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Demigoddess Chronicles #1
Empyrean Witch
I always thought the gods were a myth. Then again, I thought the same thing about witches.
I'm no stranger to darkness. I've been dealing with it all my life. That's just part of being a "mutant psychic." I see things and know things that, most of the time, I'd be better off not seeing or knowing. But when my witch powers start to manifest, my life takes a new direction entirely. Suddenly, I’m recruited by the Shadow Order, a supernatural agency dedicated to the protection of the covens. My primary task? To read supernatural murder scenes. Trust me, at that point the word “dark” takes on a whole new meaning.
When one of those crime scenes opens a door between me and a trio of dark goddesses hunting for a talisman, I seriously start to reconsider my life choices. Especially when those same goddesses start hunting me. Maybe it's a case of mistaken identity. I'd really like to think so. But the feeling I’m getting is that they know just who and what I am, while I'm still trying to figure that part out for myself. And when I meet an irresistibly alluring stranger who seems to know me better than I do, I really have to wonder. Because if what he tells me is true, I too carry the blood of the gods in my veins, and only I can unlock the magic needed to save the human race.
I'm no stranger to darkness. I've been dealing with it all my life. That's just part of being a "mutant psychic." I see things and know things that, most of the time, I'd be better off not seeing or knowing. But when my witch powers start to manifest, my life takes a new direction entirely. Suddenly, I’m recruited by the Shadow Order, a supernatural agency dedicated to the protection of the covens. My primary task? To read supernatural murder scenes. Trust me, at that point the word “dark” takes on a whole new meaning.
When one of those crime scenes opens a door between me and a trio of dark goddesses hunting for a talisman, I seriously start to reconsider my life choices. Especially when those same goddesses start hunting me. Maybe it's a case of mistaken identity. I'd really like to think so. But the feeling I’m getting is that they know just who and what I am, while I'm still trying to figure that part out for myself. And when I meet an irresistibly alluring stranger who seems to know me better than I do, I really have to wonder. Because if what he tells me is true, I too carry the blood of the gods in my veins, and only I can unlock the magic needed to save the human race.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2019
613 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Malcom
21 books118 followersJ.S. Malcom is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Realm Watchers urban fantasy series, of which Autumn Winters is just the beginning. J.S. lives in Richmond, Virginia, a town full of history and ghosts (not to mention, many other supernatural creatures, including Autumn and Cassie).
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 15, 2019
ONE UNFORGETTABLE TREAT!!!
Crap on toast! Not only did Malcom blaze a new trail, she friggin leveled the road and paved it with gold. I'm not sure I have the words to describe the feelings running rampant and the intense reactions for this rocking block busting bombshell that propels this baby to staggering heights. Buckle up sweetheart, you're in for the long haul. You won't be separating from this bad boy till the last word. You get all the drama, intrigue, danger and suspense rolled into one explosive rollercoaster ride. Wrangling the trials and tribulations along with some electrifying plot twists keeps you on a razors edge navigating the sharp corners and sleek lines. Startling circumstances and a slew of turns blast this bad boy to life perfectly. The characters personalities are authentic, original and realistic with depth and qualities that are well balanced and blended with a smooth even grace. 100% on point accuracy with dazzling scenarios along with colorfully descriptive details that makes for one majestic backdrop and fuses this bad boy together piece by piece. Remarkable job Malcom, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
Crap on toast! Not only did Malcom blaze a new trail, she friggin leveled the road and paved it with gold. I'm not sure I have the words to describe the feelings running rampant and the intense reactions for this rocking block busting bombshell that propels this baby to staggering heights. Buckle up sweetheart, you're in for the long haul. You won't be separating from this bad boy till the last word. You get all the drama, intrigue, danger and suspense rolled into one explosive rollercoaster ride. Wrangling the trials and tribulations along with some electrifying plot twists keeps you on a razors edge navigating the sharp corners and sleek lines. Startling circumstances and a slew of turns blast this bad boy to life perfectly. The characters personalities are authentic, original and realistic with depth and qualities that are well balanced and blended with a smooth even grace. 100% on point accuracy with dazzling scenarios along with colorfully descriptive details that makes for one majestic backdrop and fuses this bad boy together piece by piece. Remarkable job Malcom, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
October 16, 2019
Totally gripping and fantastic!
