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The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy #1
Тъмната вещица
Тъмната вещица Сърха притежава огромна мощ и чрез лечителски заклинания изцелява нуждаещите се. Злият магьосник Кеван, който желае тялото и дарбата й, убива съпруга й Дайхи. За да защити трите си деца, Сърха ги дарява със силата на Тъмната вещица. Изработва им медни амулети, които да ги пазят от черни магии. С последния си дъх проклина Кеван и жертва живота си, за да отнеме неговия.
2013 година
Американката Айона прекарва детството си между новите семейства на разведените си родители, лишена от обич и топлина. Младата жена напуска работа и заминава за Ирландия, за да научи повече за предците си. И най-накрая да се почувства у дома. В зелените гори, тучните хълмове и искрящите езера на графство Мейо я очаква историята на рода й. И съдбата й.
Айона отсяда в средновековен замък и скоро се запознава с братовчедите си Брана и Конър О’Дуайър. Разкрива им необикновената си дарба – да общува с конете. Те я канят да живее при тях и й помагат да овладее магията си. Започва работа в конюшнята към хотела, чийто собственик е привлекателният Бойл.
Братовчедите О’Дуайър разбират, че Сърха не е успяла да унищожи Кеван завинаги. Част от него продължава да живее и ги преследва, жадувайки за мъст...
2013 година
Американката Айона прекарва детството си между новите семейства на разведените си родители, лишена от обич и топлина. Младата жена напуска работа и заминава за Ирландия, за да научи повече за предците си. И най-накрая да се почувства у дома. В зелените гори, тучните хълмове и искрящите езера на графство Мейо я очаква историята на рода й. И съдбата й.
Айона отсяда в средновековен замък и скоро се запознава с братовчедите си Брана и Конър О’Дуайър. Разкрива им необикновената си дарба – да общува с конете. Те я канят да живее при тях и й помагат да овладее магията си. Започва работа в конюшнята към хотела, чийто собственик е привлекателният Бойл.
Братовчедите О’Дуайър разбират, че Сърха не е успяла да унищожи Кеван завинаги. Част от него продължава да живее и ги преследва, жадувайки за мъст...
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2013
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,755 books53.1k followersNora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,006 reviews
January 27, 2015
Well, as a Nora Roberts fan, this is going to be really painful to write…
When I found out that the new work of one of my favorite authors of all time was a trilogy placed in the magic green mountains of of Erin (Ireland), I was sooo excited! My favorite trilogy by Nora is “Gallaghers of Ardmore” where I first met the amazing Ireland setting, and those who know Nora’s work can tell that she have a talent for portraying scenarios. Obviously I was anxious to get my hands on “Dark Witch”. But the Nora let me down…again. Lately I’ve been quite disappointed by Robert’s novels. Indeed i loved the setting, I’ve an obsession for Ireland that can’t be cured. I love that country to bits and I don’t think any modern author can fully describe Ireland’s geography, culture and people like Nora Roberts. The magical environment created by the author is tangible and genuine. However, the fantasy plot was deeply tiring, with no dynamic and fairly repetitive.
About the heroine, Iona, I don’t believe the author gives enough information on Iona’s past and background. We, the readers, know close to nothing about the protagonist history, family, past relationships. Nada. I'm not even sure of how old she is. Iona is an onedimensional character as well as the love interest Boyle, the horse breeder. The relationship between Iona and Boyle (the Main Characters) was well-knit but the romance lack chemistry. I was waiting for a “destiny” love story, starcrossed lovers…and the author delivered a run of the mill romance. Guess I’ll have to wait for Brenna and Fin’s story, both support characters have more depth and intense moments than Iona/Boyle. I was definitely frustrated by the romance in this book and it was a big issue to me, ‘cause when It comes to Nora Roberts I have the highest standards.
I miss the spark Nora’s older novels used to have. I miss the powerful, intense books of Nora’s early carreer. At this point, I can’t help to think: What happened? Is she writing “too much”? Maybe Nora should take a long vacation. And I say this with love and respect, because I’ve been reading her novels since I was a rebel teenager.
I still believe in you, Nora! Hoping that the second book in the trilogy exceeds the first one.
When I found out that the new work of one of my favorite authors of all time was a trilogy placed in the magic green mountains of of Erin (Ireland), I was sooo excited! My favorite trilogy by Nora is “Gallaghers of Ardmore” where I first met the amazing Ireland setting, and those who know Nora’s work can tell that she have a talent for portraying scenarios. Obviously I was anxious to get my hands on “Dark Witch”. But the Nora let me down…again. Lately I’ve been quite disappointed by Robert’s novels. Indeed i loved the setting, I’ve an obsession for Ireland that can’t be cured. I love that country to bits and I don’t think any modern author can fully describe Ireland’s geography, culture and people like Nora Roberts. The magical environment created by the author is tangible and genuine. However, the fantasy plot was deeply tiring, with no dynamic and fairly repetitive.
About the heroine, Iona, I don’t believe the author gives enough information on Iona’s past and background. We, the readers, know close to nothing about the protagonist history, family, past relationships. Nada. I'm not even sure of how old she is. Iona is an onedimensional character as well as the love interest Boyle, the horse breeder. The relationship between Iona and Boyle (the Main Characters) was well-knit but the romance lack chemistry. I was waiting for a “destiny” love story, starcrossed lovers…and the author delivered a run of the mill romance. Guess I’ll have to wait for Brenna and Fin’s story, both support characters have more depth and intense moments than Iona/Boyle. I was definitely frustrated by the romance in this book and it was a big issue to me, ‘cause when It comes to Nora Roberts I have the highest standards.
I miss the spark Nora’s older novels used to have. I miss the powerful, intense books of Nora’s early carreer. At this point, I can’t help to think: What happened? Is she writing “too much”? Maybe Nora should take a long vacation. And I say this with love and respect, because I’ve been reading her novels since I was a rebel teenager.
I still believe in you, Nora! Hoping that the second book in the trilogy exceeds the first one.
January 18, 2014
I'm clearly not with the majority on this. I thought this book was boring as hell. I've never struggled so much to get through a Nora Roberts book before in my life, but this took me a week to finish. The beginning was awesome...when we looked back at Sorcha and her children and their life together, I loved that part. It was different, and had high hopes for the rest of it. But, after we got back to the present time, and met Iona and all the rest of the gang, I just kept feeling that I'd read it all before in several of her other trilogies, and this was just more like a re-read. The characters were flat and in general uninteresting. I found myself just skimming through much of the book because I was just so bored with it. Nora is the queen of dialogue, but I just found it lacking here. Not much of the witty banter that I expect from her. Honestly, it was very lackluster, and I'm wondering if Nora's heart was really in this one, or if she was just so busy in her personal life that she just dashed this one off quick so she could get back to it. I'm not sure that I will pick up the next in the series. Reading more of the same just doesn't interest me.
December 5, 2021
4 whimsical and magical stars!
This is a perfect bedtime story for wintertime. When you curl up by the fire with a cup of warm chocolate and an atmospheric book, nothing can be better than that.
The smell of herbs, the melody of the ancient songs, the laughter shared over the drinks, the noise, the warmth…
Ireland is one of my favorite settings when reading, the haunting beauty, the wilder nature, the history, all of them are so ancient and alluring.
I love Lona; she is one of the wildest and most hilarious female protagonists I have ever encountered. She is so energetic and enthusiastic, her unusual straightforwardness made me beam from ears to ears.
I love the kinship and friendship being depicted in this book. How they support each other was so adorable that it made my heart warm.
The only thing I didn’t get was the romance in this book. I don’t know why it didn’t work for me since I’m such a sucker for the Sunny/Grumpy trope. I like both Lona and Boyle as characters, but they didn’t have good chemistry between them, so that’s why I gave this book 4 stars.
Although the romance was weak, Nora Robert did an excellent job creating the vibes. This is my first book by her, and I can already tell she deserves the hype. I simply couldn’t put this book down!
This is a perfect bedtime story for wintertime. When you curl up by the fire with a cup of warm chocolate and an atmospheric book, nothing can be better than that.
The smell of herbs, the melody of the ancient songs, the laughter shared over the drinks, the noise, the warmth…
Ireland is one of my favorite settings when reading, the haunting beauty, the wilder nature, the history, all of them are so ancient and alluring.
I love Lona; she is one of the wildest and most hilarious female protagonists I have ever encountered. She is so energetic and enthusiastic, her unusual straightforwardness made me beam from ears to ears.
I love the kinship and friendship being depicted in this book. How they support each other was so adorable that it made my heart warm.
