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Alice Skye #1
Witch's Sorrow
An amateur witch. A dark past. A fierce deceit.
Paladin Agent Alice Skye didn’t think much of the contract forced upon her by Rexley Wild, Alpha of one of the largest packs in Europe.
He hired her for one job.
Find the missing wolf.
Unfortunately for Alice, she might already be too late.
She's in way over her head, an inexperienced witch who has to use all her instincts to help the secretive and detached Alpha find his missing pack mate. But it isn’t long before she realises something’s not quite right. It's not simply a missing person, it was something a lot closer to home, something that reignites nightmares that make her question her own, horrific past.
Alice is in a race against time that forces her to face against vampires, daemons and anything that gets in the way, for she only has one thing to do, find the wolf before he turns up like the others.
Dead.
Paladin Agent Alice Skye didn’t think much of the contract forced upon her by Rexley Wild, Alpha of one of the largest packs in Europe.
He hired her for one job.
Find the missing wolf.
Unfortunately for Alice, she might already be too late.
She's in way over her head, an inexperienced witch who has to use all her instincts to help the secretive and detached Alpha find his missing pack mate. But it isn’t long before she realises something’s not quite right. It's not simply a missing person, it was something a lot closer to home, something that reignites nightmares that make her question her own, horrific past.
Alice is in a race against time that forces her to face against vampires, daemons and anything that gets in the way, for she only has one thing to do, find the wolf before he turns up like the others.
Dead.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2019
1609 people are currently reading
1781 people want to read
About the author
Taylor Aston White
25 books380 followersTaylor Aston White writes deliciously dark fantasy & romance, where tension burns, secrets break, and love always wins. Based in the UK with her childhood sweetheart and their two children, she's the author of several bestselling series and loves to explore mythology and European faerie tales to create her own, modern twists.
Follow her on Instagram - @taylorastonwhite, and join her newsletter on www.taylorastonwhite.com
Be sure to follow Taylor on BookBub for the latest on sales https://bit.ly/3rNVVlm
Follow her on Instagram - @taylorastonwhite, and join her newsletter on www.taylorastonwhite.com
Be sure to follow Taylor on BookBub for the latest on sales https://bit.ly/3rNVVlm
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
January 9, 2020
An other book that hovers between one and two stars (for the idea) . It's mostly one, unfortunately.
It lacks coherence and often sense.
We have a regularly approved bureau of para, where h works, but that pays so poorly that she lives in a dump (but the colleagues haven't that problem). The rules are weird, ie it seems she gets castigated only for the story to start. The head of the office doesn't see the trap, puts her on medical leave and that blocks her access to the office (?)
Her guardian who loves her as a daughter does absolutely nothing to protect her except blabber but never about relevant information.
But mostly we have this supposed detective/bounty hunter that's unable to defend herself, that reacts to magic as she were a human who never knew about paras and as a human she's as clumsy (see the club scene where she should be investigating...)
There are actions that have no consequences (thinking about the pride and pack here)
Word building is lacking as you can imagine from above.
The ending is an absolute clusterfuck for me. I need a reason for the way it is written. There are no explanations for both her inability to do anything at all and both the death and saving that comes after.
It lacks coherence and often sense.
We have a regularly approved bureau of para, where h works, but that pays so poorly that she lives in a dump (but the colleagues haven't that problem). The rules are weird, ie it seems she gets castigated only for the story to start. The head of the office doesn't see the trap, puts her on medical leave and that blocks her access to the office (?)
Her guardian who loves her as a daughter does absolutely nothing to protect her except blabber but never about relevant information.
But mostly we have this supposed detective/bounty hunter that's unable to defend herself, that reacts to magic as she were a human who never knew about paras and as a human she's as clumsy (see the club scene where she should be investigating...)
There are actions that have no consequences (thinking about the pride and pack here)
Word building is lacking as you can imagine from above.
The ending is an absolute clusterfuck for me. I need a reason for the way it is written. There are no explanations for both her inability to do anything at all and both the death and saving that comes after.
May 31, 2021
I couldn't get through it.
Alice was an unbelievable moron. She's supposed to be a trained agent? Trained by who, a pack of toddlers?
Spoiler-ish, so skip if you want, but...okay. This "agent" is at a club tracking a dude. Her mark approaches, slaps a drink down in front of her. And SHE DRINKS IT. Is predictably drugged, dragged off, assaulted. How in holy hell is this a trained agent? I knew not to accept drinks from strange men - let alone bad men you are hunting - at age 12.
