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Sisters of the Sun #3
The Star Witch
The Sun Witch and The Moon Witch introduced the Fyne sisters, three different and engrossing witches coming into their own. Here, the eldest wonders how she can remain chaste with a sensuous enemy tempting her.
Some say the Circle of Bacwyr is a myth—and practical Isadora, a young, widowed attendant to the Empress, numbers among them. But for Captain Lucan Hern, the powerful Circle is as real as the daggers he hides under his clothing. The warrior was raised solely to find—and capture— the elusive Star of Bacwyr. But his teachers never told him exactly what it was. They only made one thing clear. Stay away from witches.
Sounds easy enough. Then Lucan meets Isadora, a decidedly different kind of beauty. She is oblivious to his attraction—while he is equally oblivious to the fact that she's a witch. And he believes her ring is the Star he's been searching for.
Isadora has slept in a cold bed these long years, but the arrival of this gorgeous creature sets her body afire. And after a lifetime of searching for the Star, Lucan all but forgets it, waiting for Isadora to give herself to him freely, when he will take her beyond her wildest dreams.
Some say the Circle of Bacwyr is a myth—and practical Isadora, a young, widowed attendant to the Empress, numbers among them. But for Captain Lucan Hern, the powerful Circle is as real as the daggers he hides under his clothing. The warrior was raised solely to find—and capture— the elusive Star of Bacwyr. But his teachers never told him exactly what it was. They only made one thing clear. Stay away from witches.
Sounds easy enough. Then Lucan meets Isadora, a decidedly different kind of beauty. She is oblivious to his attraction—while he is equally oblivious to the fact that she's a witch. And he believes her ring is the Star he's been searching for.
Isadora has slept in a cold bed these long years, but the arrival of this gorgeous creature sets her body afire. And after a lifetime of searching for the Star, Lucan all but forgets it, waiting for Isadora to give herself to him freely, when he will take her beyond her wildest dreams.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 3, 2006
26 people are currently reading
767 people want to read
About the author
Linda Winstead Jones
184 books378 followersLinda Winstead Jones is the bestselling author of more than eighty romance novels and novellas across several sub-genres. She’s easily distracted (Look! A squirrel!) and writes the stories that speak to her in the moment. Paranormal. Romantic Suspense. Twisted Fairy Tales. Cowboys. Her books are for readers who want to escape from reality for a while, who don’t mind the occasional trip into another world for a laugh, a chill, the occasional heartwarming tear. Where will we go next?
More information can be found at lindawinsteadjones.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter, and at www.facebook.com/LindaWinsteadJones or www.facebook.com/LindaHowardLindaJones.
More information can be found at lindawinsteadjones.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter, and at www.facebook.com/LindaWinsteadJones or www.facebook.com/LindaHowardLindaJones.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
March 14, 2010
I haven't always been a fan of this series - it's taken me an age to work up the muster to read this third & final installment, but I have to say it's my favourite of the bunch.
After finishing The Moon Witch and being distinctly unimpressed with the story (but more on that later), I was really skittish about reading The Star Witch. From what I'd read of her, Isadora didn't seem to be a particularly great character, and I was also extremely reluctant to read about Sebestyen & Liane. After a while, however, my initial trepidation turned into excitement as I got caught up in Isadora & Lucan's stories.
Isadora was by far my favourite of the three Fyne sisters. Sophie was nice but ditzy, Juliet was a complete pain in the ass, and Isadora seemed to be a selfish and haughty snob who I was sure would turn this book into the kind of 'I like you, but I don't want to' angsty trash I hate. Her love for her dead husband Willym seemed to be a big obstacle to any future romance, & I wasn't keen on reading about her moaning & dawdling while knowing that in the end she'd have a HEA.
Instead, I actually liked her a lot. Her love for her dead husband made me feel sorry for her instead of irritate me like it so easily could have, and I found her to be way more complex than her one dimensional sisters.
Lucan was also a lot more likeable than the previous two 'heroes' in this series. Ryn was a shudderingly bad character, and although I liked Kane I always felt like he never really fulfilled the potential he had. Lucan wasn't amazing or anything, but he knew what he wanted and went for it, and didn't seem obnoxious or annoying for it once. He & Isadora as a couple were much more mature and realistic than the others, and I ended up really rooting for them, almost as much as my next couple...
Sebestyen and Liane. In my opinion, they're the best thing about this series; they always stuck in my mind after I finished each book, and I wished more than once for the story to be centred on them alone. I can't remember the last time I felt so many different emotions about a character - one minute I was desperately hoping he & Liane would be happy together, the next that the rebels would cut off his head... It was like an emotional merry-go-round.
