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Greenworld Trilogy #2
Red Witch
Seventeen, heartbroken, powerful; Melz has run away from home, run away from the safety of the Greenworld. In the cities of the Redworld, Melz discovers she's special, desired. And not just for her magical talents. When Melz meets the young but influential Bran, their attraction is instant and electric. In the Redworld, with Bran by her side, unrestrained by the customs of her former life, Melz knows she can reach her true potential. But the world Bran wants to give Melz is ravaged by war and violence. Oil is running out, and people will do anything to gain control of the remaining resources. Melz may be more powerful than ever, but even great power can be a curse when used against you.
416 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2016
7 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Anna McKerrow
22 books32 followersAnna McKerrow has written poetry, children’s and adult books. She lives in London and is originally from the West Country, which gave her accent a subtle (yet noticeable) pirate twang as well as a love of cream teas and all things mystical.
She is an eclectic pagan witch and feminist who also loves crocheting blankets while watching episodes of Miss Marple. Anna loves mythology, magic, tarot, punk, grunge, rock and alternative music, fantasy and sci-fi novels, travel, luxury skincare products, chocolate, spas, candlelight and stormy beaches. She owns the requisite witchy black cat.
She is an eclectic pagan witch and feminist who also loves crocheting blankets while watching episodes of Miss Marple. Anna loves mythology, magic, tarot, punk, grunge, rock and alternative music, fantasy and sci-fi novels, travel, luxury skincare products, chocolate, spas, candlelight and stormy beaches. She owns the requisite witchy black cat.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 11 reviews
December 31, 2018
I read Red Witch without realising that it was the 2nd part of a trilogy and hands down to Anna McKerrow that it took me about 200 pages to realise that there must be a first part. It's well-written on the whole and it was a very easy and fast read. I like the Red/green world concept and the environmental undertones, but while I was reading I was constantly aware of the fact that I was reading and I never managed to break through the barrier from reading to experience. The reason for this is usually something to do with the language and I think perhaps this book was a little bit cliched, but neither was I the intended target audience.
October 22, 2019
Dystopia with a difference, brilliant!
A complete different take on the dystopian genre, that uses paganism and traditional witchcraft instead of the more usual angles. Great series, great characters and the world's collapse is one that's all to near the truth. Looking forward to the next part...oh and I want to live in the Greenworld!
A complete different take on the dystopian genre, that uses paganism and traditional witchcraft instead of the more usual angles. Great series, great characters and the world's collapse is one that's all to near the truth. Looking forward to the next part...oh and I want to live in the Greenworld!
May 23, 2022
This is the first *new* book in a long time that I've really been wholeheartedly absorbed in. I fangirl-spiralled over Melz and her badass powers and the incredible imagery of the witch-led Greenworld and the ruined, urban Redworld.
I did, however, only realise upon reading this for the second time that the city was called Glastonbury but I had been all along picturing Glasgow 🤦♀️
I did, however, only realise upon reading this for the second time that the city was called Glastonbury but I had been all along picturing Glasgow 🤦♀️
June 3, 2016
*Review also appears on: SceneSisters blog*
Book: Red Witch (Crow Moon #2)
Author: Anna McKerrow
Published: 10th March 2016
Publisher: Quercus Children's Books
Source: eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley
Pages: 416
Rating: 3/5 stars
McKerrow delivers the second book in the Crow Moon series, which provides a satisfying read, although lacking in some areas.
I'll start off by saying that I had enjoyed reading Crow Moon, and was excited to start reading the sequel, which follows the adventures of Demelza Hawthorne, or Melz, for short. The character of Demelza is well-rounded, she's naive but sure of herself, and cautious at times, whilst still being brave and determined. I liked her a lot, which is just as well because the whole book is told from her perspective anyway.
Some of my favourite parts of this book were those containing the Gods & Goddesses, especially the Morrigan, who would dominate every page she featured on (every time she appeared I had constant visions of the Morrigan from The Wicked and the Divine series, just me?). These sections were some of the most well-written, and were the easiest to get caught up in, mainly because I love mythology and deities, and all that mysterious goodness (so if you do too, this is a major draw).
