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Red Witch Chronicles #1
A Witch Called Red
Red might not remember her enemies, but they remember her.
Taken in by a supernatural bounty hunter, Red spent the last year searching for her true identity. All she found were monsters to kill.
When a murdered model washes up on a lonely beach, she goes to Los Angeles to investigate. Instead of angels in the shadow of the Hollywood Sign, she only finds more bodies.
And vampires who know her better than she knows herself.
In a world where demons have souls, witches have amnesia, and humans are clueless about either, Red needs to keep her wits sharp and her stake sharper.
Or she'll die before she even learns her real name.
A Witch Called Red is the first book of the Red Witch Chronicles, an urban fantasy series containing magic, paranormal adventure, and vampire mayhem along with swearing, violence, and adult situations. Perfect for fans of Kim Harrison, Patricia Briggs, Jasmine Walt, and Ilona Andrews.
Taken in by a supernatural bounty hunter, Red spent the last year searching for her true identity. All she found were monsters to kill.
When a murdered model washes up on a lonely beach, she goes to Los Angeles to investigate. Instead of angels in the shadow of the Hollywood Sign, she only finds more bodies.
And vampires who know her better than she knows herself.
In a world where demons have souls, witches have amnesia, and humans are clueless about either, Red needs to keep her wits sharp and her stake sharper.
Or she'll die before she even learns her real name.
A Witch Called Red is the first book of the Red Witch Chronicles, an urban fantasy series containing magic, paranormal adventure, and vampire mayhem along with swearing, violence, and adult situations. Perfect for fans of Kim Harrison, Patricia Briggs, Jasmine Walt, and Ilona Andrews.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2019
840 people are currently reading
685 people want to read
About the author
Sami Valentine
23 books91 followersUrban fantasy writer who grew up in the desert. Get exclusive reads from the Red Witch Chronicles here: www.samivalentine.com/goodies
Formerly a mild-mannered librarian, she had a quarter-life crisis and shook everything up. She started working in an LGBT homeless center, shaved some of her head, and got really into tarot. After realizing that her goal in life was to get out of her small town and she only made it 30 minutes up the highway, she filled a bag and left. That was two years and a dozen countries ago.
A Witch Called Red is her debut novel and will be released on November 20th.
Formerly a mild-mannered librarian, she had a quarter-life crisis and shook everything up. She started working in an LGBT homeless center, shaved some of her head, and got really into tarot. After realizing that her goal in life was to get out of her small town and she only made it 30 minutes up the highway, she filled a bag and left. That was two years and a dozen countries ago.
A Witch Called Red is her debut novel and will be released on November 20th.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
May 26, 2021
I got a bit over a quarter in before giving up. Mostly because there's nothing to hang my expectations on. There are a lot of interesting things happening. Red has no memory, her "mentor" is a bit of a loveable nut, a supreme vampire leader who holds meetings doing yoga, bunches of stuff stolen unapologetically from Buffy, etc.
But I keep being jerked around by things that the characters supposedly believe but never actually act on. Like, they're supposedly big bad hunters. Only they keep being shoved around and nobody takes them seriously and when stuff happens it's always the other people who dictate the pace and flow of the conflict. And there are supposed to be rules about consequences for messing with certain folks. Only then they're messed with and, well, nothing happens. Or they get "protection" from the yoga chick only to be attacked in their very next encounter with vampires and there's not only zero consequences to the attacker, but the main characters don't even act like they've been let down at all. They're all like, "should have known that meant nothing." and I'm all "you didn't act like it meant nothing!!!"
Anyway, I quit when they were fleeing town because scary vampires were being scary only to have them turn around because Red finds some money. Which might have worked if they had said anything about why that would make a lick of difference when all the scary vampires were already rich and didn't care about stupid things like money. I mean, were they going weapon shopping? Gonna buy favors? Nobody says. They don't even have the conversation. They're just "well, we're rich now, let's not flee after all."
Which is to say that it felt like the author didn't much care if things made sense as long as she got to write about whatever she found cool about this story.
A note about editing: Please, somebody, get the author an editor. This was so blindingly bad. Nearly every page had something. Mostly dropped words, but some added ones, too. Just, ugh. Actually, I don't think I noticed that in the beginning of the book. But by the third or fourth chapter, it's like somebody just gave up even trying.
But I keep being jerked around by things that the characters supposedly believe but never actually act on. Like, they're supposedly big bad hunters. Only they keep being shoved around and nobody takes them seriously and when stuff happens it's always the other people who dictate the pace and flow of the conflict. And there are supposed to be rules about consequences for messing with certain folks. Only then they're messed with and, well, nothing happens. Or they get "protection" from the yoga chick only to be attacked in their very next encounter with vampires and there's not only zero consequences to the attacker, but the main characters don't even act like they've been let down at all. They're all like, "should have known that meant nothing." and I'm all "you didn't act like it meant nothing!!!"
Anyway, I quit when they were fleeing town because scary vampires were being scary only to have them turn around because Red finds some money. Which might have worked if they had said anything about why that would make a lick of difference when all the scary vampires were already rich and didn't care about stupid things like money. I mean, were they going weapon shopping? Gonna buy favors? Nobody says. They don't even have the conversation. They're just "well, we're rich now, let's not flee after all."
Which is to say that it felt like the author didn't much care if things made sense as long as she got to write about whatever she found cool about this story.
