The Water Witch (Fairwick Chronicles, #2)

Nov 23, 2012 Dianne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, romance, sci-fi, netgalley, adult, adult-fiction, demons, witches, voodoo, paranormal-romance

Book two in the Fairwick Chronicles Series has built on book one, The Demon Lover, and created a much more in-depth, detailed story! I was immediately drawn in, knowing the characters already, I connected and saw how much the main character, Callie McFay, the part witch/part fey college professor has grown into her budding powers, also discovering that, as a child, these powers were bound to hide them from her grandmother, an accomplished and overbearing witch. Finally, I can say I like Callie!...more

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Jan 30, 2013 AH rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-edelweiss, fae, fantasy, magic, nephilim, paranormal, post-apocalyptic, read-jan-2013, succubi-incubi, witches, wizards, zombies, babr-reviews

Demon Lover made me a fan of Juliet Dark (Carol Goodman). I really enjoyed the dark, gothic romance of that book and I eagerly picked up a copy of The Water Witch. I was glad to be back in the Catskill town of Fairwick, back with Callie and her eccentric circle of friends.

The author sets the mood so well in the prologue. The writing is both beautiful and descriptive and it is easy to imagine yourself in that town watching all of the magic and action. The previous book is recapped well, without...more

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Mar 03, 2013 .þµŋψà. [Punya Reviews...] rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: juliet-dark-carol-goodman, angel-demon-vampire-fey-others, arc-reviewcopy-netgalley-edelweiss, frustration-alert, brilliant-cover

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. My review contains spoilers and they're are mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...

The Water Witch, for me, was a bit disappointing. Romance was still quite lacking and Callie was pretty clumsy throughout the story, missing obvious clues about things and being attracted to whichever guy made a move on her. I still couldn’t connect to her. But the story overall was enthralling as usual. JD kept me hooked till the end, because now I just need to know what’s gonna happen next!

If you haven’t r...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Paula rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: series, favorites

Loved it! I think I maybe, quite possibly, loved it more than Demon Lover, and that is saying something cause I really enjoyed Demon Lover. Callie is more of a real person in this one, I'm not sure if that is because I got to know her in the first book, but she is so much more likable, as are all the returning characters. Especially a very intoxicating demon who stole my heart in the first book. I really was hoping to have Callie and her incubus end up together.... you will just have to read it...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Original Post at Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust
The Water Witch: The Education Of Callie McFay

The Water Witch
Fairwick Chronicles #2
Juliet Dark
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine
Ballantine
Pub Date Feb 12 2013

Description

Perfect for fans of Deborah Harkness and Elizabeth Kostova, The Water Watch is a breathtakingly sexy and atmospheric new novel of ancient folklore, passionate love, and thrilling magic.

After casting out a dark spirit, Callie McFay, a professor of gothic literature, has at las

...more

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Apr 15, 2013 J.L. Berg rated it 3 of 5 stars

So, yeah...I'm kinda stumped on this one too.

(If you haven't read my review of The Demon Lover, Book One in this series...follow this link.)
I have this love/hate relationship with Juliet Dark. Ok, maybe hate is too strong of a word...maybe replace hate with a lukewarm "eh". I don't know. I went into this book, full steam ahead...totally excited, after the ending of The Demon Lover. After about fifty pages, I felt like my steam had ran out, and my eyes were looking around my living room trying to...more So, yeah...I'm kinda stumped on this one too.

(If you haven't read my review of The Demon Lover, Book One in this series...follow this link.)
I have this love/hate relationship with Juliet Dark. Ok, maybe hate is too strong of a word...maybe replace hate with a lukewarm "eh". I don't know. I went into this book, full steam ahead...totally excited, after the ending of The Demon Lover. After about fifty pages, I felt like my steam had ran out, and my eyes were looking around my living room trying to find things to clean. But I pressed on, my perseverance rewarded with another great scene, and then nothing...I'd be back up, doing dishes or find myself watching Disney with my kids.

After reading two books by Juliet Dark, I'm starting to realize that the problem might not be the author, but me. I'm a die-hard romance lover, and I just don't think there's enough of it in these books to keep me interested. Maybe that makes me a shallow reader? I don't know. But the only parts of these novels that kept me grounded to my seat, and interested where the sections centered around Callie and a man.

The Water Witch takes place about four months after the events of The Demon Lover, which I will leave out for spoiler purposes. Let's just say Callie, the main character is trying to move on from certain events and people in her life. There are many new characters in this book, including a sexy wizard, a handyman, and a whole host of otherworldly creatures.

