Magic. Vampires. Fallen empires and dangerous prophecies. Fans of The Vampire Diaries, A Shade of a Vampire, and Twilight will be blown away by A Witch Between Worlds...
Haunted by vivid nightmares, seventeen year old Clara Blackwell suffers a miserable and downtrodden life in Great Britain. When a simple act of kindness leads her astray, a chance encounter casts her across the dimensional barrier between worlds.
Clara is thrust into a captivating realm of vampires and magic that is desperate to tear her apart. Awaking in a mysterious castle under a cosmic sky, she quickly learns that the beauty of this new world is matched only by its immense peril.
Ripped from her nightmares comes Elliott Craven, her dream savior. Cold, logical, and deeply suspicious of her intentions, the dark lord of the castle will be her only chance at survival… if only he can find a way to save her.
But the subjects of his castle aren’t the only danger of this strange new world. If word of her arrival spreads, the entire world could erupt into a brutal war over Clara’s fate.
After all, there hasn’t been a human in this vampire realm for thousands of years, and that’s a very dangerous position for a teenage girl…
A fresh and epic story that flips the entire genre on its head. READ IT! - Selena Reviews ★★★★★
Forget everything you think you know. A Witch Between Worlds will surprise you at every turn. - Fantasy Daily ★★★★★
^How I feel about all the women in this book. They killed it.
In this story, the men women are the true warriors. The women are tricky, little devils. In the best kind of way. Like a predator just playing with its food.
Let's take a look at how the women are described: "I leaned forward and took a good look at the sorceress as she lifted her head and pulled back the hood. A golden circlet with an inset emerald sat on her forehead, holding back long, black hair. Her fierce, green eyes were glued to me as she held my attention. But her most striking feature was the array of rust-toned markings, all thickly tattooed across a face of the purest, palest ivory I’d ever seen."
Um. Can I be her? Thank you, Emma Glass, for describing women as powerful and beautiful.
And then there's Nikki... Not only are women goddesses, but they are coy, clever little creatures as well.
"You know, brother, I think I’ve just decided I’m not gonna eat her after all…” “Is that so?” He wryly asked her. “Nah. She’s fun. It’d be a shame to waste it.”
And the mother, Lorelei "What troubles me is that I can’t decide if you were meant to be here, or if the trap was left—and you were merely the fly who wandered into it…”
And let's not forget how the women are viewed in this country. One woman soldier was "a fierce older woman with half a dozen confirmed kills to her name". And only the female scientists "could multi-task effectively enough to properly maintain the madness".
In a world full of magic, vampires humans are the mythical creatures.
Humans are fairy tales. Women are power. And I loved exploring this realm.
This book would be a great read-alike for readers who liked Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series. It's a vampire-human paranormal romance that's a quick, easy read. My one sentence summary for this novel is, "Clara discovers an alternate Earth by accident, meets the vampire of her dreams, and nothing else happens."
Here are the issues I had with it: (1) The characters are pretty inconsistent. Just like "Twilight," Elliot warns Clara that she's prey and he's fighting the constant temptation to consume her-- more so than his subjects-- but somehow she's safest in his room, sharing his bed, and she just consents to every decision the vampires make.
(2) I find that an abundance of adjectives is often a sign of weak narration or an attempt to reach a specific page/word count. Just like "Twilight," you see a LOT of adjectives, and halfway through the novel you can see which ones are Emma Glass's favorites.
(3) The sole existence of this book is to set up book 2. Not much happens in "A Vampire's Witch"-- Clara stumbles into an alternate Earth and just . . . exists. There is no action (except for one incident, which is largely accidental), there is no real character development, and there is no sense of urgency. I'm a little upset that I have to read book 2 to find out what the plot is.
(4) There are no witches in "The Vampire's Witch" and the series is titled "A Witch Between Worlds." Is the witch a character I haven't met yet? Does someone become a witch in books 2 or 3 of the series?
Now that I'm into my 20s and have lived through the era where vampires were the new thing and everyone was writing them into their romance books, whether they were meant for an YA or adult audience, I don't usually go looking for stories with them. It's not that I dislike vampire tales or anything, but the market is just ultra saturated and with ultra saturation comes repetitiveness, cliches, and a lot of books that just miss the mark.
