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Horngate Witches #1
Alliance nocturne
Autrefois, Max rêvait d’une carrière, d’un foyer, d’une famille aimante. Maintenant, tout ce qu’elle veut, c’est la liberté… et la vengeance. Une sorcière nommée Giselle a changé Max en guerrière d’une force, d’une rapidité et d’une endurance extraordinaires. Prisonnière de sortilèges, Max n’a d’autre choix que de se battre, d’être l’arme magique personnelle de Giselle, une Lame d’Ombre ; et elle est mortellement douée pour ça. Mais ses dons sont sur le point d’être testés comme ils ne l’ont encore jamais été… Max va devoir choisir entre la vie dont elle rêve encore et la guerrière qu’elle est devenue, et prendre sa place du côté du Bien, si elle survit assez longtemps pour savoir de quel côté il s’agit…
386 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 5, 2009
93 people are currently reading
8900 people want to read
About the author
Diana Pharaoh Francis
44 books760 followersI was raised on a cattle ranch in Northern California (outside a town called Lincoln which is now part of an enormous sprawl). I taught myself to ride a horse at the age of six, as no one had the time to teach me—they were all busy learning how to irrigate, how to cajole an angry bull into another field, how to pull a calf… Afraid of heights, and absolutely sure I was going to die, I managed to scramble up on the back of a very patient and lazy strawberry roan destrier, and plod off into the sunset.
Thereafter, I spent much of my early life on horseback, or so far buried into a book that the rest of the world ceased to exist (much to the annoyance of my family—it took several attempts to get my attention). We all had very specific jobs on the ranch and mine was horses and cattle—out rounding up at dawn. And since I rode bareback, my standing request was to wake me up 5 minutes before everyone else headed for the barn—time enough to dress and eat my Wheaties, and no sleep time wasted on saddling.
After high school, I attended college after college, racking up a BA and MA in creative writing and a Ph.D. in literature and theory. My very patient and supportive husband traipsed across the Midwest and back to Montana for me (though my husband insists that he’s been running and hiding and I just keep finding him), where I now teach at the University of Montana-Western. We also a son Q-ball, who in our humbly unbiased opinions, is the most wonderful son ever produced, and a daughter, Princess Caesar, who is the most wonderful daughter ever produced.
I have a fascination for the Victorians, weather, geology, horses, plants and mythology, I like spicy food, chocolate and cheesecake, and I have an odd sense of humor. (Or so I’ve been told. Often.) Incidentally, the Pharaoh is in fact my real name, and oddly enough, is of British origin.
Some of my current favorite sf/f writers are Ilona Andrews, Carol Berg, C.E. Murphy, Patty Briggs, Lynn Flewelling, Rachel Caine, David Coe, and Anne Bishop.
Thereafter, I spent much of my early life on horseback, or so far buried into a book that the rest of the world ceased to exist (much to the annoyance of my family—it took several attempts to get my attention). We all had very specific jobs on the ranch and mine was horses and cattle—out rounding up at dawn. And since I rode bareback, my standing request was to wake me up 5 minutes before everyone else headed for the barn—time enough to dress and eat my Wheaties, and no sleep time wasted on saddling.
After high school, I attended college after college, racking up a BA and MA in creative writing and a Ph.D. in literature and theory. My very patient and supportive husband traipsed across the Midwest and back to Montana for me (though my husband insists that he’s been running and hiding and I just keep finding him), where I now teach at the University of Montana-Western. We also a son Q-ball, who in our humbly unbiased opinions, is the most wonderful son ever produced, and a daughter, Princess Caesar, who is the most wonderful daughter ever produced.
I have a fascination for the Victorians, weather, geology, horses, plants and mythology, I like spicy food, chocolate and cheesecake, and I have an odd sense of humor. (Or so I’ve been told. Often.) Incidentally, the Pharaoh is in fact my real name, and oddly enough, is of British origin.
Some of my current favorite sf/f writers are Ilona Andrews, Carol Berg, C.E. Murphy, Patty Briggs, Lynn Flewelling, Rachel Caine, David Coe, and Anne Bishop.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 348 reviews
January 4, 2012
What an outstanding start to a series. There have not been many books that I have read that have left me with a look of pure, stupefied awe on my face over its sheer awesomeness. But this is definitely one of them. I've actually just finished reading it for the second time and thought I'd come back and add to my review since first time around I could only manage a few lines of small words due to the whole stupefaction thing.
So what was so good about it? Well, first of all let me let you into my personal list of must-haves for any book to be deemed a "favourite": Action, fast pacing, a grin-worthy hint of romance, humour, a high magic/fantasy content, and I'm also a sucker for a kick-ass chick and/or a bad-ass dude. Someone I can cheer on and really root for and go "Yeah! Smash his face in!" (Because I'm a little vicious like that). And this book just had it all. In abundance.
It was deliciously easy to read as well. Written in third person, although Max is the main character you get nearly as much time in the head of one of the other characters which provides a great balance giving you an almost panoramic view of events. Francis handles these changes with aplomb. When Max is doing something that you'd probably be better watching than experiencing first hand (and believe me, Max does some pretty wince inducing stuff), you swap to the other POV. It was fantastic in that sense.
The other thing that bowled me over was its unique characters and never before seen supernatural beings. Francis is/has been a fantasy writer prior to this series, and it shows here in her refusal to go down the typical vampire/werewolf/shapeshifter route. Instead, she brings us something fresh and new to sink our eager little fangs into. Shadowblades and Sunspears. Both are immortal- well, maybe more like long-lived- and both are created by strong elemental witches to be used as their protection. Think of them as guardians of the witches' coven- day shift and night shift, as one can't survive the sun and the other can't survive the night.
Max, our leading lady, and the Shadowblade Prime, is one of the toughest, if slightly suicidal, characters I've ever encountered. She's also housing a monumental amount of rage and resentment at the start of our story which is interesting to witness and see her work through. There was quite a lot of character growth in this story and more to come, I suspect. The secondary characters were equally vivid, and there's one in particular that makes me want to jump up and down in fan-girl glee. *Clappy hands, clappy hands*
I recommend this for all Urban Fantasy fans. If you like Kate Daniels, Dorina Basarab, Chicagoland Vamps, Elemental Assassin series, this series is a must!
So what was so good about it? Well, first of all let me let you into my personal list of must-haves for any book to be deemed a "favourite": Action, fast pacing, a grin-worthy hint of romance, humour, a high magic/fantasy content, and I'm also a sucker for a kick-ass chick and/or a bad-ass dude. Someone I can cheer on and really root for and go "Yeah! Smash his face in!" (Because I'm a little vicious like that). And this book just had it all. In abundance.
It was deliciously easy to read as well. Written in third person, although Max is the main character you get nearly as much time in the head of one of the other characters which provides a great balance giving you an almost panoramic view of events. Francis handles these changes with aplomb. When Max is doing something that you'd probably be better watching than experiencing first hand (and believe me, Max does some pretty wince inducing stuff), you swap to the other POV. It was fantastic in that sense.
The other thing that bowled me over was its unique characters and never before seen supernatural beings. Francis is/has been a fantasy writer prior to this series, and it shows here in her refusal to go down the typical vampire/werewolf/shapeshifter route. Instead, she brings us something fresh and new to sink our eager little fangs into. Shadowblades and Sunspears. Both are immortal- well, maybe more like long-lived- and both are created by strong elemental witches to be used as their protection. Think of them as guardians of the witches' coven- day shift and night shift, as one can't survive the sun and the other can't survive the night.
