Shadow of the Witch: Book One: the Village

By Barbara Jay

Oakridge Wood, dark, deep and mysterious. For aeon after aeon it had concealed its magic from curious, prying eyesuntil now.
Threatened with destruction, the wood becomes the catalyst that leads the witches of Oakridge and their vampire consorts in a race against time to discover the source of the strange anomalies affecting the earths energy field. At stake is nothing less than the future of the planet itself. Under attack from an enemy known only as the Shadow, the planet is being drawn into a downward spiral, a spiral that will lead to chaos, destruction and everlasting darkness. Only the witches and vampires have the power to find and defeat the Shadow. Only they, of all earths inhabitants, have the ability to travel in time and space, to go where others cannot travel, and seek out their nemesis. For young Sophia, newly graduated from music college, it is a journey that will change her life as she is drawn ever deeper into the search for the sinister Shadow.
This is the first book in the Oakridge series, the beginning of the journey that will take the witches and vampires to other dimensions, parallel universes, to other eras, past and future, to hidden cities, even to the very heart of the earth itself. All this because one man has a plan and his plan involves the destruction of Oakridge Wood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jun 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496982094

Book preview

2014 Barbara Jay. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 06/24/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-8208-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-8207-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-8209-4 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Disclaimer

This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, and to actual places or events, is entirely coincidental. Names, characters, places and incidents are all used fictitiously and have been created from the author’s imagination.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER ONE

Special thanks to

Imran Khan at Guruaid

whose IT expertise ensured the manuscript’s successful electronic journey to the publisher

And to

Marie Castro and Valerie Raines

at Authorhouse whose publishing expertise

turned the manuscript into this book.

CHAPTER ONE

OAKRIDGE WOOD, DARK, deep and mysterious. For aeon after aeon it had concealed its magic from curious, prying eyes.

Until now.

Goldie Willoughby was worried. Something was wrong with the way of the world, something even more dangerous than the threat to the wood. She had detected a ripple of interference disturbing what had previously been a perfectly balanced energy matrix and she had no idea what was causing it.

Goldie was a witch, a Willoughby witch, the oldest and most powerful of the witch families. Originally named Willow Bough for the willow sticks they used for dowsing, the immortal Willoughby family had protected the Earth for millennia, using their powers only when all other methods had been tried and had failed. Of one thing she was quite certain, whatever was causing this energy ripple, it had the power to push the Earth off her evolutionary path and drag her into a downward spiral.

Where were the Vampires, she wondered, they were the Overlords of the planet, charged with keeping everything running smoothly on its correct course. They must have noticed that all was not well with the Earth. They should be here.

High on the hill behind Goldie’s cottage, Hester Delaney was gazing sadly across the valley towards the wood. Hester was the wife of Sir William Delaney and mistress of Oakridge Manor. The Delaney family had lived in the mellow old house for well over a thousand years, so long they had almost lost track of how it had all begun. Over time, the house had evolved, the result of battles, fires, neglect and finally restoration until now it stood resplendent at the heart of its hillside estate, its pale stone walls gleaming golden in the evening sun. Her reverie was interrupted by the sound of her daughter, Sophia, calling her.

I’m in the bedroom darling, she called back, Stay where you are, I’ll come down. Before she could reach the door, Sophia had bounded in, her usually happy face clouded with anxiety.

I’ve just heard something awful, the whole village is up in arms about it. There’s some developer from heaven knows where planning to cut down Oakridge Wood and smother it with houses and an industrial park… . what about the lake, I used to love swimming in Crystal Lake. We have to stop it, we have to, we can’t lose the wood.

I know, I heard about it from Goldie, she’s been out information gathering. Don’t get too upset darling, I’m sure we’ll find a way to stop it somehow, Hester replied soothingly, anyway, the wood and lake used to belong to the estate once, long ago. We’ll get your father to look through those old documents he cherishes so much, he might find some covenant somewhere that forbids development. You never know, it’s worth a try.