Juliet Dark's writing is still amazing and I constantly find myself drooling over her mad skills. But, like I said in my first review there is something missing. It's that thing that keeps me running back to a book, dirty house be damned, to read all night, returning to work the next day, bleary eyed but overjoyed because, dammit I finished it!! She had quite a few amazing quotes I wanted to share, but I feel like too many of them give something away...so I am refraining in this post, even though it's one of my favorite things to do. There are too many elements in the book that would be spoiled by revealing someone's name, or action too soon....so no quotes. :-(

One thing I did really enjoy about this book were the love scenes were much improved. I mean, there not Fifty Shades or J.R. Ward, but they are definitely more descriptive, and not nearly as rushed. I still feel like both The Demon Lover and The Water Witch should be classified as fiction, rather than romance. The romance feels like a secondary plot to the primary story-line which is Callie, the town, and the characters that live in it. A battle is brewing, and they are struggling with what changes may occur if the battle is lost, and Callie's love life is definitely secondary to all of that. In a typical romance, the relationship between the two main characters...that first meeting, the first kiss, their struggles... it's all woven into the plot and is pivotal to the story-line Honestly, you could have taken out Callie's love life, and still had the majority of this book, except maybe the last 30-50 pages, which is probably why I struggled through it.

Now, one thing this book did have that the first did not...a cliffhanger! That was probably it's saving grace, and the reason I'll read the next book when it comes out. I loathe cliffhangers, and hate unanswered questions. I'm like a child asking "why" all the time. Patience isn't all its cracked up to be.

So again, yes...I'd recommend it...to some people. For a die-hard romance reader like me (a smut slut...hehe), it's not quite the right fit, but it was a good ride.

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Apr 05, 2013 CoffeeTimeRomance andMore rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal

Things are heating up in Fairwick for half-fey, half-witch Gothics professor Callie McFay. The liberal college town is full to bursting with mythical creatures to keep things interesting, if only Callie could get over having to exile her lover, Liam, to the Borderlands. He might have been a succubus, but Callie does not want to believe he really intends her harm.

Now that she has been tasked with mastering her powerful and volatile magic, she must accept the aid of a wizard, Duncan Laird, before...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Sharon Tyler rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Water Witch by Juliet Dark, a pseudonym for Carol Goodman, is the second book in the Fairwick Chronicles series. It is scheduled for release on February 12, 2013. The Water Witch picks up shortly after the end of The Demon Lover, the first book in the series. While a reader new to the series would be able to enjoy the story without having read the first book, I highly recommend reading the series in order to fully understand the history of the characters and town and how it effects the large...more The Water Witch by Juliet Dark, a pseudonym for Carol Goodman, is the second book in the Fairwick Chronicles series. It is scheduled for release on February 12, 2013. The Water Witch picks up shortly after the end of The Demon Lover, the first book in the series. While a reader new to the series would be able to enjoy the story without having read the first book, I highly recommend reading the series in order to fully understand the history of the characters and town and how it effects the larger story arch.

Callie McFay is a professor that also happens to be part faerie, part witch, and the doorkeeper or guardian to the last known door between our world and the realm of faerie. Callie banished an incubus from her home in The Demon Lover, but she has not quite banished him from her mind. That complication combined with a house in need of serious care, an angry Undine, factions seeking to close the door, and her attempts to fully understand and control her powers keep the book moving quickly and set stage for further sequels.

The Water Witch, like The Demon Lover, his an urban fantasy with a slight gothic flavor. Callie is conflicted by her desire for her banished incubus and her roles in the paranormal world. Her powers seem to be bound and fluctuating wildly, and a magical tutor is found to help her with that, but he wants more than she ever suspects. The role as gatekeeper brings about more complications, as she tries to maintain the balance in the town, college, and her life which are full of a variety of creatures others consider evil because of their heritage. The suspense and mystery involved, particularly in figuring out where everyone stands and their motivations, keep the story extremely interesting and kept me reading. Callie's personal growth, and her understanding of the world around her, is just as compelling as the rest of the story.

I recommend The Water Witch to readers that enjoyed The Demon Lover and to those that enjoy suspense, urban fantasy, and gothic fiction. Although, as I stating in the beginning, this is a series that I recommend reading in order to enjoy to its fullest.(less)

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Mar 17, 2013 Vicki rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is the 2nd in the Fairwick Trilogy. Callie McFay is part witch, part Fae. She lives in a fixer upper Victorian home on the edge of Honeysuckle Forest. She is the doorkeeper for the entrance to the Fairie world.
I am kind of at a loss to explain how I feel about this book. I enjoyed a lot of it. However I feel the book is disjointed, too much and too many characters all going on at once. I felt like there wasn't one main story line going on but so very many.
To the author's credit, I did...more