And everyone around her is just a stupid asshole. I don't have the emotional bandwidth to slog through yet another book with a TSTL FMC surrounded by people who clearly know lots more than her but tell her nothing. And then find whatever bullshit reason to make whatever happens all her fault.
It is forced, contrived, and irritating.
Alice was an unbelievable moron. She's supposed to be a trained agent? Trained by who, a pack of toddlers?
Spoiler-ish, so skip if you want, but...okay. This "agent" is at a club tracking a dude. Her mark approaches, slaps a drink down in front of her. And SHE DRINKS IT. Is predictably drugged, dragged off, assaulted. How in holy hell is this a trained agent? I knew not to accept drinks from strange men - let alone bad men you are hunting - at age 12.
And everyone around her is just a stupid asshole. I don't have the emotional bandwidth to slog through yet another book with a TSTL FMC surrounded by people who clearly know lots more than her but tell her nothing. And then find whatever bullshit reason to make whatever happens all her fault.
It is forced, contrived, and irritating.
Read
October 4, 2020* I read this as a judge for #SPFBO*
Unfortunately this one I didn't finish, I ended up stopping at 17% as I could tell the story was not my kind of thing. Urban fantasy is an area which really has to be a little unique or different to hook me, and sadly this one didn't feel like it was unique enough from the crowd to stand out.
I feel like it would have been an ok story if I read it all, but already I wasn't sold on the character of Alice who clearly has a traumatised past and some issues she needs to deal with in her day to day life. She is on the hunt for Breeds which is anything supernatural, and she's a Paladin, bit after arresting the wrong kind of person she's hired by them for a job.
I think it's a book which, if you like urban, is easy to get into and fairly quick to start up, but I wanted more development or something more compelling to draw me in. It felt like it would have only got a low rating if I continued reading.
Unfortunately this one I didn't finish, I ended up stopping at 17% as I could tell the story was not my kind of thing. Urban fantasy is an area which really has to be a little unique or different to hook me, and sadly this one didn't feel like it was unique enough from the crowd to stand out.
I feel like it would have been an ok story if I read it all, but already I wasn't sold on the character of Alice who clearly has a traumatised past and some issues she needs to deal with in her day to day life. She is on the hunt for Breeds which is anything supernatural, and she's a Paladin, bit after arresting the wrong kind of person she's hired by them for a job.
I think it's a book which, if you like urban, is easy to get into and fairly quick to start up, but I wanted more development or something more compelling to draw me in. It felt like it would have only got a low rating if I continued reading.
March 21, 2022
I don’t really know how I feel about this book. Confused might be a good word. Alice was an idiot. Like truly it boggled the mind how she came out alive in the end with all of her stupidity. Let me count the biggest ones....
1. A guy she was hired to capture offers her a drink in a club and insists she drink it. Words escape me. Oh and the idiot drinks it and you guess it she was drugged.
2. Rex gives her a bracelet and tells her to wear it at all times it will keep shifters from attacking her. Yet she is attacked by shifters. Plus a woman who sells her a necklace is frantic to tell Alice what the bracelet is but Rex quickly pulls her away. I mean come on!!! There were soooooo many signs the guy was unhinged.
3. Rex was constantly showing up where she was. Of course he’s tracking you!
4. A picture of Sam captured with an address on it is on her door. So of course you go by yourself. Why would you call a friend at the agency to assist you? No going in blind by yourself is much much smarter.
There were just a ton of little things about her that bugged me. She didn’t think things though at all. How she became a highly skilled agent is beyond me. Then there’s the storyline. At times it was over explained, delving deep into the world of paranormal and arcana with information that was irrelevant to the plot. An example: it went into great detail about the Fae courts even though we encounter a fae for like 1 scene. Then there are other times where there is no explanation and we are just supposed to follow along except there’s big old holes in the story. I was so confused and lost at the final scene and then Rex’s brother shows up all “things have been handled” with no other explanation. The only characters I even remotely liked where Sam and Riley. Oh and can we talk about the authors obsession with long hair on men. EVERY. SINGLE GUY. had flowing long locks. Gag.
1. A guy she was hired to capture offers her a drink in a club and insists she drink it. Words escape me. Oh and the idiot drinks it and you guess it she was drugged.