A very different kind of magical system with many twists and thrilling turns and characters so awesome that I couldn't stop reading. It was an awesome read with more and more mysterious events and I loved all the character. The Shadow order sounds so cool in the world it does. I'm so curious to read the books about Cassie too. This book just makes a reader want to stay in it. I'm so excited to know what happens next.
A very different kind of magical system with many twists and thrilling turns and characters so awesome that I couldn't stop reading. It was an awesome read with more and more mysterious events and I loved all the character. The Shadow order sounds so cool in the world it does. I'm so curious to read the books about Cassie too. This book just makes a reader want to stay in it. I'm so excited to know what happens next.
December 21, 2019
Bad. And I mean BAD.
DNF @ chapter 4
DNF @ chapter 4
October 16, 2019
It needs to made clear that while this is the first book in a series, it is following a previous series.
You get dropped in to the book with basically no back story, no world building and no details. The author just seems to expect you to have read her other books which I did not appreciate. Only got to chapter 3 before I gave up, mainly because I was confused, annoyed and thought that the character Cassie was a unlikable bitch.
You get dropped in to the book with basically no back story, no world building and no details. The author just seems to expect you to have read her other books which I did not appreciate. Only got to chapter 3 before I gave up, mainly because I was confused, annoyed and thought that the character Cassie was a unlikable bitch.
May 24, 2020
A new series from J.S. Malcolm, following on from the Fae Witch series, I'd recommend reading that series first to fully appreciate the characters and world they are set in. I found the book a little difficult to follow as I'd not read the Fae Witch series, but still I found the book riveting and was soon fully absorbed in the story and couldn't put it down. It's definitely a series I would follow I'm looking forward to the next book.
January 31, 2020
Split focus
I wasn't sure I would like Malcolm's experiment with split narrative voice but it works with Cassie and Julia. Maybe because we already met them as a combined act in the earlier Autumn and Cassie books. I couldn't give five stars because I feel like three Autumn books and six Cassie books was alot of drama already with these girls and it's a little like going on vacation with Miss Marple or Jessica Fletcher. People would stop being friends with you if bad stuff happens every time you go out!
Still, Malcolm is a strong writer with good narrative voice and character development so she's a pleasure to read. Sometimes when you find a really prolific writer, they aren't good writers and that is not the case here. I didn't love the split focus because it was uneven and it takes away from getting to know Julia as much as is necessary to really fall in love with a new aspect of this world. We know Cassie pretty well at this point so it would be more interesting to really have a set of Julia books like we have a set of Autumn books. It is not, however, a huge issue. It's certainly not enough not to read the Empyrean witch series.
Kudos to Malcolm for coming up with some new witch concepts. The supernatural is pretty well marketed at this point so it was nice to get a new concept in Urban Fantasy. That's the genre I read most and it's lovely to get something new. I definitely would recommend reading the previous nine books if you're a prolific reader and at least the six Cassie books if not prior to reading this. The series will not make sense as much if you don't. Because Malcolm explained things in earlier books, she doesn't world -build as much here which means much of the book is based on information the reader doesn't have. That is really my only significant compliant. I would recommend the read after reading the other books in Cassie's series.
I wasn't sure I would like Malcolm's experiment with split narrative voice but it works with Cassie and Julia. Maybe because we already met them as a combined act in the earlier Autumn and Cassie books. I couldn't give five stars because I feel like three Autumn books and six Cassie books was alot of drama already with these girls and it's a little like going on vacation with Miss Marple or Jessica Fletcher. People would stop being friends with you if bad stuff happens every time you go out!
Still, Malcolm is a strong writer with good narrative voice and character development so she's a pleasure to read. Sometimes when you find a really prolific writer, they aren't good writers and that is not the case here. I didn't love the split focus because it was uneven and it takes away from getting to know Julia as much as is necessary to really fall in love with a new aspect of this world. We know Cassie pretty well at this point so it would be more interesting to really have a set of Julia books like we have a set of Autumn books. It is not, however, a huge issue. It's certainly not enough not to read the Empyrean witch series.
Kudos to Malcolm for coming up with some new witch concepts. The supernatural is pretty well marketed at this point so it was nice to get a new concept in Urban Fantasy. That's the genre I read most and it's lovely to get something new. I definitely would recommend reading the previous nine books if you're a prolific reader and at least the six Cassie books if not prior to reading this. The series will not make sense as much if you don't. Because Malcolm explained things in earlier books, she doesn't world -build as much here which means much of the book is based on information the reader doesn't have. That is really my only significant compliant. I would recommend the read after reading the other books in Cassie's series.
July 22, 2020
This audiobook was amazing! It was so exciting from the very beginning to the very end. I love how it kind of blended so many different aspects of fantasy into one world. And the world that J.S Malcom created is so different from others that I've read. And I alway appreciate different and originality in my fantasy. The only little problem I had was that I felt like I was missing something the whole time. Like I missed the first book in the series, even though this book says one. I think what happened was there may have been other books in a different series. And this one is a spin off, kinda, maybe. But still, the author still did an amazing job of explaining things so that I never felt lost. And the narrators als did an amazing job. This book was fantastic and I hope I can find more!
This book was given to me at my request (Thank you Audiobook Unleashed!). I am providing an voluntary and honest review.
This book was given to me at my request (Thank you Audiobook Unleashed!). I am providing an voluntary and honest review.
June 21, 2020
I received this book free for an honest review.
Julia never believed in witches and thought gods were a myth then her witch powers manifest and she has to deal with it all being true.
She is recruited by the shadow order a supernatural agency tasked with protecting covens her job is to read supernatural crime scenes. At one of the crime scenes a door opens revealing 3 goddesses searching for a talisman when they start to hunt Julia she is saved by a stranger who tells her she is a Demi god and I have to unlock my magic to protect the human race. The story was really good and the characters were believable and interacted well together , there’s quite a few scenarios where I laughed out loud. I really enjoyed the dual narration Angel Clark and Travis Baldree really made listening more enjoyable and I can’t wait for book 2 .
Julia never believed in witches and thought gods were a myth then her witch powers manifest and she has to deal with it all being true.
She is recruited by the shadow order a supernatural agency tasked with protecting covens her job is to read supernatural crime scenes. At one of the crime scenes a door opens revealing 3 goddesses searching for a talisman when they start to hunt Julia she is saved by a stranger who tells her she is a Demi god and I have to unlock my magic to protect the human race. The story was really good and the characters were believable and interacted well together , there’s quite a few scenarios where I laughed out loud. I really enjoyed the dual narration Angel Clark and Travis Baldree really made listening more enjoyable and I can’t wait for book 2 .
August 3, 2020
This book is a little hard to follow if you haven’t read the previous series which I have not, so things were confusing at times because the story often referred to things that had happened in other series. While the storyline, characters and world building are great I believe that giving the reader/listener a heads up that this story is a continuation of another story would make it easier for the storyline to be followed.
The narrator did a great job
The narrator did a great job
January 10, 2022
Oh My!
This started out slowly due to introduction to the cast of characters and the world building, but it just kept getting better and better. I look forward to reading the second book. Julia is a great heroine as is her sassy friends Cassie and Autumn. I hope we see and hear more from Kirnan.
This started out slowly due to introduction to the cast of characters and the world building, but it just kept getting better and better. I look forward to reading the second book. Julia is a great heroine as is her sassy friends Cassie and Autumn. I hope we see and hear more from Kirnan.
August 9, 2020
Do you remember your parents telling you that if you keep rolling your eyes they'll get stuck that way? I'm sure I was well on the way with how much I kept rolling mine reading this. This was terrible... Well...the 2 and a half chapters I got through. I couldn't take anymore after that.
February 21, 2022
Interesting read
I enjoyed the story although I got a bit confused a time or two. So much going on and keeping people straight was something else. Seems like to much was left unresolved in the story. I would have liked more resolved instead of left hanging.
