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mellhay's review
4.0
As with each book, this one brings a new element into the world of the harvesting. Magic. A witch. I couldn't quit listening. I knew what was going to result, but I was drawn to know for sure. What would happen and see what Amelia could do. She's special!
****FULL REVIEW****
*I requested to review a copy of this audiobook for an honest review from the author.
Amelia has a white witch's touch. Those in school and around Brighton don't see a witch as kindly, but Amelia loves what she is. She can feel and see things are off, but she doesn't know what it is, starting with her mother's aura having specks of sticky black to it. When people come down with the flu Amelia will have to do more than mix her faithful herbs, she'll have to cast spells.
Kristin gets to share her adverse vocal talents once again. She not only does different tones for different characters, but also gets to do a young girls voice then the teachers older and more stern voice. There is such a variety that it's amazing to see her slip into different personas. Kristin does a hurt, upset girl along with other voices.
As with each book, this one brings a new element into the world of the harvesting. Magic. A witch. I couldn't quit listening. I knew what was going to result, but I was drawn to know for sure. What would happen and see what Amelia could do. She's special! Oh we discover with Amelia something new that she can do.
Amelia is a white witch. It's sweet hearing her thank the trees and for pumpkins and many others. She's connected to nature. She even sees the aura of people, and tries to help all when sees dark spots by clearing them from their aura. She believes in using natural herbs to help heal and maintain good health. This mention of natural herbs brings into question something that's mentioned in Shadow Aspect, something that might have spread this disease.
Oh where this story ends! Eee! I can't wait to follow on in the series. It's all coming together now. And I'm curious about Logan. I have a few thoughts on him, but I'll keep that to myself so you can experience him in your own thinking.
****FULL REVIEW****
*I requested to review a copy of this audiobook for an honest review from the author.
Amelia has a white witch's touch. Those in school and around Brighton don't see a witch as kindly, but Amelia loves what she is. She can feel and see things are off, but she doesn't know what it is, starting with her mother's aura having specks of sticky black to it. When people come down with the flu Amelia will have to do more than mix her faithful herbs, she'll have to cast spells.
Kristin gets to share her adverse vocal talents once again. She not only does different tones for different characters, but also gets to do a young girls voice then the teachers older and more stern voice. There is such a variety that it's amazing to see her slip into different personas. Kristin does a hurt, upset girl along with other voices.
As with each book, this one brings a new element into the world of the harvesting. Magic. A witch. I couldn't quit listening. I knew what was going to result, but I was drawn to know for sure. What would happen and see what Amelia could do. She's special! Oh we discover with Amelia something new that she can do.
Amelia is a white witch. It's sweet hearing her thank the trees and for pumpkins and many others. She's connected to nature. She even sees the aura of people, and tries to help all when sees dark spots by clearing them from their aura. She believes in using natural herbs to help heal and maintain good health. This mention of natural herbs brings into question something that's mentioned in Shadow Aspect, something that might have spread this disease.
Oh where this story ends! Eee! I can't wait to follow on in the series. It's all coming together now. And I'm curious about Logan. I have a few thoughts on him, but I'll keep that to myself so you can experience him in your own thinking.
vikingwolf's review
4.0
Amelia is a young witch, and spends her spare time earning college money looking after Madame Knightly at her peaceful Witch Wood estate. When the flu virus starts turning local people into zombies, Amelia realises that the only safe place for her and her friends is Witch Wood. But Amelia is not aware of all the secrets of her mentor and her home or how important a part they will play in the coming apocalypse.
This was a short novella in The Harvesting series which I very much enjoy. Amelia is a good character, kind and caring and with great magical potential. She starts learning her trade from her mentor Madame Knightly who has never revealed who or what she really is. If you have read The Shadow Aspect I think you can easily guess the truth about Madame Knightly. Amelia is going to have a lot of time on her hands over the winter to learn all those secrets and develop her skills ready to take her part in the zombie apocalypse and supernatural war. Out of her friends I think I like Zoey the best as she reminds me a bit of Cricket but there are no really awful characters. It makes a nice change to not want some of the cast to die!
This book is a bit slower than the others but there is still some nice zombie action to enjoy. It's difficult to actually say much about the book without posting spoilers as it is short and talking about the interesting parts would reveal everything! Let me just say that this book sets the scene for the last book in the series.
