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The Witch of Two Suns #1
Mother Ocean, Daughter Sea
The shari'a people are an ancient race-a proud and gentle people, ruled by witches who harnessed the powers of the world for the benefit of all. When the seafaring Allemanii tribes came to their shores, the two races lived side by side for generations, staying apart but trading and learning from each other in peaceful harmony. But something went horribly awry and the shari'a people were suddenly and brutally slain by the settlers who had come to dominate the land. They feared the shari'a . . . and more important, the witches who led them and who held powers that the Allemanii could barely comprehend. The remnants of this gentle people were scattered, and any shari'a who held the knowledge of the old ways and powers were proscribed and hunted to death.
That was long ago, and young Brierley thinks she is the last shari'a witch in the world. She knows what discovery it would mean, but she cannot deny her gifts as a healer; risking discovery, she goes out time and again to bring solace . . . despite the fact that those Brierley saves are the very people who killed most of her race.
When she saves the life of a nobleman's wife-a nobleman sworn to obliterate any trace of witchery-Brierley stumbles into a web of deceit and power struggles more deadly than anything she has ever faced. But she refuses to walk away-and by staying the course, Brierley gains the possibility of finding a love to last the ages, as well as a way to reclaim her people's heritage.
With Mother Ocean, Daughter Sea, Marcellas has crafted a beautiful first novel that explores what it means to be different, to value that difference, and what happens when one trusts in true love.
That was long ago, and young Brierley thinks she is the last shari'a witch in the world. She knows what discovery it would mean, but she cannot deny her gifts as a healer; risking discovery, she goes out time and again to bring solace . . . despite the fact that those Brierley saves are the very people who killed most of her race.
When she saves the life of a nobleman's wife-a nobleman sworn to obliterate any trace of witchery-Brierley stumbles into a web of deceit and power struggles more deadly than anything she has ever faced. But she refuses to walk away-and by staying the course, Brierley gains the possibility of finding a love to last the ages, as well as a way to reclaim her people's heritage.
With Mother Ocean, Daughter Sea, Marcellas has crafted a beautiful first novel that explores what it means to be different, to value that difference, and what happens when one trusts in true love.
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 2001
14 people are currently reading
783 people want to read
About the author
Diana Marcellas
8 books32 followersDiana Marcellas is a pen name for Paula E. Downing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 29, 2014
Reminded in feel of 1980's-1990's era Marion Zimmer Bradley. Woman-centric fantasy with a 'classic' setting.
In this world, witchcraft is outlawed, punishable by death. Our Heroine, the teenaged Brierley, knows she is a witch. She believes she may be the last of her people. All she knows of her heritage, she has gleaned from her predecessors' journals, hidden in a secret cave.
Her particular talent is healing - and when Brierley feels 'called' to heal, there's not much she can do about it. It's bad luck for her when she is 'called' to do a healing in front of witnesses, including the local lord. Soon enough, she's arrested. However, she's not without her supporters, as she's always been a valued part of her community.
The story progresses very much in the manner of a courtroom drama. Heroes and villains are all fairly clear-cut, although there is a bit of ambiguity when it comes to a relationship with a married man. (However, his was an arranged marriage and it's made quite clear that the couple isn't quite right for each other. I was still rooting for them to come to understand each other better, though.)
I see that there's a sequel to this book, but this one ends at a satisfyingly conclusive point.
A copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley. Many thanks to Open Road Media and NetGalley for the chance to read this novel. As always, my opinions are my own.
Postscript: As regarding the other reviewer's mention of 'pernicious filth'... I was somewhat disappointed. I'm guessing that she must've been referring to the scene where However, for anyone used to reading today's dark fantasy, everything that happens is pretty tame... it really barely registered on the pernicious-ometer.
In this world, witchcraft is outlawed, punishable by death. Our Heroine, the teenaged Brierley, knows she is a witch. She believes she may be the last of her people. All she knows of her heritage, she has gleaned from her predecessors' journals, hidden in a secret cave.
Her particular talent is healing - and when Brierley feels 'called' to heal, there's not much she can do about it. It's bad luck for her when she is 'called' to do a healing in front of witnesses, including the local lord. Soon enough, she's arrested. However, she's not without her supporters, as she's always been a valued part of her community.
