Nightmares

The Coven #1

by Erica Stevens

Avery never dreamed she’d have to leave her dad and friends behind to spend the summer with a mother she barely knows. Just when she thinks it can’t get any worse, the discovery she belongs to a coven of teenaged witches changes everything. Avery soon learns most of her life was built on a lie.

Though she doesn’t want to believe what the coven reveals, she can’t deny the power growing inside her. With little choice but to embrace her new life, Avery finds herself sinking into a world of magic and mystery. The deeper she goes, the more her feelings develop for Reid, another member of the coven.

Avery’s barely awakened to her powers before Regan arrives with evil intentions. When he forces Avery and her friends into his nightmare realm, each new horror he throws at them tests the limits of their powers and leaves Avery with the realization she’s different from the rest of the coven. There’s a reason why Regan wants her so badly, and the growing strength of her powers draws her toward the lure of darker magic.

Can Avery resist the darkness inside herself to save the people she loves most, or will she succumb to the temptation of Regan’s sinister promises of absolute power?

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult, Witches, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Suspense

307 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2018

About the author

Erica Stevens is the author of the Captive Series, Coven Series, Kindred Series, Fire & Ice Series, Ravening Series, and the Survivor Chronicles. She enjoys writing young adult, new adult, romance, horror, and science fiction. She also writes adult paranormal romance and historical romance under the pen name, Brenda K. Davies. When not out with friends and family, she is at home with her husband, son, dogs, cat, and horse.

She loves to speak with readers and can be found:

Erica Stevens/Brenda K. Davies Mailing List: http://bit.ly/ESBKDNews

Reviews

[David DeStefano · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have a very mixed opinion of this book. On one hand it’s a complete and total rip off of the Secret Circle series by L.J. Smith. On the other hand, it’s a much better version of the Secret Circle series. Those books always pissed me off because despite the interesting premise the writing was so god awful that it mostly ruined them. But still, this book is a complete rip off in so many ways it would take me a long time to list them all. So, despite the better writing, I have to give this book a negative review for complete lack of originality

[Brenda Davies]

Nightmares (The Coven, Book 1) by Erica Stevens is NOW AVAILABLE for only $0.99!

✨ Amazon: ericastevensauthor.com/NMfb
✨ iBooks: ericastevensauthor.com/NMib
✨ Barnes & Noble: ericastevensauthor.com/NMbn
✨ Kobo: ericastevensauthor.com/NMko
✨ Google Play: ericastevensauthor.com/NMgp
✨ Smashwords: ericastevensauthor.com/NMsm

#EricaStevens #CovenSeries

[Erica Stevens]

Nightmares, book 1 in the Coven Series, is NOW AVAILABLE!

✨ Amazon: ericastevensauthor.com/NMfb
✨ iBooks: ericastevensauthor.com/NMib
✨ Barnes & Noble: ericastevensauthor.com/NMbn
✨ Kobo: ericastevensauthor.com/NMko
✨ Google Play: ericastevensauthor.com/NMgp
✨ Smashwords: ericastevensauthor.com/NMsm

#EricaStevens #CovenSeries

[La Toya · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first response to this book was "so it's The Secret Circle" all over again. I didn't mind because I enjoyed that series but was surprised at all the similarities. A young girl living with 1 parent gets called back to parents hometown (thankfully both parents are alive). Girl meets a bunch of other teens and realise they're witches and so is she. They become a coven and evil starts to follow them. Pretty much the EXACT same story right? Wrong. After this basic premise the story shifts and that's where it got interesting! The evil after them lives on another plane of existence and after they follow him there they have to find a way back, which they can only do by living through their darkest nightmares. How genius is that?
All in all I enjoyed this book. The writing was good, the characters were great and the premise though starting off familiar beautifully grew into its own story.

[Clarice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m impressed. Not only can this author write vampires and post apocalyptic but now we are throwing witches into the mix. I was actually contemplating letting my daughter (almost 12), read this but quickly changed my mind because there were parts that were pretty scary. Nightmares is an appropriate name for this one. Avery’s story does start out pretty standard. A witch who doesn’t know she is one. But you throw in the whole other realm and Regan into the mix and this becomes a manifestation of the many things even adults have fears of. Great start to a brand new series! Can’t wait to see more!

[Irma rosales · Rating 3 out of 5]

The books was dull. I read up to chapter 7 and I was really hoping it would get better but it didn’t. I really wanted to feel some emotion from reading this book but nothing. I was just reading words and didn’t feel anything. Usually when I read books I want to feel like I can connect with the characters.

