Early Reader Review: The Witches of Orkney by Alane Adams

Source:  From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion on review

Good Morning Readers! 

It is my pleasure today to share the newest installment of a middle grade series, out TODAY! Below you will find a review of all three books currently available in the series called The Witches of Orkney by Alane Adams. it is a fantasy adventure just in time for the Halloween/Spooky season. The plots are inspired by Norse mythology but about a young witchling learning who she is. I hope you enjoy! 

XOXO, Steph

STOP!!! 

If you have not read the first two books in the series scroll down!

Jump to Book 1 Review

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BOOK 3 Review!

Witch Wars by Alane Adams

Series: Witches of Orkney #3
Publisher: Spark Press
Publication Date: October 13, 2020 (TODAY)  

 

Format: Paperback ARC


Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Abigail’s second year at the Tarkana Academy has been an all-out disaster. She’s just unwittingly helped Vertulious, an ancient he-witch and powerful alchemist, destroy Odin’s Stone and restore his powers, and now all of Orkney is caught up in the threat of war as the witches prepare to destroy the helpless Orkadians. Determined to set things right, Abigail and Hugo set off for Jotunheim, the land of the giants, to find a weapon to restore the balance. All they have to do is track down the God of Thunder and convince Thor to turn his hammer over to them.

When their former-friend-now-foe Robert Barconian arrives with a band of dwarves, intent on stopping them, Abigail and friends must unite to prevent a war that will destroy them all. But has Abigail made the biggest mistake of all by trusting in the wrong ally?

Book 3 Review: 

Abigail is her persistent and courageous self in this, the third installment, of the Orkney series.  The story follows her and her friends as they attempt to prevent the impending war between the witches and Orkadians.

This series is just enchanting. It is a beautifully build fantasy adventure with all the elements of a great middle grade series. There is conflict, and friendship/ trust battles, there is magic and suspense, there are Norse GODS! oh and dragon-esq creatures. I really loved this book in the series. It introduced more of the mythical world the witches live in and it was wonderful. 

Abigail is growing up to be a strong, determined, and brave young woman. She believes in herself and her values and is doing her very best to show the other witches that there is another way, they don't have to be so evil all the time. We get more Norse mythology than ever in this book in the series, and I really enjoy learning about Thor and the giants. 

This book left me on the edge of my seat and I flew through it in one sitting. Really spectacular.

The Rubicus Prophecy by Alane Adams 

Series: Witches of Orkney #2
Publisher: Spark Press
Publication Date: October 15, 2019

   

Format: Paperback ARC


Rating:  

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Abigail has just started her second year at the Tarkana Witch Academy and is already up to her ears studying for Horrid Hexes and Awful Alchemy! Worse, Endera’s malevolent spellbook has its hooks in her, whispering in her ear to use its dark magic. Meanwhile, the entire school is talking about the Rubicus Prophecy; a sign has arrived that the chosen witchling is among them, the one who will one day break Odin’s curse over them. When an Orkadian warship arrives carrying troubling news, Abigail and her friend Hugo are swept into a new mystery after a young boy from the ship, Robert Barconian, asks for their help retrieving a missing item.

Along with the former glitch-witch, Calla, the four friends end up deep in the catacombs beneath the Tarkana Fortress—a place where the draugar, the living dead, wander about. Abigail discovers there is more to the Rubicus Prophecy than anyone ever imagined. Can she stop it in time before she and her friends are destroyed?

Filled with magical spells, spine-tingling ghosts, and visits from the Norse gods, The Rubicus Prophecy pits Abigail against a sinister power greater than anything she has ever imagined.

Book 2 Review:

In book 2 of the Orkney series, Abigail is starting her 2nd year at Tarkana Academy and she has made her fair share of enemies but is not exactly sure why. This plot follows Abigail's strange magic some more, we learned a little about it in book 1 but no there is a prophecy that might come from it. 

We get a few more characters in this book and it was nice to Abigail gain a few more friends, but not without a few more enemies. This poor girl, I feel for her, she is just trying to be normal but she is anything but normal. She is constantly getting herself into trouble and some of it is not even her fault, but it makes for great reading. The plot about the prophecy is very interesting with a bunch of surprises along the way, many of which made me gasp. This was a very fun adventure and I cannot wait for next book.*  There is more magic and more learning in this book and it makes for a wonderful read.

(* written before reading Book 3).

The Blue Witch by Alane Adams 

Series: Witches of Orkney #1

Publisher: Spark Press
Publication Date: October 23, 2018

   

Format: Paperback ARC


Rating:  

Goodreads Synopsis:

Before Sam Baron broke Odin's curse on the witches to become the first son born to a witch and the hero of the Legends of Orkney series, his mother was a young witchling growing up in the Tarkana Witch Academy. In this first book of the prequel series, the Witches of Orkney, nine-year-old Abigail Tarkana is determined to grow up to be the greatest witch of all, even greater than her evil ancestor Catriona. Unfortunately, she is about to fail Spectacular Spells class because her witch magic hasn't come in yet. Even worse, her nemesis, Endera, is making life miserable by trying to get her kicked out.

When her new friend Hugo's life is put in danger by a stampeding sneevil, a desperate Abigail manages to call up her magic―only to find out it's unlike any other witchling's at the Tarkana Witch Academy! As mysteries deepen around her magic and just who her true parents are, Abigail becomes trapped in a race against time to undo one of her spells before she is kicked out of the coven forever!

Rich in Norse mythology, The Blue Witch is the first of a fast-paced young reader series filled with magical spells, mysterious beasts, and witch-hungry spiders

Book 1 Review:

The Witches of Orkney series follows a young witchling, Abigail, as she starts school at the Tarkana Academy for witches. There she will learn to be a cold-hearted, evil witch just like the rest of her coven. Abigail is different though, she as orphaned young and feels weird whenever she recites their creed. During her first year she learns a lot, about herself, her family history, and meets great friends along the way. She also learns that she has a very strange type of magic and it must be kept a secret.  Hugo is a local boy from the island, whose family has assisted the witches in battles for centuries. He would rather be a scientist and is more interested in the witches than scared of them. 

Abigail grows up very quickly in this book, which sets the stage well for the next in the series. The world-building and Norse mythology is very cool and is a great way to learn about it within another book. I really enjoyed the characters and they all had their roles to play. While Abigail was fierce when she had to be, she also acted like a young unsure girl who wanted friends and wanted to know more about her parents and their mysterious past.

Overall this was a great start to the series. You learn a lot about the characters, the settling , and are already on the look out for the baddies.