Sophia looked unconvinced. It will take more than an old document to stop this plan, she replied, The local council have already granted planning permission, at least that’s what Sarah at the bakery said.

Go and do a web search on the construction company, if you know who it is, you might discover something interesting, said her mother.

Okay, if you think it will help. Anyway, I think there’s going to be a public meeting, the villagers are saying there are grounds to stop it, at least stall it, because there was a lack of consultation by the council. This whole thing has been cooked up behind closed doors. It’s just not right.

A lot of things aren’t right but we have to keep plodding along with damage limitation the best we can. Go and see what you can find out and I’ll sit your father down with the documents chest when he gets home. I might pop down and see Goldie later. Do you want to come?

Sophia shook her head. No thanks, I’ll come another time.

She gave her mother a hug and dashed off to get to work on her laptop. Hester watched her rush from the room, a smile of quiet satisfaction on her face. Sophia’s long chestnut brown hair had been gathered up hastily into a loose pony tail and she had a hole in the elbow of her faded sweater but her casual appearance only served to accentuate her natural beauty. Hester couldn’t resist a twinge of pride, mixed with a little anxiety. Sophia had just turned twenty-one and it was time she knew the truth of her family history. And that would change everything.

The sun was just beginning its evening descent behind the nearby hills as Hester followed the path to Goldie’s cottage, a narrow trackway, ancient and familiar. It afforded a breathtaking view across the valley, taking in Oakridge wood, the lake and the village itself, all now tinged blood red, gold and violet by the setting sun and creeping shadows. Hester thought she had never seen it look more beautiful or more mysterious.

She was grateful for the glass of homemade wine Goldie had waiting for her. It was a very warm spring evening and sparse rainfall had made the earth dry and dusty.

What have you found out? she enquired, This disturbance you mentioned, is it anything to do with the threat to the wood?

There has to be a connection, Goldie replied, but I’m not sure how significant it is. It could just be coincidence but we both know what is at the heart of Oakridge. No one is going to be allowed to interfere with that.

How do you plan to stop it? asked Hester, Sophia said the council have already granted planning permission, I can’t understand why nobody has heard anything about it until now. It’s all so sudden.

"Exactly, that’s what makes me wonder if there’s more to this than houses and supermarkets. I’m sure Dominic will have a much better idea of what is going on. Until then, I suggest we plod on with normal procedure, write the letters, go to the meeting, the usual stuff. Is Will back yet?

Hester shook her head. No, I keep trying to contact him but I can’t get a connection. Any idea where they went?

None at all, Dominic didn’t say. When something serious happens they often keep it to themselves, they don’t like worrying us unless it is really necessary. Come on, let’s top up our glasses and relax in the garden. I’m done worrying for a while.

When Dominic finally made his appearance he joined Goldie and Hester in the garden, pulling up a chair and settling comfortably with a glass of wine. He looked relaxed and at ease, as though they had nothing at all to worry about. Dominic never worried. He was an Overlord and the Overlords had the ultimate power, the gift of the Goddess. He was one of her warriors, always confident of success and here, in the West Country of England, he was the supreme leader. This was his patch of Planet Earth and he would never fail the Goddess. For the vampires, failure was not an option.

Well? enquired Goldie.

Well what? Dominic raised his glass to catch the sunlight and studied the glowing amber liquid. A fine vintage, best so far. Sixty-eight, sixty-nine?

Oh do stop messing about, said Goldie, Do you know what’s causing this ripple and do we have a plan? As for the wine, I made it last week.

Dominic ran his fingers through his dark hair, a gesture that had become habit whenever he needed to organize stray thoughts. "Of course we have a plan, several actually, but we don’t yet know what is causing the ripple. It seems that something, or someone, is definitely interfering with the grand plan.