Max, our leading lady, and the Shadowblade Prime, is one of the toughest, if slightly suicidal, characters I've ever encountered. She's also housing a monumental amount of rage and resentment at the start of our story which is interesting to witness and see her work through. There was quite a lot of character growth in this story and more to come, I suspect. The secondary characters were equally vivid, and there's one in particular that makes me want to jump up and down in fan-girl glee. *Clappy hands, clappy hands*
I recommend this for all Urban Fantasy fans. If you like Kate Daniels, Dorina Basarab, Chicagoland Vamps, Elemental Assassin series, this series is a must!
June 3, 2018
Max was transformed into an extraordinary warrior by a witch named Giselle over thirty years ago. Because she's bound by Giselle's spell, Max must fight as her Prime ShadowBlade and protect her at all costs. She's really good at what she does but her bitterness and hatred of Giselle lives within her all the while she's fighting on her behalf.
The story begins when Max is dispatched by Giselle to another witch's territory to find out what was amiss. Max is seen by the witch's Prime ShadowBlade, Alexander, and Giselle is challenged as a result, pitting the two Primes in a lethal match. All the while, it is clear that something even more lethal is underway, possibly being perpetrated by the ancient Guardians, and it will take unknown and extraordinary measures for the world as they know it to survive.
I struggled with the beginning of this book (about the first 70 pages) as it was filled with quite a bit of repetition of Max's bitterness towards Giselle. While it probably could have been handled better, it did do its job in preparing me for what comes later in the story. The world created here is one of the more diverse and creative I've read in quite some time. Life isn't easy for anyone and tensions seem to be a high as part of the norm. The romantic tension between Max and Alexander is also interesting as Francis used a technique that allowed some scenes to be replayed from both of their perspectives. The end of the story couldn't be more exciting as the weight of the situation is placed squarely on Max's shoulders and she delivers.
I'm glad I stuck with this story and do plan to continue. This is urban fantasy at its finest.
The story begins when Max is dispatched by Giselle to another witch's territory to find out what was amiss. Max is seen by the witch's Prime ShadowBlade, Alexander, and Giselle is challenged as a result, pitting the two Primes in a lethal match. All the while, it is clear that something even more lethal is underway, possibly being perpetrated by the ancient Guardians, and it will take unknown and extraordinary measures for the world as they know it to survive.
I struggled with the beginning of this book (about the first 70 pages) as it was filled with quite a bit of repetition of Max's bitterness towards Giselle. While it probably could have been handled better, it did do its job in preparing me for what comes later in the story. The world created here is one of the more diverse and creative I've read in quite some time. Life isn't easy for anyone and tensions seem to be a high as part of the norm. The romantic tension between Max and Alexander is also interesting as Francis used a technique that allowed some scenes to be replayed from both of their perspectives. The end of the story couldn't be more exciting as the weight of the situation is placed squarely on Max's shoulders and she delivers.
I'm glad I stuck with this story and do plan to continue. This is urban fantasy at its finest.
June 3, 2018
So much better than I expected!
OMG OMG OMG! This is one of those UFs where, once, you start, you can't put the book down.
The main character is this kick-ass chick with an amazing sense of humor (can irony and sarcasm be called a sense of humor?).
I loved everything about this book, from the plot to the characters, the world builder, the writing, everything!
I really am so excited about the next book, can't wait to see what happens next!
OMG OMG OMG! This is one of those UFs where, once, you start, you can't put the book down.
The main character is this kick-ass chick with an amazing sense of humor (can irony and sarcasm be called a sense of humor?).
I loved everything about this book, from the plot to the characters, the world builder, the writing, everything!
I really am so excited about the next book, can't wait to see what happens next!
April 13, 2012
I dunno, it's not 100% original, but I really enjoyed this book. The world building, that part I didn't love as much. What I did like is that the lead character is pretty acerbic and unlikable (and the author was VERY clear in this, overly clear sometimes hahha) and the love interest is not a bully alpha male, he's a dude who's ok with the lady being in charge. Cliffhanger set up well for the next one, and secondary characters drew me in. So anyway, i was really drawn into this book, it read like a first book but I'm genuinely looking forward to where #2 takes us!
November 6, 2009
In Bitter Night, Diana Pharaoh Francis introduces an unusual urban-fantasy heroine. Max is a Shadowblade, a super-powered warrior bound to serve a witch and her coven. Enslaved against her will, Max has loathed Giselle, her witch, for decades. Yet she finds herself working alongside Giselle, and other unlikely allies, when the Guardians (gods) plan an attack on the human race and threaten to destroy any coven that won’t help them.
What I liked about Bitter Night: First of all, the concept of Shadowblades (and their day-dwelling counterparts, the Sunspears) is unique. Second, I liked the themes of honor, debt, and freedom that Francis explores. Max’s determination to help various characters escape their supernatural bindings reminds me a bit of the ending of Charles de Lint’s Jack the Giant-Killer, which I loved.
Fans of action-packed, high-octane urban fantasy will find a lot to like here. I feel like I’ve just experienced the literary equivalent of a summer blockbuster! Bitter Night features heaps of violence and gore. The gore was maybe a little too much for me. The Shadowblades’ preternatural healing abilities enable Francis to dish out unbelievable injuries to her characters and still have them bounce back. Some of the injuries result from fighting, some from torture. Torture seems to be almost a sport to Francis’ witches. They torture their own Shadowblades for fun and “practice,” and when they want to challenge their rivals, they torture the other witches’ Shadowblades as a form of competition. This is definitely not a book for the squeamish!
The real problem I ran into with Bitter Night, though, is that I felt a little distant from Max. This is in part due to Francis’ unusual decisions regarding point of view. Most urban fantasies are written in the first person, and most of the rest are written in third person but still told exclusively from the heroine’s perspective. Bitter Night is written in the third person, and roughly half of the story is written from the male lead’s point of view.
But there’s also the issue of Max’s fellow Shadowblades. Her loyalty to them, and their devotion to her, is a big part of what makes Max tick. Yet I never felt like I knew these people very well. We learn a lot about Max’s enslavement by Giselle, and a lot about her present-day situation, but not much about the intervening years, during which the bond between Max and her Blades developed. We don’t get much personal backstory about these Blades, either. Since these characters are so important to Max, knowing them better would help the reader know Max better. Perhaps this will happen in the sequels.
The romance didn’t really click with me, either. Don’t get me wrong — Max and Alexander make a great team. I can feel the respect and admiration between them, and it’s clear that they work well as friends and colleagues. But their chemistry doesn’t really come through the page. So whenever one of them had a thought about how attracted they were to the other, it would startle me for a moment, and then I’d think, Oh, right, this is the romantic subplot.
However, I loved Francis’ decision to have Max in a position of authority over Alexander for much of the novel. For a supposedly female-driven subgenre, there are a lot of urban fantasy worlds, and urban fantasy couples, that are male-dominated. This is not one of them!
Bitter Night is an urban fantasy that takes a lot of risks. The results are mixed, but I can unequivocally say that it’s not a carbon copy of anything else I’ve read.
Read this and other fantasy reviews at FantasyLiterature.com!
What I liked about Bitter Night: First of all, the concept of Shadowblades (and their day-dwelling counterparts, the Sunspears) is unique. Second, I liked the themes of honor, debt, and freedom that Francis explores. Max’s determination to help various characters escape their supernatural bindings reminds me a bit of the ending of Charles de Lint’s Jack the Giant-Killer, which I loved.