The only thing I didn’t get was the romance in this book. I don’t know why it didn’t work for me since I’m such a sucker for the Sunny/Grumpy trope. I like both Lona and Boyle as characters, but they didn’t have good chemistry between them, so that’s why I gave this book 4 stars.
Although the romance was weak, Nora Robert did an excellent job creating the vibes. This is my first book by her, and I can already tell she deserves the hype. I simply couldn’t put this book down!
November 12, 2013
This book was a mess, in my opinion. The writing was sloppy, there was barely any plot, and the characters were all flat.
Iona, the female lead, literally says anything and everything she thinks! She has no inner thoughts, no personality of her own. She seems to exist solely to provide exposition and is not very good at that either. The male lead is... who knows? He has no characters traits other than he seems to be the silent brooding type, but even that is never really shown or understood. He has no backstory, no history or character. Frankly, no one else in this book does either.
There is barely any plot or pacing to the book. I don't know why they're fighting, who really they are fighting against, or anything else. There is no build up at all. There is no real explanation of anything at all. It felt like the author assumes we have read all her previous witch based books and therefore we know what this struggle is about. At times, I found myself imputing motives and emotions from her other books that were similar just to fill in the gaps.
All in all, a real disappointment as a read. There was no chemistry between the leads, no real climax to the story, and no caring on my part whether they lived or died! It made me sad, and not in any way that the author intended :(
Iona, the female lead, literally says anything and everything she thinks! She has no inner thoughts, no personality of her own. She seems to exist solely to provide exposition and is not very good at that either. The male lead is... who knows? He has no characters traits other than he seems to be the silent brooding type, but even that is never really shown or understood. He has no backstory, no history or character. Frankly, no one else in this book does either.
There is barely any plot or pacing to the book. I don't know why they're fighting, who really they are fighting against, or anything else. There is no build up at all. There is no real explanation of anything at all. It felt like the author assumes we have read all her previous witch based books and therefore we know what this struggle is about. At times, I found myself imputing motives and emotions from her other books that were similar just to fill in the gaps.
All in all, a real disappointment as a read. There was no chemistry between the leads, no real climax to the story, and no caring on my part whether they lived or died! It made me sad, and not in any way that the author intended :(
November 12, 2013
The first book of the cousins O'Dwyer series, Dark Witch, reminded me a lot of two other "firsts" of her trilogies- the Gallaghers of Ardmore, and the Three Sisters Island. If you've read both, you know they both involve "outsiders" coming into a life already in progress for the others, but quickly being accepted into the fold. In the Gallaghers, it's Jude going to Ireland to reevaluate herself. And in the Three Sisters Island, it's Nell fleeing an abusive husband, and unlocking her witch powers.
In Dark Witch, we met Iona Sheehan, who goes to Ireland to meet cousins and basically get away from her parents and her old, unfilling life, at the urgency of her grandmother. She grew up knowing she had powers, but was never able to fully explore them because of her mother's indifference and almost fear of them.
We meet her cousins, Branna and Conner, who open her up to her powers. We meet Boyle, who gives her a place to work at his stables, and who captures her heart pretty much immediately. And we meet Finn, who we discover has a history with not only the Dark Witch mythos, but with Branna. They had a past relationship that is still causing them heartache today.
The Dark Witch myth is pretty intriguing- an ancestor of Iona, Branna, and Connor was the Dark Witch, and she is being attacked by Cabhan, an evil male witch who is obsessed with the Dark Witch and wants her powers (and her body). This entire portion goes on for 40 pages, but that's not a bad thing- it was pretty interesting, and I'm hoping she touches on the history of Cabhan and the Dark Witch a little more in the next books.
Iona learns how to harness and control her magick through working with Branna, and she grows both in her job and relationship. I really loved hearing about her relationship with her horse, and the other's relationships with their animals as well. I really love when a story has that element.
Her relationship with Boyle, on the other hand, was a little lacking. I don't know if it was just that Boyle is a harder male character than I've read from Nora in awhile, or if there was little to no chemistry- I just wasn't happy when they finally got together. And I didn't care when they had their typical Nora Robert's fight to "break up". It was the typical Nora formula that I love, but I wasn't all that into the characters or their relationship.
What I really enjoyed about the book, and why I still gave it four stars on Good Reads, is the relationships between all the characters in general, and the history behind them. And I want to know more about the Dark Witch, and I want to see Cabhan defeated. I'm invested.
The second book in the Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy, Shadow Spell, is set to release on May 6th, 2014 (as of this blog post). It looks like it is going to be Connor's story, and I'm so glad- I was hoping she would save Branna for last!
(Review also on my blog - http://www.beautyandthereads.com/2013...)
In Dark Witch, we met Iona Sheehan, who goes to Ireland to meet cousins and basically get away from her parents and her old, unfilling life, at the urgency of her grandmother. She grew up knowing she had powers, but was never able to fully explore them because of her mother's indifference and almost fear of them.
We meet her cousins, Branna and Conner, who open her up to her powers. We meet Boyle, who gives her a place to work at his stables, and who captures her heart pretty much immediately. And we meet Finn, who we discover has a history with not only the Dark Witch mythos, but with Branna. They had a past relationship that is still causing them heartache today.
The Dark Witch myth is pretty intriguing- an ancestor of Iona, Branna, and Connor was the Dark Witch, and she is being attacked by Cabhan, an evil male witch who is obsessed with the Dark Witch and wants her powers (and her body). This entire portion goes on for 40 pages, but that's not a bad thing- it was pretty interesting, and I'm hoping she touches on the history of Cabhan and the Dark Witch a little more in the next books.
Iona learns how to harness and control her magick through working with Branna, and she grows both in her job and relationship. I really loved hearing about her relationship with her horse, and the other's relationships with their animals as well. I really love when a story has that element.
Her relationship with Boyle, on the other hand, was a little lacking. I don't know if it was just that Boyle is a harder male character than I've read from Nora in awhile, or if there was little to no chemistry- I just wasn't happy when they finally got together. And I didn't care when they had their typical Nora Robert's fight to "break up". It was the typical Nora formula that I love, but I wasn't all that into the characters or their relationship.
What I really enjoyed about the book, and why I still gave it four stars on Good Reads, is the relationships between all the characters in general, and the history behind them. And I want to know more about the Dark Witch, and I want to see Cabhan defeated. I'm invested.
The second book in the Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy, Shadow Spell, is set to release on May 6th, 2014 (as of this blog post). It looks like it is going to be Connor's story, and I'm so glad- I was hoping she would save Branna for last!
(Review also on my blog - http://www.beautyandthereads.com/2013...)
July 5, 2015
Full review can be found here: http://skizzles22hu.blogspot.com/2013...
***
My Review:
5 Magickal Stars!
There is just something so enchanting about Nora Roberts' writing. The way she weaves together a story always has me captivated. It'd been awhile since I read one of her books, but nothing had changed about her writing style. It, and the magical story-line, still had the power to enchant me.
The prologue excellently brought me into the story, and I was immediately intrigued to see where this magical story-line went. Sorcha the Dark Witch was renowned for her power, and her three children would have that power for their own someday. But with that kind of power comes greed and lust. Someone wants her power and will kill for it. To protect her babies, she gives them each a third of her power. They, with their guides (the horse, the hawk, and the hound) will defeat Cabhan. Whether it takes a thousand lifetimes and the burden passes down to their descendants, they will defeat him.
Present-day Ireland is where we meet Iona, the main character and the descendant of Teagan. She's sold off almost all her possessions and moved to this beautiful and magical country to learn her ancestry and find who she is and where she belongs. And she realizes that this country, being surrounded by friends and family, is exactly where she belongs. She's found her dream job of working with horses; she's moved into her cousins', Branna and Connor's house. They've been waiting for her arrival, waiting for them to become three. With Iona's arrival, the time is near. And they have a lot of work to do.
But the work and magick doesn't stop Iona from living her life. She came here to find a place to belong, and it's where she'll fall in love. Iona's boss, Boyle, is her fantasy. Besides an insane attraction, they also share close friends and work in the stables. It's that employer-employee relationship that has Boyle reluctant to let anything happen between them. Even if they shared two hot and passionate kisses. Boyle is afriad to get too close, which he does anyway. And Iona is afraid to get hurt, though she does anyway.
What an engrossing, enchanting, and downright magical beginning to another soon-to-be favorite series of mine. I've no doubt the next two books will be just as captivating, be just as heartwarming and suspenseful. Dark Witch is classic Nora Roberts. The perfect blend of true love, friendship, and undeniable courage in the face of evil.
August, 2013:
A new fantasy series by my favorite author?! HELL. YES.
