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The December People #2
Watch Me Burn
David Vandergraff lost his home, his job, and contact with his oldest son, but remains determined to be a good husband and father despite being a dark winter wizard.
His resolve is tested when a flyer for a missing girl — who happens to be a summer witch — begins to haunt him. David believes a spell needs to use him to save her, so he follows the magic's command and looks into her disappearance. His teenage daughter Emmy resents him for caring so much about a random stranger. But when she uncovers some disturbing evidence close to home, she begins an investigation of her own.
David and Emmy quickly learn that the mystery is not only about a missing girl they barely know, but a deeply personal story that impacts everyone they care about. As their world crumbles, they fear the warning may be true — never mess with summer wizards, because the good guys always win.
His resolve is tested when a flyer for a missing girl — who happens to be a summer witch — begins to haunt him. David believes a spell needs to use him to save her, so he follows the magic's command and looks into her disappearance. His teenage daughter Emmy resents him for caring so much about a random stranger. But when she uncovers some disturbing evidence close to home, she begins an investigation of her own.
David and Emmy quickly learn that the mystery is not only about a missing girl they barely know, but a deeply personal story that impacts everyone they care about. As their world crumbles, they fear the warning may be true — never mess with summer wizards, because the good guys always win.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 5, 2015
6 people are currently reading
342 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Bayliss
9 books227 followersSharon Bayliss is the author of The December People Series and The Charge. When she’s not writing, she enjoys living happily-ever-after with her husband and two young sons. She can be found eating Tex-Mex on patios, wearing flip-flops, and playing in the mud (which she calls gardening). She only practices magic in emergencies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 12, 2016
“When you hurt someone, you always damage your own soul, and it doesn't feel good. A good person can feel it happening. A bad person doesn't notice until it's too late.”
The first book, Destruction, surprised me with it's intensity, dark twists, and unusual storyline. Watch Me Burn fortunately continued this trend - surprises around the corner readers don't see coming, multiple layers of good and bad in all the characters, the characters all united in a big bad but having their own lives and issues on the sideline.
David still stands as a weak type of man but a good character. Of course I can't really blame him being so overwhelmed, his life has gone crappy so fast. I wasn't as crazy about the mother/wife in the first but she's more enjoyable this time around - her character is more in the background perspective-wise, but the impact of her life greatly affects this book and series.
The kids are where it's really at, though. The dark and light in the brothers and sisters keeps rising up to where you're not sure what's going to be at the top in the end. Tragic characters facing hard odds is always fascinating, isn't it?
As before, I love the creative world the author weaves with winter and summer wizards, all falling on different spectrums of power based on when they're born. The war between the two is intriguing, as is the tendency of the families and wizards to corrupt. This one amps up the world by showing a strange blend of unusual talents. The writer weaves her spell well through well-placed words, just the right amount of scene and character shifting, and teasers of stuff to come. Thankfully dialogue has improved from last time.
You definitely need to read the first one before diving into this - both are excellent, and you'll be lost and not caring if you jump into this one without the backstory.
Not a huge cliffhanger, thankfully, but this story leaves you itching for more magic. I hope the writer dishes them out fast, as I can't wait to read more of this series. There's a huge wallop of human emotion mixed in with the witchcraft of this series.
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November 7, 2014
I have had the great privilege of reading Sharon Bayliss’ Watch Me Burn, the second volume in The December People Series and all I can say is Oh My God… READ this like seriously, read it now!
I would strongly recommend anyone who hasn’t read DESTRUCTION (the 1st in the series) to read it first as, even though Sharon makes an effort to fill in some gaps, I think to really get the full impact of where her characters are now, you really need to know where they started and came from.
However, I also think this book stands alone.
I cannot fault it.
This book really has everything.
It has magic, but magic that makes sense.
It has pain and love and prejudice and responses and consequences and bigotry and lust and hate and everything… all rolled into one but without ever feeling over the top or making the reader feel overwhelmed.
As with book one, once I started I couldn’t stop. The only thing that stopped me is when my eyes were too sore to read any longer (around midnight) and I was up and reading again by 6am.
I wish it was possible to give it more than five stars because it’s an insult to only give the five, but as that’s all I can give, so be it.
Seriously, if you like your world build with a bit of magic, your characters with lots of flaws and issues and pain to overcome, if you like your villains to maybe find redemption and, even when they are doing the worst things, and are really bad, you still hold a spark of light and hope they’ll be saved, and if you like star-crossed everyone’s with a little bit of subtle and not so subtle prejudice to overcome, you’ll devour Watch Me Burn as I did.
10 stars & then some!
I would strongly recommend anyone who hasn’t read DESTRUCTION (the 1st in the series) to read it first as, even though Sharon makes an effort to fill in some gaps, I think to really get the full impact of where her characters are now, you really need to know where they started and came from.
However, I also think this book stands alone.
I cannot fault it.
This book really has everything.
It has magic, but magic that makes sense.
It has pain and love and prejudice and responses and consequences and bigotry and lust and hate and everything… all rolled into one but without ever feeling over the top or making the reader feel overwhelmed.
As with book one, once I started I couldn’t stop. The only thing that stopped me is when my eyes were too sore to read any longer (around midnight) and I was up and reading again by 6am.
I wish it was possible to give it more than five stars because it’s an insult to only give the five, but as that’s all I can give, so be it.
Seriously, if you like your world build with a bit of magic, your characters with lots of flaws and issues and pain to overcome, if you like your villains to maybe find redemption and, even when they are doing the worst things, and are really bad, you still hold a spark of light and hope they’ll be saved, and if you like star-crossed everyone’s with a little bit of subtle and not so subtle prejudice to overcome, you’ll devour Watch Me Burn as I did.
10 stars & then some!
October 10, 2019
**Full Disclosure: I was the Acquiring Editor for this book.**
If you liked Destruction, you're going to love Watch Me Burn. The Vandergraff's are somehow holding together after all the revelations and pain from book 1. Together, they learn and discover more about their powers.
But most significantly, in WMB, we are introduced to summer wizards and the Prescotts, a summer wizard family. When the youngest daughter of the Prescott family goes missing, David feels a magical pull to find her, and soon, so do his children.
Meanwhile, Amanda has secretly been seeing their oldest son who was asked to leave after doing some down right stupid and dangerous things. Amanda is trying to remove the darkness from him, but the side affects are heart wrenching.
The kids are learning more and more about their powers, especially Patrick who finds he has surprisingly powerful abilities. He sees visions of the missing girl, among other things. Emmy goes looking for the missing girl and meets her brother, who she is unsure if she can trust or not since he is a summer wizard, but she is drawn to him anyway.
The plot twists and turns as the family find themselves drawn in, but distracted at the same time. David is desperately fighting to protect his family, while the four kids build stronger bonds and loyalty to one another that could save them.