Initially, I loved the character of Bran, again, because of the intrigue associated with his character, however, as the book progressed, I found his motivations to be too well cloaked, and ultimately, I felt like his character ended up slightly underdeveloped. The same can be said for the characters of Catie, Ceri & Demi, who I can only hope will make a reappearance in the third instalment of the series.
The book started well, and finished well, however the middle became a bit muddled for me, I found myself growing slightly bored, and the story did not take the direction I expected at all. This is not necessarily a bad thing, it's just that although a lot happened in this book, the pacing was uneven at times.
The concept of Greenworld/Redworld continues in this book and provides an interesting take on societal segregation, especially with regards to the commentary on the powers of those in charge to present a distorted version of reality to citizens; this is something I enjoyed and appreciated.
Ultimately, this is an enjoyable read with some good characters, however the lack of further development in terms of particular story-lines and characters left the book feeling slightly disjointed and lacking a consistent pace, although, hopefully this may be remedied in the third book in the series.
Book: Red Witch (Crow Moon #2)
Author: Anna McKerrow
Published: 10th March 2016
Publisher: Quercus Children's Books
Source: eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley
Pages: 416
Rating: 3/5 stars
McKerrow delivers the second book in the Crow Moon series, which provides a satisfying read, although lacking in some areas.
I'll start off by saying that I had enjoyed reading Crow Moon, and was excited to start reading the sequel, which follows the adventures of Demelza Hawthorne, or Melz, for short. The character of Demelza is well-rounded, she's naive but sure of herself, and cautious at times, whilst still being brave and determined. I liked her a lot, which is just as well because the whole book is told from her perspective anyway.
Some of my favourite parts of this book were those containing the Gods & Goddesses, especially the Morrigan, who would dominate every page she featured on (every time she appeared I had constant visions of the Morrigan from The Wicked and the Divine series, just me?). These sections were some of the most well-written, and were the easiest to get caught up in, mainly because I love mythology and deities, and all that mysterious goodness (so if you do too, this is a major draw).
Initially, I loved the character of Bran, again, because of the intrigue associated with his character, however, as the book progressed, I found his motivations to be too well cloaked, and ultimately, I felt like his character ended up slightly underdeveloped. The same can be said for the characters of Catie, Ceri & Demi, who I can only hope will make a reappearance in the third instalment of the series.
The book started well, and finished well, however the middle became a bit muddled for me, I found myself growing slightly bored, and the story did not take the direction I expected at all. This is not necessarily a bad thing, it's just that although a lot happened in this book, the pacing was uneven at times.
The concept of Greenworld/Redworld continues in this book and provides an interesting take on societal segregation, especially with regards to the commentary on the powers of those in charge to present a distorted version of reality to citizens; this is something I enjoyed and appreciated.
Ultimately, this is an enjoyable read with some good characters, however the lack of further development in terms of particular story-lines and characters left the book feeling slightly disjointed and lacking a consistent pace, although, hopefully this may be remedied in the third book in the series.
August 23, 2016
Check out my full review on my blog here!!
A huge thank you to Quercus books for providing me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
This novel was on my most anticipated reads of 2016 list , so I was extremely excited to get back into the world of the novel.
Red Witch picks off where Crow Moon left off. We get the novel from the perspective of Melz, who has run away from home, angry, upset and alone after the gang attack at the end of Crow Moon. Melz runs away to the "Redworld" which is extremely alien and foreign to her, but is not too different to the world we currently live in.
I really enjoyed seeing this story through the eyes of Melz. Seeing how she interacts and learns about shopping and technology all for the first time was really interesting. One of my favourite things about this novel was Melz and her journey as a character. When reading the novel, I felt as if I was there with her in the "Redworld" as she experienced everything for the first time and began to grow as a character, as a woman, and become so much more confident and comfortable in her own skin.
By the end of the novel, she so much stronger, more compassionate and clear minded than she was in Crow Moon, that even she notes how different her time in "Redworld" made her. I also loved reading about her growth as a witch and her interactions with her goddess the Morrigan.
Melz's interactions with some of the new characters introduced in this novel were really fun to read about. She makes some new friends in the shape of wanna-be witches Catie, Demi and Ceri who take her under their wing. Melz also meets Bran, a rich, young and powerful man who promises her the world. Their whole relationship was really interesting to read about.
