatical, misspelled prose which appears to be the norm of most newbie fiction writers.
There. I've said it. I'm a better writer than most. Whether you like my stories is an entirely different thing. At least with my books, you won't have to suffer through poor writing to find out whether you like the book or not. If you like erotica, then I'm not the writer for you.
I have seven books in audio format.
I spent 35 years making a lot of money from writing. Probably more than most authors earn in their lifetime. But that was writing technical manuals and documentation. What that experience did was teach me how to write. This is not something many other writers learn to do until they decide to write their first fiction book.
I'm a professional writer. What this means for the reader is they won't get clumsy, ungrammatical, misspelled prose which appears to be the norm of most newbie fiction writers.
There. I've said it. I'm a better writer than most. Whether you like my stories is an entirely different thing. At least with my books, you won't have to suffer through poor writing to find out whether you like the book or not. If you like erotica, then I'm not the writer for you.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 11, 2012
The reason I fell in love with this book had to do with the cover and the back blurb, both of which reminded me of one of my favorite animated films Kiki's Delivery Service, directed by the brilliant Hayao Miyazaki. Like Kiki, the heroine of this book struggles to find herself, sometimes with comic results.
Most young adult fiction these days tend to be bad pastiches of the orginal bad pastiche Twilight, so when I discover those rare books in which there's no heroine-fail, no "mysterious but HAWT boy" or the standard (and useless) "love triangle", then you have my interest. I've been wondering for a while what the hell has happened to intrepid heroines like Tamora Pierce's Alannah, Phillip Pullman's Lyra and other go-get 'em girls who weren't content to let things just happen to them and who often embarked on grand adventures. Sadder still is the fact that the dumbing-down of YA heroines isn't being done by men, but by women authors whom one would think knew better.
Bad Spelling brings back the intrepid heroine in all her non-perfect yet still active in her own destiny glory. It is also the first fantasy I've read in which the cultures of the farthest reaches of Northern Europe--Norway, Finland, Siberia--figures prominently while not whitewashing the Asian features of many people who live in these polar regions. I especially loved how author Marva Dasef incorporated Norwegian legends into the narrative.
There is also a larger narrative in the book which is intolerance. The prologue for Bad Spelling is set in 1490 at the height of the witch hysteria that swept throughout Europe and cost the lives of hundreds of thousands (and perhaps an even higher number) of innocent women, men and children:
Tears welled in Edyth’s eyes. “What they are doing to us, ‘tis hateful. Why cannot they just leave us be?”
He took Edyth’s shoulders, pulling her to his chest. “‘Tis not just us. The inquisitors condemn many not of the craft. They find black magic where it does not exist.”
His eyes darkened. “‘Tis the fault of that wretched Heinrich Institoris and his cursed Malleus Maleficarum. Even the Church has banned it, yet the so-called citizen courts use it to condemn any who disagree with them.”
Edyth shook her head, her face grim. “You speak the truth. ‘Tis shameful they accuse whoever dissents, be they witch or not!”
The few remaining witches and warlocks decide to leave Europe and travel to a remote island called Galdorheim, where they can live free and out of sight from those they call mundanes (humans without magical ability). The island is protected by a magical shield which renders it undetectable and which makes the normally cold land more hospitable to human/witch life.
Fast forward to present-day Galdorheim. Kat is a young witch with a BIG problem. Her spells, even the simplest, tend to backfire and usually there's green goo involved. Okay, so this is a plot device that's been used before, but that's not the point. It's how such a device is used and not glossed over or turned into something "cute" for whatever hunky, mysterious HAWT BOY happens to eventually come along and save her from. Kat really is a misfit, being the child of a witch and a human. And she's not the only one, her brother Rune is a warlock/vampire and has a rather difficult time controling his hunger around the sight of blood.
Kat feels like an outcast, and little wonder when her mother and her aunt are some of the most powerful witches on Galdorheim. However she discovers that perhaps her bad spellcasting may not be her fault, and so begins a quest to find her father's family, but to save her beloved home from eventual extinction. With Rune as her traveling companion, Kat discovers that her magical abilities work better the farther from Galdorheim she is. On her quest she meets a trio of trolls, one of whom is not all he seems, the Mountain King, a troll advisor who's still upset that a human girl guessed his real name (LOL), , a giant, helpful orcas and some pretty deadly lemmings. She rescues and needs rescuing.