***
My Review:
5 Magickal Stars!
There is just something so enchanting about Nora Roberts' writing. The way she weaves together a story always has me captivated. It'd been awhile since I read one of her books, but nothing had changed about her writing style. It, and the magical story-line, still had the power to enchant me.
The prologue excellently brought me into the story, and I was immediately intrigued to see where this magical story-line went. Sorcha the Dark Witch was renowned for her power, and her three children would have that power for their own someday. But with that kind of power comes greed and lust. Someone wants her power and will kill for it. To protect her babies, she gives them each a third of her power. They, with their guides (the horse, the hawk, and the hound) will defeat Cabhan. Whether it takes a thousand lifetimes and the burden passes down to their descendants, they will defeat him.
Present-day Ireland is where we meet Iona, the main character and the descendant of Teagan. She's sold off almost all her possessions and moved to this beautiful and magical country to learn her ancestry and find who she is and where she belongs. And she realizes that this country, being surrounded by friends and family, is exactly where she belongs. She's found her dream job of working with horses; she's moved into her cousins', Branna and Connor's house. They've been waiting for her arrival, waiting for them to become three. With Iona's arrival, the time is near. And they have a lot of work to do.
But the work and magick doesn't stop Iona from living her life. She came here to find a place to belong, and it's where she'll fall in love. Iona's boss, Boyle, is her fantasy. Besides an insane attraction, they also share close friends and work in the stables. It's that employer-employee relationship that has Boyle reluctant to let anything happen between them. Even if they shared two hot and passionate kisses. Boyle is afriad to get too close, which he does anyway. And Iona is afraid to get hurt, though she does anyway.
"Love shouldn't be hard." -IonaNora Roberts is amazing when it comes writing strong heroines and totally swoon-worthy men. And that's what she did with Iona and Boyle (as well as the rest of the characters). I loved Iona's strength, her wit, and her incurable disease of the mouth. I loved Boyle's protectiveness, his total understanding of her craft and the magick, and his alpha-male gruffness. Her sex scenes are never overtly explicit; there is always an underlying passion and fire. Her characters, though they may fight and argue, make mistakes and hurt each other, always end up finding each other in the end. Always end up with a fairytale kind of romance, and I just adore watching them fall in love.
"There I think you're wrong. I think it should be the hardest thing there is, then it's not so easily given away, or taken away, or lost." -Branna
"You can't just hope for happy endings. You have to believe in them. Then do the work, take the risks. Slay the dragon–though I really think dragons get a bad rep–kiss the princess, or the frog, and defeat the bad witch." -IonaI loved the relationships between the characters. From the strong, familial bond with Branna and Connor to the deep, passionate love between Iona and Boyle, I loved watching all of them interact with each other. I love reading about close friendships and circles, and they each had their own personalities and strengths, their own mishaps and weaknesses. They all formed this tight bond of friendship. This circle. It's strong, unbreakable. However, there are chinks in the armor, breaks in the bubble. They'll all have to learn to set aside their differences and do what must be done to make sure that Sorcha's work did not go to waste, that her sacrifice for her children was not for nothing.
What an engrossing, enchanting, and downright magical beginning to another soon-to-be favorite series of mine. I've no doubt the next two books will be just as captivating, be just as heartwarming and suspenseful. Dark Witch is classic Nora Roberts. The perfect blend of true love, friendship, and undeniable courage in the face of evil.
August, 2013:
A new fantasy series by my favorite author?! HELL. YES.
November 1, 2013
I have just finished the book, and I am so sad and disappointed. Nora Roberts has been a favorite author of mine for years and years, but this book was not up to her usual standard. It smacks of being a poor rewrite of her Three Sisters Island trilogy.
::Possible Spoiler Alert::
From the beginning of the book, it was a rewrite of Dance Upon the Air (which I adore.) I should have known I was in for disappointment when she reused the wolf, and then branded it with the same pentagram that Mia used in the Three Sisters Island trilogy.
Iona (Nell) makes a huge life change (Jude, Jewels of the Sun - also sent by her Gran) and moves to Ireland. She meets up with family who happen to be witches. Branna and Connor (Mia and Ripley - and isn't the name Branna a little close to Brenna from Tears of the Moon?). Like Nell, Iona must discover her power and learn to use it to fight the evil that threatens them all.
Only a few chapters into the book it was clear which characters were meant to line up. She has reused the Mia/Sam (Face the Fire) relationship with Branna and Fin. They used to be a couple, and are clearly still in love, but are conflicted and forced to play nice to fight big bad. I'm betting she has also reused the Shawn/Brenna (Tears of the Moon) relationship - the two that grew up like siblings that will discover their love is not just platonic.
Worst of it is that I don't even feel invested in the characters. I don't know if I'll buy the next two books. Maybe I'll just go reread the Three Sisters and Gallaghers of Ardmore books.
::Possible Spoiler Alert::
From the beginning of the book, it was a rewrite of Dance Upon the Air (which I adore.) I should have known I was in for disappointment when she reused the wolf, and then branded it with the same pentagram that Mia used in the Three Sisters Island trilogy.
Iona (Nell) makes a huge life change (Jude, Jewels of the Sun - also sent by her Gran) and moves to Ireland. She meets up with family who happen to be witches. Branna and Connor (Mia and Ripley - and isn't the name Branna a little close to Brenna from Tears of the Moon?). Like Nell, Iona must discover her power and learn to use it to fight the evil that threatens them all.
Only a few chapters into the book it was clear which characters were meant to line up. She has reused the Mia/Sam (Face the Fire) relationship with Branna and Fin. They used to be a couple, and are clearly still in love, but are conflicted and forced to play nice to fight big bad. I'm betting she has also reused the Shawn/Brenna (Tears of the Moon) relationship - the two that grew up like siblings that will discover their love is not just platonic.
Worst of it is that I don't even feel invested in the characters. I don't know if I'll buy the next two books. Maybe I'll just go reread the Three Sisters and Gallaghers of Ardmore books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2014
4 stars. Great world-building, weak romance, but still worth the read.
I hesitate to describe this book as a 'romance' novel simply because the book spent little time actually exploring the romance between Iona and Boyle. Sure, there IS a romance in this novel. Sprinkled throughout the book are a few scenes where Iona and Boyle meet, chat, wink at each, flirt some more, sleep together, have a misunderstanding, make up, and then profess their undying love. Very formulaic stuff, and all woven around the more important parts of this book.
The meat of this book is far more focused on the story of the Dark witch and her magically-gifted descendants living in Ireland. Despite being weak on the romance, I really enjoyed it. I think the book is probably better for it, because the romance itself was pretty lackluster stuff.
I absolutely plan to stick with this series as I enjoyed the world building, loved the Ireland setting, and was intrigued by all of the secondary characters. However, If you read Nora Roberts strictly for the romance scenes, this one might disappoint. But if you enjoy a solid background story with some dark magic and prophesies, you might enjoy it as much as I did.
I listened to this one on audio, and felt the narration was excellent.
I hesitate to describe this book as a 'romance' novel simply because the book spent little time actually exploring the romance between Iona and Boyle. Sure, there IS a romance in this novel. Sprinkled throughout the book are a few scenes where Iona and Boyle meet, chat, wink at each, flirt some more, sleep together, have a misunderstanding, make up, and then profess their undying love. Very formulaic stuff, and all woven around the more important parts of this book.
The meat of this book is far more focused on the story of the Dark witch and her magically-gifted descendants living in Ireland. Despite being weak on the romance, I really enjoyed it. I think the book is probably better for it, because the romance itself was pretty lackluster stuff.
I absolutely plan to stick with this series as I enjoyed the world building, loved the Ireland setting, and was intrigued by all of the secondary characters. However, If you read Nora Roberts strictly for the romance scenes, this one might disappoint. But if you enjoy a solid background story with some dark magic and prophesies, you might enjoy it as much as I did.
I listened to this one on audio, and felt the narration was excellent.
August 10, 2018
3.5 Stars
There’s just something about reading a magic themed story by Nora Roberts that always makes me want to dancenaked under a full moon chanting ‘as we will, so mote it be.’ I just can’t help myself.
If I’ve learned anything in my years reading Nora, it’s that I tend to enjoy her fantasy/PNR themed stories more than their contemporary counterparts, and my experience was no different here. However, if I’m comparing this series starter against other witch-y tales by the queen of romance, then I would have to say this one fell slightly short. I think this mostly has to do with the romantic pairing in this particular story, as I found both Iona and Boyle a tad lacking in character depth and general likeability.
The good news is I warmed to the secondary characters a great deal, including their animals. I also adored the Irish setting and I enjoyed the overall premise of the story at large, which kept me engaged and intrigued enough to want more.