While I will say that The Vampire's Witch does come with a lot of repetitive story elements from YA lit in general, I was still pretty engaged. The author's writing is pretty well done and the story thus far is moving at a decent enough pace that I don't think it's especially rushed... but my praise comes with a grain of salt because I've been burned badly before. This is an episodic, installment series. This first "season" (pet peeve: I hate book series that refer to themselves as "seasons" like they're a TV show) has 10 total books and this book cuts itself off very harshly mid scene with a "to be continued" style ending. For all I know, book #2 might very quickly sink into being everything I dislike about a book: being too simple, too fast, too underdeveloped.
On that note, I am tolerating its episodic nature purely because book #1 is so long. If this was a 100 page each installment sort of series I'd be furious especially since these books are like 2.99 a piece (there was a point before book #7 was published that they were all just 99 cents but the author jacked up the prices sadly)
I feel like the title is somewhat misleading because Clara isn't even like exposed as being a witch in this part. She's just a human and there MAY be something up based on her traveling to this alternate world and being able to communicate with everyone and read their language, but within the actual context of the book itself she hasn't been established as being a witch. Based on what the next books are titled I'm assuming Clara is definitely going to be a witch, but in this one, she's just a human caught in a strange situation.
One perk in this book's favor is that it's using dual points of view between Clara and Elliot. We get to see both facets so the story has that extra layer, which is nice.
The thing is though that we're quickly told that Clara is important and will cause trouble out in the world but I feel like the build up for that isn't well established. Outside of being a previously mythical creature for being human, Clara's not established as having any particular worth to vampires within the narrative. She apparently enhances Elliot's abilities but that's not explained to her as a reason for why other vampires might start a war over her. Sure she seems tasty to them but... what vampire would go to war for... one meal? It seems like the states having been clearly established enough in my opinion. I'm sure once she's come into her witch powers she'll prove invaluable, but at it stands, I can't help but wonder why Elliot doesn't just drain her himself. She's a risk to his throne and his people so why not just devour her? It's not like we can't sort of fill in the blanks to connect the dots as to why she's relevant but I just don't feel like the narrative properly supports this and it's kind of a big deal. The majority of the book focuses on Elliot trying to decide what to do with Clara and how to keep her existence from ruining his fragile position on the throne of Stonehold and starting a war amongst other vampire nations. Kind of seems like having a solid, legitimate reason for Clara being anything but a mythical, tasty snack would be a good idea. We're not given consequences for why her dying or being taken by another vampire lord is a bad thing either, like it's not "you're a royal guest and if you're stolen from me it'll be a sign I'm an unfit ruler and we'll plunge into chaos as a nation" or anything it's "you're a human and that's dangerous."
Despite the cliches and reused ideas however, I am appreciating the "transported to a different world" angle in a vampire story and I did like this installment enough to want to give book #2 a try and see if things continue doing well. I'm hopeful that a series 10 books long with 200+ pages each proves to have a nicely complex, layered narrative but... if CW shows have taught me anything it's that length doesn't always mean substance.
I can’t believe it!!! The reviews were right. I loved Twilight but this is so much more intriguing. I already purchased the 2nd book, I HAVE to know what happens next with Clara and Elliott.
What a great story! Exciting magical thrill ride. Clara has begun a magical journey with Elliot and I can't wait to find out what happens next. Great characters wonderfully written gripping plot
The beginning of the story sucked me in, nearly immediate action. You get a good sense of the main character, and can ignore small inconsistencies. However, as the story moves along the lack of or loose content editing becomes more noticeable. There are unnecessary information dumps. These were pages I skimmed past because at that moment they really had nothing to do with the story. These were buts of information that would have served a better purpose had they been placed in more appropriate places. Maybe in book two? The character's emotions and conversations can cause severe whiplash, as one minute they are furious and/or scared and the next minute they are laughing like old friends. The time line is skewed as well. The story reads like it's been perhaps a month and then a few pages later it's only been a week, if even that long. Over all the story feels rushed, with weak unstable characters who swish and sway leaving you feeling disoriented. Again, the idea for this story is very unique and likable but the lack of or loose content editing is what kills it as a whole.