I couldn't put this baby down! Bayliss takes the December People Series to a new level that you won't want to miss, and leaves you begging for the next installment.
If you liked Destruction, you're going to love Watch Me Burn. The Vandergraff's are somehow holding together after all the revelations and pain from book 1. Together, they learn and discover more about their powers.
But most significantly, in WMB, we are introduced to summer wizards and the Prescotts, a summer wizard family. When the youngest daughter of the Prescott family goes missing, David feels a magical pull to find her, and soon, so do his children.
Meanwhile, Amanda has secretly been seeing their oldest son who was asked to leave after doing some down right stupid and dangerous things. Amanda is trying to remove the darkness from him, but the side affects are heart wrenching.
The kids are learning more and more about their powers, especially Patrick who finds he has surprisingly powerful abilities. He sees visions of the missing girl, among other things. Emmy goes looking for the missing girl and meets her brother, who she is unsure if she can trust or not since he is a summer wizard, but she is drawn to him anyway.
The plot twists and turns as the family find themselves drawn in, but distracted at the same time. David is desperately fighting to protect his family, while the four kids build stronger bonds and loyalty to one another that could save them.
I couldn't put this baby down! Bayliss takes the December People Series to a new level that you won't want to miss, and leaves you begging for the next installment.
December 1, 2014
As their world is imploding, how do the Vandergraffs learn to understand the strange connection to a missing girl from the summer wizards? David feels compelled to look into the disappearance that begins to haunt him, while his daughter Emmy becomes jealous of the attention David is lavishing on this relative stranger. What is the connection that is gnawing at his family? Is it possible that the summer wizards will need David’s help to find their missing young witch? Are the Summer wizards really the “good” guys while the December People are pure darkness?
Watch Me Burn by Sharon Bayliss takes another trip into the world of dark magic, only to find that even the dark winter magic practitioners are as loving and caring as those of the summer wizards? In spite of everything he has lost already, David is trying to do good, regardless of the future costs he may incur. What are his nightmares trying to tell him? Will he truly be part of the spell that will save this girl or is it just wishful thinking? What of Amanda’s taboo involvement with a summer wizard? Does he have a dark side that needs to be erased? Is it possible or could the results be even more devastating? The Vandergraffs are all feeling pulled into this mystery, but why?
Sharon Bayliss has created another magical tale that immerses the reader in the world of light and dark magic, while making each character feel real, and dimensional, not all evil, not all good, in spite of the magical family they belong to. A fascinating web to unravel, inch by inch, there is so much more to discover and understand about the witches involved and Ms. Bayliss makes each page a magnetic pull of discovery.
Series: The December People - Book 2
Publication Date: January 5, 2015
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Genre: Fantasy-Coming of Age
Print Length: 217 pages
Available from: Amazon
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Watch Me Burn by Sharon Bayliss takes another trip into the world of dark magic, only to find that even the dark winter magic practitioners are as loving and caring as those of the summer wizards? In spite of everything he has lost already, David is trying to do good, regardless of the future costs he may incur. What are his nightmares trying to tell him? Will he truly be part of the spell that will save this girl or is it just wishful thinking? What of Amanda’s taboo involvement with a summer wizard? Does he have a dark side that needs to be erased? Is it possible or could the results be even more devastating? The Vandergraffs are all feeling pulled into this mystery, but why?
Sharon Bayliss has created another magical tale that immerses the reader in the world of light and dark magic, while making each character feel real, and dimensional, not all evil, not all good, in spite of the magical family they belong to. A fascinating web to unravel, inch by inch, there is so much more to discover and understand about the witches involved and Ms. Bayliss makes each page a magnetic pull of discovery.
Series: The December People - Book 2
Publication Date: January 5, 2015
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Genre: Fantasy-Coming of Age
Print Length: 217 pages
Available from: Amazon
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
January 5, 2015
David Vandergraff is the head of a family of Winter witches. He doesn't wish to be, but he is anyway. In this world, where one falls on the magical calendar determines the type of magic one will have. So, if a witch's "date" is near the summer solstice, he (or she) will have summer magic, and be able to wield the power of light and goodness. Witches with a date nearer the winter solstice will have dark magic--which yields destructive powers. Winter and Summer witches are diametrically opposed, and have a serious battle between them. Meanwhile, witches whose dates fall between solstices, Equinox witches, can wield both light and dark magic.
David's family consists of his wife Amanda, sons Jude, Patrick, Xavier and daughters Emmy and Evangeline. Xavier and Evangeline were from a different mother, and they suffered horrific abuse from their dark witch stepfather before David recovered them, nearly destroyed his marriage by revealing his infidelity--all of which happened in the first book.
Now, Jude is long gone--consumed by darkness enough that he raped a fellow witch: his sister's best friend. He's not COMPLETELY gone, however, because Amanda has been healing his darkness, taking it into herself at great cost to her own health. I can relate--a mother's love is a strong and powerful force, much like magic.
David is somehow caught in a compulsion spell, one to bring home a missing summer witch. Julie has been gone two weeks, and David is consumed with finding her--and this brings both Emmy and Patrick into the hunt, involuntarily. Emmy knew Julie from volleyball camp, and hated her long before she understood about the animosity between summer and winter witches. It seems they have a physical reaction to each other. Emmy is a resourceful gal, even if she isn't a powerful witch and feels likewise compelled to find Julie. Patrick is experiencing many disturbing visions of a tortured Julie, and his own role in possibly saving her.
In her searches, Emmy encounters Nathan, Julie's older brother. He's searching the forest where Julie went missing relentlessly, but he knows he'll never find her. There is a strong confounding spell protecting the area, only allowing the access of witches who meet certain criteria. Emmy isn't taken, either, and Nathan knows it is because the person who has Julie only wants witches who date on the Four Events: Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice, and the Vernal and Autumnal equinoxes. Julie was a Summer Solstice witch--and it made her summer magic powerful. With each Event the captor collects, he (or she) gains immense power.
The rescue of Julie is confounded--and David is struggling to keep his family together--when one of his children goes missing in the forest, too. And Amanda's failing health seems to be at the heart of some of this problem. Nathan and Emmy join forces in the search, and they become close to each other in a way no one wishes, or predicts. Julie and Nathan's summer witch family are relentless in their pursuit of the winter Vandergraff's--wanting to destroy the winter witches, thinking it will protect their family and save Julie. They have succeeded in some destruction, but as Emmy tells Nathan, just because her family is "dark" doesn't mean they are bad people.
This is a truth Nathan respects; his own family is light---and he knows for a fact they aren't good.