The story progresses very much in the manner of a courtroom drama. Heroes and villains are all fairly clear-cut, although there is a bit of ambiguity when it comes to a relationship with a married man. (However, his was an arranged marriage and it's made quite clear that the couple isn't quite right for each other. I was still rooting for them to come to understand each other better, though.)
I see that there's a sequel to this book, but this one ends at a satisfyingly conclusive point.
A copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley. Many thanks to Open Road Media and NetGalley for the chance to read this novel. As always, my opinions are my own.
Postscript: As regarding the other reviewer's mention of 'pernicious filth'... I was somewhat disappointed. I'm guessing that she must've been referring to the scene where However, for anyone used to reading today's dark fantasy, everything that happens is pretty tame... it really barely registered on the pernicious-ometer.
January 25, 2015
It is beautifully written and the story is compelling. Unfortunately the characters left much to be desired.
Our teen-witch Brierley acts all holier than you although she is merely 17 years old. She lives like a hermit in a cave on the beach and she is a witch compelled to “heal” people by battling an imaginary dragon.
The book was unintentionally comical at times. Imagine a half-crazed 17year old girl battling her imaginary foe with an invisible sword in a hospital!
The romance didn’t sweep me of my feet. The love interest is a married lord, who has to find a backbone first. He is so afraid that someone could assassinate him that he wears his armor all the time and would not eat a single crumb without his taster. I was rooting for him and his wife to grow together and couldn’t understand the attraction between Brierley and him at all.
The world-building intrigued me and I really would like to know what happend in the sequel.
Thanks to netgalley for the copy and the opportunity to read it.
Our teen-witch Brierley acts all holier than you although she is merely 17 years old. She lives like a hermit in a cave on the beach and she is a witch compelled to “heal” people by battling an imaginary dragon.
The book was unintentionally comical at times. Imagine a half-crazed 17year old girl battling her imaginary foe with an invisible sword in a hospital!
The romance didn’t sweep me of my feet. The love interest is a married lord, who has to find a backbone first. He is so afraid that someone could assassinate him that he wears his armor all the time and would not eat a single crumb without his taster. I was rooting for him and his wife to grow together and couldn’t understand the attraction between Brierley and him at all.
The world-building intrigued me and I really would like to know what happend in the sequel.
Thanks to netgalley for the copy and the opportunity to read it.
Read
September 15, 2023DNF.
Made to a third of the way through before finally admitting I didn't care about it enough to continue. It wasn't a bad story, so much as it didn't work for me; I just found it dull and boring. Other people may love it, but I didn't.
Nice cover, though.
Made to a third of the way through before finally admitting I didn't care about it enough to continue. It wasn't a bad story, so much as it didn't work for me; I just found it dull and boring. Other people may love it, but I didn't.
Nice cover, though.
October 25, 2018
“Everything that is worth having has its price.”
Excellent medieval fantasy. Good world and character building. Good interplay between various points of view of the witch issue. Marcellus feeds in the essential backstory at the essential time. Adequate closure with obvious ties to the continued story.
Quibbles: A trim man can’t squeeze through a sixteen inch opening? Many typographical errors which seem the product of faulty Optical Character Scanning, converting an image type to digital. Needs a good proofreading.
“For a man determined on the clear light of reason, the touch of the old tales did not please.”
Excellent medieval fantasy. Good world and character building. Good interplay between various points of view of the witch issue. Marcellus feeds in the essential backstory at the essential time. Adequate closure with obvious ties to the continued story.
Quibbles: A trim man can’t squeeze through a sixteen inch opening? Many typographical errors which seem the product of faulty Optical Character Scanning, converting an image type to digital. Needs a good proofreading.
“For a man determined on the clear light of reason, the touch of the old tales did not please.”
zz-dnf
December 27, 2016Too slow, dragged on. Characters didn't interest me. Meh.
May 18, 2016
First off, I'm just going to say that you probably shouldn't name one of the races in your book using the same word for Islamic law. Perhaps take 30 seconds to type the word into any search engine before choosing it, just to be on the safe side. Especially when those people are witches persecuted by the other race of people in your story.