Fans of action-packed, high-octane urban fantasy will find a lot to like here. I feel like I’ve just experienced the literary equivalent of a summer blockbuster! Bitter Night features heaps of violence and gore. The gore was maybe a little too much for me. The Shadowblades’ preternatural healing abilities enable Francis to dish out unbelievable injuries to her characters and still have them bounce back. Some of the injuries result from fighting, some from torture. Torture seems to be almost a sport to Francis’ witches. They torture their own Shadowblades for fun and “practice,” and when they want to challenge their rivals, they torture the other witches’ Shadowblades as a form of competition. This is definitely not a book for the squeamish!
The real problem I ran into with Bitter Night, though, is that I felt a little distant from Max. This is in part due to Francis’ unusual decisions regarding point of view. Most urban fantasies are written in the first person, and most of the rest are written in third person but still told exclusively from the heroine’s perspective. Bitter Night is written in the third person, and roughly half of the story is written from the male lead’s point of view.
But there’s also the issue of Max’s fellow Shadowblades. Her loyalty to them, and their devotion to her, is a big part of what makes Max tick. Yet I never felt like I knew these people very well. We learn a lot about Max’s enslavement by Giselle, and a lot about her present-day situation, but not much about the intervening years, during which the bond between Max and her Blades developed. We don’t get much personal backstory about these Blades, either. Since these characters are so important to Max, knowing them better would help the reader know Max better. Perhaps this will happen in the sequels.
The romance didn’t really click with me, either. Don’t get me wrong — Max and Alexander make a great team. I can feel the respect and admiration between them, and it’s clear that they work well as friends and colleagues. But their chemistry doesn’t really come through the page. So whenever one of them had a thought about how attracted they were to the other, it would startle me for a moment, and then I’d think, Oh, right, this is the romantic subplot.
However, I loved Francis’ decision to have Max in a position of authority over Alexander for much of the novel. For a supposedly female-driven subgenre, there are a lot of urban fantasy worlds, and urban fantasy couples, that are male-dominated. This is not one of them!
Bitter Night is an urban fantasy that takes a lot of risks. The results are mixed, but I can unequivocally say that it’s not a carbon copy of anything else I’ve read.
Read this and other fantasy reviews at FantasyLiterature.com!
January 6, 2016
On the surface, there was a lot wrong here. For example, there were a lot of little things that irritated me, like a character being able to see the expression of a person he or she wasn't facing or being able to tell not just eye color but exact shade and tone in the dark from afar. There were also a number of ridiculous cliches such as a character seeing another for the first time while hidden from sight and knowing that the man was the perfect match for her, the one who would understand her, was strong enough to equal her in combat, etc. Another was that a character's team was fiercely loyal despite that character's personality being angry and angst ridden and her taking huge risks with her own life.
But none of that really mattered because this was a breathtakingly fast-paced story with interesting, likable, and individual characters, a fairly different sort of UF world (where there are violent and terrible angels but no demons) that's not totally black and white. The enormous powers of the superhuman characters are offset by terrible weaknesses.
The plot is world-affecting and cataclysmic but only a foreshadowing of what is to come so there is much room to build. I didn't feel like I was rereading the same old UF novel I read last week.
There are complex relationships (although a hint of a possible love triangle or at least third wheel complication--argh!) and the heroine really is kick ass. She's a little reckless like usual but not so bad and but is actually very competent. She's stronger and more capable than the love interest and he is intrigued by it and is attracted to her partially because of it.
I did think there were parts where he should have been stronger or faster than he was. And I think there was a huge plot device that should never have happened in the first place. I mean, the situation the character's found themselves in could have been remedied far more easily the usual way (far worse situations were handled directly in other parts of the book) than the more convoluted and dangerous way it was. I understand the need to get the two into that eventual situation but another believable entry point would have been much better.
I think the intense feelings all the characters had for one another happened too fast. I wasn't caught up to where the author wanted me to be yet. But when I did get there, I was in line all the way: lots of intense, codependent emotional scenes; live those.
The fact is that I simply loved this book. I couldn't put it down. I found myself rereading passages right after I read them. When I was done I wanted to pick up the sequel immediately. I finished it two days ago and I can't stop thinking about it. It's pulled me emotionally.
This us a solid first book and up my alley. So, even though a lot of the nitpicky type stuff usually has me rating books quite a bit lower, I enjoyed this book so much, it's a solid four. Here's hoping the next one is better edited and just great all the way around.
July 13, 2014
I found it hard to get my head around the world created here. The Shadowblades and Sunspears were great but some things didn't quite fit, like the angels - I couldn't see them being in that world. I was also a bit unsure of the Guardians and their place, but I think that will be rectified later.
Switching between narrators was a good way of introducing us to the two characters that are to become an item, though more effort was made to flesh out main character Max than Alexander, who seemed pretty dull and boring to me. Idolising Max and wishing he could be more like her are, in my opinion, grounds for a crush rather than a foundation for a serious relationship.
The chemistry between them wasn't quite up to par. We're repeatedly told they're instantly attracted to one another in a love-at-first-sight kind of way without much interaction between them, and based on this, Max sort of trusts him and vice versa. To be honest, I was more interested in the kiss between Max and Oz and where that could lead.
Giselle, though supposedly a tough witch and Max's superior, didn't come across as a "good torturer", and therefore, a not-so-nice person. Most of the time she was on an equal footing with Max, or she let Max take charge. I didn't see the woman who we're told tortured Max when trying to bind and rebind Max to her after Max tried to escape, despite what Giselle did to Alexander.
I loved the gruesome scenes and the dark nature of the book in general, but the physical damage that Max and others suffered was so extensive I couldn't quite believe they were still able to walk around unaided and not hemorrhaging out on the floor. These absurdly remarkable healing abilities gave me the feeling that they were almost invincible, except against angels.
There are some rough edges to this book but I imagine the sequel will be smoother. I'd be interested in reading about Max's future role in the coming war and how her family reacts to her being alive.
Switching between narrators was a good way of introducing us to the two characters that are to become an item, though more effort was made to flesh out main character Max than Alexander, who seemed pretty dull and boring to me. Idolising Max and wishing he could be more like her are, in my opinion, grounds for a crush rather than a foundation for a serious relationship.
The chemistry between them wasn't quite up to par. We're repeatedly told they're instantly attracted to one another in a love-at-first-sight kind of way without much interaction between them, and based on this, Max sort of trusts him and vice versa. To be honest, I was more interested in the kiss between Max and Oz and where that could lead.
Giselle, though supposedly a tough witch and Max's superior, didn't come across as a "good torturer", and therefore, a not-so-nice person. Most of the time she was on an equal footing with Max, or she let Max take charge. I didn't see the woman who we're told tortured Max when trying to bind and rebind Max to her after Max tried to escape, despite what Giselle did to Alexander.
I loved the gruesome scenes and the dark nature of the book in general, but the physical damage that Max and others suffered was so extensive I couldn't quite believe they were still able to walk around unaided and not hemorrhaging out on the floor. These absurdly remarkable healing abilities gave me the feeling that they were almost invincible, except against angels.
There are some rough edges to this book but I imagine the sequel will be smoother. I'd be interested in reading about Max's future role in the coming war and how her family reacts to her being alive.
September 10, 2020
This was on my to-read list for years because I thought it sounded like a generic UF. I was so wrong! I've read 3 of the 4 books so far and it is super imaginative, it reads like a fantasy mashed up with my favourite UF elements. The stakes are high for the characters and the rest of the world. Best of all the heroine is majorly kick ass and isn't bogged down by guilt and regret. I can't wait to read more by this author!!
February 9, 2010
I was really hoping that I would love this book. Not only was it recommended by Patricia Briggs (an author I really like) but it was about witches and a kick ass woman!