[Kolleen Fraser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Toula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio book review
This is a very strong story that will pull you in right away. What more do you want then a powerful witch that she doesn’t know that she is one . Her father that forces her to go see her mother that she hasn’t spent time with .
Avery Is the teenage witch that finds out she is the missing link to a circle of witches. That circle has one goal in mind , to stop
Regan from taking over the coven . Regan Is pure evil and he wants that power and he knows with Avery by his side nothing can stop him .

Meghan Kelly Performance was spot on . You felt the story happing , it seemed that you were right in the coven beside Avery . Her tone was perfect for the characters . Meghan has a very talented voice that no matter what she is brilliant

[Mummy's Naughty Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me a very big IT feel. I liked the haunted house and how they all had to face their fears. I liked how there is a moment that Avery thinks she's evil and so do the others because of her powers. I like the final binding where the ancestors come and help and Avery learns why she is so powerful.

[Che is Slowly Getting Back to Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC ?

[Jain · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 50% was so good and interesting, but then after that idk..
maybe the next book will be better, maybe not who knows.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think in the very beginning my favorite part was the description of the room Avery's mom had set up for her! While I think my ocd couldn't handle a bed in the middle of a room round or not lol it all sounded so beautiful! Can you imagine that view with all those windows? Or how amazing it would have been when the sun hit all thise crystals in the morning! Even the tall staircase, though old, sounded really pretty.

I thought the way Avery and Reid met and connected was a bit cliche though. Very much been there read that. It could have used just a tiny bit more cat and mouse and less we just met and now its like we have been together our whole lives lol. But a lot of these short YA, NA book relationships are set up like this so I guess not too unexpected.

Also crazy when whe starts asking all those questions and everyone is all "we never really thought about it". Like seriously lol. What teen isnt asking a million questions?

Also would have been more original if not all the nightmare hide and seek scenes were inanimate objects coming to life🤷🏽‍♀️.

Overall it was still cute enough that I liked it and I will prob read the next one only because I already preordered it b4 reading this one lol. But not sure if I will preorder #3 before reading #2.

[Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Audible Listen🎧 Amazing Story!

Nightmares
The Coven, Book 1
By: Erica Stevens
Narrated by: Meghan Kelly

What a great and amazing paranormal fantasy. It has the makings of a great television show or even big screen, I can just imagine what special effects could do for some of the descriptive scenes in this book, especially the nightmarish ones. Erica Stevens is a new to me author and I will definitely be checking out more of her work. I enjoyed her writing and the original storylines she created, they are interesting and imaginative. As is the world and characters she creates, imaginative yet realistic and relatable. Avery, the lead character finds out her parents kept a big secret from her her whole life. They decided it was time for her to find out, she is sent to stay with her estranged mother to learn more. She finds others her age and then learns they are all witches and belong to a Coven. At first she is shocked and unbelieving, then came denial, but when she could not longer deny the power within she goes back and joins them. Things really pick up, it all starts with a seance and Avery finds herself in another realm faced with evil and challenges that are beyond her comprehension. This is the time you will be taken to the edge of your seat, rooting for Avery, Reid and the rest of the coven. Lots of suspense, horror filled action, drama, twists and even a bit of romance. I loved the chemistry between Avery and Reid. I also loved the history of who everyone is and its links with the past. I am looking forward what comes next for this great crew of witches. Erica Stevens thank you for this great story.

I listened to the Audible edition, Meghan Kelly is an awesome narrator and voice performer. She brings these characters to life, gives each their own voice and personality. She sets the perfect tone for the story and adds a dramatic flair that enhances this great story another level. You hear the emotions of the characters projected in to her performance, she has you feeling their fear and then their determination. She is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another great listen🎧

[Kristine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read a few books from this author and they have been hit or miss. I listened to this book on Audible for the most part, with a little reading of the Kindle version thrown in.

This is obviously geared to the YA audience and it shows. There is nothing wrong with that, but I have read lots and lots of YA books that do not leave you feeling like this is a YA book. I'm not sure if that makes any sense or not.

I had several issues with this, starting with the writing. It felt very superficial. The main female MC is very, very immature and it shows. Then there is the Insta-Love of which I am not a big fan of. Then, there is the lack of definitive world building. We, the readers, are thrown into this world at the same time as the MC, yet the rules are not made clear and we do not really know the characters.

The character development is almost non existent, and there are so many secondary characters that it is hard to keep track. The MC's relationship with her mother is just plain odd. Yes, I understand she has abandonment issues, but they are briefly mentioned (and told to us, not shown) and it is strange that the MC does not want to stay at her house with her mother, even after things are explained to her, she stays with her friends at a neighbors house?

And the big bad. Really, the reactions and actions of the MC to the antagonist are just strange. Again, there are so many things that happen immediately, without really anything justification.

So, will I be continuing on...at this point, I'm not sure.

