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Northern Witch #3

The Breaking

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Mark thought being a witch would be easy, but it has ruined everything.

Now, he has to fight for his friends and the guy that he loves.

Which would be challenging enough, without school being a living nightmare; more demons than he can handle; and witches that have strayed from the light.

205 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

8 people are currently reading
70 people want to read

About the author

K.S. Marsden

21 books742 followers
Kelly S. Marsden grew up in Yorkshire, and there were two constants in her life - books and horses.

She went on to author the best-selling Urban Fantasy series - "The Northern Witch" and "Witch-Hunter".

​Kelly is currently working in animal nutrition, and she never outgrew her obsession with horses.


Visit her blog for book reviews and inanity:
The Northern Witch's Book Blog

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Charlotte May.
872 reviews1,324 followers
February 24, 2022
thank you to the author for my free copy

I enjoyed being back with Mark and his grand high witch nana.
Mark’s ex-boyfriend Damien is now firmly living with a demon inside him, and when he goes missing Mark is frightened.

He goes on the hunt with his two best friends in tow, but when they end up in a situation in London full of dark magic and demons, Mark realises he is in over his head.

I liked being back in this world, it’s funny, the characters are relatable and there is plenty of drama and supernatural elements thrown in for good measure. Onto book 4!
Profile Image for Ivana - Diary of Difference.
662 reviews952 followers
September 19, 2025
Wishlist | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Ko-fi

#1 Winter Trials - ★★★★
#2 Awaken - ★★★
#3 The Breaking - ★★★



The Breaking by K.S. Marsden is the third book in the Northern Witch series. Thank you to the author, K.S. Marsden, for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis:

Mark thought being a witch would be easy, but it has ruined everything.

Now, he has to fight for his friends and the guy that he loves.

Which would be challenging enough, without school being a living nightmare; more demons than he can handle; and witches that have strayed from the light.

My Thoughts:

Continuing where the previous book left off, The Breaking followed up nicely with the story of Mark trying to save his lover. It is a very heartwarming story that also contains fantastical elements.

I enjoyed that Mark’s friends Harry and Sarah got more time in the book. Their scenes were very interesting to read, and I was really invested in their plotline as well. I loved the moments when the band was in the spotlight – the scene in London when they appear on the stage is my favorite one!

I loved the travel to London and the adventurous spirit that Mark showed, alongside with the suspense and dangers that arose from that trip. The introduction to new witches was intriguing, and I was curious through the whole book. The demons were my favourite, and I couldn’t help but care for them. I think that at some point, I cared more about them than I did about Mark, and I’m not even sorry to say this. 🙂

To sum up, I wanted a bit more fantastical elements, aside from the demons. I wished there was more magic involved in The Breaking, and I was a slightly disappointed on the cliffhanger at the end of the book. But then I realised another book was coming out, so hoping the next book will conclude some of my predictions. I am hoping for more character development in the next book as well. But I also really enjoyed this book, and I admired the adventures that Mark went through in this book, compared to the first two. There was a bit more intensity and it felt as if there was more at stake this time, and Mark had more to lose, which I loved reading about.

If you love magic, witches and teenage gay romance, I definitely recommend this series to you.
Profile Image for Dawn Milligan.
2,691 reviews16 followers
March 23, 2020
Does have a bit of a clifhanger as there is another book.... This story has been well written and has amazing characters I love this series and excited to see book 4!😍
Profile Image for Lana.
2,817 reviews61 followers
March 8, 2020
Mark is in over his head in this book which turns very dark as he encounters a demon who is sharing the soul of his own partner Damien and another demon sharing the soul of a guy from ages past who he himself has summoned into present day Yorkshire and who befriends him when all his friends turn against him. Eadric is hosting Silvaticus a demon who wants to seek revenge on Robert the demon being hosted by Damian and Mark is dragged into this feud. Damian leaves for London thinking that in doing this he is protecting Mark but he leaves him heart broken and Mark follows him to London. However as Mark is still very green where his magical powers are concerned little does he know the trouble he and his best friends Harry and Sarah are traveling towards. The London coven of witches has turned towards dark magic and Mark's new powers are too weak to handle this new threat. I really loved this third book in this captivating magical series, I love that the main character is gay and that we are sharing in his magical learning process till hopefully he becomes the great witch he is meant to become. I also enjoyed the darkness in this book and the high emotional content of love, heart break, fear and loss through the eyes of a young teen and look forward to reading book 4.
Profile Image for Ayla.
1,091 reviews37 followers
August 7, 2020
4.5 stars
I’d like to thank the author for offering this book in exchange for an honest review.

So this is book 3 I thought maybe a trilogy but no there is another to come. Yay!