Thankfully there's more to come, but Bad Spelling doesn't end on a cliffhanger. I can't wait to visit Kat and the fantastically modern world of Galdorheim soon.
Most young adult fiction these days tend to be bad pastiches of the orginal bad pastiche Twilight, so when I discover those rare books in which there's no heroine-fail, no "mysterious but HAWT boy" or the standard (and useless) "love triangle", then you have my interest. I've been wondering for a while what the hell has happened to intrepid heroines like Tamora Pierce's Alannah, Phillip Pullman's Lyra and other go-get 'em girls who weren't content to let things just happen to them and who often embarked on grand adventures. Sadder still is the fact that the dumbing-down of YA heroines isn't being done by men, but by women authors whom one would think knew better.
Bad Spelling brings back the intrepid heroine in all her non-perfect yet still active in her own destiny glory. It is also the first fantasy I've read in which the cultures of the farthest reaches of Northern Europe--Norway, Finland, Siberia--figures prominently while not whitewashing the Asian features of many people who live in these polar regions. I especially loved how author Marva Dasef incorporated Norwegian legends into the narrative.
There is also a larger narrative in the book which is intolerance. The prologue for Bad Spelling is set in 1490 at the height of the witch hysteria that swept throughout Europe and cost the lives of hundreds of thousands (and perhaps an even higher number) of innocent women, men and children:
Tears welled in Edyth’s eyes. “What they are doing to us, ‘tis hateful. Why cannot they just leave us be?”
He took Edyth’s shoulders, pulling her to his chest. “‘Tis not just us. The inquisitors condemn many not of the craft. They find black magic where it does not exist.”
His eyes darkened. “‘Tis the fault of that wretched Heinrich Institoris and his cursed Malleus Maleficarum. Even the Church has banned it, yet the so-called citizen courts use it to condemn any who disagree with them.”
Edyth shook her head, her face grim. “You speak the truth. ‘Tis shameful they accuse whoever dissents, be they witch or not!”
The few remaining witches and warlocks decide to leave Europe and travel to a remote island called Galdorheim, where they can live free and out of sight from those they call mundanes (humans without magical ability). The island is protected by a magical shield which renders it undetectable and which makes the normally cold land more hospitable to human/witch life.
Fast forward to present-day Galdorheim. Kat is a young witch with a BIG problem. Her spells, even the simplest, tend to backfire and usually there's green goo involved. Okay, so this is a plot device that's been used before, but that's not the point. It's how such a device is used and not glossed over or turned into something "cute" for whatever hunky, mysterious HAWT BOY happens to eventually come along and save her from. Kat really is a misfit, being the child of a witch and a human. And she's not the only one, her brother Rune is a warlock/vampire and has a rather difficult time controling his hunger around the sight of blood.
Kat feels like an outcast, and little wonder when her mother and her aunt are some of the most powerful witches on Galdorheim. However she discovers that perhaps her bad spellcasting may not be her fault, and so begins a quest to find her father's family, but to save her beloved home from eventual extinction. With Rune as her traveling companion, Kat discovers that her magical abilities work better the farther from Galdorheim she is. On her quest she meets a trio of trolls, one of whom is not all he seems, the Mountain King, a troll advisor who's still upset that a human girl guessed his real name (LOL), , a giant, helpful orcas and some pretty deadly lemmings. She rescues and needs rescuing.
Thankfully there's more to come, but Bad Spelling doesn't end on a cliffhanger. I can't wait to visit Kat and the fantastically modern world of Galdorheim soon.
August 18, 2013
Bad Spelling is the first volume of the author’s fantasy series The Witches of Galdorheim. It’s intended for Young Adults although I think children from age 11 up would enjoy it. It deals with a colony of European witches who escaped medieval persecution by fleeing to an island in the Barents Sea (north of Norway, Finland, and Russia) and using a magic dome to “terraform” it into normal, livable space. This region is remote enough to be unfamiliar to the average American and thus can substitute for a constructed world filled with trolls, ogres, shamans, and werewolves. The story deals with a female adolescent witch named Kat who can’t for the life of her learn how to “spell,” that is, cast spells. Finding out why and solving the problem is at the heart of the plot, which is lively and fast-moving, although a bit shallow in spots (but then in a short YA book one can’t expect much psychological probing of character).