2. Rex gives her a bracelet and tells her to wear it at all times it will keep shifters from attacking her. Yet she is attacked by shifters. Plus a woman who sells her a necklace is frantic to tell Alice what the bracelet is but Rex quickly pulls her away. I mean come on!!! There were soooooo many signs the guy was unhinged.
3. Rex was constantly showing up where she was. Of course he’s tracking you!
4. A picture of Sam captured with an address on it is on her door. So of course you go by yourself. Why would you call a friend at the agency to assist you? No going in blind by yourself is much much smarter.
There were just a ton of little things about her that bugged me. She didn’t think things though at all. How she became a highly skilled agent is beyond me. Then there’s the storyline. At times it was over explained, delving deep into the world of paranormal and arcana with information that was irrelevant to the plot. An example: it went into great detail about the Fae courts even though we encounter a fae for like 1 scene. Then there are other times where there is no explanation and we are just supposed to follow along except there’s big old holes in the story. I was so confused and lost at the final scene and then Rex’s brother shows up all “things have been handled” with no other explanation. The only characters I even remotely liked where Sam and Riley. Oh and can we talk about the authors obsession with long hair on men. EVERY. SINGLE GUY. had flowing long locks. Gag.
November 3, 2019
Clumsy
Somethings are over explained; others are barely covered. MC wants to snarky and bold, but lacks ability and conviction. World building is slapdash at best, simply forced along with no real thought to the underlying structure. Really, everything is forced to conform to a preformed narrative without basis.
This isn’t urban fantasy. This is simply bad writing.
Some typos and grammar errors.
DNF
Somethings are over explained; others are barely covered. MC wants to snarky and bold, but lacks ability and conviction. World building is slapdash at best, simply forced along with no real thought to the underlying structure. Really, everything is forced to conform to a preformed narrative without basis.
This isn’t urban fantasy. This is simply bad writing.
Some typos and grammar errors.
DNF
February 16, 2021
3.5 stars
July 29, 2022
DNF
Obviously the concept was interesting enough to pull me in. Sadly, the delivery was lacking. The book was poorly edited. The tense switched constantly, making it hard to read. The MC acts like a teenager even though she's 23, basically stumbling through life wondering why things go to s**** when she can't even be bothered to put in any effort. The romance is predictable, limited to a couple of sassy conversations, and bam they are in bed. I gave up after this because there was no attempt at character development and this was obviously going to be staged into a fated mates scenario where they don't have to try to have a relationship. She is some special little magical snowflake that must be protected. She is surrounded by men who think she's attractive and want to take care of her (apparently that's supposed to signify her worth). They love her by controlling her, which obviously isn't love but she's not that bright so it's unlikely she will figure that out. Oh, and despite being trained to bring in bad guys she messes up most of her jobs somehow; and then also ends up getting drugged with a date rape drug because she drank something offered by a stranger even though she said immediately prior to said stranger that she didn't take drinks from strangers. Too stupid to live for sure.
Obviously the concept was interesting enough to pull me in. Sadly, the delivery was lacking. The book was poorly edited. The tense switched constantly, making it hard to read. The MC acts like a teenager even though she's 23, basically stumbling through life wondering why things go to s**** when she can't even be bothered to put in any effort. The romance is predictable, limited to a couple of sassy conversations, and bam they are in bed. I gave up after this because there was no attempt at character development and this was obviously going to be staged into a fated mates scenario where they don't have to try to have a relationship. She is some special little magical snowflake that must be protected. She is surrounded by men who think she's attractive and want to take care of her (apparently that's supposed to signify her worth). They love her by controlling her, which obviously isn't love but she's not that bright so it's unlikely she will figure that out. Oh, and despite being trained to bring in bad guys she messes up most of her jobs somehow; and then also ends up getting drugged with a date rape drug because she drank something offered by a stranger even though she said immediately prior to said stranger that she didn't take drinks from strangers. Too stupid to live for sure.
May 8, 2024
*DNF*
PROS: Suspenseful prelude. Creative.
CONS: Abundant profanity. No opening hook.