Anyhow Mark is coming into his position as new witch and heir to his Nana. He is trying to find Damian fearing he might hurt himself. He makes amends with his friends and they track off to London.

Only he doesn’t know about the dark witch coven there...


Fun read . The story runs smoothly questions arise and are answered except for why couldn’t they use Imbolc (feb1) as a coven to try to get Damian and Robert apart? But I guess Ostara being the equinox a much more powerful time. Always fun learning new vocabulary like gormless and popular English bands like Artic monkeys fun beat there!
I enjoyed reading this story it’s quite well written and I became very interested in the characters and what is going on with them.
Interesting little twist at the end.
Profile Image for Rose English.
Author 23 books183 followers
March 22, 2020
So much darkness in such a short read.

Very enjoyable an 'on the edge of your seat' experience. I thought this book was going to be part of a trilogy but there will be a forth book next year. I was hoping for a more satisfying ending but now we have to wait.
985 reviews6 followers
April 8, 2020
I loved this book, but sometimes I just want to bang together the heads of those who hold the knowledge Mark really needs. I am sure they think they are protecting Mark and his young friends, but ignorance is not bliss. I would think they would have learned that after Mark's misstep in the first book. This book is full of action, heart-break, and the things we do for love. The cover is wonderful and does a great job hinting at the starkness, heart-break, and somewhat darker theme. I feel so much for Mark, trying to save Damien, but caught between two demons.

I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
6,044 reviews46 followers
March 20, 2020
Intense action, emotion and magical adventure

One of the biggest challenges for Mark is the failure of his elder witches to train him and his age peers. They seem to restrict and limit the extent of the information they share. They do not spare criticism though

This leaves the young witches very vulnerable to demon and black magic influences

Noble efforts are made in a pinch. Not all will survive

Dangers still lurk in promises made under duress

An exciting read all around!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Katie P..
92 reviews7 followers
March 11, 2020
K. S. Marsden is an accomplished writer with three series under her belt. The Northern Witch series is Marsden's new YA series featuring Mark, an openly gay witch in training, who is navigating high school, boys, relationships, and his apprenticeship as a new witch. His Nana is an integral part of the series, delivering sassy lines and adding so much to the experience for the reader.

The Breaking is the third book in her The Northern Witch series, which follows Adam, a witch in training, as he learns the craft and navigates being a teenager. The world in which The Breaking takes place has an interesting blend of technology and magic, both work together. This is in contrast with many novels dealing with magic and technology where magic makes technology nonfunctional. This world is very much like our own with social media and cell phones. This book features intrigue, demons, deception, drama, love lost, love found, and, of course, teenage angst.

This series is perfect for fans of Jordan Hawk, Blair Babylon, and Nicole R. Taylor. I would absolutely recommend this book series for fans of LGBTQ/YA high school dramas and magical adventures!

All three books are available at most online retailers including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and SmashWords.

Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of all three books in exchange for an honest review! Happy reading!
Profile Image for Carol 27.
1,095 reviews
March 7, 2020
Mark’s idyllic life has been turned on its head. Suddenly, his relationship is in tatters and his best friend isn’t talking to him. When an offer to help set things right sounds too good to be true, will he trust his instincts or impulsively leap into action? If only he had a better understanding of what he was really up against. Poor Mark, no doubt his inexperience will lead him straight into trouble yet again.

This story is well written and entertaining with interesting characters, humour, teenage angst, magic, suspense, danger, action and some violence. I’m looking forward to the next installment of this series. If my suspicions are correct, there’s an epic battle brewing. I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Billie.
5,786 reviews71 followers
April 5, 2020
Mark thought being a witch would be easy, but it has ruined everything.
Now, he has to fight for his friends and the guy that he loves.
Which would be challenging enough, without school being a living nightmare; more demons than he can handle; and witches that have strayed from the light.

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Lars Conner.
60 reviews3 followers
April 25, 2021
The Breaking by K.S. Marsden - 5/5 stars

Thank you to BookSirens for the free review copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Another wonderful installment in the series. This book has wonderful depictions of grief, showing how it can destroy you or how it can make you stronger. It also is a great example of how even as a teenager relationships with friends are important and just because they hit a rough patch doesn't mean they can patch themselves up and become stronger than ever.