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Mar 17, 2013 Joanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

Callie is half-witch and half-Fae, something she only discovered after accepting a position at the local college, where she is a professor of gothic literature. Callie has finally restored a semblance of calm to her rambling Victorian house, after casting out a dark spirit. But in the surrounding country side all is not as it should be, and trouble is coming… The Grove a coven of sinister witches is attacking the town of Fairwick, which is home to a mix of mythical creatures.
With the powers of w...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Drennan Spitzer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Juliet Dark, pen name for author Carol Goodman, tells the story of Callie McFey and her attempt to keep open the threshold to the supernatural world of Faerie while battling a murderous Undine, or water spirit, in the stunning novel The Water Witch. Callie is an academic, a professor at Fairwick College in the Catskills of New York. But she is also a half-witch, half-fey young woman who has yet to come into her powers. As Callie confronts those witches who would close the door to Faerie, the wor...more Juliet Dark, pen name for author Carol Goodman, tells the story of Callie McFey and her attempt to keep open the threshold to the supernatural world of Faerie while battling a murderous Undine, or water spirit, in the stunning novel The Water Witch. Callie is an academic, a professor at Fairwick College in the Catskills of New York. But she is also a half-witch, half-fey young woman who has yet to come into her powers. As Callie confronts those witches who would close the door to Faerie, the world of the fey, she must also confront an incubus from her past. This incubus attempts to woo Callie, but it is unclear whether his wooing springs from genuine love for Callie of whether it is part of his attempt to somehow feed off of Callie and become human by devouring her. Clearly a fantasy, The Water Witch is definitely not for young readers, as some of the sex scenes are graphic.

Like many good fantasies, The Water Witch suggests the possibility that Faerie, the world of the supernatural is somehow just around the corner. The village of Fairwick, where Callie resides, is populated by a number of supernatural creatures, borrowed from folk traditions from all over the world. Here, we encounter Norse myth and Indian legend, as well as the more familiar character types from English folklore. Because these characters are borrowed from world myth and folklore, they feel somehow familiar. And placing them in the quiet, sleepy corner of the Catskills that houses the college suggests that these beings could also reside in our own backyards. This is certainly part of the appeal of The Water Witch.

Callie’s struggle to come to terms with the incubus from her past, with her perceived inability to love, and with relationships generally speaks to the anxieties many women, particularly feminists, may have about relationships, particularly with men. The presence of Liam, the incubus who attempts to seduce Callie, reflects the all-too-common fear of being devoured by a lover. Callie fears that if she loves him, she will somehow lose herself, but she also fears what will happen if she is unwilling or simply unable to love. Callie both desires and fears intimate relationships in ways that are particularly authentic, especially for her character. Callie’s sense of powerlessness is brought to the fore by the fact that as both witch and fey, she is yet to come into her power. This “binding” of her supernatural power is, for Callie, wrapped up in her feeling bound to the incubus. This further illustrates the theme of the female feeling powerless when she considers loving a male. This is a theme that should certainly resonate in our culture.

The Water Witch is particularly well written. Goodman’s writing style—word choice, syntax, sentence structure—mark the novel as literary without being overwrought. There’s something elegant about the writing, a kind of grace that lacks the heavy self-consciousness too often found in literary fiction. In this regard, as in so many others, this book is simply delightful.

The Water Witch is the second book in The Fairwick Chronicles trilogy. Reading it has made me motivated to pick up the first in the series, as I’m waiting for the final installment, The Hallowed Door. While The Water Witch may not appeal to all readers—some certainly don’t like fantasy—it is a lovely example from the genre. Well written, thoughtful, and engaging, The Water Witch is a win for readers who appreciate this kind of work.

This review originally published at Luxury Reading, www.luxuryreading.com and at Speaking of Books, www.drennanspitzer.com

A review copy was provided by the publisher. No monetary or other compensation was received. (less)

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Mar 03, 2013 Dawn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-books, kindle-nook-books, net-galley, modern-gothic

The Water Witch is the second book in the Fairwick Chronicles.

Callie McFay is finally feeling at home in Fairwick she is enjoying her summer and attempting to make her house a home and finding some peace. However peace will not last for long as Callie is asked to send a group of the fae called Undines back to Fairy wWhere she comes face to face with Liam. Being Callie and poorly trained means that she makes some mistakes this time she pisses off Loreleigh, an older and very powerful Undine, who...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Inkyfox rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed the first book, The Demon Lover, a great deal. I thought the author's use of the Gothic genre was excellent. These books are, admittedly, about the sex with a magical background, and little else, in my opinion.

