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Horngate Witches #4
Le Cercle Des Sorcieres T04: Un Hiver de Sang
Nouveau jeu, meme elle se bat, ils meurent. Max accompli toujours sa mission, cela a toujours ete ainsi depuis qu'elle a ete mise en esclavage par une sorciere et transformee en guerriere surnaturelle pour assurer la protection du cercle des sorcieres. Mais sa mission va se compliquer...Des vagues de magie ont renvoye le monde a un temps ou les legendes etaient bien reelles et les dangers qu'ils incarnaient se tapissent desormais dans l'ombre. Alors que l'hiver arrive, les ressources deviennent plus dures a trouver et de nombreuses personnes se tournent vers Benjamin Sterling pour se mettre sous sa protection. Le chef du culte de la Terre pretend etre la main de Dieu, mais son pouvoir et son charisme proviennent d'une source plus malefique. Arme de ses fervents partisans prets a tout pour accomplir ses volontes, Sterling tourne son regard vers Horngate, le cercle des sorcieres de Max. Pour sauver les siens, Max devra volontairement se laisser capturer, mais lorsque les cultistes de Sterling vont mettre son ame a nue, tout son monde va basculer. Et si elle perd tout, que lui importe de pouvoir controler le monde entier ?"
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 26, 2012
34 people are currently reading
1283 people want to read
About the author
Diana Pharaoh Francis
44 books760 followersI was raised on a cattle ranch in Northern California (outside a town called Lincoln which is now part of an enormous sprawl). I taught myself to ride a horse at the age of six, as no one had the time to teach me—they were all busy learning how to irrigate, how to cajole an angry bull into another field, how to pull a calf… Afraid of heights, and absolutely sure I was going to die, I managed to scramble up on the back of a very patient and lazy strawberry roan destrier, and plod off into the sunset.
Thereafter, I spent much of my early life on horseback, or so far buried into a book that the rest of the world ceased to exist (much to the annoyance of my family—it took several attempts to get my attention). We all had very specific jobs on the ranch and mine was horses and cattle—out rounding up at dawn. And since I rode bareback, my standing request was to wake me up 5 minutes before everyone else headed for the barn—time enough to dress and eat my Wheaties, and no sleep time wasted on saddling.
After high school, I attended college after college, racking up a BA and MA in creative writing and a Ph.D. in literature and theory. My very patient and supportive husband traipsed across the Midwest and back to Montana for me (though my husband insists that he’s been running and hiding and I just keep finding him), where I now teach at the University of Montana-Western. We also a son Q-ball, who in our humbly unbiased opinions, is the most wonderful son ever produced, and a daughter, Princess Caesar, who is the most wonderful daughter ever produced.
I have a fascination for the Victorians, weather, geology, horses, plants and mythology, I like spicy food, chocolate and cheesecake, and I have an odd sense of humor. (Or so I’ve been told. Often.) Incidentally, the Pharaoh is in fact my real name, and oddly enough, is of British origin.
Some of my current favorite sf/f writers are Ilona Andrews, Carol Berg, C.E. Murphy, Patty Briggs, Lynn Flewelling, Rachel Caine, David Coe, and Anne Bishop.
Thereafter, I spent much of my early life on horseback, or so far buried into a book that the rest of the world ceased to exist (much to the annoyance of my family—it took several attempts to get my attention). We all had very specific jobs on the ranch and mine was horses and cattle—out rounding up at dawn. And since I rode bareback, my standing request was to wake me up 5 minutes before everyone else headed for the barn—time enough to dress and eat my Wheaties, and no sleep time wasted on saddling.
After high school, I attended college after college, racking up a BA and MA in creative writing and a Ph.D. in literature and theory. My very patient and supportive husband traipsed across the Midwest and back to Montana for me (though my husband insists that he’s been running and hiding and I just keep finding him), where I now teach at the University of Montana-Western. We also a son Q-ball, who in our humbly unbiased opinions, is the most wonderful son ever produced, and a daughter, Princess Caesar, who is the most wonderful daughter ever produced.
I have a fascination for the Victorians, weather, geology, horses, plants and mythology, I like spicy food, chocolate and cheesecake, and I have an odd sense of humor. (Or so I’ve been told. Often.) Incidentally, the Pharaoh is in fact my real name, and oddly enough, is of British origin.
Some of my current favorite sf/f writers are Ilona Andrews, Carol Berg, C.E. Murphy, Patty Briggs, Lynn Flewelling, Rachel Caine, David Coe, and Anne Bishop.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
January 13, 2013
2.5
I'm disappointed. (tears) Suffering years of torture and conditioning, this did not feel like the ending Max was destined to have. Blood Winter was hard for me to get through. The pacing was uneven with overly descriptive narrative. The relationship issues between Max and Alexander, with all the repetitive internal angst sessions, wore on my nerves. I'm not sure how it was suppose contribute to the development, as their issues had been addressed in previous books. The secondary characters seemed to serve no function other than to react to the Shadowblades' Prime.
I've mentioned this already, but there was a lot of repetition, which unusual for Francis. Also , something happens to max and it seemed unnecessary. Why?!!! There were times the humor felt cheesy. Why? Why? Why?!!! I feel cheated. This might be a 3 star book, but I'm left with a 2 star feeling. *sobs*
Witches Book 4
Publication Date: December 26, 2012
Blurb
Copied from
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451...
I'm disappointed. (tears) Suffering years of torture and conditioning, this did not feel like the ending Max was destined to have. Blood Winter was hard for me to get through. The pacing was uneven with overly descriptive narrative. The relationship issues between Max and Alexander, with all the repetitive internal angst sessions, wore on my nerves. I'm not sure how it was suppose contribute to the development, as their issues had been addressed in previous books. The secondary characters seemed to serve no function other than to react to the Shadowblades' Prime.
I've mentioned this already, but there was a lot of repetition, which unusual for Francis. Also , something happens to max and it seemed unnecessary. Why?!!! There were times the humor felt cheesy. Why? Why? Why?!!! I feel cheated. This might be a 3 star book, but I'm left with a 2 star feeling. *sobs*
Witches Book 4
Publication Date: December 26, 2012
Blurb
Set in apocalyptic America and featuring a magically enslaved heroine who is “a riveting mixture of guts, compassion, and furious anger as she struggles with a world coming apart at the seams” (Romantic Times), the fourth in a dynamic dark urban fantasy series unlike anything you’ve ever read before.
Winter is coming to Montana and Shadowblade warrior Max is expecting trouble. People are hoarding everything. They are banding together, many flocking to the congregation of Sterling Savage, a fire-and-brimstone preacher. A charismatic cult leader who claims to be the Hand of God, he’s determined to create a human utopia and destroy all magic, starting with witches.
Unbeknownst to him, the “divine” voice he’s been hearing isn’t God but a demon that feeds on hate, death, and destruction. Savage is the perfect puppet for the demon’s ambitions. Max and her people at Horngate are all that stand in its way, and they are woefully unprepared.
Conducting terrible, bloody ceremonies to boost his own power and that of the demon riding him, Savage starts a war between his congregants and two other powerful gangs in the city, fighting for food, fuel, clothing and territory. When he manages to capture Max’s niece, brother, and several teenagers from Horngate, Max tries to free them but finds that Savage has twisted their minds. They worship him—even her brother, who is a witch and whom Savage intends to burn at the stake. Going undercover in the cult compound, Max swiftly realizes just how seductive Savage is. His charisma is reinforced with magic. His followers adore him and will do anything for him. Anything.
But courage, loyalty, and friendship are powerful forces—and Max doesn’t like to lose.
Copied from
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451...
January 16, 2013
"NEW GAME. SAME RULES. SHE FIGHTS. THEY DIE." I stole the first line from the blurb because that just about sums it up. Max is definitely one kick@ss chick but the trouble is that she's been this way for so long, she doesn't really know how to open herself up for love.
I LOVE Max and Alexander and to be quite honest with you, I could care less about all the other stuff. Finally, this book brings all the emotional drama ~somewhat~ to the forefront. They still have to fight the bad guys after all.
I really enjoyed how everyone seem to come together and they finally seemed like a real team. All the fights and how they worked together were sooo good. But it's just like that saying...."When the going gets good, the good gets going".
This is suppose to be the last book in the series and going in knowing that, I had some expectations for things to get wrapped up but fortunately, they were not met. The book leaves you with the feeling that things could carry on and quite frankly, that couldn't make me happier. We can only hope!
Favorite quotes:
♦ "You. Hit. All. My. Nerves."
