As many regular readers know, Anya Bast is a dear friend. She’s like one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. She rarely says a mean thing about anyone or anything (I know, it boggles as to why she likes me too). She’s also a really fabulous writer who’s taught me many things about craft in the years I’ve read and then knew her.
On March 4, Witch Blood, book two in her Elemental Witches series officially releases although it’s apparently shipping from Barnes and Noble and has been spotted on shelves already.
In this installment, we get Thomas, who we meet in Witch Blood. Thomas is a man wearing the very heavy mantle of leadership of his Coven in some dangerous times. He’s strong, an earth witch to Isabelle’s water witch powers. She’s chaos and emotion and he’s quiet intensity but no less emotional, he’s just more contained.
I loved this book. I loved it from the first paragraph until the very end. The action part of the story is strong, interesting and really well told. Anya’s strength at drawing you into the world she’s writing really shines here. You care about the Coven and her witches, you care about the people, you can see the rooms right down to the wood grain in the floors and you can feel the silk of Thomas’ hair as he lets it down for Isabelle.
Isabelle is a woman filled with conflicts and guilt, she needs revenge for her sister. But she’s not wild and stupid, she’s impassioned and needs to make things right for this woman who accepted her, warts and all. I loved that about Isabelle actually. I loved that we know she’s hard and rootless but her anchor in life was her sister who’s now gone. That element was very emotional for me and I think Anya nailed it and has really shown Isabelle rather than told us about her.
The romance is strong and sexy. The love scenes are, whew, hot, guh! And totally elemental to the story. The way Thomas falls for Isabelle is startling and well written and Isabelle’s reluctance is not one of those romance novel moments when you wrinkle your nose and tell the heroine she’s a twit.
Little unique details like where and how Thomas’ power is stored really made the book extra special. I cannot wait for the next book! Anya Bast has scored yet another hit with her Elemental Witches.
The basics: A water witch, Isabelle Novak has always led a chaotic, nomadic existence. But her life spins out of control when her sister—her only friend and emotional anchor—is killed by a demon. Driven by grief and a desire for revenge, she turns her back on the Coven and the rede they hold sacred: Harm thee none…
When Isabelle first encounters Thomas Monahan, she’s running on pure rage and sorrow, channeling her pain into power—and trying to freeze the life out of a warlock she holds responsible for her sister’s death. Together, they form an uneasy alliance to hunt and destroy a demon of tremendous power. As head of the Coven, earth witch Thomas must thwart Isabelle’s dark impulses, but his very presence stirs deeper desires she never knew she had…
Okay so, because I loved this book so much - how about a contest? I’ll send the winner a copy of Witch Blood straight from Amazon.com upon winning. All you need to do is comment here and I’ll pick a winner at random on Saturday, March 1 at noon pacific. So g’wan and enter!
Name:Lauren Dane
Oh wow! Great contest! I have the first book so I would love the second.
by Cherie J February 27th, 2008 at 11:23 amOMG!!! I feel like I’ve been waiting forevah for this book to come out!!!!
by JP February 27th, 2008 at 11:25 amOOh, I can’t wait to read Witch Blood. I haven’t seen it out yet, though. There are SO many good books coming out that day.
by Melissa February 27th, 2008 at 11:52 amLooks really good… I’ll have to get the 1st one. The B&N here never has the books I want, so I’ll have to order it.
And I love a contest!
Only 6 more days until Standoff comes out!!! Am I obsessed or what?!?!?
by Valerie Tibbs February 27th, 2008 at 3:15 pmI have been waiting patiently or should I say impatiently for this book to come out. Loved the first one! Love your books too by the way. Thanks for the contest.
by Barb February 27th, 2008 at 3:33 pmA wonderful giveaway. Waiting and Waiting for Witch Blood. My TBR list is soooo long.
by Janet H February 27th, 2008 at 4:37 pmYay contest! I absolutely love the cover and title of this book. I’m going to have to go find the 1st book…
by JSL February 27th, 2008 at 4:54 pmCommenting! Book has not come to Australia yet.
Have a lovely day! :-)
by Tez Miller February 27th, 2008 at 5:14 pmGreat cover! I have the first and waiting for the second, so yeah, I want to enter.
by Pam P February 27th, 2008 at 5:17 pmI just read the first book in this series and loved it.
by Anna February 27th, 2008 at 5:41 pmomg I can’t wait for this one. I won’t be lucky enough to win one in June at the gettogether cause I’m not able to go this year. Cause my oldest son is graduating from high school yehaw.
by Pamk February 27th, 2008 at 8:16 pmLooks wonderful and fascinating reading. Can hardly wait to read this book.
by ruth February 27th, 2008 at 8:22 pmOMG! I love that cover. It’s so cool. Would love to win this book.
by Stacia Helpman February 27th, 2008 at 9:10 pmThank you, sweetie.
by Anya Bast February 28th, 2008 at 6:50 amI would love to read Witch Blood. Sounds great. I love the cover.
by Crystal B. February 28th, 2008 at 8:20 amLove the cover for this one! Count me in.
by Teresa W. February 28th, 2008 at 3:15 pmJust reread Witch Fire, and I’ve pre-ordered Witch Blood. I’ve been wanting this one forever. So many good books coming out the fourth, I’m not sure which one I’ll read first, though I think Standoff will wins hands down if It’s uploaded at the publisher site before I can download the others from Fictionwise.
by Bonnie Rose Leigh February 28th, 2008 at 3:43 pmA contest, and even better for a much anticipated book. Can’t wait to get a copy.
by bella February 28th, 2008 at 4:34 pmThanks for the reminder, Lauren! I wasn’t certain when the actual release date was, and now I’m excited to pick Witch Blood up from Borders!!!
by Jana J. Hanson February 29th, 2008 at 9:41 amI have the first in this series, Witch Fire, which was AWESOME. Would love this one for my tbr pile!
by Maria V February 29th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
well I have never read Anya before but I would love to start now, based now the details you have given us so thanks for the deets 
And I would definately love to win this book!
by april symes February 29th, 2008 at 5:12 pmI’m not too late am I???
I love love love Anya’s work!
by Seeley deBorn March 1st, 2008 at 11:17 am[…] Lauren Dane, Harriet Klausner, Good, Bad, […]
by Released! Bast, Bishop & Kittredge « Urban Fantasy Land March 4th, 2008 at 3:41 pm