The book is filled with clever word plays comparable to “Bad Spelling.” Chapter titles like “Scry Me a River” and “The Troller Coaster,” as well as allusions to modern conveniences unexpected in this remote witches’ world (Botox, satellite phones, and snowmobiles) form a considerable part of its charm. I got a particular chuckle from this remark (spoken by a troll) regarding the snowmobiles: “That fat elf at the north pole runs a dealership in the off-season. Gave me a really good fleet rate.”
I was intrigued by the linguistic elements. A poem about a troll from the Eddas of Snorri Sturluson is quoted. I checked and it’s real. The translation is slightly different from those given in Wikipedia; I don’t know if the author translated it herself or found another translation or simply altered the translation. There is also a lot of linguistic give-and-take between Kat and the Sami. I checked the word “lumooja” and discovered it’s Finnish for witch. All of those allusions can simply be accepted as imaginary or they can be used to inspire the interest of young people in the languages of the region.
The premise of the story is set in the Prologue, which is laid “November, 1490 – somewhere in Germany.” Here we learn how it happened that the witches established their colony on the Barents Sea island. The author chose to write this prologue in a stilted and phony-sounding dialect, which I presume is meant to suggest an archaic period (something already established in the dateline). It’s full of sentences like this: “Why cannot they just leave us be?” “I’m afraid ’tis nothing else we can do,” which isn’t even grammatically correct: “I’m afraid it is nothing else we can do (?)” This dialect serves no function, because the people in question would not have been speaking English at all in 15th century Germany. Thus, all the quoted dialogue is a translation. I found that opener a little off-putting, but fortunately the Prologue is only one page long.
But that’s just a minor quibble. The book as a whole is very entertaining and educationally suggestive, and I heartily recommend it for the appropriate age group.
The book is filled with clever word plays comparable to “Bad Spelling.” Chapter titles like “Scry Me a River” and “The Troller Coaster,” as well as allusions to modern conveniences unexpected in this remote witches’ world (Botox, satellite phones, and snowmobiles) form a considerable part of its charm. I got a particular chuckle from this remark (spoken by a troll) regarding the snowmobiles: “That fat elf at the north pole runs a dealership in the off-season. Gave me a really good fleet rate.”
I was intrigued by the linguistic elements. A poem about a troll from the Eddas of Snorri Sturluson is quoted. I checked and it’s real. The translation is slightly different from those given in Wikipedia; I don’t know if the author translated it herself or found another translation or simply altered the translation. There is also a lot of linguistic give-and-take between Kat and the Sami. I checked the word “lumooja” and discovered it’s Finnish for witch. All of those allusions can simply be accepted as imaginary or they can be used to inspire the interest of young people in the languages of the region.
The premise of the story is set in the Prologue, which is laid “November, 1490 – somewhere in Germany.” Here we learn how it happened that the witches established their colony on the Barents Sea island. The author chose to write this prologue in a stilted and phony-sounding dialect, which I presume is meant to suggest an archaic period (something already established in the dateline). It’s full of sentences like this: “Why cannot they just leave us be?” “I’m afraid ’tis nothing else we can do,” which isn’t even grammatically correct: “I’m afraid it is nothing else we can do (?)” This dialect serves no function, because the people in question would not have been speaking English at all in 15th century Germany. Thus, all the quoted dialogue is a translation. I found that opener a little off-putting, but fortunately the Prologue is only one page long.
But that’s just a minor quibble. The book as a whole is very entertaining and educationally suggestive, and I heartily recommend it for the appropriate age group.
June 11, 2012
Marva Dasef's Bad Spelling is middle grade fiction, the first book of the Witches of Galdorheim. Dasef's use of magic to move the story along is handled well, with reason and logic.
Galdorheim is an island in the far North Sea where the witches have gone to hide from from the mundane society. The island is only warm enough for them to live comfortably because of the magic maintained by the community. The whole village would die from exposrue without this magic, or have to return to living hidden in mundane society.
That communal magic is threatened by the magical inability of one of the children, Kat, who not only has trouble with casting spells, but the results often backfire on others. Held back in school, her classmates call her a jinx. She has no friends except her half-vampire little brother who reacts violently to the sight of blood.
Learning that the human that is frozen, but not quite dead, in an ice cave outside the village is her father, Kat decides to visit his people in Siberia, thousands of miles away. She must discover why her magic does not work and how to fix it to protect the village. Trekking across a a frozen ocean is only an obstacle to be overcome, instead of the impossibility most adults would see. One of the witches who lives at the edge of society agrees to help her, for a price not specified. Kat and her brother set out on their journey.