OVERALL: Four-in-a-row F-bombs of "dialogue" act as an anemic opening to chapter one of this urban fantasy, disjointedly following an intriguing prelude. Main character Alice Skye is an investigator of the supernatural in her early twenties with blonde hair, green eyes, and a Volkswagen Beetle. This stereotypical car and eye color for a youthful female investigator left this reader to ponder if the author was afraid to step outside the boundaries of the audience’s expectation, or was she simply trying to rally a following for her newly introduced character? I felt as if Alice was channeling Emma Swan of ABC television’s Once Upon A Time series.
Some of the author’s descriptions are noteworthy, such as the mobile phone charging cord that “mocked her,” as her phone is not charged. The opening chapter has so much work to do—it must propel the reader onward while introducing characters, the environment, and the situation at hand. This reader felt that the opening failed to explain why werewolves/shifters, vampires, etc. are hunted, and did little to coax one to read more than the opening few sentences.
SUMMARY: I received this audiobook for free and completed chapter one, finding the characters and unfolding story—peppered with profanity—was not for me. Thank you, Taylor Aston White for the opportunity to read your work. I felt like you had so much more of a real story to share, but I couldn't keep reading.
PROS: Suspenseful prelude. Creative.
CONS: Abundant profanity. No opening hook.
OVERALL: Four-in-a-row F-bombs of "dialogue" act as an anemic opening to chapter one of this urban fantasy, disjointedly following an intriguing prelude. Main character Alice Skye is an investigator of the supernatural in her early twenties with blonde hair, green eyes, and a Volkswagen Beetle. This stereotypical car and eye color for a youthful female investigator left this reader to ponder if the author was afraid to step outside the boundaries of the audience’s expectation, or was she simply trying to rally a following for her newly introduced character? I felt as if Alice was channeling Emma Swan of ABC television’s Once Upon A Time series.
Some of the author’s descriptions are noteworthy, such as the mobile phone charging cord that “mocked her,” as her phone is not charged. The opening chapter has so much work to do—it must propel the reader onward while introducing characters, the environment, and the situation at hand. This reader felt that the opening failed to explain why werewolves/shifters, vampires, etc. are hunted, and did little to coax one to read more than the opening few sentences.
SUMMARY: I received this audiobook for free and completed chapter one, finding the characters and unfolding story—peppered with profanity—was not for me. Thank you, Taylor Aston White for the opportunity to read your work. I felt like you had so much more of a real story to share, but I couldn't keep reading.
June 11, 2019
What a great read!
Witch’s Sorrow was not what I was expecting. I don’t know what I was, but this turned out to be so much more. There was so many twists and turns. Oh no he didn’t, to oh yes he did do that. To who is this, I must have him. Alice has so much yet to uncover. I felt her frustration with her past and not knowing. I hope book two brings some answers.
But overall, I really enjoyed this book. The writing style was fast paced, lots of action, drama, chemistry and the need for more. I will definitely be looking for book two.
Witch’s Sorrow was not what I was expecting. I don’t know what I was, but this turned out to be so much more. There was so many twists and turns. Oh no he didn’t, to oh yes he did do that. To who is this, I must have him. Alice has so much yet to uncover. I felt her frustration with her past and not knowing. I hope book two brings some answers.
But overall, I really enjoyed this book. The writing style was fast paced, lots of action, drama, chemistry and the need for more. I will definitely be looking for book two.
March 31, 2020
I have been told that my reviews are fairly hard (not harsh, but rather I'm parsimonious with the stars). So, take that into consideration when reading my review.
I'm stuck at home in the middle of a global pandemic and the author kindly gave this to me free in a giveaway... so also take that into account.
First off, I liked it. It was just the bubble gum fantasy I needed for right now.
The Pro's
- the protagonist is very much your standard kickass wisecracking female protagonist that you've seen in so many urban fantasies.... but that doesn't change the fact that she's an interesting character.
- the world - I usually prefer hidden world urban fantasies to those where the mythological world is front and center.... having said that, there is a lot of nice touches to this world although the author really only touches the surface in this book.
The Middling
- the secondary characters are a mixed batch and they sometimes do things that don't feel in character as sketched by the author. In some cases, the characterization is done quite well (Sam), in others, the characterization just doesn't work or is inconsistent (Danton, Rex).
The Con
- the author's writing is sparse.... it lacks the poetry and descriptiveness that would take this from being a middle of the road urban fantasy and bring it to the next level.
All in all, I have hopes for this author and this series....
P.S., I read this book and its sequel in 1 day, so it wasn't that bad, was it...