[Christine Shrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A coven of Witches....

Prologue starts with a group of kids being struck by lightning and they are at a ocean. They are not hurt but something is different about them....

Avery is the main character of this story and she has to spend July with her mom which she is not happy about since her mom had abandoned her when Avery was younger.

* Avery finds out when staying with her mom that her family is Witches and belong to a coven. She doesn't know how to process it or what she can actually do.
* “The founding families were descendants of the ancient druids"
* I love the part where one of the girls were talking about Crystals and what they can do. I have crystals and I loved reading about them in this book. Basically Gems and crystals each have different properties to them that can help you like Amethyst can help with Anxiety. Amethyst is my favorite crystal and I also have a necklace that I like to wear.
* There is a scene in this book that scared me when I Read it..... Chapter 21 is all im going to say.
* There is a demon who puts your worst fears into life. Your nightmares are coming true.

This was a very fun but spooky read! Perfect book to read in October.


* Trigger Warning: If your afraid of Bugs, Clowns, plants, being buried alive, and etc I would be cautious about reading this....

[Shayay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very teen and very much like The Secret Circle; that was my first thought about this book. Avery has just found out she’s a witch; lots of information has been held from her, so she’s definitely in shock when she hears this news. She’s a bit of a brat in the beginning. She joins a coven with a group of other teens, and begins her magical journey. Unfortunately, these kids are messing around with things they really shouldn’t be, so they find themselves dealing with an evil entity. Avery is a bit too much of a damsel for me, but she’s okay; typical teen. There’s a bit of sweet romance with Reid, but Avery still has a lot of maturing to do. There’s some fun magical elements to this story; I like the spooky house hide and seek, and how their fears manifest into visuals. That was all cool stuff. Overall, I was entertained, but lack of character depth and originality, made this story just okay. I read the synopsis for the next book and some reviews, and it seems like the story is just going to be very similar to this one, so I probably won’t search out the sequels. If I see them at a good price, I may pick them up.

Also, I listened to the audio version on Audible. The narrator did a nice job. She fits the characters well, and she gives good emotional variances to her voice. Recommend.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic new series by Erica Stevens. This series follows Avery, a teenager from a broken home who lives with her dad, enjoys her life and has great friends. But this summer, Avery learns that she must spend the summer with her estranged mother. She tells her father that she does not want to but he is adamant that she must. As soon Avery gets to her mother's she noticing something is off but she is not sure what. Avery comes across a group of teens and they tell her that they have been waiting for her, that she is the missing link they need. Confused but intrigued she follows along and is soon in for the ride of her life! On that ride Avery also meets Reid and falls hard for him. Avery finds out that she comes from a long line of witches and that she herself is a very powerful one. Avery is needed to help the coven fight a very powerful evil witch that is hell bent on having Avery for his own and taking over the coven. Will Avery be able to beat Regan? Will she forgive her parents for lying to her, will she embrace her powers? I cannot wait to read book 2!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Coven: Nightmares

First in trilogy - may have more books in series - Avery Miller is a seventeen-year old forced to spend a month with her mother; the same mother who abandoned her. So there is a lot of anger and other negative feelings until she meets a group of kids. Mystery, mayhem, and crazy situations happens when an evil spirit Regan enters Avery's world and sends her and her friends into a realm of Nightmares. This realm is where the evil spirit Regan has control. Falling in love with Reid Davis helps our Avery from completely submitting to Regan's compulsion as she continues to fight temptation. Loads of action. Young Adult reading. Follows the books/films of Divergent, The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, The Fifth Wave genre type. Fantastic science fiction/paranormal entertainment. Eager to read book 2, The Maze. I wonder where Avery's newfound identity and power will lead us next?

[Meche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining, interesting and very original. Avery doesn't know she is a witch until she goes to her mother's house and meets a group of teenagers get age that carry the same birthmark she has. Eventually she learns a few things, but is still unsatisfied about what they are telling her, because there are some holes about why would the chosen of teens would need her. She realizes that all of their parents are protecting them from Regan, the villain. A guy that suddenly appears before her on a party and takes her into a realm of nightmares, were she has to find all of her friends and go thru their worst fears.
Eventually they win, but she finds out she is the reincarnation of Celia, an ancestor that was in love with Reagan. They investigate and eventually they seal him so he can torture them again.
The romance is not that good, some things move somehow fast and although it has this problems I do recommend it
This all unfolds in a very interesting way and I recommend it

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The awakening of Avery.