Kat's discovery of her magic gifts almost seems too easy, but it comes in a very natural scene. Magic, of course, will not overcome all the obstacles along, but she never gives up because she attracts the right kind of helpers along the way.
I like the characterization of the witches, the children, and the trolls as well as the humans--not always typical of fantasy fiction. Existing adult relationships drive parts of the story, which the children discover as they go on their quest. These relationships create conflicts that extend into the rest of the series. For one, Kat must repay her witch mentor, and it remains to be seen what the price will be.
Pick this one up for your tween or read it yourself. It's a breath of arctic fresh air.
Galdorheim is an island in the far North Sea where the witches have gone to hide from from the mundane society. The island is only warm enough for them to live comfortably because of the magic maintained by the community. The whole village would die from exposrue without this magic, or have to return to living hidden in mundane society.
That communal magic is threatened by the magical inability of one of the children, Kat, who not only has trouble with casting spells, but the results often backfire on others. Held back in school, her classmates call her a jinx. She has no friends except her half-vampire little brother who reacts violently to the sight of blood.
Learning that the human that is frozen, but not quite dead, in an ice cave outside the village is her father, Kat decides to visit his people in Siberia, thousands of miles away. She must discover why her magic does not work and how to fix it to protect the village. Trekking across a a frozen ocean is only an obstacle to be overcome, instead of the impossibility most adults would see. One of the witches who lives at the edge of society agrees to help her, for a price not specified. Kat and her brother set out on their journey.
Kat's discovery of her magic gifts almost seems too easy, but it comes in a very natural scene. Magic, of course, will not overcome all the obstacles along, but she never gives up because she attracts the right kind of helpers along the way.
I like the characterization of the witches, the children, and the trolls as well as the humans--not always typical of fantasy fiction. Existing adult relationships drive parts of the story, which the children discover as they go on their quest. These relationships create conflicts that extend into the rest of the series. For one, Kat must repay her witch mentor, and it remains to be seen what the price will be.
Pick this one up for your tween or read it yourself. It's a breath of arctic fresh air.
June 25, 2012
BAD SPELLING (Review)
By Marva Dasef
What if you’re a Wiccan and are supposed to be able to cast spells, but everything you try somehow ends up as a catastrophe? Can you do something to make your magic work the way it’s supposed to? Or are you doomed to be a failure?
In Author Marva Dasef’s middle grade novel, BAD SPELLING, Katrina’s (Kat’s) father, Boris, died before she was born, yet her aunt Thordis talks to him. When Kat learns that a shaman cast a spell on her father and that spell is what affects Kat’s magic, turning it into a disaster, as well as possibly spreading from Kat to the whole village of Galdorheim and destroying it, she decides to find the shaman and stop him, before it‘s too late. Along with her part vampire half-brother, Rune, she sets off to Siberia, where her father’s family lives, hoping to find the answers. The teens meet a lot of interesting characters along the way, some friendly, some scary. But they let nothing stop them in their quest. Kat is a spunky heroine. Rune has a delightful sense of humor.
I really like the relationship between the siblings. They tease each other, the way brothers and sisters do. Yet they also care for one another and will protect the other when danger threatens. Marva Dasef has written a story of adventure, excitement, and suspense that should appeal to middle grade readers as they follow along with the teens on a journey they’ll not soon forget. BAD SPELLING would make a nice addition to school classrooms and libraries as well as to your personal library. There are two more books available in the series The Witches of Galdorheim: MIDNIGHT OIL and SCOTCH BROOM. Oh, do you wonder what the catchy title, BAD SPELLING, means? Being a former teacher, kids that can’t spell was my first thought. What do you think?
###
By Marva Dasef
What if you’re a Wiccan and are supposed to be able to cast spells, but everything you try somehow ends up as a catastrophe? Can you do something to make your magic work the way it’s supposed to? Or are you doomed to be a failure?
In Author Marva Dasef’s middle grade novel, BAD SPELLING, Katrina’s (Kat’s) father, Boris, died before she was born, yet her aunt Thordis talks to him. When Kat learns that a shaman cast a spell on her father and that spell is what affects Kat’s magic, turning it into a disaster, as well as possibly spreading from Kat to the whole village of Galdorheim and destroying it, she decides to find the shaman and stop him, before it‘s too late. Along with her part vampire half-brother, Rune, she sets off to Siberia, where her father’s family lives, hoping to find the answers. The teens meet a lot of interesting characters along the way, some friendly, some scary. But they let nothing stop them in their quest. Kat is a spunky heroine. Rune has a delightful sense of humor.
