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The Witch of the Hills
Ancient prophecy compels a young Salem witch to travel through the time-bending dimension we all visit when we sleep. Rebecca Church must recruit a modern-day boy to save this interactive fantasy world from imminent disaster, but her task won't be easy. She may use no more than poetry, illusions, and dreams to convince the chosen one of his destiny, and she can visit him only nine brief times.
When Brian Danahey meets Rebecca at the side of a desolate road, he recognizes her from a recurring nightmare about a girl in great danger. Brian falls in love with her, she disappears, and he comes to believe she's the legendary Witch of the Hills, a colonial maiden exiled to haunt the western prairies for centuries. The quest to free Rebecca takes him through mirrors and time from the sand hills of contemporary Nebraska to the seventeenth-century witch haven she once called home.
But Rebecca doesn't need saving and certainly not three-hundred-plus years ago. The magical dimension that nourishes our souls is on the brink of apocalypse. Today.
When Brian Danahey meets Rebecca at the side of a desolate road, he recognizes her from a recurring nightmare about a girl in great danger. Brian falls in love with her, she disappears, and he comes to believe she's the legendary Witch of the Hills, a colonial maiden exiled to haunt the western prairies for centuries. The quest to free Rebecca takes him through mirrors and time from the sand hills of contemporary Nebraska to the seventeenth-century witch haven she once called home.
But Rebecca doesn't need saving and certainly not three-hundred-plus years ago. The magical dimension that nourishes our souls is on the brink of apocalypse. Today.
344 pages, Paperback
Published March 19, 2018
4 people are currently reading
506 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Fraser
3 books7 followersI'm a businessman, family man, fitness nut (4,000 miles walked in '16 and '19) and a writer. Married many years with two wonderful daughters a grandson, and a small menagerie of pets.
My novels explore the collision of our everyday world with a secret dimension where time travel is commonplace and supernatural creatures abound. The heroes are befuddled. Heroines spunky. And my stories examine how these poor souls try to process the impossible events taking over their lives.
My novels explore the collision of our everyday world with a secret dimension where time travel is commonplace and supernatural creatures abound. The heroes are befuddled. Heroines spunky. And my stories examine how these poor souls try to process the impossible events taking over their lives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 27, 2018
As YA as it gets... way too much for me, I try to explore this genre and keep an open mind but, even when the story could be good... the character are too often clichés of themselves and the unrealistic teenage love... I'm probably to old for it. Anyway I didn't like it. It's a very YA reads so maybe the YA fans would have a different opinion, I try... but didn't like it!
January 7, 2019
Dream world stories always interest me. This one involved a Salem witch and time travel. It's a good read with solid characters.
January 30, 2019
Rebecca the Witch of the Future
This was an interesting and complicated story, but I really enjoyed it. Rebecca is a young witch of Salem's time, who knows about a prophecy in the distant future where she and a young man named must try to save the world. She wants this young man to marry her, but she has promised to follow the Witch's Code, which means she can't just ask him. Instead, she must use riddles and illusions to try to get him to ask her. Check it out for entertaining read.
This was an interesting and complicated story, but I really enjoyed it. Rebecca is a young witch of Salem's time, who knows about a prophecy in the distant future where she and a young man named must try to save the world. She wants this young man to marry her, but she has promised to follow the Witch's Code, which means she can't just ask him. Instead, she must use riddles and illusions to try to get him to ask her. Check it out for entertaining read.
July 10, 2018
I feel a lot of pressure being the only Goodreads review on here...
This book was passed to me by a friend of the author- a WI local. It's well written and kept me interested the whole time. The love story is sweet and the book is completely appropriate for YA readers- more tame than most YA books. I liked the riddles, alternate realities and paradoxes. Overall good read!
This book was passed to me by a friend of the author- a WI local. It's well written and kept me interested the whole time. The love story is sweet and the book is completely appropriate for YA readers- more tame than most YA books. I liked the riddles, alternate realities and paradoxes. Overall good read!
