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Here Be Witches
All Ellie Morgan wants is to be with her one true love, Henry. But she's caught in the middle of a BATTLE as old as SNOWDON itself. A battle between GOOD and EVIL. A WITCHES' SPELL, cast high on the mountain, has sped up time and made matters MUCH WORSE. The dragons are awake; mythical creatures and evil ghosts have risen. And nearly all of them want Ellie DEAD. Thank heavens for loyal friend George, disloyal bestie Rhi, and mysterious stranger, Davey. Armed with Granny Jones's potions, Ellie and her companions must set out on a journey to REVERSE THE SPELL, stop the EVIL White Dragon and find Henry. As an eternal winter tightens its grip on Snowdon, Ellie and her friends have just THREE DAYS to SURVIVE and complete their quest.
416 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2017
28 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Mussi
14 books53 followersSarah Mussi was born in Gloucestershire. After her education at a girl’s school in Cheltenham, she completed a post graduate degree at the Royal College of Art before leaving the UK for West Africa. She lived in Ghana, West Africa for over eighteen years, marrying a Ghanaian and teaching in Accra. Sarah now lives in Brixton and teaches in Lewisham, splitting her holidays between England and Ghana.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 5 reviews
January 28, 2018
I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy this book at first, but I did get into the story and by the end I not only enjoyed it but felt a little emotional as well. ‘Here Be Witches’ is the second book in ‘The Snowdonia Chronicles’ trilogy with ‘Here Be Dragons’ being the first. I haven’t read the first book yet and although this does work as a stand alone novel I would have liked to have read the first book in the series before this one as I feel there have been some big spoilers revealed from the first book.
The story begins with an eerie prologue, which actually made me interested in reading this book, with a spell being cast by witches on the eve of St. David’s Day before moving on to the main plot, told from the point of view of Ellie. Although it was easy to read the book, I wasn’t sure if I’d get into it at first with all the teen-speak going on. Phrases like ‘obvs’ instead of obviously and text with lines through it did put me off at first, but this was probably due to the fact that I didn’t really know Ellie’s character at first and after reading the first few chapters it stopped bothering me and I even grew to enjoy some of the teen-speak, especially the occasional emoji happy or sad faces.
It took me about a third of the way into the book before I really started to enjoy it more though. The story is easy to understand and probably even easier to get into if you’ve read the first book, but I wasn’t sure what to make of it as there were some funny but silly moments and I wasn’t sure if it was going to turn into a big fantasy tale which I had expected. As Ellie and her friends start the journey to fix the spell that’s been cast, they end up facing lots of evil things though, I don’t want to spoil the plot but it’s when the lambs are mentioned it became a more serious and gripping story.
The characters all go on a sort of epic journey and what made this book more exciting for me was that there’s a lot of reference to Welsh folklore. Occasionally there was a number reference with extra notes at the bottom of a page explaining what certain characters or places were and the folklore surrounding them (if it wasn’t explained in the story text). This reference to real folklore just makes this story all the more interesting for me.
The ending was good and satisfying but also an emotional one which left me with mixed emotions as it’s both happy and sad. It feels like a complete story but I’m also left desperate to know what happens in the final book. Despite what I know must be spoilers of book one, it’s also made me want to read the first book as I can’t help but want to see how Henry and Ellie met and their story before this book. There is nothing offensive in ‘Here Be Witches’ although there are a few mentions of death and blood, nothing extreme or too gruesome. There is also a map at the start of the book and a few quotes from very old texts and manuscripts.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a good teen fantasy story. Ellie’s character might put off some older readers with her teenish way of speaking and her sometimes naïve attitude but at the same time it’s such a compelling read when the journey for the friends starts that I’d still recommend anyone interested to try it. But I’d also say that if you’re serious about following the trilogy without spoilers then read the first book before this one. Overall a good read and much better when you get into it.
-Thanks to Shrine Bell for a free copy.