So I read the whole book. If it was really bad I would have given up. However, the book is strange. It's unrealistic, which I always feel weird saying that about fantasy books, but a well written fantasy book builds a world that sucks you in and you believe it could be real. In this book the character interactions and dialogue did not seem believable. I really struggled with this. There are enough unanswered questions that make me curious to read the second book but I'm not sure that is enough.
I found The Vampire's Witch unusual to start with. It had all thevvelements of a good story but I wasn't sure if I liked it or not. I thought "just read a bit more and see where it leads". It lead to the end ofnthe book and an interest in reading the next one. So while not exactly grabbing your attention, do continue to read past the slow start it really is worth it.
I couldn't stop my self from devouring every word. Characters are deep, well developed and charming. Everything that has happened thus far, without any spoilers, has me excited to see where Clara will end up.
This book starts out slow, but it picks up and by the end it's barrelling forward until it just stops. Not so much a cliffhanger as no one is in imminent danger, but definitely a "must continue" ending. I really likes the characters and can't wait to continue on.
This is one of the more original vampire fiction books I've read, and I'm thoroughly enjoying the universe the author has set up. The writing style is almost poetic, which is a nice change of pace compared to other Kindle Unlimited titles I've been reading lately. 4 stars.
I was a little sceptical at first about reading this series but I am glad I did. I look forward to more major differences in the life of these vampires and eager to find out what Clara is
It was slightly hard to follow and goes completely against anything I have read or seen in movies about vampires. But I did get into the story by the end.
This past week all I have been reading is paranormal fantasy romance. But even though they were all good, they weren’t amazing. When I read the blurb for this book I just knew that this book was what I was looking for. The main character (Clara) is brave (for someone who has been thrust into a completely new world). She reacts in a strong yet also vulnerable way which was understandable and refreshing. I’ve read so many books recently where the main character is always whining (I understand that being put into a new world would be scary but do they have to be so whiny throughout the whole book!) Anyway, her attitude is so refreshing as well as her perspective as our main character. Elliott is our other main character/ protagonist who I reallyyyyy like a lot! I enjoyed reading from his perspective just as much as Clara’s. The world that we are suddenly cast into basically our world but instead of countries they are called holds. Each country that we see on a map is the same but different and each ‘hold’ is full of vampires, witches and other creatures. In this world humans are myth, the vampires didn’t believe that humans exist until Clara. Watching Elliott and the rest of the vampires learn about the humans and the human world and Clara learn about theirs is so interesting. The vampires in this world though are slightly different from what we are used to. Yes they still find human blood intoxicating but In their world they cannot die by wooden stake or sunlight and when Clara mentions this they find it completely ridiculous. They are also not classed as ‘immortal’ because in their world being three hundred+ years old is construed as ‘normal’.... I know isn’t is strange, yet so fascinating. Add in court politics, a world on the brink of war and dangerous prophecies and you have this amazing book! The way that Emma has described and portrayed vampires in this book is so unique to me. I’ve read a lot of books about vampires and haven’t seen the portrayed like this before (maybe you have and I just haven’t been reading the right books, if you have then please recommend them to me) and I’m really intrigued to see where this story is going to go. I can’t wait to learn more about the vampire world and how it works. I will be picking book two up straight away tomorrow, which is actually today because I have stayed up so late reading this book it is now 4 o’clock in the morning... oops. If you love paranormal fantasy books with unique vampires, smart heroines, romance, politics and more then I really recommend this book.
The book cover, it's beautiful, mesmerizing, and purple. It had a calming and a smoky vibrance to the cover which also gives a bit of a mysterious appeal. That caught my attention. After the reading the book, I found the book interesting and at the same time boring.
There is not much for me to critique on this book. I felt this was repetitive in a general sense. I was able to finish the book, and I admit, the book is shorter than I originally thought it would have been. The title was misleading. There's a vampire and there's a witch. I was expecting something as crazy and insane as the Vampire Diaries show. I kept waiting for magic to happen, more magic than an ability to read another language.
Clara jumped into the water and ended up in a different realm. A realm that is similar to humans, with the map of the world, in the exact same format as a human, except the name of the countries and continent are different. She landed in the realm of vampires, where humans are considered to be 'legends', just like in the world of humans they're considered stories or myths. Clara jumped into the water and ended up in a different realm. A realm that is similar to humans, with the map of the world, in the exact same format as a human, except the name of the countries and continent are different. She landed in the realm of vampires, where humans are considered to be 'legends', just like in the world of humans they're considered stories or myths.
