The Magical Elements of Nora Roberts' Dark Witch Trilogy

Nora Roberts is well-known for her ability to weave enchanting tales, and The Enchanting Tales of the Dark Witch is no exception. This collection of stories takes readers on a captivating journey into a world where magic and love intertwine. The first story, "The Dark Witch," introduces readers to Iona Sheehan, a young woman with a hidden past who travels to Ireland in search of her destiny. As she delves into her ancestral roots, she discovers that she comes from a long line of powerful witches. With the help of her newfound family and friends, Iona must embrace her own magical abilities to battle an ancient evil that threatens their way of life. In the second story, "Shadow Spell," Roberts introduces Connor O'Dwyer, a man deeply connected to the magical world.

In the second story, "Shadow Spell," Roberts introduces Connor O'Dwyer, a man deeply connected to the magical world. As Connor and his sister Branna prepare to face an old enemy, a forbidden passion begins to bloom between Connor and Meara, a spirited horse trainer. Together, they must confront their fears and harness their powers to protect their loved ones and the balance of magic.

Magic Heat & Stove heating issuses

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Matt KH

New Member

I purchased a new stove this year. I have a 2200 square-foot house it won't heat my house above 65. It's a US 2000 stove model it should be heating 2000 square feet. We are burning seasoned oak maple and Elm. It's in a finished basement with an open stairwell beside it. It was suggested to get a magic heat reclaimer. I'm torn about the heat reclaimer should I get one or replace the stove? If new stove do you have any recommendations? I live in Minnesota.

jatoxico

Minister of Fire

Hey Matt welcome aboard. Magic heat reclaimers have a bad rep around here since they remove heat from your stack that is needed to keep exhaust going up and out w/o causing creosote to deposit.

Is the basement getting warm and you can't get the heat where you want or no heat at all. No heat can be the fact that basements can suck heat endlessly but can also be due to lousy wood.

Basic first question; How long has your wood (what kind) been cut split and stacked (CSS)?

Matt KH

New Member

Some of the wood is a year some of it is only 10 months all split and stack nicely. My basement can get up to 69 and the upstairs would be at 65. I didn't know if it's because I got the stove from tractor supply and it says it can heat 2000 square-foot so I thought it be fine for the size of my house.

fossil

Accidental Moderator

Magic Heat is junk you don't want.

Wood stoves are space heaters. Getting any of the heat upstairs from a basement is tough.

An uninsulated basement will suck up more heat than your stove can put out.

Your wood is certainly not optimal.

Lopi Liberty in the house, Century Hearth FW240007 in the workshop. Bunch of other junk. You don't really care anyway.

jatoxico

Minister of Fire

Some of the wood is a year some of it is only 10 months all split and stack nicely. My basement can get up to 69 and the upstairs would be at 65. I didn't know if it's because I got the stove from tractor supply and it says it can heat 2000 square-foot so I thought it be fine for the size of my house.

So does the wood sizzle from the ends on startup and reload?

begreen

Mooderator

I purchased a new stove this year. I have a 2200 square-foot house it won't heat my house above 65. It's a US 2000 stove model it should be heating 2000 square feet. We are burning seasoned oak maple and Elm. It's in a finished basement with an open stairwell beside it. It was suggested to get a magic heat reclaimer. I'm torn about the heat reclaimer should I get one or replace the stove? If new stove do you have any recommendations? I live in Minnesota.

Matt, welcome. The Magic Heat is not a solution for a modern stove. If your US 2000 is not heating the house well there could be several explanations. It could be the house is poorly insulated and leaky, it could be the stove is too small, it could be that the stove location is poor, or it could be that the wood is not dry. Modern stoves want fully seasoned wood.

I suspect you are dealing with two situations. One is the basement. The stove is an area heater. Heating remotely from a basement is hard. A lot of the heat is lost right through the basement walls and heat is often only able to migrate upstairs via a narrow stairwell. The other issue is the wood. Oak takes at least a couple years to season. At one year it is still damp which cools the fire.

PE Alderlea T6, Jotul F602
The most important tool in the wood burning process and the largest variable is the one that is running the stove.

branchburner

Minister of Fire

My basement can get up to 69 and the upstairs would be at 65. I didn't know if it's because I got the stove from tractor supply and it says it can heat 2000 square-foot so I thought it be fine for the size of my house.

That stove is a not-too-big 1.9 cu ft, which CAN heat 2000 sq ft, but maybe not in MN. that's why they say "up to" 2000 sq ft.

I'm not surprised that upstairs is only 65, for the reason a stove is a space heater, but am surprised the stove is only heating a finished basement to 69. So in addition to the wood not being optimal, it may be also that your flue setup in not optimal, either. Is it a six-inch pipe top to bottom, or a clay liner?

