Book Review: Night's Child by Cate Tiernan (Book 15 of the Sweep Series)

A Little About the Book: Twenty years ago, Morgan Rowlands was the most powerful young bloodwitch to come around in generations?making magickal discoveries, facing and conquering unimaginable evil, and surviving a devastating betrayal. Her daughter, fifteen-year-old Moira, knows there?s more to her mother?s past than she?s been told. And the secrets that lie in Morgan?s heart could destroy Moira?s entire world. When Moira learns two painful truths about her family, she begins to put the puzzle together?and realizes that someone close to her is in grave danger.

*** Book description found at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Nights-Child-Sweep-No-15/dp/0142410306/ref=pd_vtp_b_1 ***

My Review: This novel is set about twenty years in the future from the last of the series.  Morgan lost Hunter fifteen years ago, only to lose her husband, Colm, six months ago.  All Morgan has left is her daughter, Moira, and the Belwicket coven.

After nearly fifteen years of peace from threats of dark magick, Morgan finds herself once again targeted.  All signs point to another coven that had different opinions from Morgan about right or wrong, but then Morgan sees Hunter while scrying. 

Morgan's daughter, Moira, also makes a few discoveries about her mother that leaves Moira feeling betrayed and upset.  As she delves deeper into discovering her mother's past, a past that Morgan has kept hidden from her daughter in order to protect her, Moira is unable to know how she feels about it all.  She doesn't know how to accept the new truths that surface, new truths that contradict everything she thought she knew about herself and family before.  The biggest truth and most hardest to believe, for both Morgan and Moire, is that Colm wasn't Moira's father.  Moira's father is Hunter Niall- the true love of Morgan's.  Her soul mate.

To top it off, evidence shows that Hunter might still be alive.  All those years of believing him to be dead might have been false, and it's up to Morgan, Moira, and Sky to find out once and for all if Hunter is really, truly dead or alive.  A task that is not only dangerous and risky, but a task that could possibly bring them all together again.

Night's Child is by far the longest and most interesting book of the Sweep series.  I found myself totally captivated within it's pages, unable to stop reading until I had finished.  This novel is unlike the others, but it a very enticing way.  The characters were the same, but different.  It was like twenty years had really passed and changed them in ways that only life and hardships could.  It was quite intriguing to see the characters in a new light, especially Morgan.  Cate Tiernan has once again proved her talent in creating a story that is captivating and powerful.  5/5 STARS

Book Review: Full Circle by Cate Tiernan (Book 14 of the Sweep Series)

A Little About the Book:  Hunter, Morgan, and Alisa. Together the three worked to defeat the most unspeakable evil known to witches. Now the danger they face is just as deadly. But to vanquish their new foe, they must first defeat the weaknesses within themselves.

*** Book description found at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Full-Circle-Sweep-No-14/dp/0142410292/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328041811&sr=1-1 ***

My Review:  We now enter book fourteen of the Sweep series.  This time, the novel is told from the perspective of both Morgan and Hunter.

Life had seemed to be getting better for Morgan.  With the help of others, the threat of the dark wave and her biological father, Ciarnan, seemed to be over.  She could now move on with her life and work magick in the light.  But a new threat appears, this time in her dreams.

At first, Morgan believes the dreams to be just nightmares caused by stress of what's happened since she's discovered her true heritage and for the upcoming school finals, but that belief is quickly extinguished when she finds herself sleepwalking and almost walking over a cliffs edge that would surely result in her untimely death.

With the help of her boyfriend, Hunter, and her dear friends, Alyce and Bethany- all blood witches- Morgan is able to pinpoint the source behind her nightmarish dreams.  An enemy that she believed could no longer harm her, an enemy that posed enough threat that Morgan could not just ignore it.

While all this is happening to Morgan, Hunter is under quite a bit of stress as well.  Not only is he deeply worried for his beloved, Morgan, he's also had made the choice to quit the International Council of Witches.  To top it off, two witches from a coven not far from Widow's Vale comes to seek his help with a unique problem that he's not sure what to do about.

Full Circle is an interest novel.  It still has the appeal and great qualities of the previous novels, but it's at a bit slower pace then the others.  The dilemmas and struggles that Morgan and Hunter have to go through still hold the attention, but it's not like the other books.  I enjoyed the novel, but I have to say that I was expecting a bit more from it.  3/5 STARS

Book Review: Reckoning by Cate Tiernan (Book 13 of the Sweep Series)

 A Little About the Book: Alisa is still coming to terms with being a blood witch. Longing for a sense of belonging, or understanding, Alisa seeks out her mother's family. While there she finds comfort in some of the mysteries of her past, but she also uncovers danger, hostility, and fear - and she must make a choice that could change her future.