I really love how this story is unfolding. It's multi-layered with lots of twists, and significant moral gray areas. So many moral dilemmas: is it okay to kill innocents to protect those you love? Can one trust the visions of magic? What are the bounds of family, when power is the ultimate objective? Can good ends ever justify evil means? It's fascinating, and deep, with good pacing and enough mystery to keep the series cracking along. The end is a good stopping point, but it's clear there will be no peace between these two families, and that their conflict between them is only getting stronger.
David's family consists of his wife Amanda, sons Jude, Patrick, Xavier and daughters Emmy and Evangeline. Xavier and Evangeline were from a different mother, and they suffered horrific abuse from their dark witch stepfather before David recovered them, nearly destroyed his marriage by revealing his infidelity--all of which happened in the first book.
Now, Jude is long gone--consumed by darkness enough that he raped a fellow witch: his sister's best friend. He's not COMPLETELY gone, however, because Amanda has been healing his darkness, taking it into herself at great cost to her own health. I can relate--a mother's love is a strong and powerful force, much like magic.
David is somehow caught in a compulsion spell, one to bring home a missing summer witch. Julie has been gone two weeks, and David is consumed with finding her--and this brings both Emmy and Patrick into the hunt, involuntarily. Emmy knew Julie from volleyball camp, and hated her long before she understood about the animosity between summer and winter witches. It seems they have a physical reaction to each other. Emmy is a resourceful gal, even if she isn't a powerful witch and feels likewise compelled to find Julie. Patrick is experiencing many disturbing visions of a tortured Julie, and his own role in possibly saving her.
In her searches, Emmy encounters Nathan, Julie's older brother. He's searching the forest where Julie went missing relentlessly, but he knows he'll never find her. There is a strong confounding spell protecting the area, only allowing the access of witches who meet certain criteria. Emmy isn't taken, either, and Nathan knows it is because the person who has Julie only wants witches who date on the Four Events: Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice, and the Vernal and Autumnal equinoxes. Julie was a Summer Solstice witch--and it made her summer magic powerful. With each Event the captor collects, he (or she) gains immense power.
The rescue of Julie is confounded--and David is struggling to keep his family together--when one of his children goes missing in the forest, too. And Amanda's failing health seems to be at the heart of some of this problem. Nathan and Emmy join forces in the search, and they become close to each other in a way no one wishes, or predicts. Julie and Nathan's summer witch family are relentless in their pursuit of the winter Vandergraff's--wanting to destroy the winter witches, thinking it will protect their family and save Julie. They have succeeded in some destruction, but as Emmy tells Nathan, just because her family is "dark" doesn't mean they are bad people.
This is a truth Nathan respects; his own family is light---and he knows for a fact they aren't good.
I really love how this story is unfolding. It's multi-layered with lots of twists, and significant moral gray areas. So many moral dilemmas: is it okay to kill innocents to protect those you love? Can one trust the visions of magic? What are the bounds of family, when power is the ultimate objective? Can good ends ever justify evil means? It's fascinating, and deep, with good pacing and enough mystery to keep the series cracking along. The end is a good stopping point, but it's clear there will be no peace between these two families, and that their conflict between them is only getting stronger.
January 4, 2015
I loved "Destruction", and now I also fell in love with "Watch Me Burn". And again line of a not YA paranormal kept successfully in this 2nd book too by Bayliis. She is doing it again, by juggles skillfully between the characters and expose us, to many different angles as possible.
In Destruction we learn about, dark magic and the winter wizards, in watch me Burn we introduced to light magic and summer wizards (But also we get some hints into Autumn and Spring).
The Prescotts, are summer wizards family. When their youngest daughter of the goes missing, the Vandergraffs feels unexplained magical compelled to find her. Is it possible that the summer wizards will need David’s help to find their missing young witch? Are the Summer wizards really the “good” guys while the December People are pure evil?
Even tough the family economic situation deteriorate quickly since they started practicing magic, the Vandergraffs kids didn't stop to learn more and more about their powers. The pull to find the missing girl started with an ad that David found on the street after he showed it to his children, strangely they started to feel the pull too. "The image of the missing girl on the screen shined so intensely, he could see her outline burned into the blackness behind his eyelids when he blinked. The girl posed in her volleyball uniform, displaying a radiant, white-toothed smile. She looked about fourteen or fifteen. She had blonde hair and golden skin and a strange radiating quality, as if the pixels in the television gave her an extra glow."
Patrick who finds he has surprisingly powerful abilities, saw visions of the missing girl but got into the Frying Pan in the beginning. Emmy (that discovers that she already met her at a volleyball camp, and that they both had immediate mutual hostility) goes looking for the missing girl and meets her brother. Into to mix Emma ask a direct help from her half sister Evangeline's and got it willingly. Evangeline was sure that her her strong talent, and that she know enough about to deal with the mystery. But when we speak about magic and especially light magic and it's form apparently she didn't know enough.
When things got dangerous Patrick and Xavier decide to join the game.
In this book we can find new villains and new charters to appreciate. The flows and imperfectness of them make those characters more believable.
Patrick is still my favorite, I didn't Liked Amanada and her choices in this book too (I still find her to arrogant and too prideful to handle things wisely) and my feeling toward David is still ambivalent because he choose again to run from things instead of face them. His wife didn't help to him by repeating all the those mistakes that she done before. The other parents in this story didn't act as mature people suppose to. And again we study the consequence of succumbing to pride and hate. When secrets faster and the infection spread too quickly, the only ones that can save the the day will be the ones who will will to face their mistakes. Apparently not these adults. Luckily their children will have to fix their parents mistakes. AT List part of of the children!!!! (some will choose to repeat those mistakes)
But the most important lesson this book preach for is - If you join forces you might succeed (and unfortunately is stand the same for the regular people and the villains one)
May 19, 2015
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
Last year I read and liked Destruction, the first book in this series. And this book is in many aspects not unlike the other book. Life is falling even more apart for David in this second book, now that he no longer has any contact with his eldest son and still tries to figure out exactly who he is. Things are about to get worse when he feels he has to help a missing girl, a summer witch at that. It's almost unnatural, almost like magic is making him do this. But is it?
Like I said about the first novel. The magic part isn't really that big, the characters are just normal people with their own flaws. And although some things are a bit weird, I really quite enjoyed it. Different from the first book, I got the feeling this book really had a plot instead of just telling us about David and his family. This book focusses on the search for a missing girl and the impact it has on the entire household.
What I particularly like was that we got to see more of the rules of magic. They are still not completely clear, but there was a lot more dynamics between the summer and winter wizards and all they stand for. I hope we get to see even more of that in the next book.
I repeat, I don't think this is a book that everyone will like. Not that much happen, the characters don't always do the things they should do (but then again, who does?) and the magic isn't always useful, but if you like that kind of thing - like I do - you'll find this book enjoyable and I would recommend it.
