A Witch Alone by Ruth Warburton

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books

Pages: 400pgs

The Story

Where do you go when your heart has been ripped out?

For Anna there is only one answer; into her past, where the truth about her mother, her power, and her real identity lie hidden.

But as Anna delves deeper into her history, she begins to fear that the truth about what set her mother running may be darker than she ever suspected. With the witches of the world on the brink of war, Seth gone, and her friend Abe wanting more from her than she can possibly give, Anna is in crisis.

As the clouds around her gather, Anna is torn between friends, family and rival tribes of witches and – at the last – between love and magic.

The Review

I was already dying to get a copy of A WITCH ALONE, especially after what I read at the end of the second book. It was quite the cliffhanger to say the least. So, after reading and finishing the third and final installment and taking all of the crazy events in, I think the author did a splendid job in concluding this series and I'm sure plenty of readers will be very happy with it too!

Anna, Anna, Anna. I've always loved Anna as a main character and I really felt for her in this particular book too. My heart just broke for her because she was so broken herself and so defeated when her love, Seth, had left in the previous book, and even though she continuously allows herself to be swept up into many situations with very, very dangerous consequences in them, but considering everything she has been through it's easy to see that her head is not so clear at the moment, making it nearly impossible to make a proper decision now and then. But, despite all of that drama, Anna made me proud in this book because she always puts herself out there to protect those she loves and really what more can you ask for from a main heroine?

Seth on the other hand, and unfortunately, was the only downer of this book. He was probably the only reason why I didn't like this book as much as the first two. I don't know what it was about him and what changed, but the Seth I loved at the beginning of this series isn't the same Seth at the end of this book. So while I understand why he too is just as broken as Anna was and was in a foul mood most of the time, especially when he was reunited with Anna again, but he just kept blaming Anna for basically everything that was going on around him and he also made himself this lame pity party . . . so I didn't really want to be apart of it in any sense. Honestly Seth - what happened to you? I get you were over the whole Anna and witchy power side of things but seriously? What happened to you? Le sigh. Go back to your pity party.

Overall, I loved the fact that this book was much darker, twisty and had so many interesting tales to tell, so if you love something that is all of that then I suggest you quickly go and read A WITCH ALONE. It was a final book with a very satisfying conclusion on the most part and one I was was pretty happy about with all things considered! Well, despite Seth's pity party thing.

The Rating

4/5 stars

A Witch in Love by Ruth Warburton

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books

Pages: 304pgs

The Story

Anna still finds it hard to believe that Seth loves her and has vowed to suppress her powers, no matter what.

But magic - like love - is uncontrollable. It spills out with terrible consequences, and soon, Anna is being hunted.

The Review

A WITCH IN LOVE picks up six months after the first book finished off from where two teenagers, Anna and Seth, were being very much in love and trying to be a normal couple as much as possible. Now from the previous installment, A Witch in Winter, readers were introduced to the main heroine, Anna, a young girl who discovers that she is a witch after performing a love charm on one of the most popular boys at her new local high school, only she never ever expected that it might actually work. In this sequel, the love spell of course eventually wears off and despite Anna's hesitation in starting a relationship with Seth, someone who claimed to love Anna for real this time, Anna cannot help but think that he's only there because of some residual effect left after the spell was broken. But when there's more romantic dilemma on the horizon and with possible dangers coming after all witches - with Anna herself included, she will need to do whatever it takes to save others and herself . . . before it is all too late.

I absolutely loved Ruth Warburton's debut novel, A Witch in Winter, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel because it was SO good. With that being said, I really enjoyed this sequel as well since it followed quite a similar style in pacing and the storyline like from the first book and the characters were even more lovable this time round than I've read previously from them. I guess what I admired most about this sequel was how everything was handled well by the author. Honestly . . . there was a lot going on with Anna and her friends, and Anna and Seth which includes the highs and lows of their new romantic relationship, and I think when you combine all of those crazy events with even more witchy problems, I think all in all Warburton writes brilliantly and flawlessly, and makes things really interesting for the reader!

For our returning characters, I continued to love every single of them and probably a little more in this sequel than from the first book. Now while I thought the supporting characters were super funny and super interesting as well in this sequel (and not to mention super helpful for our main heroine), but I thought our main characters were the ones who obviously stood out from the rest and were continually growing more into themselves and came out wonderfully. Anna for once, our main heroine, was someone I really liked from the first book and I still continue like her. She's stronger, she's more feisty, and as we learn more about her background and of the mother who'd abandoned her and her father long ago, we also get to see more of her confidence rise which was really great to witness. And as for Seth, the love interest of Anna's, he was yet another great character who grew some more as well. Unlike the love-sick puppy we saw Seth to be like (you know, after the love spell he was under and all from the first book), Seth has now come into his own character and he actually blew me away with his bravery and the way he continued to support Anna through . . . well everything difficult, especially when it came to dealing with her out-of-control powers. I just loved that about him. And relationship-wise . . . Seth and Anna were perfect together . . . even if Seth was more enthusiastic about their relationship than Anna was. But she still has good reasons to be hesitant about it which leaves their 'relationship' on the balance . . . you know, not knowing which side may fall.