I enjoyed the story although I got a bit confused a time or two. So much going on and keeping people straight was something else. Seems like to much was left unresolved in the story. I would have liked more resolved instead of left hanging.
June 4, 2023
Not bad.
Although this has several interesting storylines and the characters are engaging and well-written I just couldn't get into it at all. Having said all that I can't really say why that is, perhaps you will enjoy it more than I did, give it a try, Baz.
Although this has several interesting storylines and the characters are engaging and well-written I just couldn't get into it at all. Having said all that I can't really say why that is, perhaps you will enjoy it more than I did, give it a try, Baz.
June 10, 2025
Fine Urban Fantasy
The protagonist is a witch, yet you soon find that she's something more. A fast-paced plot with interesting and enjoyable characters kept me absorbed. I'm hooked and will read the next in the series.
The protagonist is a witch, yet you soon find that she's something more. A fast-paced plot with interesting and enjoyable characters kept me absorbed. I'm hooked and will read the next in the series.
May 4, 2020
💯 KINDLE UNLIMITED
DNF: I just could not get into this book as it felt like plot points were missing & you were just randomly dropped in the middle of it all.
DNF: I just could not get into this book as it felt like plot points were missing & you were just randomly dropped in the middle of it all.
Read
September 17, 2022I enjoyed the book a lot. I wrote a review on Amazon. Just started book number 2. I hope it is as entertaining as the first one. I've read several of her other series, I've enjoyed them all.
July 19, 2025
Easy read
Good book that was easy to get into with fun characters think I may had to read the 2nd one now though
Good book that was easy to get into with fun characters think I may had to read the 2nd one now though
January 12, 2020
First book?
The title implied that this was the first book in the series but the story often referred to things that had happened making me feel as though I missed the first book. It was an interesting story and I look forward to the next book.
The title implied that this was the first book in the series but the story often referred to things that had happened making me feel as though I missed the first book. It was an interesting story and I look forward to the next book.
December 21, 2019
Interesting
The book with interesting call everything with parts that were confusing because it didn't really state what it was until later in the book..
The book with interesting call everything with parts that were confusing because it didn't really state what it was until later in the book..
November 13, 2019
A great addition to the Realm Watcher World! This book is a little hard to follow if you haven’t read the previous series Realm Watcher and Fae Witch Chronicles. This story mainly follows Julia who we met in the previous series. The world description is a bit little since it’s set in an already established world and some of the characters are harder to understand with no prior context. I loved the new direction for this series and how it is widening the magical world. Between uncovered secrets, a unleashed Goddess, and trips to Faerie this book is non-stop page turner.
I received an ARC of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 13, 2019
I was so excited to see that we would get to learn more about Julia and see her point of view regarding the strange world she now inhabits. This book definitely hits the high mark set by the previous books by the author. Great characters, new perspectives on the supernatural, great pacing - this book has it all. Another great and compelling read by J.S. Malcom. I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.
October 12, 2019
This is an easy review to write. J.S. Malcom is a favorite author so it’s no surprise that Empyrean Witch: Demigoddess Chronicles Book 1 is superb. Set in the same world as the author’s Realm Watchers and Fae Witch Chronicles series, this is well written, with a great plot, a perfect cast from Julia on down. Also totally fun. Exactly what I look for and easily worth five stars.
November 1, 2019
Julia's story
First there was Autumn. Cassie came next and now we have Julia. Malcom creates her characters in such a way they seem real.
More than once while reading this book, I stopped to learn more on various topics. To me that is the true indicator of a good book and author. Looking forward to book 2.
First there was Autumn. Cassie came next and now we have Julia. Malcom creates her characters in such a way they seem real.
More than once while reading this book, I stopped to learn more on various topics. To me that is the true indicator of a good book and author. Looking forward to book 2.
October 21, 2019
Darn good book
I loved the dynamic of the characters. I hope it continues on in the rest of the series. I look forward to the rest of books.
I loved the dynamic of the characters. I hope it continues on in the rest of the series. I look forward to the rest of books.
November 29, 2019
a bit drawn out, found myself skipping pages.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews