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The Mist-Torn Witches #1
The Mist-Torn Witches
National bestselling author Barb Hendee presents a dark, fascinating new series set in the world of the Noble Dead Saga... the story of two sisters who will discover they have far more power than they ever envisioned...
In a small village in the nation of Droevinka, orphaned sisters Céline and Amelie Fawe scrape out a living selling herbal medicines in their apothecary shop. Céline earns additional money by posing as a seer and pretending to read people’s futures.
But they exist in a land of great noble houses, all vying for power, and when the sisters refuse the orders of a warlord prince, they must flee and are forced to depend on the warlord prince’s brother, Anton, for a temporary haven.
A series of bizarre deaths of pretty young girls are plaguing the village surrounding Prince Anton’s castle. He offers Céline and Amelie permanent protection if they can use their "skills" to find the killer.
With little choice, the sisters enter a world unknown to them — of fine gowns and banquets and advances from powerful men. Their survival depends on catching a murderer who appears to walk through walls and vanish without a trace — and the danger around them seems to grow with each passing night.
In a small village in the nation of Droevinka, orphaned sisters Céline and Amelie Fawe scrape out a living selling herbal medicines in their apothecary shop. Céline earns additional money by posing as a seer and pretending to read people’s futures.
But they exist in a land of great noble houses, all vying for power, and when the sisters refuse the orders of a warlord prince, they must flee and are forced to depend on the warlord prince’s brother, Anton, for a temporary haven.
A series of bizarre deaths of pretty young girls are plaguing the village surrounding Prince Anton’s castle. He offers Céline and Amelie permanent protection if they can use their "skills" to find the killer.
With little choice, the sisters enter a world unknown to them — of fine gowns and banquets and advances from powerful men. Their survival depends on catching a murderer who appears to walk through walls and vanish without a trace — and the danger around them seems to grow with each passing night.
326 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 7, 2013
About the author
Barb Hendee
66 books1,161 followers[See barbhendee.org]
Like most writers, I've worked at many jobs in my life, including teaching pre-school until I completed my master's degree in Composition Theory. Between 1993 and 2006, I taught college English while writing fiction on the side, some independently and some with my husband and life-long partner J.C.
Over the years, we've lived in Washington State, Idaho, Colorado, and now moved just south of Portland, Oregon. I love the Northwest, and it's a great place to write.
We have a lovely and talented daughter, Jaclyn, who lives in Houston, Texas along with our wonderful and talented son-in-law, Paul.
J.C. and I sold Dhampir in 2001, which changed our lives considerably. It was published in January 2003, and we've published a book in the Noble Dead Saga every year since. In May of 2006, we were both able to quit our teaching jobs and move into full time writing.
Recently, I've begun writing romance/suspense novels, beginning with: Alone with a Soldier. I am so glad my books have found an audience because I love to write fiction more than anything else in the world... and I'm not really good at anything else.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
August 7, 2015
Quick & Dirty: Fast, engaging fantasy read about two sisters and how secrets almost tore them apart.
Opening Sentence: My name is Céline Fawe, and I am a Mist-Torn witch.
Excerpt: Yes
The Review:
The Mist-Torn Witches is a fantasy series that follows two sisters who have vowed to do whatever they can to protect each other. Ever since their mother died, they made a pact to put each other first in order to survive this terribly harsh world. Set in a dark fantasy world, with a hint of the supernatural, these two sisters only have each other and the hope that they may live in a better place. The town that Céline and Amelie is in bad shape. The villagers barely have food while Céline and Amelie are only a little better off because of Céline’s lucrative business. Céline fakes being a seer and pretends to read peoples futures by reading their body language. Her mom was a true seer and Céline just sees this as a way to keep the family business going. They also run an apothecary helping people with potions, ailments and medicine.
One day a woman visits Céline with an offer that she just can’t turn down, it comes with a lot of money that could help them. Céline finds that she can’t do the job after all. She hopes that she can explain herself but before she can do that Céline and Amelie are attacked and their home/business was burned down. Luckily for them, they are being watched by a potential ally and rescued. They are taken to Prince Anton’s palace. The surrounding town is already much better off than their hometown. Prince Anton agrees to let them stay only if they can solve the mystery of why young girls are found shriveled up. The sisters have to decide if solving this deadly mystery is worth the safety of living in this town.
Céline and Amelie have always put each other first but after Céline gets a real vision she hides her secret from her sister. They begin to grow apart as the story goes along. The sisters also get their first look into a possible romantic love interest. Céline has two guys vying for her interest, one who tries to keep his interest hidden and another who might be a little too interested. Amelie has the best love interest in Jaromir. This guy is pretty badass and people respect him. Jaromir is a little embarrassed by the amount of trust he gets from everyone.
The Mist-Torn Witches is almost a dark fantasy. The world isn’t good but there are some funny moments and Prince Anton’s is almost a nice, sunny spot in this dark world. Yes, girls are dying and there is something wrong with Prince Anton that nobody seems to notice. Céline and Amelie’s skills come into great use to help heal this town. I would recommend this book for the older reader. There are some adult situations. This story is also told through several third person points of view including Céline, Amelie and Jaromir.
Céline is the older sister who relies on her people skills and her good looks to get by in life. She hides behind her lies and doesn’t really open up to people except for Amelie. She really wants a life here and she is scared that she may not be able to solve the murders. When strange things begin to happen to her, she keeps things hidden and doesn’t tell her sister because she is scared of what her sister may think.
Amelie is the younger sister who is well skilled in swordsmanship and uses her skills to protect her sister. Amelie seems to be the quiet, shy one but she integrates with the people of the new town to find out what they think could possibly be the cause of these strange murders. Amelie is also more open to her possible romantic entanglement towards Jaromir.
I loved the writing style of Barb Hendee. She is descriptive and she doesn’t waste time getting to the meat of the story. I actually devoured this novel in a few short hours. I know this is a spin-off series from the Noble Dead Sagas, which I do have on my TBR pile and want to read more about this world. The only thing I was most disappointed in was the romantic relationships (I’ve been reading too many romances.). I wanted something definitive but I’ll just have to wait for further books in this series.
Overall, if you like fantasy that isn’t over 600 pages. I would recommend giving this one a try. It was a good set up book that didn’t feel like a world dump. I’m looking forward to The Witches in Red.
Notable Scene:
As he got the door unlocked and shoved it open, Inna came rushing out, gasping for breath. “She’s dead! Dead!”
Jaromir ran past her into the room, and Amelie followed with Celine at her heels.
There, lying in the bed, was the dried husk of what had been Sybil. Her lovely brown hair was spread on the pillow, but her face was nothing more than shriveled skin adhered to bones.
“Oh, no,” Amelie whispered.
None of this made sense. Céline walked to the bed and looked down at a yellow-and-red-checked quilt.
“Inna!” she nearly shouted. “Where did this come from?”
Amelie blinked. The quilt? Why would Céline care about that?
“What is it?” Jaromir asked, his eyes moving to the quilt.
“This wasn’t here before,” Céline said. “Where did it come from?” She sounded brittle.
One of the other soldiers dragged Inna back inside, and she simply pointed at a chest across the room. “We were cold. I took it out.”
Céline closed her eyes. “It wasn’t here before,” she whispered.
The Mist-Torn Witches:
1. The Mist-Torn Witches
2. Witches in Red
3. Witches with the Enemy
4. Cry of the Kettle Witch (May 2016)
crow4
FTC Advisory: I purchased my own copy of The Mist-Torn Witches. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Opening Sentence: My name is Céline Fawe, and I am a Mist-Torn witch.
Excerpt: Yes
The Review:
The Mist-Torn Witches is a fantasy series that follows two sisters who have vowed to do whatever they can to protect each other. Ever since their mother died, they made a pact to put each other first in order to survive this terribly harsh world. Set in a dark fantasy world, with a hint of the supernatural, these two sisters only have each other and the hope that they may live in a better place. The town that Céline and Amelie is in bad shape. The villagers barely have food while Céline and Amelie are only a little better off because of Céline’s lucrative business. Céline fakes being a seer and pretends to read peoples futures by reading their body language. Her mom was a true seer and Céline just sees this as a way to keep the family business going. They also run an apothecary helping people with potions, ailments and medicine.
One day a woman visits Céline with an offer that she just can’t turn down, it comes with a lot of money that could help them. Céline finds that she can’t do the job after all. She hopes that she can explain herself but before she can do that Céline and Amelie are attacked and their home/business was burned down. Luckily for them, they are being watched by a potential ally and rescued. They are taken to Prince Anton’s palace. The surrounding town is already much better off than their hometown. Prince Anton agrees to let them stay only if they can solve the mystery of why young girls are found shriveled up. The sisters have to decide if solving this deadly mystery is worth the safety of living in this town.
Céline and Amelie have always put each other first but after Céline gets a real vision she hides her secret from her sister. They begin to grow apart as the story goes along. The sisters also get their first look into a possible romantic love interest. Céline has two guys vying for her interest, one who tries to keep his interest hidden and another who might be a little too interested. Amelie has the best love interest in Jaromir. This guy is pretty badass and people respect him. Jaromir is a little embarrassed by the amount of trust he gets from everyone.
The Mist-Torn Witches is almost a dark fantasy. The world isn’t good but there are some funny moments and Prince Anton’s is almost a nice, sunny spot in this dark world. Yes, girls are dying and there is something wrong with Prince Anton that nobody seems to notice. Céline and Amelie’s skills come into great use to help heal this town. I would recommend this book for the older reader. There are some adult situations. This story is also told through several third person points of view including Céline, Amelie and Jaromir.
Céline is the older sister who relies on her people skills and her good looks to get by in life. She hides behind her lies and doesn’t really open up to people except for Amelie. She really wants a life here and she is scared that she may not be able to solve the murders. When strange things begin to happen to her, she keeps things hidden and doesn’t tell her sister because she is scared of what her sister may think.
Amelie is the younger sister who is well skilled in swordsmanship and uses her skills to protect her sister. Amelie seems to be the quiet, shy one but she integrates with the people of the new town to find out what they think could possibly be the cause of these strange murders. Amelie is also more open to her possible romantic entanglement towards Jaromir.
I loved the writing style of Barb Hendee. She is descriptive and she doesn’t waste time getting to the meat of the story. I actually devoured this novel in a few short hours. I know this is a spin-off series from the Noble Dead Sagas, which I do have on my TBR pile and want to read more about this world. The only thing I was most disappointed in was the romantic relationships (I’ve been reading too many romances.). I wanted something definitive but I’ll just have to wait for further books in this series.
Overall, if you like fantasy that isn’t over 600 pages. I would recommend giving this one a try. It was a good set up book that didn’t feel like a world dump. I’m looking forward to The Witches in Red.
Notable Scene:
As he got the door unlocked and shoved it open, Inna came rushing out, gasping for breath. “She’s dead! Dead!”
Jaromir ran past her into the room, and Amelie followed with Celine at her heels.
There, lying in the bed, was the dried husk of what had been Sybil. Her lovely brown hair was spread on the pillow, but her face was nothing more than shriveled skin adhered to bones.
“Oh, no,” Amelie whispered.
None of this made sense. Céline walked to the bed and looked down at a yellow-and-red-checked quilt.
“Inna!” she nearly shouted. “Where did this come from?”
Amelie blinked. The quilt? Why would Céline care about that?
“What is it?” Jaromir asked, his eyes moving to the quilt.
“This wasn’t here before,” Céline said. “Where did it come from?” She sounded brittle.
One of the other soldiers dragged Inna back inside, and she simply pointed at a chest across the room. “We were cold. I took it out.”
Céline closed her eyes. “It wasn’t here before,” she whispered.
The Mist-Torn Witches:
1. The Mist-Torn Witches
2. Witches in Red
3. Witches with the Enemy
4. Cry of the Kettle Witch (May 2016)
crow4
FTC Advisory: I purchased my own copy of The Mist-Torn Witches. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
June 10, 2017
The sisters Celine and Amelie drew me in right away. I thought it was an interesting start to the series. It's been a long while since I've read a fantasy book, so this was perfect. There's a mystery involved where the sisters are hired to find out who is killing the young girls in the area. Now that both of the sisters have come into their true powers, this series can go just about anywhere.
Read
June 14, 2013I don't use star ratings, so please read my review!
(Description nicked from B&N.com.)
“In a small village in the nation of Droevinka, orphaned sisters Céline and Amelie Fawe scrape out a living selling herbal medicines in their apothecary shop. Céline earns additional money by posing as a seer and pretending to read people’s futures.
But they exist in a land of great noble houses, all vying for power, and when the sisters refuse the orders of a warlord prince, they must flee and are forced to depend on the warlord prince’s brother, Anton, for a temporary haven.
A series of bizarre deaths of pretty young girls is plaguing the village surrounding Prince Anton’s castle. He offers Céline and Amelie permanent protection if they can use their “skills” to find the killer.
With little choice, the sisters enter a world unknown to them—of fine gowns and banquets and advances from powerful men. Their survival depends on catching a murderer who appears to walk through walls and vanish without a trace—and the danger grows with each passing night.”