Ultimately, this was not my favourite Nora book (by far) but it was still a solid start to another magical trilogy.
There’s just something about reading a magic themed story by Nora Roberts that always makes me want to dance
If I’ve learned anything in my years reading Nora, it’s that I tend to enjoy her fantasy/PNR themed stories more than their contemporary counterparts, and my experience was no different here. However, if I’m comparing this series starter against other witch-y tales by the queen of romance, then I would have to say this one fell slightly short. I think this mostly has to do with the romantic pairing in this particular story, as I found both Iona and Boyle a tad lacking in character depth and general likeability.
The good news is I warmed to the secondary characters a great deal, including their animals. I also adored the Irish setting and I enjoyed the overall premise of the story at large, which kept me engaged and intrigued enough to want more.
Ultimately, this was not my favourite Nora book (by far) but it was still a solid start to another magical trilogy.
December 4, 2013
One word describes this book. WEAK. The characters were weak, the storyline was weak. The book started out GREAT, then boom just fell apart and reading it was like watching paint dry! I've always been a huge fan of the authors trilogies but wow, this book was just a mess. It seemed rushed and just a rewritten version of 2 other trilogies shes written. Never read a Nora Roberts book where I didn't connect with the characters, UNTIL NOW. Sad this book was such a let down after waiting months for it to come out. :( 3 stars is being generous.
December 19, 2013
2.5*
Ughhh... where do I begin...
I am actually a "Nora fan" but this book was - pretty ridiculous when compared to her other stuff!
The plot started off really well with an interesting prologue, but as the story went on so much was left unexplained and the rest was silly. For example:
- Why did the "evil" wait for 800 years to resurface? Why wasn't he attacking the older generations of the O'Dwyers?!
- Then, Iona's witchcraft seems just soooo simple and - out of nowhere! She comes to Ireland as a regular girl, to -all of a sudden- learn thousands of magic spells, etc... just because it was in her blood. Seems overly simplistic!
- I had zero understanding of the two main characters! Neither Iona nor Boyle were developed. Forget developed, even their background stories weren't given! Iona keeps whining how she was lonely and unloved - we know nothing about her! She mentions her parents being cold - we didn't get any examples, so I don't really know what she means! Were they mean to her?? Were they abusive?! What did they do to her to cause her to be soooo lonely and pathetic and traumatized??? No past relationships are mentioned... I don't even know how old she is... No clue... Boyle - I know even less about him. Tall, dark (?was he?) and handsome... oh and brooding and grumpy and not wanting to date the heroine until she jumped him for the fourth time! That's all I know about him...
- Iona is constantly hitting on Boyle, who is constantly telling her that they shouldn't be together? You've been openly rejected 4 times, please take a hint... So right off the bat, she seems waaay too desperate, saying things like "I don't care that you are my boss... I don't care that you don't want a relationship with me..." > umm, have some self respect, please! Even when he's a jackass and telling Connor that she is all over him and he can't do anything without her being all wrapped around him, I can't help but thinking "yeah, because it's true - she threw herself at him, he rejected her, she convinced him and now she's continuing being very needy!" After this, she sinks even lower saying that "she is a work in progress, she knows that it's her fault and she is not loveable, even her parents never loved her" > WHOA! How pathetic do you get?! IF I were this guy, I'd run as far away as possible from her! She's a total basket case!
- Throughout this "we must battle the evil", 60% of the book is devoted to them drinking and eating! Why are they always eating and drinking (i mean, i know we all gotta eat, but do I need to know about their every meal?!) ????
- The ending made no sense, as they were preparing to attack the evil sorcerer, at no point did the reader find out exactly what their plan was! The author kept saying things like "as they went over their plan..." etc... But I had no idea what they were planning on doing to the "evil spirit"! Apparently neither did they!! Because in the end, why would she attack him alone, when it was supposed to be the six of them?! The kept mentioning some circle, all of them fighting, combining their strengths, but when it came to it, Iona rode alone on her horse, to meet the sorcerer alone!! WHAT?!?! WHY??? Why didn't they all fight?! It made no sense...
- Finally, I listened to it on audio, and the narrator freaked me out! She was soooo emotional and dramatic ALL the time! SHE WAS FREAKIN' YELLING IN MY EAR FOR 90% OF THE BOOK! I wish someone told her to calm down, finish reading the book to herself, and then start over!
Ughhh... where do I begin...
I am actually a "Nora fan" but this book was - pretty ridiculous when compared to her other stuff!
The plot started off really well with an interesting prologue, but as the story went on so much was left unexplained and the rest was silly. For example:
- Why did the "evil" wait for 800 years to resurface? Why wasn't he attacking the older generations of the O'Dwyers?!
- Then, Iona's witchcraft seems just soooo simple and - out of nowhere! She comes to Ireland as a regular girl, to -all of a sudden- learn thousands of magic spells, etc... just because it was in her blood. Seems overly simplistic!
- I had zero understanding of the two main characters! Neither Iona nor Boyle were developed. Forget developed, even their background stories weren't given! Iona keeps whining how she was lonely and unloved - we know nothing about her! She mentions her parents being cold - we didn't get any examples, so I don't really know what she means! Were they mean to her?? Were they abusive?! What did they do to her to cause her to be soooo lonely and pathetic and traumatized??? No past relationships are mentioned... I don't even know how old she is... No clue... Boyle - I know even less about him. Tall, dark (?was he?) and handsome... oh and brooding and grumpy and not wanting to date the heroine until she jumped him for the fourth time! That's all I know about him...
- Iona is constantly hitting on Boyle, who is constantly telling her that they shouldn't be together? You've been openly rejected 4 times, please take a hint... So right off the bat, she seems waaay too desperate, saying things like "I don't care that you are my boss... I don't care that you don't want a relationship with me..." > umm, have some self respect, please! Even when he's a jackass and telling Connor that she is all over him and he can't do anything without her being all wrapped around him, I can't help but thinking "yeah, because it's true - she threw herself at him, he rejected her, she convinced him and now she's continuing being very needy!" After this, she sinks even lower saying that "she is a work in progress, she knows that it's her fault and she is not loveable, even her parents never loved her" > WHOA! How pathetic do you get?! IF I were this guy, I'd run as far away as possible from her! She's a total basket case!
- Throughout this "we must battle the evil", 60% of the book is devoted to them drinking and eating! Why are they always eating and drinking (i mean, i know we all gotta eat, but do I need to know about their every meal?!) ????
- The ending made no sense, as they were preparing to attack the evil sorcerer, at no point did the reader find out exactly what their plan was! The author kept saying things like "as they went over their plan..." etc... But I had no idea what they were planning on doing to the "evil spirit"! Apparently neither did they!! Because in the end, why would she attack him alone, when it was supposed to be the six of them?! The kept mentioning some circle, all of them fighting, combining their strengths, but when it came to it, Iona rode alone on her horse, to meet the sorcerer alone!! WHAT?!?! WHY??? Why didn't they all fight?! It made no sense...
- Finally, I listened to it on audio, and the narrator freaked me out! She was soooo emotional and dramatic ALL the time! SHE WAS FREAKIN' YELLING IN MY EAR FOR 90% OF THE BOOK! I wish someone told her to calm down, finish reading the book to herself, and then start over!
November 1, 2013
Five magickal stars for Dark Witch, the first book in Nora Roberts' The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy
Curling up with a Nora Roberts' novel has the same effect on me as nibbling on a chocolate bar: I go into a state of bliss. This summer I read through all of her series titles and fell in love with her writing once again. Now Ms. Roberts has released the first book, Dark Witch, in a new series, The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy, and I feel like someone just gave me a bar of fabulous and sinfully rich French dark chocolate. (Actually a friend did give me Dark Witch and I am absolutely overjoyed and thankful.)
Dark Witch hits the trifecta of Roberts' favorite themes: horses, magick, and Ireland. I didn't mention romance, but that goes without saying doesn't it? This series follows Irish-American Iona Sheehan back to her Irish roots, where she discovers the magic she embodies, her two cousins, and their circle of friends.
The book opens with the story of the Dark Witch and her persecutor back in the Middle Ages of Ireland. I was drawn into it immediately and when the time shifted to the present almost had whiplash. Roberts ability to weave magic into her prose is unrivaled and is why so many of us adore her.
Needless to say, the three cousins band and teach Iona to use her magick. She also has a talent to speak with animals, primarily horses, and we see that in full bloom too. Her love interest, the co-stable owner is hunky and brooding. Of course it won't be all smooth sailing on either the romance or magick front (where would the suspense be then), but the description of the Irish village, the fun friends engage in, the descriptions of the historical monuments and scenery all engage the reader.