Anna McKerrows world building is fantastic. I felt that I was there with Melz as she navigated the streets of Redworld, dined in Bran's home and traveled through Glastonbury. The descriptions of these places are so full of natural beauty that it really makes me appreciate even more so the gorgeous green fields of Ireland, where I live.
Anna's writing style is also full of the same lyrical, gripping and enthralling writing style she possessed in Crow Moon. She also has such a talent for writing such strong feminist female characters that I highly enjoy reading about. I highly recommend this novel if you're looking for a feminist yet magical piece of YA fiction.
I did find myself enjoying Red Witch more than Crow Moon, but these books are both so very good. Although I found the novel a little slow at the beginning, and the ending didn't fully satisfy me, I still would definitely recommend these novels.
Feminism, magic, environmentalists and gang drama.....what more could you want in a novel!
I am so intensely excited for the next, and sadly the last, book in the series which is set to release next year!
A huge thank you to Quercus books for providing me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
This novel was on my most anticipated reads of 2016 list , so I was extremely excited to get back into the world of the novel.
Red Witch picks off where Crow Moon left off. We get the novel from the perspective of Melz, who has run away from home, angry, upset and alone after the gang attack at the end of Crow Moon. Melz runs away to the "Redworld" which is extremely alien and foreign to her, but is not too different to the world we currently live in.
I really enjoyed seeing this story through the eyes of Melz. Seeing how she interacts and learns about shopping and technology all for the first time was really interesting. One of my favourite things about this novel was Melz and her journey as a character. When reading the novel, I felt as if I was there with her in the "Redworld" as she experienced everything for the first time and began to grow as a character, as a woman, and become so much more confident and comfortable in her own skin.
By the end of the novel, she so much stronger, more compassionate and clear minded than she was in Crow Moon, that even she notes how different her time in "Redworld" made her. I also loved reading about her growth as a witch and her interactions with her goddess the Morrigan.
Melz's interactions with some of the new characters introduced in this novel were really fun to read about. She makes some new friends in the shape of wanna-be witches Catie, Demi and Ceri who take her under their wing. Melz also meets Bran, a rich, young and powerful man who promises her the world. Their whole relationship was really interesting to read about.
Anna McKerrows world building is fantastic. I felt that I was there with Melz as she navigated the streets of Redworld, dined in Bran's home and traveled through Glastonbury. The descriptions of these places are so full of natural beauty that it really makes me appreciate even more so the gorgeous green fields of Ireland, where I live.
Anna's writing style is also full of the same lyrical, gripping and enthralling writing style she possessed in Crow Moon. She also has such a talent for writing such strong feminist female characters that I highly enjoy reading about. I highly recommend this novel if you're looking for a feminist yet magical piece of YA fiction.
I did find myself enjoying Red Witch more than Crow Moon, but these books are both so very good. Although I found the novel a little slow at the beginning, and the ending didn't fully satisfy me, I still would definitely recommend these novels.
Feminism, magic, environmentalists and gang drama.....what more could you want in a novel!
I am so intensely excited for the next, and sadly the last, book in the series which is set to release next year!
February 29, 2016
I LOVED this book!
I read Crow Moon on its release last year, but this book is even better. I love Melz and was excited to get to know her character a lot better as a first person narrator. Maybe it's because we both wear cowboy boots but I held a strong connection to her and, as a result, read this book within a couple of days.
My favourite line BY FAR is 'Respect Nature, for She has no respect for you,' which just seems to ring true considering global warming and everything that's happening to the world right now. That line has just echoed through my mind over the last few days after finishing the book and I think this is important. The message Anna McKerrow brings home throughout this novel is to look after our planet, otherwise things will end up exactly like they are in the Redworld and before we know it we'll be leaving future generations to burn, or drown with the aftereffects of climate change and the war against fossil fuels we're steadily slipping into.
Anyway, Melz's character is intriguing and, often at times during the book, endearing in her venture from Greenworld into the Redworld. I just really enjoyed it. Yay.
I read Crow Moon on its release last year, but this book is even better. I love Melz and was excited to get to know her character a lot better as a first person narrator. Maybe it's because we both wear cowboy boots but I held a strong connection to her and, as a result, read this book within a couple of days.