The entire first half of the book, nothing witch like happened, the plot was lacking, the witch like scene was the change in language in terms of how the main character can read and understand the vampires, and how she ended up in a different realm. This story felt more of an intro to the overall novels in the series. The witch like theme part of the book didn't happen until around the last two chapters. As usual, the novel ends on cliff hanger.
By the time I closed the book, I had an uninvolved feel. A part of me felt a bit weirded out since I felt the communication between Elliott and Clara...finding similarities and differences. I'm not sure if it's just me, or not, but that's how I feel I communicate with people. Finding similarities and differences. Elliott's sister I liked, she had a twisted view, and in a way kind of like Rosalie from Twilight. The only part I enjoyed most in this book was the dynamics of Clara's personal guards that have been assigned to her.
Would I read this again? A definite no. Do I like this book? I can't explain it. I don't like this book, but it's a tad interesting. It would be one of those library books I would pick up, read, and return, never to pick it up again. Would I read the next book? Yes...I kind of want to know more about the witch from before Clara ended up jumping to the water and ended up in a different realm.
*written in duel POV* The FMC is Clara, and she has had a hard life and, for some reason, was living with her stepfather. One long nap on the way to school completely turned her world upside down. It just seemed to be one bad thing after another, causing her to end up on Earth in another realm where she ultimately meets Elliott.
Elliott is the MMC and is the vampire lord of the Hold she ended up in. He is first alerted by her presence by a feeling that he is not all too familiar with. Upon meeting her her vows to protect her since she is pretty much endangered in his world.
There are interesting side characters in this book as well. Below are some of the ones who I think stood out either due to their personality ot because I think they will have a bigger role later in the series(Since I am listening to an audiobook the names may be misspelled). -Lorali- is Elliott's mother she has recently abdicated the throne and seems detached as well as secretive. I am interested in learning what she is hiding. -Nikki- is Elliott's sister, who is insane. She is very quirky and I find her interesting. She has returned for hidden motives after a self-imposed exile. -Willham- is one of Clara's guards he is the comedian of the three, and I absolutely love his personality. -Victor- another one of her guards and is quiet.... wonder if there is more to him -Asara- her final guard, who is very intense and takes her job seriously. -Sabean- a hired magician who seems to be more than what she claims. What is her real motive?
While there wasn't too much action in this book, I think it served its purpose as an introductory book. The world is described where you feel like you are there, and you also get a glimpse into the characters that are essential to the story. As most series do, this book ends with a cliffhanger of Clara being sort of asleep after a spell backfires. In this "dream," she is confronted by someone she hasn't seen in a while and given the same cryptic message Lorali gave her... "The dark wind howls."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The Vampire's Witch is an enthralling addition to the A Witch Between Worlds series, weaving a captivating tale that balances dark fantasy with rich romance. From the moment I opened the book, I was drawn into a world where magic and danger intertwine seamlessly.
The characters are vividly portrayed, each with their own complexities and motivations. The protagonist, a fierce and determined witch, grapples with her powers and the allure of the vampire world, drawing readers into her emotional struggles. The dynamic between her and the vampire is electric, full of tension that keeps you eagerly turning the pages. Their relationship evolves beautifully, blending passion with the inherent risks that come with their supernatural natures.
The plot is well-crafted, filled with unexpected twists that provide both intrigue and suspense. The author expertly builds a richly detailed universe that feels immersive, blending familiar supernatural elements with fresh ideas. The atmospheric descriptions make you feel as though you are walking alongside the characters, experiencing their trials and triumphs firsthand.
One aspect I particularly appreciated was the exploration of themes like identity and acceptance, as the characters navigate their differences and the prejudices between their worlds. The writing style is engaging and fluid, making it easy to lose track of time while reading.
Overall, The Vampire's Witch is a spellbinding read that fans of fantasy and romance will thoroughly enjoy. It leaves you eagerly anticipating the next installment, as it skillfully sets the stage for future adventures. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating story filled with magic, love, and a touch of danger!