So, I can't wait till the next two books in this trilogy are published: Shadow Spell (pub date: 6 May 2014) and Blood Magick, where will find out more about Branna and Connor O'Dwyer. Five magickal stars for this wonderful entry into Nora Roberts' series collection.
Fab Fantasy Fiction
http://www.fabfantasyfiction.com/2013...
Curling up with a Nora Roberts' novel has the same effect on me as nibbling on a chocolate bar: I go into a state of bliss. This summer I read through all of her series titles and fell in love with her writing once again. Now Ms. Roberts has released the first book, Dark Witch, in a new series, The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy, and I feel like someone just gave me a bar of fabulous and sinfully rich French dark chocolate. (Actually a friend did give me Dark Witch and I am absolutely overjoyed and thankful.)
Dark Witch hits the trifecta of Roberts' favorite themes: horses, magick, and Ireland. I didn't mention romance, but that goes without saying doesn't it? This series follows Irish-American Iona Sheehan back to her Irish roots, where she discovers the magic she embodies, her two cousins, and their circle of friends.
The book opens with the story of the Dark Witch and her persecutor back in the Middle Ages of Ireland. I was drawn into it immediately and when the time shifted to the present almost had whiplash. Roberts ability to weave magic into her prose is unrivaled and is why so many of us adore her.
Needless to say, the three cousins band and teach Iona to use her magick. She also has a talent to speak with animals, primarily horses, and we see that in full bloom too. Her love interest, the co-stable owner is hunky and brooding. Of course it won't be all smooth sailing on either the romance or magick front (where would the suspense be then), but the description of the Irish village, the fun friends engage in, the descriptions of the historical monuments and scenery all engage the reader.
So, I can't wait till the next two books in this trilogy are published: Shadow Spell (pub date: 6 May 2014) and Blood Magick, where will find out more about Branna and Connor O'Dwyer. Five magickal stars for this wonderful entry into Nora Roberts' series collection.
Fab Fantasy Fiction
http://www.fabfantasyfiction.com/2013...
August 13, 2016
The set up
Iona Sheehan risks everything when she quits her job, sells everything she owns and moves from Baltimore, Maryland to County Mayo, Ireland, her ancestral homeland. She seeks out her cousins, Branna, a Dark Witch, and Connor O'Dwyer, who her grandmother has told her so much about, determined to find that connection she's craved all her life. Iona gets more than she ever hoped for when her cousins embrace her and help her get a job with their friend Boyle McGrath, doing what she loves...caring for and riding horses.
The issues
The story begins with the medieval tale of Sorcha, the first Dark Witch, who took on Cabhan, an evil sorcerer. She passed her powers to her three children who in turn have done the same with their descendants. With Iona's arrival, the circle is now complete and the cousins must now contend with what evil remains from Cabhan. Iona is a novice and needs to hone her skills before they have to face his challenge. And, she's distracted by her developing romance with the gruff but sexy Boyle.
What worked for me
I absolutely loved that this story takes place in Ireland, complete with the vernacular in the dialogue between the characters. The men in this story are highly appealing...Boyle, with his tough and serious but sexy manner....Connor, who is lighthearted and generous, and Fin, who's dark with emerald eyes focused only on Branna, the most skilled of the witches who makes the paranormal aspect of the story exciting.
Iona was delightful, though others may disagree. I found her sunny disposition uplifting in light of her dismal upbringing. Her joy was infectious, inspired her cousins and threw the serious Boyle completely off balance. While their romance edged up against that old "insta-love"storyline, it was knocked back into reality in an almost heartbreaking way. It made it much more interesting and emotional.
What some have said
There are comparisons to Nora's Key and Three Sisters Island trilogies but it felt fresh to me. I didn't see those connections and have read both. Maybe the setting made this story a standout for me as I didn't want to put the book down.
The bottom line
I loved the Celtic lore, the witchcraft, the romance, the setting and the characters. I liked Iona and Boyle, primarily because of her enthusiasm as I connected with her circumstances. The book set the stage for the next stories in this trilogy and I'm anxiously anticipating them. If you've never read anything by Nora, this would be a great series to start. It's also pretty interesting for those of us that already have many of her stories already read on our shelves. I think it's a winner. 4.5 stars
Iona Sheehan risks everything when she quits her job, sells everything she owns and moves from Baltimore, Maryland to County Mayo, Ireland, her ancestral homeland. She seeks out her cousins, Branna, a Dark Witch, and Connor O'Dwyer, who her grandmother has told her so much about, determined to find that connection she's craved all her life. Iona gets more than she ever hoped for when her cousins embrace her and help her get a job with their friend Boyle McGrath, doing what she loves...caring for and riding horses.
The issues
The story begins with the medieval tale of Sorcha, the first Dark Witch, who took on Cabhan, an evil sorcerer. She passed her powers to her three children who in turn have done the same with their descendants. With Iona's arrival, the circle is now complete and the cousins must now contend with what evil remains from Cabhan. Iona is a novice and needs to hone her skills before they have to face his challenge. And, she's distracted by her developing romance with the gruff but sexy Boyle.
What worked for me
I absolutely loved that this story takes place in Ireland, complete with the vernacular in the dialogue between the characters. The men in this story are highly appealing...Boyle, with his tough and serious but sexy manner....Connor, who is lighthearted and generous, and Fin, who's dark with emerald eyes focused only on Branna, the most skilled of the witches who makes the paranormal aspect of the story exciting.
Iona was delightful, though others may disagree. I found her sunny disposition uplifting in light of her dismal upbringing. Her joy was infectious, inspired her cousins and threw the serious Boyle completely off balance. While their romance edged up against that old "insta-love"storyline, it was knocked back into reality in an almost heartbreaking way. It made it much more interesting and emotional.
What some have said
There are comparisons to Nora's Key and Three Sisters Island trilogies but it felt fresh to me. I didn't see those connections and have read both. Maybe the setting made this story a standout for me as I didn't want to put the book down.
The bottom line
I loved the Celtic lore, the witchcraft, the romance, the setting and the characters. I liked Iona and Boyle, primarily because of her enthusiasm as I connected with her circumstances. The book set the stage for the next stories in this trilogy and I'm anxiously anticipating them. If you've never read anything by Nora, this would be a great series to start. It's also pretty interesting for those of us that already have many of her stories already read on our shelves. I think it's a winner. 4.5 stars
January 10, 2019
Dear Aunt Nora, what happened? You take me to the beautiful Ireland which you're basically obsessed with in so many of your series and while the first two chapters are AMAZING---- the rest of your story was just okay. Now one cannot expect an author who has written over 200 books to be absolute perfection each time, but I feel bitten by the blahs. The chemistry between Iona and Boyle was a bit forgettable. However, I still plan on continuing with the remaining two books in the series.
January 31, 2014
Currently, I have at least 40 Nora Roberts books. (I'm a re-reader of books I love). I was eagerly looking forward to Dark Witch, and though there have been hints that her writing is slipping, I can't believe how bad this book is.
Truly, there is nothing new here. The characters are very poor imitations of those in her Three Sisters trilogy, with Kane from the Key trilogy thrown in as the evil Cabhan. I agree with the many reviewers that the characters have no depth, Iona is annoying, Boyle almost nonexistent as her love interest, Connor and Meara are background noise, Branna is deadly dull, and the "complicated" Fin? Cian from the Circle trilogy owns the conflicted anti-hero role; Fin is nothing but a pale (ha, ha) substitute.
One more thing (actually two). Horses do not wear bridles while out to pasture. They wear halters (in the U.S.) or head collars (almost everywhere else). And the name Darling for a horse is just too, too precious, as well as being used before, in the Dream trilogy. Hmmm, seems to be a pattern here...and I will not be finishing the Dark Witch trilogy.
Truly, there is nothing new here. The characters are very poor imitations of those in her Three Sisters trilogy, with Kane from the Key trilogy thrown in as the evil Cabhan. I agree with the many reviewers that the characters have no depth, Iona is annoying, Boyle almost nonexistent as her love interest, Connor and Meara are background noise, Branna is deadly dull, and the "complicated" Fin? Cian from the Circle trilogy owns the conflicted anti-hero role; Fin is nothing but a pale (ha, ha) substitute.
One more thing (actually two). Horses do not wear bridles while out to pasture. They wear halters (in the U.S.) or head collars (almost everywhere else). And the name Darling for a horse is just too, too precious, as well as being used before, in the Dream trilogy. Hmmm, seems to be a pattern here...and I will not be finishing the Dark Witch trilogy.
