That time again. Every week, I hope to find a couple of new series to dive into, and looks like this week there is two. This first one is from author Maggie Shayne and her new Portal series, called Mark of the Witch.
Synopsis…
A lapsed Wiccan, Indira Simon doesn’t believe in magic anymore. But when strange dreams of being sacrificed to an ancient Babylonian god have her waking up with real rope burns on her wrists, she’s forced to acknowledge that she may have been too hasty in her rejection of the unknown. Then she meets mysterious and handsome Father Tomas. Emerging from the secrecy of an obscure Gnostic sect, he arrives with stories of a demon, a trio of warrior witches-and Indira’s sacred calling. Yet there’s something even Tomas doesn’t know, an inescapable truth that will force him to choose between saving the life of the woman he’s come to love-and saving the world.
The Portal reading list can be found HERE.
From the young adult titles we have The Raven Boys from Maggie Stiefvater. It is the first book of The Raven Cycle series.
Synopsis…
Filled with mystery, romance, and the supernatural, The Raven Boysintroduces readers to Richard “Dick” Campbell Gansey, III and Blue Sargent. Gansey has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on the hunt to find Glendower, a vanished Welsh king. Legend has it that the first person to find him will be granted a wish—either by seeing him open his eyes, or by cutting out his heart.
Blue Sargent, the daughter of the town psychic in Henrietta, Virginia, has been told for as long as she can remember that if she ever kisses her true love, he will die. But she is too practical to believe in things like true love. Her policy is to stay away from the rich boys at the prestigious Aglionby Academy. The boys there—known as Raven Boys—can only mean trouble. When Gansey and his Raven Boy friends come into her life, Blue realizes how true this is. She never thought her fortune would be a problem. But she was wrong.
The Raven Cycle reading list is HERE.
What do you do on the quiet release weeks? Catch up on the TBR mountains, or just kill time until something hits next week?
I special ordered an autographed copy of The Raven Boys
Nice…I never think to do that. Give a shout back how you like it.
I will! I love her writing so I hope I love this one too! She does these special signings through Fountain Bookstore if you Pre-order from them. There will also be a special bookplate and she’s doing one of her “doodles” in it too!
Sounds cool. Do you have many collectible books like that?
I’ve got a collection of personalized signed books from authors (Darynda Jones, Virna Depaul, Laura Wright, and a few others). I also have a signed copy of one of Maggie’s Wolves of Mercy Falls books that a friend got for me at a signing. I have a few signed ones from Indie Authors who will sign them for you if you order directly from them. I also went to the RWA Convention in July w/a friend (did I tell you that before?) and got to meet a bunch of authors and bought some personalized autographed books from that too!
Aw, sometimes being stuck in Eastern Canada sucks. Never have access to anything like that, although I could pry open the wallet and order some, I guess. I never thought of that (duh). That does sound like fun.
These events don’t come to California very often. They are usually on the East Coast or New Orleans, etc. Because they actually came to California was the only reason I was able to go. It might be awhile before they come back! Lol! If I ever hear of a virtual signing or an author who will sign books through their website or something like Maggie does, I’ll let you know. It doesn’t happen often, but if I hear of any that you’re a fan of, I’ll email you
Daryna’s I was lucky to have won on a giveaway, Laura’s was a virtual signing.
Thanks! I never manage to find out about these things, and yet I haunt the authors sites a blogs faithfully looking for info. Strange…
On Shayne’s new series… for those who have Kindle the prequel short story Legacy of the Witch is available for free right now. Reading it first is sort of a toss up, though because it does make clear who the bad guy in the first book actually is, but personally I’d have enjoyed Mark of the Witch more if I’d have read the prequel first.
Free is good. The prequel thing is tricky, like you say. You don’t need it, but you do sometimes enjoy the series more with it.