We can make a start by supporting the local protest over the wood. Let them vent their anger. He gave a mock shudder. Suppressed anger is not good for the health. We will make sure we cover every angle, use every possible argument we can muster to convince this Minister that development is a very bad idea. If that fails, gather all your witches and summon a few extremely endangered native species. Then we can discover thriving colonies of these, as many as you can manage. That should stop it if nothing else does. Bats and butterflies usually go down well with the wildlife lobbies. We’ll go round the village and make sure everyone knows which arguments to raise."

I’m still not convinced the wood has anything to do with the ripple, replied Goldie, It’s got to be more than the wood, we all know the wood is safe, there isn’t a chainsaw on the planet that could get through the force field we’ve put around Oakridge. The whole area is protected.

"True, but we have to remember the power of thought. Intention alone can do a huge amount of damage to the Earth’s energy field. It can undo centuries of upward progress.

There are schemes like this happening all over the country, added Hester, joining the conversation.

Indeed there are, replied Dominic, and they are beginning to cause major problems. People don’t understand that open countryside is the Earth’s lifeline. She needs it to breathe, it’s also her energy source, her food supply. One day she’ll just lose patience and explode, and I wouldn’t want to be around when that happens.

Someone should say that at the meeting, suggested Goldie.

Could that really happen? asked Hester, the planet explode, I mean.

It certainly could, it’s happened before, he answered, volcanoes, earthquakes, fire, flood, mudslides, entire civilizations have been wiped out, empires that ruled the known world. Now they’re not even a memory. No one even knows they once existed but tell me, is Sophia likely to be around for this protest meeting?

She’s here for another week, then she has to return to London, it’s her final term at college before graduation.

Did she choose to study music or did you nudge her towards it? he asked.

No, it was her choice entirely, replied Hester, you must remember how good she was at music when she was a child.

Of course I do, he answered, but I’ve always wondered whether a little magic might have been used to get her into the right place at the right time. We all know how important she is.

Goldie nodded. Although frustrated at getting so little information from Dominic, she knew better than to push too hard. It was the way of the Vampire. They had brilliant minds and, when faced with a problem, they were constantly gathering information and building a matrix of interconnected links. She knew he was probing the energy fields, trying to find

Reviews for Shadow of the Witch

[aevaughn · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was interesting to read at times, but oftentimes I was not driven to keep reading the next chapter. Perhaps this was due to many of the characters not being carried through the entire novel, and thus I just didn't care what happened to some of them.

[butterflybaby_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked the story, it was complex but easy to read and follow along. For me there could have been a little more involvement and details but overall I really liked the book.

[effixioussundown · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book and to say it was a big book as in so many chapters and pages I read it quite quickly.I thoughrouly enjoyed the characters and the story line was very well written I never had to guess what was going on.I look foward to reading another book by this author.This book made me very interested in white magic herbs healing and so forth.I would recommend this book to anyone who ejoys to be intrigued,The story spans over many generations and it is nice to see the diffrences in all the diffrent societies the main character goes through all the while running and hidoing from an evil deranged lover from the past who wants her by his side and stopsw at nothing to tract her down his discises are amoungs the well hidden story plots ande scenes which makes the story all the more suspensful.

[highflyer_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

At first, this book starts out a bit slow. It's a bit strange because part of the book is told through Bess' journal. The rest of the story is told through memories. She goes back in time a lot to tell the stories of her old lives as she strives to stay away from Gideon, her immortal stalker.

[monicalynn-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This started off a little slow for me. However, turned out to be a very interesting story line. I enjoyed hearing Elizabeth's stories from old times and how she became a witch. I enjoyed the thought and hope she put into training Tegan and taking the chance and of course her consipiracy to get Gideon out of the picture. Very well written and once I caught on to what was going on it became very intriguing. I hope this continues on into a series.

[mendoza_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

With the story alternating between a contemporary setting and various points in time from the starting point of the early 1600's I found the story rather dry and not quite up to the fascinating episodes of Bess's past. The up and down quality of the present passages took away from the finale but when put with together with the entire novel I enjoyed it overall.

