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Charmed #15

Oscura venganza

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Las Embrujadas están fuera de sí. Phoebe añora a Cole, que se ha ido una semana para reflexionar. Piper está agobiada por todo lo que tiene que hacer en casa, como bruja y en el P3, el club nocturno que regenta. Paige todavía se está acostumbrando a su papel de salvadora de los inocentes y está extremadamente sensibilizada con el sufrimiento humano.Al cabo de poco tiempo, Piper empieza a distraerse con unos jóvenes músicos que quieren tocar en el P3, Phoebe inicia una amistad con una compañera de su clase de diseño de páginas web y Paige se entretiene con la gente que va conociendo en el refugio para gente sin hogar al que acude como voluntaria. Sin embargo, no pasará mucho tiempo antes de que las chicas descubran que una fuerza siniestra está trabajando en su contra; Phoebe no consigue recordar las cosas que acaban de ocurrirle, Piper es incapaz de controlar sus emociones y Paige se siente muy, muy cansada.

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

6 people are currently reading
961 people want to read

About the author

Diana G. Gallagher

156 books54 followers
Diana G. Gallagher was an American author who wrote books for children and young adults. She also wrote the space opera The Alien Dark (1990), but was best known for her tie-in work for television properties including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Charmed, Star Trek and The Secret World of Alex Mack, among others.

She was also a prolific filk creator, winning Pegasus Awards in 1986 and ’94. Gallagher won a Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist in 1988 under the name Diana Gallagher Wu. She sometimes also wrote under the name Diana Burke.

Born in 1946, in Paterson, New Jersey, she lived in Florida with her husband, the writer Martin R. Burke, who predeceased her in 2011. Gallagher was married four times; her third marriage was to author William F. Wu (divorced 1990).

Gallagher died December 2, 2021 of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 75 years of age.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Bobby Underwood.
Author 143 books352 followers
January 31, 2018
“We’re in big trouble aren’t we?” — Phoebe

“Yes.” — Piper

“There’s nobody but us standing between this world and one where evil rules.” — Paige


Most of the Charmed books I’ve read which were penned by Diana Gallagher are pretty good, and this one is no exception. She really captures the feel of the show in Dark Vengeance, which despite the ominous title has many lighthearted moments. The story was excellent for a “based on” book and fit very well with the mood and atmosphere of the fun series. It might have been nice if there had been a bit more of Cole in this one, but other than a minor caveat where the author a couple of times mistakenly indicated the wrong sister within a swiftly moving scene, there’s very little to complain about and much to enjoy.

Cole is dealing with the loss of his demon half, Belthazor, and trying to adjust to being human as this one opens. He’s taking a sabbatical to fish and figure out his new life, leaving Phoebe to pursue new web design classes as she tries to find a vocation which won’t interfere with all her duties saving innocents. There still exists some friction — not to mention suspicion — of Cole by Paige, because of the whole Phoebe-not-telling-anyone-about-Cole’s “other” side initially.

Meanwhile, the newest Charmed One is supplementing her regular job by helping Doug Wilson at the homeless shelter. Paige has become attached to Stanley Addison and she is attempting to get the older man into a permanent home of his own. Piper on the other hand, is stressing about bills and her workload between home and P-3. Things are about to get a little weird for all of them, however. Piper gets the giggles after handing a flute to the band she’s auditioning for P-3. Paige suddenly feels exhausted after a new shelter worker named Kevin with whom she feels a spark accidentally touches her with his cane. And Phoebe goes for a cup of coffee after class with a female student and when she comes into contact with the girl’s bracelet, she gets a vision, and feels woozy.

Back home there’s more amusing trouble, with a mischievous gremlin in the plumbing that Leo can’t seem to get rid of. Suddenly minor annoyances like Phoebe’s sudden short-term memory loss become a full-blown worry when each of the Charmed Ones loses some of her power. Phoebe can barely levitate, Piper can’t freeze things, and Paige can only sort-of-kind-of orb things. What’s going on?

We find out quickly, along with the sisters, that it all has to do with an old battle between the Sol´agath clan of good witches and the Dor´chacht clan of evil magic in which the Charmed Ones’ descendants won. But now, thanks to hiding their magic, the bad guys are planning round two. Soon, whether they like it or not, the sisters will be transported to the Valley of Ages to battle their counterparts. But their foes have found a way to diminish the power of the Halliwell sisters, thereby ensuring a different outcome this time. Leo explains the gravity should the sisters lose the battle:

“And since there will be no benevolent magic or Charmed Ones to protect the innocent, humanity will ultimately succumb to the influences of evil and embrace the darker side of human nature.”