December 5, 2018
I just now got around to reading The Witch of the Hills and I must confess, I am torn. I have always believed that a quality book is defined by concept, execution, and packaging. Does this title have all three? Well, as I received this as a freebie ebook from Net Galley, I can’t really comment on the packaging. I did get a look at the cover, which is attractive enough. Let’s begin with the concept then: a traveller happens upon a mysterious cabin in the plains of Nebraska. Said cabin turns out to be the haunt of a young woman who in turn happens to be the spirit (or not) of a girl from Witch Trial-era Salem named Rebecca Church, and the aforementioned traveller is the young man who is to be her salvation. Or is there more at play?
It’s an interesting enough concept then, though it certainly gets underway in fits and starts. And this is the primary fault I have with Fraser’s work: the execution. It just doesn’t read very well, at least not consistently. I have to admit I almost abandoned it a time or two in the first fifty pages due to the stilted dialogue and awkward writing. In particular the frequent computer references to “life version 2.0” and “reboot” and “control-alt-delete” left me cold. One or two in the course of a story is one thing...a dozen or more become annoying and tedious. If Brian were a computer tech I might get it, but he’s not, so it just doesn’t ring true...just cliche’d.
But the story wins, and it was that concept that kept me going and interested. I’m glad I stuck around, because it really does get better, particularly as Brian Danahey (the traveller) begins to come to grips with the mystery of Rebecca...and, as it happens, with Rebecca herself. Which is only as it should be; this is a romantic adventure, after all. Think of it as Twilight meets The Crucible. Only without any Puritans or silvery vampires. If you get the idea that I am not a fan of the Twilight “Saga”, you’d be right.
(Full disclosure...at a friend’s urging, I did once try to read through the Twilight series, and I did get through the first book, and fifty pages into the second at which point I almost collapsed in a sugar coma.)
Bad book series references aside, Fraser has created a really engaging story, for all its flaws. The Salem nods and the name checks thereof fit very very well and add an air of reality amidst the fantasy. It just happened--total coincidence!--that I was listening to Aaron Mahnke’s fine “History Unobscured” podcast series on the Witch Trials at the same time, so I was more than a little familiar with the actual events. A little background never hurts, and really helped in this case. I found myself able to relate to the characters perhaps a little better than the casual reader. The back story of Rebecca and Brian’s families was very well done too, and the true nature of the latter especially so. It all comes together well, if rather abruptly, and the ending is...well, unsatisfying. I didn’t like the denouement at all, and found it pretty sad that the whole book would be building toward an inevitable climax that frankly, didn’t amount to much. Oh, the loose ends are all tied up, and that’s all as it should be, but by this time I actually cared about Brian and Rebecca, damn it, and I really wanted to know what happened to them afterward! The “happily-ever-after” thing. Why not delve into that, just a bit? Oh, and the mysterious appearances of Agatha Christie...sorry...that just eluded me, as much as some of her better mysteries did. I’m sure it’s all good, but maybe I’m just not as keyed-in, and that she’s mentioned yet again in the last ten lines just kind of left me cold.
But. All in all, I would have to say this was an entertaining read. I have heard that, “Life is too short to read boring books”, and The Witch of the Hills was certainly not boring. The concept is absolutely there. Perhaps the execution could do with just a bit of polishing.
It’s an interesting enough concept then, though it certainly gets underway in fits and starts. And this is the primary fault I have with Fraser’s work: the execution. It just doesn’t read very well, at least not consistently. I have to admit I almost abandoned it a time or two in the first fifty pages due to the stilted dialogue and awkward writing. In particular the frequent computer references to “life version 2.0” and “reboot” and “control-alt-delete” left me cold. One or two in the course of a story is one thing...a dozen or more become annoying and tedious. If Brian were a computer tech I might get it, but he’s not, so it just doesn’t ring true...just cliche’d.