A note about editing: Please, somebody, get the author an editor. This was so blindingly bad. Nearly every page had something. Mostly dropped words, but some added ones, too. Just, ugh. Actually, I don't think I noticed that in the beginning of the book. But by the third or fourth chapter, it's like somebody just gave up even trying.
November 20, 2019
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions are my own.
I’d probably give this a 4.5 stars if I could.
A woman wakes up in a hospital bed, unable to remember her name, her history or anything about the last 7 years of world events. She has fang marks on her neck and came in with nothing but the clothes on her back. She was found by Vic, a hunter with the Brotherhood of Bards and Heroes, an organisation that goes after the things that go bump in the night. With no resources or memories, she asks Vic if she can be his intern. Newly, and less than imaginatively christened, Red, she spends the next year learning the trade and fetching coffee. She also discovers a small ability for magic.
The body of the story starts in LA, where they have headed to help out a friend of Vic’s, a souled vampire called Quinn. They get drawn in to helping to solve a series of murders, whilst trying to maintain peace during the coming Blood Summit. All while trying to work out why she has the face of a woman from a hundred years ago that was involved so closely with the people involved in the investigation.
I really enjoyed this book. It was cleverly thought out and well paced. The characters were intriguing with plenty of hidden history to uncover. With vampires, there is always more history to uncover.
Red is an interesting lead, she has a mixture of strength and uncertainty. She has found a way to contribute to society and prevent more cases like hers occurring, but at the same time she has no roots in which to base her character. She knows what she thinks is right and wrong, but she has no reason as to why she thinks that way. It leaves her slightly unbalanced all the time. However, she is is still intelligent and curious, blended with determination and spirit which give her all the ingredients for a good hero.
Red’s history with the vampires of LA gives the story an extra dimension. The vampires feel like they know her, even if she isn’t the same woman. They have an instant bond that she doesn’t necessarily feel, but it’s hard to resist the pull of people who are trying connect with her, when she has no roots. However, it’s hard to trust their feelings for her.
I like her relationship with Vic, he’s such a great character. He’s easy going, funny and they have a light hearted and strong friendship. He’s a good mentor, who has become like a brother.
The world building is really well done. I like the idea of having vampires that have souls as well as those that don’t. There is mention of other beings, but this book solely focuses on vampires. This gives the author time to build up the characters without having to focus on a too extensive world building scenario, which stops the characters and plot being smothered.
Overall, this is a great mystery and there are plots within plots for Red and Vic to uncover. It definitely kept my interest. Whilst the murder mystery is solved at the end of the book there are still many questions to be answered about Red and the people who knew the woman who had the same face and I can’t wait to read about it in future books.
I’d probably give this a 4.5 stars if I could.
A woman wakes up in a hospital bed, unable to remember her name, her history or anything about the last 7 years of world events. She has fang marks on her neck and came in with nothing but the clothes on her back. She was found by Vic, a hunter with the Brotherhood of Bards and Heroes, an organisation that goes after the things that go bump in the night. With no resources or memories, she asks Vic if she can be his intern. Newly, and less than imaginatively christened, Red, she spends the next year learning the trade and fetching coffee. She also discovers a small ability for magic.
The body of the story starts in LA, where they have headed to help out a friend of Vic’s, a souled vampire called Quinn. They get drawn in to helping to solve a series of murders, whilst trying to maintain peace during the coming Blood Summit. All while trying to work out why she has the face of a woman from a hundred years ago that was involved so closely with the people involved in the investigation.
I really enjoyed this book. It was cleverly thought out and well paced. The characters were intriguing with plenty of hidden history to uncover. With vampires, there is always more history to uncover.
Red is an interesting lead, she has a mixture of strength and uncertainty. She has found a way to contribute to society and prevent more cases like hers occurring, but at the same time she has no roots in which to base her character. She knows what she thinks is right and wrong, but she has no reason as to why she thinks that way. It leaves her slightly unbalanced all the time. However, she is is still intelligent and curious, blended with determination and spirit which give her all the ingredients for a good hero.
Red’s history with the vampires of LA gives the story an extra dimension. The vampires feel like they know her, even if she isn’t the same woman. They have an instant bond that she doesn’t necessarily feel, but it’s hard to resist the pull of people who are trying connect with her, when she has no roots. However, it’s hard to trust their feelings for her.
I like her relationship with Vic, he’s such a great character. He’s easy going, funny and they have a light hearted and strong friendship. He’s a good mentor, who has become like a brother.
The world building is really well done. I like the idea of having vampires that have souls as well as those that don’t. There is mention of other beings, but this book solely focuses on vampires. This gives the author time to build up the characters without having to focus on a too extensive world building scenario, which stops the characters and plot being smothered.
Overall, this is a great mystery and there are plots within plots for Red and Vic to uncover. It definitely kept my interest. Whilst the murder mystery is solved at the end of the book there are still many questions to be answered about Red and the people who knew the woman who had the same face and I can’t wait to read about it in future books.
March 16, 2020
**For more reviews visit me at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
Red was found on the side of the road, beaten and left for dead, bitten by a vampire (which most of the world doesn't even know exist) and with zero memories of who she was before stranger Vic found her. Vic has given her a chance for a new life of fighting back against the monsters as his apprentice hunter. Together the two have spent the last year traveling across the country, helping people and stopping the monsters whenever they can- and Red still has no idea who she use to be. When Viv longtime mentor, a vampire who has been cursed with a soul, calls and asks for their help on a murder case, Red finds herself in Los Angeles where everyone seems to know who she is.