[mrlzbth_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Novel about a witch pursued by an evil warlock through the centuries...I thought it was pretty entertaining, even if aspects of the plot were a bit silly (the evil warlock, for example, always uses an alias that's an anagram of his name...always! The heroine, meanwhile, tries to hide by using a different variant of the name "Elizabeth" in each time period, but always pairs it with her original surname). The read felt light without being *too* fluffy.

[urbanfantasyguy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I did not find this book to fit my tastes very well. It reads very slowly in many places and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a high amount of action. However, the setting and the historical feel of the novel is very interesting and relaxing at times, so if that is the type of thing you are interested in then you should try this book.

[vividconfusion · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

To be honest, I'm not quite sure how to review "The Witch's Daughter." Was it well written? Yes. Very. It is written in a mix of the title character's Diary-like entries interspersed with storytelling from the title character's history. It is unusual, but Brackston makes it work quite handily.Was it an interesting book? Yes. The story was fairly unique, not a rehash of a familiar plot.The problem is that it was not a happy ending. It didn't end well for anyone really. The story was rather slow, but suited the material. I would have been able to look past the flaws and probably fallen in love with the book if it had a positive outcome. But...it didn't. The story is about a life filled with tragedy more than anything else. So, if you enjoy tragedies, I would recommend it to you. If you have had enough of the tragedies of our daily lives and, like I do, prefer books that have a "Happy Ever After" (or even just a "Happy-for-Now") ending, I would suggest you skip "The Witch's Daughter" until you are in the mood for a tragedy.

[dulcibelle · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed reading about Elizabeth's long life at its various points and the ending was pretty exciting, but I did get a little mad at the way it seemed she forgot that her enemy was out there (I can't be much more clear without including spoilers). After the first run in, I was able to tell who the enemy was in each scenario almost as soon as he/she was introduced. Took a little from the enjoyment of the book. But, the characters are richly developed and overall the book is an OK read.

[dragonflydee1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Witches Daughter—I enjoyed this book! Elizabeth, Bess, Eliza, Elise, all one woman’s life as a witch spanning centuries. The book gives us a history lesson in three distinct historical periods as Bess moves through life as a healer, sought after by many, but chased after by one evil force. Does she prevail in the end? You must read to find out!!! Did I love that book cover?—I sure did—wish I could walk in a pair of shoes like that!

[aelizabethj · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ehhhhhhhh. This took me much longer to get through than it should have - I mean, witches, time changes, the plague, SATAN? All things that should have been exciting but somehow just could not keep me interested. It was a chore to finish, but finish I did. 3 stars, it wasn't horrible, but it is very apparent that the author grew as a writer from this book to The Winter Witch.

[klarsenmd · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this book as part of the early reviews program on LT. I was exceptionally excited to be awarded this novel and was not dissappointed. The Witches Daughter is an elegant mix of fantasy and historical fiction with a dab of romance thrown in. The book itself is told in beautiful detail. It alternates between the first person journal entries of the protagonist, Elizabeth, a 300 plus year old witch and the third person retelling of her life since she became immortal. Elizabeth has led many lives since she was transformed by her one time teacher and current nemesis, Gideon. The reader is transported to WWI and the bloody front line, nineteenth century England and the hunt for Jack the Ripper, and the 1600's in the dark time of witch hunts, in what appear to be seperate tales, but are really the woven together history of one woman as she flees from the man/monster who created her.While initially I felt this was going to be a slow read, once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. The novel has a very literary feel to it and is in turns tragic and lovely. I felt a genuine admiration for Bess/Eliza/Elizabeth. I found her interactions to be realistic and the narrative enjoyable. I would have like to have explored Gideon more, but all in all, a book I would highly recommend.

[angelafries · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It took me a little bit to get into this book but once I did Holy crap I loved it!!!! Seriously amazing. Def made it to my "will read again" shelf.

[charlotte1162 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I did enjoy 'The Witch's Daughter', it read a bit like a movie and it was nice to have so much description within it (I do find these days that so many books neglect descriptive text in favour of action sequences!).

Although it was four stories in one based around the central character of Bess, the plot of each story was essentially the same which gave it something of a repetitive feel. Despite this, each of the stories were interesting and revolved around memorable and well-known periods of history which made it all the more interesting for me as a history graduate to add a fictional twist to historical events.

I do intend to read the next book in the series, intrigued to find out what might happen next!

[liz1564 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book and finished it in two days. It is the story of an immortal witch, born in 17th century England, and living peacefully in a village not far from her birthplace in the 21st century. The idea is intriguing. How does someone cope with immortality, the loss of loved ones, and aging five years for every hundred lived. Unfortunately, the author only touches on these topics. And herein, for me, is the nagging problem of the novel. She wrote one novel and I wanted another. My problem, not hers.It seems that Brackston wanted to write historical fiction. The most powerful parts of the novel, and by far the longest, are Bess's just living in the four periods of time covered by the novel: the present, 17th century England, London during the Ripper months, Passandale and World War One. The WWI section is particularly evocative with graphic and heart-breaking pictures of the men dying in the trenches, the futility of the battle orders, the terrible hospital conditions, the utter hopelessness. When Bess starts to use her magic, it is a jolt. What is fantasy doing in this setting? The same can be said, to a lesser degree in the section dealing with the bubonic plague and witch hunts of the 17th century and the squalid London streets and the lives of prostitutes in 1885. There is a reason for so little magical use. Bess began her magical journey as a healer, a witch who used her powers to save lives. The necessity to escape the witch hunts puts her in the power of Gideon Masters, a powerful black arts sorcerer. It is from him she receives immortality (did she know this when she began her studies? The author doesn't tell us or I missed it). When she sees him in the final ceremony fornicating with demons. she flees and he pursues her through time, following any magical trail she might leave in her wake. This is the given reason why she uses magic sparingly, to evade Gideon. She becomes a doctor, a nurse, a seller of soaps, oils, and candles moving on before anyone can question her agelessness or before Gideon can capture her.The novel is well-structured. Bess responds to a teenager who may have a healing gift. As she nurtures the lonely girl, Bess finds her own longing for companionship easing. She tells Tegan part of her history but has to resort to disneyesque parlor tricks to finally persuade the girl that magic is real. (Really! In a novel where magic is portrayed as either totally evil or a powerful healing force, the sudden appearance of dancing fairies, cute white mice, and self-pouring iced tea pitchers is really disconcerting.) One interesting aspect is Bess's mentor/pursuer. Gideon is evil. He relishes pain, suffering, is in his element on a battlefield where men are horribly mangled and dying. He is also very handsome, can be charming, and is certainly sexually alluring. The author does not change him in the novel. He suddenly doesn't begin to show empathy, doesn't start turning toward the Light. He stays bad, even if he says he loves Bess and they belong together for eternity. No redemption, no becoming a good guy for love of a good woman. Bess hates and fears him. Good for her! And good for the author for not pulling the switch and making her villain a dark hero. At least in this book.

[karenvg3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. The story grabbed my attention and and the action kept my attention. I loved how the story went back and forth to the different times and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the break up of the story with the journal entries. I can't wait to read the next one. This was my first time reading a Paula Brackston book and I am a fan. I went out and bought 3 of her other books. Happy reading!

[bnbookgirl · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Thought this was an interesting story which dabbles in witchcraft and curses. There is history mixed with a young girl in modern times. Elizabeth, the witch of the story must keep reinventing herself to stay off the radar of the man who cursed her hundreds of years earlier. There are several books by this author with similar themes and I look forward to reading those as well. I think if you are interested in Sarah Addison Allen you will like Paula Brackston as well.