♥ “You do not understand. What I feel for you is too big to stay in a box for long. It was not long after the locks broke open that I understood.” His mouth curved, his eyes full of memory. “I went mad. Or maybe what happened was that I woke up from my madness. I realized that I could never walk away from you. I could never want to. There is no sanity without you. I am whole only with you.”
I LOVE Max and Alexander and to be quite honest with you, I could care less about all the other stuff. Finally, this book brings all the emotional drama ~somewhat~ to the forefront. They still have to fight the bad guys after all.
I really enjoyed how everyone seem to come together and they finally seemed like a real team. All the fights and how they worked together were sooo good. But it's just like that saying...."When the going gets good, the good gets going".
This is suppose to be the last book in the series and going in knowing that, I had some expectations for things to get wrapped up but fortunately, they were not met. The book leaves you with the feeling that things could carry on and quite frankly, that couldn't make me happier. We can only hope!
Favorite quotes:
♦ "You. Hit. All. My. Nerves."
♥ “You do not understand. What I feel for you is too big to stay in a box for long. It was not long after the locks broke open that I understood.” His mouth curved, his eyes full of memory. “I went mad. Or maybe what happened was that I woke up from my madness. I realized that I could never walk away from you. I could never want to. There is no sanity without you. I am whole only with you.”
June 18, 2017
Five action-packed stars!
The Horngate Witches series is set in a post magical apocalyptic America and features badass sword-wielding, not quite human, warriors, mildly sociopathic witches, not very angelic angels, and all manner of other weird mythological creatures and beasties. With a splash of romance enough to make me grin like a weirdo, worldbuilding that knocks my socks off, and action by the bucket load, you can see why this series is right up their with my other Urban Fantasy favourites like Kate Daniels, The Hollows, Mercedes Thompson and all those other great female-led UF series. If you haven't started this series yet and you are a fan of any of the above, add this to your TBR today! You will not be sorry.
The warriors in this series—Shadowblades and Sunspears—act as guardians for the witches and are, in fact, the main focus of books, despite the slightly misleading series name. They're woven with spells that make them nearly indestructible, as well as faster, stronger, more resistant to extreme temperatures, etc. But the downside to all that is eternal servitude to the witch who turned them. Which wouldn't be so much of a problem unless, say for instance, that witch used to be your best friend and did it to you without your permission.
Yeah. That.
Our main character is Max (that's a girl, btw), but at this point in the series, it's fair to say that Alexander is just as much of a main character as it's told in alternating third person POVs between them. Max and Alexander not only have to fight all manner of nasty things in this book as part of their role as leaders of the Shadowblades, but they're also fighting some more personal demons, as well as their increasingly complicated feelings for each other.
Following on from the giant waves of magic that erupted a couple of books back, and then Max's trials in Shadow City, she and her fellow Blades are reunited once again and decide it's time they get out from behind the safety and insulation of Horngate's wards to check out the aftermath and find out what's happening with the humans still out there in the towns and cities. Which is nothing good, as it turns out. Food is in critical demand, people are reverting back to their baser natures, and where there's chaos and panic, there's always some douchecanoe wannabe dictator ready to lead them all up the creek without a paddle. Which loosely sums up the premise of this book, in a very crude and ineloquent way.
I thought the use of the split POVs proved really useful once again; allowing us to see the action from all sides at once. The awkwardness that's developed between Alexander and Max was showcased brilliantly, too. Max, being Max, isn't handling the new dynamic with Alexander very well. She's been acting like Jekyll and Hyde with him and he is both perplexed and annoyed by it. I fully expected Max to make some mistakes at the whole "relationship" thing, and she certainly didn't disappoint! I thought that entire situation was really well-written, and with a few unpredictable twists thrown in for good measure.
Overall, I thought the story was engaging, well-paced, amusing, emotional, exhilarating, intense...I mean, I could just go on and on. It was just superb urban fantasy.
So what are you waiting for, hmm? Go grab yourself a copy right now!
Happy reading:)
5 Stars! ★★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Horngate Witches series is set in a post magical apocalyptic America and features badass sword-wielding, not quite human, warriors, mildly sociopathic witches, not very angelic angels, and all manner of other weird mythological creatures and beasties. With a splash of romance enough to make me grin like a weirdo, worldbuilding that knocks my socks off, and action by the bucket load, you can see why this series is right up their with my other Urban Fantasy favourites like Kate Daniels, The Hollows, Mercedes Thompson and all those other great female-led UF series. If you haven't started this series yet and you are a fan of any of the above, add this to your TBR today! You will not be sorry.
The warriors in this series—Shadowblades and Sunspears—act as guardians for the witches and are, in fact, the main focus of books, despite the slightly misleading series name. They're woven with spells that make them nearly indestructible, as well as faster, stronger, more resistant to extreme temperatures, etc. But the downside to all that is eternal servitude to the witch who turned them. Which wouldn't be so much of a problem unless, say for instance, that witch used to be your best friend and did it to you without your permission.
Yeah. That.
Our main character is Max (that's a girl, btw), but at this point in the series, it's fair to say that Alexander is just as much of a main character as it's told in alternating third person POVs between them. Max and Alexander not only have to fight all manner of nasty things in this book as part of their role as leaders of the Shadowblades, but they're also fighting some more personal demons, as well as their increasingly complicated feelings for each other.
Following on from the giant waves of magic that erupted a couple of books back, and then Max's trials in Shadow City, she and her fellow Blades are reunited once again and decide it's time they get out from behind the safety and insulation of Horngate's wards to check out the aftermath and find out what's happening with the humans still out there in the towns and cities. Which is nothing good, as it turns out. Food is in critical demand, people are reverting back to their baser natures, and where there's chaos and panic, there's always some douchecanoe wannabe dictator ready to lead them all up the creek without a paddle. Which loosely sums up the premise of this book, in a very crude and ineloquent way.
I thought the use of the split POVs proved really useful once again; allowing us to see the action from all sides at once. The awkwardness that's developed between Alexander and Max was showcased brilliantly, too. Max, being Max, isn't handling the new dynamic with Alexander very well. She's been acting like Jekyll and Hyde with him and he is both perplexed and annoyed by it. I fully expected Max to make some mistakes at the whole "relationship" thing, and she certainly didn't disappoint! I thought that entire situation was really well-written, and with a few unpredictable twists thrown in for good measure.
Overall, I thought the story was engaging, well-paced, amusing, emotional, exhilarating, intense...I mean, I could just go on and on. It was just superb urban fantasy.
So what are you waiting for, hmm? Go grab yourself a copy right now!
Happy reading:)
5 Stars! ★★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2013
A cloying red dust clings to skin and is found scattered everywhere within the covenstead and seems to be the connecting evidence as new horrors arise. The Grims and Spike follow a magical event and leaves Horngate behind. A fanatic has formed a riotous following and is spreading mayhem to those who fail to follow his faith. Max and Alexander are emotionally crippled by their love and pain of loss. There's no down time to take in everything that's happened. There's no rest to shut out the world, grieve, laugh, cry and breathe again to keep going forward. It's a fight against insurmountable odds and the key is the love & faith those of Horngate covenstead have for each other and their sanctuary.
Whew... The story is devastating. I had to push myself to read this book. I wasn't ready for the story to turn into what it did. I've read my share of horror stories and thrillers. I don't think I've responded to them quite the way I did to Blood Winter. In the first three books of the series, I would have described the books as dark, gritty, flippantly sarcastic, quietly rewarding and adventurous. None of which prepares me for this book.
I hope Diana Pharaoh Francis finds another way to finish the series. I'm left with too many unanswered questions and I do want to know what happens to all the characters I've gotten to know. I don't want this book to be the last. That would be a shame.
Whew... The story is devastating. I had to push myself to read this book. I wasn't ready for the story to turn into what it did. I've read my share of horror stories and thrillers. I don't think I've responded to them quite the way I did to Blood Winter. In the first three books of the series, I would have described the books as dark, gritty, flippantly sarcastic, quietly rewarding and adventurous. None of which prepares me for this book.
I hope Diana Pharaoh Francis finds another way to finish the series. I'm left with too many unanswered questions and I do want to know what happens to all the characters I've gotten to know. I don't want this book to be the last. That would be a shame.
June 3, 2018
This can't be the end...
I hate it when a series ends without it actually ending (does that even make any sense?). There are so many questions left unanswered, the fight with the Guardians barely started. GAH! WHY?!
Despite this fact, the book was pretty good. Not as good as the others, for some reason. Still absolutely amazing and fun, everything we expect from Max.
Everything is so sad though, now that I know there is no ending for this story.
I hate it when a series ends without it actually ending (does that even make any sense?). There are so many questions left unanswered, the fight with the Guardians barely started. GAH! WHY?!