This was as if an adult version of Vampire Diaries (with the doppleganger and love triangle) had a love child with the show Supernatural (with the whole hunter lifestyle and networking as well as all the nasties) and I really enjoyed the outcome. I went into the story hoping for a new urban fantasy read and I was pleasantly surprised as well as hooked because now I need to know how everything will play out. All the characters had depth and conflict, making me twisted up over who to trust (minus Vic, he was the best). This had the perfect mix of mystery (on multiple fronts) and supernatural mayhem as well as some vampire political intrigue and a romance where I am not sure who Red should pick. I liked how the author resolved the mystery Red was investigating while at the same time leaving me with so many questions about Red herself. I am going to continue this series for sure.
The one downside to the book which was why I gave it 4 instead of the 5 stars the plot and the characters deserved was due to the book seeming choppy and occasionally there were no transitions which could be confusing. I think if this was edited to make it easier to read it would easily be 5 stars for the fantastic world building.
Red was found on the side of the road, beaten and left for dead, bitten by a vampire (which most of the world doesn't even know exist) and with zero memories of who she was before stranger Vic found her. Vic has given her a chance for a new life of fighting back against the monsters as his apprentice hunter. Together the two have spent the last year traveling across the country, helping people and stopping the monsters whenever they can- and Red still has no idea who she use to be. When Viv longtime mentor, a vampire who has been cursed with a soul, calls and asks for their help on a murder case, Red finds herself in Los Angeles where everyone seems to know who she is.
This was as if an adult version of Vampire Diaries (with the doppleganger and love triangle) had a love child with the show Supernatural (with the whole hunter lifestyle and networking as well as all the nasties) and I really enjoyed the outcome. I went into the story hoping for a new urban fantasy read and I was pleasantly surprised as well as hooked because now I need to know how everything will play out. All the characters had depth and conflict, making me twisted up over who to trust (minus Vic, he was the best). This had the perfect mix of mystery (on multiple fronts) and supernatural mayhem as well as some vampire political intrigue and a romance where I am not sure who Red should pick. I liked how the author resolved the mystery Red was investigating while at the same time leaving me with so many questions about Red herself. I am going to continue this series for sure.
The one downside to the book which was why I gave it 4 instead of the 5 stars the plot and the characters deserved was due to the book seeming choppy and occasionally there were no transitions which could be confusing. I think if this was edited to make it easier to read it would easily be 5 stars for the fantastic world building.
February 24, 2020
If you’re feeling nostalgic for the vampires of the 80s and 90s, you’ll love this book. These aren’t the new sparkly, heart-of-gold vampires who would do anything for love. Instead, this book is about manipulative, brutal killers who can hold a grudge for centuries. It’s a throwback to Buffy the Vampire Slayer in all the best ways.
Red doesn’t know who she is. When people start to recognize her face, you think you’re going to learn about her past. But instead, she gets thrown into a centuries-old controversy because she looks just like a long-dead witch with a big reputation. She’s trained to hunt vampires but now she gets thrown in over her head when a dead model is just the beginning of a much bigger case.
The book moves along quickly without a lot of unnecessary description. I was a little surprised at first when it skimmed over the typical investigation of the crime scenes, but it turned out that these weren’t important. Instead, most of the action focuses on people trying to prevent Red and her mentor from investigating their case. And while Red’s mysterious background seemed like a distraction at first, it turned out to tie into the main plot by the end.
There’s a bit of a love triangle but the romance isn’t the focus. Red cares less about the two vampires who are vying for her attention and more about manipulating both of them for information. She’s not an inexperienced young girl, she knows it’s dangerous to get too close to a vampire and tries to protect herself.
The only time that I felt things dragged on was when the witty banter sometimes went long. I expected some banter in the noir-style PI story, but the characters tend to go back and forth a few too many times before they actually get anywhere with their conversation. And literally everyone has a witty comeback all the time. It would have been refreshing to see someone speak straight once in a while or fumble on their retorts, at least from the humans.
But overall it was an entertaining story and I will be reading the next book in the series to find out what happens next. The good news is that book #2 just came out. I recommend it to fans of Buffy, Anne Rice, Anita Blake, and The Lost Boys.
Red doesn’t know who she is. When people start to recognize her face, you think you’re going to learn about her past. But instead, she gets thrown into a centuries-old controversy because she looks just like a long-dead witch with a big reputation. She’s trained to hunt vampires but now she gets thrown in over her head when a dead model is just the beginning of a much bigger case.
The book moves along quickly without a lot of unnecessary description. I was a little surprised at first when it skimmed over the typical investigation of the crime scenes, but it turned out that these weren’t important. Instead, most of the action focuses on people trying to prevent Red and her mentor from investigating their case. And while Red’s mysterious background seemed like a distraction at first, it turned out to tie into the main plot by the end.
There’s a bit of a love triangle but the romance isn’t the focus. Red cares less about the two vampires who are vying for her attention and more about manipulating both of them for information. She’s not an inexperienced young girl, she knows it’s dangerous to get too close to a vampire and tries to protect herself.
The only time that I felt things dragged on was when the witty banter sometimes went long. I expected some banter in the noir-style PI story, but the characters tend to go back and forth a few too many times before they actually get anywhere with their conversation. And literally everyone has a witty comeback all the time. It would have been refreshing to see someone speak straight once in a while or fumble on their retorts, at least from the humans.
But overall it was an entertaining story and I will be reading the next book in the series to find out what happens next. The good news is that book #2 just came out. I recommend it to fans of Buffy, Anne Rice, Anita Blake, and The Lost Boys.