Watch Me Burn is the second instalment in the December People series. The first book is Destruction.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Last year I read and liked Destruction, the first book in this series. And this book is in many aspects not unlike the other book. Life is falling even more apart for David in this second book, now that he no longer has any contact with his eldest son and still tries to figure out exactly who he is. Things are about to get worse when he feels he has to help a missing girl, a summer witch at that. It's almost unnatural, almost like magic is making him do this. But is it?
Like I said about the first novel. The magic part isn't really that big, the characters are just normal people with their own flaws. And although some things are a bit weird, I really quite enjoyed it. Different from the first book, I got the feeling this book really had a plot instead of just telling us about David and his family. This book focusses on the search for a missing girl and the impact it has on the entire household.
What I particularly like was that we got to see more of the rules of magic. They are still not completely clear, but there was a lot more dynamics between the summer and winter wizards and all they stand for. I hope we get to see even more of that in the next book.
I repeat, I don't think this is a book that everyone will like. Not that much happen, the characters don't always do the things they should do (but then again, who does?) and the magic isn't always useful, but if you like that kind of thing - like I do - you'll find this book enjoyable and I would recommend it.
Watch Me Burn is the second instalment in the December People series. The first book is Destruction.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
January 7, 2015
Sharon Bayliss did it again . . . She hit it out of the park! Even with all their imperfections, secrets, and lies, the Vandergraffs still make me root for them. There is such good in that family . . . and such evil. Now we meet the Prescotts, and daughter Julie Prescott is missing. The Vandergraffs don’t know the Prescott family, but they are drawn into the mystery. As a mother, my heart ached for Amanda Vandergraff and Thea Prescott as they struggled to hold their families together. Their choices are made out of love and, sometimes, fear. Each of their decisions has ramifications that will harm both families. Before the end of the book, the families are forever bound due to magic. I love the way Bayliss gives her readers clues as to what will happen next. Each time I had a little hint of what was to happen, she added a twist that took the story off in a new direction. Can these families heal? Will the Vandergraffs and Prescotts form alliances? I can’t wait for book three!
January 13, 2015
I read the first book in this series recently and I liked it ok. This book though was the one that really hooked me on this series! In this second book in the December People series, the Vandergraff family gets swept up in a missing person case that involves a young witch. They are magically drawn in to a plot that involves a gathering of unique witches. The whole family must work to figure out how to stop the events set in motion.
This book is where (for me) the story gets really good! It has action, suspense, betrayal, heartache and romance. This story is more about the Vandergraff children and their parts in the magical scheme. I loved getting to know Emmy, Evangeline, Patrick and Xavier a little better in this book. I love the family dynamic and their willingness to help a sibling in need even when they don’t usually get along. This book is a great story of a normal(ish) family with extraordinary abilities. I highly recommend this book if you love magic, wizards, fantasy or paranormal. I give Watch me burn 4.5 stars!
This book is where (for me) the story gets really good! It has action, suspense, betrayal, heartache and romance. This story is more about the Vandergraff children and their parts in the magical scheme. I loved getting to know Emmy, Evangeline, Patrick and Xavier a little better in this book. I love the family dynamic and their willingness to help a sibling in need even when they don’t usually get along. This book is a great story of a normal(ish) family with extraordinary abilities. I highly recommend this book if you love magic, wizards, fantasy or paranormal. I give Watch me burn 4.5 stars!
December 12, 2014
Loved the continuation of this series with this book that shows you more of the dienamics of Winter Wizards and Summer Wizards and also love the little mystery kidnapping detective feel to the story. If you not read book one i highly recommend it as i feel you be missing part of what makes this series so great. It did not take me more then a few days to read so if you need a nice quick read that leaves you wanting more this the book for you.
June 25, 2015
This was an enjoyable sequel to Destruction , the first book in The December People series. As before, I loved the style of the writing and the flavour of the book. However, it didn't grip me quite as much as the first book. I can't put my finger on it--I think perhaps it was the way the POV shifts were done. In any case, I can't wait for the next book.
February 12, 2015
After finishing "Destruction," the first book in Sharon Bayliss's "The December People" series, I was fortunate enough to get a copy of the follow-up as an Advanced Review Copy (in exchange for an honest review.) I enjoyed the book quite a bit and recommend it, but I have to say it wasn't quite as good as "Destruction."
I think much of that was due to the way the first book focused primarily on introducing us to the Vandergraff family and the world they live in. By having the narrower focus of setting the stage for future stories and letting us see how the family interacts with each other and reacts to the changes they face just made for a tighter narrative.
In "Watch Me Burn," the family have adapted to their new circumstances and are going about living their lives when David hears that a local girl has gone missing. In fact, the news of her disappearance seems to be following him around, as he keeps running into reminders of it. Knowing that when someone casts a spell they can't always predict how the spell will bring about the desired results, and that sometimes a spell will "decide" that a certain person needs to be part of the process, David comes to believe that the missing girl must also be from a wizard family, and the spell her parents cast has decided it needs his help.
It turns out that his daughter Emily has met the girl previously, and when she discovers the girl's bracelet in the family car, she decides she needs to help investigate as well. Things quickly get complicated when it seems one of the Vandergraff boys may know more than he's letting on, another girl disappears, and Emily finds herself falling for a boy who just might be trouble.
There are a few other complications as well, and this is where my only real complaint with the book comes in - there's just almost TOO much plot for a book of its length. There's a side story about Amanda Vandergraff trying to help her son Jude get back on the right track, and one about the lengths a wizard will go to in trying to thwart a prophecy. That second side story, had it been fully fleshed out, could have made for a very interesting - and tension-filled - central story in a book of its own. Instead, it almost gets lost mixed in with the other story threads.
Don't get me wrong, though - "Watch Me Burn" is a very good book and certainly makes me hope for another visit with the Vandergraffs. Bayliss does some very smart and unexpected things in the book that kept me turning the pages even when my brain was telling me it was time for food or sleep. This is a series worth checking out!
I think much of that was due to the way the first book focused primarily on introducing us to the Vandergraff family and the world they live in. By having the narrower focus of setting the stage for future stories and letting us see how the family interacts with each other and reacts to the changes they face just made for a tighter narrative.
In "Watch Me Burn," the family have adapted to their new circumstances and are going about living their lives when David hears that a local girl has gone missing. In fact, the news of her disappearance seems to be following him around, as he keeps running into reminders of it. Knowing that when someone casts a spell they can't always predict how the spell will bring about the desired results, and that sometimes a spell will "decide" that a certain person needs to be part of the process, David comes to believe that the missing girl must also be from a wizard family, and the spell her parents cast has decided it needs his help.
It turns out that his daughter Emily has met the girl previously, and when she discovers the girl's bracelet in the family car, she decides she needs to help investigate as well. Things quickly get complicated when it seems one of the Vandergraff boys may know more than he's letting on, another girl disappears, and Emily finds herself falling for a boy who just might be trouble.