This was a short novella in The Harvesting series which I very much enjoy. Amelia is a good character, kind and caring and with great magical potential. She starts learning her trade from her mentor Madame Knightly who has never revealed who or what she really is. If you have read The Shadow Aspect I think you can easily guess the truth about Madame Knightly. Amelia is going to have a lot of time on her hands over the winter to learn all those secrets and develop her skills ready to take her part in the zombie apocalypse and supernatural war. Out of her friends I think I like Zoey the best as she reminds me a bit of Cricket but there are no really awful characters. It makes a nice change to not want some of the cast to die!
This book is a bit slower than the others but there is still some nice zombie action to enjoy. It's difficult to actually say much about the book without posting spoilers as it is short and talking about the interesting parts would reveal everything! Let me just say that this book sets the scene for the last book in the series.
tracey_stewart's review
3.0
Yup. Zombies. I know.
But it's a different angle on the zombie apocalypse, for once, which is pretty remarkable considering the sheer number of angles that have already been covered. This is the story of the beginning of the troubles (which has been done, but which I tend to enjoy); the central character is a teenaged girl (which has been done also, in fact in something I listened to not long ago (though that was simply apocalypse, sans zombies)). This girl, Amelia, basically survives the falling apart of things because she is a practicing Wiccan (and that would be the different take).
In my decrepit old age, teenaged enthusiasm can be a bit wearing, and Amelia's passion for her Craft is that. She is enthusiasm personified, and unafraid to exhibit it. For me it was a little difficult to swallow when she confabbed with trees and shrubbery (though in point of fact a little more information would have gone a long way there; the trees responded, in a way, but if it had been more useful or functional I would have been more accepting of it). When her energy feels strained, she informs the listener, "I needed to get back to the house and drink some chamomile tea and dab myself with a couple drops of lavender oil." Of course you did. It didn't help that her prayers and inner comments were recorded with an echo effect.
In addition to being a virtuous white witch, she's a rather holier-than-thou vegetarian (which can be truly obnoxious) (and vegetarians NEVER get sick), and obviously she's very green:
Well, no, it could be that he had to swerve around you and was unhappy about the possibility of a teenager-shaped dent in his truck. That's usually my reason. And depending on the type of truck he's driving and why, he might not have a choice. It's a little hard to carry, say, lumber on a bike. Truly, while I honor any attempt to make the world better and the "harm none" credo, none of this makes for actual sanctity, nor does it necessarily make a stance of righteous piety palatable.
I've seen the fandom in the social media, so when she tells her friend that for Halloween "I was thinking Harley Quinn" I was less than shocked. Anyway. There she is with her friends looking forward to college and dances and so on … but there's a "flu" epidemic going on, and it's only getting worse. Much worse. And I admit it was a little poignant to read about their plans, knowing and all.
I'm not sure the – what was she, sixteen? – year-old voice felt too authentic. High-school-esque phrases like "loaded with" abound – repeated often – but I've been trying to remember if I knew what a bandolier was at that age. The narration was good (except for that echo effect), though Amelia's speaking voice was higher and girlier than the rest; I suppose that's supposed to imply that adult Amelia is telling the tale.
I did like that the Craft gave the girl the ability to see the plague, and that she has a true healing power; she alleviates some of her mother's symptoms early on. But it bothered me that, while she took literally a moment to lay a protective spell on a friend, she didn't do it for her best friend – or for her beloved mom, who is a nurse at a hospital overrun with "flu" victims.
Amelia has a part-time job looking after an elderly woman in the titular estate Witch Wood. The girl suspects Madame Knightley might have a touch of the Wicca about her herself, but she's never admitted it. Which may or may not make sense. (What may also not make sense is that there is only one entrance to the mansion. I lived in a fairly small house my whole life, and there were three doors to the outside world. I mean, if the place was built more than a hundred years ago, which was my impression, there would almost certainly be a servants' entrance, at least) This is what Amelia believes will be a safe place when things really begin to hit the fan, and basically the entirety of the plot is her leaving early on to check on her mother, and then trying to get back with companions. There's some interesting stuff that goes on, but it all ends rather abruptly. The novella, part of a series, can be read by itself – it's a separate storyline altogether – but the end makes it all basically a promo for the next book. A bit frustrating.