October 5, 2019
This book is AMAZING from the moment she wakes up in a hospital, she knows nothing about herself! She does not know her name, her history nothing, she DOES know about Witches and Vampires and things that go bump in the night, she even knows that some Vampires are good and even have souls, but she DOESN'T know her name, her history or where she came from, she certainly does not know how she came to be covered in fang bites and bruises and left for dead at the side of the road. Vic finds her, stays with her and names her Red (not the most imaginative name her hair is red) in return after her recovery she stays with Vic. Vic works for the Bards, he spends his life fighting the bad Vampires, and Red sticks with him as his intern hoping that eventually something will jog her memory.
Arriving in LA to work for Vic's Vampire buddy Quinn, right from the off it's like Vampires from all factions know her and want her, yet she doesn't know them, things are happening in LA and it isn't the Blood Alliance, and Vic's buddy seems to be right in the middle of it, given their history is it a surprise?
This is an incredible book, I honestly read it in one go, I had to it was absolutely incredible, it has everything, mystery, romance, glamour, fear, it really covered the gamut of emotions. I thoroughly enjoyed it, characters are so good, the writing is so good, I just can't get over how good it was, I went back and read it again, , honestly if you like your Urban Fantasy with a kick ass heroine who knows nothing about herself, and a paranoid, sidekick who can hack any computer he has access to and you have this amazing book.
The book ends on a high, but with more questions, than it answered.... Roll on book 2!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Arriving in LA to work for Vic's Vampire buddy Quinn, right from the off it's like Vampires from all factions know her and want her, yet she doesn't know them, things are happening in LA and it isn't the Blood Alliance, and Vic's buddy seems to be right in the middle of it, given their history is it a surprise?
This is an incredible book, I honestly read it in one go, I had to it was absolutely incredible, it has everything, mystery, romance, glamour, fear, it really covered the gamut of emotions. I thoroughly enjoyed it, characters are so good, the writing is so good, I just can't get over how good it was, I went back and read it again, , honestly if you like your Urban Fantasy with a kick ass heroine who knows nothing about herself, and a paranoid, sidekick who can hack any computer he has access to and you have this amazing book.
The book ends on a high, but with more questions, than it answered.... Roll on book 2!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 13, 2019
Red and Vic are on their way to LA, due to a phone call Vic got from an old friend. There is a murder that happened there Vic's old friend needs there help. One the way there, they run into a bit of trouble. Quinn sends someone to come and help. When this man sees Red, he tells them to leave, he drives off.
They manage to get to Quinn's office, only to find vampires had broken in and were trying to find something. They find Quinn and he was knocked out. Quinn has a reaction seeing Red, but doesn't say anything. They all go over the murder and the help Quinn needs.
Red and Vic end up in a club, looking into a new murder. A vampire comes over to talk to her, when Vic is on the upper level. He manages to mark her and claim her. She is thrown through a loop
Comes to find out she had a face, that a lot of them was in the past. Red doesn't know who she is or who this person is to her. But curiosity is getting to her. She grows closer to Lucas as they work together, he remembers her of the man from her dreams.
Red doesn't know who is committing the murders, she knows it is a vampire. It could be their lives to try to find out.
There is so much action in this book, some romance, a lot of back story to all these characters. Didn't see the person that was behind it all.
I am already wanting book 2. I can't wait for more in this series, this was a great read. You have something in there for everyone.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
They manage to get to Quinn's office, only to find vampires had broken in and were trying to find something. They find Quinn and he was knocked out. Quinn has a reaction seeing Red, but doesn't say anything. They all go over the murder and the help Quinn needs.
Red and Vic end up in a club, looking into a new murder. A vampire comes over to talk to her, when Vic is on the upper level. He manages to mark her and claim her. She is thrown through a loop
Comes to find out she had a face, that a lot of them was in the past. Red doesn't know who she is or who this person is to her. But curiosity is getting to her. She grows closer to Lucas as they work together, he remembers her of the man from her dreams.
Red doesn't know who is committing the murders, she knows it is a vampire. It could be their lives to try to find out.
There is so much action in this book, some romance, a lot of back story to all these characters. Didn't see the person that was behind it all.
I am already wanting book 2. I can't wait for more in this series, this was a great read. You have something in there for everyone.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 16, 2019
A “Witch Called Red” is the first book in the “Red Witch Chronicles” about a witch that suddenly wakes up in an hospital bed without reminiscence of her previous life. Vic the stranger that rescued her gives her nickname because of her hair color and it sticks. It seems clear that Red have been attacked and bitten by a vampire who has somehow whipped her mind clean.
Red awakens to a supernatural world populated with demons, witches, vampires and whatnot. With nowhere to go, Red joints Vic as bounty hunter in pursuit of her own memories and seeking revenge for her attack.
The story takes them to LA where an old friend of Vic’s need assistance with a series of murders happening in the city, and Red seem to recognize some faces from her past……
Red experiences the whole spectrum of emotions, there is mystery, live angst, romance, deathly situations, humor. Imagine Buffy in “Tabula Rasa” minus “chosen one destiny” and with a good dose of common sense and a whole more adult.
Sami Valentine’s writing style is fluid and flesh. The book is very good edited, fast paced, with very well-developed characters and a complex and believable world, urban fantasy at his best.
A truly remarkable new urban fantasy series… cannot wait for the second book…. And just in case…. a novelette “Down and Out Witch” is already available to sweeten the time to the next release
Red awakens to a supernatural world populated with demons, witches, vampires and whatnot. With nowhere to go, Red joints Vic as bounty hunter in pursuit of her own memories and seeking revenge for her attack.
The story takes them to LA where an old friend of Vic’s need assistance with a series of murders happening in the city, and Red seem to recognize some faces from her past……
Red experiences the whole spectrum of emotions, there is mystery, live angst, romance, deathly situations, humor. Imagine Buffy in “Tabula Rasa” minus “chosen one destiny” and with a good dose of common sense and a whole more adult.
Sami Valentine’s writing style is fluid and flesh. The book is very good edited, fast paced, with very well-developed characters and a complex and believable world, urban fantasy at his best.
A truly remarkable new urban fantasy series… cannot wait for the second book…. And just in case…. a novelette “Down and Out Witch” is already available to sweeten the time to the next release
October 14, 2019
This was a fantastic vacation read. I read the majority of A Witch Called Red on the plane ride and was irritated when the plane landed early and I had to pack up.
Red and Vic were my favorite characters. The author did a great job with teasing just enough of a Juniper St. James and Red’s past to keep me excited for book 2.
The bait and switch of bad guys and motivations was great and I almost didn’t see it coming until the “big reveal”.
Red was realistically kick ass as a witch who is just learning her powers. She is not crazy over powered, which is annoying in other stories.
I received a free copy of this book and an voluntarily leaving a review. I will however purchase a copy upon release because I believe in supporting authors I enjoy!
Red and Vic were my favorite characters. The author did a great job with teasing just enough of a Juniper St. James and Red’s past to keep me excited for book 2.
The bait and switch of bad guys and motivations was great and I almost didn’t see it coming until the “big reveal”.
Red was realistically kick ass as a witch who is just learning her powers. She is not crazy over powered, which is annoying in other stories.
I received a free copy of this book and an voluntarily leaving a review. I will however purchase a copy upon release because I believe in supporting authors I enjoy!
October 24, 2019
This ARC was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
This book caught my attention right from the first page. The narrative is fluid and enticing. Sami Valentine's writing style is great. Sometimes it's hard for me to express how good a book is and I end up not saying anything but, in mind, there are so many expressions and raves for a book.
It always comes to my mind those old cartoons I used to watch on TV. Where to entice your prey one character has a potion or something very aromatic and you can see the fumes slowly approaching the target and a hand forms at the end of those fumes mesmerizing the target and Bam! You're caught. That's my visual image of a great book. It catches you when you start reading and it makes it difficult to put down for mundane life. And you do put down, because of life, you can barely wait to go to your reading. That's what A Witch Called Red was to me.
I went on a trip to this world created by Sami Valentine and it was really hard to get off the bus. And this book took me to so many twists and turns that I had to stop for 5 minutes sometimes and breathe because of my anxiety. I didn't want the book to finish but I did want to know what happened. So I got to the end. And it was great.
There was some development in the characters and I feel that they will change and grow and that's all I expect from my characters. Growth and development. Vic was my favorite. I love Red, too. Don't get me wrong but Vic is special. His mullet and his redneck ways are adorable. I liked Novak better than Lucas. Red and Vic were flawed and they felt real.
The plot was very interesting. I found out the culprit before the main character but I wasn't so sure about it. The most surprising thing was the motivation behind the plot to take over the city. The villain wasn't bad just because he was the villain. His plans had a strong motivation that for a minute makes us sympathize with him a little bit or, at least understand his motivations, even though this didn't excuse what was done to achieve such goals.
The conclusion left us with certainty that more was to come to our "heroes" and I'm excited to read the next book in the series.
This book caught my attention right from the first page. The narrative is fluid and enticing. Sami Valentine's writing style is great. Sometimes it's hard for me to express how good a book is and I end up not saying anything but, in mind, there are so many expressions and raves for a book.
It always comes to my mind those old cartoons I used to watch on TV. Where to entice your prey one character has a potion or something very aromatic and you can see the fumes slowly approaching the target and a hand forms at the end of those fumes mesmerizing the target and Bam! You're caught. That's my visual image of a great book. It catches you when you start reading and it makes it difficult to put down for mundane life. And you do put down, because of life, you can barely wait to go to your reading. That's what A Witch Called Red was to me.
I went on a trip to this world created by Sami Valentine and it was really hard to get off the bus. And this book took me to so many twists and turns that I had to stop for 5 minutes sometimes and breathe because of my anxiety. I didn't want the book to finish but I did want to know what happened. So I got to the end. And it was great.
There was some development in the characters and I feel that they will change and grow and that's all I expect from my characters. Growth and development. Vic was my favorite. I love Red, too. Don't get me wrong but Vic is special. His mullet and his redneck ways are adorable. I liked Novak better than Lucas. Red and Vic were flawed and they felt real.
The plot was very interesting. I found out the culprit before the main character but I wasn't so sure about it. The most surprising thing was the motivation behind the plot to take over the city. The villain wasn't bad just because he was the villain. His plans had a strong motivation that for a minute makes us sympathize with him a little bit or, at least understand his motivations, even though this didn't excuse what was done to achieve such goals.
The conclusion left us with certainty that more was to come to our "heroes" and I'm excited to read the next book in the series.
November 21, 2019
In a world where demons have souls, witches have amnesia, and humans are clueless about either, Red needs to keep her wits sharp and her stake sharper.
With blurb like that how could you not want to read this? I did read the novelette first which made this first book In The series make more sense. There’s magic, action, adventure, witches, vampires and so much more and I will definitely be reading the next book!