Since I began reviewing books, I have loved or at least enjoyed every book I've read that has been published by Open Road Media. So, when I chose Mother Ocean, Daughter Sea, I was expecting that experience to continue. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Besides the horrible choice of name for the race of witches, the book suffers from far too many lengthy and unnecessary passages that either could have been cut in half or removed altogether. On top of that, there's a quickly formed and somewhat ridiculous romance. To make matters even worse, there are hints at the possibility of some Science-Fiction type elements, but then no other mention of them and my questions were left hanging there with no answers; not even a further suggestion that might make me want to pick up the next book.
I was disappointed in Mother Ocean, Daughter Sea enough that, while I'm not giving up on Open Road Media books, I will not read any more of the series. I wish I could say differently, but there it is. I just don't care enough to find out if this is indeed Fantasy or Sci-Fi, or some strange mixture of the two.
Since I began reviewing books, I have loved or at least enjoyed every book I've read that has been published by Open Road Media. So, when I chose Mother Ocean, Daughter Sea, I was expecting that experience to continue. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Besides the horrible choice of name for the race of witches, the book suffers from far too many lengthy and unnecessary passages that either could have been cut in half or removed altogether. On top of that, there's a quickly formed and somewhat ridiculous romance. To make matters even worse, there are hints at the possibility of some Science-Fiction type elements, but then no other mention of them and my questions were left hanging there with no answers; not even a further suggestion that might make me want to pick up the next book.
I was disappointed in Mother Ocean, Daughter Sea enough that, while I'm not giving up on Open Road Media books, I will not read any more of the series. I wish I could say differently, but there it is. I just don't care enough to find out if this is indeed Fantasy or Sci-Fi, or some strange mixture of the two.
February 14, 2024
3/08. Quite good fantasy about one of the few "witches" who've survived extermination over the centuries in this created world. Conflict comes as she tries to keep to her calling to heal while remaining anonymous and discovering the history of her people.
Re-read, 2/24. Dropping a star on re-read. Most of this was good, although not 4 stars-worth, but the romance that dominated the last 1/4 or so was pretty badly done and I did a lot of skimming. Not really that interested in re-reading the rest of the series, as I assume there's a good deal more of that there. Eh.
Re-read, 2/24. Dropping a star on re-read. Most of this was good, although not 4 stars-worth, but the romance that dominated the last 1/4 or so was pretty badly done and I did a lot of skimming. Not really that interested in re-reading the rest of the series, as I assume there's a good deal more of that there. Eh.
April 24, 2020
A Shari'a healer fights to survive under the domination of the ruling Allemanii.
May 27, 2025
pretty good, flowery language i enjoyed but some might not, wish romance was more connected at start and not so sudden but other wise i enjoyed the lore behind witches and want to know more!
December 6, 2014
Reviewed for publishers.
This is a book that grew on me.
From the start the lyrical phrasing and use of alliteration made me want to read the text but gradually the story brought me into it - more in the latter half of the book though, as the front end is largely the usual story we hear about witches are cruel hags - or so men with little sense of self worth have seemed to believed over the century - and the contrast view of witches as wise women and healers. It is clear from history that these two views have coalesced into one - ie all witches are evil - at certain times in our history because the wise women healers were using skills and knowledge unknown to men and therefore they must be bad.
I decided to check out what the word ‘hag’ originally meant as it is usually used in a derogatory manner and was surprised to find out that yes, it was a derogatory term.
According to the various sources I checked a hag is a wizened old woman, or a kind of fairy or goddess having the appearance of such a woman, often found in folklore and children's tales
The term appears in Middle English, and was a shortening of hægtesse, an Old English term for witch, similarly the Dutch heks and German hexe are also shortenings, of the Middle Dutch haghetisse and Old High German hagzusa respectively. All these words derive from the Proto-Germanic hagatusjon- which is of unknown origin, however the first element may be related to the word "hedge". As a stock character in fairy or folk tale, the hag shares characteristics with the crone, and the two words are sometimes used as if interchangeable.
In Irish and Scottish mythology, the cailleach is a hag goddess concerned with creation, harvest, the weather and sovereignty. In partnership with the goddess Bríd, she is a seasonal goddess, seen as ruling the winter months while Bríd rules the summer. In Scotland, a group of hags, known as The Cailleachan (The Storm Hags) are seen as personifications of the elemental powers of nature, especially in a destructive aspect. They are said to be particularly active in raising the windstorms of spring, during the period known as A Chailleach.