Sebestyen and Liane were by far the most complex and engaging characters in these books; they were both screwed up, but realistic at the same time. Sebestyen in particular intrigued me; there was always a moral ambiguity about him, and his alternating between real sweetness and true evil was interesting instead of confusing. I couldn't help thinking, as he did on occasion, what his life would have been like if he wasn't screwed up by being Emperor. We got to see things from his POV in The Star Witch, and it gave me a much better insight into what he thinks. I also found that I missed Liane's POV - she spends most of this book pregnant & bedridden, but as one of my fave characters I missed being inside her head. I know a lot of people probably think Liane loving him is a glorifying of Stockholm Syndrome or whatever, but I found it understandable that they were in love - they were both damaged in their own ways, and found solace in each other.
I was hoping against hope that the prophesy about Sebestyen's 'fall' wasn't true, and by the end of the book I was really hoping he & Liane would set aside their differences & escape together. Alas, we cannot always get what we want, and although I'd always kind of expected it the ending still made me want to cry...
Although it was a little late coming, I think that Linda Winstead Jones really came into her own in this book. The writing was much better & the pace kept me interested throughout, but some things made me roll my eyes. I was repeatedly reminded of Lucan's extreme masculinity, the line about his 'manly cheek' making me laugh out loud. The whole romance aspect was done a lot better - it was still a tad rushed, but much more realistically done, not at all like Ryn & Juliet. Honestly, they nearly put me off this series for good - it was only my need to find out what happened to L & S and a good dose of book drought that gave me the courage to continue on after them. I've heard there's a book on Juliet & Ryn's daughter Keelia, whose interesting future was prophesied on in The Moon Witch. I'm a little iffy on whether to read it; without any Liane & Sebestyen to keep me going, if she's anything like her parents I think I'll just stop reading :L
But after the much better effort here, I think I'll give it a go :)
The resolving of the curse, which I'd wondered a lot about, was a little silly & unbelievable in my eyes, but due to the brainlessness of two of the Fynes I suppose it was kind of plausible :L
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected; although I didn't get the HEA I'd expected in some cases, it was realistic and for the best, and I think if the author had bottled out I'd have lost a lot of respect for the series. Linda Winstead Jones has shown herself to be more than capable of writing complex & deep characters (let's just forget Ryn & Juliet, shall we?), so I would consider reading anything else she's written.
It's far from being the best series ever, but it's not half bad, and this is by far the best of the three. There are moments of cheesiness and annoying characters, but there are also flashes of brilliance of people who are complex and interesting enough to make you want to read on. It can be generic and unoriginal, and often borders on fluffiness, but in this book especially we see a much darker and deeper side to this story.So if you're reading the previous books, or are perhaps too traumatised by The Moon Witch to even consider reading this one, don't lose heart - this one is much better, and will hopefully restore your faith in the series :)
After finishing The Moon Witch and being distinctly unimpressed with the story (but more on that later), I was really skittish about reading The Star Witch. From what I'd read of her, Isadora didn't seem to be a particularly great character, and I was also extremely reluctant to read about Sebestyen & Liane. After a while, however, my initial trepidation turned into excitement as I got caught up in Isadora & Lucan's stories.
Isadora was by far my favourite of the three Fyne sisters. Sophie was nice but ditzy, Juliet was a complete pain in the ass, and Isadora seemed to be a selfish and haughty snob who I was sure would turn this book into the kind of 'I like you, but I don't want to' angsty trash I hate. Her love for her dead husband Willym seemed to be a big obstacle to any future romance, & I wasn't keen on reading about her moaning & dawdling while knowing that in the end she'd have a HEA.
Instead, I actually liked her a lot. Her love for her dead husband made me feel sorry for her instead of irritate me like it so easily could have, and I found her to be way more complex than her one dimensional sisters.
Lucan was also a lot more likeable than the previous two 'heroes' in this series. Ryn was a shudderingly bad character, and although I liked Kane I always felt like he never really fulfilled the potential he had. Lucan wasn't amazing or anything, but he knew what he wanted and went for it, and didn't seem obnoxious or annoying for it once. He & Isadora as a couple were much more mature and realistic than the others, and I ended up really rooting for them, almost as much as my next couple...
Sebestyen and Liane. In my opinion, they're the best thing about this series; they always stuck in my mind after I finished each book, and I wished more than once for the story to be centred on them alone. I can't remember the last time I felt so many different emotions about a character - one minute I was desperately hoping he & Liane would be happy together, the next that the rebels would cut off his head... It was like an emotional merry-go-round.