With blurb like that how could you not want to read this? I did read the novelette first which made this first book In The series make more sense. There’s magic, action, adventure, witches, vampires and so much more and I will definitely be reading the next book!
September 15, 2021
Well I couldn’t stop reading it does have some interesting concepts and gripping moments. Red is a mystery to us and herself. The mystery and there are a few are intriguing. Though the whole doppelgänger aspect I don’t know how I feel on that and then the vampires featured reminded me of Angel and his gang and it kinda of reminded me a little bit of Buffy the vampire slayer.
Rated: 3.5 Stars
Rated: 3.5 Stars
November 25, 2019
A Witch Called Red by Sami Valentine is such an amazing story that I have loved reading very much. This is book number one in this start to an amazing brand new series that I can not wait to read the next book in this series. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about vampires, witches and fantasy.
I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 7, 2021
This ticks so many of my boxes.
We've got a kick-butt heroine who is fighting evil, uncovering conspiracies, and falling in love with a vampire. PLUS she's an amnesic, and doesn't remember anything from about a year before this book starts.
It's fun, fast, and goes down easy.
We've got a kick-butt heroine who is fighting evil, uncovering conspiracies, and falling in love with a vampire. PLUS she's an amnesic, and doesn't remember anything from about a year before this book starts.
It's fun, fast, and goes down easy.
February 25, 2020
Typically I have issues when the main character has memory loss and doesn't remember hardly anything. I usually feel lost and it takes away from the story. This was NOT the case with this one. Yes, Red doesn't remember who (or what) she is or basically anything about herself or her past. I didn't feel lost because she didn't let it stop her. She still lived her life in the present. Then as she did discover bits and pieces it was a journey I took with her. Vic was a perfect partner/mentor for her. Loved his nerdiness. Secondary characters were fantastic. Plenty of action and story was fast paced. Loved it! Fantastic debut novel.
June 26, 2020
I picked this up because the cover and blurb were amazing. I was super excited to get into the story, even though I'm not usually one for vampires. I was hooked from the first page, and couldn't help but carry on through the story. Valentine has a way with words, a way to frame the story with just enough intrigue to keep you turning the page without giving away too much too soon. I adored the mystery and kept picking at the clues to try and solve it before the end. It was an amazing read and a series that I plan to follow to the end. Overall, very much recommended!
February 11, 2020
Looking forward to the series
An interesting manipulation of various characters within the genre. Sami Valentine is also capable of putting the reader in the main character's seat for a helluva ride.
An interesting manipulation of various characters within the genre. Sami Valentine is also capable of putting the reader in the main character's seat for a helluva ride.
July 20, 2020
Once I started reading the book, I couldn't put it down. I finished it within two days. It makes me reminisce twilight a little as well as Supernatural. The book is very interesting and makes you want to keep reading. I bought the second book in the series after reading!
July 31, 2020
Great read!
After the first couple chapters,I could not put it down!! Fast action, a lot of the snarky that I Love! For a debut novel, wow! Already have the second book to starttonight
After the first couple chapters,I could not put it down!! Fast action, a lot of the snarky that I Love! For a debut novel, wow! Already have the second book to starttonight
August 11, 2020
A witch called Red had me hooked from the start. If supernatural and Buffy the vampire slayer were combined into a book this would be what came out. Well pased and deep captivating characters I would defiantly recommend and I will be reading the rest of the series.
January 23, 2020
This was such a great book with wonderful characters and an engaging plot. I loved how the story played out and I could not put it down. I really enjoyed the book and I would recommend it to others.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review
August 1, 2020
Note: I received this e-book for free via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author, Sami Valentine, for this opportunity.
Content warning: Memory loss, assault, strong language, depictions of panic attacks, graphic violence, death
One day you walk up in a hospital with no recollection of who you are and before you know it...
You're on a murder case with the man who saved you, a hunter who is tracking down the murderer of models, dumped and drained.
You're a witch whose powers like to work....occasionally.
Oh, and you're the doppelganger for two vampire's dead human servant...
Have fun with that.
A Witch Called Red casts us straight into the story of "Red", a witch with amnesia and one heck of a past. On joining Victor, her saviour and a hunter of the Brotherhood of Bards, she is soon drawn back into a world that she has experience in. Given the fact she already has vampire bites on her neck.
This book takes us on a wild ride, to LA, to glitz and glamour, death and mystery. Dead models are turning up, drained and victims of vampires attacks. Teaming up with two vampires of questionable nature, Red and Vic are hired to solve the mystery.
There are many things I loved about this book. One of which was the love triangle. I loved the way Red handles both Kristoff and Lucas and how the pair of vampires but heads. The relationship between them also had me hooked; it was an interesting spin on Sire and Child with Lucas seemingly not all that interested in the man he sired.
Also, the relationship between Vic and Red was heartwarming. I love seeing strong friendships and the fact there is nothing forced between the characters was a plus. The dialogue between the pair feels natural and some of my favourite scenes involved them in Vic's van dubbed the Millenium Falcon.
Another thing I appreciated was the references to pop culture. They weren't overdone as can be the case with some books. Though the references to the Kardashians was a little strange, I was able to look over it.
Sadly I did have some issues with the book. Minor typing and editing issues crept in, especially towards the end of the book. Some parts felt like the story was feeling the typical paranormal detective story (Deux Ex Machina moments included) and that caused me to at times disengage with the story.
However, for a genre which is hard to bring anything new to the table, a Witch Called Red held my interest enough that I will be continuing with the series.
Overall I rate this book a high three stars.