Despite this fact, the book was pretty good. Not as good as the others, for some reason. Still absolutely amazing and fun, everything we expect from Max.
Everything is so sad though, now that I know there is no ending for this story.
April 14, 2017
Boy! has this been a ride!
I didn't get the proper closure at the end, I feel like there can easily be more, which I guess is a good thing if the author ever wants to continue this in the future plus can't say I'm a fan of 10-part book series.
I really enjoyed these books and I'm still kinda surprised to be saying so.
I really wasn't expecting it to be so good.
3.5 "Max" stars
If all her books are so captivating, Diana's got a fan in me. xD
September 7, 2015
Only 2 stars I'm giving this series up as a bad job
October 15, 2012
Blood Winter by Diana Pharaoh FrancisMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
SETTING:
Ages ago, the Guardians of the Earth created an army of creatures—faeries, banshee, chimeras, oni, lamia, kelpies, angels…the Uncanny and Divine things that populate myth and legends that most humans suppose never really existed. It was an army meant to contain the human population, to keep them from overrunning the earth…hungry parasites taking more than the host can provide.
The army failed. The Guardians were too benevolent and did not prune back the weed of humanity as severely as needed. As a result, cold iron took a heavy toll on the creatures of the Uncanny and Divine.
Centuries later, the Guardians have decided to act before it is too late—before the magic dies entirely. This time, they are holding nothing back. Over centuries, the creatures of the Uncanny and Divine have grown less susceptible to iron, and they will no longer let mercy or pity get in the way of saving the earth and it’s magic.
A war is beginning, one that will remake the earth and decimate much of humanity. It will move mountains and drain oceans. Magical beings will once again walk the earth, more powerful than ever before. Will anyone protect humanity? Who will survive when the war ends? The line in the sand between good and evil is smudged and crooked and right and wrong is impossible to know. But no one will be left on the sidelines; everyone will have to choose sides
SUMMARY:
Set in apocalyptic America and featuring a magically enhanced heroine who is “a riveting mixture of guts, compassion, and furious anger as she struggles with a world coming apart at the seams” (Romantic Times), the fourth in a dynamic dark urban fantasy series unlike anything you've ever read before.
Winter is coming to Montana and Shadowblade warrior Max is expecting trouble. People are hoarding everything. They are banding together, many flocking to the congregation of Sterling Savage, a fire-and-brimstone preacher. A charismatic cult leader who claims to be the Hand of God, he’s determined to create a human utopia and destroy all magic, starting with witches.
Unbeknownst to him, the “divine” voice he’s been hearing isn’t God but a demon that feeds on hate, death, and destruction. Savage is the perfect puppet for the demon’s ambitions. Max and her people at Horngate are all that stand in its way, and they are woefully unprepared.
Conducting terrible, bloody ceremonies to boost his own power and that of the demon riding him, Savage starts a war between his congregants and two other powerful gangs in the city, fighting for food, fuel, clothing and territory. He manages to capture Max’s niece, brother, and several teenagers from Horngate and Savage intends to burn them at the stake. Going undercover in the cult compound, Max swiftly realizes just how seductive Savage is. His charisma is reinforced with magic. His followers adore him and will do anything for him. Anything.
But courage, loyalty, and friendship are powerful forces—and Max doesn't like to lose.
REVIEW:
This is the 4th book in the Horngate witches series (which is a bit of a misnomer since the books are largely about Max and her fellow Shadowblades). This novel starts with the apocalypse already in full swing and the need to find and store basic necessities is a primary concern for most people but Max does not live a normal life and food while necessary is far from the forefront of her problems. A so called preacher with powers that suggest powers far beyond what any human could/should have has emerged and is building an army of dangerous sycophants who are enthralled with him. His main targets are witches who are actually one of the forces holding the world in check and without whom chaos and death will rule the earth.
The witches of Horngate and Max in particular (although she is no witch) seem to be the target for his venomous attacks and sadistic desires. The relationship (or lack thereof) between Max and Alexander adds in an overwhelming amount of angst into the mix. The “sleeping” angels have not awoke so once again Max is putting her life on the line for others.
The thing that makes this novel (and others in the series) work so well is the level of sacrifice that Max and others show during these novels; it brings them to a bit higher level in the emotional involvement of the reader. The level of evil displayed by the enemies in this novel don’t make it hard to figure out which side you are on but I do question a couple of more benevolent moments and would have liked to have a bit more closure, maybe I will get it in the next book.
RATING:
This addition to the series was a bit harder to rate than the others because of the depth of suffering and the myriad plots and subplots occurring. A large amount of the “action” takes place in Max’s head which can be a confusing place. At the end of the novel though you are pleased with most things (but not everything) and are not left with a sense of things left undone, you have more questions but most good authors leave a few crumbs to attract readers to the next book, which is not a bad thing if done with a light touch as it is here.
Bottom Line: 5 Star reading, dismal environment, sacrificial heroine, soaring ending. What more can you ask? It was great, when can I get the next one? Get this series, get this book.
View all my reviews
January 20, 2013
There are two parts of this, my thoughts on the series and those on this particular book. This is a good series, it could have been a great series. That it's not, I put a lot of blame on the editor for. There are a lot of loose ends and a double pile of logical inconsistencies that keep this from being a great series, which is something a good editor should have caught. The author takes some of the blame too, but it is harder to see it when it's your baby. It is somewhat frustrating because the characters are strong and very likeable, but things just don't add up in random areas and you're often left going, "HUH? That doesn't make sense."
If it takes a huge amount of food and work at the beginning of the book to keep a nearly dead shadowblade from dying, don't have it so that by the fourth one it seems to take a jug of juice and 20 minutes to cure the same sort of thing. Also, if you're going to claim this place is meant to be a sanctuary, then spend some time making it one. Cover a little of how its run and maybe try to bring some people in. As it is, I never really got a sense of how many people might be there, or even really a good idea of the size. The green houses are mentioned many times, but given no real description or a sense of where they belong in the giant scheme of things past those mentions.
The loose ends are also really bad. Frequently there are plot lines that just... disappear. There'll be a lot of time spent on a sub character and then there's never a mention of them again. THIS is particularly frustrating. If you take the time to name a character and give them some kind of story, at least put them away properly. If you're taking them somewhere, mention where they end up, don't just totally forget them. This is something that happened at least three times.
If there is a potentially best book of the series, I think it's the third one, though it would have been so easy for all of these to be great. It's just a damned shame that someone dropped the ball and didn't catch the weak points.
Book 4: *warning, there may be spoilers!*
This book pissed me off. It felt like a book that was written to just write something. SO many issues with it... First off, the super antagonism between Max and Alex, before she had reason to keep distance, knowing about Scooter; there was none here. It felt manufactured to add drama and it irked me. You can have a lot of tension without this kind of antagonism.
Second you've got serious inconsistencies with the rest of the series. This is where that "almost dead, needs a huge amount of additional healing/food" goes to a jug of juice and 20 minutes. First with Alex, then with Max, like 3 times in ONE DAY. It just was very obviously off. Then it's mentioned that Max's dog had to stay next to the other to keep from burning up -- but nothing happens to her when she's snatched and she's never mentioned again??? ARGH! There were a lot more, but those were the worst.
My biggest issue is with the bad guy. This a REALLY BAD GUY, but in the confrontation with him, this very canny EVIL person got fairly dumb and was supposed to somehow be JUSTICE? uhm... there's nothing involving justice about people impaled a la Vlad the Impaler and RAPE. It did NOT work; any of it. Especially the resolution/solution to him. It was almost if the evil character was replaced at the point of confrontation with another character. This alone really ticked me off. It was just wrong, wrong, wrong.
However, there were a few other points that got me. The whole "deamon" horde thing, they went out to help a farmer, then suddenly have this issue? *head scratch* It felt so out of place. Then the whole camp of people and Gregory healing everyone up... it didn't flow. I don't even know where the camp came from, there hadn't been any mention of them previously. It was also very disjointed when they're running around town in the various houses.
But if I have one issue that really pissed me off, it was the ending. Okay, they made up great. WHAT THE FUCK happened to everyone once Max lock broke her way out of the mistlands? NOT ONE CLUE. Not even about Giselle who is arguably one of the biggest characters. THe last thing mentioned about her is when Shoftiel takes her. Well. She's seen at one point. But there is no resolution to ANYTHING else. Not to any of the people that were taken, not to the situation with Horngate's future, not the many people or issues they ran into over the course of the book. NOTHING. Just yay, they kissed and made up. I feel robbed. There was more to this story than just that!