I really like the relationship between the siblings. They tease each other, the way brothers and sisters do. Yet they also care for one another and will protect the other when danger threatens. Marva Dasef has written a story of adventure, excitement, and suspense that should appeal to middle grade readers as they follow along with the teens on a journey they’ll not soon forget. BAD SPELLING would make a nice addition to school classrooms and libraries as well as to your personal library. There are two more books available in the series The Witches of Galdorheim: MIDNIGHT OIL and SCOTCH BROOM. Oh, do you wonder what the catchy title, BAD SPELLING, means? Being a former teacher, kids that can’t spell was my first thought. What do you think?
###
October 25, 2011
Bad Spelling is a book that continues to cling to my mind.
This book held me spellbound, if you'll forgive the pun. Marva is a wondrously witty author, who had me smiling and laughing throughout the whole book. But that doesn't really tell you what it's about, does it? Let me give you a quick sketch.
Kat is a witch -- only she has trouble using her powers. When she discovers that this is due to a spell on her father's frozen corpse, she and her half-brother Rune set out from their small arctic island to Siberia in order to find the shaman causing the spell and take it off.
That, in a nutshell, is what the book is about, but those few sentences don't do it justice. I immediately connected with Kat, and loved her sometimes snarky brother Rune. The story kept me reading when I should have gone to bed. The excitement and adventure had me glued to the laptop, reading on. The world Marva created here was exquisite. Even something as simple as a never-ending ice box or a clock that verbally told the time when you asked. Each of the characters was engaging -- even though I wished bad things upon those who made fun of Kat. I can't wait to see the next book and discover whether or not the spell really will put an end to Kat's "bad spelling."
Can I think of a bad thing to say about this book? Not really. It stands out in my mind as one of the best books I ever devoured. I can't wait for the sequel -- which can't come soon enough for me!
Don't believe me? Try out the book for yourself.
This book held me spellbound, if you'll forgive the pun. Marva is a wondrously witty author, who had me smiling and laughing throughout the whole book. But that doesn't really tell you what it's about, does it? Let me give you a quick sketch.
Kat is a witch -- only she has trouble using her powers. When she discovers that this is due to a spell on her father's frozen corpse, she and her half-brother Rune set out from their small arctic island to Siberia in order to find the shaman causing the spell and take it off.
That, in a nutshell, is what the book is about, but those few sentences don't do it justice. I immediately connected with Kat, and loved her sometimes snarky brother Rune. The story kept me reading when I should have gone to bed. The excitement and adventure had me glued to the laptop, reading on. The world Marva created here was exquisite. Even something as simple as a never-ending ice box or a clock that verbally told the time when you asked. Each of the characters was engaging -- even though I wished bad things upon those who made fun of Kat. I can't wait to see the next book and discover whether or not the spell really will put an end to Kat's "bad spelling."
Can I think of a bad thing to say about this book? Not really. It stands out in my mind as one of the best books I ever devoured. I can't wait for the sequel -- which can't come soon enough for me!
Don't believe me? Try out the book for yourself.
March 22, 2012
Bad Spelling is an enjoyable read. Kat has been a “bad speller” her whole life, and magic simply doesn’t seem to be in her genes despite the fact that she lives in a village filled with witches. Her brother, on the other hand, is a highly talented warlock. Kat’s father, whose body is trapped in a glacier, is protected by a spell that is beyond the understanding of the witches in Kat’s community. In order to save the village from exposure to the spell, Kat embarks on a journey with her brother, hoping to find the source of the magic.
The novel is humorous and imaginative, taking the reader through frozen wastelands inhabited by witches and subterranean dwellings that are the domain of trolls. Kat is challenged every step of the way and must learn to develop her magic with every obstacle she encounters. Kat’s brother Rune is one of the highlights of the novel, a half-vampire who has difficulty reining in his urge for blood. Aunt Thordis is another memorable character, with a gruff manner and an abrasive personality. I wish the main antagonist and his motivations had been described in greater detail, as this would have made for a more powerful ending. Bad Spelling is a light, fun read for kids.