And yet, with all of that promise, all of those things to reel me in - it fell flat for me.
First of all, Max as a character was great. Giselle was interesting and so were Max's Shadowblades. The history between Max and Giselle and the tension between the two was palpable and deep.
Yet - despite that.
The book didn't really start picking up until about thirty pages toward the end. The plot seemed to kick in and made the rest of the book seem like a large encyclopedia of character building. It wasn't that interesting (large bits of the beginning portion of the book could've been removed and I didn't need to really see things from Alexander's point of view, especially not so disjointedly)and most of it could have been explained in a few flashbacks or more information about Giselle and Max and more scenes together. I want to know more about Max but I felt a lot of the scenes were repetitious. She got hurt way too often which is supposed to show how reckless she is - I could've gotten that from one near death experience - and her dialogue was awesome (I love her voice) but she had a habit of only talking about killing, revenge and bitterness. I get that what is happening in the book is very important but it seemed like a large snapshot of the bigger picture after you've heard about the layout.
I really don't know and I really don't have any answers here about why this book didn't work for me. I can only try to guess. The book was dry - in the way that eating Saltine crackers without water and with a lot of salt is - with dark elements (the scene with the internal bleeding was pretty awesome) but not enough of a cohesive plot/back story to keep it from stuttering.
Would I read the second one? I don't know. To me, this book felt like the second novel.
I just don't know.
And yet, with all of that promise, all of those things to reel me in - it fell flat for me.
First of all, Max as a character was great. Giselle was interesting and so were Max's Shadowblades. The history between Max and Giselle and the tension between the two was palpable and deep.
Yet - despite that.
The book didn't really start picking up until about thirty pages toward the end. The plot seemed to kick in and made the rest of the book seem like a large encyclopedia of character building. It wasn't that interesting (large bits of the beginning portion of the book could've been removed and I didn't need to really see things from Alexander's point of view, especially not so disjointedly)and most of it could have been explained in a few flashbacks or more information about Giselle and Max and more scenes together. I want to know more about Max but I felt a lot of the scenes were repetitious. She got hurt way too often which is supposed to show how reckless she is - I could've gotten that from one near death experience - and her dialogue was awesome (I love her voice) but she had a habit of only talking about killing, revenge and bitterness. I get that what is happening in the book is very important but it seemed like a large snapshot of the bigger picture after you've heard about the layout.
I really don't know and I really don't have any answers here about why this book didn't work for me. I can only try to guess. The book was dry - in the way that eating Saltine crackers without water and with a lot of salt is - with dark elements (the scene with the internal bleeding was pretty awesome) but not enough of a cohesive plot/back story to keep it from stuttering.
Would I read the second one? I don't know. To me, this book felt like the second novel.
I just don't know.
September 26, 2012
I received the first 3 books in this series as a gift to see if I wanted to review them and since I had not heard of them I was in the "sure whatever" mode. I can't put my finger on it but I was hooked on the story within the first few chapters and did a marathon reading session for the next few days and read the whole series. The first thing that should be noted here for the first book is that it is almost totally action driven with enough character involvement to make you angry beyond words for the main character (our heroine Max) and frustrated )if you are like me) that revenge and justice cannot be applied swiftly. To say she has been betrayed by someone she thought was her best friend would be a huge understatement, her whole life was stolen. As the story progresses you see that things happen for a reason but you never lose that thirst for revenge even though Max seems to let it go from time to time to enable her to perform the tasks she must be able to do. Max is now a Shadowblade which gives her unique abilities of speed, strength, and healing with a couple of unique talents along the way.
On a scale of 1-10 the romance in this book is somewhere around 2, it picks up a bit in later books but for Bitter Nights it is not the main thrust of the book. You get to know the characters and the background which is far from dull I can assure you. This series is highly recommended and if there is any complaints from me it would be that they don't make it easy to find the reading order so here it is:
Bitter Night: A Horngate Witches Book
Crimson Wind (Horngate Witches Books)
Shadow City (Horngate Witches)
Blood Winter (Horngate Witches) Dec 2012 release date
wonder why it would have been so hard to put Book # 1, 2 , etc ??
This was 5 star reading for me and if you enjoy Jane Yellowrock by Faith Hunter you will love Max.
On a scale of 1-10 the romance in this book is somewhere around 2, it picks up a bit in later books but for Bitter Nights it is not the main thrust of the book. You get to know the characters and the background which is far from dull I can assure you. This series is highly recommended and if there is any complaints from me it would be that they don't make it easy to find the reading order so here it is:
Bitter Night: A Horngate Witches Book
Crimson Wind (Horngate Witches Books)
Shadow City (Horngate Witches)
Blood Winter (Horngate Witches) Dec 2012 release date
wonder why it would have been so hard to put Book # 1, 2 , etc ??
This was 5 star reading for me and if you enjoy Jane Yellowrock by Faith Hunter you will love Max.
June 26, 2014
First half: Awesome! Second half: Meh.
I hated Alexander. It's nothing that he did, it's just everything he didn't do. Such a flat character. Following, the romance was equally disappointing. Also, what were Max & Alexander's pointless conversations about? You didn't get to know shit, because every second sentence they either asked each other whether they were okay, or continued on their endless, retarded "trust" talk. Blaaaaaaaa.
I want loads of Oz (he seems fun!), or loads of angels (they seem badass!).
Gonna continue the series tho. <.<
I hated Alexander. It's nothing that he did, it's just everything he didn't do. Such a flat character. Following, the romance was equally disappointing. Also, what were Max & Alexander's pointless conversations about? You didn't get to know shit, because every second sentence they either asked each other whether they were okay, or continued on their endless, retarded "trust" talk. Blaaaaaaaa.
I want loads of Oz (he seems fun!), or loads of angels (they seem badass!).
Gonna continue the series tho. <.<
November 5, 2012
4.5 stars. This book made me happy. It had just what I wanted and needed - a tough-as-nails heroine and plenty of hot alphas in the mix. More review to come...but don't wait for me, pick it up and read it yourself.
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For a fuller review, visit: http://loveaffairwithanereader.blogsp...
This is just my cup of tea. I love Max. She is strong, focused, loyal, and caring despite herself. She is a take-no-prisoners kinda gal. She thinks she is so hard-ass when in reality she is a softy. When her home is threatened, she realizes how her crew has become her family. Her tough exterior does not diminish the care she has for the people in her coven.
Then there is Alexander. As a rival prime, there is a lot of positioning between Alexander and Max, and they are like dry kindling just waiting for the spark to set them off. Because he understands her, her responsibilities and struggles as a Prime, he manages to get under her skin (and sometimes under her clothes). I have a difficult time saying this is a romance because it feels more like a fantasy with a theme of romance, but it is not the story itself. It rolls out slowly and I appreciate that this is not a insta-love story. The development reminds me of Kate and Curran in Ilona Andrew's Kate Daniels stories. So far, it is deliciously drawn out! Undoubtedly, there will be many stops and starts in this relationship, and I can't wait to see how it ends!
This takes place amidst some hard core kick-ass action. It is graphic, brutal, bloody, and sounds awfully painful. All of which gives this book it's gritty and dark appeal.
IN A NUTSHELL:
What a wonderful start to a new series for me! I can't wait to get on to the next book and I encourage you to get this one onto your reading shelf!
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For a fuller review, visit: http://loveaffairwithanereader.blogsp...