I believe this was supposed to be the last book in the series and I'll be honest, it was a really crappy ending and it would have been better to do nothing than this.
If it takes a huge amount of food and work at the beginning of the book to keep a nearly dead shadowblade from dying, don't have it so that by the fourth one it seems to take a jug of juice and 20 minutes to cure the same sort of thing. Also, if you're going to claim this place is meant to be a sanctuary, then spend some time making it one. Cover a little of how its run and maybe try to bring some people in. As it is, I never really got a sense of how many people might be there, or even really a good idea of the size. The green houses are mentioned many times, but given no real description or a sense of where they belong in the giant scheme of things past those mentions.
The loose ends are also really bad. Frequently there are plot lines that just... disappear. There'll be a lot of time spent on a sub character and then there's never a mention of them again. THIS is particularly frustrating. If you take the time to name a character and give them some kind of story, at least put them away properly. If you're taking them somewhere, mention where they end up, don't just totally forget them. This is something that happened at least three times.
If there is a potentially best book of the series, I think it's the third one, though it would have been so easy for all of these to be great. It's just a damned shame that someone dropped the ball and didn't catch the weak points.
Book 4: *warning, there may be spoilers!*
This book pissed me off. It felt like a book that was written to just write something. SO many issues with it... First off, the super antagonism between Max and Alex, before she had reason to keep distance, knowing about Scooter; there was none here. It felt manufactured to add drama and it irked me. You can have a lot of tension without this kind of antagonism.
Second you've got serious inconsistencies with the rest of the series. This is where that "almost dead, needs a huge amount of additional healing/food" goes to a jug of juice and 20 minutes. First with Alex, then with Max, like 3 times in ONE DAY. It just was very obviously off. Then it's mentioned that Max's dog had to stay next to the other to keep from burning up -- but nothing happens to her when she's snatched and she's never mentioned again??? ARGH! There were a lot more, but those were the worst.
My biggest issue is with the bad guy. This a REALLY BAD GUY, but in the confrontation with him, this very canny EVIL person got fairly dumb and was supposed to somehow be JUSTICE? uhm... there's nothing involving justice about people impaled a la Vlad the Impaler and RAPE. It did NOT work; any of it. Especially the resolution/solution to him. It was almost if the evil character was replaced at the point of confrontation with another character. This alone really ticked me off. It was just wrong, wrong, wrong.
However, there were a few other points that got me. The whole "deamon" horde thing, they went out to help a farmer, then suddenly have this issue? *head scratch* It felt so out of place. Then the whole camp of people and Gregory healing everyone up... it didn't flow. I don't even know where the camp came from, there hadn't been any mention of them previously. It was also very disjointed when they're running around town in the various houses.
But if I have one issue that really pissed me off, it was the ending. Okay, they made up great. WHAT THE FUCK happened to everyone once Max lock broke her way out of the mistlands? NOT ONE CLUE. Not even about Giselle who is arguably one of the biggest characters. THe last thing mentioned about her is when Shoftiel takes her. Well. She's seen at one point. But there is no resolution to ANYTHING else. Not to any of the people that were taken, not to the situation with Horngate's future, not the many people or issues they ran into over the course of the book. NOTHING. Just yay, they kissed and made up. I feel robbed. There was more to this story than just that!
I believe this was supposed to be the last book in the series and I'll be honest, it was a really crappy ending and it would have been better to do nothing than this.
January 18, 2013
See this review and others like it at BadassBookReviews.com!
Well, let’s go ahead and rip the band-aid off quickly… Blood Winter is the fourth and final novel in the Horngate Witches series. At least if the series had to end, it ended with a bang. This novel was non-stop action, battles, romantic angst, loss, love, and triumph.
If you aren’t familiar with the Horngate Witches series, it is pretty unique in the world of urban fantasy. The setting is a post-magical-apocalypse America, the Midwest to be exact. The main characters are some badass warriors called Shadowblades and Sunspears. They have been bound by a coven witch, Giselle, to provide her and her covenstead, Horngate, with protection. In exchange, they get to be superhuman – strong, able to live through almost anything, and un-aging. The downsides — The Shadowblades cannot be in the sun; it pretty much melts their skin off and extended exposure will kill them. The Sunspears are poisoned by darkness and continued exposure will also kill them. The series focuses mostly on the ‘Blades with Max, their leader or Prime, trading narrations duties with her lover, Alexander. Their two POVs guide the series and through them we learn all there is to know about Horngate and the world of the witches.
Blood Winter finds Max and Alexander together as a couple, but Max is still trying to learn to live with her guilt over those she has lost. She is scared of opening herself up to Alexander and then losing him too. Alexander is confused by Max’s back and forth affections and doesn’t know where he fits in her life. Their relationship is constantly tested throughout the book and, even though the ending was sweet, I would have liked a little more to wrap up their story. I want to know how they are doing a week, a month, a year, ten years after this book. Do they finally learn how to love each other and let themselves be loved in return?
While she’s trying to figure out her relationship, Max is also dealing with a new threat to Horngate. Benjamin Sterling, a blood witch, is passing himself off as the “Hand of God” and collecting a cult of “believers.” He intends to destroy all the other magical beings, starting with the witches, and take their powers for himself. Max has fought tougher foes than another witch, but little does she know that Sterling has a silent partner that is much stronger than any witch. She has to bring this partner down and then hit Sterling when he is at his weakest, all while trying to keep the non-magical civilians and Horngate safe.
I loved this plot line, though it was very different from the previous book. I thought it was great to see Max back in action, directly defending Horngate and its people. Getting to see the Blades and Spears work together again was also exciting and it was nice to see some of the newer characters integrated into larger roles. Max and Giselle’s relationship was as prickly as ever, but it seems like their understanding is working for now. I liked the historic echoes Sterling brought to the story with his crusade against the witches, even though he himself was one. I didn’t see the twist coming with his partner, but I’m glad that his magic made a certain “reawakening” possible.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. I was engaged the whole time and couldn’t wait to find out the fate of Max and Horngate. Though I am very sad to see the series end, I highly recommend it to new readers. It is a superbly created world overflowing with complex characters.
Be sure to check out the interview we did with Diana Pharaoh Francis specifically discussing the Horngate Witches series here!
Well, let’s go ahead and rip the band-aid off quickly… Blood Winter is the fourth and final novel in the Horngate Witches series. At least if the series had to end, it ended with a bang. This novel was non-stop action, battles, romantic angst, loss, love, and triumph.
If you aren’t familiar with the Horngate Witches series, it is pretty unique in the world of urban fantasy. The setting is a post-magical-apocalypse America, the Midwest to be exact. The main characters are some badass warriors called Shadowblades and Sunspears. They have been bound by a coven witch, Giselle, to provide her and her covenstead, Horngate, with protection. In exchange, they get to be superhuman – strong, able to live through almost anything, and un-aging. The downsides — The Shadowblades cannot be in the sun; it pretty much melts their skin off and extended exposure will kill them. The Sunspears are poisoned by darkness and continued exposure will also kill them. The series focuses mostly on the ‘Blades with Max, their leader or Prime, trading narrations duties with her lover, Alexander. Their two POVs guide the series and through them we learn all there is to know about Horngate and the world of the witches.
Blood Winter finds Max and Alexander together as a couple, but Max is still trying to learn to live with her guilt over those she has lost. She is scared of opening herself up to Alexander and then losing him too. Alexander is confused by Max’s back and forth affections and doesn’t know where he fits in her life. Their relationship is constantly tested throughout the book and, even though the ending was sweet, I would have liked a little more to wrap up their story. I want to know how they are doing a week, a month, a year, ten years after this book. Do they finally learn how to love each other and let themselves be loved in return?
While she’s trying to figure out her relationship, Max is also dealing with a new threat to Horngate. Benjamin Sterling, a blood witch, is passing himself off as the “Hand of God” and collecting a cult of “believers.” He intends to destroy all the other magical beings, starting with the witches, and take their powers for himself. Max has fought tougher foes than another witch, but little does she know that Sterling has a silent partner that is much stronger than any witch. She has to bring this partner down and then hit Sterling when he is at his weakest, all while trying to keep the non-magical civilians and Horngate safe.
I loved this plot line, though it was very different from the previous book. I thought it was great to see Max back in action, directly defending Horngate and its people. Getting to see the Blades and Spears work together again was also exciting and it was nice to see some of the newer characters integrated into larger roles. Max and Giselle’s relationship was as prickly as ever, but it seems like their understanding is working for now. I liked the historic echoes Sterling brought to the story with his crusade against the witches, even though he himself was one. I didn’t see the twist coming with his partner, but I’m glad that his magic made a certain “reawakening” possible.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. I was engaged the whole time and couldn’t wait to find out the fate of Max and Horngate. Though I am very sad to see the series end, I highly recommend it to new readers. It is a superbly created world overflowing with complex characters.