This book picks up right where the previous one left off. Over the course of this installment in the series we see Mark start from his lowest point thus far and slowly start to repair and rebuild his relationships with his best friends, with Damien, and with his new friend Eadric. He is slowly refusing himself throughout the novel until we get to the end where, despite se heavy grieving, he is renewed and ready to go into the heafty fight he's sure to face in the next book, which you know I'm going to go start right now.
Profile Image for Scarolet Ellis.
7,445 reviews53 followers
March 29, 2020
The Breaking (Northern Witch #3) by K.S. Marsden is a wonderful story that I have read. This is book number three in this wonderful series that I have loved reading very much. I highly recommend this story to evryone who loves reading about magic and witches.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Mah E Noe.
34 reviews5 followers
May 15, 2021
A:why am i warming up to Robert

B:why am i okay with that

thanks to the author for ARC
634 reviews17 followers
March 22, 2020
This is a really great YA novel. Mark is a gay witch in training and life isn’t so easy. He not only has to navigate the usual teenage drama and angst and keep up with his school work, but there are demons and black magic to deal with. This book is fast paced and easy to read. The danger and suspense ramp up through the story. I would definitely recommend this book if you like YA paranormal fiction.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
117 reviews
Read
May 10, 2021
Link to review for book 1 and book two of this series down below.

This book is part of a series and CANNOT be read as a standalone. This book ends with a cliffhanger.

In the third book, I have begun to get worried about Nanna's health. There were twists in this stories which I did not expect at all and that made the story even more enjoyable. I am glad that some of the previous conflicts have been resolved in this book and sad about some new ones. Once again, this story was enjoyable and fun to read. The ending is rather sad but with the 1 more book left in the series, I am hopeful that we will finally get our happy ever after.

In short, I would recommend this book with no hesitation. Just make sure that you read the first two books as well as the sequel in this series. Happy reading :)

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Awaken (Northern Witch, #2) Awaken by K.S. Marsden




Book 1 review is at the bottom of this review.

This book is part of a series and CANNOT be read as a standalone. This book ends with a cliffhanger.

The author has once again done a great job with this book. Once again, I was not able to put it down once I started reading. I was able to follow the story from start to finish without losing the plot. The ending is rather sad but I am keeping my fingers crossed that the next book will resolve all issues faced by the characters - especially Mark.

In short, I would recommend this book with no hesitation. Just make sure that you read the first book as well as the sequels in this series. Happy reading :)

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


Winter Trials (Northern Witch, #1)
Winter Trials by K.S. Marsden

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I loved it!!!

This story was rather short. It was easy and fun to read. The author has done a great job in keeping the reader interested and wondering what will happen next in the story. The way Mark and Damian connected with each other was nice, especially the way they first met (That brought a smile to my face)!

In short, I would recommend this book. Just know that this book ends with a major cliffhanger and you will need to read the sequels :)

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.



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Profile Image for Shahira8826.
737 reviews47 followers
June 2, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and BookSirens for providing me with a copy of this novel for an honest review. It has been published in May 2020.

"The Breaking" by K.S. Marsden is the third book in the highly addictive YA series "Northern Witch".
It's the one I liked best so far: it's just as fast-paced and action-packed as the previous two, and on top of that, as the characters grow up, the topics covered get darker and the stakes higher in this latest book.
I really enjoyed how, besides the protagonist, his friends as well get to have their own story arc, their own credible motivations and ambitions.
I especially liked Michelle, because from book#1 she's the one we get to see going through the biggest evolution, both as a person and as a character, starting off as an extra and gradually working her way towards the main cast.
Kudos to the author for including a little, smart homage to the Harry Potter saga, when one of the characters asks the protagonist to "alohomora the lock" on a door and Mark replies: "Aloh- this isn’t bloody Harry Potter." That made me laugh out loud!
And, the cover art for this book is awesome.
The only flaw I can find in this book is some punctuation confusion, but that's hardly enough to detract from the pleasure of reading this.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Shai Williams.
875 reviews10 followers
May 21, 2024
THE BREAKING is a wonderful addition to the ‘Northern Witch’ saga! It does a wonderful job of continuing on the story arc and just made me even more interested in just what happens next in this delightful coming of age tale. With that being said, I do advise starting this series at the beginning so you can catch all the magic. What makes it even more magical to me is the fact that the main character is a young gay man.

One of my favorite parts about a series, especially one set in a small town, is how you continue to learn more about the characters. I tend to become invested in the characters, both main and secondary characters. I cheered just as much for Harry’s triumphs as Mark’s. I wanted to wring both Mark’s and Damien’s necks as they bumble along in their relationship. In other words, the characters became my friends.

There is a bit of violence, underage drinking and some kissing but nothing too graphic so this book is great for young adult and up readers. I do recommend it to anyone who enjoys their coming of age mixed with a good dose of magic.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Liesbeth.
329 reviews8 followers
July 13, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Yes, I read all three books in one day, because the flow of the story was so good and I kept on reading. In this installment, Mark shows again his immaturity when he runs into trouble without any backup.