I'm stuck at home in the middle of a global pandemic and the author kindly gave this to me free in a giveaway... so also take that into account.
First off, I liked it. It was just the bubble gum fantasy I needed for right now.
The Pro's
- the protagonist is very much your standard kickass wisecracking female protagonist that you've seen in so many urban fantasies.... but that doesn't change the fact that she's an interesting character.
- the world - I usually prefer hidden world urban fantasies to those where the mythological world is front and center.... having said that, there is a lot of nice touches to this world although the author really only touches the surface in this book.
The Middling
- the secondary characters are a mixed batch and they sometimes do things that don't feel in character as sketched by the author. In some cases, the characterization is done quite well (Sam), in others, the characterization just doesn't work or is inconsistent (Danton, Rex).
The Con
- the author's writing is sparse.... it lacks the poetry and descriptiveness that would take this from being a middle of the road urban fantasy and bring it to the next level.
All in all, I have hopes for this author and this series....
P.S., I read this book and its sequel in 1 day, so it wasn't that bad, was it...
January 1, 2024
Good world building.... But the writing needs help. A lot of help
While I appreciate the effort that went into creating this world, I couldn't get past the infuriating writing style employed. The occasional error in basic grammar - like using the noun form of a word where the adverb form is required - is annoying, but ultimately understandable... not everyone can afford, or has access to, an editor/proofreader(s). They are sadly a dying profession.
My ire is, instead, directed to the absolutely bewildering narration and reader-perspective choices throughout the book. Seemingly important questions like "...when I went to go save you but never saw you, what happened?" or "... you, important person in my life, WHO are these people who are hunting me?" or "... person I just met yesterday slapped a funky magic bracelet on my arm and a random stranger freaked out about seeing it on me, should I just keep wearing it?" don't even get ASKED by any character, let alone acted upon.
Even worse, there is a smattering of random narration perspective changes with none of the usual markets indicating a change. Like a new chapter or a larger than normal paragraph break. In one egregious example, the perspective shifts MID CONVERSATION, and it takes a sentence or two before the reader can piece it together for the words to make any logical sense.
Maybe these problems, both the writing issues and the stupid glaring plot holes, get resolved or ironed out in future books. For myself, I'm not going to bother to find out.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND.
While I appreciate the effort that went into creating this world, I couldn't get past the infuriating writing style employed. The occasional error in basic grammar - like using the noun form of a word where the adverb form is required - is annoying, but ultimately understandable... not everyone can afford, or has access to, an editor/proofreader(s). They are sadly a dying profession.
My ire is, instead, directed to the absolutely bewildering narration and reader-perspective choices throughout the book. Seemingly important questions like "...when I went to go save you but never saw you, what happened?" or "... you, important person in my life, WHO are these people who are hunting me?" or "... person I just met yesterday slapped a funky magic bracelet on my arm and a random stranger freaked out about seeing it on me, should I just keep wearing it?" don't even get ASKED by any character, let alone acted upon.
Even worse, there is a smattering of random narration perspective changes with none of the usual markets indicating a change. Like a new chapter or a larger than normal paragraph break. In one egregious example, the perspective shifts MID CONVERSATION, and it takes a sentence or two before the reader can piece it together for the words to make any logical sense.
Maybe these problems, both the writing issues and the stupid glaring plot holes, get resolved or ironed out in future books. For myself, I'm not going to bother to find out.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND.
May 6, 2019
Loved the book!
The book starts out strong and is pretty fast-paced, especially in the later chapters which kept me at the edge of my seat. The fights scenes are awesome and the author knows how to inject nail-biting tension into the story. Humour too, which is sprinkled throughout the story, and had me laughing out loud a few times.
Alice is a very strong protagonist who is also a badass. I hope to learn more about her in book 2. Also, Sam, her leopard roommate deserves love too. He is so protective and caring of Alice it just warms my heart.
Can't wait for book 2. Highly recommend this!
The book starts out strong and is pretty fast-paced, especially in the later chapters which kept me at the edge of my seat. The fights scenes are awesome and the author knows how to inject nail-biting tension into the story. Humour too, which is sprinkled throughout the story, and had me laughing out loud a few times.
Alice is a very strong protagonist who is also a badass. I hope to learn more about her in book 2. Also, Sam, her leopard roommate deserves love too. He is so protective and caring of Alice it just warms my heart.