Be sure to check out the interview we did with Diana Pharaoh Francis specifically discussing the Horngate Witches series here!
January 7, 2013
Love love love love love loved love love love LOVE this!!!!!!!!!
It seems forever to be waiting for this book and I am sad that this is the last book of the series.
I mean..
Oh...
I guess it is really goodbye .
At least Blood Winter did not disappoint.
What I really like about this book will be the non-stop action, the frustrating mystery of that "Hand of God", the complicated romance, the witty exchanges among the characters and of course, Max.
Max is the heroine that I know she has my back and I can depend on.
In Blood Winter, the shit just gets "better".
Someone claiming to be the "Hand of God" is determined to destroy everything that does not agree with him and yes, that involves Horngate and Max.
His so called "teachings" are pretty sick and twisted.
To be honest, I'm a little frustrated with the so called "religion" thingy in the book as I always think it is a taboo to touch on religion in any book but because of Max, I'm willing to tolerate it and continue reading.
It does pay off on why it has to be written that way.
But on what was done to Max?
Anyway, I really like this book.
Alexander.. at one point, broke my heart. Really.
But then, it's all ok now.
I wish there are more for this series.
I wish to read more about the angels.
I wish for a lot of things.
For now... Thank you for the memories, Diana!
It seems forever to be waiting for this book and I am sad that this is the last book of the series.
I mean..
Oh...
I guess it is really goodbye .
At least Blood Winter did not disappoint.
What I really like about this book will be the non-stop action, the frustrating mystery of that "Hand of God", the complicated romance, the witty exchanges among the characters and of course, Max.
Max is the heroine that I know she has my back and I can depend on.
In Blood Winter, the shit just gets "better".
Someone claiming to be the "Hand of God" is determined to destroy everything that does not agree with him and yes, that involves Horngate and Max.
His so called "teachings" are pretty sick and twisted.
To be honest, I'm a little frustrated with the so called "religion" thingy in the book as I always think it is a taboo to touch on religion in any book but because of Max, I'm willing to tolerate it and continue reading.
It does pay off on why it has to be written that way.
But on what was done to Max?
Anyway, I really like this book.
Alexander.. at one point, broke my heart. Really.
But then, it's all ok now.
I wish there are more for this series.
I wish to read more about the angels.
I wish for a lot of things.
For now... Thank you for the memories, Diana!
March 18, 2013
This book had a lot of plot holes. I do not understand how it got published as it was. There's a lot less polish with this book than the first in the series, and the characters are getting harder and harder to like. Too much stupidity to live syndrome started popping up in this series, and I absolutely hate that. A lot of this book feels like filler, where the ultimate place the story ends up is not that much farther from where the story began. The ending was rushed, the conflicts between several of the characters do not feel resolved at all, and certain developments are not explained at all nor do they feel like they will be explained in the future.
I finished this book feeling disappointed and now I'm actually a bit angry to have invested time and money in this series.
Edit: Now that I have confirmed that this is indeed the final book in the series, wow. I have to say I am even more upset/irritated with this book. I am just flabbergasted. I know a lot of people loved the book, but it does NOT live up to the standard the first book set. Neither did the second book, but the third one redeemed book 2 for me. To end the series like this (for me) taints all the others.
I finished this book feeling disappointed and now I'm actually a bit angry to have invested time and money in this series.
Edit: Now that I have confirmed that this is indeed the final book in the series, wow. I have to say I am even more upset/irritated with this book. I am just flabbergasted. I know a lot of people loved the book, but it does NOT live up to the standard the first book set. Neither did the second book, but the third one redeemed book 2 for me. To end the series like this (for me) taints all the others.
dnf
December 27, 2021I got about 11% into this one and just...couldn't keep going. It feels that there is too much to wrap up for a last book and I just know nothing is going to be resolved world wise. I can feel it. So I'm going to leave this series at 3 read and 1 DNF.
December 31, 2012
3 1/2 stars.
Blood Winter is the latest and final (according to author’s interview) book in the Horngate Witches series, centering on Max and her covenstead ,Horngate. The book takes place 4-5 weeks after Max survived a challenge against the Korvads in Chadaré, and arrives safely home to Horngate following the completion of Scooter’s request. Things in Missoula are getting worst and worst with food shortage, and people scrounging for whatever they can find. With the Magic in the air already creating havoc, a preacher who says he’s the right hand of god is stirring up trouble by creating a following to condemn all witches, demons, or just about anyone who isn’t with him. What the Earth’s Last stand cult doesn’t know is that their leader is a witch himself, and he’s targeting Horngate.
Max and the gang are all back, and like the first book everything takes place at Horngate/Missoula. No more leaving to another state or another dimension like the other books. Francis does an amazing job at creating another emotional-action packed novel that will have you flipping nonstop till the end. Max definitely has a lot on her mind this time around, still grieving over the deaths of ---, her relationship with Alexander, and the Earth’s Last stand cult. The pacing of the book was on the dot as usual, there’s never a dull moment in the book, and the author packs an emotional punch in every scene. While the majority of the book was well-done/written, there were two things that bothered me in this book; Max and Alexander’s relationship and the story/plot. After the ending of Shadow City, I thought Max knew what she wanted, Alexander.
In Blood Winter, Max and Alexander are together but not really official. Max would show her affection for Alexander in private, but brushes him off/gives him the cold shoulder when in front of the other blades/sun-spears. Max constantly questions herself for treating Alexander the way she does, but doesn’t fix it till near the end of the book. At one point in the book Alexander gives Max the same treatment she gives him, and she gets really butt-hurt and puts on a front that she doesn’t care. I just wished they talked about their feelings to one another instead of just waiting around till someone makes the next move. I also found the story plot line not that interesting (Sterling and his cult) but towards last couple of chapters things started moving forward, and the real reason behind the attacks are revealed which made up for the previous half of the book’s problem (my frustration with Max and Alexander’s relationship).
Overall it was a good read, but it didn’t meet my expectation. While this is the final book in the series, I felt like there were still unanswered questions (or at least questions I had). For example, where did the Salamanders/Grims go? What happened to the angels Tutresiels and Xaphan? Regardless of it being my least favorite of the series, it is still one of the best urban fantasy series I have ever read. I highly recommend this series and if you plan on starting it, it is best to start at the beginning with Bitter Night. This is a unique urban fantasy with a complex world and realistic characters that build on top of one another and readers will be missing a lot if books are read out of order. Hopefully this will not be the last of this world and characters; Francis says she might one day visit this world again whether it be short stories or novellas. With all four books already available, it might be a good time to check this series out now…you won’t have to wait a year between books like I had to!
Blood Winter is the latest and final (according to author’s interview) book in the Horngate Witches series, centering on Max and her covenstead ,Horngate. The book takes place 4-5 weeks after Max survived a challenge against the Korvads in Chadaré, and arrives safely home to Horngate following the completion of Scooter’s request. Things in Missoula are getting worst and worst with food shortage, and people scrounging for whatever they can find. With the Magic in the air already creating havoc, a preacher who says he’s the right hand of god is stirring up trouble by creating a following to condemn all witches, demons, or just about anyone who isn’t with him. What the Earth’s Last stand cult doesn’t know is that their leader is a witch himself, and he’s targeting Horngate.
Max and the gang are all back, and like the first book everything takes place at Horngate/Missoula. No more leaving to another state or another dimension like the other books. Francis does an amazing job at creating another emotional-action packed novel that will have you flipping nonstop till the end. Max definitely has a lot on her mind this time around, still grieving over the deaths of ---, her relationship with Alexander, and the Earth’s Last stand cult. The pacing of the book was on the dot as usual, there’s never a dull moment in the book, and the author packs an emotional punch in every scene. While the majority of the book was well-done/written, there were two things that bothered me in this book; Max and Alexander’s relationship and the story/plot. After the ending of Shadow City, I thought Max knew what she wanted, Alexander.
In Blood Winter, Max and Alexander are together but not really official. Max would show her affection for Alexander in private, but brushes him off/gives him the cold shoulder when in front of the other blades/sun-spears. Max constantly questions herself for treating Alexander the way she does, but doesn’t fix it till near the end of the book. At one point in the book Alexander gives Max the same treatment she gives him, and she gets really butt-hurt and puts on a front that she doesn’t care. I just wished they talked about their feelings to one another instead of just waiting around till someone makes the next move. I also found the story plot line not that interesting (Sterling and his cult) but towards last couple of chapters things started moving forward, and the real reason behind the attacks are revealed which made up for the previous half of the book’s problem (my frustration with Max and Alexander’s relationship).