*** Book description found at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Reckoning-Sweep-No-Cate-Tiernan/dp/0142410284/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328040932&sr=8-1 ***

My Review: Reckoning, the thirteenth book of the Sweep series, is told from the perspective of Alisa Soto.  Alisa is a girl who just recently learned that she was half of a blood witch, but that's not all.  Alisa helped dismantle the dark wave that was directed towards Widow's Vale and the coven she was part of.

After having her life altered, Alisa is a little on edge, which leads her to running away from home after a fight with her father and his pregnant girlfriend.  Alisa just doesn't run away to some unknown town though, she's run away to her mother's family- a family that she's never met and knew very little about.

Alisa is accepted by most of her long lost relatives, except for her grandmother.  Her grandmother seems to be distant and cool from Alisa.

When with her mother's family, weird things start to happen.  At first, Alisa is sure that it's her uncontrollable telekintic power that is causing these incidents, but upon further investigations, she learns otherwise.  They family believe it to be the ghost of one of their ancestors, but Alisa doesn't quite believe it.  With the help of Charlie and Hunter, Alisa discovers secrets about her family's history that not only brings understanding to her, but also has the ability to thaw her grandmother's heart towards her granddaughter.

Reckoning is an outstanding novel.  It travels away from the usual focus of the series, but it only adds a unique and intriguing twist to the series.  It's quite refreshing and ensures that the series isn't dull and repetitive after so many books.  The change of perspective also keeps the book interesting with a new voice.  Cate Tiernan is a brilliant author and I look forward to reading more of her novels.  4/5 STARS

Book Review: Eclipse by Cate Tiernan (Book 12 of the Sweep Series)

A Little About the Book: Morgan knows that a dark wave of destruction is on its way. Everyone she loves is in jeopardy. So Morgan, Hunter, and a surprising new ally join together to fight a battle that will test their powers more than any of them can imagine. In this struggle of good versus evil, bright magick versus dark, who will survive to tell the tale?

*** Book description found at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Eclipse-Sweep-No-Cate-Tiernan/dp/0142410276/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327892343&sr=8-1 ***

My Review:  Eclipse is split into two perspectives- Morgan's and Alisa's, which adds an interesting twist to the novel. 

After betraying her father and refusing to join him and his coven, Morgan finds her family, friends, soul mate, and herself to be in mortal danger, for the dark wave is coming.  The dark wave is a dark spell that has the ability to wipe out entire towns, destroying all that comes across it's path. 

With the help of Rose's memoir, Hunter's father, Daniel, is able to construct a spell to dismantle the dark wave, but at the price of it taking the life of whomever were to perform the spell.  It doesn't help that as the dark wave draws near, the blood witches begin to feel weakened and ill, draining them of their magic. 

As all this is happening, another discovery is made while a life is changed.  Alisa Soto, a mere teenage girl, discovers that she's not just an ordinary girl after all.  In fact, she's half of a blood witch, with a full blood witch's power.  The perfect candidate for the spell to dismantle the dark wave.  She's witch enough to have the power to perform the spell, but all non-witch enough to withstand the negative aspects of the dark wave. 

So her training begins with Hunter's father.  The only question now is, will Alisa be able to learn the difficult spell in time to stop the dark wave from bringing mass destruction and death to Widow's Vale or will they all fail and have their lives snuffed out before they really had the chance to live them?

Eclipse is an intriguing novel in the Sweep series. Once again, Morgan finds her life to be in danger from magickal means.  The love, betrayal, self-discovery, power, and danger that fills the pages of this novel are cleverly written as they are enchanting.  This novel brings new twists and turns into the series, still able to hold the attention after eleven previous novels.  4/5 STARS

Book Review: Origins by Cate Tiernan (Book 11 of the Sweep Series)

A Little About the Book: The chronicle of the deadly Woodbane conspiracy—as told by one of Morgan’s own ancestors—has fallen into Hunter’s and Morgan’s hands. Hunter and Morgan explore the world of these powerful witches, to find a way to vanquish them at last.

*** Book description found at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Origins-Sweep-No-Cate-Tiernan/dp/0142410268/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327704892&sr=8-1 ***

My Review:  Origins starts out with the return of Hunter, a fact that both excites and scares Morgan Rowlands.  She's missed Hunter very much, but she can't stop picturing the image of Hunter arguing passionately with another woman when Morgan had scried for him.  With Hunter's return, comes a memoir of Rose MacEwan, creator of the dark wave and ancestor to Morgan.  The book continues on from Rose MacEwan's perspective. 

Rose is seventeen years old and living in a time when witches were hung for practicing their craft.  Rose's mother, Sile, is the high priestess of their coven and demands that her coven practice in complete stealth.  Rose is not only a blood witch, but also a Wodebayne- part of the seven clans, the most despised of the clans. 