The story begins with an eerie prologue, which actually made me interested in reading this book, with a spell being cast by witches on the eve of St. David’s Day before moving on to the main plot, told from the point of view of Ellie. Although it was easy to read the book, I wasn’t sure if I’d get into it at first with all the teen-speak going on. Phrases like ‘obvs’ instead of obviously and text with lines through it did put me off at first, but this was probably due to the fact that I didn’t really know Ellie’s character at first and after reading the first few chapters it stopped bothering me and I even grew to enjoy some of the teen-speak, especially the occasional emoji happy or sad faces.
It took me about a third of the way into the book before I really started to enjoy it more though. The story is easy to understand and probably even easier to get into if you’ve read the first book, but I wasn’t sure what to make of it as there were some funny but silly moments and I wasn’t sure if it was going to turn into a big fantasy tale which I had expected. As Ellie and her friends start the journey to fix the spell that’s been cast, they end up facing lots of evil things though, I don’t want to spoil the plot but it’s when the lambs are mentioned it became a more serious and gripping story.
The characters all go on a sort of epic journey and what made this book more exciting for me was that there’s a lot of reference to Welsh folklore. Occasionally there was a number reference with extra notes at the bottom of a page explaining what certain characters or places were and the folklore surrounding them (if it wasn’t explained in the story text). This reference to real folklore just makes this story all the more interesting for me.
The ending was good and satisfying but also an emotional one which left me with mixed emotions as it’s both happy and sad. It feels like a complete story but I’m also left desperate to know what happens in the final book. Despite what I know must be spoilers of book one, it’s also made me want to read the first book as I can’t help but want to see how Henry and Ellie met and their story before this book. There is nothing offensive in ‘Here Be Witches’ although there are a few mentions of death and blood, nothing extreme or too gruesome. There is also a map at the start of the book and a few quotes from very old texts and manuscripts.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a good teen fantasy story. Ellie’s character might put off some older readers with her teenish way of speaking and her sometimes naïve attitude but at the same time it’s such a compelling read when the journey for the friends starts that I’d still recommend anyone interested to try it. But I’d also say that if you’re serious about following the trilogy without spoilers then read the first book before this one. Overall a good read and much better when you get into it.
-Thanks to Shrine Bell for a free copy.
May 16, 2017
Reviewed at: http://www.queenofteenfiction.co.uk/
Following the events that happened in Here Be Dragons, Ellie is determined to find a way to get Henry back from his tomb under the mountain. But when her friend Rihannon gets into a spot of trouble and a witch's curse is unleashed upon Snowdon, Ellie ends up thrown into a race against time with her best friend George. After highly enjoying the first book in this series, I was keen to get stuck in with this sequel.
The quest that Ellie and her friends have to go on in Here Be Witches was fascinating and packed full of adventure. With the story taking place on and around Mount Snowdon, it provided an epic setting for the journey of the characters. Something that I loved about this book was the magical myths within it. There's nothing I love more than learning about legends, so I appreciated the way that not only were they included in the story itself, but there were also extra notes at the bottom of the pages to explain things thoroughly. This series is great for getting to know epic tales from Welsh history!
I loved seeing how the characters developed in this story. Whilst Ellie has learned a lot from the events in Here Be Dragons, she still has this sense of innocence about her which I love. She has a funny, relatable attitude and I like how Mussi doesn't try to make her seem older than her age, which is something I feel a lot of YA fantasy writers tend to do. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Ellie and her friends change as they faced different situations, and despite her love for Henry, Ellie's will-they-won't-they tension with George was cute to see.
What I love about this series is the chatty way in which it's told. Though it's a fantasy novel with action and adventure, there is also something very contemporary in Ellie's narration of the story, and it makes for a delightful combination. It also helps the situation and characters feel believable because they are acting exactly how you'd imagine a bunch of teenagers would if they were thrown into a magical quest.
The Snowdonia Chronicles is fun fantasy, but dark and more serious when it needs to be, and I'm definitely excited to see what happens to this varied bunch of characters next!