Overall it was a good read, but it didn’t meet my expectation. While this is the final book in the series, I felt like there were still unanswered questions (or at least questions I had). For example, where did the Salamanders/Grims go? What happened to the angels Tutresiels and Xaphan? Regardless of it being my least favorite of the series, it is still one of the best urban fantasy series I have ever read. I highly recommend this series and if you plan on starting it, it is best to start at the beginning with Bitter Night. This is a unique urban fantasy with a complex world and realistic characters that build on top of one another and readers will be missing a lot if books are read out of order. Hopefully this will not be the last of this world and characters; Francis says she might one day visit this world again whether it be short stories or novellas. With all four books already available, it might be a good time to check this series out now…you won’t have to wait a year between books like I had to!
January 29, 2013
This is the 4th and (sniff, sniff) final book in the Horngate Witches dark urban fantasy series. I'm heartbroken. It took me a month to work up to reading this book because I just didn't want the series to be over. I love this series! I can't get over how WRONG it is to end with this book. There are so many under-utilized characters in the series that should have been developed and woven into more of the story. Scooter, Spike, and the Grims, for example. And the sunblades - all of them. Not to mention Max's relatives. How about developing the witches and angels more as characters? There is still the potential of Horngate itself - when will all the people start filling the halls? There's almost no one so far, and the initial promise of the series is that hundreds of people will join Horngate and make a thriving community that will survive the apocalypse. Instead, we only get 4 books that make it to the beginning of the first winter of the apocalypse. That's just not enough! There are so many characters in this book that SHOULD be invited to move to Horngate, but the author doesn't even hint at the future by taking that small step.
I also hate the shift from the Scooter story in book 3 to the story in book 4. Book 3 seems so unnecessary - why have Max go on an adventure on another world at all? That's the kind of thing an author does when she's running out of ideas to freshen up a long series. She didn't need to send Max on an inter-dimensional field trip if that field trip wasn't going to have a huge impact on the books to come.
And the Alexander love story subplot seems clumsy - not quite believable, an afterthought - but maybe this author doesn't have the experience with romance writing that she has with fantasy and violence.
It seems likely that the author was forced by her publisher to wrap up the series earlier than she intended, but I read a few online interviews and the author didn't say that at all. I'd feel better about the faults in this book if I knew the author was forced to collapse several books of ideas into one final volume. It would explain the loose ends.
Anyway, I still LOVE this series and HIGHLY recommend it. This story has Max and Horngate getting involved with the locals. A band of crazies led by a witch preacher have targeted witches for death and bring their fight to Horngate. The preacher is unbelievably powerful and the outlook is dire. One of the shadowblades dies. Eventually, the angles wake from their comas.
I also hate the shift from the Scooter story in book 3 to the story in book 4. Book 3 seems so unnecessary - why have Max go on an adventure on another world at all? That's the kind of thing an author does when she's running out of ideas to freshen up a long series. She didn't need to send Max on an inter-dimensional field trip if that field trip wasn't going to have a huge impact on the books to come.
And the Alexander love story subplot seems clumsy - not quite believable, an afterthought - but maybe this author doesn't have the experience with romance writing that she has with fantasy and violence.
It seems likely that the author was forced by her publisher to wrap up the series earlier than she intended, but I read a few online interviews and the author didn't say that at all. I'd feel better about the faults in this book if I knew the author was forced to collapse several books of ideas into one final volume. It would explain the loose ends.
Anyway, I still LOVE this series and HIGHLY recommend it. This story has Max and Horngate getting involved with the locals. A band of crazies led by a witch preacher have targeted witches for death and bring their fight to Horngate. The preacher is unbelievably powerful and the outlook is dire. One of the shadowblades dies. Eventually, the angles wake from their comas.
January 11, 2015
Oh for ...! Gah! Get over yourselves all ready. the last book left Max and Alexander in a seemingly good place. In this book that's all forgotten. Yes they're sleeping together, but Max won't acknowledge it when she's working (quite right if you ask me). Alexander gets more and more huffy, so she gets more and more pissy. The romantic story arc is boring but does get resolved.
The plot on the other hand has not advanced at all since the second book. The first book set up a great dramatic storyline which subsequent books have barely touched on. The near immortality (not in terms of longevity, but in the ability to heal from near death) of most of the characters, and the easy healing powers of others means that every fight scene has to escalate to be worse than the one before, as characters' arms get chopped off, their eyeballs boil, their intestines fall out and so on, then three pages and a milkshake later they are fully healed just in time to go into the next pointless action scene. There are random character deaths which seem to only happen to make Max Feeeel (although she doesn't seem to remember the death of friends in the first book at all). The big bads from the first book never reappear, but various other minor bads crop up for no reason. This series started out with such promise but then seemed to get bogged down in minutia and pointless action scenes.
The plot on the other hand has not advanced at all since the second book. The first book set up a great dramatic storyline which subsequent books have barely touched on. The near immortality (not in terms of longevity, but in the ability to heal from near death) of most of the characters, and the easy healing powers of others means that every fight scene has to escalate to be worse than the one before, as characters' arms get chopped off, their eyeballs boil, their intestines fall out and so on, then three pages and a milkshake later they are fully healed just in time to go into the next pointless action scene. There are random character deaths which seem to only happen to make Max Feeeel (although she doesn't seem to remember the death of friends in the first book at all). The big bads from the first book never reappear, but various other minor bads crop up for no reason. This series started out with such promise but then seemed to get bogged down in minutia and pointless action scenes.
January 15, 2013
The end of the Horngate Witches series, Blood Winter is a nice ending to this urban fantasy series.
You still get your action, you still get your characters you have come to care for, and you still get Max and Alexander tip toeing around their attraction. Well Max is still hesitant, Alexander repeatedly puts himself out on the line..waiting and waiting. Yes there are some twists, but perhaps a little too late?
A satisfying ending overall. If you read the whole series you can see Francis grow as a writer. It will be interesting to see what her next projects will be, what worlds and mythical creatures she breaths life into.
You still get your action, you still get your characters you have come to care for, and you still get Max and Alexander tip toeing around their attraction. Well Max is still hesitant, Alexander repeatedly puts himself out on the line..waiting and waiting. Yes there are some twists, but perhaps a little too late?
A satisfying ending overall. If you read the whole series you can see Francis grow as a writer. It will be interesting to see what her next projects will be, what worlds and mythical creatures she breaths life into.
December 12, 2012
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4-4.5
*Review shortly*
So, now that I'm finished with this book, I hear that this is the last book of the series? Can that be true? I mean, I can see the series ending after 4 books, but I actually love Max and Alexander. This book keeps you on your toes from the first page until the last.
More shortly....
Expected publication: December 18th (26th) 2012 by Pocket Books
*Rating* 4-4.5
*Review shortly*
So, now that I'm finished with this book, I hear that this is the last book of the series? Can that be true? I mean, I can see the series ending after 4 books, but I actually love Max and Alexander. This book keeps you on your toes from the first page until the last.
More shortly....
Expected publication: December 18th (26th) 2012 by Pocket Books
December 2, 2012
Blood Winter is a fabulous book by Diana Pharaoh Francis. It was filled with exciting action, and the characters Francis has created are wonderful. You can't help but like them and root for them. Very well done. Full review will follow at time of release.
January 13, 2016
While the story was decent and the plot interesting. It took me too long to figure things out from when I picked up the book. I got it at a second handbook store, but I would recommend reading the first in this series before jumping into a second or a third.
January 20, 2013
Not as good as previous installment, it seemed to drag. I am kind of sick of the on/off on/off crap going on with the Alexander and Max as well.
October 29, 2017
This is the last book in the series and yes it did come out a while ago.
This is an urban fantasy series set right before and during a magical apocalypse. Instead of coming in after the fact and catching up on the new way the world works in this series you follow Max through the difficult change in the world when magic floods it. Suddenly all of the fairy tails come to life and technology stops working with deadly consequences. Max is a Shadowblade who has been tied to a witch for 30 years. The witches, their covens, and their protectors are the only ones not shocked by magic. Shadowblades and Sunspears are tied to a witch and protect their coven from threats. They are given extended life, accelerated healing, and other gifts in the process.
This book sets up a final confrontation between the Horngate coven and a new darkness that has arisen in Missoula. The new group is determined to wipe out all the witches and has borrowed some good old fashioned Bible thumping to go along with their twisted beliefs. The results of this confrontation will either destroy Horngate or build much needed bridges between them and the rest of the survivors in Missoula.