Sebestyen and Liane were by far the most complex and engaging characters in these books; they were both screwed up, but realistic at the same time. Sebestyen in particular intrigued me; there was always a moral ambiguity about him, and his alternating between real sweetness and true evil was interesting instead of confusing. I couldn't help thinking, as he did on occasion, what his life would have been like if he wasn't screwed up by being Emperor. We got to see things from his POV in The Star Witch, and it gave me a much better insight into what he thinks. I also found that I missed Liane's POV - she spends most of this book pregnant & bedridden, but as one of my fave characters I missed being inside her head. I know a lot of people probably think Liane loving him is a glorifying of Stockholm Syndrome or whatever, but I found it understandable that they were in love - they were both damaged in their own ways, and found solace in each other.
I was hoping against hope that the prophesy about Sebestyen's 'fall' wasn't true, and by the end of the book I was really hoping he & Liane would set aside their differences & escape together. Alas, we cannot always get what we want, and although I'd always kind of expected it the ending still made me want to cry...
Although it was a little late coming, I think that Linda Winstead Jones really came into her own in this book. The writing was much better & the pace kept me interested throughout, but some things made me roll my eyes. I was repeatedly reminded of Lucan's extreme masculinity, the line about his 'manly cheek' making me laugh out loud. The whole romance aspect was done a lot better - it was still a tad rushed, but much more realistically done, not at all like Ryn & Juliet. Honestly, they nearly put me off this series for good - it was only my need to find out what happened to L & S and a good dose of book drought that gave me the courage to continue on after them. I've heard there's a book on Juliet & Ryn's daughter Keelia, whose interesting future was prophesied on in The Moon Witch. I'm a little iffy on whether to read it; without any Liane & Sebestyen to keep me going, if she's anything like her parents I think I'll just stop reading :L
But after the much better effort here, I think I'll give it a go :)
The resolving of the curse, which I'd wondered a lot about, was a little silly & unbelievable in my eyes, but due to the brainlessness of two of the Fynes I suppose it was kind of plausible :L
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected; although I didn't get the HEA I'd expected in some cases, it was realistic and for the best, and I think if the author had bottled out I'd have lost a lot of respect for the series. Linda Winstead Jones has shown herself to be more than capable of writing complex & deep characters (let's just forget Ryn & Juliet, shall we?), so I would consider reading anything else she's written.
It's far from being the best series ever, but it's not half bad, and this is by far the best of the three. There are moments of cheesiness and annoying characters, but there are also flashes of brilliance of people who are complex and interesting enough to make you want to read on. It can be generic and unoriginal, and often borders on fluffiness, but in this book especially we see a much darker and deeper side to this story.So if you're reading the previous books, or are perhaps too traumatised by The Moon Witch to even consider reading this one, don't lose heart - this one is much better, and will hopefully restore your faith in the series :)
December 12, 2017
4.0 stars
This was definitely my favorite book of the three so far. A few things I liked:
1. Isadora - she was not one dimensional. She was just her and held her strength and ability through her years of practice and study. She had her internal struggle with good and bad. She was careful how to use her powers. She was the most "traditional" witch of her sisters. While some may think she lacked the cool abilities her sisters had, she made up for it in personality and determination to protect. Side note... I'm glad she didn't get pregnant like all her sisters lol. There was just so much pregnancy in this series and it wouldn't have added in any way to Isadora's story.
2. Lucan - he was also my favorite love interest. We interacted with him much more than Kane so that we knew his personality from the beginning.
3. Liane and Sebestyen's story... They were the two characters that definitely kept me reading initially, and I'm so glad I did. I have so many feelings about them and what happened to them in the book.
A few things I wish had been done better...
1. I wish there was a bit more to the ending or some sort of epilogue, especially for Isadora and Liane.
2.
3. Speaking of the climax... the battle it was leading up to was also anticlimactic.
Overall, it was a really solid book. I finished it in a day. I had a hard time putting it down. I may be interested enough to read the next part of this series!
This was definitely my favorite book of the three so far. A few things I liked:
1. Isadora - she was not one dimensional. She was just her and held her strength and ability through her years of practice and study. She had her internal struggle with good and bad. She was careful how to use her powers. She was the most "traditional" witch of her sisters. While some may think she lacked the cool abilities her sisters had, she made up for it in personality and determination to protect. Side note... I'm glad she didn't get pregnant like all her sisters lol. There was just so much pregnancy in this series and it wouldn't have added in any way to Isadora's story.
2. Lucan - he was also my favorite love interest. We interacted with him much more than Kane so that we knew his personality from the beginning.
3. Liane and Sebestyen's story... They were the two characters that definitely kept me reading initially, and I'm so glad I did. I have so many feelings about them and what happened to them in the book.
A few things I wish had been done better...
1. I wish there was a bit more to the ending or some sort of epilogue, especially for Isadora and Liane.
2.