I kept thinking Cole would return early from his fishing trip and affect the outcome somehow, but it played out differently. It was very well done, both on the domestic side and the magical solution side. Even Leo’s belated answer to the gremlin problem was quite fun. Dark Vengeance felt very much like a good episode of the series, and was well written and executed. Save for that final scene in the Valley of Ages, this one had more of a domestic vibe with the personal life of the Halliwells front and center. There was a lot of nice interaction and it felt like a short novel rather than just a slight story put together to cash in on the popularity of the series. Very enjoyable for fans, a nice way to revisit the popular series.
Profile Image for Rianne Heartfilia.
500 reviews29 followers
March 12, 2017
This story was definitely not my cup of tea. It was not interesting if you ask me and I am very glad it is over and I can continue on.

The mistakes about which sister was were became quite annoying. Especially when it was for example Paige that was written down but it had to be Piper and Paige wasn't even in the whole scene.

The cover theory for this one is a no go since all three of them were the victim. Which is a possibility since they are all almost on the same level but than again Phoebe is still up front.
Profile Image for Tommy Verhaegen.
2,980 reviews5 followers
December 26, 2025
Een zoveelste foto van de 3 - weliswaar mooie - dames die de hoofdpersonages uit het boek vertolken in de tv-serie waar het boek van afgeleid is. Op de achtergrond iets onduidelijks maar wel dreigend.
Daarmee pas de cover perfect in de reeks en zal het onmiddellijk de aandacht van de liefhebbers trekken.
De drie zusjes zitten, elk omwille van een andere reden, in een dipje. Op dezelfde dag verandert dat. Ze ontmoeten elk een persoon die daar verandering in brengt. Maar dat is slechts van korte duur.
Phoebe gaat op computercursus maar verliest haar korte-termijn geheugen. Paige trekt zich het lot aan van een dakloze oude man en kan plots haar ogen niet meer open houden. Piper neemt een nieuwe band in dienst voor P3 en verliest de controle over haar emoties.
Toch vinden ze geen spoor van demonische inmenging, ook niet als Leo De Wijzen raadpleegt.
Als ze merken dat hun krachten (met een derde) verminderd zijn worden ze echt ongerust. Zeker nadat er bij Paige en Phoebe na enige tijd opnieuw een derde verdwijnt. Ondertussen hebben ze via heel veel logisch speurwerk en combinaties van heel erg onduidelijke aanwijzingen toch kunnen deduceren wat er aan de hand is. Het lot van de hele mensheid staat op het spel.
Een belangrijk eerste deel van het boek is dan ook aangename lektuur over het huiselijke leven van de meisjes, hun bezigheden en kibbelarijen. De lezer merkt veel sneller dan de meisjes zelf wat er aan de hand is en leeft dan ook mee als ze voor een schier onmogelijke opdracht staan, waarbij ze het ook nog eens moeten doen zonder een belangrijk deel van hun krachten. En dat wanneer de De Macht van Drie broodnodig is. Het wordt zelfs echt grappig als de schrijfser verhaalt hoe de meisjes hun beperking trachten tegen te gaan. Phoebe stopt alles in haar nieuwe laptop zodat die in plaats van haar falende geheugen kan gebruiken, Piper lacht aanvankelijk continu en huilt later constant, Paige slaapt terwijl Piper er alles aan doet om haar wakker te houden.
Op dat moment verandert het verhaal ook van het leuke naar het gewone griezelige vol aktie.
Een ingenieuze plot en een bijzonder zwaar onderwerp dat door de schrijfster weer in haar postieve, haast luchthartige stijl gebracht wordt - dat maakt het weer erg vlot leesbaar en zeker geen zware kost. Het grootste deel van de beschikbare pagina's wordt besteed aan de tijd die de meisjes samen doorbrengen, een ander deel zal ze individueel volgen en de contacten met de vertegenwoordigers van het Kwaad illustreren, een kleiner deel geeft de samenkomsten van de drie kwade krachten weeer en het laaste stuk gaat over de strijd tussen goed en kwaad die na 3000 jaar onderbreking hernomen wordt.
Uiteraard is er weer sprake van heel veel spanning, een flinke dosis humor en, enkel bij Paige deze keer, wat romantiek.
Als het boek naar zijn climax toeloopt komen er toch ook enkele onwaarschijnlijkheden in het verhaal naar voren, dat stoort een beetje maar doet niets af aan de leesbaarheid of het leesplezier.
Wat blijft hangen is dat zelfs in een waterdicht systeem toch nog achterpoortjes te vinden zijn... al werkt dat naar twee kanten.
Profile Image for Tamara Van dishoeck.
1,356 reviews5 followers
September 10, 2016
Weer een boekje over the charmed ones. Dit boekje las weer weg als een aflevering van de tv-serie.
Profile Image for Courtney Gruenholz.
Author 13 books24 followers
July 9, 2025
Rounded up to 3 stars.