Edited on 01/08/2020 to add a content warning.
Content warning: Memory loss, assault, strong language, depictions of panic attacks, graphic violence, death
One day you walk up in a hospital with no recollection of who you are and before you know it...
You're on a murder case with the man who saved you, a hunter who is tracking down the murderer of models, dumped and drained.
You're a witch whose powers like to work....occasionally.
Oh, and you're the doppelganger for two vampire's dead human servant...
Have fun with that.
A Witch Called Red casts us straight into the story of "Red", a witch with amnesia and one heck of a past. On joining Victor, her saviour and a hunter of the Brotherhood of Bards, she is soon drawn back into a world that she has experience in. Given the fact she already has vampire bites on her neck.
This book takes us on a wild ride, to LA, to glitz and glamour, death and mystery. Dead models are turning up, drained and victims of vampires attacks. Teaming up with two vampires of questionable nature, Red and Vic are hired to solve the mystery.
There are many things I loved about this book. One of which was the love triangle. I loved the way Red handles both Kristoff and Lucas and how the pair of vampires but heads. The relationship between them also had me hooked; it was an interesting spin on Sire and Child with Lucas seemingly not all that interested in the man he sired.
Also, the relationship between Vic and Red was heartwarming. I love seeing strong friendships and the fact there is nothing forced between the characters was a plus. The dialogue between the pair feels natural and some of my favourite scenes involved them in Vic's van dubbed the Millenium Falcon.
Another thing I appreciated was the references to pop culture. They weren't overdone as can be the case with some books. Though the references to the Kardashians was a little strange, I was able to look over it.
Sadly I did have some issues with the book. Minor typing and editing issues crept in, especially towards the end of the book. Some parts felt like the story was feeling the typical paranormal detective story (Deux Ex Machina moments included) and that caused me to at times disengage with the story.
However, for a genre which is hard to bring anything new to the table, a Witch Called Red held my interest enough that I will be continuing with the series.
Overall I rate this book a high three stars.
Edited on 01/08/2020 to add a content warning.
July 21, 2020
Hard to put down!
I totally enjoyed this story of witches and vampires in LA. The MC is a witch with no memories and she is delightful! Throw in her mentor and a city full of warring vampires and you have a story you won't want to stop reading!
I totally enjoyed this story of witches and vampires in LA. The MC is a witch with no memories and she is delightful! Throw in her mentor and a city full of warring vampires and you have a story you won't want to stop reading!
July 23, 2020
An amazing book. Will keep you interested all the way through, between the plot twists and amazing characters there is never a dull moment
April 18, 2020
Valentine has set up an interesting backdrop to this novel that was probably inspired by the vampire character, Angel, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. When Angel killed a gypsy, her father cursed him by restoring his soul so that he could feel the guilt of decades of his horrific actions. In A Witch Called Red, the man who restored the vampires’ souls publicized how to do it so that now, a significant percentage of vampires are “handicapped” with genuine human emotions. It’s a fascinating, and as far as I know unique, setting.
The witch of the title is an amnesiac who is found by a vampire hunter after apparently surviving a vampire attack. Discovering her past is a significant motivating factor for Red that is made more complicated by her strong resemblance to a woman many of the vampires in the story knew a century earlier. We don’t get total satisfaction here as the mystery of Red’s past is something clearly intended to be further explored in the next novel but many of these tantalizing clues captured my interest and made me eager to learn more.
The actual plot of this book is a murder mystery that quickly becomes enmeshed in complex vampire politics. I love well done politics and vampires with their centuries-long grudges really enrich a good political mystery. Valentine takes full advantage of these possibilities and it’s a major strength of the novel.
So this is a strong book with lots of actions and a good mystery forming its core, but I do have two complaints to register. First, the novel is at least twenty percent too long mostly because of endlessly chatty dialogue that didn’t do much to advance the plot. Second, there is a really unfortunate break with basic physics toward the end of the book—melting a bullet in flight doesn’t cause the molten metal to lose its forward momentum and drop straight to the ground. Other than these two things, A Witch Called Red, is a great opening to a new series and promises more excitement to come.
I received this book free from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
The witch of the title is an amnesiac who is found by a vampire hunter after apparently surviving a vampire attack. Discovering her past is a significant motivating factor for Red that is made more complicated by her strong resemblance to a woman many of the vampires in the story knew a century earlier. We don’t get total satisfaction here as the mystery of Red’s past is something clearly intended to be further explored in the next novel but many of these tantalizing clues captured my interest and made me eager to learn more.
The actual plot of this book is a murder mystery that quickly becomes enmeshed in complex vampire politics. I love well done politics and vampires with their centuries-long grudges really enrich a good political mystery. Valentine takes full advantage of these possibilities and it’s a major strength of the novel.
So this is a strong book with lots of actions and a good mystery forming its core, but I do have two complaints to register. First, the novel is at least twenty percent too long mostly because of endlessly chatty dialogue that didn’t do much to advance the plot. Second, there is a really unfortunate break with basic physics toward the end of the book—melting a bullet in flight doesn’t cause the molten metal to lose its forward momentum and drop straight to the ground. Other than these two things, A Witch Called Red, is a great opening to a new series and promises more excitement to come.
I received this book free from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
December 7, 2019
3.5 stars
I really enjoy a supernatural mystery so I was excited about this book. I felt there were some things done well and with intent. For example, the story is told from Red's perspective and Red has lost her memory. She has some cursory knowledge but doesn't remember a lot. So the novel feels a little chaotic at times but I think Red's life would feel like that. She would constantly be trying to catch up and feel a little off kilter.