3. Speaking of the climax... the battle it was leading up to was also anticlimactic.
Overall, it was a really solid book. I finished it in a day. I had a hard time putting it down. I may be interested enough to read the next part of this series!
September 27, 2012
Despite my reservations throughout reading this series, it ended fairly well. This was the best book of the series, and this was the best romance of the three. It helped, too, that this book finally closes all those threads that were left dangling throughout.
In the end, I have to say that I was more compelled by the Emperor Sebastian and Leann than by the Fyne sisters and their curse. The emperor and his concubine-turned-empress were damaged, and more fully developed than any of the primary characters.
As far as Isadora and Lucan, I felt they fell in love a little too quickly, and based on very little, but on the other hand, I did buy into the issues keeping them apart. It made for some decent romantic tension.
The conclusion was satisfying, both for the characters and for the world. It didn't happen as easily as I feared it would, either -- although the emperor's choices played a big part in that. (Which is one more reason I was more compelled by his subplot than any of the three main plots in this series.)
I gave this book 3 stars, just like its prequels, but this one was a higher 3, nearing 4. I didn't round up because as I look at the series overall, I think 3 is an accurate representation of how I felt. It wasn't great, but it wasn't bad, and if you're in the mood for fantasy romance, you may like this. The three books together won't take long to read.
www.christineamsden.com
In the end, I have to say that I was more compelled by the Emperor Sebastian and Leann than by the Fyne sisters and their curse. The emperor and his concubine-turned-empress were damaged, and more fully developed than any of the primary characters.
As far as Isadora and Lucan, I felt they fell in love a little too quickly, and based on very little, but on the other hand, I did buy into the issues keeping them apart. It made for some decent romantic tension.
The conclusion was satisfying, both for the characters and for the world. It didn't happen as easily as I feared it would, either -- although the emperor's choices played a big part in that. (Which is one more reason I was more compelled by his subplot than any of the three main plots in this series.)
I gave this book 3 stars, just like its prequels, but this one was a higher 3, nearing 4. I didn't round up because as I look at the series overall, I think 3 is an accurate representation of how I felt. It wasn't great, but it wasn't bad, and if you're in the mood for fantasy romance, you may like this. The three books together won't take long to read.
www.christineamsden.com
February 3, 2014
This was the best of the three - I also agree with other reviewers - the characterization of Lianne and the Emperor was quite possibly the best out of all the couples.
Their relationship was one of the reasons I flew through these series so quickly.
Level 13 scared the crapola outta me - it was quite possibly one of the best evil machinations I've read in a story so far. So much left to tell in this story, but it's all touched so briefly.
One thing I wished that the author did was have a better reunion of all the girls' fathers with their daughters - only Isadora's was satisfactory.
Great story, good adventure - but I don't think I'd re-read this again. There was always...something...the left to be desired. I'm not sure what it is - perhaps it was the writing or perhaps it was the fact that some avenues in this story I wanted to read more about were simply left unanswered.
It's definitely worth a read - witches with power but can't love because of a curse.
Their relationship was one of the reasons I flew through these series so quickly.
Level 13 scared the crapola outta me - it was quite possibly one of the best evil machinations I've read in a story so far. So much left to tell in this story, but it's all touched so briefly.
One thing I wished that the author did was have a better reunion of all the girls' fathers with their daughters - only Isadora's was satisfactory.
Great story, good adventure - but I don't think I'd re-read this again. There was always...something...the left to be desired. I'm not sure what it is - perhaps it was the writing or perhaps it was the fact that some avenues in this story I wanted to read more about were simply left unanswered.
It's definitely worth a read - witches with power but can't love because of a curse.
October 30, 2016
Same beautiful world, same powerful woman-centric story that focuses on female friendships and relationships as well as giving each their own romance. I had to put this book down at the 3/4 mark as my favorite ship in the book went to hell (but of course, it was always going to end up that way). The way things were tidied up was a bit.... rushed/forced toward the end of the book, and the curse was ended *really* easily. I also think this might be my least favorite of the 3 romances. Arrogant "I always get what I want" men are not attractive to me, sorry. Still, definitely can't wait to read more of this author's books set in this world.
November 14, 2012
The Star Witch Started pretty good but it rubbed me the wrong way toward the end. Lucan .... He regressed quiet a bit, what a shame. Men in romantic fiction should not be given a lot of POV chapters, they start talking like women. Except Sebestyen, he was truly interesting until the very end
Still I enjoyed the book and might read the next generation's books.
4 stars for a good conclusion of the trilogy. Also for Sebestyen and Liane, they made the series. IMO they were the best couple by far.