[purple_pisces22 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This can be a touchy subject for me. I’ve read much about the various “witch” persecutions. I think this author did a good job keeping the dramatic effect to a minimum. I can understand the mixed reviews. I could go on and on as to my opinion why, but I won’t preach.
Parts of the story kind of made me think of Anne Rice’s Taltos.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.

[lissabeth21 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Once the story got going I really enjoyed it. The language for the first few pages was over the top and actually irritated me. I think it reminded me of how I wrote in high school/college when I was trying to sound smart and literary but wasn't worldly enough to pull it off. I was immensely relieved when this stopped and the voice of a human character emerged. The three mini-historical novels tied into a contemporary story was terrific! I may someday steal the style for an idea I've had brewing for a long time.

[marysneedle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and had me captivated from the first page. Paula Brackston is a great story teller. I am looking forward to reading more of her works.

[debra_armbruster · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I didn't like it, although this is purely my opinion. Told in a mixture of present day and flashback, _The Witch's Daughter_ is Bess Hawksmith's "Book of Shadows", chronicling her good deeds and persecutions over the span of several hundred years. Sounds pretty exciting, right? It could have been (even was in spots), but Bess, for all her magical gifts, is remarkably dense and I found her self-important "voice" utterly insufferable. Simply not my cup of tea...

[onyx95_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Following the long life of Elizabeth (Bess) Hawksmith from the 1620's to present day in a combination of narrative and journal format seemed to at times make it more difficult and confusing than it needed to be. This is a good story that I enjoyed for the most part. Seeing the highs and lows of her life and the world around her, all of the challenges she has overcome and finally the time she puts into her new apprentice. It was a struggle at times to keep focus on the story though.

[anacskie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

My ratings is actually 3.5. I borrowed the audio book from the library and I must admit that I was so mesmerized by the story because of how the narrator, Marisa Calin, read it. I do want to give it a higher rating but I did find the story predictable. Although, the life of Bess/Eliza/Eliz/Elizabeth Hawksmith was pretty interesting. Though I pity her at the same time and all the loneliness she might have felt through time. The ending was just okay for me I guess I was expecting for more action. LOL! I know for sure if I borrowed the E-book or the book itself I would get bored with this story and not finish it. That's why I'm truly glad I borrowed the audio book version because the narrator was pretty amazing in making this book more enthralling or captivating.

[robinbrz · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In the spring of 1628 young Bess Hawkesmith learns that decisions made in desperation carry consequences that last a life-time, even if that means forever. The plague has taken the lives of her father, bother and sister. When Bess falls ill her mother does the only thing she can to save her daughter. She turns to the warlock Gideon Masters, and makes a deal that will cost her her life. Once known as a talented healer she is accused of witchcraft by townsfolk who refuse to believe that Bess' miraculous recovery was the result of her skills alone. Unable to deny the accusation she meets her fate on the Hanging Tree, but not before making Bess promise that she will seek protection from the only one with the power to save her - Gideon. Under his guidance Bess learns to master the Craft, awakening powers she didn't know she had while also making her immortal. When the people of town turn their aggressions on Bess she realizes that she must escape - from the Hanging Tree and from Gideon and a his dangerous black magic. She couldn't know that he will persue her through time, determined to possess her and the power they could produce together.In present day England Elizabeth finds herself settled into a quite life. Alone she tends her gardens, and sells herbs and oils at the local market. Her solitary life is abruptly disrupted when a teenage girl called Tegan begins hanging around. Against her instincts Elizabeth takes pleasure in her company and her perceptive nature. Soon she begins teaching the ways of the hedge witch. Tegan is an eager pupil, and Elizabeth uses tales of long ago to school her in what it's like to be a witch, and how she came to be who she is today. But what of Gideon? Has he finally given up or is he just patiently waiting for an opportunity to capture Elizabeth and make her his own??It seemed fitting to read a book about witches this Halloween. I was drawn into this story right off the bat, although I did struggle a bit with the prologue. I filled it away with the hopes that it would make sense by end (it did, mostly...). There was an easy flow between the past and present as I got to know Elizabeth and Tegan. The stories from the past were interesting little vignettes that were unique on their own, but fit together to create a picture of who present day Elizabeth really is. There is a fair amount of "magic speak" that was foreign to me. Even thought I didn't understand the exact language (or words) I was able to glean enough of their meaning from the context. I suppose that's to be expected in a book about witches and magic. There are scenes of pretty graphic violence and the descriptions of some of the evil elements and even Gideon himself are quite vivid, resulting in some intense imagery. I can imagine the special effects for a movie version would be very frightening indeed!I moved quickly through the book and in no time found myself nearing the end. I had in mind how I thought things might turn out, and I saw the potential for a variety of scenarios. And while I won't tell you how it all ended, I will tell you that I was disappointed. I felt gypped. It almost seems like Ms. Brackston just wanted to be done, and went with the most cliche ending while of course leaving plenty of threads that could be picked up in a sequel.In summary I'd say it was a good book with some interesting bits of history mixed with a few different relationships, dappled with magic and wrapped up with a predictable bow. Not bad for a seasonal selection, but I won't be going out of my way to read book two should it appear!