But the story wins, and it was that concept that kept me going and interested. I’m glad I stuck around, because it really does get better, particularly as Brian Danahey (the traveller) begins to come to grips with the mystery of Rebecca...and, as it happens, with Rebecca herself. Which is only as it should be; this is a romantic adventure, after all. Think of it as Twilight meets The Crucible. Only without any Puritans or silvery vampires. If you get the idea that I am not a fan of the Twilight “Saga”, you’d be right.
(Full disclosure...at a friend’s urging, I did once try to read through the Twilight series, and I did get through the first book, and fifty pages into the second at which point I almost collapsed in a sugar coma.)
Bad book series references aside, Fraser has created a really engaging story, for all its flaws. The Salem nods and the name checks thereof fit very very well and add an air of reality amidst the fantasy. It just happened--total coincidence!--that I was listening to Aaron Mahnke’s fine “History Unobscured” podcast series on the Witch Trials at the same time, so I was more than a little familiar with the actual events. A little background never hurts, and really helped in this case. I found myself able to relate to the characters perhaps a little better than the casual reader. The back story of Rebecca and Brian’s families was very well done too, and the true nature of the latter especially so. It all comes together well, if rather abruptly, and the ending is...well, unsatisfying. I didn’t like the denouement at all, and found it pretty sad that the whole book would be building toward an inevitable climax that frankly, didn’t amount to much. Oh, the loose ends are all tied up, and that’s all as it should be, but by this time I actually cared about Brian and Rebecca, damn it, and I really wanted to know what happened to them afterward! The “happily-ever-after” thing. Why not delve into that, just a bit? Oh, and the mysterious appearances of Agatha Christie...sorry...that just eluded me, as much as some of her better mysteries did. I’m sure it’s all good, but maybe I’m just not as keyed-in, and that she’s mentioned yet again in the last ten lines just kind of left me cold.
But. All in all, I would have to say this was an entertaining read. I have heard that, “Life is too short to read boring books”, and The Witch of the Hills was certainly not boring. The concept is absolutely there. Perhaps the execution could do with just a bit of polishing.
February 22, 2019
"The Witch of the Hills" eBook was published in 2018 (March, the original paper edition was published in 2018) and was written by J. M. Fraser (https://jmfraser.com/). Mr. Fraser has published four novels.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘G’. The story is set the contemporary US in the northern midwest. The primary character is sixteen-year-old Brian Danahey.
There is nothing special about Danahey other than he is starting college at sixteen. While driving home from a wedding he accidentally meets a beautiful redhead named Rebecca Church who is about his age. He only is able to spend a few hours with her before she disappears.
He goes on to college, but he cannot get Rebecca out of his head. As he does what he can fo find her, he hears about the legendary Witch of the Hills. While a wild idea, the 'witch' is supposed to live near where he met Rebecca. As Danahey follows his quest to find Rebecca he finds himself traveling through time.
Rebecca is following a prophecy that predicts that she will meet up with a boy named Brian. She is desperate to see the prophecy come true as she has deep feelings for Brian even before she meets him. She will also need his help to stop an imminent threat to the world.
I found nearly 9 hours I spent reading this 346-page Young adult romance. This book was written well enough, but I had a hard time getting engaged with the story. It seems to me that the plot is targetted at pre-teens or maybe very young teen girls. The cover art is OK. I give this novel a 3 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘G’. The story is set the contemporary US in the northern midwest. The primary character is sixteen-year-old Brian Danahey.
There is nothing special about Danahey other than he is starting college at sixteen. While driving home from a wedding he accidentally meets a beautiful redhead named Rebecca Church who is about his age. He only is able to spend a few hours with her before she disappears.
He goes on to college, but he cannot get Rebecca out of his head. As he does what he can fo find her, he hears about the legendary Witch of the Hills. While a wild idea, the 'witch' is supposed to live near where he met Rebecca. As Danahey follows his quest to find Rebecca he finds himself traveling through time.
Rebecca is following a prophecy that predicts that she will meet up with a boy named Brian. She is desperate to see the prophecy come true as she has deep feelings for Brian even before she meets him. She will also need his help to stop an imminent threat to the world.