Can't wait for book 2. Highly recommend this!
December 16, 2020
At first glance I enjoyed the story and was hooked enough to want to read the second book.
However it was very confusing with 3-4 possible love interests and 3 other men being platonically over protective of Alice.
It's almost like the author changed her mind about the direction of the book in the middle of writing it. Maybe it was supposed to be a plot twist but it gave me a bit of whiplash and nothing really was even resolved in the book, not the mystery and no questions answered.
However it was very confusing with 3-4 possible love interests and 3 other men being platonically over protective of Alice.
It's almost like the author changed her mind about the direction of the book in the middle of writing it. Maybe it was supposed to be a plot twist but it gave me a bit of whiplash and nothing really was even resolved in the book, not the mystery and no questions answered.
December 28, 2021
Good potential but I do concur with others : there are holes in the plot, the end is a "clusterfuck"(is that the term?)....
It feels like a first book for the author, like there is real good potential but quite a few mistakes or holes or inconsistencies.
But I'll keep on reading cause of this potential
Hated the love interest, felt weird, and rushed and quite empty.
*Spoiler*
But book 2 explains more on this
AND THANK GOD there is another love interest coming.
It feels like a first book for the author, like there is real good potential but quite a few mistakes or holes or inconsistencies.
But I'll keep on reading cause of this potential
Hated the love interest, felt weird, and rushed and quite empty.
*Spoiler*
But book 2 explains more on this
AND THANK GOD there is another love interest coming.
May 10, 2019
My Rating : 4🌟
This book revolves around our main character Alice who is a witch working as an Agent dealing with other supernatural beings ( kind of like FBI but for non humans ). And when she is reached out by the Alpha wolf to find his missing wolf, things go awry and how she deals with the situation and her attraction towards the beings around her is the base of the plot.
.
Thank you so much Taylor Aston for sending the review copy and Sasha (@readandreviewtours) for arranging . All thoughts are my own and not influenced in any way.
.
First, I absolutely loved the characters and relationship between Alice and her bestie Sam.
Alice is really strong, confident and definitely will not take orders from those who do not respect her thoughts.
Sam is a bundle of joy, carefree, charismatic and will cut your throat if you mess with Alice. He is a shapeshifter who can take the form of a Leopard and that is awesome.
.
Second, the really liked how the plot flowed. The story starts with a brief history on what she actually does, and paves way for the reader to understand her character more. Then it comes to the plot where it actually starts. The pacing was really good and it kept you wanting to read more and know what happens to her. When you come to the characters I love, I think I am partial and would say Sam is my bae, I would marry him in an instant and I will fight you on it.
.
With that being said, I would have loved this plot structure even more if there were not so many characters introduced at the same time. This plot deals with a lot of concepts that are new to the readers and the way the characters were introduced to us was slightly confusing. Also, there were few places where a conversation will just have pronouns in them ( Which gets confusing because we are dealing with multiple characters) You figure it out in a while, but that just hinders your enjoyment level in my opinion. The plot is not entirely new, but it deals with the story in a different way, so it doesn't feel repetitive.
.
*My thoughts - SPOILERS*
Okay, coming to the main point. I absolutely loathe Rex as a character. He is arrogant, confident and wants others to not ask him any questions. She challenges him, and that makes him angry? I get he is the alpha, but the way he treats Alice is a BIG no for me. The fact that the attraction between them seems forced is a further turn off. The only way she is attracted to him is because of the bracelet he gives her (At Least I hope that is the case. I will protest if she feels attracted to him.).Also the fact that he comes to Alice just because someone said his mate ( who will be a powerful witch) would be the one to help him? Whyyyy.. BUT, on the other hand, Riley is mysterious, mature, charming, also confident, and an absolute sweetheart in a very Riley way ( I hope it makes sense ). He makes sure Alice is safe, acts mature, and respects her thoughts and feelings. I feel chemistry even without anything happening between them! That's what I like between two characters. I am still curious to know what happened to the two of her friends from work though! *END OF SPOILERS*
.
Since this is the first book in a series, we have a lot of questions and lose ends so that it can pave way to the next book. The book does not end in a cliffhanger per se, but I was really really mad that we do not know what happens to one character after that ending! Overall, this book had good characters, simple writing, good plot structure and flow, and a character you can absolutely love. If you are a fan of paranormal fantasy, and want a simple one to read, this is the one for you!I really enjoyed my time with it.