December 29, 2025
The Star Witch delivers a sweeping blend of fantasy romance, political intrigue, and destiny-driven magic, all anchored by the haunting Fyne Curse: women of the Fyne bloodline lose their loved ones on their thirtieth birthday. That looming fate gives the novel a constant sense of urgency and emotional weight, even as the story sprawls across palace corridors, rebellions, and hidden magic.
Isadora is a compelling heroine: guarded, strong-willed, and shaped by loss. Her reluctance to give in fully to love feels justified given the curse hanging over her, and her internal conflict is one of the book’s emotional strengths. Lucan, trained to be Prince of Swords, balances duty and desire in a way that makes him more than just a romantic lead. His fascination with Isadora begins with mystery but deepens into genuine loyalty and love, even when the truth about her identity comes to light.
The palace politics add a darker edge to the story. Sebestyen is a chilling antagonist, manipulative and ruthless, and his actions raise the stakes considerably, especially when Isadora is betrayed and cast aside. The middle portion of the book is dense with plotting, secret passages, betrayals, and shifting alliances, which may feel overwhelming at times but ultimately pays off as the sisters unite.
What stands out most is the theme of sisterhood. As the Fyne sisters come together, each with her own power and burden, the story shifts from a single romance to something larger: breaking generational trauma and reclaiming control over their futures. The eventual lifting of the curse is satisfying, earned through sacrifice and unity rather than convenience.
The romance between Isadora and Lucan is passionate but often overshadowed by larger events, which works in the book’s favor. Their love feels hard-won, tested by secrets, violence, and incompatible destinies. By the time Isadora accepts Lucan’s proposal, it feels like a true choice rather than an inevitability.
Overall, The Star Witch is an ambitious and emotionally charged conclusion to the trilogy. While the plot is complex and sometimes heavy with detail, it rewards patient readers with a powerful ending, a broken curse, and a love story rooted in trust and acceptance. Fans of romantic fantasy with strong heroines and high stakes will likely find this installment deeply satisfying.
Isadora is a compelling heroine: guarded, strong-willed, and shaped by loss. Her reluctance to give in fully to love feels justified given the curse hanging over her, and her internal conflict is one of the book’s emotional strengths. Lucan, trained to be Prince of Swords, balances duty and desire in a way that makes him more than just a romantic lead. His fascination with Isadora begins with mystery but deepens into genuine loyalty and love, even when the truth about her identity comes to light.
The palace politics add a darker edge to the story. Sebestyen is a chilling antagonist, manipulative and ruthless, and his actions raise the stakes considerably, especially when Isadora is betrayed and cast aside. The middle portion of the book is dense with plotting, secret passages, betrayals, and shifting alliances, which may feel overwhelming at times but ultimately pays off as the sisters unite.
What stands out most is the theme of sisterhood. As the Fyne sisters come together, each with her own power and burden, the story shifts from a single romance to something larger: breaking generational trauma and reclaiming control over their futures. The eventual lifting of the curse is satisfying, earned through sacrifice and unity rather than convenience.
The romance between Isadora and Lucan is passionate but often overshadowed by larger events, which works in the book’s favor. Their love feels hard-won, tested by secrets, violence, and incompatible destinies. By the time Isadora accepts Lucan’s proposal, it feels like a true choice rather than an inevitability.
Overall, The Star Witch is an ambitious and emotionally charged conclusion to the trilogy. While the plot is complex and sometimes heavy with detail, it rewards patient readers with a powerful ending, a broken curse, and a love story rooted in trust and acceptance. Fans of romantic fantasy with strong heroines and high stakes will likely find this installment deeply satisfying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2017
This was a really disappointing and strange end to this trilogy (though the series continues it is the next generation so I consider these to be apart from the others). If Juliet was the least interesting of the sisters, Isadora was the least likable. In the other books she was so shrewish and bitchy, over and above what I could admire as a strong woman. This book...that woman didn't exist. With no real reason for the total personality transplant she was strong but sweeter, forgiving, and caring. It was almost like she was a character I'd never even seen before she was so different. There was an ending to the curse but it was disappointing in that the relationship of this book was soured for me and anticlimactic. I saw the twist such as it was coming from a mile away. I'm also still confused as to what exactly this author's world was. It takes place in a location and time apart from reality, with mystical creatures, strange words/languages, godawful spellings of names and absolutely no explanation of anything I moved past confused into some strange sort of acceptance for everything but the names and just ignored the parts I had no context for. The middle part of this book-the romantic development-was great. The beginning was slow and the ending was a bummer in that I waited three books for this conclusion and it was kind of a let down. I'll hold on to the first book because I occasionally like to reread it but I won't continue the series and I wouldn't recommend it
September 6, 2019
I didn't read the first two books. But I found the storyline interesting because there was some political intrigue between the opposing forces. I found there was enough tension about the main character's predicament...a witch regaining powers but having to hide them from most people. The relationship between the main character and her love interest developed from her being forced to be a spy. In this situation she had asserted her self well and the conflicts that ensued were enough to keep me reading. It is a good easy read with some nice writing. It was good enough that I am interested in finding the first two books to see what they are like.