Hags as sovereignty figures abound in Irish mythology. The most common pattern is that the hag represents the barren land, who the hero of the tale must approach without fear, and come to love on her own terms. When the hero displays this courage, love, and acceptance of her hideous side, the sovereignty hag then reveals that she is also a young and beautiful goddess.
As a young and beautiful goddess in disguise, this is not quite the story-line but close except for the young and beautiful. Here the strange powers are feared, perhaps because the invaders in this story, who closely resemble the Vikings (perhaps over-whelming the Celts?) seem to be technology free and those being over-run seem to have had quite a lot of technology in use - see the Guardians and the Witchlights. So are we seeing here a metaphor or a re-telling? I think there are certainly elements of it, but the writing style is such that it means that the story-line is familiar - so far - is of little relevance. I grew entranced and would love to read the follow-on.
Some facts out of interest and if you live in the UK and are interested then here is a good link for you:
More than 200,000 were women hanged for witchcraft in the UK between 1484 and 1750.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/art...
The witch is the subject of a new exhibition at the British Museum which runs until January and they note that early witches weren't the horrid hags of the Middle Ages. Many, among them Lilith, thought to be the first wife of Adam and his equal, sorceress Circe and Hercules' unfaithful wife Medea, were as beautiful as they were powerful.
This is a book that grew on me.
From the start the lyrical phrasing and use of alliteration made me want to read the text but gradually the story brought me into it - more in the latter half of the book though, as the front end is largely the usual story we hear about witches are cruel hags - or so men with little sense of self worth have seemed to believed over the century - and the contrast view of witches as wise women and healers. It is clear from history that these two views have coalesced into one - ie all witches are evil - at certain times in our history because the wise women healers were using skills and knowledge unknown to men and therefore they must be bad.
I decided to check out what the word ‘hag’ originally meant as it is usually used in a derogatory manner and was surprised to find out that yes, it was a derogatory term.
According to the various sources I checked a hag is a wizened old woman, or a kind of fairy or goddess having the appearance of such a woman, often found in folklore and children's tales
The term appears in Middle English, and was a shortening of hægtesse, an Old English term for witch, similarly the Dutch heks and German hexe are also shortenings, of the Middle Dutch haghetisse and Old High German hagzusa respectively. All these words derive from the Proto-Germanic hagatusjon- which is of unknown origin, however the first element may be related to the word "hedge". As a stock character in fairy or folk tale, the hag shares characteristics with the crone, and the two words are sometimes used as if interchangeable.
In Irish and Scottish mythology, the cailleach is a hag goddess concerned with creation, harvest, the weather and sovereignty. In partnership with the goddess Bríd, she is a seasonal goddess, seen as ruling the winter months while Bríd rules the summer. In Scotland, a group of hags, known as The Cailleachan (The Storm Hags) are seen as personifications of the elemental powers of nature, especially in a destructive aspect. They are said to be particularly active in raising the windstorms of spring, during the period known as A Chailleach.
Hags as sovereignty figures abound in Irish mythology. The most common pattern is that the hag represents the barren land, who the hero of the tale must approach without fear, and come to love on her own terms. When the hero displays this courage, love, and acceptance of her hideous side, the sovereignty hag then reveals that she is also a young and beautiful goddess.
As a young and beautiful goddess in disguise, this is not quite the story-line but close except for the young and beautiful. Here the strange powers are feared, perhaps because the invaders in this story, who closely resemble the Vikings (perhaps over-whelming the Celts?) seem to be technology free and those being over-run seem to have had quite a lot of technology in use - see the Guardians and the Witchlights. So are we seeing here a metaphor or a re-telling? I think there are certainly elements of it, but the writing style is such that it means that the story-line is familiar - so far - is of little relevance. I grew entranced and would love to read the follow-on.
Some facts out of interest and if you live in the UK and are interested then here is a good link for you:
More than 200,000 were women hanged for witchcraft in the UK between 1484 and 1750.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/art...
The witch is the subject of a new exhibition at the British Museum which runs until January and they note that early witches weren't the horrid hags of the Middle Ages. Many, among them Lilith, thought to be the first wife of Adam and his equal, sorceress Circe and Hercules' unfaithful wife Medea, were as beautiful as they were powerful.