This book revolves around our main character Alice who is a witch working as an Agent dealing with other supernatural beings ( kind of like FBI but for non humans ). And when she is reached out by the Alpha wolf to find his missing wolf, things go awry and how she deals with the situation and her attraction towards the beings around her is the base of the plot.
.
Thank you so much Taylor Aston for sending the review copy and Sasha (@readandreviewtours) for arranging . All thoughts are my own and not influenced in any way.
.
First, I absolutely loved the characters and relationship between Alice and her bestie Sam.
Alice is really strong, confident and definitely will not take orders from those who do not respect her thoughts.
Sam is a bundle of joy, carefree, charismatic and will cut your throat if you mess with Alice. He is a shapeshifter who can take the form of a Leopard and that is awesome.
.
Second, the really liked how the plot flowed. The story starts with a brief history on what she actually does, and paves way for the reader to understand her character more. Then it comes to the plot where it actually starts. The pacing was really good and it kept you wanting to read more and know what happens to her. When you come to the characters I love, I think I am partial and would say Sam is my bae, I would marry him in an instant and I will fight you on it.
.
With that being said, I would have loved this plot structure even more if there were not so many characters introduced at the same time. This plot deals with a lot of concepts that are new to the readers and the way the characters were introduced to us was slightly confusing. Also, there were few places where a conversation will just have pronouns in them ( Which gets confusing because we are dealing with multiple characters) You figure it out in a while, but that just hinders your enjoyment level in my opinion. The plot is not entirely new, but it deals with the story in a different way, so it doesn't feel repetitive.
.
*My thoughts - SPOILERS*
Okay, coming to the main point. I absolutely loathe Rex as a character. He is arrogant, confident and wants others to not ask him any questions. She challenges him, and that makes him angry? I get he is the alpha, but the way he treats Alice is a BIG no for me. The fact that the attraction between them seems forced is a further turn off. The only way she is attracted to him is because of the bracelet he gives her (At Least I hope that is the case. I will protest if she feels attracted to him.).Also the fact that he comes to Alice just because someone said his mate ( who will be a powerful witch) would be the one to help him? Whyyyy.. BUT, on the other hand, Riley is mysterious, mature, charming, also confident, and an absolute sweetheart in a very Riley way ( I hope it makes sense ). He makes sure Alice is safe, acts mature, and respects her thoughts and feelings. I feel chemistry even without anything happening between them! That's what I like between two characters. I am still curious to know what happened to the two of her friends from work though! *END OF SPOILERS*
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Since this is the first book in a series, we have a lot of questions and lose ends so that it can pave way to the next book. The book does not end in a cliffhanger per se, but I was really really mad that we do not know what happens to one character after that ending! Overall, this book had good characters, simple writing, good plot structure and flow, and a character you can absolutely love. If you are a fan of paranormal fantasy, and want a simple one to read, this is the one for you!I really enjoyed my time with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2025
3/5 STARS! What a fun audiobook with a plot that twists, turns, & has a ton of cool magical elements. If you like paranormal fiction, you’ll enjoy this a lot. It also has an interesting murder investigation plot line & the side characters are all fun and just the right amount of snarky. I definitely want to check out book 2 to see where the story goes to next. My only complaint is the main character Alice, who is very ignorant and dumb at times. She’s not the greatest main character because she’ll drive you nuts.
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May 7, 2021DNF 6%
I wanted to love this, but I just couldn't get past the sentences.
It says the writing is British English, which maybe it is, but I couldn't handle it. There are so many idiosyncratic errors -- commas where there should be periods, no commas after introductory phrases, no commas between coordinating conjunctions that connect independent clauses, and more.
Maybe someday when I'm feeling more charitable, I'll come back.
I wanted to love this, but I just couldn't get past the sentences.
It says the writing is British English, which maybe it is, but I couldn't handle it. There are so many idiosyncratic errors -- commas where there should be periods, no commas after introductory phrases, no commas between coordinating conjunctions that connect independent clauses, and more.
Maybe someday when I'm feeling more charitable, I'll come back.
April 7, 2019
Just finished this book and to be honest I couldn’t put it down! I loved the characters and the dark humour and the story kept me intrigued to find out more. Definitely worth a look and hopefully there will be more in the series very soon.