This book, The Water Witch, didn't enthrall me like the first book. My biggest gripe is that the Gothic elements are gone. This book is mostly sunny woodland. Nothing scared me, put me on edge. In fact, I seriously couldn't care about the undines at all. Dark tells us we are sup...more I enjoyed the first book, The Demon Lover, a great deal. I thought the author's use of the Gothic genre was excellent. These books are, admittedly, about the sex with a magical background, and little else, in my opinion.

This book, The Water Witch, didn't enthrall me like the first book. My biggest gripe is that the Gothic elements are gone. This book is mostly sunny woodland. Nothing scared me, put me on edge. In fact, I seriously couldn't care about the undines at all. Dark tells us we are supposed to care without giving us cause to. Callie cares, so we are supposed to as well. There is so much going on with the Aelvesgold but I agree with the initial sentiments of the Grove. Aelvesgold gives extra perks that they can live without, with the exception of one character who uses it to help her daughter. I found too much emphasis was placed on the Aelvesgold and I seriously got sick of hearing about it.

My second biggest gripe happens too much in any work of media geared towards. Everybody is in love with Callie. Everybody wants to have sex with Callie. And they basically do. Let's face it: Callie just isn't that interesting. She has zero personality (albeit more than Bella Swan) and I suppose she is supposed to be gorgeous. She can probably be a reader stand-in to live vicariously through, but it doesn't do anything for me. If I wanted to read about a girl getting it on with many men for no reason other than they can, I'll go read a different kind of book.

Like the first book, I felt that this one is also too bloody long for the story it is trying to tell. Considering that there is far less racy bits in this book, how did this book get so long? It was long and boring. There are way too many characters, too many plots, and too many subplots going on. There's IMP, the Grove, her issues with her house, her pet mouse, the wards on her, her power, her learning how to use magic, her issues with Liam, her sex dreams, her co-workers, other people getting hurt, and...so much more. It's too much. You know how Harry Potter did a fantastic job of giving us many vibrant characters, issues, and concepts? JK Rowling did it in a way that was ordered and clear. The Water Witch was so jumbled I sincerely doubt the author had a clear vision of what the story was going to be about before going in. Remember, your story can't be about everything in your head.

The reason why I gave this book three out of four stars is because as I read, I still hoped that Callie might go back to her demon lover. Will she say his name and bring him back? Will she love him and make him flesh. Or is he actually evil like everyone keeps telling her? I was actually mildly interested in whether or not the last door to Faerie would be closed or remain opened. I was invested. Unfortunately, the ride to the answers we receive (or not) is slow, long, and sometimes boring. I am not sure if I will ever read the last book in this trilogy. (less)

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Feb 24, 2013 Heidi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Four Stars: An engaging sequel filled with magical paranormal entities!
Callie wades through the stream with her three companions. The ladies of Fairwick are needing her help. The Undine, water nymphs, are hatching and must be returned to Faerie or they will die. Callie is the doorkeeper and she is the one with the power to herd the Undine back home. Unfortunately, Callie still has not mastered her magic, and she makes a horrific blunder. She is snared in the Borderlands and nearly killed, until...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Ionia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Water Witch has a very Gothic appeal and the author has done a marvelous job sculpting an intriguing story around that dark theme. I loved almost everything about this book.

The supporting characters offer a nice contrast to the main character. The friendships described in this book are the kind we all hope for, where a person can be exactly who they are and always have someone to catch them if they fall. This was what made me feel closest to this story.

The plot was enchanting and I thought...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Teri rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Demon Lover brought readers into the tale of Cailleach McFay, a newfound employee of Fairwick College and a new resident of the town of Fairwick itself. After purchasing a small house at the edge of the woods, what Callie had soon realized is that an incubus was living in her home, but also finding a place in her heart. Liam, the incubus that with the end of The Demon Lover Callie had cast back into Borderlands of Faerie, may have never been so far from her as she has seemed to think, but w...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Vivian rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Callie (Cailleach) McFay is still feeling guilty about exiling her lover Liam, an incubus, to the Borderlands (a Faerie no-man's land). She's also trying to learn more about her magical gifts as a Doorkeeper. All she knows is that she's able to open and close the doors into Faerie, but she doesn't quite know how that works. Worse still are the rumors that the Grove and the Institute of Magical Professionals (IMP) are meeting to decide to close the door to Faerie forever. If this happens all of t...more Callie (Cailleach) McFay is still feeling guilty about exiling her lover Liam, an incubus, to the Borderlands (a Faerie no-man's land). She's also trying to learn more about her magical gifts as a Doorkeeper. All she knows is that she's able to open and close the doors into Faerie, but she doesn't quite know how that works. Worse still are the rumors that the Grove and the Institute of Magical Professionals (IMP) are meeting to decide to close the door to Faerie forever. If this happens all of the fey in Fairview and surrounding areas will need to decide whether to stay in our world or return to Faerie for good? The only problem with closing the door to Faerie is that all magical beings will be without the source of "aelves gold," the original substance of Faerie and the main component of all magic. This substance is used to heal magical beings, remove signs of aging as well as slow down the aging process. How will the witches survive? Have they found an alternative source of aelves gold? If so, where is it coming from?