July 14, 2015
Recent eBook release - I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley for the purpose of review.
Premise: Brierley is a healer by birth, in a land where the people who had magic in the blood were thought to have been all killed long ago. Her calling brings her into politics and danger, and she’s not sure where her destiny will lie, or what she wants it to be.
There are things I really liked about this book. I like the way Brierley’s magic works. I love her connections with previous generations of witches, knowing them mostly through secret diaries. I really like her philosophical musings about the place of those with magic, the choices they make to hide themselves. I like the hints about what could have gone so wrong between two peoples long ago. I love love LOVE her relationship with a late-introduced character, Megan.
But then there’s a romance and everything is terrible.
Some spoilers follow.
Sure, it was relatively well-handled, it could have been much worse, but it just seemed so out-of-tone, and there were so much more interesting ways to take the relationship. I spent a good portion of the book praying these two characters were never going to sleep together. They very nearly don’t! And then, spoiler, they do. Grrr.
Now, if I keep reading this series, there’s a chance that this will be brushed off as a fling by both of them, (one character is very young, and the other is married) and we can all move on.
It just disappointed me that this annoying thing was stuck in the middle of what was otherwise a book I was really connecting to, a book about one woman, thinking about her place in the world, how she can forgive her mother, seek her kin, learn from the women who went before.
And it frankly broke quite a bit of the respect I had for both characters. Primarily because Brierley, because she’s a telepath/empath, knows things about the guy and his wife that make me really want them (guy and wife, not guy and Brierley) to be happy together. Now, this might be the point, to break them both down a little, make them human and give them flaws to struggle with.
But from skimming the promo copy for the next book, it doesn’t seem like it.
Ugh, there was so much I liked about it, but that just kinda broke the thread of my emotional involvement with the story. There was still enough I liked to give it a medium score though.
3 Stars - A Good Book
Important Note: Open Road Media, who printed this e-edition, is still not so great on their quality control. At least in the galley version, OCR typos abound: mat for that being one of the most repeated.
Premise: Brierley is a healer by birth, in a land where the people who had magic in the blood were thought to have been all killed long ago. Her calling brings her into politics and danger, and she’s not sure where her destiny will lie, or what she wants it to be.
There are things I really liked about this book. I like the way Brierley’s magic works. I love her connections with previous generations of witches, knowing them mostly through secret diaries. I really like her philosophical musings about the place of those with magic, the choices they make to hide themselves. I like the hints about what could have gone so wrong between two peoples long ago. I love love LOVE her relationship with a late-introduced character, Megan.
But then there’s a romance and everything is terrible.
Some spoilers follow.
Sure, it was relatively well-handled, it could have been much worse, but it just seemed so out-of-tone, and there were so much more interesting ways to take the relationship. I spent a good portion of the book praying these two characters were never going to sleep together. They very nearly don’t! And then, spoiler, they do. Grrr.
Now, if I keep reading this series, there’s a chance that this will be brushed off as a fling by both of them, (one character is very young, and the other is married) and we can all move on.
It just disappointed me that this annoying thing was stuck in the middle of what was otherwise a book I was really connecting to, a book about one woman, thinking about her place in the world, how she can forgive her mother, seek her kin, learn from the women who went before.
And it frankly broke quite a bit of the respect I had for both characters. Primarily because Brierley, because she’s a telepath/empath, knows things about the guy and his wife that make me really want them (guy and wife, not guy and Brierley) to be happy together. Now, this might be the point, to break them both down a little, make them human and give them flaws to struggle with.
But from skimming the promo copy for the next book, it doesn’t seem like it.
Ugh, there was so much I liked about it, but that just kinda broke the thread of my emotional involvement with the story. There was still enough I liked to give it a medium score though.
3 Stars - A Good Book
Important Note: Open Road Media, who printed this e-edition, is still not so great on their quality control. At least in the galley version, OCR typos abound: mat for that being one of the most repeated.
November 17, 2014
I have put my review on my blog but I will post it here too. http://bookwormgirl513.wordpress.com/
Opening line: "When the second sun sets into the sea, the shadow of the offshore islands slowly climbs the coast-land slopes, ascending the serrated pattern of the trees; one by one, each dark pink and everwillow passes from daytime green to silhouette shadow.