There are a few other complications as well, and this is where my only real complaint with the book comes in - there's just almost TOO much plot for a book of its length. There's a side story about Amanda Vandergraff trying to help her son Jude get back on the right track, and one about the lengths a wizard will go to in trying to thwart a prophecy. That second side story, had it been fully fleshed out, could have made for a very interesting - and tension-filled - central story in a book of its own. Instead, it almost gets lost mixed in with the other story threads.
Don't get me wrong, though - "Watch Me Burn" is a very good book and certainly makes me hope for another visit with the Vandergraffs. Bayliss does some very smart and unexpected things in the book that kept me turning the pages even when my brain was telling me it was time for food or sleep. This is a series worth checking out!
June 17, 2016
My original Watch Me Burn by Sharon Bayliss audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
David Vandergraff seems to be under a spell to try to find an missing girl. The only problem is that this girl belongs to a family of summer wizards, and David is a winter wizard. Both kinds of wizards have been at war since forever but there is something strange in this situation that makes David try to help Julia's family. In the meantime Amanda, David's wife, is growing weaker and weaker but tries to keep it secret. While both parents are busy with their own problems, their children will discover some clues about the missing girl, making them to take many risks.
The story of the first book was interesting so I wanted to see how it continued on this second book. I found the storyline a bit erratic and the end very anticlimactic. It could also be the issue that Sharon Bayliss constructs interesting characters with complex relationships among them but they lack the spark to make them alive. I enjoyed the dialogs but there was still something missing that prevented me to care for them.
There is quite some action at the beginning and at the end but the story in between is slowly paced and without a clear direction. The end comes very fast, many things not making a lot of sense and, as I have said, it feels anticlimactic after all the build up.
For the rest, I quite enjoyed the book. It is one of those easy listens that can be devoured in a couple of days without being overwhelming. Maybe this is my issue with Bayliss' books. They are just too easy, they come and go, but do not really leave anything behind on me that makes me think further about them.
I felt Dennis Holland's narration a bit better than in the previous book, adding more nuances and it seemed that the characters' voices were more differentiated.
There is a resolution at the end of the book but we are left with a cliffhanger that will probably be developed in the next book. It is interesting enough to make me want to listen to it.
This book does not need to be read exclusively by fantasy readers, since the magic in it is subtle enough to enjoy the book by the story and its characters.
David Vandergraff seems to be under a spell to try to find an missing girl. The only problem is that this girl belongs to a family of summer wizards, and David is a winter wizard. Both kinds of wizards have been at war since forever but there is something strange in this situation that makes David try to help Julia's family. In the meantime Amanda, David's wife, is growing weaker and weaker but tries to keep it secret. While both parents are busy with their own problems, their children will discover some clues about the missing girl, making them to take many risks.
The story of the first book was interesting so I wanted to see how it continued on this second book. I found the storyline a bit erratic and the end very anticlimactic. It could also be the issue that Sharon Bayliss constructs interesting characters with complex relationships among them but they lack the spark to make them alive. I enjoyed the dialogs but there was still something missing that prevented me to care for them.
There is quite some action at the beginning and at the end but the story in between is slowly paced and without a clear direction. The end comes very fast, many things not making a lot of sense and, as I have said, it feels anticlimactic after all the build up.
For the rest, I quite enjoyed the book. It is one of those easy listens that can be devoured in a couple of days without being overwhelming. Maybe this is my issue with Bayliss' books. They are just too easy, they come and go, but do not really leave anything behind on me that makes me think further about them.
I felt Dennis Holland's narration a bit better than in the previous book, adding more nuances and it seemed that the characters' voices were more differentiated.
There is a resolution at the end of the book but we are left with a cliffhanger that will probably be developed in the next book. It is interesting enough to make me want to listen to it.
This book does not need to be read exclusively by fantasy readers, since the magic in it is subtle enough to enjoy the book by the story and its characters.
February 2, 2015
3.5/5 Stars
The author sent me Destruction last year to review, and I absolutely adored it so she sent me the second book to read. I have to say I think I enjoyed the first book more than Watch Me Burn. The second book didn't blow me away as much as the first one did.
In the first book we learn that the witches magic/power has to do with the seasons. The two main types of witches we read about are the winter and summer witches, and of course they completely hate each other. Anyway, David (and soon the rest of the family) has this pull to find out what has happened to a teenage girl that has went missing. Her missing flyer and other things keep appearing to him like it is "almost" done by magic. The problem is the missing girl is a summer witch, and of course the Vandergraffs are winter witches. The two different types of witches have to cross paths while trying to solve the mystery involving the missing girl, which causes a host of problems. The whole family ends up getting involved in this missing case to find out what happened to this girl, and to keep things from getting even worse. We also find out more about what happens to Jude after he shames the family in book 1.
I really enjoyed Watch Me Burn, I think my favorite aspect is Sharon's witty writing style. I like the humor in between all of the dark and gritty parts of the story, which is what drew me in to the first book. Even though I still loved it, I didn't enjoy Watch me Burn as much as the first one. I felt like there was a little bit of stalling in the middle. There was a lot of action happening from the beginning to the end, but at the same time things just weren't really happening in the middle. I do love the world that's built and the witchcraft, but I think I enjoyed it better when everyone was learning about the powers they had instead of the missing girl plot. I guess this plot didn't excite me quite as much. Nevertheless, The December People is still an amazing series, and I still can't wait to pick up the next one to find out what happens with the Vandergraffs (especially Amanda!).
The author sent me Destruction last year to review, and I absolutely adored it so she sent me the second book to read. I have to say I think I enjoyed the first book more than Watch Me Burn. The second book didn't blow me away as much as the first one did.
In the first book we learn that the witches magic/power has to do with the seasons. The two main types of witches we read about are the winter and summer witches, and of course they completely hate each other. Anyway, David (and soon the rest of the family) has this pull to find out what has happened to a teenage girl that has went missing. Her missing flyer and other things keep appearing to him like it is "almost" done by magic. The problem is the missing girl is a summer witch, and of course the Vandergraffs are winter witches. The two different types of witches have to cross paths while trying to solve the mystery involving the missing girl, which causes a host of problems. The whole family ends up getting involved in this missing case to find out what happened to this girl, and to keep things from getting even worse. We also find out more about what happens to Jude after he shames the family in book 1.
I really enjoyed Watch Me Burn, I think my favorite aspect is Sharon's witty writing style. I like the humor in between all of the dark and gritty parts of the story, which is what drew me in to the first book. Even though I still loved it, I didn't enjoy Watch me Burn as much as the first one. I felt like there was a little bit of stalling in the middle. There was a lot of action happening from the beginning to the end, but at the same time things just weren't really happening in the middle. I do love the world that's built and the witchcraft, but I think I enjoyed it better when everyone was learning about the powers they had instead of the missing girl plot. I guess this plot didn't excite me quite as much. Nevertheless, The December People is still an amazing series, and I still can't wait to pick up the next one to find out what happens with the Vandergraffs (especially Amanda!).