August 3, 2016
Maybe I've reached a time where Nora Roberts and I will part company. We've been companions for many years now but for me, especially with the PNR books, there's a staleness to the formula that I can't get past anymore. Perhaps I'd be in a more forgiving mood if I didn't feel like I paid for and read this story already as part of the Three Sisters trilogy Dance Upon the Air. This is very much a condensed version of that one.
Why bother with providing the MC with anymore than a cursory back story when you can skip all that and set things up in the 1200's. Then we can have your character in modern day be aware of ALL of that information (through oral history from her grandmother *insert eye roll*) and know she's a witch and come to her ancestor's home and have them all recognize that of course she's the one they've been waiting for all this time and of course we'll teach you how to control these powers that you've been manifesting. So blasé...magic/shmagic.
There's no joy here, it's all very rote and checking ticks off in the boxes.
This is a fine story if you've never read any other Roberts PNR book. The shine is off for me though because I can see clearly how this trilogy will play out. I'd rather re-read the Three Sisters.
Why bother with providing the MC with anymore than a cursory back story when you can skip all that and set things up in the 1200's. Then we can have your character in modern day be aware of ALL of that information (through oral history from her grandmother *insert eye roll*) and know she's a witch and come to her ancestor's home and have them all recognize that of course she's the one they've been waiting for all this time and of course we'll teach you how to control these powers that you've been manifesting. So blasé...magic/shmagic.
There's no joy here, it's all very rote and checking ticks off in the boxes.
This is a fine story if you've never read any other Roberts PNR book. The shine is off for me though because I can see clearly how this trilogy will play out. I'd rather re-read the Three Sisters.
April 9, 2018
Wow, this was really bad. I was expecting to love this first of all because I love most things Irish and secondly because Nora Roberts is so well known and popular. Well, it was just a train-wreck of a book. I probably should have just DNF-ed it cause I hated it pretty much from the get-go.
First of all, there is barely a plot. The main character moves from America to Ireland where everything conveniently falls into place – she is straight away offered a place to live, a job she loves and meets a man she instantly falls in love with. Yawn.
There is a ‘bad guy’ who is bad and wants to attack her. There is no reason why he is bad, it’s just an ancient grudge and he wants power. That is literally the extent of it. He randomly attacks her, and she easily fights him off every time.
The ‘climax’ was so rushed and lame it was actually cringe-worthy but I think the worst part of this book was how bad the romance was. We know the main couple love each other because they say it almost instantly. I’ve never cared less about two people getting together. Oh and the only source of conflict between the two is basically one of those ‘Overheard out of context’ things.
Stupid me bought the entire trilogy at once so I will be unhauling the other two straightaway.
First of all, there is barely a plot. The main character moves from America to Ireland where everything conveniently falls into place – she is straight away offered a place to live, a job she loves and meets a man she instantly falls in love with. Yawn.
There is a ‘bad guy’ who is bad and wants to attack her. There is no reason why he is bad, it’s just an ancient grudge and he wants power. That is literally the extent of it. He randomly attacks her, and she easily fights him off every time.
The ‘climax’ was so rushed and lame it was actually cringe-worthy but I think the worst part of this book was how bad the romance was. We know the main couple love each other because they say it almost instantly. I’ve never cared less about two people getting together. Oh and the only source of conflict between the two is basically one of those ‘Overheard out of context’ things.
Stupid me bought the entire trilogy at once so I will be unhauling the other two straightaway.
September 10, 2020
I try to express only my most honest opinion in a spoiler-free way. Unfortunately, there is still always a risk of slight spoilers despite my best efforts. If you feel something in my review is a spoiler please let me know. Thank you.
Iona is a witch one of three. The descendants of the Dark Witch. After leaving her home, family, and country. Iona goes to Ireland, back to the place of her ancestors. There she finds her two cousins Branna and Connor. Together they make the three, they are meant to finish what their ancestor started, getting rid of the evil Cabhan. While she learns to master her craft with the help of her new family and friends, she finds happiness in it as well as in her job and her handsome cowboy boss Boyle.
It was a pretty good book. It started out strong and ended pretty interestingly. I did find a bit slow in the middle though. Not a lot happened and so I struggled a bit there. I give 3.5 stars. I do want to continue the series though as I think this does have a lot of potential. I liked reading about Ireland, The land, and the culture. I wished there was more of that and I'm hoping there will be in the next two books.
Iona is a witch one of three. The descendants of the Dark Witch. After leaving her home, family, and country. Iona goes to Ireland, back to the place of her ancestors. There she finds her two cousins Branna and Connor. Together they make the three, they are meant to finish what their ancestor started, getting rid of the evil Cabhan. While she learns to master her craft with the help of her new family and friends, she finds happiness in it as well as in her job and her handsome cowboy boss Boyle.
It was a pretty good book. It started out strong and ended pretty interestingly. I did find a bit slow in the middle though. Not a lot happened and so I struggled a bit there. I give 3.5 stars. I do want to continue the series though as I think this does have a lot of potential. I liked reading about Ireland, The land, and the culture. I wished there was more of that and I'm hoping there will be in the next two books.
May 18, 2017
Let's face it, Roberts is a master at telling a good romantic tale but what she is even better at, is taking that romance and putting a very real feeling, very dark supernatural spin on it and meshing it together until they are some of the most standout paranormal romances out there. And that, my friends is why I love her stories.
They never cease to give me chills, leave me looking behind my shoulder, shuddering, and yet simultaneously melting at all the sweet tender and sometimes, heated, moments between the characters.
They always bring out an array of feelings and emotions and give me those good old witchy moments I crave for.
When I saw this trilogy, I just knew it was one that I would not only love, but devour and I couldn't have been more right.
Roberts sweeps us away to Ireland, to the beautiful lush countryside. A setting that couldn't be more fitting or more perfect for magic of all kinds to run wild and free, with a group of friends that is every bit as endearing as the setting.
I loved the flash back from Sorcha's time to the present. It was wonderfully done and added an extra something to the story that it wouldn't of had without it. Rich in detail and discovery, this trilogy is definitely on the fast road to becoming a favorite.
They never cease to give me chills, leave me looking behind my shoulder, shuddering, and yet simultaneously melting at all the sweet tender and sometimes, heated, moments between the characters.
They always bring out an array of feelings and emotions and give me those good old witchy moments I crave for.
When I saw this trilogy, I just knew it was one that I would not only love, but devour and I couldn't have been more right.
Roberts sweeps us away to Ireland, to the beautiful lush countryside. A setting that couldn't be more fitting or more perfect for magic of all kinds to run wild and free, with a group of friends that is every bit as endearing as the setting.
I loved the flash back from Sorcha's time to the present. It was wonderfully done and added an extra something to the story that it wouldn't of had without it. Rich in detail and discovery, this trilogy is definitely on the fast road to becoming a favorite.
October 13, 2016
I'm an avid Nora Roberts fan, but it was a struggle to complete this book. The prologue was promising, but the rest of the book disappointed on several levels. The characters are flat with exaggerated traits and the lack of backstory makes it even more difficult to care. It is difficult to decide who was more annoying, Iona or Branna. Iona has no filters when she interacts with others, while Branna is locked in her rigid views of the past. Maybe Branna was meant to be portrayed as cautious but she comes across as cruel at times, which was a major turn off for me. Connor was approachable but Meara was so boring, I kept hoping she would be killed off at some point as a casualty of war.
Fin was the only likeable character, but even at his best he is a shadow of Cian from the Circle Trilogy. Boyle was reduced to background and brooding. The series tried to combine two trilogies, The Circle and The Sign of Seven but had none of its charm or depth.
Fin was the only likeable character, but even at his best he is a shadow of Cian from the Circle Trilogy. Boyle was reduced to background and brooding. The series tried to combine two trilogies, The Circle and The Sign of Seven but had none of its charm or depth.
Want to read
April 16, 2013Finally! Nora Roberts' paranormal trilogies are my favorite books of hers. I've been waiting for another.
December 9, 2015
I received a free copy of this book from Piatkus in exchange for an honest review, thank you! I also want to thank Piatkus for inviting me to participate in the "The Dark Witch blog tour"!
There lived a witch called The Dark Witch many centuries ago who gave her life in a bid to stop an evil witch called Cabhan. But she gave her powers to her three children before she died. Now in the present time, Iona Sheehan, Connor and Branna O'Dwyer, descendants of the Dark Witch must try to stop the evil Cabhan for good.