Though not canon, set in Season 4 after Cole has lost his demon powers and become human.

Still hard to read scenes with Cole but his part is minimal in the story.

Since her newly human boyfriend is going to take some "me" time going away, Phoebe tries her hand at taking classes on Web Design at the college where she was going to the past seasons. Another instance of Phoebe trying to find a job to help out.

Paige is still working her social worker job but has recently started volunteering at a homeless shelter/soup kitchen. She is fixated on getting housing for one particular older gentleman there named Stanley.

Piper is busy being oldest sister, P3 manager and starting to get a little overworked despite Leo and Phoebe offering to help.

The back of the book spoils a few things, so I don't mind doing it too.

Piper auditions a band called With a Vengeance to play at her club and the leader of the band is a blonde woman named Karen. They play Celtic rock music and Karen plays the flute.

Phoebe meets a girl named Kate in her class and she is blonde and wears an old Celtic bracelet.

Paige meets a guy named Kevin at the shelter. He is blond and carries around a silver cane with a Celtic design on it.

Piper starts feeling extremely giddy one day and then bawling her eyes out the next day while her freezing powers only cause slow motion. Phoebe starts losing her short-term memory that she cannot see visions and remember them until it begins to diminish her long-term memories as well.

Poor Paige can barely stay awake and when she tries to orb an object to her, it is delayed and then destroyed. Leo goes to the Elders to find out information, but they have no idea what is going on with The Charmed Ones or their powers. The Book of Shadows mentions an evil trinity will awaken and need champions of virtue to defend the world.

Three thousand years ago, Halliwell ancestors fought against an ancient Celtic clan and the last of them are Karen, Kevin and Kate.

Evil Power of Three and eventually, Charmed the show did it better.

A few aspects of the story I like but it is easy to figure out who is behind the magical mischief way too early. Another plot thread weaved into the story that makes no sense here but is done better come Season 6 is...gremlins.

Yes, Gremlins and not the movie ones but the tear apart plane ones who are going after the Halliwell Manor plumbing. It is only one and Piper in her mood swing decides to name it Gilbert.

(beat)

Dark Vengeance is anything but an apt title for this book.
Profile Image for Christy Roberts.
1,511 reviews49 followers
September 13, 2022
These three people Karen, Kate, and Kevin are draining the sisters' powers to get vengeance on an ancient battle that their people was supposed to lose however they cheated. And now these three are back to finish taking their magical objects and draining the sisters powers with each touch part of their power is taken away.

Phoebe is losing her memory as well as her powers, Paige can't stay awake, Piper is emotional on top her powers going. First can't stop laughing then crying. She figures it out though seeing Phoebe and Paige both get hit with the nagov drain in one evening at the manor.

On top all this there is also a gremlin wrecking havoc on them. Leo and the elders don't know a lot because of the way they are basically human instead of their old evil selves.

When they get transported to the battle area Paige comes up with a solution and Phoebe had some how remember something long enough to write it down earlier. Their ancestors were Dor'chacht and the bad ones were Shen'arch who cheated death and Cole said the underworld wasn't happy

I really loved how they remembered by end they still had their wits when all seemed lost. At times it did get annoying and repetitive about Phoebe not remembering. Other than that loved this.
Profile Image for Leanne Graham.
115 reviews1 follower
May 1, 2021
Yet another amazing Charmed story I wish we could have seen on screen but also thrilled we get so many stories that almost feel secret to be shared with only us bookworms.