The novel is humorous and imaginative, taking the reader through frozen wastelands inhabited by witches and subterranean dwellings that are the domain of trolls. Kat is challenged every step of the way and must learn to develop her magic with every obstacle she encounters. Kat’s brother Rune is one of the highlights of the novel, a half-vampire who has difficulty reining in his urge for blood. Aunt Thordis is another memorable character, with a gruff manner and an abrasive personality. I wish the main antagonist and his motivations had been described in greater detail, as this would have made for a more powerful ending. Bad Spelling is a light, fun read for kids.
November 5, 2013
Bad Spelling is Book One in the Witches of Galdorheim series. The bad speller is Kat (Katrina), older half-sister of Rune, the young vampire-warlock introduced in the series’s prequel, Spellslinger. Kat should be a powerful witch, but something stops her spells from working properly. Eventually she learns this is because of a spell a Siberian shaman placed over the area in which her mundane (non-magical) father is encased in ice. To overcome it, she and Rune set off to find her father’s family and seek help at the Hall of the Mountain King. But the shaman would rather they didn’t interfere, and sets a few obstacles in their path.
I enjoyed both the humour and pacing of this book, as well as the use of the Scandinavian mythology so often overlooked nowadays. It was quite refreshing to find trolls portrayed as something other than dimwits, mischief makers, or monsters. Kat and Rune are likeable characters, as are the adults they interact with (except for that nasty shaman, of course). I would definitely recommend this as a good read for tweens and teens interested in magic realms within our modern world.
I enjoyed both the humour and pacing of this book, as well as the use of the Scandinavian mythology so often overlooked nowadays. It was quite refreshing to find trolls portrayed as something other than dimwits, mischief makers, or monsters. Kat and Rune are likeable characters, as are the adults they interact with (except for that nasty shaman, of course). I would definitely recommend this as a good read for tweens and teens interested in magic realms within our modern world.
October 28, 2011
Bad Spelling by Marva Dasef
Ms. Dasef has pulled off a bewitching story with charming characters you can’t help but fall in love with. From Katrina - a befuddled young witch - to her half-brother, Rune - a vampire-warlock cross - to the delightful animal friends and trolls. (Never thought I’d ever call a troll delightful.:-)
Young Kat doesn’t understand why her magic doesn’t work. Teachers and students alike think she’s a failure, but the truth lies with her ‘almost dead’ father. She’s been cursed. In order to remove the spell and save her family and friends, Kat decides it’s up to her to find the evil shaman who jinxed her. And so begins the fun and incredible journey.
Ms. Dasef takes you on a fantastic trek across ice, oceans and northern countries. A fun adventure, sure to whet your appetite for more stories from this author’s pen. Enjoy.
Ms. Dasef has pulled off a bewitching story with charming characters you can’t help but fall in love with. From Katrina - a befuddled young witch - to her half-brother, Rune - a vampire-warlock cross - to the delightful animal friends and trolls. (Never thought I’d ever call a troll delightful.:-)
Young Kat doesn’t understand why her magic doesn’t work. Teachers and students alike think she’s a failure, but the truth lies with her ‘almost dead’ father. She’s been cursed. In order to remove the spell and save her family and friends, Kat decides it’s up to her to find the evil shaman who jinxed her. And so begins the fun and incredible journey.
Ms. Dasef takes you on a fantastic trek across ice, oceans and northern countries. A fun adventure, sure to whet your appetite for more stories from this author’s pen. Enjoy.
August 15, 2013
Witches wear black and travel everywhere by broomstick, right? Wrong! Ms Dasef's witches are very much of the modern world, despite living in the Arctic. Snowmobiles and cellphones lie side by side with magic wands and scrying artifacts.
This is the wonderful story of Kat and her brother Rune as they travel to find Kat's paternal family. The story is fast paced and intriguing and surprisingly light hearted. Trouble shadows Kat from the moment she is born. Her magic always goes wrong and on their travels it seems everything is out to stop them succeeding in their quest. I love the way the words flow onward to take us on Kat's travels so that the reader feels the cold, the fear, and the warmth of family love. Well done Ms Dasef I look forward to commenting on the second book in the Witches of Galdorheim Series.
This is the wonderful story of Kat and her brother Rune as they travel to find Kat's paternal family. The story is fast paced and intriguing and surprisingly light hearted. Trouble shadows Kat from the moment she is born. Her magic always goes wrong and on their travels it seems everything is out to stop them succeeding in their quest. I love the way the words flow onward to take us on Kat's travels so that the reader feels the cold, the fear, and the warmth of family love. Well done Ms Dasef I look forward to commenting on the second book in the Witches of Galdorheim Series.