This is just my cup of tea. I love Max. She is strong, focused, loyal, and caring despite herself. She is a take-no-prisoners kinda gal. She thinks she is so hard-ass when in reality she is a softy. When her home is threatened, she realizes how her crew has become her family. Her tough exterior does not diminish the care she has for the people in her coven.
Then there is Alexander. As a rival prime, there is a lot of positioning between Alexander and Max, and they are like dry kindling just waiting for the spark to set them off. Because he understands her, her responsibilities and struggles as a Prime, he manages to get under her skin (and sometimes under her clothes). I have a difficult time saying this is a romance because it feels more like a fantasy with a theme of romance, but it is not the story itself. It rolls out slowly and I appreciate that this is not a insta-love story. The development reminds me of Kate and Curran in Ilona Andrew's Kate Daniels stories. So far, it is deliciously drawn out! Undoubtedly, there will be many stops and starts in this relationship, and I can't wait to see how it ends!
This takes place amidst some hard core kick-ass action. It is graphic, brutal, bloody, and sounds awfully painful. All of which gives this book it's gritty and dark appeal.
IN A NUTSHELL:
What a wonderful start to a new series for me! I can't wait to get on to the next book and I encourage you to get this one onto your reading shelf!
January 4, 2013
3.5 Stars
The world isn't exactly the way you think it is. There's magic, witches, and warriors that used to be human but changed into something more by magic and sacrifice. One of those warriors is Max. She used to be a normal college girl with a normal life and a broken heart by a normal guy. In a drunken girls' night out, Max made inconsequential affirmation to be something stronger than average and living forever young. In a heartbeat, an eternity of agony or what was really a month of time, Max is changed into a Shadowblade and she has become a supernatural warrior that is forbidden the sun.
The Horngate series is different from what I've read by Diana. The story takes place in the present, the characters are gritty, the plot line harsh and unforgiving. There's some crass language, dark emotions, fierce fighting that pushes the boundaries of possibilities and characters that I'm intrigued to know more about.
It's not a clear cut vision of right and wrong or black and white. I like that. There's human frailty, uncommon strength, and mythological creatures that makes me go, "Awww!" It's true. Sometimes, I really do react like a young girl.
The character building in the book for Max is pretty good. Clear plot line, introduction of several key features & characters, and a taste of violence that is more normal than not. Not really believing in the magical aspects because it's hard to suspend my believe on that but it's not distracting enough to keep me from reading the book.
Overall, this is a promising start to a series and I look forward to where it will go.
The world isn't exactly the way you think it is. There's magic, witches, and warriors that used to be human but changed into something more by magic and sacrifice. One of those warriors is Max. She used to be a normal college girl with a normal life and a broken heart by a normal guy. In a drunken girls' night out, Max made inconsequential affirmation to be something stronger than average and living forever young. In a heartbeat, an eternity of agony or what was really a month of time, Max is changed into a Shadowblade and she has become a supernatural warrior that is forbidden the sun.
The Horngate series is different from what I've read by Diana. The story takes place in the present, the characters are gritty, the plot line harsh and unforgiving. There's some crass language, dark emotions, fierce fighting that pushes the boundaries of possibilities and characters that I'm intrigued to know more about.
It's not a clear cut vision of right and wrong or black and white. I like that. There's human frailty, uncommon strength, and mythological creatures that makes me go, "Awww!" It's true. Sometimes, I really do react like a young girl.
The character building in the book for Max is pretty good. Clear plot line, introduction of several key features & characters, and a taste of violence that is more normal than not. Not really believing in the magical aspects because it's hard to suspend my believe on that but it's not distracting enough to keep me from reading the book.
Overall, this is a promising start to a series and I look forward to where it will go.
January 12, 2010
Max is the Shadowblade prime. Leader of a human weapons arsenal horned & crafted to protect the Hornsgate witch Giselle. Max lives and breathes for one thing-to destroy Giselle and free herself from the magical bondage she was enslaved to.
But, the ancient Guardians of the earth are preparing to unleash widespread destruction on the world, and they want the witches to help them. If the witches refuse, their covens will be destroyed, including Horngate.
As Max prepares for war and forges unlikely alliances she must make ultimate choice...does she fight for the old life she still dreams of or that of the warrior she has become.
I had a love/hate relationship with this book.
I loved the heroine Max. Smart, sarcastic, stubborn,& independent. I found myself talking out loud to myself, punching the sir with my fist hollaring, "You go girl. Kick her ass." I hated how she became a Shadowblade. The act of betrayal committed by her "friend" Giselle really left a bad taste in my mouth. The torture endured by Max to shape her into a killing weapon was graphic and heartbreaking when you realize that it was done by her friend and the results are permanent. Giselle came off as a little self righteous and her get over it already attitude made me want to slap her. lol
The story was fast paced, engrossing, and had me hooked to the last page.
But, the ancient Guardians of the earth are preparing to unleash widespread destruction on the world, and they want the witches to help them. If the witches refuse, their covens will be destroyed, including Horngate.
As Max prepares for war and forges unlikely alliances she must make ultimate choice...does she fight for the old life she still dreams of or that of the warrior she has become.
I had a love/hate relationship with this book.
I loved the heroine Max. Smart, sarcastic, stubborn,& independent. I found myself talking out loud to myself, punching the sir with my fist hollaring, "You go girl. Kick her ass." I hated how she became a Shadowblade. The act of betrayal committed by her "friend" Giselle really left a bad taste in my mouth. The torture endured by Max to shape her into a killing weapon was graphic and heartbreaking when you realize that it was done by her friend and the results are permanent. Giselle came off as a little self righteous and her get over it already attitude made me want to slap her. lol
The story was fast paced, engrossing, and had me hooked to the last page.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2013
August Group Read True Love 101
Max is a Shadowblade. Once human, she was recreated by Giselle with superhuman abilities and endurance. Carved into her soul are spells which bind her and compel her to protect Giselle and her coven home, Horngate.
Now powerful beings, the Guardians are stirring and what they want isn't entirely clear. But whatever it is it can't be good for humans...the only question is, will Horngate be able to survive or will they be swept up in the maelstrom.
Bitter Night doesn't always work. It occasionally felt a bit like a video game...the characters would go on missions to collect magical objects, do battle with bad guys, take some hits, lose some hearts...then they'd eat and regain their hearts. It meanders a little, particularly towards the end but the book is ultimately saved by characters you like and want to get to know better.
A promising start to the series.
Max is a Shadowblade. Once human, she was recreated by Giselle with superhuman abilities and endurance. Carved into her soul are spells which bind her and compel her to protect Giselle and her coven home, Horngate.
Now powerful beings, the Guardians are stirring and what they want isn't entirely clear. But whatever it is it can't be good for humans...the only question is, will Horngate be able to survive or will they be swept up in the maelstrom.
Bitter Night doesn't always work. It occasionally felt a bit like a video game...the characters would go on missions to collect magical objects, do battle with bad guys, take some hits, lose some hearts...then they'd eat and regain their hearts. It meanders a little, particularly towards the end but the book is ultimately saved by characters you like and want to get to know better.
A promising start to the series.
November 5, 2017
Enjoyable first in series urban fantasy book. I loved that the story started off with our heroine Max, already having powers and that she was very sure of her abilities. So far, there isn't all that growing into her powers thing going on. It made a nice change in the genre. Perhaps a little bit stomach churning with the descriptions of the battle of endurance and a couple of battle scenes for me. Overall that didn't take away from what I thought was an engaging story and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Plus, it never hurts this reader to have a little sprinkling of romance thrown in.