The coven members find injustices dealt to them from the other clans, and they grow tired of it, but Sile firmly believes they should do nothing in return.  A fact that doesn't abide by some of the coven members who are being attacked.

As Rose is at her alter, she meets a boy that she falls for at first sight.  A feeling that is requited by the boy, Diarmuid.  They have to hide their love from their families for they boy come from different clans, a fact that wouldn't be a problem, except for that Rose is a dreaded Wodebayne, but that doesn't stop the two from sneaking around to see each other.  As their passion grows stronger, Rose finds herself with child.  A blessing from the Goddess.  Once Rose pressures Diarmuid for marriage, he stops coming to see her.  His ignorance bring Rose to travel to his hometown to discover that he's betrothed to another.

At first Rose believes their is a mistake and as soon as Diarmuid learns of their child that rested within Rose's womb, he would see the error of his ways and return to her.  This leads to a confrontation with his betrothed that starts a war between the two girls, a war that harms not only themselves, but others as well.

Rose is declared a witch and to be put to death, even though she is pregnant.  On the eve of her execution, Rose learns the true colors of Diarmuid and her love for him dies, but the pain and hurt she feels only fuels her anger and hunger for vengeance.  Thus, the birth of the dark wave.  A spell that is so destructive and dark, it has the power to wipe out a whole town.

Origins is a great addition to the Sweep series.  It holds the power and enchantments of the other novels, but it also sheds light on the creation of the dark wave, along with how some witches would succumb to the temptation of the dark aspects of magic.  The bittersweet love of Rose MacEwan and the injustices and prejudices against her clan will entrap you as she tells you her story.  4/5 STARS

Book Review: Caprice by Edward Aubry (ARC)

Where I received this book: I received this book (ebook format) from a contest hosted by LibraryThing in the Member's Giveaway. 

My Review:  From the first chapter of Caprice, I was captivated.  Edward Aubry has created a novel that is quite original.  This novel is full of twists and turns that keeps you on your toes and holds your attention from start to end.  The characters are unique and really ignite the story in a blaze.  I couldn't stop reading until I was finished.  I hope that their is a sequel to this novel, for it ended too soon and at such a cliffhanger.  4/5 STARS

Book Review: Seeker by Cate Tiernan (Book 10 of the Sweep Series)

A Little About the Book: Hunter is reunited with his father, who vanished years before. But Hunter doesn’t find his childhood hero—instead he finds a dark and shadowy version of the man he once knew.

*** Book description found at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Seeker-Sweep-No-Cate-Tiernan/dp/014241025X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327128411&sr=8-1 ***

My Review:  Hunter is about to leave Widow's Vale in search of his parents who he recently discovered were living in a small town that resided in Canada.  Hunter doesn't know what to expect to find after eleven years of not seeing them, but he can't fight the urge to see them.  This is what he's been waiting for since the day they had left.  He wanted nothing more to see them, except for having Morgan Rowlands join him on the trip, but he knew that was very unlikely.  Morgan was only seventeen and her adoptive parents would never allow it.  So Hunter finds himself having to make the journey, that might change his life forever, alone.

Once reaching the town that his sources said his parents lived, Hunter couldn't have been prepared for what met him.  Not only does he find out that his mother had died a few months before, he also finds a shell of the man he once knew to be his father.  Hunter can't believe the way his father had been living for the last few months.  It's was just too upsetting for Hunter to see. 

His father's living conditions is nothing compared to the secret that Hunter unlocks about his father.  A secret that puts Hunter in a awkward position as a seeker for the witches' council. 

Along with having to take care of his father, the council has a mission for Hunter to complete.  There's a witch collecting true names of living things that must be stopped.  Justine Courceau wasn't what Hunter expected when the council had sent him to investigate.  She was beautiful, intelligent, and enticing.  Hunter believed that with a bit of persuasion, he could educate Justine in the harm of collecting the true names of living things.  What Hunter didn't realize was that Justine didn't want to be educated.  She didn't see how keeping true names was wrong and didn't believe the council had any right to dictate what was right and wrong for witches. 

Even though Hunter had put all his faith and trust into the council, he began to discover that the council might not be as innocent as it claimed to be.  Especially after he find out that they kept the secret of his parents whereabouts from him when his mother had still been alive. 

He now had some important choices to make about who he was and what he was going to do, especially after just gaining a new enemy who he had humiliated and scared.

The tenth book of the Sweep series is written from another perspective- Hunter's perspective.  It's was quite intriguing to hear things through Hunter's insight.  I found it quite entertaining to learn that Hunter isn't as sure and centered as Morgan sees him.  In the previous books, Hunter is reserved and dignified, but in this book, you get to see a side of Hunter that no one else sees.  It's refreshing as it's enticing.  The suffering that Hunter goes through after discovering his father is heart-breaking.  He had waited eleven years to see his parents, only to be disappointed with what he finds.  The determination to help his father is endearing and touching, especially while enduring the emotional turmoil that he feels during the whole adventure. 