November 9, 2023
Much better than the prior 2 books. The pacing and way all of the sub plots came together worked very well. Lucan and Isadora’s story was pretty interesting,‘as there will be more to come. Sybastyan was a bad person but complex in his love for Liane and his sons. I hope Liane finds a healthy relationship through, but at least she finally has her sons.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2021
I finished the third book in this series, The Star Witch! The three books just got better and better! The Sun Witch-Sophie’s story, The Moon Witch-Juliet’s story, and The Star Witch-Isadora’s story!
May 2, 2020
As predicted- I did like the second better than first and third. Though this one had its moments.
July 7, 2022
A lovely conclusion to the trilogy.
July 14, 2024
This is my favorite author and book series!
Want to read
January 31, 2025Thrift store find, along with book 2!
February 26, 2025
Love the Fyne Witches
The books were great and loved the loves the Witches found! Good men all of them! Look forward to reading about the children!
The books were great and loved the loves the Witches found! Good men all of them! Look forward to reading about the children!
August 15, 2025
Kidnapped and separated from her sisters, the heroine is alive only because of the empresses decree. Her soul purpose in life is to care for the pregnant woman. Then the warrior comes. He's at the castle to negotiate the terms of whether the emperor will have his soldiers to battle the rebels. Then he sees the heroine. Though no great beautiful something about her catches his eye, even before he notices the ring on her finger. That ring is what he needs to fulfil his duty as the prince of swords and end the war in his country. He forms the plan to seduce the ring from her finger but she makes it anything but easy. She's infuriated when the emperor comes to her demanding she go to the hero's bed-saying that he will have no other woman but her in return for his loyalty to the emperor.
Grieving the death of her husband, she wants nothing at all to do with the arrogant but beautiful captain. But as they begin their affair, both of them are surprised to realize just how deeply their connection runs. The heroine, feeling alive and warm in the arms of the only man she's been with since her husband, is terrified to admit to herself that she's quickly falling in love with the handsome warrior. The hero is confused as he's never before felt anything close to what he feels when he's with the heroine. He's used to having things handed to him but she fights him with a fierce pride. She intrigues him and he allows what he swore he'd never allow. A woman to control him. It's because of her he sways between giving loyalty to the crazed emperor or to the rebels and when she's imprisoned, he'll risk anything to get her back. I loved this hero. He was so supremely confident without being cocky. It's hard to be obnoxiously arrogant when you have the means to back up everything you say. He was tender to her, patient with her and loyal to her above all others. Even when he realizes she's a witch-something he's supposed to hate-he never even bats an eye. He man enough to realize that he may not like witches or trust magic, but he loves this woman and nothing will come between them. I loved the heroine because she's also woman enough to accept her faults and take a chance at happiness. She put up a fight in the beginning, refusing to admit she even liked the hero but when she felt what he made her feel-safe and loved, she wakes up and allows herself to enjoy it. I absolutely hated the emperor but what can you do- royalty are crazy and drunk with power-of course he's insane. But I loved his comeuppance in the end, especially after how he treated his wife. Lovely book with great characters/
Grieving the death of her husband, she wants nothing at all to do with the arrogant but beautiful captain. But as they begin their affair, both of them are surprised to realize just how deeply their connection runs. The heroine, feeling alive and warm in the arms of the only man she's been with since her husband, is terrified to admit to herself that she's quickly falling in love with the handsome warrior. The hero is confused as he's never before felt anything close to what he feels when he's with the heroine. He's used to having things handed to him but she fights him with a fierce pride. She intrigues him and he allows what he swore he'd never allow. A woman to control him. It's because of her he sways between giving loyalty to the crazed emperor or to the rebels and when she's imprisoned, he'll risk anything to get her back. I loved this hero. He was so supremely confident without being cocky. It's hard to be obnoxiously arrogant when you have the means to back up everything you say. He was tender to her, patient with her and loyal to her above all others. Even when he realizes she's a witch-something he's supposed to hate-he never even bats an eye. He man enough to realize that he may not like witches or trust magic, but he loves this woman and nothing will come between them. I loved the heroine because she's also woman enough to accept her faults and take a chance at happiness. She put up a fight in the beginning, refusing to admit she even liked the hero but when she felt what he made her feel-safe and loved, she wakes up and allows herself to enjoy it. I absolutely hated the emperor but what can you do- royalty are crazy and drunk with power-of course he's insane. But I loved his comeuppance in the end, especially after how he treated his wife. Lovely book with great characters/
January 17, 2021
The Star Witch is a fitting finale, marvelously wrought through clever plot development, a few diabolical twists and of course, the author’s formidable imagery and story-telling skills. The bulk of this book takes place at the Emperor’s palace where the civil war is looming closer and alliances have to be quickly established to secure the kingdom for the Empress’ unborn twins.