Recommended for Urban Fantasy readers, who don't mind that their heroine has a healthy appetite and doesn't live on coffee alone. In fact there seemed to be a lot of jugs of milk being consumed. Not a milk fan myself, nonetheless, it didn't put me off the story. A book well worth checking out.
Recommended for Urban Fantasy readers, who don't mind that their heroine has a healthy appetite and doesn't live on coffee alone. In fact there seemed to be a lot of jugs of milk being consumed. Not a milk fan myself, nonetheless, it didn't put me off the story. A book well worth checking out.
April 13, 2017
I am so shocked to be admitting this BUT I really liked it.
You could just blow me over with a feather right now.
I'm that shocked.
Even though it feels like nothing much happened, so much actually went on.
And Max.
OhMyGod Max!
Lord knows I've read a hella lotta bad ass women but Damn!
I mean she's up there!
She is up there so effing close to Kate Daniels Queen of BadAssery.
And that is a high compliment if I've ever given one.
Unfortunately, Alexander is no Curran. Let me know what you think about him but to me, right now, he's coming off as a real wimp. Okay, okay. Technically he's not but that's what I feel towards him and I'm holding out for him to toughen up.
*fingers crossed*
*Don't disappoint me*
Next book, here I come!
January 10, 2012
Bitter Night is a very unique story in that it doesn't deal with the witches but more with the witch's fighters, specifically Max. Max is a Shadowblade Prime and what that means is she leads the fighters that can go out in the night. There are also fighters that can go out in the daylight and they are called the Sunspears. Something is happening with the Guardians (ancient beings) and the witches have been called to the Conclave (a gathering). Unfortunately, Max gets told to make a side trip and runs into another witch's Prime, Alexander. That's where everything changes.
Giselle is the Horngate witch that changed Max (sort of) against her will and Max won't let her forget it. Giselle won't release Max from her bonds so Max lives to make Giselle's life as horrible as she can. The more Max finds out about things, the more we see her change and grow.
I loved having the story told from two points of view. We get Max's as well as Alexander's. There is definitely a connection between the two of them and it's funny to see them fight it ... and not fight it.
There are a lot of great secondary characters and I really enjoyed seeing them all come together. There are also many other types of creatures from Hags to Angels and I really liked the different spin that was put on most of them.
There is a lot of fighting in the book and just a lot going on but it's a great beginning book. It definitely leaves you wanting more! Can't wait to read Crimson Wind.
Favorite line:
"I don't mess around with the men in the coven, especially my Shadowblades," she said with quiet finality. Flirting was one thing but anything more, it was a mistake of epic proportions.
His eyes narrowed and he gave a slow shake of his head. "That is all right then. Because I want so much more than just to mess around."
Giselle is the Horngate witch that changed Max (sort of) against her will and Max won't let her forget it. Giselle won't release Max from her bonds so Max lives to make Giselle's life as horrible as she can. The more Max finds out about things, the more we see her change and grow.
I loved having the story told from two points of view. We get Max's as well as Alexander's. There is definitely a connection between the two of them and it's funny to see them fight it ... and not fight it.
There are a lot of great secondary characters and I really enjoyed seeing them all come together. There are also many other types of creatures from Hags to Angels and I really liked the different spin that was put on most of them.
There is a lot of fighting in the book and just a lot going on but it's a great beginning book. It definitely leaves you wanting more! Can't wait to read Crimson Wind.
Favorite line:
"I don't mess around with the men in the coven, especially my Shadowblades," she said with quiet finality. Flirting was one thing but anything more, it was a mistake of epic proportions.
His eyes narrowed and he gave a slow shake of his head. "That is all right then. Because I want so much more than just to mess around."
November 11, 2009
Bitter Night by Diana Pharaoh Francis
A young woman is given extraordinary powers by her friend, a witch. In exchange for these powers she must serve the witch for eternity. Her struggle with her identity and her ethics while immersed in a violence prone culture defines the story. A war among immortals plays second chair to Max’s search for self.
Frankly when I requested this book for review I did it with skepticism. I wasn’t sure it was my cup of java. Once again I am glad I pushed aside my cynical bent and tried someone new. I am now a fan. I truly enjoyed the emotional interplay between the characters. Francis imbues realism into her fantasy world. Max’s self destructive urges are sublimated by her loyalty to those dependent on her strength. Honor and loyalty are sure fire captivators of my literary interest and Francis illustrates them quite graphically. I will do my best to follow up on this review by reviewing the next in the series. There is plenty of action and good solid character development. I heartily enjoyed the book.
I recommend the book.
A young woman is given extraordinary powers by her friend, a witch. In exchange for these powers she must serve the witch for eternity. Her struggle with her identity and her ethics while immersed in a violence prone culture defines the story. A war among immortals plays second chair to Max’s search for self.
Frankly when I requested this book for review I did it with skepticism. I wasn’t sure it was my cup of java. Once again I am glad I pushed aside my cynical bent and tried someone new. I am now a fan. I truly enjoyed the emotional interplay between the characters. Francis imbues realism into her fantasy world. Max’s self destructive urges are sublimated by her loyalty to those dependent on her strength. Honor and loyalty are sure fire captivators of my literary interest and Francis illustrates them quite graphically. I will do my best to follow up on this review by reviewing the next in the series. There is plenty of action and good solid character development. I heartily enjoyed the book.
I recommend the book.
December 4, 2010
Reviewed at http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blo...
Max is what they call a Shadowblade, she protects her witch with her life. She didn't choose to be a Shadowblade, her best friend and room mate in collage Giselle turned her one night after they went out for drinks. Max has resented and hated Giselle ever since but is bound by Giselle's magic and can not harm nor leave Giselle. Max happens to be the prime shadowblade and is unique as she treats everyone under her super well and all the shadowblades are extremely loyal to her even though Max tries to keep her distance as she still doesn't want to be a shadowblade and is still trying to find a way to get revenge on Giselle. Horngate, their home is under attack and Max seems to be the only one who can save it so she has to start working through some of her issues. I really enjoyed Bitter night. I found the world that Diana built to be strong and unique. There is a bit of romance with a lot of tension between Max and another witches Shadowblade Prime Alexander as they try to work together. Book 2 Crimson Wind comes out December 28, 2010 and I already have it pre-ordered.
I gave it 4.5/5
Max is what they call a Shadowblade, she protects her witch with her life. She didn't choose to be a Shadowblade, her best friend and room mate in collage Giselle turned her one night after they went out for drinks. Max has resented and hated Giselle ever since but is bound by Giselle's magic and can not harm nor leave Giselle. Max happens to be the prime shadowblade and is unique as she treats everyone under her super well and all the shadowblades are extremely loyal to her even though Max tries to keep her distance as she still doesn't want to be a shadowblade and is still trying to find a way to get revenge on Giselle. Horngate, their home is under attack and Max seems to be the only one who can save it so she has to start working through some of her issues. I really enjoyed Bitter night. I found the world that Diana built to be strong and unique. There is a bit of romance with a lot of tension between Max and another witches Shadowblade Prime Alexander as they try to work together. Book 2 Crimson Wind comes out December 28, 2010 and I already have it pre-ordered.
I gave it 4.5/5
November 9, 2009
Review Courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Like my favorite urban fantasy author Patricia Briggs (who just happened to have blurbed for this book), Diana Pharaoh Francis has a background as an established fantasy writer, and that background is certainly evident in Bitter Night.