March 27, 2012
Bad Spelling is a tension-filled, heartwarming and hilarious read. As a fan of Harry Potter and Terry Pratchett's books, I thoroughly enjoyed Marva Dasef's book. She skillfully plays with familiar themes and myths, but weaves them into an intriguing and original story. Bad Spelling had me laughing out loud several times, then the story quickly sucked me right back into its strange and fascinating world of magic, well-hidden from those dangerous humans with their stakes and pyres. Great challenges await a young witch with spelling problems and her half-brother, a warlock-vampire cross-breed with his own tribulations, while trying to save their enchanted island.
October 13, 2011
Bad Spelling by Marva Dasef
When Kat lands in trouble because of her Bad Spelling, the fun begins. The characters are adorable and very imaginative. This is such a great read, you shouldn't miss it.
Nothing like a family of helpful witches to help her out, and the many friends she makes along her adventure.
I have finished the book and all I can say is, I want a ride on the trollercoaster. Wheee.
Lorrie Struiff
When Kat lands in trouble because of her Bad Spelling, the fun begins. The characters are adorable and very imaginative. This is such a great read, you shouldn't miss it.
Nothing like a family of helpful witches to help her out, and the many friends she makes along her adventure.
I have finished the book and all I can say is, I want a ride on the trollercoaster. Wheee.
Lorrie Struiff
October 20, 2011
A little something for everyone in this great start to the series. Plenty of action, surprises around every corner, animal friends, an evil shaman...what's not to love? Appropriate for any age, this book stands out as unique and endearing in a world sloughed down with too many cookie-cutter middle grade and YA novels. Bad Spelling holds its own, and author Marva Dasef weaves an original tale that kept me guessing until the last page. Good stuff.
August 21, 2014
A young witch with little to no power and a brother trying to control his vampire tendencies take a dangerous mid-winter trip to save their homeland.
This is the first book in the Witches of Galdorheim Series by talented author Marva Dasef.
I truly enjoyed the fast pace and exciting book. Ready for book 2 - Midnight Oil.
This is the first book in the Witches of Galdorheim Series by talented author Marva Dasef.
I truly enjoyed the fast pace and exciting book. Ready for book 2 - Midnight Oil.
June 23, 2012
Fun quest with characters both younger readers and adults can relate to. Well-realized fantasy world.
December 4, 2012
Loved it.
May 24, 2013
I loved Kat and her family. I normally don't read teen books but was thoroughly pulled in I had to read all in the series. I'm now looking for more works by this author.
October 16, 2017
A fun young adult book full of good humor and magical adventures!
September 23, 2018
Poor Kat!
A witch living in a magical world, her contribution to society depends on her magical abilities, and she's having some major trouble. She hopes things will change, but her spells are atrocious. What will she do?? She decides to run away, but finds herself in the middle of a mystery involving a shaman, and a curse that's interfering with her magic. Can she regain her magic before it's too late?
What a delightful read! I'm waaaaay older than the intended audience, but I found it fun, magical and entertaining, and I'm excited to listen to the next one in the series. I loved Marva's writing, and the narration was great. Very nicely done!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Please take a moment to click the "YES" ("Helpful") button below if you found this review helpful :) Thank you!
A witch living in a magical world, her contribution to society depends on her magical abilities, and she's having some major trouble. She hopes things will change, but her spells are atrocious. What will she do?? She decides to run away, but finds herself in the middle of a mystery involving a shaman, and a curse that's interfering with her magic. Can she regain her magic before it's too late?
What a delightful read! I'm waaaaay older than the intended audience, but I found it fun, magical and entertaining, and I'm excited to listen to the next one in the series. I loved Marva's writing, and the narration was great. Very nicely done!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Please take a moment to click the "YES" ("Helpful") button below if you found this review helpful :) Thank you!
October 11, 2018
This is a quick, entertaining story about a teenage half-witch who can’t learn to cast spells even though the power in her is strong. Discovering the route of her problem and finding a solution to it leads Kat and her half-brother Rune on a lively adventure. The narrator of the audiobook fit the story well and was easy to listen to. With witches, vampires, trolls, shaman and amusing word play, this story will surly entertain.
September 9, 2013
The first time I saw the book cover for this book, I thought we were going to be exploring the world of Spelling Bees... Believe it or not, I was wrong. The "spelling" in this book has more to do with "toiling trouble" than how to string a bunch of letters together to accidentally spell words like... Antidisestablishmentarianism. WOW what a word!