Callie and her friends only have days to try and answer all of these questions before the meeting between the Grove and IMP. Before the meeting, Callie must gain control over her abilities. She also must gain control over her feelings for Liam. After escorting the undine young (the undine are magical creatures that must mate with humans once every 100 years) back to Faerie, she barely escapes from the Borderlands. In payment for Liam helping her to escape the Borderlands, she releases him and takes him to Faerie. She also unknowingly releases an undine, Lorelei, who’s desperate to mate with a human. Upon Callie’s return to her home she's informed that she'll be tutored by Duncan Laird, a ninth degree wizard. Callie learns from Duncan and is even attracted to him but she senses that something isn't quite right. Will she learn to trust her instincts before it's too late? Will she be able to capture Lorelei and return her to Faerie before she does harm to any human?

I found The Water Witch to be a fast read. Unfortunately since I hadn't read the first book in this series, Demon Lover, there were references that I didn't quite understand. I didn't connect with this story and I'm not quite sure why. Perhaps it was because Callie felt attracted to almost every man she came into contact with, Liam the incubus, Duncan the wizard, and then Bill the handyman. Or it could have been due to the difficulty in keeping track of all the magical creatures introduced in the story: the undine, witches and wizards, brownies, satyrs, Norse Gods, Norse demigods, incubi, succubi, deer fairies, sprites, goblins, zombie beavers (yes . . . zombie beavers), and the mythical elves. Whatever the reason, I didn't enjoy The Water Witch as there was a lot going on, there were too many magical characters to try and remember, and perhaps my prudish nature just couldn’t appreciate Callie’s sexual attraction to so many men. Although I didn't connect with The Water Witch, if you enjoy fantasy and the paranormal then this may be a book for you.
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Feb 04, 2013 Tahlia Newland rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Water Witch is the second in a series, the first being Demon Lover which I enjoyed very much—my review here—and it appears that there will be at least one more in the series because the end, though not a cliff-hanger, definitely demands more.

Ms Dark writes well, drawing the reader seamlessly into Callie’s experience. The story is set in an old house and the surrounding woods, and populated by witches, a succubus and an incubus, undines, Norse divinities, Scottish protectors and an intelligen...more The Water Witch is the second in a series, the first being Demon Lover which I enjoyed very much—my review here—and it appears that there will be at least one more in the series because the end, though not a cliff-hanger, definitely demands more.

Ms Dark writes well, drawing the reader seamlessly into Callie’s experience. The story is set in an old house and the surrounding woods, and populated by witches, a succubus and an incubus, undines, Norse divinities, Scottish protectors and an intelligent mouse. We are also introduced to the Nephilem, in this case, elves that have been cast out of Fairie. These are not the good demon hunting nephilum of Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series, these are selfish beings who want control over the magical world, at least on this side of the veil.
Although I enjoyed reading the book, it wasn’t as original as the first one. The appearance of a new man in Callie’s life who isn’t what he seems was a major story device in the first book as well as this one. Callie does seem a bit thick for someone who is a college professor when she doesn’t question her rather quick attraction to Bill. Also the idea of magic being bound was thoroughly explored in A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, so that theme, though evocatively and beautifully described in terms of the actual bonds here, was not a new one for me.

The story of the undines, however, was unique and their characters were quite delightful. I did find Liz’s willing recommendation of Duncan a little unbelievable. Even with the checks she supposedly made, the deal he struck with her should have been a red light to a woman as intelligent as she is supposed to be. As in the first book, my sympathies lie with Liam, and I found Callie decidedly slow in coming to the realisation that she does, in fact, love him.

Nevertheless, the story was well-structured and well-paced, and the sex scenes were elegantly written. If you enjoyed Demon Lover, you should read this one, and if you’re not sure about this one, then read Demon Lover. I’m keen to read the next in the series.

I received this book free from the publisher in return for an honest review.(less)

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Jan 30, 2013 Christy Woods rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've got some mixed emotions about the 2nd of Juliet Dark's "Fairwick Chronicles". Like the 1st book, "The Demon Lover", this book is smart and fun. Unfortunately, this installment left me a little confused and unsatisfied.