“Max’s phone rang. It was set to a high-pitched tone that most humans couldn’t hear. But being human hadn’t been Max’s problem since 1979.” –Bitter Night
First up, the good: Diana’s fantasy background was a strength that she fully utilized in created the world of the Horngate Witches. Witches hold amazing power in Bitter Night. Shadowblades and Sunspears are human servants magically enhanced with superhuman abilities and senses. They are not that dissimilar from vampires: they can heal from most wounds, never grow old, and the sun (or moon depending on whether they are Sunspears or Shadowblades) is deadly to them. They even struggle with enlarged appetites (try 40 Big Macs at once).
Max (she adopted the name from the Mel Gibson character in The Road Warrior movies, though I think she is much more like Riggs from Lethal Weapon) is the Prime Shadowblade for the witch Giselle. Enslaved by the witch that made her, compelled to lay down her very life if necessary in order to keep Giselle safe, Max is not the grateful servant she’s expected to be. Rather she is consumed with one thought: Revenge. It is the one hope that keeps her from walking out in to the sunlight that would kill her. When forces greater than even the witches threaten everything that Max has come to care about, she must learn to ally with her enemy and accept the role she must play as savior.
The cover art is what first attracted me to this book. And I love that Max is actually described like the cover depicts her. She even wears the cover outfit during a pivotal scene in the book. In that scene Max is forced into a test of endurance against another witch’s Prime Shadowblade, Alexander (who I think deserved a spot on the cover as a significant number of chapters are written from his point of view).
The not-so good: Diana’s fantasy background is both her strength and her weakness. The fantasy Horngate world is well realized with its own unique mythology (especially her take on Angels), the urban elements, however, are less so. There is very little interaction with the modern (outside) world, and while the characters all have cell phones and drive cars etc., apart from those details, this story could easily have been set a millennium ago with minor changes. I’m not sure if those small additions will be enough for hardcore urban fantasy lovers.
I’ll also admit that it took me until about the midpoint to really get into this book. Max is a hard character and the circumstances of her life have made her very bitter (hence the title). At first, I struggled to see past that aspect of her. I understood her to a degree, I just didn’t especially like her. That changed when she risked her life for Alexander not knowing if he would turn around and kill her later. Her loyalty to the Shadowblades in her command was also a contributing factor. She consistently put their welfare over her own need for revenge. It's hard not to admire that kind of selflessness.
I never really did warm up to Alexander. He didn’t seem strong enough to be a realistic romantic lead for Max (the Angel on the other hand...). Nor did I ever believe the conflicting desire they supposedly felt for each other went beyond plain lust. Overall, I found his chapters to be the weakest in the book.
Bitter Night has its bitter moments, but strong world building and a heroine who proves herself by bravery and resourcefulness, even willingness to suffer in the stead of others make it worth reading. There is no cliffhanger ending, but Diana is far from finished with her Horngate Witches…and neither am I.
Sexual Content: Kissing.
Like my favorite urban fantasy author Patricia Briggs (who just happened to have blurbed for this book), Diana Pharaoh Francis has a background as an established fantasy writer, and that background is certainly evident in Bitter Night.
“Max’s phone rang. It was set to a high-pitched tone that most humans couldn’t hear. But being human hadn’t been Max’s problem since 1979.” –Bitter Night
First up, the good: Diana’s fantasy background was a strength that she fully utilized in created the world of the Horngate Witches. Witches hold amazing power in Bitter Night. Shadowblades and Sunspears are human servants magically enhanced with superhuman abilities and senses. They are not that dissimilar from vampires: they can heal from most wounds, never grow old, and the sun (or moon depending on whether they are Sunspears or Shadowblades) is deadly to them. They even struggle with enlarged appetites (try 40 Big Macs at once).
Max (she adopted the name from the Mel Gibson character in The Road Warrior movies, though I think she is much more like Riggs from Lethal Weapon) is the Prime Shadowblade for the witch Giselle. Enslaved by the witch that made her, compelled to lay down her very life if necessary in order to keep Giselle safe, Max is not the grateful servant she’s expected to be. Rather she is consumed with one thought: Revenge. It is the one hope that keeps her from walking out in to the sunlight that would kill her. When forces greater than even the witches threaten everything that Max has come to care about, she must learn to ally with her enemy and accept the role she must play as savior.
The cover art is what first attracted me to this book. And I love that Max is actually described like the cover depicts her. She even wears the cover outfit during a pivotal scene in the book. In that scene Max is forced into a test of endurance against another witch’s Prime Shadowblade, Alexander (who I think deserved a spot on the cover as a significant number of chapters are written from his point of view).
The not-so good: Diana’s fantasy background is both her strength and her weakness. The fantasy Horngate world is well realized with its own unique mythology (especially her take on Angels), the urban elements, however, are less so. There is very little interaction with the modern (outside) world, and while the characters all have cell phones and drive cars etc., apart from those details, this story could easily have been set a millennium ago with minor changes. I’m not sure if those small additions will be enough for hardcore urban fantasy lovers.
I’ll also admit that it took me until about the midpoint to really get into this book. Max is a hard character and the circumstances of her life have made her very bitter (hence the title). At first, I struggled to see past that aspect of her. I understood her to a degree, I just didn’t especially like her. That changed when she risked her life for Alexander not knowing if he would turn around and kill her later. Her loyalty to the Shadowblades in her command was also a contributing factor. She consistently put their welfare over her own need for revenge. It's hard not to admire that kind of selflessness.
I never really did warm up to Alexander. He didn’t seem strong enough to be a realistic romantic lead for Max (the Angel on the other hand...). Nor did I ever believe the conflicting desire they supposedly felt for each other went beyond plain lust. Overall, I found his chapters to be the weakest in the book.
Bitter Night has its bitter moments, but strong world building and a heroine who proves herself by bravery and resourcefulness, even willingness to suffer in the stead of others make it worth reading. There is no cliffhanger ending, but Diana is far from finished with her Horngate Witches…and neither am I.
Sexual Content: Kissing.
May 11, 2013
Wow, wow, wow, why I spend so much time to not read Bitter Night asap, I have no idea. In my urban fantasy spree, I love that there's an urban fantasy series that make me hooked! Like it title, Bitter Night have a bitter heroine called Max who plan to revenge to her best friend. For her, immortality suck. Add it with betrayal and trust issue, since Giselle, the witch Max served as Shadowblade, an immortal warrior, a defender for witch/wizard, change Max without her permission. What start as a drunk night turn nightmare for Max when she wake up in an altar and no longer human. This is why I like the premise, finally a character who not embrace her immortality with happy face, but want to run from it. Because she had been forced, raped (not that sexual thing), and betrayed by her own friend.
Ms Francis's writing is rich, detail, but also gritty. She doesn't shy away from writing a gore scene. There's a scene that turn my stomach, when Max and Alexander, the hero, Shadowblade Prime for Selange, Giselle's rival have a sort of strength competition. Read the spoiler if you strong enough to read . Also Ms Francis describe how Giselle torture Max over an over to make Max yield to her bidding. I want to slap Giselle asap! Even though at the last, we will know why Giselle do that to Max. Max, even still want to revenge against her friend, accept her condition. All for her Shadowblame comrade and Horngate, the place she protect.
I also love how Ms Francis mix mythology into Bitter Night. The Guardian, Max and Giselle's enemy is a deity from all myth. Add with a creature like hag and angel. And the most unique supernatural warrior, Shadowblades and Sunspear. If Shadowblade will hurt when they touched by sun or moonlight, Sunspear can't handle darkness. The relationship between Max and her cohorts are interesting to read. And her romance development with Alexander make me impatient to know what next. What make Bitter Night shine, beside the writing and world building is Max herself. She is strong,witty, full of snark with suicide tendencies, but also fragile inside, especially in trust some people. She's a heroine to die for, an example for how ass kick heroine supposed to act, but also make me want to hug her for all her pain.