Nightmares is the first book of the Coven series. Erica Stevens books are always fantastic but this one is starts off with a bang and ends with one too. Avery is turning 18 but become if age is not the only thing that is happening. She's a witch and doesn't know it. She's in shock when she goes to see her mother and finds out that there are 9 others with the same birthmark. But, Avery has two. Reid and Landon are twins and Reid falls for Avery right off the bat. But, there is something coming and it will try the Coven and their powers. A very finds that she is very powerful. The story takes a turn when Regan comes to claim Avery for his own. Stevens has a way of drawing you into the story so you can't put it down. The next book isn't until March can't wait to read it.

[Leo]

Some people have there steamy romance books as guilty pleasure reads but give me a good old urban fantasy with all the classic tropes that hooks you in from the beginning yes please!!

This is fast place with the plot moving quickly and definitely a good romantic relationship thrown in. This is EVERYTHING I look for in a urban fantasy wow.

The writing style is nothing revolutionary but is definitely engaging and is also a contributing factor in how fast you fly through this book. Yes I have definitely read books similar to this and it’s nothing new it was still entertaining and still flew through this. Read this in a couple of hours I was so engaged definitely worth a read if your either new to the genre or in for a good time.

It’s also free from amazon and on iBooks so there’s another reason to try it

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah so that was all my favourite parts of horror movies and most of my worst nightmares all packed up in one fantastic book.

Avery thinks she is just a normal teenage girl, oh boy was she wrong, it turns out Avery is the most extraordinary girl and there is nothing wrong with that at all.

I have to say I love all of Avery's friends old and new I also love how they meshed together and became stronger through Avery.

I loved how spooked I got throughout the story lol and I seriously loved how the author brought so many nightmares to life through her words, no matter how much I wanted to put it down I just couldn't and now I can't wait for more.

[Angel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Normally, Erica is one of my most fav authors. However, with this series, I was excited to see a new vision on Covens, and honestly, what I see is almost a mirror of Secret Circle by LJ Smith.
Sure there are some differences but, I am halfway through book 2, and i swear, if Ried confesses to having a pull towards Talia, I am going to throw my tablet against a wall.
I love Erica's writing, and I am all about drawing inspiration from other authors but, there are way too many similarities between the coven series and secret circle.
I am disappointed.
It's not enough to make me stop reading other books by erica or her other penname but, it's still disappointing.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was my least favorite book by her so far. It was still good and I will read the rest of the series but not my favorite. I love how a lot of her stories have the predator/prey love draw factor.... and I will say this one slightly does but it wasn't as captivating as some of her other books. There were also a lot of characters and I struggle with names so trying to remember who was who of side/minor characters was challenging. And I just struggled to relate to Avery and had a hard time understanding her feelings for Regan and Reid. It was very action packed and exciting so I will continue to read the others to see where the story goes.

[Joseph Hargis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Letdown

This heroine is an emotional rollercoaster who although raised by a loving father and grounded with friends, school,etc, seems to suffer from major insecurity. When she discovers she has powers that can help save herself and friends, her learning curve is on repeat before she uses them. She cannot tell the difference between being compelled and acting under free will. One would expect the young lady to be more self confidant, to do what she can to help those around her, and to learn what she can and can't do without the emotional flair-ups taking control. Those kind of mood swings would drive me bananas.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woooo, a new series by one of my favorite authors. Is there anything she can’t write??
This is out of my comfort zone. Witches, which I have not really read about. But this book drew me in. And reading late.
The characters are well developed. The emotions are right there in your face. This author has the ability to make you forget these are characters in a made up world. You end up feeling you know them, understand them. Not all writers can do this.
Weekend is almost here, buy it and read late. I understand dark circles under the eyes. 😊

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wounderful Read

I can't begin to describe how much I love this book. Her work is always good with great characters and good story telling. As someone how study's and practices I was so happy she kept as close to it as possible( while adding some wonderful real magic to make the story that much better). All ages (13+) should read this book! Full of adventure, heart and just a great read.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Format: audiobook
Narrator: Meghan Kelly

The narrator has a pleasant voice, easy to listen to and good delivery, I’d certainly pick up an audiobook that has her as narrator.

This book is enjoyable, I like the whole premise and the way the story played out but it did remind me of a tv series called ‘The Circle’ I believe that series was based on a book/books but I haven’t read them so I can’t say whether this author was just influenced by that story or just copied it.

[Lisa Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nightmares -The Coven -book 1 Review

What a great story! This author has a way of drawing you into another world with her writing in all things paranormal. A well-written, suspenseful, paranormal read. Well developed characters and storyline. The first in the Coven Series. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Lynkon Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nightmares (The Coven, Book 1)
By: Erica Stevens
Is there anything Erica Stevens CAN'T write?? I started reading this new series knowing I would love it, but the book still wowed me. This book will suck you in with a world of powers, a little romance and a big scare factor. As always, the author's characters are so well developed you really feel like you know them.