August 13, 2023
Good
Good read but some scenes felt a little choppy. However, I am interested in learning more about this world. I like Riley's character for Alice and I want to know what Dread and the Council are hiding about her parents.
Good read but some scenes felt a little choppy. However, I am interested in learning more about this world. I like Riley's character for Alice and I want to know what Dread and the Council are hiding about her parents.
April 1, 2019
Witch's Sorrow is a book you won’t find just around the corner. I am grateful that I got to read the early copy and I was pleasantly surprised by the story, extremely relatable characters and the humor. I liked a lot of characters, but Alice stole my heart. I loved everything about it and I would recommend it to everyone who secretly wish they could do magic. If you are also interested about the life of a witch in the modern world; this book is definitely for you.
January 25, 2020
Bon, l'histoire est un peu déconcertante mais finalement tout s'explique.
Rexley, un personnage que j'ai aimé du début a des agissements étranges. Il y a aussi un vampire "D" qui semble avoir une place importante au début de l'histoire mais qui disparait presque totalement et sans explication. On le retrouve vers la fin, mais, bon, c'est un peu étrange.
L'histoire est bonne. Skye m'est bien sympatique et Riley, ouf!, époustouflant.
À la fin de l'histoire, je n'ai pas hésité 30 secondes et j'ai commencé le tome suivant.
Rexley, un personnage que j'ai aimé du début a des agissements étranges. Il y a aussi un vampire "D" qui semble avoir une place importante au début de l'histoire mais qui disparait presque totalement et sans explication. On le retrouve vers la fin, mais, bon, c'est un peu étrange.
L'histoire est bonne. Skye m'est bien sympatique et Riley, ouf!, époustouflant.
À la fin de l'histoire, je n'ai pas hésité 30 secondes et j'ai commencé le tome suivant.
March 31, 2020
Great book! A joy to read!
Very engrossing, well developed characters, and a terrific plot that just grabs your interest! I'm looking forward to the next book!
Very engrossing, well developed characters, and a terrific plot that just grabs your interest! I'm looking forward to the next book!
April 9, 2022
This is a NTMA so I was at the beginning somewhat reluctant to read it. At some point I was hooked. The book is brilliant!
It takes place in London. Bonus. Not enough PNR takes place in London.
It has its own take on the paranormal world which is unique, different and exciting. The author has this series focused on Witches and Druids. I haven't found a lot of PNR/UF about Druids so I'm up for more.
I've deducted a star because I guessed a twist and it was obvious and I found the ending somewhat anticlimactic.
The author is talented which surprised me. Sorry. I can recommend this book.
It takes place in London. Bonus. Not enough PNR takes place in London.
It has its own take on the paranormal world which is unique, different and exciting. The author has this series focused on Witches and Druids. I haven't found a lot of PNR/UF about Druids so I'm up for more.
I've deducted a star because I guessed a twist and it was obvious and I found the ending somewhat anticlimactic.
The author is talented which surprised me. Sorry. I can recommend this book.
March 30, 2025
Would have rated higher but for the typos. Good editing is important! Neat world though.
April 5, 2019
Couldn’t put this book down! Hurry up with the next!
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May 21, 2019This was a roller coaster ride, I could barely put the book down. And I am so much looking forward to the next installment. Taylor please hurry up and keep them coming.
March 29, 2019
I was lucky to receive an ARC of this book and struggled to put it down. The characters are both edgy and exciting but mysterious at the same time. The storylines kept me on the edge of my seat, always wondering whats going to happen next. I was always secretly rooting for the bad guy to win the heart of the main character. Would 100% recommend to anyone and everyone! Can’t wait for the next series!
September 14, 2020
Going to be a good series
January 31, 2024
The more I think about this book, the more upset I get. The writing is chunky. You never know when a new day is, the main character never asks questions, if she does and doesn't get an answer, she doesn't think about it again. Parts are skipped, one minute someone is missing the next magically they are home. Nothing gets explained. The premise is good, the main character could have been likable but she thinks about nothing and nothing gets explained. Not going to read the next.
May 9, 2019
Nice!
I really enjoyed this new book, from an apparently new author. It was exciting, fun, and well written. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series (hint, hint)!
I really enjoyed this new book, from an apparently new author. It was exciting, fun, and well written. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series (hint, hint)!
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