June 21, 2015
I loved it! More than the first book!! I can't wait for third book!! I want to read it now. Author Sharon Bayliss took it to a whole new level. It was like the story was flowing in front my eyes, like watching a movie. I'd love to see this as TV series. In this book also I'm really confused about Jude. And the end, the end!!! I was like are the next pages missing? It wasn't a cliffhanger but it was a mild one but have to wait for it in the next book. I don't know what new things about magic world will be added in the next book but I'm excited for it!!!
Edit: I read and finished the book today which is 21st June; Summer Solstice AAaaa! Lol! You will understand when you read the book haha. But am excited about this book and next one and next after next Eeeek!
Inline Comments
"So, where were you?” Dad asked.
“I was at a strip club smoking crack. And then I robbed a convenience store."
Lol, I like her.
"Rule 1. Magic is bad,” Emmy continued. “Rule 2. Never do magic. Rule 3. No , seriously magic is always bad. I really mean it this time. And so on, and so forth."
I'm liking her more and more.
Patrick figured that nearly getting burned alive had been enough to shake Xavier back to life. He had the look of someone who had woken from a coma to find the hospital burning around him.
Well I think that is kind of true and funny to imagine.
Yeah, but still. There is a reason why wizards still carry cell phones. Steve Jobs bested us on that one.
Omg! Lol! I'm loving it more and more
Edit: I read and finished the book today which is 21st June; Summer Solstice AAaaa! Lol! You will understand when you read the book haha. But am excited about this book and next one and next after next Eeeek!
Inline Comments
"So, where were you?” Dad asked.
“I was at a strip club smoking crack. And then I robbed a convenience store."
Lol, I like her.
"Rule 1. Magic is bad,” Emmy continued. “Rule 2. Never do magic. Rule 3. No , seriously magic is always bad. I really mean it this time. And so on, and so forth."
I'm liking her more and more.
Patrick figured that nearly getting burned alive had been enough to shake Xavier back to life. He had the look of someone who had woken from a coma to find the hospital burning around him.
Well I think that is kind of true and funny to imagine.
Yeah, but still. There is a reason why wizards still carry cell phones. Steve Jobs bested us on that one.
Omg! Lol! I'm loving it more and more
July 24, 2015
I've been trying to think of a way to articulate how much I loved this book, and all I can think of is the word AMAZEBALLS. Over and over again. Sharon Bayliss has a knack for creating such compelling characters that draw you in with their every word and action, creating an emotional pull that keeps the pages turning. David Vandergraff is the sympathetic hero, always trying to do the right thing and find a way to balance the magical side of his life with his longing to just go back to being normal and blissfully ignorant. But when a young girl goes missing--already a tender subject given how long two of his own children were missing--and he begins to feel the pull of a spell telling him that he will somehow find this young girl, he finds that not only can he not ignore it, but he doesn't want to. Discovering his magic has made him feel powerless in his own life, and he is determined to do something. Even if it means helping a Summer wizard family. Even if it means helping a Summer wizard family connected to his own family in ways he might not have ever imagined. Emmy, his older daughter, also has such amazing growth in this book. I really can't wait to see what she is going to be like at the end of the series. All in all, another amazing book in a rich fantasy world that is at the same time rooted in our own so seamlessly. Definitely recommend it!
March 9, 2015
This second installment was an awesome follow up to one of my favorite books last year. I loved where the author took these characters. This is not a happy fairy tale where everything is right with the world; bad things happen to good characters, but Sharon Bayliss is brutal with a deft hand. This book follows where the last one left off. Where the first book focused mainly on the father in the story and was structured around the adult situations related to having an affair and the consequences of that action, but this story is focuses on the children.
This book feels more like a young adult novel than the first, dealing with first loves and forbidden loves. It tells the story of what can happen when people hate and how that hate can infiltrate a family. I don't want to give anything away, but we learn more about the different seasons of witches, how they interact, what their proficiencies represent, and powers they inherit.
Overall this was a really strong second book. It did not feel like the "middle" story. It has a strong plot, and develops the characters we already know very well along with introducing some new characters. I get lost in theses tales; they are well written and create a wonderful alternate world immersed in our own.
This book feels more like a young adult novel than the first, dealing with first loves and forbidden loves. It tells the story of what can happen when people hate and how that hate can infiltrate a family. I don't want to give anything away, but we learn more about the different seasons of witches, how they interact, what their proficiencies represent, and powers they inherit.
Overall this was a really strong second book. It did not feel like the "middle" story. It has a strong plot, and develops the characters we already know very well along with introducing some new characters. I get lost in theses tales; they are well written and create a wonderful alternate world immersed in our own.
March 9, 2015
This second installment was an awesome follow up to one of my favorite books last year. I loved where the author took these characters. This is not a happy fairy tale where everything is right with the world; bad things happen to good characters, but Sharon Bayliss is brutal with a deft hand. This book follows where the last one left off. Where the first book focused mainly on the father in the story and was structured around the adult situations related to having an affair and the consequences of that action, but this story is focuses on the children.
This book feels more like a young adult novel than the first, dealing with first loves and forbidden loves. It tells the story of what can happen when people hate and how that hate can infiltrate a family. I don't want to give anything away, but we learn more about the different seasons of witches, how they interact, what their proficiencies represent, and powers they inherit.
Overall this was a really strong second book. It did not feel like the "middle" story. It has a strong plot, and develops the characters we already know very well along with introducing some new characters. I get lost in theses tales; they are well written and create a wonderful alternate world immersed in our own.
This book feels more like a young adult novel than the first, dealing with first loves and forbidden loves. It tells the story of what can happen when people hate and how that hate can infiltrate a family. I don't want to give anything away, but we learn more about the different seasons of witches, how they interact, what their proficiencies represent, and powers they inherit.
Overall this was a really strong second book. It did not feel like the "middle" story. It has a strong plot, and develops the characters we already know very well along with introducing some new characters. I get lost in theses tales; they are well written and create a wonderful alternate world immersed in our own.
March 21, 2015
Bayliss picks up where she left off in Watch Me Burn, which quickly leaps right back into the action and suspense of the first book. The character development in this story is done quite well, and the author skillfully weaves together the storyline into a patchwork quilt enveloping the plot. The characters are clearly flawed, but all with an amazing sense of humanity and fragility, even though they are powerful wizards. The suspense and plot twists in this installment of the series did not disappoint and I found it to be a true page turner. This novel is another well-done, fast-paced tale by Bayliss.
