Witch Wood (Excerpt Included)

Click for Harvesting Series on Amazon
 

  *I got this book from the author for free, this in no way effects my opinion of the book.*
*Do not read this book until you've read the previous three books, The Harvesting, Midway, and The Shadow Aspect.*

 

Witch Wood

A "Harvesting Series" Novella  

Melanie Karsak 

  • Published October 1, 2015 by Clockpunk Press 
  •  Post Apocalyptic
  •  13+ Interest level
  •  5/5 ★★★★★
  •  Includes mild language, zombies and witchcraft.

     Amelia isn't an average teenage girl, she's a witch. She's been practicing Wicca, a type of magic, since she was 13. With a flu sweeping the nation with deadly and strange side effects her mother, a nurse, is working 24/7. Once at Witch Wood to take care of Madame Knightly, an elderly women who can't clean the house or shop herself, she finds out her mother's sick. She go's home only to find her mom and step-dad in a zombie-like state in her backyard. The world is going down in flames, will Amelia go with it?

Shape-shifting September!-Makenzie

 
     Here at Book-Attic, we've decided to a post dedicated entirely to shape-shifters.  This post will be to explain shape-shifters and were-creatures. We will be focusing on multiple kinds of shape-shifters from different books and series. Those series include, but aren't limited to, Harry Potter, Twilight, Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, and The Mortal Instruments. Before we begin keep in mind that were-creatures and shape-shifters are two different species.         

Shape-Shifters

I believe a shape-shifter is anyone or anything that changes form on will whereas most people see them as any being who changes form. An example of would be the Greek Gods. They can turn into any form they want and always control it. The Greek Gods typically use their shape-shifting abilities to confuse or take advantage of people. Jacob Black, from Twilight,  changes form willingly and although Meyers classifies him as a werewolf, Edward and Aro later clarify that he's a shape-shifter.                                                    
"These creatures truly have nothing to do with the Children of the Moon. They have merely inherited this skill from their fathers. It's genetic, they do not continue their species by infecting others the way true werewolves do." -Aro, Breaking Dawn
     
 
Boggarts
     Boggarts, a creature from Harry Potter, area unique form; half shape-shifter, half were-creature. For those of you who don't know what this creature is, they're magical creatures that turn into a person's worst fear. Bogggarts control this change, but lose control after that. Once a witch or wizard has cast the Ridikulus spell, the fearsome image is changed into something funny. For example, Ron Weasley's fear is spiders. When he casts this spell, the giant spider shaped boggart suddenly has roller-skates and he starts slipping around, therefore diminishing Ron's fear.

Were-Creatures

   There is only one significant difference between were-creatures and shape-shifters; they can't control their changes. Vampires are an interesting type of being, they only change once. When the vampire is first bitten, it is not a voluntary change, making it a were-creature, in my opinion. Then there's the classic example, a were-wolf. These creatures change once a full moon into a horrific monster without self-control. Once the full moon is over, the majority of the time, the person has no recollection of the time when they were in wolf form.        I enjoyed writing about these unique and interesting creatures. I hope to hear your take on the topic. Also, if you want to hear my take on a specific kind of shape-shifter, just ask I'd be happy to answer!   

Let the shape-shifting begin!

 

The Shadow Aspect (The Harvesting 2)


The Shadow Aspect by Melanie Karsak

Genre- Post-Apocalyptic 

Published- Clockpunk Press (July 15, 2015)

Interest Level- 14+

 

Warning includes mature content, zombies, vampires, cussing, and spoilers from The Harvesting (The Harvesting 1) and Midway (The Harvesting 1.5).


     "When Layla took the final step through the labyrinth, she thought she was saving the ones she loved.
     She couldn’t have been more wrong.
     The unwitting victims of a grudge seething for eons, Layla and the other survivors now find themselves in a war for our world. With vampires lurking and shapechangers plotting vengeance, if mankind has any hope of survival, Layla must decide whom to trust: the carnie girl? The quiet doctor? The tarot reader? The stranger with alluring gold eyes? Or the man she loves? And then there are the voices. What does it forewarn if the dead can speak?"- Melaniekarsak.com

      I give The Shadow Aspect 3.5/5 stars for good characters and plotline. We meet Tristan at the end of Midway, but really get to know him here. He has a big secret; a  secret that could be the key to life or undeath. I believe that we really get to know Cricket. She, like anybody, has insecurities and Karsak plays on that giving her life. As for Layla, we already knew her and she's just as awesome as always! 


     As a standalone, I think The Shadow Aspect could be good. However, when compared to the first two books in The Harvesting Trilogy, it was kind of dissapointing. You know that one book in a really good series that is good, but not quite as good as the rest? I feel like The Shadow Aspect was that book; good but not great. In spite of the fact that it wasn't the best, I can't wait to read Witch Wood (The Harvesting 2.5), to be published October 1, 2015 by Clockpunk Press.

 

The Harvesting Series Reading Order: 

Book 1: The Harvesting

Book 1.5: Midway (can be read before or after The Harvesting)

Book 2: The Shadow Aspect

Book 2.5: Witch Wood