I found nearly 9 hours I spent reading this 346-page Young adult romance. This book was written well enough, but I had a hard time getting engaged with the story. It seems to me that the plot is targetted at pre-teens or maybe very young teen girls. The cover art is OK. I give this novel a 3 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
April 23, 2020
Description
Ancient prophecy compels a young Salem witch to travel forward through the time-bending dimension we all visit when we sleep. Rebecca Church must recruit a modern-day boy to save this interactive fantasy world from imminent disaster, but her task won’t be easy. She may use no more than poetry, illusions, and dreams to convince the chosen one of his destiny, and she can visit him only nine brief times. When Brian Danahey meets Rebecca at the side of a desolate road, he recognizes her from a recurring nightmare about a girl in great danger. Brian falls in love with her, she disappears, and he comes to believe she’s the Witch of the Hills, a colonial maiden exiled to haunt the western prairies for centuries. The quest to free Rebecca takes him through mirrors and time from the sand hills of contemporary Nebraska to the seventeenth-century witch haven she once called home. But Rebecca doesn’t need saving, and certainly not three-hundred years ago. The magical dimension that nourishes our souls is on the brink of apocalypse. Today.
My Review
The title - "The Witch of the Hills" was the first thing that grabbed me. The second was the premise that it was a book about witches in Salem.
The problem I found was that although I do believe this novel has potential it was missing something at least for me. I did however enjoy the premise about witches in Salem. The other thing that I had a hard time wrapping my mind around was the relationship between Brian and Rebecca.
Overall, I believe this can be a great novel. For now, I'm sorry I have to give this a 3 star.
Ancient prophecy compels a young Salem witch to travel forward through the time-bending dimension we all visit when we sleep. Rebecca Church must recruit a modern-day boy to save this interactive fantasy world from imminent disaster, but her task won’t be easy. She may use no more than poetry, illusions, and dreams to convince the chosen one of his destiny, and she can visit him only nine brief times. When Brian Danahey meets Rebecca at the side of a desolate road, he recognizes her from a recurring nightmare about a girl in great danger. Brian falls in love with her, she disappears, and he comes to believe she’s the Witch of the Hills, a colonial maiden exiled to haunt the western prairies for centuries. The quest to free Rebecca takes him through mirrors and time from the sand hills of contemporary Nebraska to the seventeenth-century witch haven she once called home. But Rebecca doesn’t need saving, and certainly not three-hundred years ago. The magical dimension that nourishes our souls is on the brink of apocalypse. Today.
My Review
The title - "The Witch of the Hills" was the first thing that grabbed me. The second was the premise that it was a book about witches in Salem.
The problem I found was that although I do believe this novel has potential it was missing something at least for me. I did however enjoy the premise about witches in Salem. The other thing that I had a hard time wrapping my mind around was the relationship between Brian and Rebecca.
Overall, I believe this can be a great novel. For now, I'm sorry I have to give this a 3 star.
July 23, 2019
I liked that this is unique and I loved all the magical elements. The writing is odd and most of the story is pretty strange. Normally, I'd really love that, but the story just moved a bit too slow most of the time. As I said, I loved the magical elements, but more reality to the story would have helped the story have some real emotion to it. Since the emotion felt missing for me, I didn't feel a connection to the characters. Rebecca is a witch that has been awaiting Brian; Rebecca and Brian have been prophesized to join forces to fight the dark. It all sounds cool, but it didn't quite reach cool for me. The romance was too magically inclined for me to feel the connection; especially since it seemed in the beginning that Brian would've gone with any girl that wanted him, but it does have its sweet moments. There's a bit of a mystery unfolding about what exactly happened to Rebecca, so I enjoyed that. Overall, this is an okay book and I enjoyed parts of it, but the story and characters didn't delve deep enough to make me love it. Still a good story though and very unique.
November 15, 2018
This book is an ARC from AuthorBuzz in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
We have been dying to preview Witch of the Hills because it is the carbon coy of the young adult books our readers love. I could not stop reading this book introducing Rebecca and her mission as a witch haunting young boys dreams fulfilling her destiny as a witch. Then the boy she chooses ends up falling in love with her and he feels she needs to be saved from this mission but it is far from what she wants. The book at every chapter took many unexpected turns and kept you on your feet wanting to read more and see what happens with Rebecca and Brian and will they achieve what they set out to do.