The tumultuous relationship (it’s even more melodramatic than Romeo and Juliet, I swear) between the royal couple makes an interesting, and contrasting, backdrop to the steady development of feelings between the warrior who has been warned to ‘stay away from the witch’, and Isadora, both of whom are oblivious to the secrets they hide from each other.
The Star Witch brings about a satisfying conclusion – not all HEA for Liane managed to save her twin sons, but lost her husband the Emperor Sebastyen. I could see possibilities of a continuation of the series. It would be interesting to see their second generation exhibit their gifts, and Isadora’s new life with the Tryfyn.
First posted a review of this book in 2006.
The tumultuous relationship (it’s even more melodramatic than Romeo and Juliet, I swear) between the royal couple makes an interesting, and contrasting, backdrop to the steady development of feelings between the warrior who has been warned to ‘stay away from the witch’, and Isadora, both of whom are oblivious to the secrets they hide from each other.
The Star Witch brings about a satisfying conclusion – not all HEA for Liane managed to save her twin sons, but lost her husband the Emperor Sebastyen. I could see possibilities of a continuation of the series. It would be interesting to see their second generation exhibit their gifts, and Isadora’s new life with the Tryfyn.
First posted a review of this book in 2006.
May 13, 2008
I am currently reading The Star Witch by Linda Winstead Jones.
The Star Witch
Linda Winstead Jones
Fantasy Romance
330 pages
Some say the Circle of Bacwyw is a myth--and practical Isadoara, a young, widowed attendant to the Empress, numbers among them. But for Captain Lucan Hern, the powerful Circle is as real as the daggers he hides under his clothing. The warrior was raised solely to find--and capture--the elusive Star of Baewyr. But his teachers never told him exactly what it was. They only make one thing clear: Stay away from witches...
Sounds easy enough. Then Lucan meets Isadora, a decidedly different kind of beauty. She is oblivous to his attraction--while he is equally oblivous to the fact that she's a witch. And he believes her ring is the Star's he's been searching for.
Isadora has slept in a cold bed these long years--but the arrival of this gorgeous creature sets her body afire. And after a lifetime of searching for the Star, Lucan all but forgets it, waiting for Isadora to give herself to him freely, when he will take her beyond her wildest dreams.
The Star Witch
Linda Winstead Jones
Fantasy Romance
330 pages
Some say the Circle of Bacwyw is a myth--and practical Isadoara, a young, widowed attendant to the Empress, numbers among them. But for Captain Lucan Hern, the powerful Circle is as real as the daggers he hides under his clothing. The warrior was raised solely to find--and capture--the elusive Star of Baewyr. But his teachers never told him exactly what it was. They only make one thing clear: Stay away from witches...
Sounds easy enough. Then Lucan meets Isadora, a decidedly different kind of beauty. She is oblivous to his attraction--while he is equally oblivous to the fact that she's a witch. And he believes her ring is the Star's he's been searching for.
Isadora has slept in a cold bed these long years--but the arrival of this gorgeous creature sets her body afire. And after a lifetime of searching for the Star, Lucan all but forgets it, waiting for Isadora to give herself to him freely, when he will take her beyond her wildest dreams.
May 26, 2008
This book is the sequel to The Moon Witch and is about Isadora's journey in the emperor's palace. After Juliet was rescued by Ryn, Isadora was draaged to the Emperor. Since the Emperess is pregnant and is expected to give birth soon, the Emperor gave Isadora to the Emperess as a midwife. (The Emperor really wants a heir and this is the first time one of his Emperess got pregnant). Since the Emperess is Kane's sister who was kidnapped when she was little, Isadora and Liane soon became good friends. Everything was going well, till Captain Hern caomes along. THe emperor needs Captian Hern's army to fight the rebels, and since Captain Hern wants Isadora, the Emperor has to give Isadora to him. Isadora was planning to stay faithful to her dead husband, but soon fell in love with Captain Hern. But when the Emperor grew mad at Isadora, she got thrown into the darkest pit in the palace. Will Captain Hern come in time to save Isadora? Read to find out
January 31, 2011
Three books, one review!