Summary: Brierley is a witch in hiding in a land where witches are though to be dangerous and extinct. She hides her skills well as a healer for towns in her country. She is then "called" to the lords manor where she heals a stable boy that was close to death. Lord Melfallan witnesses her healing but thinks nothing of it until his wife and unborn child is in danger. She saves them but at a cost of being named a witch by one of the Duke's man who wants Melfallans lands for himself. They travel across the sea to the Duke's seat to hear her trial but there is intrigue and betrayal waiting for all who step into court.
My Take: It was a really good read. I liked the storyline though it was predictable but at the same time unique. She is a strong heroine and she grows throughout the book from a meek healer to a strong-willed witch with more confidence. The different POVs were nice but sometimes got confusing because I didn't know who was talking when. I liked the back story to the world and the history of her people and her magic. The intrigue was really well played and I enjoyed that Lord Melfallan was a quick thinker. He has his faults like any other man which makes him relatable. My other issue were they many questions that Brierley asked of herself and didn't really get the answers. I felt like all the questions that needed to be answered are waiting for us in the next book but didn't need to put in front of us until we have those answers.
Highs: The description of everything of the world. I didn't feel like it was too much and painted a beautiful picture in my head. The middle of the book and end were great. The story definitely picked up and got moving along.
Lows: All the questions that were posed throughout the book but were never really answered. I understand that this is only book one but all the "why" questions were a little overwhelming. Brierley kept asking herself why why why why and it got annoying as the story moved along. Also it was a little slow to begin with.
Closing line: "We should go in."
Opening line: "When the second sun sets into the sea, the shadow of the offshore islands slowly climbs the coast-land slopes, ascending the serrated pattern of the trees; one by one, each dark pink and everwillow passes from daytime green to silhouette shadow.
Summary: Brierley is a witch in hiding in a land where witches are though to be dangerous and extinct. She hides her skills well as a healer for towns in her country. She is then "called" to the lords manor where she heals a stable boy that was close to death. Lord Melfallan witnesses her healing but thinks nothing of it until his wife and unborn child is in danger. She saves them but at a cost of being named a witch by one of the Duke's man who wants Melfallans lands for himself. They travel across the sea to the Duke's seat to hear her trial but there is intrigue and betrayal waiting for all who step into court.
My Take: It was a really good read. I liked the storyline though it was predictable but at the same time unique. She is a strong heroine and she grows throughout the book from a meek healer to a strong-willed witch with more confidence. The different POVs were nice but sometimes got confusing because I didn't know who was talking when. I liked the back story to the world and the history of her people and her magic. The intrigue was really well played and I enjoyed that Lord Melfallan was a quick thinker. He has his faults like any other man which makes him relatable. My other issue were they many questions that Brierley asked of herself and didn't really get the answers. I felt like all the questions that needed to be answered are waiting for us in the next book but didn't need to put in front of us until we have those answers.
Highs: The description of everything of the world. I didn't feel like it was too much and painted a beautiful picture in my head. The middle of the book and end were great. The story definitely picked up and got moving along.
Lows: All the questions that were posed throughout the book but were never really answered. I understand that this is only book one but all the "why" questions were a little overwhelming. Brierley kept asking herself why why why why and it got annoying as the story moved along. Also it was a little slow to begin with.
Closing line: "We should go in."
April 11, 2023
Mother Ocean, Daughter Sea by Diana Marcellas was fairly interesting but I skimmed over some sections from tl;dr (too long; didn't read) and didn't feel any satisfaction in how it ended, even aside from how it's book one of a series. I don't have an urge to read the next one.
Brierley thinks she may be the last shari'a with in the world and usually keeps a low profile to avoid a witch hunt. But her Callings now place her in very public places and entrap her in a web of political power struggles and deceit.
To my surprise, the protagonist tripped over a moral issue of mine I didn't even know hit so hard for me. Anyway, this affected my rating and enjoyment of this book.
Brierley thinks she may be the last shari'a with in the world and usually keeps a low profile to avoid a witch hunt. But her Callings now place her in very public places and entrap her in a web of political power struggles and deceit.
To my surprise, the protagonist tripped over a moral issue of mine I didn't even know hit so hard for me. Anyway, this affected my rating and enjoyment of this book.