My favourite line BY FAR is 'Respect Nature, for She has no respect for you,' which just seems to ring true considering global warming and everything that's happening to the world right now. That line has just echoed through my mind over the last few days after finishing the book and I think this is important. The message Anna McKerrow brings home throughout this novel is to look after our planet, otherwise things will end up exactly like they are in the Redworld and before we know it we'll be leaving future generations to burn, or drown with the aftereffects of climate change and the war against fossil fuels we're steadily slipping into.
Anyway, Melz's character is intriguing and, often at times during the book, endearing in her venture from Greenworld into the Redworld. I just really enjoyed it. Yay.
Read
April 10, 2016DNF at page 160.
THIS BOOK DROVE ME MAD.
From the accent and dialogue - someone from Yorkshire constantly saying 'Aye', one young woman from York IN A POST-APOCALYPTIC/MODERN WORLD saying 'ow do flower?' and 'nice ta meet thee' when I've never met anyone here who said flower as a pet name in MY LIFE and thee in a contemporary setting?????- to the romance.
Okay, the romance, I don't know if this book is building up to something epic because I'm too irritated to finish, but ... Bran is manipulative, secretive, and there's something about him that has red flashing lights going off and mental voices screaming DANGER, AXE MURDERER. If it ends with Melz hitting him with a cricket bat because he assaults her, fine, I see the signs and that was well foreshadowed. Otherwise? Run!
I liked Melz way more than Danny though, but where romance is involved she's just as naive. She might have seemed savvy and aware of Bran's creepiness in parts but others ... she lets him touch her, feels sparks and connections with him, etc.
Just, nah. This book is 100% not for me. Maybe if you're not from Yorkshire, it won't do your head in quite as much. Bran probably will though.
THIS BOOK DROVE ME MAD.
From the accent and dialogue - someone from Yorkshire constantly saying 'Aye', one young woman from York IN A POST-APOCALYPTIC/MODERN WORLD saying 'ow do flower?' and 'nice ta meet thee' when I've never met anyone here who said flower as a pet name in MY LIFE and thee in a contemporary setting?????- to the romance.
Okay, the romance, I don't know if this book is building up to something epic because I'm too irritated to finish, but ... Bran is manipulative, secretive, and there's something about him that has red flashing lights going off and mental voices screaming DANGER, AXE MURDERER. If it ends with Melz hitting him with a cricket bat because he assaults her, fine, I see the signs and that was well foreshadowed. Otherwise? Run!
I liked Melz way more than Danny though, but where romance is involved she's just as naive. She might have seemed savvy and aware of Bran's creepiness in parts but others ... she lets him touch her, feels sparks and connections with him, etc.
Just, nah. This book is 100% not for me. Maybe if you're not from Yorkshire, it won't do your head in quite as much. Bran probably will though.
dnf
May 26, 2016I'm afraid this book just wasn't for me. I didn't like the storyline particularly, nor did the characters do anything for me. All in all I never finished the book and what I did read I was bored in.
That being said had I realised that this was a dystopian I would not have requested it, I seem to automatically dislike them. If you like a dystopian book with witches in then I would suggest maybe checking this series out, seems like a great concept from a fantastic publishing house (and probably an amazing author! who, if she writes anything non dystopian I will be all over!)
That being said had I realised that this was a dystopian I would not have requested it, I seem to automatically dislike them. If you like a dystopian book with witches in then I would suggest maybe checking this series out, seems like a great concept from a fantastic publishing house (and probably an amazing author! who, if she writes anything non dystopian I will be all over!)
April 23, 2016
I'm torn about this book. I liked the concept but I didn't really like any of the characters. Melz too naïve and condescending for my taste. I didn't even really get why she went to the Redworld in the first place. I ended up skimming half the novel. It's only after I finished the book that I found out that Red Witch is the second book in the series following on from Crow Moon, which is probably why I felt like I was missing something when I started this book.
My thanks to Quercus Books who provided an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
My thanks to Quercus Books who provided an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2021
I didn't realise this was the second book in the series until very near the end -- I thought it just had an effective back story.
It's well-written, compelling and thought-provoking. I liked the dystopian setting and the moral ambiguities. Back to the first in the series now to fill in the gaps!
It's well-written, compelling and thought-provoking. I liked the dystopian setting and the moral ambiguities. Back to the first in the series now to fill in the gaps!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 11 reviews