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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Book Review: Witches in Red (The Mist-Torn Witches #2) by Barb Hendee

Witches in Red (The Mist-Torn Witches #2)
by Barb Hendee

Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Roc (May 6, 2014)

Céline and Amelie Fawe can see into anyone’s past and future simply by touching them. They have used their powers to secure sanctuary—and a fine apothecary’s shop—in the village around Castle Sèone. But their continued safety has a price…
Far to the north, the men of an isolated silver mining community are turning into vicious “beasts” that slaughter anyone in sight. The mines belong to the noble family of Prince Anton—ruler of Castle Sèone and Céline and Amelie’s patron—and Anton’s tyrannical father has ordered his son to solve the mystery as a test of his leadership. He has no choice but to send the witches into the perilous north, to use their abilities to discover the cause of the transformations. Given how much they owe the prince, the sisters have no choice but to accept.

Together with the over-protective Lieutenant Jaromir, Célene and Amelie enter the dark world of a far off mining camp tainted by fear, mistrust, and enslavement—and haunted by men turning into massive, mad wolves without warning. Now, the two must draw upon strength and cunning they never thought they possessed not only to solve the mystery, but to survive. . .


Witches in Red begins not long after the ending of book one. Celine and Amelie are recuperating and adjusting to their new life in the apothecary shop located in the village around Castle Seone under the protection of their patron Prince Anton. Meanwhile in the north at a small mining community there is chaos with men turning into beasts and ravaging those around them and having to be killed. All work has stopped at the mines and income from the mines halted with the workers too fearful to enter the mines. Prince Anton is ordered by his father to resolve this mystery as a test of his leadership abilities and in turn Prince Anton once again calls upon Celine and Amelie to accompany his most trusted Lieutenant to travel to this area and get to the bottom of the problem. 
The unraveling of this mystery reveals treachery, barbaric behaviors by those in power, unexpected twists and turns, as well as thought provoking revelations, and heartbreak.


The story is well written and kept this reader turning the pages with glee as the mystery unfolded. The characters were believable, likable, and a joy to get to know with the scale of emotions I experienced all over the charts hooking me right in. Having not read book one there was some world building missed and although the tale stood alone, I would recommend reading book one as there is obviously much that has gone on prior to this telling. The story ends well and leaves the reader eager for more and does not leave you hanging. While Witches in Red takes place in a time of high fantasy novels, it is a lighter less complicated read from the traditional tales and I would recommend this book to fantasy fans who enjoy a good mystery with a little paranormal twist. I am looking forward to reading book one and then continuing the adventure with the third installment. I received this book from NetGalley.


5 sheep




DeniseZ




About the author:
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Like most writers, I've worked at many jobs in my life, including teaching pre-school until I completed my master's degree in Composition Theory. Between 1993 and 2006, I taught college English while writing fiction on the side, some independently and some with my husband and life-long partner J.C.

Over the years, we've lived in Washington State, Idaho, Colorado, and now moved just south of Portland, Oregon. I love the Northwest, and it's a great place to write.

We have a lovely and talented daughter, Jaclyn, who lives in Houston, Texas along with our wonderful and talented son-in-law, Paul.

J.C. and I sold Dhampir in 2001, which changed our lives considerably. It was published in January 2003, and we've published a book in the Noble Dead Saga every year since. In May of 2006, we were both able to quit our teaching jobs and move into full time writing.

In 2008, I sold the idea for the Vampire Memories series to our editor, Susan Allison, at Roc Books. I am so glad our books have found an audience because I love to write fiction more than anything else in the world... and I'm not really good at anything else
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2 comments:

  1. Thanks for the review. I have really enjoyed the original Noble Dead series and I waffled about getting caught up in this new series...but I am strongly tempted!

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  2. I love this cover, and I love your review, so, 1 + 1 means: adding to my wishlist at once.

    ReplyDelete