This story takes place in the world of Hendee’s Noble Dead series, which I wasn’t aware of when I got the book. The only other books of Hendee’s that I’ve read are the Vampire Memories books, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Based on that liking, and even though I thought I might find things a bit confusing, I decided to give this one a try. And I’m glad that I did.
The best word for this book is “entertaining”. Hendee’s writing is clear and cleanly executed, and I find that her prose sucks me in from the first page. I actually can’t pinpoint exactly what it is about her writing that resonates so strongly with me, but I find her stories to be incredibly easy to fall into. Perhaps it comes from the fact that you can easily see all the common fantasy elements, but the author plays with them in ways that you don’t expect. It makes the story both comfortingly familiar and new and interesting at the same time.
I really liked the main characters, Celine and Amelie. They’re quite different personality-wise, but at the same time, you can definitely see the familial bonds between them. They’re strong too—both stand up for themselves and for what they truly believe in, and the author doesn’t shy away from showing what that means in a culture that’s male-dominated. The two show glimmers of interest in certain men in the story, but those are hints only, thus keeping the novel from heading into the all-too-familiar romance territory of many fantasies.
The novel’s mystery is well crafted. It has just enough supernatural activity in it to keep it from being too mundane, but there is some solid grounding in logical exploration of the crimes. There is a secondary story that runs alongside the main plotline, and they work together nicely. There are more than a few hints of medieval politics thrown into the mix, but again, Hendee balances everything so well that everything flows smoothly towards the novel’s conclusion.
The best praise that I can give this novel is that after reading it, I found myself thinking of picking up the related Noble Dead books and giving them a try. Given the size of my reading list, that’s saying something! If those stories are as interesting as this one was, I run the risk of getting too involved in them to read anything else.
This is one of those novels that I think would be great for getting people into the fantasy genre. It has lots of fantasy’s traditional elements, it has a clear and straightforward plot, the characters are engaging, and it’s well written. The Mist-Torn Witches is a perfect summer read, so take along with you to the beach or the park or wherever you end up.
This review originally appeared on Owlcat Mountain on June 14, 2013.
(Description nicked from B&N.com.)
“In a small village in the nation of Droevinka, orphaned sisters Céline and Amelie Fawe scrape out a living selling herbal medicines in their apothecary shop. Céline earns additional money by posing as a seer and pretending to read people’s futures.
But they exist in a land of great noble houses, all vying for power, and when the sisters refuse the orders of a warlord prince, they must flee and are forced to depend on the warlord prince’s brother, Anton, for a temporary haven.
A series of bizarre deaths of pretty young girls is plaguing the village surrounding Prince Anton’s castle. He offers Céline and Amelie permanent protection if they can use their “skills” to find the killer.
With little choice, the sisters enter a world unknown to them—of fine gowns and banquets and advances from powerful men. Their survival depends on catching a murderer who appears to walk through walls and vanish without a trace—and the danger grows with each passing night.”
This story takes place in the world of Hendee’s Noble Dead series, which I wasn’t aware of when I got the book. The only other books of Hendee’s that I’ve read are the Vampire Memories books, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Based on that liking, and even though I thought I might find things a bit confusing, I decided to give this one a try. And I’m glad that I did.
The best word for this book is “entertaining”. Hendee’s writing is clear and cleanly executed, and I find that her prose sucks me in from the first page. I actually can’t pinpoint exactly what it is about her writing that resonates so strongly with me, but I find her stories to be incredibly easy to fall into. Perhaps it comes from the fact that you can easily see all the common fantasy elements, but the author plays with them in ways that you don’t expect. It makes the story both comfortingly familiar and new and interesting at the same time.
I really liked the main characters, Celine and Amelie. They’re quite different personality-wise, but at the same time, you can definitely see the familial bonds between them. They’re strong too—both stand up for themselves and for what they truly believe in, and the author doesn’t shy away from showing what that means in a culture that’s male-dominated. The two show glimmers of interest in certain men in the story, but those are hints only, thus keeping the novel from heading into the all-too-familiar romance territory of many fantasies.
The novel’s mystery is well crafted. It has just enough supernatural activity in it to keep it from being too mundane, but there is some solid grounding in logical exploration of the crimes. There is a secondary story that runs alongside the main plotline, and they work together nicely. There are more than a few hints of medieval politics thrown into the mix, but again, Hendee balances everything so well that everything flows smoothly towards the novel’s conclusion.
The best praise that I can give this novel is that after reading it, I found myself thinking of picking up the related Noble Dead books and giving them a try. Given the size of my reading list, that’s saying something! If those stories are as interesting as this one was, I run the risk of getting too involved in them to read anything else.
This is one of those novels that I think would be great for getting people into the fantasy genre. It has lots of fantasy’s traditional elements, it has a clear and straightforward plot, the characters are engaging, and it’s well written. The Mist-Torn Witches is a perfect summer read, so take along with you to the beach or the park or wherever you end up.
This review originally appeared on Owlcat Mountain on June 14, 2013.
September 9, 2016
Nope:ing this book. I don't like sloppy written romances, and this are setting up to be just that. I was hoping to read a book about witches... this isn't it. I have no desire to read further.
May 19, 2015
Orphaned sisters Celine and Amelie scrape by making potions and herbal remedies. Celine also poses as a seer. It is a rough life but they are managing. That is until Celine has a real vision and goes against the wishes of a powerful noble. They found temporary shelter with another noble. Now, all they have to do is catch a mysterious killer without winding up as victims themselves.
This is the first in a new series. It sounded like it might be in the vein of the writings of Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, or Jim Butcher. The big difference is that this isn't set in the modern world but a true fantasy world. The story has a lot of potential but a few problems as well.
Let's start with the good stuff. The characters are well-developed and interesting, This is true for both the main and secondary characters. The pacing is excellent. The world building is good. The reader gets to find out enough to feel comfortable with the world, but you know there is still more to come. There is a hint of romance but not the insta-love that is so common in these type of stories.
Let's look at the not-so-positive stuff. The mystery is a little weak. The main reason for this is that there are very few suspects introduced in the story and all but one of them are eliminated well before the conclusion. There are a handful of instances of strangeness with prepositions, either dropping them or added them when they aren't needed. (For example saying mid of night instead of midnight or out of doors instead of outdoors.) They weren't necessarily wrong always, but they were little stumbles when reading. The final thing was some of the reactions of the main characters, especially Celine. Celine seemed to see everything in black and white. Despite being helpful in several ways, she would suddenly think somebody was totally bad if they reacted angrily, even if that reaction was justified. It just made her seem a little too naive for an individual that had led the life she had led. It also didn't make too much sense that they didn't simply ask Helga about the Mist-Torn. Instead, they just stumble along without that knowledge and just try to guess what they need to do.
I look forward to reading more in the series to see how Amelie and Celine grow into their powers. I also look forward to see how the relationships between the different characters develop. Hopefully, the mysteries will become a little more complex and the sisters become a little more trusting (at least enough to accept help when it is offered). The series may not have lived up to the standards of those authors that I mentioned earlier, but there is room for the series to grow into their equal.
This is the first in a new series. It sounded like it might be in the vein of the writings of Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, or Jim Butcher. The big difference is that this isn't set in the modern world but a true fantasy world. The story has a lot of potential but a few problems as well.
Let's start with the good stuff. The characters are well-developed and interesting, This is true for both the main and secondary characters. The pacing is excellent. The world building is good. The reader gets to find out enough to feel comfortable with the world, but you know there is still more to come. There is a hint of romance but not the insta-love that is so common in these type of stories.
Let's look at the not-so-positive stuff. The mystery is a little weak. The main reason for this is that there are very few suspects introduced in the story and all but one of them are eliminated well before the conclusion. There are a handful of instances of strangeness with prepositions, either dropping them or added them when they aren't needed. (For example saying mid of night instead of midnight or out of doors instead of outdoors.) They weren't necessarily wrong always, but they were little stumbles when reading. The final thing was some of the reactions of the main characters, especially Celine. Celine seemed to see everything in black and white. Despite being helpful in several ways, she would suddenly think somebody was totally bad if they reacted angrily, even if that reaction was justified. It just made her seem a little too naive for an individual that had led the life she had led. It also didn't make too much sense that they didn't simply ask Helga about the Mist-Torn. Instead, they just stumble along without that knowledge and just try to guess what they need to do.
I look forward to reading more in the series to see how Amelie and Celine grow into their powers. I also look forward to see how the relationships between the different characters develop. Hopefully, the mysteries will become a little more complex and the sisters become a little more trusting (at least enough to accept help when it is offered). The series may not have lived up to the standards of those authors that I mentioned earlier, but there is room for the series to grow into their equal.
May 13, 2013
It's rather unusual for me to finish a book in a 24hr span these days. I just don't have the time to devote to pleasure reading.
I made an exception for this book. Within the first chapter, Amelie was already in my heart. I love her spirit and her determination. Her older sister, Céline, took a little longer for me to care for. Neither is a perfect character, although Amelie comes into her own gift rather abruptly for my preference, but it suited the pacing and feel of the story at the moment.
A note on pacing: I am a fan of the slower build and then quick burn as things come to a head. Barb Hendee has this pacing down pat.
The mystery is compelling, and handled skillfully. I didn't even figure out the culprit until just before the big reveal, and had no idea how the crime was committed until the actual revelation.
I could probably pick the symbolism apart and create an exhaustive analysis of the underlying meanings of this or that. But believe me when I tell you this is one you want to read for yourself. Flawed and Complicated, painfully Human characters, and an engrossing mystery, with the author's talent for building not only a world but the rich mythology of that world, all combine to make this a Must-Read.
I made an exception for this book. Within the first chapter, Amelie was already in my heart. I love her spirit and her determination. Her older sister, Céline, took a little longer for me to care for. Neither is a perfect character, although Amelie comes into her own gift rather abruptly for my preference, but it suited the pacing and feel of the story at the moment.
A note on pacing: I am a fan of the slower build and then quick burn as things come to a head. Barb Hendee has this pacing down pat.
The mystery is compelling, and handled skillfully. I didn't even figure out the culprit until just before the big reveal, and had no idea how the crime was committed until the actual revelation.
I could probably pick the symbolism apart and create an exhaustive analysis of the underlying meanings of this or that. But believe me when I tell you this is one you want to read for yourself. Flawed and Complicated, painfully Human characters, and an engrossing mystery, with the author's talent for building not only a world but the rich mythology of that world, all combine to make this a Must-Read.
August 7, 2017
A quick, easy read with likeable characters but I did find it pretty predictable. I am likely to pick up the next in the series.
March 16, 2015
Barb Hendee brings readers a new fantasy series with strong character development and excellent world building. The Mist-Torn Witches is the first book in a series of the same name. Hendee transfixes readers with her mesmerizing lead duo and keeps them guessing through out the book. Though touted as 'dark' fantasy, this is a book any paranormal fan will enjoy. With rich, vivid imagery and well drawn characters, this is a series you'll want to jump into with the first book!
This was my first book by author Barb Hendee. I had heard of the Noble Dead series, which she writes with her husband, J.C. but I had never read any of the books. I was thoroughly impressed with this one and look forward to continuing with the series and going back to read Hendee's other books. There was so much going on in this one, it's hard to know where to start.
With any good fantasy or paranormal series you have to have good world building. It's one of the things that draws a reader in and keeps their attention. Hendee does a great job of making the Mist-Torn world accessible to readers. She makes it interesting and keeps the twists and turns centered around the main characters and the world they live in. I always think this the hardest part of fantasy writing. It has to be fantastical to some extent but still something a reader has a frame of reference for. Excellent work on this part of the book.
Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the strong female characters. Readers are introduced to orphans Celine and Amelie and their quest to find a killer. They are using their 'magical' skills in order to procure protection for themselves in a very political world that is controlled by the royal houses. I loved the way Hendee made both sisters similar in their approach to life, but different in their actions. Both are strong and independent women, my favorite kind, but they each had their own vulnerabilities and that was nice. I loved the character development that Hendee shows throughout the book and I look forward to seeing where she takes the sisters next.
Bottom Line:
Overall this was a excellent start to a new series. The next book is coming out in a couple of months, so you will definitely want to pick this one up before that. You'll be happy you took a chance on a new series here, because there really is something for every paranormal reader. Love, mystery, political intrigue, Hendee gives it to you in spades with this book. A great new series!
This was my first book by author Barb Hendee. I had heard of the Noble Dead series, which she writes with her husband, J.C. but I had never read any of the books. I was thoroughly impressed with this one and look forward to continuing with the series and going back to read Hendee's other books. There was so much going on in this one, it's hard to know where to start.
With any good fantasy or paranormal series you have to have good world building. It's one of the things that draws a reader in and keeps their attention. Hendee does a great job of making the Mist-Torn world accessible to readers. She makes it interesting and keeps the twists and turns centered around the main characters and the world they live in. I always think this the hardest part of fantasy writing. It has to be fantastical to some extent but still something a reader has a frame of reference for. Excellent work on this part of the book.
Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the strong female characters. Readers are introduced to orphans Celine and Amelie and their quest to find a killer. They are using their 'magical' skills in order to procure protection for themselves in a very political world that is controlled by the royal houses. I loved the way Hendee made both sisters similar in their approach to life, but different in their actions. Both are strong and independent women, my favorite kind, but they each had their own vulnerabilities and that was nice. I loved the character development that Hendee shows throughout the book and I look forward to seeing where she takes the sisters next.
Bottom Line:
Overall this was a excellent start to a new series. The next book is coming out in a couple of months, so you will definitely want to pick this one up before that. You'll be happy you took a chance on a new series here, because there really is something for every paranormal reader. Love, mystery, political intrigue, Hendee gives it to you in spades with this book. A great new series!
May 1, 2013
The stars of Barb Hendee’s "The Mist-Torn Witches" are her complex, painfully flawed characters. Even Amelie and Celine, perhaps the two best-intentioned characters, mess things up and stubbornly press on through some fairly inadvisable courses of action. Yet even when I was cringing and thinking, “oh no, this just can’t end well,” I understood why they were doing what they did and it made sense for them. I didn’t even particularly like most of the characters, but they’re so well-drawn that I still cared about them, sympathized with them, and wanted very much to know what happened to them.
The pacing is quick and lively. Always I wanted to find out what happened next, and there was never a dull moment. The story has some lovely and unexpected twists and turns; it never felt predictable. The fantasy setting is interesting, but most of the world-building attention goes into the strife-ridden governmental system. Otherwise so far it’s a standard medieval-style fantasy world.
I’m trying to avoid spoilers, so I won’t go into much of the plot. I will say, however, that this volume (the first in a new series) provides a satisfying wrap-up to the immediate plot while leaving plenty of material to expand on later. I eagerly anticipate what will come next in the sequel, but wasn’t subjected to the sort of cliff-hanger ending that frustrates me.
Hendee’s The Mist-Torn Witches is a gripping read with absorbing characters, and plenty of danger around every corner.
[NOTE: review book provided by publisher]
This is a shorter version of a review I posted at errantdreams.com. If you want more detail, feel free to check it out: http://www.errantdreams.com/reviews/2...
The pacing is quick and lively. Always I wanted to find out what happened next, and there was never a dull moment. The story has some lovely and unexpected twists and turns; it never felt predictable. The fantasy setting is interesting, but most of the world-building attention goes into the strife-ridden governmental system. Otherwise so far it’s a standard medieval-style fantasy world.
I’m trying to avoid spoilers, so I won’t go into much of the plot. I will say, however, that this volume (the first in a new series) provides a satisfying wrap-up to the immediate plot while leaving plenty of material to expand on later. I eagerly anticipate what will come next in the sequel, but wasn’t subjected to the sort of cliff-hanger ending that frustrates me.
Hendee’s The Mist-Torn Witches is a gripping read with absorbing characters, and plenty of danger around every corner.
[NOTE: review book provided by publisher]
This is a shorter version of a review I posted at errantdreams.com. If you want more detail, feel free to check it out: http://www.errantdreams.com/reviews/2...
Read
May 20, 2015THE MIST-TORN WITCHES is the first book in a new series by Barb Hendee, half of the writing team behind the Noble Dead series. The orphaned Fawe sisters, Céline and Amelie, sell herbal remedies (such as tisanes, infusions, macerates, tinctures, and elixirs) in the apothecary shop left to them when their mother died. Their mother was also a Seer, something which Céline now must pretend to be when a distraught young man comes calling. Years later, Céline is paid to ‘See’ a particular outcome for a client by a maniacal warlord prince, but when she can’t go through with it she and Amelie must run. They’re taken in by the prince’s brother…for a price. Céline must use her skills as a Seer to solve the strange wasting deaths of young, pretty village girls. THE MIST-TORN WITCHES is a very character driven novel which draws you in quickly. Céline and Amelie appealed to me in different ways and I was glad they weren’t carbon-copies of each other. All the characters stood out to me distinctly, the solution to the mystery was surprising, and I enjoyed the supernatural elements. It was gratifying to see how much the characters evolved over the course of the book. THE MIST-TORN WITCHES is an excellent start to a new series. Bravo!
May 7, 2013
This was a near perfect read, I couldn’t put it down. While the plot is full of drama, a hint of romance, murder, and political intrigue; it is completely driven by the decisions the characters make. The characters are rich and full. They try to do what seems like the right thing at the time—and yet the outcomes of these decisions have far reaching consequences. I especially loved the relationship between the two sisters, Celine and Amelie. While they have very different personalities they are completely devoted to each other.
June 3, 2013
I opened the book at page of the author's previous publications, saw the word "vampire" and nearly tossed it. I am glad I persevered. No vampires and something original. Most enjoyable.
As usual, I have one slight nit-pick: "As a hired guard he had access to the castle amory, and in the night, he'd borrowedd a few extra weapons." Armouries are usually guarded or locked up. Weapons are always valuable and are not handed out willy-nilly, nor would a mere "hired guard" be able to just walk in and out, let alone help himself.
As usual, I have one slight nit-pick: "As a hired guard he had access to the castle amory, and in the night, he'd borrowedd a few extra weapons." Armouries are usually guarded or locked up. Weapons are always valuable and are not handed out willy-nilly, nor would a mere "hired guard" be able to just walk in and out, let alone help himself.
December 2, 2014
The noble dead series is wonderful-this series is a wounded Turkey that needs to be euthanized. It was a total shock to check the cover and discover it was a Barb Hendee novel. The world building here severely lacks depth as do the main characters. There is little backstory, and even less effort to disguise this as a fantasy novel, it's a crappy YA romance series. It's just not believe able that in seemingly feudal times Prince Whatshispickle is enlightened and runs a harmonious keep that values these two dimwit sisters. If you like the noble dead avoid this it will male you angry
May 30, 2013
I got this to review for I Smell Sheep Reviews, but wanted to post here first. I enjoyed Barb Hendee when she wrote with her husband, but she really hit a winner out of the park with this (obviously) first book in a new series on her own. I couldn't put it down. My fave of the characters? Amelie and Jaromir. Not so much Celine. Anton needed more fleshing out, and hopefully in the next book it will be.
April 17, 2014
I have enjoyed her noble dead series but this new series did not do much for me. It was a bit empty..no depth to the characters..the plot was soso...It may be me as I like a lot of action and interaction with the story and the characters and this did not give me that. It might be that this was just the world building intro whatever for the series.
May 22, 2015
The book had a few good moments. It's definitely book 1 in a series. A lot of set up. I want to read the other books in the series.
July 23, 2020
Honestly, I checked this book out of the library because there was a review on the cover saying that the characters in Barb Hendee's books were good. Then on the back it said that if you were "looking for an alternative to Ilona Andrews or Patricia Briggs," then this book was the way to go. And it was entertaining, for sure. I probably won't reread it, but there's a good chance I'll seek out the next book in the series, too.
The text was pretty big, so I managed to go through 150 pages of it in one day, only really being able to read it in the evening, so it's not a particularly long book. Nor is it a hard read, unless you're one of those people who needs to solve the mystery with the characters, which I am not.
The characters were fine. They were definitely well-defined, if a bit cliche at times. I liked that Celine wasn't as much of a sword-wielding badass; it's good to have one of the sword-wielding badass types, but it's nice that you don't need to rely on it to have a strong female character. Still, you have the badass girl, the fragile healer, the guard dude, the princeling... there wasn't a ton of nuance to these characters. But it was nice that the sister relationship wasn't fraught with drama.
I guess I should mention the developing relationships. It looks like Jaromir and Amelie are going to end up together. This makes sense for their characters, in my opinion. They're both the kick-ass protective types, and they had something of an instant combatant attraction. I can see how it might be interesting to see them learning to work together in future books, instead of fighting each other. While I kind of liked the thing going on between Anton and Celine, it didn't make as much sense, especially not at first. They just kind of... stare at each other sometimes for a while. I'm all about instalove, but there isn't as much of a context or basis for them to start developing a thing for each other. It just seems out of place to start falling for a seer.
I found it refreshing that while the sisters had minor tensions, they didn't explode at each other. I also found it frustrating that there wasn't as much interpersonal tension in this book. The characters barely argue with each other, when characters upset each other there aren't any stakes so I just kind of don't care. When the twist was revealed, I wasn't super upset. Mildly surprised, maybe, but there weren't any real emotions there. What I'm saying is that, while this was an interesting book, it didn't really invoke an emotional reaction in me.
The magic was unique. The idea of the mist-torn and kettle witches, it was unique. I liked that the magic wasn't too hard to understand but was still original and not super cliched.
So yeah, it's an easy read without too much stress involved.
The text was pretty big, so I managed to go through 150 pages of it in one day, only really being able to read it in the evening, so it's not a particularly long book. Nor is it a hard read, unless you're one of those people who needs to solve the mystery with the characters, which I am not.
The characters were fine. They were definitely well-defined, if a bit cliche at times. I liked that Celine wasn't as much of a sword-wielding badass; it's good to have one of the sword-wielding badass types, but it's nice that you don't need to rely on it to have a strong female character. Still, you have the badass girl, the fragile healer, the guard dude, the princeling... there wasn't a ton of nuance to these characters. But it was nice that the sister relationship wasn't fraught with drama.
I guess I should mention the developing relationships. It looks like Jaromir and Amelie are going to end up together. This makes sense for their characters, in my opinion. They're both the kick-ass protective types, and they had something of an instant combatant attraction. I can see how it might be interesting to see them learning to work together in future books, instead of fighting each other. While I kind of liked the thing going on between Anton and Celine, it didn't make as much sense, especially not at first. They just kind of... stare at each other sometimes for a while. I'm all about instalove, but there isn't as much of a context or basis for them to start developing a thing for each other. It just seems out of place to start falling for a seer.
I found it refreshing that while the sisters had minor tensions, they didn't explode at each other. I also found it frustrating that there wasn't as much interpersonal tension in this book. The characters barely argue with each other, when characters upset each other there aren't any stakes so I just kind of don't care. When the twist was revealed, I wasn't super upset. Mildly surprised, maybe, but there weren't any real emotions there. What I'm saying is that, while this was an interesting book, it didn't really invoke an emotional reaction in me.
The magic was unique. The idea of the mist-torn and kettle witches, it was unique. I liked that the magic wasn't too hard to understand but was still original and not super cliched.
So yeah, it's an easy read without too much stress involved.
April 26, 2015
There is good and bad points to this series. Although I like the sisters, my biggest problem would be that they don't make more use of their gifts and the big reveal always draws away from the momentum of the story.
Céline Fawe was only fifteen and her sister, Amelie, was only twelve when their mother died leaving them alone. Their only way to survive was for Céline to fill the role that her mother death left open as the local apothecary, and as a seer of the future. Céline did not have her mother's gift, or so she thought, but she was very good at reading people and knowing what they wanted. They lived well for several years with Céline earning money for them and Amelie taking on the job of protector.
It was five years later when Prince Damak's future bride comes to Céline looking for a reading of her future that everything changes. No one is more surprised than Céline when she actual sees the woman's future, which includes Damak falsely accusing her of adultery and killing her. This way he could have her dowry, but not a wife. For sharing that bit of information, Damak sends his guards to burn down the Fawe sisters' home and try to kill them as they fled the burning building. It was Amelie's skill with a blade and Prince Anton's guards who saved the sisters and bring them to Anton's castle.
The underlying premise of the series is that Prince Damak and Prince Anton are brothers. The lands are not ruled by a King but a Grand Prince who is elected every 9 years. Damak and Anton's father plans to retire in two years, just before the next election, and name one of his sons as his successor. Both have been given a castle and some lands/towns to rule, so that their father can determine who would be the better leader. Where Damak rules with an iron fist and drains most of the money from his people leaving them in an impoverished state, Anton is a kind ruler, his people are flourishing although Anton's coffers are not as lush as Damak's.
Upon arriving at Anton's castle, Céline and Amelie find out that there is someone killing young women in the castle and the outlying town. Anton asks Céline to use her gift for foresight to figure out who the next victim will be to help catch the killer. If they succeed, he will give them the apothecary shop in town as a gift.
Céline has to confess to her sister that she is no longer just pretending to see people's futures and they also find out that Amelie has developed the power to see into the past.
Between both of their gifts, Céline is able to see who the next victim will be and try to lay a trap to catch the killer, while Amelie will see into the past to determine the motives of the killer.
THOUGHTS:
I am having a love/hate with this series. I enjoyed it enough to read all three books which have been released and I would have continued if there were more. But they all have one inherent problem in the premise where one sister sees the past and one sees the future and they solve the crime, as the action builds and the killer is narrowed down, and all the suspense which has been building up comes to a head, Amelie ends up touching the killer and her gift drags us into the killer's backstory. The whole momentum of the story is brought screeching to a halt. Then we spend a chapter hearing the blah, bhah, blah behind why the killer was doing it. And by the third story, I was actually going blah, blah, blah in my head, because I really didn't care why they were doing it, I just wanted to see what happened next.
I would have also liked to have spent a little more time with Céline and Amelie in their little town and life in their feudal environment. But once they find the killer in this town and open their little shop, in the next stories they get dragged away to solve other problems in the kingdom and we don't really get to learn more about them because we are so busy solving problems. By the end of three books all we know about them is what we knew in the beginning, Amelie is good at fighting and Céline is some medical knowledge.
This is not a romance series, but a Fantasy series, not Urban Fantasy since it if more Lord of the Rings style. In Fantasy/Urban Fantasy, romance is hinted at and not fulfilled in any way. Prince Anton lost his wife in childbirth several years ago but he now has his eye on Céline, and his second in command, Lieutenant Jaromir has his eye on Amelie. At this time, Céline is 20 and Amelie has just turned 17. Anton is a prince and the girls are both descended from gypsies. Obviously, the Prince can't marry a peasant gypsy girl so his interest is just an admiration of Céline's kindness and beauty. Jaromir is married to his job so he feels he can't take a wife and young Amelie, who prefers to wear trousers rather than dressing as a lady should, is nothing like the women Jaromir usually has in his bed. Admirably, neither of these men will ask these untouched young women to become their mistress, which is the only thing they feel they could offer to them. So you do have to give them credit for not just pushing to get them in their beds. So the non-romance dance begins where there is a possible love interest, but it will be a long, long time before anything starts happening.
I will say I am much more interested in the Amelie/Jaromir pairing than Céline/Anton. Jaromir's underlying problem is that he needs to be free to protect the prince and the castle and can't take a wife. But Amelie proves that she can hold her own in a fight, and with a little more training from Jaromir, she wouldn't need him to protect her in times of danger. She could fight by his side, even if that is unconventional. Both are also stronger characters. As an example, Jaromir and Amelie would be the Darcy/Elizabeth pairing to Céline and Anton's Bingley/Jane pairing. Anton's a little wishy-washy to me both as a man and as a leader, and understandably, Céline spends her time feeling guilty using her power when all she is doing is point out who is going to die next. Since Anton can't make any declaration of his feelings toward Céline, this is a young guard who is showing an interest which will be a cause of some strife.
All in all, I find the stories interesting and they move along well until the final chapters when Amelie's gift drags us into the past and derails the momentum. I would like to see the sisters be allowed to make better use of their gifts or a better way of presenting the killer's motives and allowing Amelie just to have an "Ah ha!" moment where we don't have to be dragged away from the story to watch every minute detail of why the killer acts the way he or she is acting.
Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Céline Fawe was only fifteen and her sister, Amelie, was only twelve when their mother died leaving them alone. Their only way to survive was for Céline to fill the role that her mother death left open as the local apothecary, and as a seer of the future. Céline did not have her mother's gift, or so she thought, but she was very good at reading people and knowing what they wanted. They lived well for several years with Céline earning money for them and Amelie taking on the job of protector.
It was five years later when Prince Damak's future bride comes to Céline looking for a reading of her future that everything changes. No one is more surprised than Céline when she actual sees the woman's future, which includes Damak falsely accusing her of adultery and killing her. This way he could have her dowry, but not a wife. For sharing that bit of information, Damak sends his guards to burn down the Fawe sisters' home and try to kill them as they fled the burning building. It was Amelie's skill with a blade and Prince Anton's guards who saved the sisters and bring them to Anton's castle.
The underlying premise of the series is that Prince Damak and Prince Anton are brothers. The lands are not ruled by a King but a Grand Prince who is elected every 9 years. Damak and Anton's father plans to retire in two years, just before the next election, and name one of his sons as his successor. Both have been given a castle and some lands/towns to rule, so that their father can determine who would be the better leader. Where Damak rules with an iron fist and drains most of the money from his people leaving them in an impoverished state, Anton is a kind ruler, his people are flourishing although Anton's coffers are not as lush as Damak's.
Upon arriving at Anton's castle, Céline and Amelie find out that there is someone killing young women in the castle and the outlying town. Anton asks Céline to use her gift for foresight to figure out who the next victim will be to help catch the killer. If they succeed, he will give them the apothecary shop in town as a gift.
Céline has to confess to her sister that she is no longer just pretending to see people's futures and they also find out that Amelie has developed the power to see into the past.
Between both of their gifts, Céline is able to see who the next victim will be and try to lay a trap to catch the killer, while Amelie will see into the past to determine the motives of the killer.
THOUGHTS:
I am having a love/hate with this series. I enjoyed it enough to read all three books which have been released and I would have continued if there were more. But they all have one inherent problem in the premise where one sister sees the past and one sees the future and they solve the crime, as the action builds and the killer is narrowed down, and all the suspense which has been building up comes to a head, Amelie ends up touching the killer and her gift drags us into the killer's backstory. The whole momentum of the story is brought screeching to a halt. Then we spend a chapter hearing the blah, bhah, blah behind why the killer was doing it. And by the third story, I was actually going blah, blah, blah in my head, because I really didn't care why they were doing it, I just wanted to see what happened next.
I would have also liked to have spent a little more time with Céline and Amelie in their little town and life in their feudal environment. But once they find the killer in this town and open their little shop, in the next stories they get dragged away to solve other problems in the kingdom and we don't really get to learn more about them because we are so busy solving problems. By the end of three books all we know about them is what we knew in the beginning, Amelie is good at fighting and Céline is some medical knowledge.
This is not a romance series, but a Fantasy series, not Urban Fantasy since it if more Lord of the Rings style. In Fantasy/Urban Fantasy, romance is hinted at and not fulfilled in any way. Prince Anton lost his wife in childbirth several years ago but he now has his eye on Céline, and his second in command, Lieutenant Jaromir has his eye on Amelie. At this time, Céline is 20 and Amelie has just turned 17. Anton is a prince and the girls are both descended from gypsies. Obviously, the Prince can't marry a peasant gypsy girl so his interest is just an admiration of Céline's kindness and beauty. Jaromir is married to his job so he feels he can't take a wife and young Amelie, who prefers to wear trousers rather than dressing as a lady should, is nothing like the women Jaromir usually has in his bed. Admirably, neither of these men will ask these untouched young women to become their mistress, which is the only thing they feel they could offer to them. So you do have to give them credit for not just pushing to get them in their beds. So the non-romance dance begins where there is a possible love interest, but it will be a long, long time before anything starts happening.