I’m not totally against romance. I just am a bit picky and I have a need for believable love stories. This book lacked that. Heck, it lacked a great deal, like a good story. I mean I can take it that a book has some flaws, but this book is a flaw. It’s my second Nora Roberts book I read (Yes I have only managed to read one before and that was years ago) and Dark Witch really don’t make me eager to read another one for a long time. I mean this is the first book in a trilogy about three men and three women. All the stuff about witches and magic is just filler for Nora Roberts to match up her characters with each other. First out is Iona and Boyle McGrath the owner of the local stable where she gets a job. Soon they are more than employer and employee (insert roll eye smiley) and also soon they have a BIG misunderstanding because of something he says. Will they ever make up?
This review is really bringing out my sarcastic side. But I was so sick and tired of this book when I read it then my first review got lost when I was about to save it in Microsoft office Word. The only plus side is that I think this review is actually better than the first one I wrote…
Will I read the next book in the series? No. Will I ever read a Nora Roberts book again? Perhaps, but then it will be one that has got great reviews.
There lived a witch called The Dark Witch many centuries ago who gave her life in a bid to stop an evil witch called Cabhan. But she gave her powers to her three children before she died. Now in the present time, Iona Sheehan, Connor and Branna O'Dwyer, descendants of the Dark Witch must try to stop the evil Cabhan for good.
I’m not totally against romance. I just am a bit picky and I have a need for believable love stories. This book lacked that. Heck, it lacked a great deal, like a good story. I mean I can take it that a book has some flaws, but this book is a flaw. It’s my second Nora Roberts book I read (Yes I have only managed to read one before and that was years ago) and Dark Witch really don’t make me eager to read another one for a long time. I mean this is the first book in a trilogy about three men and three women. All the stuff about witches and magic is just filler for Nora Roberts to match up her characters with each other. First out is Iona and Boyle McGrath the owner of the local stable where she gets a job. Soon they are more than employer and employee (insert roll eye smiley) and also soon they have a BIG misunderstanding because of something he says. Will they ever make up?
This review is really bringing out my sarcastic side. But I was so sick and tired of this book when I read it then my first review got lost when I was about to save it in Microsoft office Word. The only plus side is that I think this review is actually better than the first one I wrote…
Will I read the next book in the series? No. Will I ever read a Nora Roberts book again? Perhaps, but then it will be one that has got great reviews.
November 30, 2021
It's by Nora Roberts, of course, it was good...
I have been planning to listen to Dark Witch for ages, and now that I'm on holiday, I couldn't think of a better time. The storyline was captivating, the characters were interesting and I was invested in the romance that developed.
While I really enjoyed my listening experience, I have to admit that the narrator was a wee bit over the top. It was a touch overacted and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at how passionate it was performed. Just a little overzealous.
I will definitely be back for more Irish magic in the future.
I have been planning to listen to Dark Witch for ages, and now that I'm on holiday, I couldn't think of a better time. The storyline was captivating, the characters were interesting and I was invested in the romance that developed.
While I really enjoyed my listening experience, I have to admit that the narrator was a wee bit over the top. It was a touch overacted and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at how passionate it was performed. Just a little overzealous.
I will definitely be back for more Irish magic in the future.
May 29, 2016
Well, this was my first Nora Roberts book that I've ever read. Which is something considering that she's written 200 books! In the end, I just found this to be ok. I enjoyed the beginning with the past and the set-up of good vs. evil. I liked the magical element to the story, it's different to other books I normally read. However, I really didn't care for the main character, Iona. She kind of grated on my nerves a little with her immaturity. Roberts never did mention how old she is but I just didn't warm to her. The romance between her and Boyle wasn't filled with chemistry either. So I was little disappointed in the romance portion. I did like the overall story and the other characters so I probably, eventually, will proceed to the next book in the trilogy.
October 29, 2021
I can’t believe this is my FIRST Nora Roberts book! This book made my heart sting with longings for Outlander. The verbiage of it gave me reminiscent feels of Scotland even though it was Irish Gaelic that was being spoken—same family.
I feel i am off to a great start with this series and I’m hooked! I love stories about witches, magic and especially strong family ties. Perfect set up for the next books in line. I wanted to strangle Boyle, but I get why Iona loved him so much. I can’t wait to dive into book two!!!
I feel i am off to a great start with this series and I’m hooked! I love stories about witches, magic and especially strong family ties. Perfect set up for the next books in line. I wanted to strangle Boyle, but I get why Iona loved him so much. I can’t wait to dive into book two!!!
November 13, 2013
As a Nora Roberts fan, this review was extremely challenging to write. I fell in love with reading romance by reading my mom���s Nora Roberts’ books in my early teens and pretty much stayed faithful to her though the years. I actually prefer her trilogies to her yearly hardbacks she releases. However, I decided I was done reading her with the Inn Boonsboro series, which was basically an advertisement for the bed and breakfast she opened in her hometown. Well, when I saw she had a new trilogy coming out about witches I was excited to read her again because her Three Sisters Island (another series she wrote about witches) is one of my favorite series. My poor managing editor here at The Window Seat had to take my call of disappointment when I finished this book! (it isn't the last one of THOSE calls I will get... and I make them myself! :)) I don’t know if authors that produce a lot of books simply run out of ideas so they recycle past material or if they forget what they have already written. I would think their editors or publishers would remind them or maybe once a writer becomes so big no one will mention anything bad to them? Let me just say I am happy I used a credit I had to purchase this book and I didn't pay for it. If you are a Robert’s fan and you read, Dark Witch, book one of the Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy, you will find yourself thinking… isn't this book just Three Sisters Island with the Gallagher’s of Ardmore mixed in?
For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2013/1...
For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2013/1...
May 3, 2023
Baby’s first Nora Roberts!
Who wouldn’t love a steamy romance about a family of witches fighting a millennia-old demon in the gorgeous Irish countryside? Me, apparently.
I liked this novel fine, but I likely won’t be reading the sequel. My biggest issue is the pacing. The first 50 pages *flew,* but once Iona starts working at the stables, the pace skids to a stop to focus on the individual relationships between the three cousins and their lifelong friends. I love relationship-driven novels, but this one could have moved more, and/or included some more adventure.
Additional points off for instant attraction. I love the “big grumpy man falls against his will for a small, chronically optimistic girl” trope, but I didn’t think Boyle and Iona were a fair match.
If you *are* a fan of this trilogy, you’ll enjoy “Heart of the Fae” by Emma Hamm and “Wild is the Witch” by Rachel Griffin.
Who wouldn’t love a steamy romance about a family of witches fighting a millennia-old demon in the gorgeous Irish countryside? Me, apparently.
I liked this novel fine, but I likely won’t be reading the sequel. My biggest issue is the pacing. The first 50 pages *flew,* but once Iona starts working at the stables, the pace skids to a stop to focus on the individual relationships between the three cousins and their lifelong friends. I love relationship-driven novels, but this one could have moved more, and/or included some more adventure.
Additional points off for instant attraction. I love the “big grumpy man falls against his will for a small, chronically optimistic girl” trope, but I didn’t think Boyle and Iona were a fair match.
If you *are* a fan of this trilogy, you’ll enjoy “Heart of the Fae” by Emma Hamm and “Wild is the Witch” by Rachel Griffin.
December 1, 2013
I loved this book. It had it all - location, family, friends, romance, magick, and a fight against evil. The story is set up in the first two chapters, where we have Sorcha, the original Dark Witch, and her three children. Her husband is off fighting and Sorcha is fighting illness. She is also fighting against an evil sorcerer, Cabhan, who wants her and her powers and is willing to do anything to get them. As the chapter ends she has split her powers among her three children and sent them away to protect them. She lies in wait for the sorcerer, to finish him off before she dies.
Moving ahead to the present, we have Connor and Branna who are brother and sister descended from Sorcha. They sense the coming storm but know it will take three of them to form the bond that will defeat it. Enter Iona, their American cousin, who makes the circle complete. She is in search of a place where she feels she belongs, and finds it with her cousins. She also finds a job doing what she loves - working with horses. She feels an immediate connection with her boss, Boyle. But before they can think about a future together, they must deal with the return of the sorcerer.
I loved the way that the idea of family and friends is so important. Besides Connor, Branna and Iona, there are also their friends Boyle, Fin and Meara. Each has a distinct personality that is important in the scheme of things. Branna is the leader, the one doing most of Iona's training. She is a bit of a loner, keeping a lot to herself. She has a history with Fin. They were childhood sweethearts, deeply in love, until they discovered that Fin is a descendent of Cabhan. Now she has trouble trusting him, even though she knows they need him in the coming troubles. Fin has never stopped loving Branna. He knows she doesn't trust him but he'll be there for her just the same. Connor is the easy going, social one of the group. He's friends with everyone and loves the ladies. He's sometimes caught in the middle of all the drama affecting the others. Meara has also been friends with them all her life. She and Branna are like sisters and she will be there to help however she is needed also. She has feelings for Connor, but he's oblivious.