February 1, 2017
An absolute adventure.
Diana Marcellas writes so poetically in-depth that I was hooked with just the writing itself after the first page.
This fantasy is about a young witch named Brierley, who believes she is the last of her kind. She works as a midwife and a healer, able to heal almost all injuries with her witch abilities (forbidden witch abilities, by the way). The adventure begins after she heals a pregnant noble lady from a mortal injury. Saving both Lady and heir, her powers are not so hidden anymore, beginning a tale of treachery, secrets, hope and a little bit of love.
This lyrical book left me so excited for the second one, and I recommend it to all fantasy readers.
Diana Marcellas writes so poetically in-depth that I was hooked with just the writing itself after the first page.
This fantasy is about a young witch named Brierley, who believes she is the last of her kind. She works as a midwife and a healer, able to heal almost all injuries with her witch abilities (forbidden witch abilities, by the way). The adventure begins after she heals a pregnant noble lady from a mortal injury. Saving both Lady and heir, her powers are not so hidden anymore, beginning a tale of treachery, secrets, hope and a little bit of love.
This lyrical book left me so excited for the second one, and I recommend it to all fantasy readers.
Read
December 7, 2015Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
I have not been able to finish this book even though I have tried to at least three times. The blurb was so very interesting and the concept is wonderful but somehow it failed to grab my interest once I opened the book. I know it must be something about me - maybe the reading mood I am in or the style of writing is unappealing to me -I really don't know. All that I do know is that others have found it worthy of 3 or more stars and I recommend that you give it a try to find out for yourself if the blurb appeals to you.
I have not been able to finish this book even though I have tried to at least three times. The blurb was so very interesting and the concept is wonderful but somehow it failed to grab my interest once I opened the book. I know it must be something about me - maybe the reading mood I am in or the style of writing is unappealing to me -I really don't know. All that I do know is that others have found it worthy of 3 or more stars and I recommend that you give it a try to find out for yourself if the blurb appeals to you.
Read
January 24, 2016Diana Marcellas creates a world in this book were differences are suppressed and magic has no place to be. In a planet called Yarvanett, Brierly needs to find her place, without betraying her identity. This is a book were fantasy and emotions are the dominant elements, but adventure, suspense and genuine characters make this novel an excellent option for those who like to read science fiction and fantasy books. (Isabel C. - Reader's Services)
February 11, 2014
really enjoyed this and the 2 that followed, unfortunately the series stops bang in the middle of everything and any further books haven't been written - I don't know the reason, whether the author lost the plot or fell afoul of publishing entanglements. Crying shame though. The existing books are still well worth a read, just be prepared to be left dangling :(
May 28, 2014
So disappointed in this book. It was an epic, beautiful tale that enthralled me, with very little swearing and nothing inappropriate beyond a passing mention of rape. Then, around page 250, it erupted into pernicious filth. I kept trying to skip ahead, get past the scene, but it just went on and on. So, so disappointed.
August 8, 2011
I loved this book; I couldn't put it down, and eagerly devoured the others in the series (which isn't over yet...). Ms. Marcellas's writing is beautiful and her characters are well-developed; one of the books that I simply cannot recommend enough.
September 5, 2007
I'll admit I didn't finish this one. Several chapters in, when I still wasn't gripped by plot or character, I abandoned it.
Read
August 24, 2008took a while, but got better
March 11, 2010
This is another bought the book because I liked the cover, I have to say, the book inside was just as amazing as the cover. Highly recommend this book.
July 29, 2010
I enjoyed this bookvary much but I found it harder to get into than most other books. It was a little too slow of a starter for me.
June 13, 2013
It was a pretty good read with some different views about magic. I did really like the magic system, and some of the plot twists.
January 1, 2015
Engaging and well-written, but I found myself losing interest in the last part of the story.
Read
December 13, 2012This fantasy tale emphasizes its strong heroine and a plot that develops the characters over time. It often appeals to fans of Robert Jordan.
June 17, 2013
En välskriven fantasy. Dock lite för mycket politik och för lite action för min smak.
March 6, 2014
This has interesting characters, but not much story to it. But anyone who reads fantasy should read this just once, for the sake of her witches and her women.
Want to read
June 22, 2016Witch book challenge #6
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