The first book, Sun Witch, gets four stars. I really enjoyed the main characters and their slightly left-of-center beliefs about intimacy and relationships. There was a nice balance between their story and the overarching greater story that carried throughout the trilogy.
The second book, Moon Witch, was not as great. The idea of the feral beast-man and all the primitive yet magical society bits just didn't flow. It was also disruptive to the continuing story as this character didn't directly interact with the rest of the world.
This third book, Star Witch, brought together the threads of the various stories nicely. The heroine was a bit more complex, which fit the complexity of bringing everything to a close. Plus, I like a happy ending!
The first book, Sun Witch, gets four stars. I really enjoyed the main characters and their slightly left-of-center beliefs about intimacy and relationships. There was a nice balance between their story and the overarching greater story that carried throughout the trilogy.
The second book, Moon Witch, was not as great. The idea of the feral beast-man and all the primitive yet magical society bits just didn't flow. It was also disruptive to the continuing story as this character didn't directly interact with the rest of the world.
This third book, Star Witch, brought together the threads of the various stories nicely. The heroine was a bit more complex, which fit the complexity of bringing everything to a close. Plus, I like a happy ending!
February 17, 2008
Isadora Fyne is an unwilling guest of the emperor, and serving the empress in her pregnancy. Lucan Hern, the Prince of Swords, has come for the Star of Bacwyn and thinks that Isadora holds the key. As they get closer, they must deal with the secret twins of the empress, the growing threat of the rebels, and the conclusion of the Fyne curse.
This book gets the physical intimacy out of the way near the beginning and then concentrates on wrapping up the trilogy. The emperor continues to remain unlikeable and confusing, leading to Isadora being cast into Level Thirteen, while the resolution of the curse comes at the perfect time.
This book gets the physical intimacy out of the way near the beginning and then concentrates on wrapping up the trilogy. The emperor continues to remain unlikeable and confusing, leading to Isadora being cast into Level Thirteen, while the resolution of the curse comes at the perfect time.
May 7, 2008
This has been a really fascinating series. I love paranormal romances and this series totally delivered the romance, the supernatural side and the action. Hot male leads, interesting and very likeable females, magic powers and evil emperors. Fantastic stuff! It's amazing because through the whole series you hate and then pity the emperor and even like him at times. I've never read about a character who could be so absolutely evil and make you feel sorry for him at the same time. A great read!
December 3, 2011
By far my fav of this set! It tied up all the other books great. I was not at all happy with the ending for Liane. Im glad Sebastyn was gone, but how Liane had to finish out her life was just wrong. It's a shame that the end was so rushed while the whole book dragged on. It did this big long story and then it just wrapped it all up very quick. Even had the books not had any sex at all, the stories were wonderful by themselves. Can't wait to start on the trilogy about the 3 cousins now.
March 16, 2012
This entire series was awesome...I liked how everything tied in...coincidences don't happen, everything happens for a reason;p
great plot line and even though the emperor died in the end, I think he deserved it...He loved Liane in his own way, and I think he didn't deserve her. I really wished he was not in the book, but the fact that he was in the book helped me see both sides of the war. Many nice twists that make this series v. interesting;p
Definitely worth reading;)
great plot line and even though the emperor died in the end, I think he deserved it...He loved Liane in his own way, and I think he didn't deserve her. I really wished he was not in the book, but the fact that he was in the book helped me see both sides of the war. Many nice twists that make this series v. interesting;p
Definitely worth reading;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2013
Loved this series, think I liked the first and second the best, the trilogy ending wasn't as dramatic as I expected but I still loved it.
I loved the world, the characters and the story telling, Linda Winstead Jones sure can tell a good story!
Im sure glad there wasn't any real 'horror' the story was gently and carefully told, always keeping my interest high. Recommend this series for all fantasy romance fans who love happy endings!
I loved the world, the characters and the story telling, Linda Winstead Jones sure can tell a good story!
Im sure glad there wasn't any real 'horror' the story was gently and carefully told, always keeping my interest high. Recommend this series for all fantasy romance fans who love happy endings!
August 17, 2009
I really loved the way the author finished up this series! Everything was finished, no major questions were left outstanding, but at the same time it wasn't all tied up in tidy little bows that would have made it unbelievable and annoying. I am looking forward to reading the stories about these characters' children.
June 10, 2013
I really enjoyed this trilogy - but I feel the story was not finished and this book just frustrated me - it cleans up the stories with her sisters but leaves me wanting to know more arout her story - how does it end? Guess I am off to find the next trilogy about the children and see if I can get some answers =)
July 22, 2009
This is more romantic cheese, but a lot more actual sex; still has a decent plot and characters, however. Just wish the author had kept to the way she really only followed ONE heroine from beginning to end.
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