Following the events that happened in Here Be Dragons, Ellie is determined to find a way to get Henry back from his tomb under the mountain. But when her friend Rihannon gets into a spot of trouble and a witch's curse is unleashed upon Snowdon, Ellie ends up thrown into a race against time with her best friend George. After highly enjoying the first book in this series, I was keen to get stuck in with this sequel.
The quest that Ellie and her friends have to go on in Here Be Witches was fascinating and packed full of adventure. With the story taking place on and around Mount Snowdon, it provided an epic setting for the journey of the characters. Something that I loved about this book was the magical myths within it. There's nothing I love more than learning about legends, so I appreciated the way that not only were they included in the story itself, but there were also extra notes at the bottom of the pages to explain things thoroughly. This series is great for getting to know epic tales from Welsh history!
I loved seeing how the characters developed in this story. Whilst Ellie has learned a lot from the events in Here Be Dragons, she still has this sense of innocence about her which I love. She has a funny, relatable attitude and I like how Mussi doesn't try to make her seem older than her age, which is something I feel a lot of YA fantasy writers tend to do. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Ellie and her friends change as they faced different situations, and despite her love for Henry, Ellie's will-they-won't-they tension with George was cute to see.
What I love about this series is the chatty way in which it's told. Though it's a fantasy novel with action and adventure, there is also something very contemporary in Ellie's narration of the story, and it makes for a delightful combination. It also helps the situation and characters feel believable because they are acting exactly how you'd imagine a bunch of teenagers would if they were thrown into a magical quest.
The Snowdonia Chronicles is fun fantasy, but dark and more serious when it needs to be, and I'm definitely excited to see what happens to this varied bunch of characters next!
July 23, 2022
I absolutely adore Welsh mythology and this series always manages to tie it together nicely. The first book “here be dragons” will forever have a grip on my year 7 self, maybe because I got it signed from Sarah or perhaps it’s the comfort I find, either way I adore the series
April 29, 2018
ICYMI, you can read my review of the first book in the Snowdonia Chronicles, 'Here Be Dragons', here.
If the title doesn't give you a big enough hint, 'Here Be Witches' is full of witchy chaos. On Saint David's day, a coven of witches head up to Dinas Emrys to free the dragons from their curse. The leader of the coven, known as the Supreme One, wants Henry's heart for her own.
When things go south and a girl falls to her death - speared on both Oswald and Henry's hearts - the Supreme One forces Rhiannon (who only joined the coven for a love potion to use on George) to trick Ellie. They plan to pin the blame on her for the death, but George's gran bails her out and breaks this news:
"Wales is in great danger," she says. "If I am not mistaken, today is the first day of the end of the world."
Yep, the Supreme Ones spell broke the High Magicke, and now mythical creatures freely roam Wales. (The coven also sped up time. It's explained, but it's a convoluted info dump.)
Ellie, George and Rhiannon have just three days to travel across Snowdonia with their new friend, Davey. (Who appeared out of nowhere, but Granny Jones trusts him instantly.) They must find Idris, the Stargazer, and ask him to speak to Draco to release Henry. Because his heart was tainted with the blood, if Draco won't free him he'll be forced to live among the stars forever more.
If there's one thing worse than Ellie not seeing Henry for another 72 years, it's never being able to see him again.
As well as trying to free Henry, the gang must restore the High Magicke, trap Oswald (again) AND deal with all of the other creatures roaming the countryside. That's all before Ellie has to face her court appearance...
Sounds easy, right?
Everything about this installment was an improvement. Ellie acts far more maturely when she's not physically with Henry. It's obvious that the gushy instalove exploding from the pages of 'Here Be Dragons' was necessary to establish the rest of the series, but it's completely absent in this novel.