Overall, both character-driven and with a lot of crazy stuff going on, A WITCH IN LOVE is another great installment to this series with plenty of drama, romance, and witchy history to get you invested with this storyline. While I will admit that I preferred the first book compared to this sequel, however there is much to love about this second installment and I'll definitely be looking forward to the third and final book next year considering how things ended in this sequel . . . oh my, THAT ending!

The Rating

4/5 stars

A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton

Release Date: 5th January, 2012

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books

Pages: 368pgs

The Story

Anna Winterson doesn't know she's a witch and would probably mock you for believing in magic, but after moving to the small town of Winter with her father, she learns more than she ever wanted to about power. When Anna meets Seth, she is smitten, but when she enchants him to love her, she unwittingly amplifies a deadly conflict between two witch clans and splits her own heart into two. She wants to love Seth, to let him love her - but if it's her magic that's controlling his passion, then she is as monstrous as the witch clan who are trying to use her amazing powers for their own gain.

Although a perfect fit for the paranormal romance genre, A WITCH IN WINTER avoids fangs, excessive body hair and submissive female leads, and tells the heart-wrenching story of a couple meant to be together, but being forced apart. Seth is utterly irresistible and Anna is an empowered, proactive young woman with unimaginable magic inside her. This is fast-paced, sensuous writing with believable incantations inspired by Warburton's research into witchcraft legend and old English.

The Review

Okay for once this year I'm totally impressed by this title - one I didn't expect to like nor even love. Now after hearing nothing but great things about this book and by the time I got this book into my greedy little hands as all books eventually find their way to (by the way it's a beautiful book cover and I know the model or rather know of her) . . . I have to say the wait was well worth it. But damn damn damn, I wished I had picked this book up a lot sooner than I did and discovered for myself what this book was all about . . . and its epicness! It had plenty of that to offer!

A WITCH IN WINTER tells us the story about a young girl named Anna whom has recently moved with her father from London to the coastal village of Winter for a fresh start since her father had lost his job. While Anna isn't exactly thrilled by this recent change in her life, however she settles in quite comfortably and eventually makes friends for herself along the way. But after an innocent sleepover and a few drinks later, Anna's new friends find a spellbook hidden away in her new home and decide - forcing Anna to play with them - to cast a love spell which like all love spells go . . . goes completely wrong. With her friends little knowing of what they've unleashed, thinking they were just mucking around, the spell actually worked and it was all because of Anna. The day she returns to school, the boy she thought of while creating the spell and the boy she happens to have a crush on since moving to the town, that being Seth, suddenly starts declaring his love for Anna and begins obsessing over her every need. After all, he did say this, "Anna, I know this sounds crazy but - I love you." Honestly what's a girl to do? How can a girl with no power undo this crazy love spell that was never meant to be casted in the first place? Or . . . is there something more to Anna than she first realized? Guess you'll have to pick up the book to find out.

I have to say this book was utter awesomesauce and it really set itself apart from your common young adult reads that we have nowadays on our shelves. But what I loved most was the fact that the book focused far more on the witchy side rather than on other paranormal creatures side, and it's not too often a paranormal YA story has that type of element about it. It was sure a nice change and it really hit close to home for me. The setting especially was what made me want more and more of this story . . . but also the characters as well.

Anna, the main heroine, was one of the best characters I've read in a while. The fact that she was so normal and easy to relate to on a teenage level (what with her trying to fit in and make new friends), I thankfully didn't have to suffer through too much teenage angst so well done to the author, Ruth Warburton, for that! As far as Seth goes, Anna's crush, I felt sorry for the poor boy. I mean, the love spell didn't exactly do him any favours at first. But the moment he stepped onto the page was the moment I fell for his character and I felt instantly drawn to him almost within a heartbeat. Sure, he didn't seem like your average 'nice guy' and he had his own personal issues to figure out, but what matters here was liking him and liking him - and loving him - I did. Not only did the love spell create an interesting storyline but it also helped these two main characters, Anna and Seth, confide in each other, form a friendship, and find a sense of trust. But honestly it was more than that . . . it eventually help them find themselves and who they want to be . . . so the love spell was a kind of a blessing in disguise for these characters even though it was awkward at times. The love declarations and all . . . very awkward.

Overall, I thought A WITCH IN WINTER was a fantastic debut novel coming from the very talented and engaging Ruth Warburton. With a wonderful haunting setting, interesting characters with many different layers and with an action-edgy-packed finale, I'm definitely excited to continue with this trilogy and if the first book was awesome . . . I'm expecting to be blown away by its sequel. I highly recommend this book to anyone with a love of witches and unexpected romances . . . along with a little bit of everything hidden inbetween!

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars