In the mystical and enchanting land of Avaloria, there lived an amiable magician named Merlin. With his long white beard and twinkling blue eyes, he captivated the hearts of both young and old. Merlin was known for his extraordinary powers and ability to create wonders from thin air. One day, while strolling through the vibrant gardens of Avaloria, Merlin stumbled upon a peculiar rose. Its petals were a deep shade of purple, unlike any other flower he had ever seen. Intrigued, Merlin leaned in closer to inspect the unique blossom when suddenly, a gust of wind blew through the garden, whispering eerie incantations.
Regardless, I truly was excited to see Oliver, so I was perhaps too easily convinced.
After all, she s hardly the first Haxahaven pupil over forty, and her magical education wasn t finished when she ran away with my father at eighteen. We ve been working on object manipulation for the past few weeks, and moving on to elemental magic has become one of my favorite things about being a teacher.
Intrigued, Merlin leaned in closer to inspect the unique blossom when suddenly, a gust of wind blew through the garden, whispering eerie incantations. Unbeknownst to Merlin, this rose held a powerful curse, cast by an evil sorceress who sought to bring chaos and darkness to Avaloria. The curse would bind Merlin's magic, rendering him helpless and weak.
The Witch Hunt (The Witch Haven #2) by Sasha Peyton Smith #bookreview #YA #fantasy
The lush and pulse-pounding sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Witch Haven follows Frances and her fellow witches to the streets of Paris where family secrets, lost loves, and dangerous magic await.
Months after the devastating battle between the Sons of St. Druon and the witches of Haxahaven, Frances has built a quiet, safe life for herself, teaching young witches and tending the garden within the walls of Haxahaven Academy. But one thing nags; her magic has begun to act strangely. When an opportunity to visit Paris arises, Frances jumps at the chance to go, longing for adventure and seeking answers about her own power.
Once she and her classmates Maxine and Lena reach the vibrant streets of France, Frances learns that the spell she used to speak to her dead brother has had terrible consequences—the veil between the living and the dead has been torn by her recklessness, and a group of magicians are using the rift for their own gain at a horrifying cost.
To right this wrong, and save lives and her own magical powers, Frances must hunt down answers in the parlors of Parisian secret societies, the halls of the Louvre, and the tunnels of the catacombs. Her only choice is to team up with the person she swore she’d never trust again, risking further betrayal and her own life in the process.
It’s not often that I like a sequel better than the first book, but it happened with The Witch Hunt.
I wasn’t crazy about main character Frances in The Witch Haven. She seemed to have no problem asking others to take risks without considering the consequences for them. In this followup, months have passed, Frances has matured, and now she’s worried more about her friends than herself. When her magic begins acting strangely, Frances is naturally very concerned – especially since she teaches at a school for witches. When an opportunity to visit Paris presents itself, she jumps at the chance. Besides finding a solution to the problems with her powers, she has a more personal reason for the journey.
The strong friendship between Frances, Lena, and Maxine was one of my favorite things about the first novel, and it continues to top the list with this sequel. Maxine stole my heart with her snarky comments. Oliver, Frances’s boyfriend, has been attending school in Paris, so she’s also excited to be reunited with him. And he’s such a sweetie – totally supportive of Frances in every way.
It’s no secret that Finn is reintroduced. He betrayed Frances in a horrible way, but still believes they’ll be together and he can persuade her to forgive him. Honestly, he had some pretty good moments, and it wouldn’t be the first time a “villain” redeems himself. Turns out the spell Finn and Frances cast to talk to her dead brother in the prior book had some serious repercussions. The veil between the living and the dead is open, strange things are afoot, and power-hungry people are taking advantage of it. Someone has to close the veil, and it’s not going to be easy – or accomplished without a few dead bodies along the way.
I really enjoyed the 1913 Paris setting – I love this time period, and the high stakes kept me flipping the pages. Although some reviewers aren’t happy with the ending, it felt right to me. But I admit to thinking about it a couple days before I decided.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I’m mostly joking, but the prospect of spending six days floating out at sea has my stomach turning.
As he plucked the rose, the curse took effect, spreading through his veins like venom. Slowly, Merlin's once vibrant magic started to fade. Simple spells he once performed effortlessly became a struggle. Each whisper of an incantation felt like an eternity, draining him of his strength. The amiable magician was devastated, knowing he had lost his ability to help and protect the people of Avaloria. Desperate to break the curse, Merlin embarked on a journey to find the sorceress who had cursed him. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months as he tirelessly searched for a solution. Along the way, he encountered wise wizards, ancient texts, and magical creatures, all offering fragments of hope. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Merlin found the sorceress in a hidden cave deep within the enchanted forest. With trembling hands, he confronted her, pleading for the curse to be lifted. The sorceress cackled, reveling in Merlin's misery, but agreed to reverse the curse under one condition. She demanded that Merlin sacrifice his most treasured possession – his beloved wand. Reluctantly, Merlin handed over the wand that had been his faithful companion for centuries. In that moment, the sorceress uttered a counter-spell, freeing Merlin from the curse that had plagued him for so long. As soon as the curse was broken, Merlin felt a surge of magic coursing through his veins once again. Rejuvenated and stronger than ever, he realized that true power came not only from his magic but from the love and support of those around him. Returning to Avaloria, Merlin was hailed as a hero, his name spoken with reverence and admiration. He realized that the curse had not only taken away his magic but had also opened his eyes to the importance of the connections he had forged throughout his life. From that day forward, Merlin vowed to use his powers for good, to protect Avaloria and its people from harm. His kind and amiable nature remained, but now coupled with a fierce determination to never let evil triumph. And so, the tale of the amiable magician cursed from a rose became a legend in Avaloria, reminding everyone of the strength that lies within and the power of love and friendship to overcome even the most powerful of curses..
Reviews for "The Eternal Symbol: The Significance of the Rose in the Amiable Magician's Curse"
1. Samantha - 2 stars - I found "Amiable magician curse from a rose" to be extremely confusing and lacking in cohesiveness. The plot jumps around without much explanation and the characters were poorly developed. I struggled to stay engaged throughout the book and ultimately felt let down by the promising premise. The writing style was also not to my taste, as it seemed disjointed and lacked flow. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book.
2. Michael - 1 star - "Amiable magician curse from a rose" was a complete disappointment for me. The story was convoluted and didn't make much sense. It seemed like the author was trying to be overly clever with the plot twists, but it came across as forced and contrived. The dialogue was also cringe-worthy, with unnatural phrasing and awkward exchanges. I had high hopes for this book, but it fell far short of my expectations.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I struggled to connect with any of the characters in "Amiable magician curse from a rose". They felt flat and lacked depth, making it hard for me to invest in their stories. The pacing was also off, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed and confusing action sequences. The ending was unsatisfying and left many loose ends. I was disappointed by this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. Mark - 3 stars - While "Amiable magician curse from a rose" had an interesting concept, the execution fell flat for me. The writing style was overwrought and overly descriptive, making it hard to stay engaged. The world-building was promising but not fully fleshed out, leaving many unanswered questions. The pacing was also inconsistent, with moments of excitement followed by long lulls. Overall, I didn't hate this book, but I can't say I enjoyed it either.