'Here Be Witches' is far longer - nearly 500 pages - because Sarah fully explores the history and mythology of Snowdonia. Instead of just dragons, we meet witches (surprisingly!), Cwn Annwn, Coblynau, Brenin Llwyd and Coraniaids. All of the creatures are intricately described, the stories behind them being incorporated both in the footnotes and the narrative itself. It can feel a little repetitive when the same facts are mentioned two or three times in the space of a few pages, but it makes it impossible to muddle the creatures. I hadn't heard of any of them before, but I'm so fascinated by all of them that I need to do further reading into Welsh folklore.
I didn't give this book five stars because the ending is rushed. Everything happens at once. Henry returns and the Supreme One is unveiled within a couple of pages. (Not to mention the Supreme Ones reveal is completely freaking obvious). This is a classic quest novel, our heroes journeying across Snowdonia on the back of ponies to save the day. That means the pace throughout is slow and steady, so the velocity of the ending gives you whiplash.
The ending points towards another sequel, and I’m excited about that. ‘Here Be Dragons’ was a struggle, and I read it extremely slowly. Despite ‘Here Be Witches’ being double the length, I sped through it. If you read and didn’t enjoy the first book, give this one a chance. You won’t regret it.
(This review was originally posted on Everything Alyce.)
If the title doesn't give you a big enough hint, 'Here Be Witches' is full of witchy chaos. On Saint David's day, a coven of witches head up to Dinas Emrys to free the dragons from their curse. The leader of the coven, known as the Supreme One, wants Henry's heart for her own.
When things go south and a girl falls to her death - speared on both Oswald and Henry's hearts - the Supreme One forces Rhiannon (who only joined the coven for a love potion to use on George) to trick Ellie. They plan to pin the blame on her for the death, but George's gran bails her out and breaks this news:
"Wales is in great danger," she says. "If I am not mistaken, today is the first day of the end of the world."
Yep, the Supreme Ones spell broke the High Magicke, and now mythical creatures freely roam Wales. (The coven also sped up time. It's explained, but it's a convoluted info dump.)
Ellie, George and Rhiannon have just three days to travel across Snowdonia with their new friend, Davey. (Who appeared out of nowhere, but Granny Jones trusts him instantly.) They must find Idris, the Stargazer, and ask him to speak to Draco to release Henry. Because his heart was tainted with the blood, if Draco won't free him he'll be forced to live among the stars forever more.
If there's one thing worse than Ellie not seeing Henry for another 72 years, it's never being able to see him again.
As well as trying to free Henry, the gang must restore the High Magicke, trap Oswald (again) AND deal with all of the other creatures roaming the countryside. That's all before Ellie has to face her court appearance...
Sounds easy, right?
Everything about this installment was an improvement. Ellie acts far more maturely when she's not physically with Henry. It's obvious that the gushy instalove exploding from the pages of 'Here Be Dragons' was necessary to establish the rest of the series, but it's completely absent in this novel.
'Here Be Witches' is far longer - nearly 500 pages - because Sarah fully explores the history and mythology of Snowdonia. Instead of just dragons, we meet witches (surprisingly!), Cwn Annwn, Coblynau, Brenin Llwyd and Coraniaids. All of the creatures are intricately described, the stories behind them being incorporated both in the footnotes and the narrative itself. It can feel a little repetitive when the same facts are mentioned two or three times in the space of a few pages, but it makes it impossible to muddle the creatures. I hadn't heard of any of them before, but I'm so fascinated by all of them that I need to do further reading into Welsh folklore.
I didn't give this book five stars because the ending is rushed. Everything happens at once. Henry returns and the Supreme One is unveiled within a couple of pages. (Not to mention the Supreme Ones reveal is completely freaking obvious). This is a classic quest novel, our heroes journeying across Snowdonia on the back of ponies to save the day. That means the pace throughout is slow and steady, so the velocity of the ending gives you whiplash.
The ending points towards another sequel, and I’m excited about that. ‘Here Be Dragons’ was a struggle, and I read it extremely slowly. Despite ‘Here Be Witches’ being double the length, I sped through it. If you read and didn’t enjoy the first book, give this one a chance. You won’t regret it.
(This review was originally posted on Everything Alyce.)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 5 reviews