The Vampire's Witch is the first book in the Witch Between World's series. This was a fun, quick read with a new little twist on a vampire story.
I got this book on Kindle for 99c it was a fun read, nothing to serious for me. I found the story interesting and I was connected to the story but I didn't find myself overly involved which was a good thing. To fallen into a story but not have the deep connection that I sometimes get with other books. I am big reader, I have always loved reading and never experience read slumps like some people but now I do find that sometimes I need to read a story that I like but am less connected to emotional and that's what The Vampire's Witch did for me.
Clara is a girl living in our version of England when one day she tumbles through a portal and ends up in an alternate Earth, where vampires exists and humans are mythological creatures. With sight variances in worlds it's easier for Clara to adapt to her new world and the vampire lord Elliot helps make things easier. While I do say there is an hint of romance that is actually not the main subject of the book. I think this book is just giving readers a basic of the world and characters before diving into the real plot.
While I don't know about making a purchase of the physical book but if you have an e-reader then I would suggest downloading the ebook, I mean 99c isn't that bad especially if you need a easy fun read.
A supernatural YA romance series with promise. Clara Blackwell is not a happy teenager, living with an alcoholic and abusive stepfather. When a bus trip goes awry, she is transported to an alternate Earth where vampires are the dominant race and humans are the stuff of legends. She finds herself under the protection of Elliot Craven, a seemingly young Lord of the Vampire Hold, who is drawn to her despite his logical and aloof personality. As the first in a series of ten, this book is more world-builder than adventure; it’s really about everyone in the Hold adjusting to Clara’s sudden existence, a very slow burn romance, and foreshadowing future political machinations and Clara’s as yet unknown potential. It’s early days but I liked Clara’s initial pluck and intelligence but felt she became more passive in the presence of Elliot - hopefully she’ll come into her own down the track. The only thing that really clanged was how people were allowed to address the vampire nobility: at times they were hugely deferential, at other times they were weirdly overly familiar - show some respect, people! Audio narrator Rafe Buckley is a firm favourite. [I received a free copy of the audio in exchange for an honest review]
This review is based on the audiobook of all 10 books. I got to the end of book 1 as a courtesy to the author, but the narrator made my kidneys ache SO badly. His delivery was wooden at best. His use of tone and inflection was erratic and often made the sentences more difficult to understand. Then there were his accents! Some of them were SO thick they were barely understandable. The accent he used for the sage was abysmal- I understand he was trying to get across that what the man had to say was boring, but dear me!!!
Then, there's the actual prose.
We're supposed to be in the UK. But we don't have cell phones, sidewalks or dens! We have mobiles, pavements and living rooms. I found the use of the first person distracting, but that's just me. The yomping through tenses though, was just irritating. Given all the rave reviews, I did consider buying paper/kindle copies, but I just couldn't bring myself to spend more money! Book 1 - nothing happened! what are the chances things improve across the series? Don't know, and not inclined to find out!
Books like this frustrate me. The storyline has the newness and ability to be fantastic. The poor writing and lack of editing makes me want to pull my hair out. The timeline gets murky, there is really nothing that happens. The book has obvious foreshadowing like “if only he knew this would be the last time to be calm” or “she would later regret this choice…” garbage 5th grader foreshadowing. The two MC’s are usual. Scary male MC who is supposed to be all evil and bad, but is nothing but softness and conflicted. Female MC is stupid and gullible. Everyone thinking this teenager is wonderful and she is all forgiving and amazing. But she is really just a stupid teenager with hormones raging for the almost evil bad guy. This book is trying so hard to be good and truth I want the writing to be better because I want this story to get better!!
I picked up this audiobook because it was a full series and I drive a lot, so I love a good series. I’m not particularly sold that this is a good series. I’m more curious than captivated. The dialogue is mostly flat, and I can’t just chalk it up to the narrator, and the characters seem one dimensional as well. But the premise is interesting: a human plucked from our earth and dropped into an alternative earth ruled by vampires. Sounds cool and plenty of opportunities. I’m waiting for the “witch” part of the series title to be revealed, and I’m not holding my breath for improved character development or dialogue, but I’m curious enough to listen to book 2, if for nothing else to hope that some significant holes will be filled sooner rather than later.