March 31, 2016
I absolutely loved the second installment to Destruction. If you like books about wizards like I do, and enjoyed reading Destruction then you're going to love Watch Me Burn. The Vandergraffs (Winter Wizards) feel the need to help the Prescotts (Summer Wizards) find their missing daughter. We get a view of what every teenager goes through when someone else is getting a loved ones attention...Jealousy! but who doesn't love a book that has twist and turns and ups and downs. I absolutely loved this and can't wait to see what else the Vandergraffs get into.
March 12, 2015
I didn't like this book as much as the first book in The December People Series but it's still a good book. A girl has gone missing in the hot Houston summer, and some members of the Vandergraff family feel connected to the disappearance somehow. They're all learning about their magical powers as witches and wizards. Who can they trust? Who should they hate? You have to read the book to find out.
March 13, 2016
I liked this one better than the first installment in Sharon Bayliss’ The December People. It felt more focused and had more mystery to it, and best of all, more exploration of the variety of magic and wizard types.
We’re immediately brought back in to an odd forgetfulness and obsession with a missing person that has affected David Vandergraff, and while this may seem familiar to those who read Book 1, which David himself comments on to his known-to-be manipulative wife, it also becomes more complicated and significant as the plot continues on, affecting other wizards as well. At first, it might seem his wife is playing her head games with David again, and David is trying to play hero in the same way as the last book, but it is basically set up for a bigger clash with opposing powers. It’s paced well and is pretty fun to follow how the family falls apart this time. We also get repercussions from the last book clearly affecting the characters, so that linkage is another strong point of Book 2.
The deeper exploration of the magic system and the world of wizards was nice. We get a better taste of all sides of the spectrum, with wizards from all seasons involved, and much more than just the brief experience with summer wizards we had in the first book. It’s great to have wizards who are normal people, not exaggerated or made overly epic, complicated and human and real, and I think I could really see what Sharon Bayliss is trying to do there. I want more of that.
Honestly, I wish the book was longer, so we could explore the world building here in more depth, but the book is more interested in keeping the pace moving forward. That would be main complaint, that we are not allowed many moments to digress from the plot and spend some longer moments with these interesting relationships and characters. Especially when it comes to the tensions between clashing seasons of wizards, I wanted to see more of their lives and struggles with both the magical and non-magical.
Still, despite that complaint of mine, it is a solid book and perfect in audio form. I have read some fantasy that divulges into more world building exploration that I love, but they are not enjoyable in audio form because they require some re-reading and extra work to fully grasp. This is not such a book. So, my recommendation is that you grab this series in audio, and leave the longer, meatier fantasy for paperback.
We’re immediately brought back in to an odd forgetfulness and obsession with a missing person that has affected David Vandergraff, and while this may seem familiar to those who read Book 1, which David himself comments on to his known-to-be manipulative wife, it also becomes more complicated and significant as the plot continues on, affecting other wizards as well. At first, it might seem his wife is playing her head games with David again, and David is trying to play hero in the same way as the last book, but it is basically set up for a bigger clash with opposing powers. It’s paced well and is pretty fun to follow how the family falls apart this time. We also get repercussions from the last book clearly affecting the characters, so that linkage is another strong point of Book 2.
The deeper exploration of the magic system and the world of wizards was nice. We get a better taste of all sides of the spectrum, with wizards from all seasons involved, and much more than just the brief experience with summer wizards we had in the first book. It’s great to have wizards who are normal people, not exaggerated or made overly epic, complicated and human and real, and I think I could really see what Sharon Bayliss is trying to do there. I want more of that.
Honestly, I wish the book was longer, so we could explore the world building here in more depth, but the book is more interested in keeping the pace moving forward. That would be main complaint, that we are not allowed many moments to digress from the plot and spend some longer moments with these interesting relationships and characters. Especially when it comes to the tensions between clashing seasons of wizards, I wanted to see more of their lives and struggles with both the magical and non-magical.
Still, despite that complaint of mine, it is a solid book and perfect in audio form. I have read some fantasy that divulges into more world building exploration that I love, but they are not enjoyable in audio form because they require some re-reading and extra work to fully grasp. This is not such a book. So, my recommendation is that you grab this series in audio, and leave the longer, meatier fantasy for paperback.
May 6, 2018
This is a review for the complete series. I really expected to like this series more than I did, but I didn’t; even though I picked it up several times hoping that I’d discover that it was just timing, but that didn’t happen. It’s not that the writing is not good, it is, the story is engaging and the story-building is good I just didn’t care for it.
In the first book, we are introduced to David who is married to a woman he loves very much with three children who find his perfect life come crashing down when the woman with whom he had an affair dies and he has to take custody of the two teenage children, a son and daughter from that relationship. He has all the troubles that readers would expect from this situation with both families and more than he thought possible. While the two new children know they witches and wizards, David has no idea that he and the rest of the family are also. He wasn’t the only one keeping secrets. Due To the subject matter in this series I think it is only for mature readers 18 & up.
3/5 STARS
BOOK 2: After the events of the previous book we find David trying to cope with being a dark wizard and when he begins to research the disappearance to a missing girl he gets more than he bargained for. This book introduces new characters and isn’t as dark as the first one until you almost at the end, then there are descriptions of torture that I found extreme and gratuitous and I thought the ending was rushed. Once again, I know the author can write; it’s her execution and content that I don’t like. 2.25/5 STARS
BOOK 3: I found the plot of this one forced and one-dimensional. What hooked me into this series besides the plot description were the beautiful covers, unfortunately the content wasn’t as good as the covers. 2/5 STARS
2.25/5 STARS (Entire Series): **I want to thank the author and/or publisher for providing me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are mine**
In the first book, we are introduced to David who is married to a woman he loves very much with three children who find his perfect life come crashing down when the woman with whom he had an affair dies and he has to take custody of the two teenage children, a son and daughter from that relationship. He has all the troubles that readers would expect from this situation with both families and more than he thought possible. While the two new children know they witches and wizards, David has no idea that he and the rest of the family are also. He wasn’t the only one keeping secrets. Due To the subject matter in this series I think it is only for mature readers 18 & up.
3/5 STARS
BOOK 2: After the events of the previous book we find David trying to cope with being a dark wizard and when he begins to research the disappearance to a missing girl he gets more than he bargained for. This book introduces new characters and isn’t as dark as the first one until you almost at the end, then there are descriptions of torture that I found extreme and gratuitous and I thought the ending was rushed. Once again, I know the author can write; it’s her execution and content that I don’t like. 2.25/5 STARS
BOOK 3: I found the plot of this one forced and one-dimensional. What hooked me into this series besides the plot description were the beautiful covers, unfortunately the content wasn’t as good as the covers. 2/5 STARS
2.25/5 STARS (Entire Series): **I want to thank the author and/or publisher for providing me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are mine**
July 4, 2016
As with Book 1, Destruction, Watch Me Burn continues with the dark writing style. The pace was a little slower than the first book, but it wasn’t so slow that you felt bored. The world continues a little while following the ending of Destruction, and with that, we continue with a new set of events that pull the characters into further development with each other.