The Good: There is still a smart plot, a good use of the English language, and a fun and endearing cast of characters. I enjoyed the new bits and pieces Dark introduces us to: Undines and Norns, specifically. The overall plot is a good one, a real page turner.

The Bad: I was im...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Lidia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm a bit deluded by second book of Fairwick Chronicles . I think because setting in the summer, college closed, little interaction with what not is fantasy reality. So, in the first one hundred pages there are water and "humidity" a lot, rain, stream,in bathtube. Then there is the protagonist,Callie, who in these pages is hurt and risked to die more of one time. It's true , she is a young witch ,inexperienced and still traumatized for the things had happened in the first book but it is strange...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Jeannie Zelos rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Water Witch Carol Goodman

I received this via Netgalley in return for an honest review. I don't gush and give false praise – I don't believe that helps readers or authors so what you read is what I truly feel about a book.

I saw this in the Netgalley listings and it immediately appealed to me although I haven't read the first book in the series. Its full of my favourite things, gripping storyline with great believable characters and lots of magic and mayhem....Callie is a great main character...more The Water Witch Carol Goodman

I received this via Netgalley in return for an honest review. I don't gush and give false praise – I don't believe that helps readers or authors so what you read is what I truly feel about a book.

I saw this in the Netgalley listings and it immediately appealed to me although I haven't read the first book in the series. Its full of my favourite things, gripping storyline with great believable characters and lots of magic and mayhem....Callie is a great main character – she's not some snippy teen, or flighty 20's person but someone we can empathise with and understand her motives. I really wish I'd read the first book – not because it was necessary to understand this one but simply because it seems a great story. I will buy it when funds allow because this series is going to join my keepers list of books I love that I re read often.

The supporting characters are great too and although I didn't know too much of the background story Carol gives enough detail to keep new readers informed without boring established followers of the series. From the start the reader is drawn in to the story and I simply loved it – devoured it in one sitting...Its very well written, a longer length for those of us who really like a good meaty book to get into. I'm not one for 150 pages of light fluff – other readers love that but I like to get so engrossed I become lost in the world of the novel and this found me living in Fairwick voyeuring over the lives of Callie and her friends. The magic was believable – you have to suspend normal beliefs of course for any novel about magic to work, but sometimes authors use magic as a way of getting the hero/heroine out of trouble in a way that leaves reader feeling cheated. Not so here – it was a well paced tale, with great moments in the plots where the magic was necessary but fitted properly in the story. I loved the way Callie's spine was knitted together. Often books that include magic and anything paranormal share experiences but carol brings lots of new ideas about magic forward in this book. The romance is essential and yet isn't overpowering the rest of the tale, and the sex scenes are seductive and erotic without being overly graphic which upsets many people. Fantastic ending - I really can't wait to get to book three to see what happens next, but then I know I'll feel sad to leave the world of Callie and Fairwick. However as I said I'm a great fan of re reading great books and this series will join that file so I can dip back into that world when I want to escape from mine for a while...

This series reminds me very much of two other favourite series – Deborah Harness All Souls trilogy and and Allison Pang's fabulous series that begins with A Brush of Darkness and if you like either of those I'd suggest this trilogy will suit you. Its great value and 354 pages for £4.74 on kindle and its also available in paperback for £5.61 from Amazon.

My star rating: full five – great book, fantastic value read.
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Dec 29, 2012 Bookmom rated it 3 of 5 stars

Callie McFay is still struggling with the idea that she had to trap and bind Liam to the Borderlands when thinking the incubus had killed some college girls, only to find out later he’d had nothing to do with it. Liam still visits her in her dreams and she feels guilty that she couldn’t love him enough for him to become human.

She needs to open a door to Faerie to let newly hatched Undines pass over there before they die, but in doing so, let’s a rather angry one back into her world and humans ar...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Lucinda rated it 4 of 5 stars

This tantalizingly tempting dark, gothic fantasy will have you lost within a character-driven tale that is truly magical!

From the author of Incubus comes the second installment within the fairwick chronicles, as you Callie’s quest to save Liam from his watery prison continues. Character-driven, full of suspense and tension this exciting, original and inspired tale will delight many fans of the Young Adult genre. Intensely gripping and absorbing I was left screaming out after reading this book,...more This tantalizingly tempting dark, gothic fantasy will have you lost within a character-driven tale that is truly magical!

