Brewing Evil: A Witch is Born

Brewing Evil #1

by Carol Gardarsson

Lost in the prairies, a dying Icelandic woman is found clutching her infant daughter, Eliza. To save Eliza's life, she feeds the baby her own blood. Now the child is branded a witch by those who find her. Set against a harsh Manitoba landscape in the late 1800s, this is a story about survival in a place and time where every day is a challenge - a place where, behind the mask of friendship, unrelenting evil may be brewing.

Eliza's persecutors use superstition as their weapon to defeat her. She must use her intuition and her growing inner strength. In spite of her desperate isolation, Eliza finds love - only to realize that even that will come with a price.

She has already lost her past. Will she now lose her future?

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. It is book #1 in the Brewing Evil trilogy. It was enjoyable and at times hard to put down because I just HAD to know what was coming next. I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada so I liked the fact that it was written about Manitoba. I look forward to reading the next book. A good read that I would recommend - enjoy!

[Jenny Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole series is well worth the read! This series was written by my mother Carol and I may be a little biased but she really poured her heart and soul into this series. She researched the period and local folklore about the “witch” and that is how the series began. Mom passed away from cancer but she will always live on in the pages of this series - her legacy. Enjoy the story!

[Unnur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Þessi kom á óvart. Þetta er góð saga um landnema í Manitoba. Ég veit ekki hvort búið er að þýða fleiri bækur í þessum þriggja bóka flokki en ef svo er þá verð ég endilega að lesa þær. Bókin hentar unglingum vel.

[Amy Cousineau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the type of book that once you start it, you can't put it down. Each book in the series is equally as enchanting. I thoroughly enjoyed all of them and have read them more than once. Such a brilliant author. She truly will be missed, but dearly remembered for her brilliant work.

[Kona Kowalski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't JUST read the first book in the series, A Witch is Born, I devoured it! I was absolutely thrilled that the second book in the series, Deadly Spells, picked right up where the first book ended. Although there were enough clues dropped in the beginning of book two so if you hadn't read book one you could understand the history of the story, they were so cleverly done that if you'd already read the first book you weren't annoyed at the interruption in the story line. That gives the author bonus points in my opinion!
Book two, Deadly Spells, grabs your interest with the first sentence and, like Harry Potter falling into Tom Riddle's journal, pulls the reader into an early Manitoba filled with events and characters so real you find yourself laughing and crying right along with them. Throughout the story, you're teased into thinking you know what's going to happen and WHOOSH! the author pulls your expectations out from under you and thrills you with almost Sherlockian revelations. From the first page to the last, the reader is spellbound with the story, the characters and the setting. The books are so easy to read, you might be lulled into thinking they're simple, but nothing could be farther from the truth. The action, adventure, drama, history, emotion and realistic dialogue keep you turning the pages long past bedtime, so beware! Because when the last page is read, you'll wipe your brow and reach for the next one. I finished reading Deadly Spells and began the next book in the series, Dark Forces, the same day. While A Witch is Born and Deadly Spells took my breath away and kept me turning pages, the third book in the series, Dark Forces, had me laughing, crying and even shouting at the characters! And I wasn't the only reader who reacted like that - I've talked to a dozen other people who felt the same way! What an incredible series!!! I can't wait until Brewing Evil: The Book of Petur comes out!

[Kona Kowalski · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing series - couldn't put it down. Started reading the first book, A Witch is Born, after supper one night and when I finally looked at the clock it was 5 am and I had to work at 7 :30 am!!! I bought the second and third book in the series as soon as I finished the first one. The characters were so real I felt I knew them and the story seemed to tease me: just when I thought I knew what was going to happen there was a twist that gave me the same thrill as a roller coaster ride! I've spoken to several others who've read this series and they all say the same thing - this has GOT to be made into a movie! This is REAL Canadiana - read the books and you'll know exactly what it was like to live in the late 1800s in Manitoba. The book is perfectly balanced - one of those rare books that appeals to both men and women although it is listed as young adult. I'm anxiously waiting for the next book in the series to come out!!! My book club loved it!

[Dan Kowalski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Bravo, Bravo,to the athur of these
book the creativeness that must of gone into these books. And the entire series of book could not be better to read. I enjoyed reading all of these book. I would like to thank the athur for writing these great great books

Bravo,Bravo, we all love you Carol Great Job !!!

[Dan Kowalski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because a friend was reading it and said she really thought it was great book. A she was right on I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed reading this book a very good book by a new author. I look forward to the next book

[Jóhanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Líkaði hún vel og vil lesa meira