You are not getting the most out of that stove, even though you may indeed need a larger stove (or one upstairs) to get all the output you want. I would second the opinion that you may not be getting the secondary combustion that stove is designed to get, with two-year wood and an optimal flue setup.

Woodstock Ideal Steel (Jotul F600 & Harman Oakwood '07 currently retired, Absolute Steel beta tester))
CUT: Echo(s) CS-590/310/3450 -- SPLIT: Ariens 22-ton & Fiskars 28"/36" -- HAUL: Kubota L3800

"All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed." - Montaigne

ddahlgren

Minister of Fire

I purchased a new stove this year. I have a 2200 square-foot house it won't heat my house above 65. It's a US 2000 stove model it should be heating 2000 square feet. We are burning seasoned oak maple and Elm. It's in a finished basement with an open stairwell beside it. It was suggested to get a magic heat reclaimer. I'm torn about the heat reclaimer should I get one or replace the stove? If new stove do you have any recommendations? I live in Minnesota.

The question I have is who finished the basement and how did they do it? My biggest question is how did they insulate it? I would peek behind electrical covers and see what it looks like. If it is 2X4s with R19 and no vapor barrier and no gap between the foundation and studs it is going to take a lot to heat it.

As a point of reference my carriage house / shop has a radiant floor heat.24 X 32 with 6 inches of concrete sitting on top of 6 mil poly and 3 1/2 inches of high density foam along with 800 ft of pex tubing rebar etc. When it was built the heat was not done until Dec. 1 and it took 24 hours with a 70k btu net boiler to get it to temperature and it never stopped or went off on high limit. So that is around 56000 lbs. of well insulated floor for the floor to be heated before the room gets heated.

2 of the greatest kids in the world
Avalon Pendleton 790 1.3 cu. ft.
3 ex wives all enjoying my retirement
a shop full of manufacturing equipment being taxed to death

Product Note: May be used with coal burning stoves as long as there is a natural draft present

The final story, "Blood Magick," delves into the life of Branna's childhood friend, Finbar Burke. Faced with a darkness that has haunted him for years, Fin must confront his own inner demons and find the strength to embrace the love that has always been within reach. As Fin and his chosen mate, Branna, uncover the secrets of their shared past, they must come to terms with their destinies as they fight to protect their world from an ancient evil. Throughout The Enchanting Tales of the Dark Witch, Nora Roberts expertly combines elements of magic, romance, and adventure into a spellbinding narrative. As readers journey through each story, they will be captivated by the intricate world-building, the deeply layered characters, and the powerful themes of love and destiny. In these enchanting tales, Roberts reminds us that magic can be found in the most unexpected places and that the strength of love can overcome even the darkest of evils. With her signature storytelling prowess, she invites readers to believe in the power of the unseen and to embrace their own magical potential. The Enchanting Tales of the Dark Witch is a must-read for fans of Nora Roberts, as well as anyone who enjoys a captivating blend of magic and romance. These enchanting tales will transport readers into a world where anything is possible, where love and magic reign supreme, and where destiny is waiting to be fulfilled..

Reviews for "The Evocative Setting of Nora Roberts' Dark Witch Trilogy"

1. Sandra - 2/5

I had high hopes for "The Enchanting Tales of the Dark Witch" by Nora Roberts, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The story started off promisingly, with the introduction of an intriguing magical world, but as the plot progressed, I found it to be predictable and cliché. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult for me to connect with them. Additionally, I felt that the pacing of the book was off, with certain scenes dragging on unnecessarily while others were rushed. Overall, I was disappointed with this novel and it didn't leave a lasting impression on me.

2. Mark - 1/5

"The Enchanting Tales of the Dark Witch" was a complete disappointment. The story felt like a rehashed version of countless other fantasy novels, lacking originality and freshness. The writing style was mediocre at best, with clunky dialogue and bland descriptions. The characters were two-dimensional and their motivations felt contrived. Moreover, the world-building was underdeveloped, leaving many aspects of the magical realm unexplored and untouched. Overall, I found this book to be a tedious read and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating fantasy tale.

3. Emily - 2/5

I was excited to dive into "The Enchanting Tales of the Dark Witch", but sadly, it didn't live up to the hype for me. The plot was predictable and lacked any real surprises or twists. The romance in the story felt forced and lacked chemistry, making it difficult for me to invest in the relationship between the characters. Furthermore, the pacing of the book was slow, making it a struggle to get through. While I appreciated the overall concept of the magical world, I found the execution to be lacking, with shallow world-building and a lack of depth. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed by this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.

The Powerful Women of Nora Roberts' Dark Witch Series