From the author of Incubus comes the second installment within the fairwick chronicles, as you Callie’s quest to save Liam from his watery prison continues. Character-driven, full of suspense and tension this exciting, original and inspired tale will delight many fans of the Young Adult genre. Intensely gripping and absorbing I was left screaming out after reading this book, as I was left desperately wanting to read on, distraught that the story had come to an end! Once you have read Incubus I would warn you that you will not rest until you have devoured the entire series, and so I am now waiting in anticipation as to the next book. The world building is clever, the characters are distinctive and whom you can really connect to and the storyline as a whole concept is utterly spellbinding hence I cannot praise Carol Goodman enough. I was hypnotized by this tale that caught my imagination so that I lost myself within a world of danger, supernatural surprises, demons and magic. If you love YA fantasy, gothic romance, magic, Vampires and adventure then this is a book that will delight, entertain and which you will loose yourself within for hours.

You have only to call my name to bring me back," he whispered, his breath hot in my ear. "You have only to love me to make me human."

Seduced by a powerful incubus demon, Callie has succeeded in banishing him to the Borderlands but Liam still haunts her dreams, tempting her with the knowledge of how to bring him back. But loving an incubus usually ends in death for a human. For her own sake, Callie must learn to control her desires and ensure Liam remains trapped for all eternity in his watery prison. Only there is a more dangerous creature than Liam in the Borderlands. The Water Witch is looking for a way back…

As a huge fan of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight saga, I absolutely LOVED this book and so I would highly recommend it as a spectacular read as well as Incubus - that is a brilliant Vampire thriller. Sucked into this story almost instantly I struggled to put the book down, for the strong narrative and substantial plot grabs hold of its reader after only a few pages. Atmospheric and full of such beautiful, detailed description one is able to visualize Callie’s world that is totally believable and compelling. This has to be my guilty pleasure for I can honestly say that ‘Water Witch’ is so addictive, and truly magical, enchanting and containing such exquisite imagery. Contemporary and modern the world that Carol Goodman has created is utterly believable, and the surprising, shocking ending is optimistic with a dash of bittersweet romance to make it a fitting end to a breathtaking triumph.

This brilliant book is a must-read and one that I highly praise!
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Mar 10, 2013 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I received this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program and quite enjoyed it. I wasn’t aware until I got the book that it is the second book in the Fairwick Trilogy by Juliet Dark, but not having read the first book in this series, it didn’t detract a whole lot from the overall story. Enough recapping was done throughout the book that I wasn’t ever “lost”. My main fear when I picked up this book was that it would be too “dark” since the first novel in this series is titled Demon...more I received this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program and quite enjoyed it. I wasn’t aware until I got the book that it is the second book in the Fairwick Trilogy by Juliet Dark, but not having read the first book in this series, it didn’t detract a whole lot from the overall story. Enough recapping was done throughout the book that I wasn’t ever “lost”. My main fear when I picked up this book was that it would be too “dark” since the first novel in this series is titled Demon Lover and that kinda put me off, but it really wasn’t too bad. There were parts where it was bit too “witchcrafty” for my taste (which is saying something since Fantasy is my favorite genre) but I just skimmed over those parts and didn’t miss anything of importance. The Water Witch was a super addicting read and I finished it within a day, a busy day. However, be prepared for a doozey of an ending where you scramble to find out when the last book in the trilogy comes out. (If anyone has more luck finding out, let me know!)
Callie, the main heroine, is having trouble controlling her erratic magic and seems to keep causing problems within the mortal world by accidentally letting not-so-nice fey creatures through the doorway. Now the Grove, the all female witch counsel, wants to permanently close the doorway into the fey world so no more fey can get out, but not all of the fey creatures are evil and some of them need to enter the mortal world to survive. And Callie just so happens to be a doorkeeper, which means she is able to open and close the doorway if she can learn to control her magic. However, gaining power over her magic isn’t the only problem she’s facing; Callie still doesn’t know what it is to love. She doesn’t know if she loved the incubus she is trying to get over or if she maybe still wants to love him. There are many interesting characters within this story too (however, I couldn’t keep their names straight) like Norse demigods, brownies, a creative version of knitting Norse fates, a Faerie goddess, and many, many more. Overall, a pretty fun and very fast read.
I was reminded of Harkness’ All Soul’s Trilogy, but not so dense. So if you want a quicker read like that, read this.
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Jan 06, 2013 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

Another great book in the very interesting series by Carol Goodman. “Water Witch” is a modern fairytale. Placed in a small but enchanting town with very interesting characters and world-building, this story is absolutely captivating and worth reading!

The story continues from where the first book ended. Callie is hunted in her dreams by her incubus lover while another very dangerous creature is trying to be free in this world.