An example of something I didn't like is that we stayed in the dark about some things. If I was Red and had these gaps I would be pushing Vic for more info. How are different groups divided? Who is in them? Who knows about the different groups? At the beginning I got the impression that vampires and other supernaturals were hidden and spent a great deal of the book trying to place this story in a whole society. I would have liked a bit more world building so I was certain where everyone fit in this society.
I have recently learned there is a prequel and so I might read that and gain a better understanding of the world and the players in it.
I think I will read the next book to see how the story continues. If you decide to read it I hope you enjoy the story more than I did. Happy reading.
Fyi, I received this book from StoryOrigin.
I really enjoy a supernatural mystery so I was excited about this book. I felt there were some things done well and with intent. For example, the story is told from Red's perspective and Red has lost her memory. She has some cursory knowledge but doesn't remember a lot. So the novel feels a little chaotic at times but I think Red's life would feel like that. She would constantly be trying to catch up and feel a little off kilter.
An example of something I didn't like is that we stayed in the dark about some things. If I was Red and had these gaps I would be pushing Vic for more info. How are different groups divided? Who is in them? Who knows about the different groups? At the beginning I got the impression that vampires and other supernaturals were hidden and spent a great deal of the book trying to place this story in a whole society. I would have liked a bit more world building so I was certain where everyone fit in this society.
I have recently learned there is a prequel and so I might read that and gain a better understanding of the world and the players in it.
I think I will read the next book to see how the story continues. If you decide to read it I hope you enjoy the story more than I did. Happy reading.
Fyi, I received this book from StoryOrigin.
August 17, 2020
I never normally read books like this, but it was suggested to me and I thought I would give it a go. The book caught my attention in the first chapter and didn’t let go until the final chapter! I COULD NOT put this book down!! Amazing! Absolutely amazing! Definitely worth reading!!!
March 2, 2020
This was a fun read with crazy characters, lots of drama, and some murder thrown in, too. The story was fun and I enjoyed the characters banter. I’d recommend this book.
July 27, 2020
It was ok for a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan. Started off pretty good, then just too much thrown into the mix at once. Good ending though.
September 6, 2020
I received a complimentary copy from Voracious Readers Only in return for an honest review of this book.
First, let me say how much I appreciate all the Harry Potter references in the beginning of the book. And I really appreciate that Red is a Ravenclaw like me. But, as a Ravenclaw, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention all of the editorial errors I noticed in this book. They were small errors — missing words, wrong tenses, etc. — but there were many. A decent line or copy editor should have caught them, and there's no reason for a published book to have so many.
You might say that doesn't have anything to do with the actual story. But, in fact, it does because these errors take me immediately OUT of the story. The story is good, but not good enough to make it possible for me to miss or overlook said errors.
On to the actual book. What made me want to read "A Witch Called Red" was the comparison to The Hollows and Mercy Thompson series — both of which I'm a big fan. While there is some crossover with those series, this read more like a Vampire Diaries episode (of which I'm also a fan). Two brothers (or in this case, a sire and a childe) competing with one another over the doppelganger of a long-lost love. By the end of the book, they have come to an uneasy alliance. One is dark haired and one is blond. Might as well call them Damon and Stefan, although readers can't say with any certainty with is the "good" brother and which is the "bad" brother.
The character I REALLY want to talk about is Vic. By the end of the book, he has experienced a life-altering transformation. It would be wrong to keep Vic on the sidelines and I am interested to see how Valentine carries through with his new situation in the rest of the series.
First, let me say how much I appreciate all the Harry Potter references in the beginning of the book. And I really appreciate that Red is a Ravenclaw like me. But, as a Ravenclaw, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention all of the editorial errors I noticed in this book. They were small errors — missing words, wrong tenses, etc. — but there were many. A decent line or copy editor should have caught them, and there's no reason for a published book to have so many.
You might say that doesn't have anything to do with the actual story. But, in fact, it does because these errors take me immediately OUT of the story. The story is good, but not good enough to make it possible for me to miss or overlook said errors.
On to the actual book. What made me want to read "A Witch Called Red" was the comparison to The Hollows and Mercy Thompson series — both of which I'm a big fan. While there is some crossover with those series, this read more like a Vampire Diaries episode (of which I'm also a fan). Two brothers (or in this case, a sire and a childe) competing with one another over the doppelganger of a long-lost love. By the end of the book, they have come to an uneasy alliance. One is dark haired and one is blond. Might as well call them Damon and Stefan, although readers can't say with any certainty with is the "good" brother and which is the "bad" brother.
The character I REALLY want to talk about is Vic. By the end of the book, he has experienced a life-altering transformation. It would be wrong to keep Vic on the sidelines and I am interested to see how Valentine carries through with his new situation in the rest of the series.
December 11, 2019
A Witch Called Red is Book 1 in the Red Witch Chronicles by Sami Valentine. This is a superbly written story in a compelling and complex world with well developed and interesting characters. Red is a witch who wakes in the hospital with vampire bites and no memory. Vic, her savior and a supernatural bounty hunter, agrees to train Red. Red and Vic are on there way to LA to help Quinn, Vic's friend who has requested help. This is a fast paced, action packed, page turning thrill ride with twists/turns, suspense, mystery, danger. Am anxiously waiting for the next in series to see what Sami has in store for Red, Vic an Quinn. Highly recommended. Received a free copy from StoryOrigin and this is my voluntary review.
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