I loved the contrast of this one, not having your classic monster/demon of the week as the antagonist, instead our ‘baddies’ were an evil trio who let’s face it, clearly knew they were no match for the sisters at full power, hence the need to strip of them of 75% of them before they could bare to face them in battle.

The absence of Cole was very convenient in this one, as mentioned in the final chapter, his underworld knowledge would have taken out a lot of the lead up to the battle and the suspense of not knowing who they were up against.

Great final battle as always, loved that Paige was the one to figure it all out and just shows the Power of Three are so much more than their powers.
Profile Image for Georgi Velkov.
Author 1 book
February 13, 2022
A good stand-alone story with my favourite witches. However, I found Piper's change of emotions quite lame. I know it was part of the plot, but TV show Piper would have somehow overcome this. I did like that Cole was missing almost the entire time (I don't really like him :D). Paige struggling to stay awake and Phoebe forgetting everything was hilarious :D
I did notice some mistakes in the book such as the author showing the scene through Piper's POV, but had written down Paige instead. There was some head-hopping occasionally - that doesn't usually bother me, it's just something that I've noticed in a chapter or two. Overall, a good read, but Piper is stronger than the way she was portrayed here. Hence why, three stars for this book from me.
Profile Image for Petra Schweiger.
166 reviews1 follower
January 7, 2021
Ein gutes Buch über die Zauberhaften. Die verzauberung der Drei wurde gut beschrieben und dargestellt, auch blieb es immer spannend mit gelegentlichem Witz, wenn man den maroden Zustand der Schwestern bedenkt. Während Phoebe scheinbar an Demenz erkrankt ist und alles Vergisst, wird Piper von Heul - und Lachanfällen geplagt, Paige hingegen ist unendlich müde und so wurschteln sich die drei durch den Alltag und versuchen das Rätsel um diesen Zustand zu lösen und das möglichst noch bevor der Feind zuschlägt.
Profile Image for Cala.
124 reviews15 followers
January 31, 2024
"Slow orb, short freeze and memory loss", Piper said. P.57

The Halliwell witches have to battle great evil AND a gremlin infestation without being able to rely on their powerful magical abilities.

Hilarious and entertaining just like an episode on the show.

"Gilbert!" Piper gasped. "Whos gilbert?" Paige asked. "Piper named the gremlin,"Leo explained. S.85
10 reviews
September 22, 2020
Ik ben een super groot fan van de televisie serie, maar ik weet niet zeker wat ik vind van dit boek. Ik had misschien niet moeten beginnen bij het vijfde boek, maar ik vond het verhaal heel voorspelbaar.
Profile Image for Daniela Niehues.
16 reviews
April 27, 2025
in diesem buch ging es um alte mächte und gewonheiten und wie man sie nutzen kann in dem hier und jetzt. was mich aber etwas gestört hat das es hier und da lang atmig war und deswegen "nur" 4 sterne. ansonsten war und ist das buch als solche ganz gut.
Profile Image for Alyce Caswell.
Author 18 books20 followers
May 6, 2022
I found this one to be a bit of a snooze - with apologies to Paige! ;)
623 reviews12 followers
October 8, 2022
I love the Charmed series and this book does not disappoint.
A quick read, a great plot and amazing characters. I recommend.
Profile Image for Jay DeMoir.
Author 25 books77 followers
August 2, 2023
Bland and a little wacky. The characterization felt off, too. The premise was promising but this disappointed me greatly
Profile Image for Sophia Aouichaoui.
241 reviews
July 29, 2024
I love these Charmed stories!!
Having loved the TV series, I'm really enjoying making my way through these series.
Profile Image for Maud.
771 reviews191 followers
May 13, 2012
Somehow, I didn't like this book from the beginning until almost the ending. The Charmed ones were kinda boring because of what was going on and it was only from the point at which they knew what was going on that I began to actually enjoy it. To bad but the ending was nice and other Charmed books are still to come and I think/hope that lots of them will be more fun then this one was at the beginning.
Profile Image for Melissa T.
616 reviews30 followers
July 28, 2011
This read just like an episode, and since I'm a big fan of the show, I have to say I really liked it.
Profile Image for Gwen.
155 reviews
January 2, 2015
Like all the other Charmed novels, a great book, and just as good as the actual show.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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