Then we have Iona and Boyle, the focus of this book. Iona has been searching for her place in the world and finally finds it in Ireland. In spite of a miserable upbringing with parents who just didn't seem to care, she has a sunny personality. I loved seeing the effect of that personality on Boyle, who is pretty serious. Her actions tend to keep him pretty off balance. There's an intense attraction between the two of them that has him pretty freaked out. It moves along quickly until it runs up against his fears and causes an emotional slowdown in their relationship. The whole scene with him, and later her girls' night with Branna and Meara to deal with it was very emotional. On the other side, I loved the way that Connor and Fin dealt with Boyle and made fun of his idiocy as only guys can do.
I really enjoyed seeing Iona come into her own as Branna and the others trained her in the magick she needed to know. She went from very tentative and nervous at the beginning, to a growing confidence in her abilities through the rest of the book. I loved seeing the way that Boyle was there to support and protect her. Their connection was a huge part of the final confrontation in this book.
One of my favorite things about this book was the setting. Nora Roberts always does anything Irish well and this was no exception. She spent time in this part of Ireland doing research for the books and it shows. Having visited County Mayo several years ago I was thrilled to recognize the places she described. Ashford Castle is located next to the village of Cong, just as described. I loved her mention of the filming of "The Quiet Man" there and the parade for Maureen O'Hara just a few years ago. I also loved her description of Ballintubber Abbey as it brought back my memories of walking those grounds myself.
I have read some reviews that complain that this is simply a mashup of several of her previous series. While I can see the similarities, there is enough of a difference that I have not been disappointed in the book at all. I can't wait to read the next one.
Moving ahead to the present, we have Connor and Branna who are brother and sister descended from Sorcha. They sense the coming storm but know it will take three of them to form the bond that will defeat it. Enter Iona, their American cousin, who makes the circle complete. She is in search of a place where she feels she belongs, and finds it with her cousins. She also finds a job doing what she loves - working with horses. She feels an immediate connection with her boss, Boyle. But before they can think about a future together, they must deal with the return of the sorcerer.
I loved the way that the idea of family and friends is so important. Besides Connor, Branna and Iona, there are also their friends Boyle, Fin and Meara. Each has a distinct personality that is important in the scheme of things. Branna is the leader, the one doing most of Iona's training. She is a bit of a loner, keeping a lot to herself. She has a history with Fin. They were childhood sweethearts, deeply in love, until they discovered that Fin is a descendent of Cabhan. Now she has trouble trusting him, even though she knows they need him in the coming troubles. Fin has never stopped loving Branna. He knows she doesn't trust him but he'll be there for her just the same. Connor is the easy going, social one of the group. He's friends with everyone and loves the ladies. He's sometimes caught in the middle of all the drama affecting the others. Meara has also been friends with them all her life. She and Branna are like sisters and she will be there to help however she is needed also. She has feelings for Connor, but he's oblivious.
Then we have Iona and Boyle, the focus of this book. Iona has been searching for her place in the world and finally finds it in Ireland. In spite of a miserable upbringing with parents who just didn't seem to care, she has a sunny personality. I loved seeing the effect of that personality on Boyle, who is pretty serious. Her actions tend to keep him pretty off balance. There's an intense attraction between the two of them that has him pretty freaked out. It moves along quickly until it runs up against his fears and causes an emotional slowdown in their relationship. The whole scene with him, and later her girls' night with Branna and Meara to deal with it was very emotional. On the other side, I loved the way that Connor and Fin dealt with Boyle and made fun of his idiocy as only guys can do.
I really enjoyed seeing Iona come into her own as Branna and the others trained her in the magick she needed to know. She went from very tentative and nervous at the beginning, to a growing confidence in her abilities through the rest of the book. I loved seeing the way that Boyle was there to support and protect her. Their connection was a huge part of the final confrontation in this book.
One of my favorite things about this book was the setting. Nora Roberts always does anything Irish well and this was no exception. She spent time in this part of Ireland doing research for the books and it shows. Having visited County Mayo several years ago I was thrilled to recognize the places she described. Ashford Castle is located next to the village of Cong, just as described. I loved her mention of the filming of "The Quiet Man" there and the parade for Maureen O'Hara just a few years ago. I also loved her description of Ballintubber Abbey as it brought back my memories of walking those grounds myself.
I have read some reviews that complain that this is simply a mashup of several of her previous series. While I can see the similarities, there is enough of a difference that I have not been disappointed in the book at all. I can't wait to read the next one.
October 5, 2015
I had taken a break from Nora Roberts' trilogies. I think this is what allowed me to so enjoy Dark Witch.Too much of the same writing style eventually turns me against an author. So I have found that taking a calculated break,reading other styles then eventually coming back has kept me interested and the reading fresh and entertaining.
I enjoyed Dark Witch.A wonderful Halloween month read with all the requisite witches,spells,romance, and family drama.The only thing standing in the way of a five star was that the showdown between good and evil was a little anticlimactic. Of course, that left me wanting more,leading into the second installment. Which I will read...eventually.
I enjoyed Dark Witch.A wonderful Halloween month read with all the requisite witches,spells,romance, and family drama.The only thing standing in the way of a five star was that the showdown between good and evil was a little anticlimactic. Of course, that left me wanting more,leading into the second installment. Which I will read...eventually.
August 12, 2016
Rounding up to 3 stars.
When Nora Roberts is good, she's very, very good. And I think that once upon a time she had a quarter of a million** different ideas and ways to present them. The problem is that we're way past that now and the ideas and ways to present them continuously seem to be recycled.
Let me count the ways in just this book/series: there are witches (see also the Three Sisters Island trilogy, and the Key and Circle Trilogies, actually), and Ireland (see also the Born In Trilogy, and Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy). There's an otherwordly BIG EVIL (see Key Trilogy and Sign of Seven). Then there's the American come to **somewhere out of their comfort zone** to live (Born In, Gallaghers of Ardmore, Key, Three Sisters, and many more). There's the apologetic female character (all of them), the untrusting female character (all of them), and the brash, tomboyish female character (all of them). There's the intuitive male, the brawler, and the one that is so certain of the love that they fight for it always (all of them).
This is what I mean when I say that Nora Roberts can be counted on to deliver a "Nora Roberts" book. She does it, and it's pleasing...as long as I haven't over-indulged lately. I take LONG breaks between reading any Roberts books anymore. I can't handle the sameness - unless it's my old favorites (which will always hold a special place in my heart), like Carolina Moon, Chesapeake Bay Series, and a few others.
I enjoyed this book. I did. But it's just more of the same from the author. I feel like everything's recycled. Nothing is new. I've been here and done that. It's not a bad thing, it's just ... meh.
*Seriously, it feels like it.
**Well, will a million books written, the ideas have to stop being original sometime, I suppose.
See full review at The Book Eaters.
6 May 2014: $2.99 on Kindle
When Nora Roberts is good, she's very, very good. And I think that once upon a time she had a quarter of a million** different ideas and ways to present them. The problem is that we're way past that now and the ideas and ways to present them continuously seem to be recycled.
Let me count the ways in just this book/series: there are witches (see also the Three Sisters Island trilogy, and the Key and Circle Trilogies, actually), and Ireland (see also the Born In Trilogy, and Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy). There's an otherwordly BIG EVIL (see Key Trilogy and Sign of Seven). Then there's the American come to **somewhere out of their comfort zone** to live (Born In, Gallaghers of Ardmore, Key, Three Sisters, and many more). There's the apologetic female character (all of them), the untrusting female character (all of them), and the brash, tomboyish female character (all of them). There's the intuitive male, the brawler, and the one that is so certain of the love that they fight for it always (all of them).
This is what I mean when I say that Nora Roberts can be counted on to deliver a "Nora Roberts" book. She does it, and it's pleasing...as long as I haven't over-indulged lately. I take LONG breaks between reading any Roberts books anymore. I can't handle the sameness - unless it's my old favorites (which will always hold a special place in my heart), like Carolina Moon, Chesapeake Bay Series, and a few others.
I enjoyed this book. I did. But it's just more of the same from the author. I feel like everything's recycled. Nothing is new. I've been here and done that. It's not a bad thing, it's just ... meh.
*Seriously, it feels like it.
**Well, will a million books written, the ideas have to stop being original sometime, I suppose.
See full review at The Book Eaters.
6 May 2014: $2.99 on Kindle
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