We will definitely consider adding this title to our young adult fantasy collection at the library and our young adult readers are sure to love it. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
We have been dying to preview Witch of the Hills because it is the carbon coy of the young adult books our readers love. I could not stop reading this book introducing Rebecca and her mission as a witch haunting young boys dreams fulfilling her destiny as a witch. Then the boy she chooses ends up falling in love with her and he feels she needs to be saved from this mission but it is far from what she wants. The book at every chapter took many unexpected turns and kept you on your feet wanting to read more and see what happens with Rebecca and Brian and will they achieve what they set out to do.
We will definitely consider adding this title to our young adult fantasy collection at the library and our young adult readers are sure to love it. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
December 13, 2018
Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com
3.5 Hearts I had to request this book when I read the synopsis and saw the cover. It really called to me and i have always thought the Salem Witch era was so interesting. But this is a bit different. Rebecca travels through time and so much more. There is a catch to how she can communicate to the modern day.
This story is different than any others I have read in this genre but it seemed like there was a lot thrown into it. It was a witches brew of ideas. Let’s add a bit of time travel, plus a dash of dreamscape, a handful of magic and pinches of other stuff and brew up a story.
It was really interesting but nothing like what I expected.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Hearts I had to request this book when I read the synopsis and saw the cover. It really called to me and i have always thought the Salem Witch era was so interesting. But this is a bit different. Rebecca travels through time and so much more. There is a catch to how she can communicate to the modern day.
This story is different than any others I have read in this genre but it seemed like there was a lot thrown into it. It was a witches brew of ideas. Let’s add a bit of time travel, plus a dash of dreamscape, a handful of magic and pinches of other stuff and brew up a story.
It was really interesting but nothing like what I expected.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2019
This is the first book from Mr. Fraser that I have read. I have to say that this was an interesting, difficult, and intriguing book. The characters were well established, and the plot kept me up reading past my normal bedtime.
The storyline is complicated and at times, confusing. There were times that I had to go back and reread certain sections in order to fully grasp what had happened. If you like witches or the history of Salem, then this is a must read. Thank you Mr. Fraser for introducing me to a new world. I look forward to reading more of your work.
The storyline is complicated and at times, confusing. There were times that I had to go back and reread certain sections in order to fully grasp what had happened. If you like witches or the history of Salem, then this is a must read. Thank you Mr. Fraser for introducing me to a new world. I look forward to reading more of your work.
November 8, 2019
This book had a lot of potential, it really did. I mean, time travel, witches, magic, romance? It had it all the things that I love in a book, but for me it had something missing and the romance just wasn't there for me. I'm all about love at first sight but the love between Rebecca and Brian? It just felt off, it felt too pushy, he met Rebecca once and boom he couldn't forget her at all and the next time they met they were all about making plans for the future and talking about an ancient prophecy. And once he finds out she's a witch? He's totally okay with it.
I'm not going to lie, there were somethings that I liked about the book, for example, I really liked his sister, she was the best character of the book in my opinion, yeah and she wasn't in the book that much lol. Would I recommend this book? Yeah, if you like a really, really quick romance, then yes totally read it.
I still gave the book a 3 out of 5 stars.
I got a free copy of the book from NetGalley.
I'm not going to lie, there were somethings that I liked about the book, for example, I really liked his sister, she was the best character of the book in my opinion, yeah and she wasn't in the book that much lol. Would I recommend this book? Yeah, if you like a really, really quick romance, then yes totally read it.
I still gave the book a 3 out of 5 stars.
I got a free copy of the book from NetGalley.
January 1, 2020
I can always tell after the first couple of chapters whether I’m gonna love a book or not. I wasn’t lucky with this one, I just couldn’t get into the story, couldn’t relate to the characters and the romance part was weird. Love at first sight? Okay, it could happen but in this case it fel somehow off.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.