He is in a lot of trouble at school where they still treat them as a pariah, even now when they think he cheated on Damian. Nothing is unforgiven then the twisted opinions of schoolkids who think they know the whole story. Even the Demon Robert is making his life more hell, but when his friends are in trouble again, he doesn't think twice. He is willing to risk his own life to safe them.

Even though he has his heart in the right place, he thinks he can solve anything without the help of others. Again there is a balance between school life, action, magic and romance. Even fate can be changed, a captivating reflection of witchcraft and determination. I cannot wait to read the next book.
Profile Image for Elpis G..
204 reviews4 followers
June 11, 2021
I quite enjoyed this read. It leaves where the last book left off and continues very strong. I found this book easier to get into than the last book. I like that this book expanded upon the witch world and magic more than the last book did.

Mark and Damian were also somewhat infuriating as characters this book which wasn't a bad thing. They both felt very realistic to their age especially since they were both thrust into dark situations that no ordinary sixteen year old should have to deal with. The choices they both made throughout this book were also somewhat frustrating at times but the choices they made had consequences to them which I liked even if in the end some of those choices were very heartbreaking to me especially as the reader. I'm looking forward to the next book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for BookishWeeb Olivia.
350 reviews31 followers
May 5, 2021
The Breaking is the third book in the Northern Witch series by K.S. Marsden. First off, this author does a really great job with transitions between her books. I didn't mention it from my review of book two, but she does a lovely job of starting each book where the last one left off. The writing style is smooth and easy to understand. This book, just like the first two in the series is full of drama, more so as we see Mark continuing his struggles as he tries to balance everything in life all the while trying to save his boyfriend, Damien from demon possession. We get to enjoy Mark growing more into his character and there's a cliff hanger at the end of this book!
Profile Image for Inger.
237 reviews2 followers
May 27, 2021
This third book and series is a fun read but each book ends in a cliff hanger / continuation, with no true end. So my reviews for the 4 books that I've read so far are going to be similar. The books aren't very long, the first being the shortest. It has great characters and an interesting plot. In this third book I like Nanna the best. She has a lot of character. The two main young men are gay, so if that bothers you, you might not like this story. This book is well written and an easy read. No graphic sexual content and only a little magical violence. I recommend for teens and up. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Amelia.
220 reviews
May 13, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

These are just wonderful little reads. The perfect length to keep me wanting more, and coming back for the next story.

Mark is an enjoyable main character and the other characters in his orbit are as well. They bring depth to the story that Mark alone can't pull. I also like the idea of men who share their body with a demon host; it gives them a complexity they wouldn't otherwise have.

I'm looking forward to how the author wraps up the series in the final book.
183 reviews
March 24, 2022
The Breaking is an Appropriate Title

This is the third book in the story of the Northern Witch, Mark. A trip to London in search of Damian breaks an accord between two covens. Eadric wants to break a seven-hundred-year-old curse laid on his family. He also wants to kill the demon, (known as Robert) who inhabits Damien. Can the curse be broken? Can they get rid of Robert?

I enjoyed this book. Mark, Damien, Harry, Sarah and Eadric are all dealing with the transition from teen problems to adult problems. I recommend this book.
Profile Image for MollyK.
561 reviews35 followers
August 18, 2020
*Author gifted in exchange for review*

Such a sweet little series. It is a very enjoyable, light read, and rather well written. I love how kind and pure Mark is. He is very much living up to white witch material. I still find it annoying that his family is not forth coming with information and background. I feel like they are putting all these kids in danger. Guess I'm invested in the story. LOL.

Anyway. I look forward to the next installment.
Profile Image for SFBookReviewer.
632 reviews3 followers
July 26, 2022
The Breaking is the third book in this YA fantasy series and continues the story of Mark and Damian. The book contains magic, witches, and demons, but is otherwise set within the ordinary Great Brittain. The book is short, but well written and does end in a cliffhanger. Overall an enjoyable read, with more adventure and danger. Nana is a great character and adds so much to the story. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Alicia.
849 reviews11 followers
April 25, 2021
This continues to be a great series. I enjoy the relatable characters and situations. This will make this a good book for teens facing their own struggles. Mark continues to explore his new powers and how to balance being a witch with being a teenager.

Excellent editing, great characters and situations, and an exciting struggle. I enjoyed reading this ARC from BookSirens.
681 reviews14 followers
June 16, 2024
I have been absolutely delighted with the books in this series. I am always surprised by what is happening next. The magical part of this one plays an important part it just blew my mind with everything going on. I adored this book and cannot wait to see what's happening in book four. Read these books, you'll be so glad you did. I know I am!
188 reviews
August 16, 2022
No matter our age, life does not pull the punches. I will continue this series. Thank you. (I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews

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