Review - Witch Heart

Title: Witch Heart
Author: Anya Bast
Publication Date: 2009
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: DNF
Sensuality: Hot

Witch Heart is book three of Anya Bast's Elemental Witch series. Claire is a human that has been living as a handmaiden to a demon in another world Eudae, since she was six years old. After Thomas, head of the Chicago witch coven accidentally went through the portal and found himself in Eudae, Claire helped him to escape back to Earth (Book 2, Witch Blood). Claire's demon gifts her with a powerful magical weapon, the Elium which is attached to her core magic. She goes through the portal to Earth because she is being hunted by other demons who will kill her to get the Elium. When Claire arrives on Earth she meets up with Thomas's coven. Thomas assigns Adam, a fire witch, to protect her while they work on a solution to detach the Elium from Claire without killing her.

Okay, Witch Heart was the book I was referring too that sparked the poll on whether or not I should review a book that I was unable to finish. Many of you expressed an interest in hearing why I was unable to finish it and so I will give it my best shot, even though it has been two weeks since I attempted to read it. I did manage to read 200 pages out of 300.

Basically, the problem I had with the book was that there was so much potential for intricate world building, by showing how Claire had to adapt from going from the culture on Eudae to Earth. Unfortunately, there were just brief snippets of information that barely scratched the surface. The book definitely would have benefited and would have been more interesting if this aspect would have been better developed.

Another thing that really bothered me, was that both Adam and Claire were constantly internalizing every thought they had. It wasn't so much what I would call mental lusting, but more of just an internal monologue of their thoughts about the other person and any issues they had - and they did have issues. Adam's issues ranged from dealing with his new feelings for Claire and his old feelings for his dead wife. Claire had issues with having the Elium inside her and not wanting other people around her to get hurt, plus she didn't know how to deal with her attraction to Adam either. All these issues, instead of moving the book forward, seemed to stall the momentum of the plot and it made for some very boring reading. I think the main problem for me was my own expectations and unfortunately, Witch Heart didn't live up to them.

Here is what others had to say:

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Review - Midnight's Bride

Title: Midnight’s Bride
Author: Sophia Johnson
Publishing Date: October 2007
Genre: Medieval
Rating: DNF (Did Not Finish)
Sensuality: DNF

Netta is the daughter of Baron Wycliffe, who is a cruel father who wants to marry Netta off to the first husband he can find. Netta has been doing a good job of scaring away her suitors by any means possible. Meet Mereck of Blackthorn; who is a Welsh barbarian, nicknamed Baresark. It is said he becomes an animal when enraged on the battlefield. Mereck comes to castle Wycliffe, and meets Netta. She ends up on a trip to Caer Caldwell with her friend Elise and Mereck is their escort.

This is all the summarizing I am going to do because it is very confusing and, ultimately, I did not finish this book. I only made it half way through before I finally gave up. It is very hard to follow this story with all of the characters involved. I could not keep track of who was from where and how they all were tied into the story. On top of all that, the characters all seem very one-dimensional. Netta is sickeningly sweet and naive. Mereck is the typical dominant male, walking around thinking “mine, mine, mine” when it came to Netta. Also, Netta has the stereo-typical “Eeevil Father”. You know the one who beats her and is willing to marry her off to another “Eeevil Villian” just so he can be rid of her and have more wealth. My overall impression of this book is boring, boring, boring with confusion mixed in.