In folklore and mythology, witches have long been portrayed as mysterious and capable of casting spells and performing magic. One such story that captures the imagination is that of "The Thirteenth Witch". The tale tells the story of a coven of twelve witches who live deep within a secluded forest. These twelve witches are said to possess immense power and knowledge of dark magic. Together, they have been able to control the elements, curse their enemies, and even call upon supernatural beings for aid. However, it is believed that their power and magic comes at a great cost.
I found this to be an interesting and enjoyable read, I do have the 2nd book in the series on its way. I would say this is more of a light fantasy read and it is a really good introduction into what I think will be a good series to follow, and one I would recommend.
There is also an adjacent series of five books called A King s Watch Story which are novella length and feature one of the series other characters Vicky take one the role of principle protagonist. As a reader, you are thrown on at the deep end and fed tantalising glimpses of Conrad s past, including a mysterious voice telling him to hide the AK47 he happens to have on him after the previously alluded escapades.
However, it is believed that their power and magic comes at a great cost. According to the legend, in order to maintain their power, the twelve witches must choose a thirteenth witch to sacrifice every thirteen years. This thirteenth witch, often a young and innocent girl, is chosen based on a set of predetermined criteria.
The 13th Witch by Mark Hayden #MeAndMyBooks #review
Today I am sharing my review for The 13th Witch by Mark Hayden, and this is the first book in The King’s Watch Series. This book came to my attention during a recent Blog Tour organised by Anne at Random Things Tours.
Did you know that the gods can use mobile phones?
They can, and Odin has a message for Conrad
Conrad Clarke, former RAF pilot and alleged gangster gets a text – and a visit – from The Allfather.
Odin has a challenge for Conrad: sign up to protect England from wild magick and get a commission in the King’s Watch.
All he has to do is find a missing witch. Simple.
Conrad never could resist a challenge. Before you can say “Ragnarok”, he’s plunged into a world of gods, mages, witches, dwarves and one very aggressive giant mole.
But the witch doesn’t want to be found, and powerful mages will kill to keep her hidden. Going back isn’t an option. Going forward looks a lot like death.
Armed with nothing but a sense of humour and a willingness to cheat, Conrad has to find the Witch and save his life.
Treat yourself to a copy now and experience a whole new universe of magick. And moles…
The synopsis gives a very good idea as to what this book is about. It definitely caught my eye enough to go and buy a copy. What I discovered was a book with an eclectic mix of characters from old legend and folklore with a modern setting.
Conrad seems to take these random mythological characters in his stride, not phased by them at all. He decides to accept the mission to find a missing witch and so enters a world of magik. The mission itself appears straight forward but I felt it turned into a mission of trying to work out who to trust.
As this is the first book in the series it does have the feeling of getting to know the characters to it. There are backstories for the main characters and some of the facts about magik. It is like setting down the base for following books in the series.
As well as magik based characters there are also humans as well. These are just as interesting and I am curious to see where the story goes with them. It does have a slower pace to it, but I would expect this to a certain extent with this being the first, but it does start to pick pace in the second half of this story.
I found this to be an interesting and enjoyable read, I do have the 2nd book in the series on its way. I would say this is more of a light fantasy read and it is a really good introduction into what I think will be a good series to follow, and one I would recommend.
Image taken from Mark’s Author Page on Amazon UKMark Hayden is the pen name of Adrian Attwood. He lives in Westmorland with his wife, Anne.
He has had a varied career: working for a brewery, teaching English and being the Town Clerk in Carnforth. He is now a part-time writer and part-time house-husband.
You can find Mark on Goodreads and on the Paw Press website.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
Returning to the Mayfair clan she introduced in The Witching Hour , Rice offers another vast, transcontinental saga of witchcraft and demonism in the tradition of Gothic melodrama. The eponymous Lasher is a demon spirit who preys on female Mayfairs in his attempt to procreate. Rowan Mayfair, queen of the coven who has borne Lasher's child, has now disappeared. At times this main narrative is lost as the story moves from the Louisiana Mayfairs to the Scottish Donnelaiths and the clandestine London Telamasca society, with copious personal histories and myriad characters. Long sections ramble without a compelling point of view, and are dampened by stock elements: cliched wind storms, sexy witches, the endless supply of money the Telemasca has at its disposal. At times, Lasher is too much in evidence (rattling the china, gnashing his teeth) to be frightening. But embedded in this antique demonism is a contemporary tale of incest and family abuse that achieves resonance. It is maintained through the character of Lasher, both child and man at the same time, who manipulates his victims with his own pain. At their best, Rice's characters rise above the more wooden plot machinations with an ironic and modern complexity: Mona, the young feminist witch with sharklike business instincts; Julien, the dead patriarch, who movingly recalls his male lovers; Yuri, the clever Serbian orphan. Despite lapses into uninspired language, ultimately the novel is compelling through its exhaustive monumentality. 700,000 first printing; Literary Guild main selection. (Oct.)
Some say she must possess a certain birthmark, while others claim it is her pure and untainted soul that is sought after. Once the thirteenth witch is chosen, she is taken to the witches' coven where she undergoes a series of grueling tests and rituals. These tests are said to determine her suitability for the sacrifice. If she fails to meet the requirements, she is cast out, left to live in exile forever. However, if she passes, she is brought before the coven on the thirteenth day of the thirteenth month, where her life is sacrificed to sustain the power of the twelve witches. The legend of the thirteenth witch has been passed down through generations, captivating and terrifying audiences with its dark and mysterious allure. It has inspired countless stories, poems, and even films, each adding their own twist to the tale. Some interpretations of the story suggest that the thirteenth witch may possess the power to break the cycle and free herself and the coven from the darkness. Others believe that the sacrifice is necessary to maintain the balance between good and evil, and that by preventing it, the world would descend into chaos. Whatever the true interpretation may be, the story of "The Thirteenth Witch" continues to captivate our imaginations and remind us of the power and allure of magic and the unknown..
Reviews for "The Thirteenth Witch: An Ancient Prophecy Revealed"
1. John - 2/5 - The Thirteenth Witch was a disappointing read for me. The plot was weak and predictable, leaving no room for surprises or twists. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with them. The writing style was also lackluster, with little attention to detail or descriptive language. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied with this book.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - I can honestly say that The Thirteenth Witch was one of the worst books I have ever read. The storyline was disjointed, and the pacing was all over the place. I couldn't engage with the characters, as they were poorly developed and unrelatable. The writing itself was subpar, filled with unnecessary filler words and repetitive phrases. This book failed to capture my interest from start to finish, and I would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Mark - 2/5 - The Thirteenth Witch did not live up to the hype for me. The plot had potential, but it quickly became convoluted and confusing. The pacing was off, with long stretches of unnecessary exposition that dragged the story down. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth, making it difficult to care about their fates. The writing style was also lackluster, failing to evoke any emotional response. Overall, this book was a disappointment and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. Emily - 2/5 - The Thirteenth Witch was a letdown for me. The story was cliché and predictable, lacking originality and creativity. The characters were flat and uninteresting, making it difficult to invest in their journeys. The pacing was also an issue, with slow sections that dragged the story along. The writing was mediocre, failing to capture my attention or evoke any emotion. I was expecting more from this book, but it simply did not deliver.