There is a continuation with the trigger warning I discussed in Book 1’s review. The characters discuss the rape, but it isn’t something new to the storyline.
I fell like there wasn’t as much darkness. With their newly found magic, we get to see more experiments and events that show the winter in them. They begin to branch out and new characters emerge to bring ALOT of suspense and thrills.
The climax at the end was also pushed a little too fast. As soon as the fight gets going, it just ends. I’m not sure if that was something the author wanted to play on later in the series or if it just wasn’t as important as we would think it would be to the story. Either way, it definitely put me in a “whaaat” kind-of moment.
Overall, I enjoyed diving right into this book immediately after Destruction. When I put the two books side by side, this book contained a few more dull moments, but the ending had me in suspense. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. I haven’t read very many books that used as much darkness throughout the story and writing as much as this series has, but I really found myself enjoying it.
The characters dive more into the two seasonal versions of their power, and they struggle to stay on the right side. ALOT of accidents take place. Every few chapters someone was in the hospital due to some crazy stunt.
The series as a whole flows nicely together so far, and the character development continues to progress. It’ll be fun to see what is in store for Book 3.
There is a continuation with the trigger warning I discussed in Book 1’s review. The characters discuss the rape, but it isn’t something new to the storyline.
I fell like there wasn’t as much darkness. With their newly found magic, we get to see more experiments and events that show the winter in them. They begin to branch out and new characters emerge to bring ALOT of suspense and thrills.
The climax at the end was also pushed a little too fast. As soon as the fight gets going, it just ends. I’m not sure if that was something the author wanted to play on later in the series or if it just wasn’t as important as we would think it would be to the story. Either way, it definitely put me in a “whaaat” kind-of moment.
Overall, I enjoyed diving right into this book immediately after Destruction. When I put the two books side by side, this book contained a few more dull moments, but the ending had me in suspense. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. I haven’t read very many books that used as much darkness throughout the story and writing as much as this series has, but I really found myself enjoying it.
The characters dive more into the two seasonal versions of their power, and they struggle to stay on the right side. ALOT of accidents take place. Every few chapters someone was in the hospital due to some crazy stunt.
The series as a whole flows nicely together so far, and the character development continues to progress. It’ll be fun to see what is in store for Book 3.
June 11, 2015
In this the second book of The December People author Sharon Bayliss continues the journey of the Vandergraffs. As they learn to live life more simply, in a less extravagant way. David finds that he is enjoying spending more time with his kids. But it seems that someone has been using magic to draw him into the case of a missing girl.
Julie, a girl the same age as Emmy, went missing after stopping at a gas station with her brother Nathan. She is from a family of Summer wizards/witches and everyone in town is doing whatever they can to find her. So it is no surprise to Amanda, David's wife, that he is seeing flyers and billboards all over of Julie. Though he knows it's more than that drawing him to the case. He becomes almost obsessed with scouring the internet in search of any clues that would lead him to find her.
The heat turns up though when Evangeline Vandergraff goes missing as well. It seems that their might be more to what is going on than the Mundanes realize. Now it has become very personal for David. He fears the worst and only hopes that he can find her in time. As he and the rest of the family search for the missing Vandergraff, many secrets start to come to the surface. It seems that the truth may be even worse than fiction.
This was a great read, but if you have not yet read Destruction I suggest you start there. I truly hope SB will write another because I just can not get enough!!!
Julie, a girl the same age as Emmy, went missing after stopping at a gas station with her brother Nathan. She is from a family of Summer wizards/witches and everyone in town is doing whatever they can to find her. So it is no surprise to Amanda, David's wife, that he is seeing flyers and billboards all over of Julie. Though he knows it's more than that drawing him to the case. He becomes almost obsessed with scouring the internet in search of any clues that would lead him to find her.
The heat turns up though when Evangeline Vandergraff goes missing as well. It seems that their might be more to what is going on than the Mundanes realize. Now it has become very personal for David. He fears the worst and only hopes that he can find her in time. As he and the rest of the family search for the missing Vandergraff, many secrets start to come to the surface. It seems that the truth may be even worse than fiction.
This was a great read, but if you have not yet read Destruction I suggest you start there. I truly hope SB will write another because I just can not get enough!!!
December 6, 2015
"Watch Me Burn" is book two in the December People series by Sharon Bayliss. It follows the Vandergraff family and their assimilation into their true selves, wizards. In this book a girl goes missing that Emmy went to Volleyball camp with and David seems to see her face everywhere. It also turns out that Julie is a Summer wizard, and that makes this all the more complicated. Julie's family, the Prescotts, seem bound and determined to destroy the Vandergraffs and all they stand for, but why? The truth reveals itself and is even more sinister that can be imagined.
I love this series and that it has brought wizardry into the modern world in a way that makes you question your world and how you see it as a Mundane. There also seems to be some morals that come into question and lots of family dynamics that lead people on the path to destruction. I highly recommend this young adult series if you're into the paranormal or believe in magic or sorcery.
I bought a paperback at a book event, but here's a link to Amazon for the ebook:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Q...
I love this series and that it has brought wizardry into the modern world in a way that makes you question your world and how you see it as a Mundane. There also seems to be some morals that come into question and lots of family dynamics that lead people on the path to destruction. I highly recommend this young adult series if you're into the paranormal or believe in magic or sorcery.
I bought a paperback at a book event, but here's a link to Amazon for the ebook:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Q...
June 14, 2015
Intense and dark. I really love the gritty fantasy world Ms. Bayliss represents with her December people series. I always appreciate when a fantasy book manages to ask hard questions about the realities of human nature and our choices. What makes us who we are? Is it what we were born with or what we choose to do with it? I enjoyed both this and the first in this series and will definitely buy book 3 as soon as it is out!
September 20, 2015
Received a copy for my honest review
If you haven't read the first book in the series I recommend you read that first. This book isn't quite a standalone. There are details in the first book you need to know for this book to make sense.
I love the characters in this book. The whole story line is great. With the changing povs it did leave me a little confused at times. But overall a really great read
If you haven't read the first book in the series I recommend you read that first. This book isn't quite a standalone. There are details in the first book you need to know for this book to make sense.
I love the characters in this book. The whole story line is great. With the changing povs it did leave me a little confused at times. But overall a really great read
November 17, 2015
I enjoyed these two books more than I had expected to. I got it for free on BookBub in a Kindle version and I liked it so much I wanted to add it to my collection so I bought both in paperback on Amazon. I sort of wish there was a third so we could see how things all panned out for David, Amanda and the rest of the family. Having such cool powers, I'd think there's much more adventure to be had. ;)
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