November 9, 2018
This is a cute love story centuries in the making chocked full of riddles. I liked the connections the author spun into the story line as well as the “historical” references. The Witch of the Hills is a great stand alone novel with a happy ending and I recommend it to those wanting a quick dramatic read with an ending we all hope for.
*I received a free copy of this for review from the author through V.R. The opinions and thoughts stated above are my own.*
*I received a free copy of this for review from the author through V.R. The opinions and thoughts stated above are my own.*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 4, 2018The characters were very likable, even when the story dragged on at some points. I had trouble getting into the groove of the book, until about halfway through it.
My advanced readers copy of the book is received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
My advanced readers copy of the book is received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2019
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review.
I didn't finish the book. I just could not connect to any of the characters. I tried really hard because the salme witch trials is one of my favorite topics.
I didn't finish the book. I just could not connect to any of the characters. I tried really hard because the salme witch trials is one of my favorite topics.
November 29, 2018
More more.Can't wait to hear of more ..Left me hanging.
Great read
Great read
January 14, 2019
Entertaining, but a little too tame for me compared to other YA fantasies. A fun read, some romance and very appropriate for the YA genre.
February 13, 2019
Sadly I didn't like this book. While some ideas are really interesting, the cover is beautiful and I like Brian; I didn't like the writing and it took me twice the time to read it.
April 26, 2019
Rebecca Church a young Salem witch is punished and is trapped in a dimension we visit during our sleep is destined to fulfill an ancient prophecy. Brian Danahey meets Rebecca and is drawn to her. This is not the first time he has meet her. She is literally the girl from his dreams. She has to follow the witches code and provide him with riddles which he needs to figure out if he wants to be with her. Her time is running out and soon won’t be able to travel back and forth. Will he be able to figure out the riddle and figure out how to save Rebecca? The question is does she really need rescuing?
A teen love story where the main characters are trying to deal with an impossible event and understand it. A magical realm where everything is not what it seems. A fun read.
A teen love story where the main characters are trying to deal with an impossible event and understand it. A magical realm where everything is not what it seems. A fun read.
April 7, 2019
This was an enjoyable book, though I tended to get caught up in trying to figure out the plot as I went through the book instead of enjoying the mystery surrounding Brian & Rebecca’s task at hand. I thought that the mixture of the Salem Witch Trials and that time period versus the current time in the Sandhills of western Nebraska and up to the southern Wisconsin area was a neat twist. The first thing the grabbed my interest was the fact that a big part of the plot centered around the Sidney, Nebraska area which is an area near to where I live. The author wrote a complicated story but, overall, it was a fun book and I liked the way he developed his characters. I have purchased this book and will definitely re-read it and enjoy it again as I love a good time-travel story.
I received a copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received a copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
October 23, 2021
First of all, let me adore the cover. I find the cover really pretty and brings back the time where the covers were all like this before, the vibe.
So to the review, I didn't enjoy this. I didn't like the characters, the writing, I couldn't get into the plot and the romance was pretty off. I feel no connection towards them and I couldn't just connect to any of it.
I wish the characters were a little bit more likeable or just to the writing being that good and I would really enjoy some of atleast.
So to the review, I didn't enjoy this. I didn't like the characters, the writing, I couldn't get into the plot and the romance was pretty off. I feel no connection towards them and I couldn't just connect to any of it.
I wish the characters were a little bit more likeable or just to the writing being that good and I would really enjoy some of atleast.
Currently reading
October 24, 2018Netgalley
pub date March 19, 2019
AuthorBuzz
pub date March 19, 2019
AuthorBuzz
October 28, 2018
New to me author but I can tell you I’ll be reading more from this author. Great characters and a well written storyline that draws you in and keeps you engaged wanting to see how things work out. Can’t wait to read more from this author.
October 30, 2018
The Witch of the Hills is a science fiction novel that brings Rebecca Church from the Salem Witch Trials to modern day Brian Danahey. This is a interesting tale with romance and fantasy. This is a good Young Adult oval with great characters. I enjoyed the book.