As Big and Brilliant as that word is, it doesn't begin to compare with the journey you will take in Marva Dasef's BAD SPELLING.
I am a creature who loves paranormal and no paranormal topic is more deliciously diverse than WITCHCRAFT!
If you love paranormal with witchery afoot as much as I do, you are going to LOVE, Marva Dasef's BAD SPELLING...Oh and what makes it all the more exciting? This is BOOK ONE in Ms. Dasef's GALDORHEIM SERIES.
What a launch this is for her series.
In fact it is S-O-O-O-O-O-O good a launch it easily delivers FIVE STARS worth of delight.
I cannot WAIT to get my hands on Book 2
Well done, Ms. Dasef...and thank YOU!
As Big and Brilliant as that word is, it doesn't begin to compare with the journey you will take in Marva Dasef's BAD SPELLING.
I am a creature who loves paranormal and no paranormal topic is more deliciously diverse than WITCHCRAFT!
If you love paranormal with witchery afoot as much as I do, you are going to LOVE, Marva Dasef's BAD SPELLING...Oh and what makes it all the more exciting? This is BOOK ONE in Ms. Dasef's GALDORHEIM SERIES.
What a launch this is for her series.
In fact it is S-O-O-O-O-O-O good a launch it easily delivers FIVE STARS worth of delight.
I cannot WAIT to get my hands on Book 2
Well done, Ms. Dasef...and thank YOU!
April 11, 2014
Ms. Darsef's book, Bad Spelling, is chock full of fantastic imagery, whimsical characters, and fun set-pieces. The story of a teenage witch who can't seem to get a handle on her powers begins as a Harry Potter-styled supernatural school-based tale, then transforms into a fantasy quest. While the notion of contemporary witches, vampires, shamans, trolls, ogres, werewolves, etc. sounds a bit much, Ms. Darsef pulls it off winningly.
Sure, I have a few nitpicks...the villain seems a little underbaked, not much of a character, but rather an agent provocateur to set the game rolling. And one of the biggest mysteries was left unsolved (um, just why was Kat's father digging a hole in a glacier). But I'm certain that will be answered in one of the follow-up books.
Still, I'm quibbling. Ms. Darsef has a wonderful imagination detailing such cool and vivid items as the "trollercoaster" and a deus ex machina army of lemmings! Read the book! Can't wait to get my hands on the follow-up.
Sure, I have a few nitpicks...the villain seems a little underbaked, not much of a character, but rather an agent provocateur to set the game rolling. And one of the biggest mysteries was left unsolved (um, just why was Kat's father digging a hole in a glacier). But I'm certain that will be answered in one of the follow-up books.
Still, I'm quibbling. Ms. Darsef has a wonderful imagination detailing such cool and vivid items as the "trollercoaster" and a deus ex machina army of lemmings! Read the book! Can't wait to get my hands on the follow-up.
September 18, 2014
Katrina vive en una isla perdida entre los hielos donde todos son brujas y hechiceros, exiliados ante la persecusion de los demas mortales por cientos de años. Con 13 años no logra conjurar los hechizos que le enseñan en la escuela de brujeria. El problema esta relacionado con la extraña muerte de su padre y la profecia de la futura destruccion de su aldea sino logra resolver el desafio de vencer al malvado shaman que odia a las brujas.
Junto con su medio hermano Rune (medio vampiro tambien) y un joven secuestrado por los Trolls (shifling) debe recorrer la helada geografia descubriendo poderes con magia pero sin hechizos: como la amistad, el amor, la solidaridad y la familia.
Junto con su medio hermano Rune (medio vampiro tambien) y un joven secuestrado por los Trolls (shifling) debe recorrer la helada geografia descubriendo poderes con magia pero sin hechizos: como la amistad, el amor, la solidaridad y la familia.
June 20, 2014
2nd Place in November's You Gotta Read Videos book trailer contest. I did the trailer, but owe much to Kaytalin Platt's very cool cover.
Merged review:
Five stars for the audiobook narrator, Lisa Baarns of Baarns VO and Narration.
The book's pretty darn good, too.
Merged review:
Five stars for the audiobook narrator, Lisa Baarns of Baarns VO and Narration.
The book's pretty darn good, too.
November 21, 2012
Paperback edition of the Bad Spelling ebook.
August 12, 2016
Re-issued ebook.
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