Seeker is an outstanding novel in the Sweep series.  I found myself captivated within it's pages and couldn't put it down until I had finished.  Definitely worth the time of reading.  5/5 STARS

What I Received.....

This year for Christmas I received the book 'I Am Number Four' by Pittacus Lore from my friend, Danielle (author of the blog: http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspot.com/ )  (If you read this, Danielle, THANK YOU!!!!)

Book Review: Strife by Cate Tiernan (Book 9 of the Sweep Series)

A Little About the Book: Frightening things are happening when Morgan is around. Books are flying, lightbulbs are exploding, and no one knows the cause. Morgan’s friends think she’s the cause of this strange activity. How can she prove she’s not to blame?

*** Book description found at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Strife-Sweep-No-Cate-Tiernan/dp/0142410241/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326990345&sr=8-1 ***

My Review:  Morgan struggles to keep both her old life and her wicca life, while losing neither one, but it gets harder and harder to do so when she's in constant danger.  Not only does she have to worry about keeping her powers under control and not using them in ways that would be consider dangerous, she also has to worry about dark witches coming after her. 

In order to help Morgan, the Witches Council sends a healer named, Erin, to assist in helping Morgan learn to defend herself against dark magic.  But Erin doesn't get much of a chance to teach Morgan anything.  Not when it appears that Morgan's magic is having uncontrollable outbursts that results in objects flying around the room and bookcases collapsing down on people.  Morgan doesn't believe it's her, but who else could it be?  She first believes it's her father, Ciaran, but the council says he's in Spain and that telekinesis needs proximity.  When everyone becomes scared of the uncontrollable magic, especially Alisa,  Erin convinces Morgan that they have no choice but to bind Morgan's powers, at least until she learned better control.  When her power's have been bound, Morgan feels hollow and has a constant headache that won't go away.  She feels incomplete.

When uncontrollable magic still continues to go on, even after Morgan's power has been bound, Erin and witch's council have no choice but to think it from another source- Ciaran.  After unbinding Morgan's power, Erin leads the group in a spell that she learned from a dark magic book, but desperate times call for desperate measures. 

The spell works and Ciaran is captured by the seekers, but something unexpected happens.  Objects are still moving without cause.  Morgan tries to think that it's just a coincidence, but in the world of magic there is one thing that you learn- there are no coincidences. 

Morgan doesn't have much time to dwell on the matter, because she learns that Hunter, the love of her life- her soul-mate, is leaving for Canada in search of his parents.  A fact that scares her completely, because she's not certain that he'll ever come back.

Strife is the ninth book to the Sweep series by Cate Tiernan.  It's just as powerful and intriguing as the previous books.  The life of Morgan Rowlands is captivating as it's enchanting.  This novel will put your detective skills to the test to discover the mystery of what really is happening to the characters.  4/5 STARS

Book Review: Changeling by Cate Tiernan (Book 8 of the Sweep Series)

A Little About the Book: When Morgan receives a shocking revelation about her family, she’s thrown into a moral tailspin, believing that her essential nature is evil. Is her dark heritage too powerful to overcome?

*** Book description found at Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Changeling-Sweep-No-Cate-Tiernan/dp/0142410233/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325813625&sr=8-2 ***

My Review:  Morgan Rowlands has just broken up with her boyfriend, Hunter, after discovering that her father was evil and the reason for her mother's death.  Morgan is convinced that if she has such an evil, corrupted father, then she must be tainted and would only harm those who come in contact with her. 

As Morgan is moping around the house, she gets a surprise visit from one of the council members who have a dangerous task for her.  They want her to get to close to her father in order to learn his evil plans to stop his coven from calling on the dark wave to wipe out another coven.  Morgan knows that this task could be the end to her life, especially since her father had already tried to destroy her soul in New York, but people she cares about are in grave danger if she refuses.  She has no choice, not if she wants to keep those that she cares about safe.

In order to get in touch with her father, Morgan seeks at her half-brother, Killian.  She tricks Killian into getting their father to come to town and Morgan does her best to gain each of their trust, while the whole time she's trying to resist the temptation of performing dark magic and becoming emotionally close to her father and brother. 

Changeling is an intriguing addition to the Sweep series.  The power, deceit, manipulation, temptation, love, and sacrifices that fill the pages are intoxicating.  As Morgan struggles with the task set before her, she also struggles with the inner turmoil of never straying from the path of light.  Cate Tiernan has done an outstanding job with the series and I can not wait to continue.  4/5 STARS

Drawing: Eagle