I will say I am much more interested in the Amelie/Jaromir pairing than Céline/Anton. Jaromir's underlying problem is that he needs to be free to protect the prince and the castle and can't take a wife. But Amelie proves that she can hold her own in a fight, and with a little more training from Jaromir, she wouldn't need him to protect her in times of danger. She could fight by his side, even if that is unconventional. Both are also stronger characters. As an example, Jaromir and Amelie would be the Darcy/Elizabeth pairing to Céline and Anton's Bingley/Jane pairing. Anton's a little wishy-washy to me both as a man and as a leader, and understandably, Céline spends her time feeling guilty using her power when all she is doing is point out who is going to die next. Since Anton can't make any declaration of his feelings toward Céline, this is a young guard who is showing an interest which will be a cause of some strife.
All in all, I find the stories interesting and they move along well until the final chapters when Amelie's gift drags us into the past and derails the momentum. I would like to see the sisters be allowed to make better use of their gifts or a better way of presenting the killer's motives and allowing Amelie just to have an "Ah ha!" moment where we don't have to be dragged away from the story to watch every minute detail of why the killer acts the way he or she is acting.
Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2017
This story follows well-trodden plot lines, with characters whose archetypes we recognize readily. No big surprises, but not big disappointments either. The primary characters are winsome and attractive despite their predictable actions. I thought the story was well plotted and executed with two exceptions: One plot sequence soured me a bit as being just-plain stupid (where the sisters attempt to circumvent a potential murder by spiriting away the victim in advance). Another concerned the class dissonance between nobles, townspeople, and country folk. There is some attempt at establishing a theme of discomfort around class differences. In a better book, this would have been a more interesting thread throughout the novel. Unfortunately, this theme disappointed, being half-heartedly resolved in the denouement by the recognition that royalty is only human after all.
Otherwise, the murder mystery is solved, appropriate romantic beginnings stir, and the magic performs in acceptable ways. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
Otherwise, the murder mystery is solved, appropriate romantic beginnings stir, and the magic performs in acceptable ways. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
November 6, 2018
This could easily be read by a MG reader with it's very simple style and tone. Simplified language, thin characters, a surface plot where every "twist" is easily guessed long before it's revealed, and a lack of subplots. It is clear the male characters do not respect females and are often violent to them, yet the MC still describes them as good leaders and maintains a girlish admiration for them. The motivations of the female villain revolve entirely around the "I just want to be pretty" trope. The ending seemed rushed. The book could easily have been longer or even had a second novel to fully explore what could have been a very intriguing plot. Though published by Tor, the novel was still riddled with typos and more than a couple continuity errors. It is clean fiction (no sex, romance, harsh language, and the violence is fairly mild), so it is a suitable read for just about any reader.
October 27, 2016
First time I've read a book by Barb Hendee. I try to find fantasy books with strong female protagonists I like, which isn't always easy. Often times the women are obnoxious or too wimpy. Celine and Amelie are two likable young women, not perfect, not obnoxious or whiny. I particularly like Amelie: she's pretty tough and doesn't take shit from anyone.
Anton the prince, and Jaromir, his captain of his guard, are also interesting characters. This was a good introduction to Celine and Amelie and a bit of their Mist-Torn powers. I'm looking forward to Celine and Amelie learning more of their Mist-Torn heritage and finding out why their mother did not tell them of her family's past or powers.
On to the next book.
Anton the prince, and Jaromir, his captain of his guard, are also interesting characters. This was a good introduction to Celine and Amelie and a bit of their Mist-Torn powers. I'm looking forward to Celine and Amelie learning more of their Mist-Torn heritage and finding out why their mother did not tell them of her family's past or powers.
On to the next book.
September 9, 2020
I have a soft spot for fantasy books written by very young authors. Yes, they are naive and you can tell that they haven't travel much or have a lot of medieval knowledge. But there is something about this books, full of hope, and a good feeling that I enjoy reading. About this book in particular, I liked the sisters, even if they are archetypes, and even when the end was kind of abrupt, I was very into this world. It is the kind of naive hopeful fantasy that leave me with a happy feeling. I'm reading the next one for sure.
January 2, 2022
This isn't an *amazing* book. I.e it doesn't do anything incredible or innovative or challenge social states. But what it is is a FUN book. It takes all the tired and expected tropes and rejuvenates them into a page-turner mystery. The key is that Hendee presents less of a whodunnit and instead asks *how*-they-did it. She gives you just enough pieces of this supernatural mystery to supply answers to both questions (who and how), but you're still left devouring the book to see if you're sleuthing skills are right. And that's what makes it fun!
May 15, 2017
Barb Hendee's "The Mist-Torn Witches" is an action-packed story about sisters who inherited their mother's ability to see the future by one sister and the past by the other. After they are rescued by Prince Anton from his brother, the sisters embark upon finding the killer responsible for the deaths of teen girls in the castle. But how is the killer able to enter a well-guarded room with no windows?
I recommend this story for readers who enjoy a medieval aged adventure.
I recommend this story for readers who enjoy a medieval aged adventure.
November 20, 2017
I absolutely loved this book. First of all, the apothecary, seer aspects was great. I always love the theme of a "seer", or someone else who has supernatural powers, also being a healer. The world was very interesting, and I liked the different characters. I very much enjoyed the fact that the viewpoint switched between the different main characters, and that we were able to get to know each of the characters. I can't wait to see how the series continues, and how the characters develop.
April 22, 2018
2.5 stars
Light read about two sisters who discover that . Set in a medieval setting. The worldbuilding is simple and I felt the romance was shoed in too much, but it was otherwise ok.
Also, how did Amelie
Light read about two sisters who discover that . Set in a medieval setting. The worldbuilding is simple and I felt the romance was shoed in too much, but it was otherwise ok.
Also, how did Amelie
May 24, 2019
True rating: 4.5 stars.
Immensely likable characters and a speedy pace made this an enjoyable and relaxing book to read. Sometimes it's nice not to have to process a ton of world-building, or to follow a plot that's one convolution after the next. Mist-Torn had the ideal amount of both.
This was my introduction to Barb Hendee, and it couldn't have been better. I'm very much looking forward to reading the remainder of the series.
July 31, 2019
I read this book for a family book club. It’s a quick read. Pros: I loved the relationship between the sisters and the ‘two sides of the same coin’ idea. The book had me rooting for both the girls and the supporting characters. I also like that the magic in this book didn’t feel forced, but was still unique. Cons: some of the characters were a little predictable or one dimensional. Overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend it as a fun, easy read!
April 25, 2020
There’s a blurb on the cover of this book about Barb Hendee’s psychological insight into her characters, and I completely agree with that statement. There were lots of moments in this book when the characters felt more alive and nuanced than I was expecting. The prose is simple and direct, but the plotting is excellent and the two sisters, Céline and Amelie, are really fun and interesting protagonists. I look forward to reading more in the series!
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