Less-than-stellar bit: "The handle had been carved with unusual markings" … "'That's unusual,' I said."
I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast.com.
But it's a different angle on the zombie apocalypse, for once, which is pretty remarkable considering the sheer number of angles that have already been covered. This is the story of the beginning of the troubles (which has been done, but which I tend to enjoy); the central character is a teenaged girl (which has been done also, in fact in something I listened to not long ago (though that was simply apocalypse, sans zombies)). This girl, Amelia, basically survives the falling apart of things because she is a practicing Wiccan (and that would be the different take).
In my decrepit old age, teenaged enthusiasm can be a bit wearing, and Amelia's passion for her Craft is that. She is enthusiasm personified, and unafraid to exhibit it. For me it was a little difficult to swallow when she confabbed with trees and shrubbery (though in point of fact a little more information would have gone a long way there; the trees responded, in a way, but if it had been more useful or functional I would have been more accepting of it). When her energy feels strained, she informs the listener, "I needed to get back to the house and drink some chamomile tea and dab myself with a couple drops of lavender oil." Of course you did. It didn't help that her prayers and inner comments were recorded with an echo effect.
In addition to being a virtuous white witch, she's a rather holier-than-thou vegetarian (which can be truly obnoxious) (and vegetarians NEVER get sick), and obviously she's very green:
A lone truck swerved around me, the driver shouting something incomprehensible out the window. Drivers always seem to have some odd contempt for bicyclists, like we reminded them that they should be biking or walking or doing something other than polluting the earth with exhaust fumes.
Well, no, it could be that he had to swerve around you and was unhappy about the possibility of a teenager-shaped dent in his truck. That's usually my reason. And depending on the type of truck he's driving and why, he might not have a choice. It's a little hard to carry, say, lumber on a bike. Truly, while I honor any attempt to make the world better and the "harm none" credo, none of this makes for actual sanctity, nor does it necessarily make a stance of righteous piety palatable.
I've seen the fandom in the social media, so when she tells her friend that for Halloween "I was thinking Harley Quinn" I was less than shocked. Anyway. There she is with her friends looking forward to college and dances and so on … but there's a "flu" epidemic going on, and it's only getting worse. Much worse. And I admit it was a little poignant to read about their plans, knowing and all.
I'm not sure the – what was she, sixteen? – year-old voice felt too authentic. High-school-esque phrases like "loaded with" abound – repeated often – but I've been trying to remember if I knew what a bandolier was at that age. The narration was good (except for that echo effect), though Amelia's speaking voice was higher and girlier than the rest; I suppose that's supposed to imply that adult Amelia is telling the tale.
I did like that the Craft gave the girl the ability to see the plague, and that she has a true healing power; she alleviates some of her mother's symptoms early on. But it bothered me that, while she took literally a moment to lay a protective spell on a friend, she didn't do it for her best friend – or for her beloved mom, who is a nurse at a hospital overrun with "flu" victims.
Amelia has a part-time job looking after an elderly woman in the titular estate Witch Wood. The girl suspects Madame Knightley might have a touch of the Wicca about her herself, but she's never admitted it. Which may or may not make sense. (What may also not make sense is that there is only one entrance to the mansion. I lived in a fairly small house my whole life, and there were three doors to the outside world. I mean, if the place was built more than a hundred years ago, which was my impression, there would almost certainly be a servants' entrance, at least) This is what Amelia believes will be a safe place when things really begin to hit the fan, and basically the entirety of the plot is her leaving early on to check on her mother, and then trying to get back with companions. There's some interesting stuff that goes on, but it all ends rather abruptly. The novella, part of a series, can be read by itself – it's a separate storyline altogether – but the end makes it all basically a promo for the next book. A bit frustrating.
Less-than-stellar bit: "The handle had been carved with unusual markings" … "'That's unusual,' I said."