I liked this book overall. I liked the solid sense of a conclusion but also with hints that there could be more to the story. What was hard for me was that it seemed like the characters did a lot of running back and forth with little purpose behind it. There was a lot of set up to the final showdown that didn't really seem necessary. There were a couple of times and Max left a place with a firm mission in mind only to return to that same location a short time later without doing any part of the mission. This book and the series is definitely more shades of gray instead of black and white. There are some very dark things that happen as well as that are seen by the characters. I like the seris and this book. I am pretty sure the series is finished which does leave me sad and wondering about these characters in this very interesting brave new world.
This is an urban fantasy series set right before and during a magical apocalypse. Instead of coming in after the fact and catching up on the new way the world works in this series you follow Max through the difficult change in the world when magic floods it. Suddenly all of the fairy tails come to life and technology stops working with deadly consequences. Max is a Shadowblade who has been tied to a witch for 30 years. The witches, their covens, and their protectors are the only ones not shocked by magic. Shadowblades and Sunspears are tied to a witch and protect their coven from threats. They are given extended life, accelerated healing, and other gifts in the process.
This book sets up a final confrontation between the Horngate coven and a new darkness that has arisen in Missoula. The new group is determined to wipe out all the witches and has borrowed some good old fashioned Bible thumping to go along with their twisted beliefs. The results of this confrontation will either destroy Horngate or build much needed bridges between them and the rest of the survivors in Missoula.
I liked this book overall. I liked the solid sense of a conclusion but also with hints that there could be more to the story. What was hard for me was that it seemed like the characters did a lot of running back and forth with little purpose behind it. There was a lot of set up to the final showdown that didn't really seem necessary. There were a couple of times and Max left a place with a firm mission in mind only to return to that same location a short time later without doing any part of the mission. This book and the series is definitely more shades of gray instead of black and white. There are some very dark things that happen as well as that are seen by the characters. I like the seris and this book. I am pretty sure the series is finished which does leave me sad and wondering about these characters in this very interesting brave new world.
December 27, 2012
Notes: I read the eARC of the book and quotes will need to be checked against the finished version.
My Synopsis:
"The Lord of Heaven and Earth bids us not suffer a witch to live," the man declared in a singsong cadence. "We must not suffer evil in our midst, or we will become evil; we will defile our Lord's name by our very existence. We must do His work, no matter the cost. He sacrificed His only son for us; we must be willing to sacrifice no less for Him!"
Someone claiming to be the right hand of God is threatening Horngate and the surrounding communities. They've managed to bypass Horngate's wards and have made their intentions clear. What the "preacher" doesn't say is the bible also warns to beware of false prophets, which the man wearing sandals and a long beige cotton robe belted with a rope clearly is. In fact, the "prophet" himself is a witch for otherwise he and his followers would never have been able to breach the wards which protect Horngate from outsiders.
Additionally, Divine creatures, some of which were thought to be extinct, are popping up all over the surrounding areas. If all that is going on can be attributed to the witch claiming to be a prophet of God, then he is a powerful witch indeed. It may take all or more power than Giselle and her coven possess to overcome this enemy. With the previous attack still fresh in her memory, Max vows, "No one--no one--was going to get away with attacking her home again. She didn't care what she had to do to protect it and the people within. This was her home, her family. She'd kill anyone who threatened them."
My thoughts:
This is the fourth book in the Horngate Witches series. Because there is so much to the Horngate series' world, I highly recommend you read the previous books to the series. While some may be able to pick up enough without reading the previous stories, I feel you'd cheat yourself out of the whole experience the series has to offer by doing so. I was first introduced to this series a year ago by the publisher, and when they told me they had copies of Blood Winter available for review, I immediately put in a request for one. Ms. Francis never fails to entertain me with this series.
While the name implies the books focus on witches, Max, a Prime Shadowblade, is the primary focus of the series. Shadowblades are individuals who were once human but have been magically altered by a witch to never age, be physically stronger and faster, and to have the ability to heal from just about any injury. In trade, they are unable to disobey the witch who created them, are no longer able to have children, and cannot venture out into sunlight. Additionally, they originally needed to leave their friends and loved ones along with their old lives behind. A witch is supposed to get permission from the individual they turn and, while technically Giselle did ask, she'd gotten Max drunk and the question was posed more as a hypothetical one than a true question. For thirty years after her transition, Max had hated Giselle, her one time best friend, for what she'd done and what she'd taken from her. When the Guardians, however, unleashed the flood of magic back into the world, Giselle allowed Max to save her family and bring them back to Horngate to keep them safe. Since then, she no longer hates, but neither does she like Giselle, and she's come to terms with what she is, a Shadowblade.
In Blood Winter, a so called religious sect called Earth's Last Stand is displaying cult like behavior and being lead by a witch claiming to be a "prophet" of the Lord. The group is bringing murder, mayhem and corruption to Missoula and threatening Horngate. The man in charge, Benjamin Sterling, seems to have no problem killing and torturing witches and humans alike under the guise of the Lord's will. While sometimes bringing a religious angle into a series can be a poor move on the part of an author, I felt it fit in nicely with what is going on in the world Ms. Francis has created. With a magical apocalypse taking place, it seems almost natural for a magical entity to attempt to gain power using religion to mask their evil doings. Desperate times tend to blur the lines between what some people will consider acceptable behavior, especially when survival becomes their utmost goal. People will follow whoever can offer them the best chance at survival, which can force them to follow the wrong person or people. To defeat this enemy, Max will have to use both her might and brains to rescue herself and others and not everyone will come out of this one alive.
Besides trying to save Horngate and the surrounding areas, Max's personal life is in disarray. Alexander senses Max is holding back emotionally from their relationship and wants her to break down the barriers between them. Considering her last relationship, which incidentally was thirty years ago, left a lot to be desired, she's not sure how. She's guarded her emotions for so long, she seems to know no other way.
Why is the book called Blood Winter? Well, I believe it's because the book takes place in winter and there are so many lives lost that the author chose to name it Blood Winter. A winter so bloody with death, no other name would do.
Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. Plenty of monsters, drama, action, close calls, and seemingly impossible situations. There is a major twist in this one which I didn't see coming and enjoyed watching unfold. I highly recommend the book and the series. I love Ms. Francis' imagination and always look forward to seeing what she'll have up her sleeve for her next book. If your looking for a roller coaster read with characters you can relate and bond with, you may wish to give this series a try. This series definitely ranks among my favorites. I'm forgoing the romance rating because while there is a touch romance going on, I don't feel justified in calling it or rating it as a romance. Romance is not the central focus of the series and, for the majority of the story, the two seemed to be trying to define and solidify their relationship. So while there was a little bookie nookie at the beginning, I felt it was just used as a means of providing us a view into the dynamics of Max's and Alexander's relationship.
My Synopsis:
"The Lord of Heaven and Earth bids us not suffer a witch to live," the man declared in a singsong cadence. "We must not suffer evil in our midst, or we will become evil; we will defile our Lord's name by our very existence. We must do His work, no matter the cost. He sacrificed His only son for us; we must be willing to sacrifice no less for Him!"
Someone claiming to be the right hand of God is threatening Horngate and the surrounding communities. They've managed to bypass Horngate's wards and have made their intentions clear. What the "preacher" doesn't say is the bible also warns to beware of false prophets, which the man wearing sandals and a long beige cotton robe belted with a rope clearly is. In fact, the "prophet" himself is a witch for otherwise he and his followers would never have been able to breach the wards which protect Horngate from outsiders.
Additionally, Divine creatures, some of which were thought to be extinct, are popping up all over the surrounding areas. If all that is going on can be attributed to the witch claiming to be a prophet of God, then he is a powerful witch indeed. It may take all or more power than Giselle and her coven possess to overcome this enemy. With the previous attack still fresh in her memory, Max vows, "No one--no one--was going to get away with attacking her home again. She didn't care what she had to do to protect it and the people within. This was her home, her family. She'd kill anyone who threatened them."
My thoughts:
This is the fourth book in the Horngate Witches series. Because there is so much to the Horngate series' world, I highly recommend you read the previous books to the series. While some may be able to pick up enough without reading the previous stories, I feel you'd cheat yourself out of the whole experience the series has to offer by doing so. I was first introduced to this series a year ago by the publisher, and when they told me they had copies of Blood Winter available for review, I immediately put in a request for one. Ms. Francis never fails to entertain me with this series.
While the name implies the books focus on witches, Max, a Prime Shadowblade, is the primary focus of the series. Shadowblades are individuals who were once human but have been magically altered by a witch to never age, be physically stronger and faster, and to have the ability to heal from just about any injury. In trade, they are unable to disobey the witch who created them, are no longer able to have children, and cannot venture out into sunlight. Additionally, they originally needed to leave their friends and loved ones along with their old lives behind. A witch is supposed to get permission from the individual they turn and, while technically Giselle did ask, she'd gotten Max drunk and the question was posed more as a hypothetical one than a true question. For thirty years after her transition, Max had hated Giselle, her one time best friend, for what she'd done and what she'd taken from her. When the Guardians, however, unleashed the flood of magic back into the world, Giselle allowed Max to save her family and bring them back to Horngate to keep them safe. Since then, she no longer hates, but neither does she like Giselle, and she's come to terms with what she is, a Shadowblade.
In Blood Winter, a so called religious sect called Earth's Last Stand is displaying cult like behavior and being lead by a witch claiming to be a "prophet" of the Lord. The group is bringing murder, mayhem and corruption to Missoula and threatening Horngate. The man in charge, Benjamin Sterling, seems to have no problem killing and torturing witches and humans alike under the guise of the Lord's will. While sometimes bringing a religious angle into a series can be a poor move on the part of an author, I felt it fit in nicely with what is going on in the world Ms. Francis has created. With a magical apocalypse taking place, it seems almost natural for a magical entity to attempt to gain power using religion to mask their evil doings. Desperate times tend to blur the lines between what some people will consider acceptable behavior, especially when survival becomes their utmost goal. People will follow whoever can offer them the best chance at survival, which can force them to follow the wrong person or people. To defeat this enemy, Max will have to use both her might and brains to rescue herself and others and not everyone will come out of this one alive.
Besides trying to save Horngate and the surrounding areas, Max's personal life is in disarray. Alexander senses Max is holding back emotionally from their relationship and wants her to break down the barriers between them. Considering her last relationship, which incidentally was thirty years ago, left a lot to be desired, she's not sure how. She's guarded her emotions for so long, she seems to know no other way.
Why is the book called Blood Winter? Well, I believe it's because the book takes place in winter and there are so many lives lost that the author chose to name it Blood Winter. A winter so bloody with death, no other name would do.
Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. Plenty of monsters, drama, action, close calls, and seemingly impossible situations. There is a major twist in this one which I didn't see coming and enjoyed watching unfold. I highly recommend the book and the series. I love Ms. Francis' imagination and always look forward to seeing what she'll have up her sleeve for her next book. If your looking for a roller coaster read with characters you can relate and bond with, you may wish to give this series a try. This series definitely ranks among my favorites. I'm forgoing the romance rating because while there is a touch romance going on, I don't feel justified in calling it or rating it as a romance. Romance is not the central focus of the series and, for the majority of the story, the two seemed to be trying to define and solidify their relationship. So while there was a little bookie nookie at the beginning, I felt it was just used as a means of providing us a view into the dynamics of Max's and Alexander's relationship.
July 7, 2017
I'm giving 4.3 stars.
First of all i'm soooo happy with this series. After a lot of maybe, the same, and not so good books. This series was a balm to my drivecrazy book dragons. Lol
And just when i need it.
I will start saying that the main character its a kickass female that has my heart. She is sassy, and crazy, and soo ( ohh my god) much fun. And the lines are on point, girl!! Oh my! Not just her, the secundary and others characters compliment the book in such a way that i was holding my heart in my hands a lot a times.
This series are a lost gem. I dont know how i didnt know this author. Really great. I read this series in one breath, really. So much fun. I was grinning like a kid in chrismas.
Just so you know, i did not rewiew the other books yet because i was so crazy with the story that i could not stop reading it.
The pace is good, and you can belive the evolution of the story. The emotions are high in them, in a delicius way. Some times i re-read chapters because was so amazing the felling of the book.
I loved every single minute of it.
Now, for sure, i'm going to try the others series of Diana Pharaoh.
I'm sooo in love ( Lol )!
If you cannot decide a book to read, I really recomend this series!!
Its worth it! Really good!
Happy reads and bye bye!
First of all i'm soooo happy with this series. After a lot of maybe, the same, and not so good books. This series was a balm to my drivecrazy book dragons. Lol
And just when i need it.
I will start saying that the main character its a kickass female that has my heart. She is sassy, and crazy, and soo ( ohh my god) much fun. And the lines are on point, girl!! Oh my! Not just her, the secundary and others characters compliment the book in such a way that i was holding my heart in my hands a lot a times.
This series are a lost gem. I dont know how i didnt know this author. Really great. I read this series in one breath, really. So much fun. I was grinning like a kid in chrismas.
Just so you know, i did not rewiew the other books yet because i was so crazy with the story that i could not stop reading it.
The pace is good, and you can belive the evolution of the story. The emotions are high in them, in a delicius way. Some times i re-read chapters because was so amazing the felling of the book.
I loved every single minute of it.
Now, for sure, i'm going to try the others series of Diana Pharaoh.
I'm sooo in love ( Lol )!
If you cannot decide a book to read, I really recomend this series!!
Its worth it! Really good!
Happy reads and bye bye!
February 17, 2018
Winter is setting in, and mere weeks having passed since the end of the world, the fight to keep the Guardians from Horngate, the trip to save Max’s family, her trip to Chardare and the battle to save Scooter, and the fight with the Fury. Max is left grieving and guilty from the losses they have suffered, finally with the time to process them. But not for long: a sociopathic witch-preacher has taken over nearby Missoula, and they learn this when he invades Horngate’s wards and crucifies and burns five innocents—and the Shadowblades are only able to save three. But it’s only the beginning, and they’re about to learn how badly Missoula has had it under the preacher’s rule—and that there’s more to him than any of them suspect. Unfortunately, a major issue in this book is Alexander, whose obsession with Max that he calls love means he can’t accept her grieving or doing her job as Prime, and he doesn’t stop pushing her and finding fault with her coping mechanisms by taking them super personally for no apparent reason. It got really irritating—and made him seem a lot less mature than he should be.
September 13, 2020
This book definitely has a lot of activity. The magical animal that has been following Alexander around relays a magical disturbance to him. Alexander is sent out to see what the disturbance is to determine if it is a threat. Turns out to be magical fire salamanders emerging from the depths of the earth. One of the farmers that supplies Horngate with meat is being threatened. Max is sent out to investigate the problem. It turns out to be an infestation of demons. Not only does Max have to figure out how to kill the demons but they also have a nest of baby demons to destroy. On top of all this, the angels are still out of commission, the town’s people are killing each other, and there is a psychotic witch who thinks he is the hand of god trying to cleanse the earth of witches. Max finally realizes her feelings for Alexander but is it to late? I was sad to see that this was the last book. I hope there are more to come.
August 16, 2018
Drama, drama y más drama. Tendría que haber dejado de leer esta saga en el tercer libro. Para mí, el final es mejor que el de este.
Creo que la autora ha arrastrado los problemas de la relación entre los protagonistas solo para crear más drama y tensión. No encuentro otro motivo ya que para mí no aporta nada a la evolución de estos personajes. Al contrario, me ha hecho odiar a Alexander y no puedo creer que Max haya aceptado la reconciliación tan fácilmente. De hecho, con sus problemas en cuanto a relaciones, me parece poco creíble la facilidad con que lo hace.
El resto de la trama, en mi opinión, deja mucho que desear.
Creo que la autora ha arrastrado los problemas de la relación entre los protagonistas solo para crear más drama y tensión. No encuentro otro motivo ya que para mí no aporta nada a la evolución de estos personajes. Al contrario, me ha hecho odiar a Alexander y no puedo creer que Max haya aceptado la reconciliación tan fácilmente. De hecho, con sus problemas en cuanto a relaciones, me parece poco creíble la facilidad con que lo hace.
El resto de la trama, en mi opinión, deja mucho que desear.
May 9, 2017
Extra 1/2 star
That was...*SIGH*. There were many things that I didn't like about this book. I hope that any subsequent stories in this series has all the things that I loved about the first three books.
That was...*SIGH*. There were many things that I didn't like about this book. I hope that any subsequent stories in this series has all the things that I loved about the first three books.
May 15, 2017
4.5 stars. A bit too repetitive of kill, hurt and maim. Max's rape didn't gel with me nor the scant thought and writing that went into it. Max was a kick ass heroine in 1 & 2. 3 was still okay but by 4th she's starting to stagnate and look more like an emotional coward and a bully.
October 18, 2017
This one was a bit slow and ponderous getting to the end. I always find it annoying when the main character doesn't even try to get real information before they attack I don't consider that kick ass. Still it was a nice wrap-up of the series and I kind of wanted to know more about this world.
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