[marionii_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Engaging tale of a woman pursued through time by the man who initiated her into witchcraft. In the present day, she meets an inquisitive teenage girl, introduces her to wicca, and they become friends. The time travel device frequently irritates me but in this tale it works, as the woman's initiation mirrors the teenager's engagement with wicca, so ultimately I was sorry it was a one-off story and not the beginning of a series.

[dbhutch_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Picked this title up from Doubleday, based on its name, and its brief description there. Time to see wht else Paula Brakston has to offer, for this was an exclllent piece of work.Written as a Book of Shadows, much like a diary, this tale chronicles the life of a witch, Elizabeth Hawksmith, from the time she was a teenage girl in 1627, through present day. It relates the tale of her family, the town and time they lived in, and how easily fear, ignorance, and lack of reason led to the persecution of witches in the times they lived in. The deaths of her father and siblings due to the plague, and how her mother was excecuted for practicing witchcreaftto save Elizabeth's life. She tells of how she took the nautral spark of magic she had in her at birth, and had a warlock, Gideon, to fully awaken her as a witch. she learned how evil he was then, and went into hiding, using her gifts only to heal.Her history takes her thru England in the time of jack the Ripper, and thru the battlefield in WWI. Woven inot her life's history is and account of her living present day, in a small village, where she thinks she can finally be safe. she meets a young girl there named Tegan. A lost and troubled girl, who finds her way into Elizabeth's heart. The problem - Elizabeth's old Ememy Gideon has found Tegan too, and using her to get to Elizabeth. After 400 years of running, can she finally face him, and save Tegan from his evil ways?

[hjjugovic · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Dangit, I already reviewed this and my review disappeared.Anywho, I read this for Early Reviewers. This kind of book is definitely my style, but this wasn't one of the greats. I understand why Bess would use an old fashioned style of language, but it felt uneven and odd and sometimes Bess's extreme dramatics were just plain funny (in an awkward, unintentional kind of way). I liked the historical detail and some of the plot points, but the bits in the present were disjointed and Bess becomes a lot less likeable rather abruptly. There were some very original parts, so I hope to see more from this author with a bit more polish.

[sdmtngirl · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It isn't the first time I've read this premise, but Paula Brackston has a writing style that draws you in and keeps you reading, even when the plot has holes, the character development could have used some work, and the twists in the plot weren't so predictable.Regardless of that - it is a good rainy-day-in-front-of-the-fire read.

[evagordon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked the timeline. Her romance with the hot Scottish soldier was too brief.