Season of the Witch

The search for enlightenment is actually like an addiction: The drug that enslaves us is the shadow itself.
~Akron, The H.R. Giger Tarot

It takes just 395 pages to fully explore the world that Gabriel Blackstone is spelled into but only one page to want to explore it. Every time you pick this book up it will captivate you and transport you to a perfectly peaceful place to watch the serene chaos that unfolds.

There are very few books that can be placed in the same level as Season of the Witch. Those that stand on the same shelf will always hold a candle of a different colour because, although they may be written just as well, the only similarity you will find is their extreme originality.

This book is written like its supposed to be a movie. Natasha gives the reader plenty of detail to picture each scene and circumstance but does so in a way that you can't really picture yourself there. It's almost like you're a wandering spirit looking in on someone else's life.

The prologue gives an excellent insight to how this story will unfold, writing style and all. The weight of each situation is so light you wouldn't believe the true darkness of what was happening; you feel almost anesthetized , so very relaxed. Then, no matter what is being told or described, its done in a very thorough and detailed way so as to highlight its true nature. It's because of this skill that Natasha possesses that we are able to see the beauty in the most unusual of places.

Season of the Witch is a rush of emotion that takes you to a world not many have explored. It's beautiful, dangerous, informative, hindering, peaceful and exciting but more than that, it's painfully seductive and erotic. Natasha combined all these things to create the perfect hypnotizing spell.

Stealing Bradford

It's the continuation to the first Carter House Girls book, Mixed Bags and Stealing Bradford is exactly what gets the plot moving and conflicts heated. If you've read Mixed Bags then you'll know that Bradford is Rhiannon's boyfriend; and you also know what kind of person Taylor Mitchell is.

The risen conflicts in this story show people's true colours and sides of people you've never seen before. DJ's exploration of her new-found faith leads her to shoking discoveries about Taylor and Casey! (dun dun DUUUUUNNNNN)

I liked this book because it explored issues teens face today, in their life and their faith. but doesn't leave you hanging; she always gives you a solution. This book will make you realize how paying it is to be nice to people...especially your enemies!

A Passion Denied

***FOR THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THIS BOOK SCROLL DOWN THE PAGE***

We've finally reached the end of «The Daughters of Boston»! :( It wasn't nearly as sad as I thought it was going to be, nor was it as frustrating either. For me they got easier to read; I guess because I was expecting the others to be just as frustrating as the first. Don't get me wrong, they were (which is what makes them really good), but I was just better equiped to handle it this time around.

In this final installement we follow the life of Elizabeth «Lizzie» O'Connor as she tries to soften the heart of her long time mentor, friend and brother-in-Christ, John Morrison Brady. The wrong decisions were made (many, many times), judgements were passed, secrets were revealed and lives were changed forever. Julie Lessman put just as much passion in this book as she did in the others.
These books have always had a profound effect on me but none more than this one. The passion John has for God and the way He turned his life around was amazing! In a way I also have a John Brady in my life, although I don't love him that way, he's still important in my walk with God.

I just want to thank Julie for an awe inspiring series and I want to let you guys know that she's coming out with another series June 2010. This 3-book series covers the lives of Katie, then Sean, then Steven. EXCITING news I know!

Pieces of You~the review~

Tablo would compete with Jeffrey Overstreet in the poetic department. His seemingly somewhat autobiographical stories are just brimming with emotion. To me, all the narratives held an underlying sadness to them. People say you can feel a musician's emotion through his music; I could feel it through his words.

The events in each story told of some struggle whether it was self-inflicted, adopted or passed on. I, personally, wasn't able to realate with any of the characters experience-wise, but on more of a base emotional level.

Tablo seemed to exude a longingness for something better. It made my stomach churn with emotion and sympathy as I read. I'm still amazed at how perfectly these 10 experiences, seemingly unrealted, were as connected as the world around us.

Tablo is a diamond in the ruff when it comes to writing. He has a rare talent to tell a tale that makes you feel a slew of emotions; sadness and depression being only a few. But then, how does he open that part of you you never knew you had? He makes you think, question and analyze youself, everyone and everything around you.

I'm almost certain that is what he would have wanted his readers and fans to experience considering the lyrics of his band, Epik High's album "Remapping the Human Soul". This book was like a poem, made to be interpreted as you see fit.

Slices of time, silent and gentle.

Yet, an intense emotional strom brews within.

Concisely written, but written with deep warmth.

Breathtakingly painful in its beauty.

Tablo is an admirable writer.

~Lee Juck (Musician, Author of )

It's the time for fireworks!!!

Happy Canada Day all you Canadians!!!!!!! I hope you enjoy all the BBQs, fireworks, parties and the like. For all those who are working during the summer, hopefully you take advantage of the day off :P

As for the Americans, I want to wish them a happy 4th of July!!! It's funny, I can't say July 4th ever again because of this holiday :P I know you guys do it up good. Enjoy the holiday, eat lots and celebrate till you're too tired to move. That's what the fireworks are for!

What's to come

This Saturday, I'm hopping a train to the small Quebecois town of Victoriaville. I'm part of a summer work exchange program and will be staying there for 6 weeks. I'll still have internet but probably won't have a lot of time to post as often as I would like. That being said, I've scheduled some posts on my Midnight Murmurs blog if you wanna check that out. I will still be posting reviews for books but only one of them belong to the WildCard tours. Here's a list of the books I will be reading this summer.

• A Passion Denied by Julie Lessman
• The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
• Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
• Season of the Witch by Natasha Mostert
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• A book by Marcel Pagnol
• Pieces of You by Daniel Armand Lee
  

If you scroll down to my Memory's Gate post you will find the first chapter of the book. I'll post my review up here since I've already written a little blurb on that post.

I was a little apprehensive about reading this book. I thought I was going to get the second book but, to my surprise, it was the third and last book in the series. I didn't have any money to buy the second book so I sucked it up and did what I was asked to do: read.

To my surprise, I had no trouble with this. It was easy to follow and any reference to the other two books in the series was explained.
This was a true mystery and reminded me of the Rei Shimura series. All end are tied at the end of the Time Thriller Trilogy but not without some twists, turns and "I knew it!"'s along the way!

Happy reading!

Have an awesome summer,
Anastasia

Update

So I've just finished Bryan Davis' Nightmare's Edge. If you scroll down you can find the review with the 1st chapter (I didn't want to separate them). I am now starting Paul McCusker's Memory's Gate. That will be done by the 4th of July at the very latest. (Even though I'm Canadian, I find it weird to say July 4th).

Wishing you guys ahead of time a fun-filled 4th of July in advance,

Anastasia