Callie is very good as she was in the first book but she’s mor...more

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Dec 08, 2012 Shona Lawrence rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

I literally just got finished reading this and I am.... whats the word? Seething. Annoyed. Distraught. The story just ended and I didnt want it to. I wasnt prepared for it to, and now I dont know how long I need to wait until the next instalment is due out.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series The Demon Lover but the Water Witch builds on the story that was laid out in the first book and builds it into this wonderful world that is damn near impossible to step out of. It seemed to tak...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Claudia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

I enjoyed this book very much, because I am a huge Carol Goodman fan, as well as a fan of Elizabeth Kostova and Deborah Harkness.
The writing flows smoothly and the story kept me interested, I simply could not put the book down. I was glad that this book contained less sex than "The Demon Lover", but I missed the parts of the story about the students and the college. With that said, there is one thing that I find annoying about Callie, and that is how she still is so attached to her incubus. The...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love Carol Goodman, but I'm not so crazy about her new genre of paranormal romance. I did enjoy the first book in this series, though, (the terribly named Demon Lover) largely because Goodman (writing as Juliet Dark in the American editions of this series) set the series at a small, upstate New York college where her protagonist, a 30-something Gothicist, deals with the daily trials and tribulations of academia--as well as the paranormal stuff. (Yes, you can see why I'd enjoy the setting and p...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Alisha-Dear Constant Reader rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, delicious-hero, dirty-naughty-fun, mysteries-abound, netgalley, romance, scifi, paranormal-romance, warning-adult-content

When I saw that the second installment of the Fairwick Chronicles was available on netgalley.com

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Can I just say again how happy I am that I have a reliable source for the genre that is romance, paranormal stuff, and mystery? Can I? I am! Thank you, Goodman. You are now in line just below Jennifer Lawrence as candidate for my new bestie.

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Maybe not?

The first book, The Demon Lover, introduces us to Callie McFay, an assistant professor of literature at Fairwick College. Callie is the owner of Hon...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Charlotte Phillips rated it 2 of 5 stars

I can't say that I really enjoyed this book. Perhaps it was because I hadn't read the first one in the series, or perhaps it was because it seemed like a whole bunch of twaddle like there wasn't too much purpose, depth or meaning to it. It was an irritating kinda book because of all the stupidity in sexual references. It was almost like I was reading fifty shades of grey again but a teenage version. I think at least half the book was based on the girl having an orgasm over and over again by some...more I can't say that I really enjoyed this book. Perhaps it was because I hadn't read the first one in the series, or perhaps it was because it seemed like a whole bunch of twaddle like there wasn't too much purpose, depth or meaning to it. It was an irritating kinda book because of all the stupidity in sexual references. It was almost like I was reading fifty shades of grey again but a teenage version. I think at least half the book was based on the girl having an orgasm over and over again by someone that wasn't actually there with her. It was annoying because it was like ugh, seriously, is this going to be the main focus of the book that I am reading. But other than that the book seemed a little confusing in that you weren't really sure of who was what and who was where. Like I said, it could be something to do with the fact that I have not read the first book in the series, but what I got from this one was that you didn't actually need to read the first one.

Im guessing the first one had something to do with a guy called Liam who is an inccubus who was in love with Callie. Everyone thought Liam was the inccubus that was sucking the life force out of all the students at the school, but it turned out that he was just sucking the life force out of callie and someone else was responsible for the other students. Liam and callie had hot sex which meant they were connected to each other and callie learnt she was half fey and half witch, her grandma claiming that she was not as powerful as she thought she was. Callie is a doorkeeper which means she can open and close the door to the land of the Fey and she is powerful indeed. The incubus sucking the life force out of the students tried to kill Callie but she was saved my Liam who she then banished, despite her love for him. End of book one.

See I told you I didn't need to even read the first one, but perhaps this just represents how simplistic the books are, and the very fact that there isn't really a whole lot going on in them. At least a few times I did consider putting the book down and moving onto another one, but I decided to give it a chance. I admit, the ending was actually pretty good especially when I was starting to think that Bill was perhaps the evil one because he just seemed to nicey nice. But at the same time the ending almost seemed a little lame as well because the emotional concept that you would perhaps see within the context of other books, just wasn't there. It seemed to be lacking in something but I couldn't really tell what it was that it was lacking.

I just didn't really get that overall feel for any of the characters. But that could just mean its not really a book for me, thats my opinion and like I respect yours, I expect you to respect mine. Im not saying its a bad book because the plot was good and there were bits and pieces within it that had me hooked and not wanting to put it down. It just wasn't all that, in my opinion, so I got a little tiresome of it after a while. Therefore I give this book a fair two star rating, for its review of its ok, but its not something I would pick up again if I had a choice.(less)

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The Water Witch (Fairwick Chronicles #2)

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