I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast.com.
aly36's review
5.0
In Witch Wood, we meet Amelia. She will soon join up with the rest of the characters in the Harvesting series. Amelia has some abilities of her own. I wonder about the next book in the series if all these people with abilities come together to try to help get rid of the Zombies once and for all. I won't know until I read on. This series has everything you can imagine in it. All kinds of great characters and supernatural characters, anything you can think of I believe are all in the pages of these books and this series. I enjoy this series very much. I am not much into zombies but this series has soo much more and keeps me coming back until the end. I can't wait to see what happens next. "This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review."
ltg584's review
5.0
Melanie Karsak is one of those authors that I just can't get enough of. So when I dove into Witch Wood, my only complaint is that it ended. It can, theoretically, be read as a standalone novella. There are characters who are independent from the Harvesting series, so you'll enjoy this story as its own entity. BUT... as you approach the end of the story, you'll get more out of it if you've read the previous books. This is where I tell you that you NEED to read The Harvesting series, because they're all AWESOME!
Earlier this year, Melanie and a group of authors published a series of novellas in The Falling in Deep Collection. Witch Wood is now the first book in The Witching Hour Collection. A whole collection of witchy novellas, and this was the perfect way to start them off! If you haven't noticed from the synopsis, Witch Wood isn't just about witchcraft. There are also plenty of my personal favorite monster: ZOMBIES! Melanie packs a lot of excitement into a small number of pages. Right from page one the creep factor is notched up and within minutes I was sucked deep into the story. This is a one-sitting read!
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Earlier this year, Melanie and a group of authors published a series of novellas in The Falling in Deep Collection. Witch Wood is now the first book in The Witching Hour Collection. A whole collection of witchy novellas, and this was the perfect way to start them off! If you haven't noticed from the synopsis, Witch Wood isn't just about witchcraft. There are also plenty of my personal favorite monster: ZOMBIES! Melanie packs a lot of excitement into a small number of pages. Right from page one the creep factor is notched up and within minutes I was sucked deep into the story. This is a one-sitting read!
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
inlibrisveritas's review
5.0
4.5 Stars
Witch Wood is the latest novella in The Harvesting series, which once again focuses on the introduction of a new set of characters and sets up the story for the next full length novel. The entire concept of introducing characters in their own novellas is one seriously awesome way to let them shine on their own before they meet the main cast and things get even more crazy.
Amelia is a young woman, high school aged, with the innate ability for magic. She’s a practicing Wiccan, who focuses on the positives around her to heal and provide. She’s confident, strong willed, and caring; and I can already see how well she’ll balance out the eventual trifecta of strong women in the overall series. At this point I’d be more shocked if Karsak created a main character who I didn’t like almost immediately. That being said, she’s damn good at making side characters who can ruffle feathers or do outright evil.
Witch Wood Estate seems like one really beautiful and mysterious place, and I’m really excited to see how it will play into the future novel. In my mind it’s a small more enclosed Baltimore, with grounds full of crops and vines and an almost protective air to it’s shadow.
At this point I’m not sure what I can say about Kristen James’ narration work that I haven’t already, but I will say she gets better with each one. She has a true talent and you can tell just how much she cares for her craft in the attention to making the characters sound different and infusing as much life and emotion into her reading.
I’m sad that I have to wait for the next book, but I’m super excited to see how the series will end. I definitely can’t wait to see how Amelia meshes with Cricket and Layla, and how the groups find their new setting.
Witch Wood is the latest novella in The Harvesting series, which once again focuses on the introduction of a new set of characters and sets up the story for the next full length novel. The entire concept of introducing characters in their own novellas is one seriously awesome way to let them shine on their own before they meet the main cast and things get even more crazy.
Amelia is a young woman, high school aged, with the innate ability for magic. She’s a practicing Wiccan, who focuses on the positives around her to heal and provide. She’s confident, strong willed, and caring; and I can already see how well she’ll balance out the eventual trifecta of strong women in the overall series. At this point I’d be more shocked if Karsak created a main character who I didn’t like almost immediately. That being said, she’s damn good at making side characters who can ruffle feathers or do outright evil.
Witch Wood Estate seems like one really beautiful and mysterious place, and I’m really excited to see how it will play into the future novel. In my mind it’s a small more enclosed Baltimore, with grounds full of crops and vines and an almost protective air to it’s shadow.
At this point I’m not sure what I can say about Kristen James’ narration work that I haven’t already, but I will say she gets better with each one. She has a true talent and you can tell just how much she cares for her craft in the attention to making the characters sound different and infusing as much life and emotion into her reading.
I’m sad that I have to wait for the next book, but I’m super excited to see how the series will end. I definitely can’t wait to see how Amelia meshes with Cricket and Layla, and how the groups find their new setting.
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