November 5, 2018
Time hopping, dream jumping, and magic... Oh my! The Witch of the Hills was so unbelievably well done I going myself reading straight through without stopping. Layers and layers of mystery were so entangled I had no idea which way was up. Brian's constant references to all things techie made me laugh at just the right moments. The thrill of Rebecca's plight had just enough poignant sadness to put you on the edge of your seat just waiting for the final battle.
Fraser provided a great conclusion that was surprising but not unrealistic, considering we're talking about witches and sorcerers. The descriptions of the settings were classic and written well enough to be able to smell the smoke of Rebecca's fire. It was a great deal of fun attempting to unravel the tangle of time and ponder the realizations of how a single moment in the past can cause such rippling effects throughout centuries. Well planned and craftily executed, The Witch of the Hills is a great addition to any collection.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Fraser provided a great conclusion that was surprising but not unrealistic, considering we're talking about witches and sorcerers. The descriptions of the settings were classic and written well enough to be able to smell the smoke of Rebecca's fire. It was a great deal of fun attempting to unravel the tangle of time and ponder the realizations of how a single moment in the past can cause such rippling effects throughout centuries. Well planned and craftily executed, The Witch of the Hills is a great addition to any collection.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 10, 2018
I’m one of those who doesn’t tend to get excited about YA books. I occasionally run into one I really like, but more often than not they’re not my thing, but I’ll give one a chance once in a while in case. This was one of those books, and I was frankly blown away by it. Anyone who likes witchy/sorcerer type of books, enjoyed Harry Potter, or grew up with the old classics from long ago like A Wrinkle in Time would enjoy this book. Or if you just like fantasy with some mystery mixed in, this will be a good one for you. There was only one section where things started to get a little weird/silly/too YA for me, but it turned out to be an important part of the story and was very short-lasting. There’s a little romance (the old-fashioned kind), a great deal of magic, a whole lot of mystery, lots of fantasy….The story gets rather complex (if you’ve seen the move Inception, that sums up some of it), and there’s just so much going on, so many characters intertwined together, leading to the hopeful resolution of a big prophesy laid out by a head witch three centuries ago. One character finds a way to not only solve the prophesy, but to also fix another major problem that becomes evident as the story moves along, all out of love. I don’t want to discuss much about the story itself….it’s just too good to give anything away. By the time I got about a third of the way through, I was searching for time, even if only a few minutes to read, because the story just got so gripping with the twists and turns, you needed to see where it was heading. But it’s not one you want to rush or skim through either. I’ll definitely be looking for more books from this author. So if you’re like me and are on the fence about YA, don’t be afraid to give this one a try.
I did receive a free copy of this from NetGalley and am leaving an honest review.
I did receive a free copy of this from NetGalley and am leaving an honest review.
November 14, 2018
An intriguing and spellbinding page-turner! This is the kind of book that you don't want to put down! I voluntarily read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 22, 2018
At first, I found this book hard to enjoy, but even with the rough start, it became an experience I would never forget. This book is filled with the history, magic and the Salem witch trials to the future.
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2018
I ran into a wall with this book. I am normally all for "jumping into the action" at the beginning of the book. However, I felt like I got thrown into an already-moving landscape. Characters were so slow as to be thick. Others have clear existing drama. This reminds me of the weirdest of weird episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation that happens as some kind of representation by the Q and happened in the great West, including cowboy hats. I do not like that episode. It makes little sense beyond some kind of strange dream and causes a headache rather than captivating interest. This book is exactly that. So, before I can really get interested in any character, I already want to throw the book out a moving window. Will the dream world die? Will the pre-destined future prove changeable?
Here's the sad fact: I don't care.
I tried to care, but I was so annoyed with the whole effort, I gave up. Perhaps this author and I can meet in another book someday.
Here's the sad fact: I don't care.
I tried to care, but I was so annoyed with the whole effort, I gave up. Perhaps this author and I can meet in another book someday.
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