A review by nexusgoblin
Witch Wood by Melanie Karsak

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.