This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Jennifer Joyce
Iona Sheehan has travelled from her home in America to Ireland to trace her family history, meeting up with her cousins, Branna and Connor O’Dwyer. Legend has it that their ancestor Sorcha, known locally as the Dark Witch, was a powerful witch who had battled with an evil sorcerer back in the 13th century. Sorcha claimed that one day three of her descendants would unite to defeat the evil Cabhan. Branna and Connor have waited a long time for Iona to find them. And now she is here, she must hone her skills and powers so that the three of them can defeat Cabhan once and for all.
Dark Witch starts off back in 1263, as Sorcha tries to protect herself and her young family from Cabhan. Cabhan is hungry for power and wishes to combine his skills with those of the Dark Witch, but Sorcha is strong and refuses to allow Cabhan to win. I really enjoyed this part of the book and felt immediately drawn into the story. While it’s only a small portion, I felt like I really got to know Sorcha and her three children, and it felt like I was experiencing the legend first hand. The book then switches to the present day, as Iona arrives in Ireland and goes in search of Branna and Connor. I liked Connor, but I did find Branna could be quite cold and moody at times, though the three do strike up a bond as they unite against Cabhan. While there is the constant threat from the sorcerer, Iona has a lot to learn, so I was glad that the book wasn’t rushed and we got to know the O’Dwyer siblings as well as their friends, Boyle, Fin and Meara.
I wasn’t sure to what to expect with a book about witchcraft, but I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the storyline and the characters. I thought it was a well-written novel that drew me into the lives of both Sorcha and Iona and her cousins. As Dark Witch is the first in a trilogy, it would be interesting to see what happens next.8/10