I can't wait to know more about the world that Ms Francis created in her Horngate Witches series. So sad not many readers read her book. I assure you, she's one of the most promising urban fantasy writer and you will regret to not read her book soon!
Favorite quote :
- "Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends," Max murmured.
"What is that?"
"It's from a song. Pretty much covers the story of my life. But we should get this over with. There's not much night left."
- I'm just an idiot who ended up a Shadowblade, and I'm still kicking myself. I happen to be good at the job, but mostly because I want to live long enough to kill Giselle. I'm no hero and I'm no saint. Don't think I am."
Ms Francis's writing is rich, detail, but also gritty. She doesn't shy away from writing a gore scene. There's a scene that turn my stomach, when Max and Alexander, the hero, Shadowblade Prime for Selange, Giselle's rival have a sort of strength competition. Read the spoiler if you strong enough to read . Also Ms Francis describe how Giselle torture Max over an over to make Max yield to her bidding. I want to slap Giselle asap! Even though at the last, we will know why Giselle do that to Max. Max, even still want to revenge against her friend, accept her condition. All for her Shadowblame comrade and Horngate, the place she protect.
I also love how Ms Francis mix mythology into Bitter Night. The Guardian, Max and Giselle's enemy is a deity from all myth. Add with a creature like hag and angel. And the most unique supernatural warrior, Shadowblades and Sunspear. If Shadowblade will hurt when they touched by sun or moonlight, Sunspear can't handle darkness. The relationship between Max and her cohorts are interesting to read. And her romance development with Alexander make me impatient to know what next. What make Bitter Night shine, beside the writing and world building is Max herself. She is strong,witty, full of snark with suicide tendencies, but also fragile inside, especially in trust some people. She's a heroine to die for, an example for how ass kick heroine supposed to act, but also make me want to hug her for all her pain.
I can't wait to know more about the world that Ms Francis created in her Horngate Witches series. So sad not many readers read her book. I assure you, she's one of the most promising urban fantasy writer and you will regret to not read her book soon!
Favorite quote :
- "Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends," Max murmured.
"What is that?"
"It's from a song. Pretty much covers the story of my life. But we should get this over with. There's not much night left."
- I'm just an idiot who ended up a Shadowblade, and I'm still kicking myself. I happen to be good at the job, but mostly because I want to live long enough to kill Giselle. I'm no hero and I'm no saint. Don't think I am."
January 20, 2013
There are two parts of this, my thoughts on the series and those on this particular book. This is a good series, it could have been a great series. That it's not I put a lot of blame on the editor for. There are a lot of loose ends and a double pile of logical inconsistencies that keep this from being a great series, which is something a good editor should have caught. The author takes some of the blame too, but it is harder to see it when it's your baby. It is somewhat frustrating because the characters are strong and very likeable, but things just don't add up in random areas and you're often left going, "HUH? That doesn't make sense."
If it takes a huge amount of food and work at the beginning of the book to keep a nearly dead shadowblade from dying, don't have it so that by the fourth one it seems to take a jug of juice and 20 minutes to cure the same sort of thing. Also, if you're going to claim this place is meant to be a sanctuary, then spend some time making it one. Cover a little of how its run and maybe try to bring some people in. As it is, I never really got a sense of how many people might be there, or even really a good idea of the size. The green houses are mentioned many times, but given no real description or a sense of where they belong in the giant scheme of things past those mentions.
The loose ends are also really bad. Frequently there are plot lines that just... disappear. There'll be a lot of time spent on a sub character and then there's never a mention of them again. THIS is particularly frustrating. If you take the time to name a character and give them some kind of story, at least put them away properly. If you're taking them somewhere, mention where they end up, don't just totally forget them. This is something that happened at least three times.
If there is a potentially best book of the series, I think it's the third one, though it would have been so easy for all of these to be great. It's just a damned shame that someone dropped the ball and didn't catch the weak points.
Book 1: *warning, there may be spoilers!*
The first couple chapters of this book are bad. I very nearly stopped reading them they were that bad. Fortunately after that the author hit her stride and it got a lot better. However there are a lot of logical HUHS? in this book. If Max can get through things, great, but how can she take someone with her? This book wasn't too bad past those first few chapters and I did finish it with the desire to continue to read the next book. The only issue I had was one of those loose ends, the Hag. Hello? What happened to her huh??? She's the reason for a big confrontation and then she's tossed in a truck and never mentioned again. This is where a little more time could have been used to build not only a completed story line, but used to fill out the background of Horngate as well.
If it takes a huge amount of food and work at the beginning of the book to keep a nearly dead shadowblade from dying, don't have it so that by the fourth one it seems to take a jug of juice and 20 minutes to cure the same sort of thing. Also, if you're going to claim this place is meant to be a sanctuary, then spend some time making it one. Cover a little of how its run and maybe try to bring some people in. As it is, I never really got a sense of how many people might be there, or even really a good idea of the size. The green houses are mentioned many times, but given no real description or a sense of where they belong in the giant scheme of things past those mentions.
The loose ends are also really bad. Frequently there are plot lines that just... disappear. There'll be a lot of time spent on a sub character and then there's never a mention of them again. THIS is particularly frustrating. If you take the time to name a character and give them some kind of story, at least put them away properly. If you're taking them somewhere, mention where they end up, don't just totally forget them. This is something that happened at least three times.
If there is a potentially best book of the series, I think it's the third one, though it would have been so easy for all of these to be great. It's just a damned shame that someone dropped the ball and didn't catch the weak points.
Book 1: *warning, there may be spoilers!*
The first couple chapters of this book are bad. I very nearly stopped reading them they were that bad. Fortunately after that the author hit her stride and it got a lot better. However there are a lot of logical HUHS? in this book. If Max can get through things, great, but how can she take someone with her? This book wasn't too bad past those first few chapters and I did finish it with the desire to continue to read the next book. The only issue I had was one of those loose ends, the Hag. Hello? What happened to her huh??? She's the reason for a big confrontation and then she's tossed in a truck and never mentioned again. This is where a little more time could have been used to build not only a completed story line, but used to fill out the background of Horngate as well.
February 3, 2011
I think I'm going through a serious Urban Fantasy phase because the last few I've read have really, really hit the spot. Ridiculously so. It's like I either need bloody battles, dirty sex or teen angst in my books. And let's face it, those three don't really go together (well, maybe the battles and sex, but not alongside the teen angst. Most of the time.) and yet that's what I've been stuck on for the past few days. Then it starts getting all mixed up in my head and I start wondering why those teenagers aren't having dirty sex while fighting monsters and getting bloody. My brain scares me sometimes.
Anyway. This book is light on the romance (and negative on both sex and teens) but heavy on the blood and gore. Yes! I really liked the worldbuilding and the idea behind the Shadowblades and they way they're created and bound to the witch who makes them. As a character, Max is intriguing. She's powerful, filled with rage and she hates the life she's been forced into. Yet at the same time she's finding out that she has people who depend on her to protect them. Her warriors respect her and would follow her into the darkest pits of hell itself if she asked.
Alexander, on the other hand, is cautiously content with his life as a Shadowblade. He's good at what he does and while he might not agree with every order he's given he has every intention of following those orders. When circumstances push him directly into Max's path he begins to question the things he's always thought of as truth.
As the first book in a series, there were a lot of plot threads left unanswered. There's a war on the horizon, Max and her warriors have been weakened and Max has bound herself into a mysterious deal. Alliances are formed, enemies are made and questions of trust abound. Not a bad start, if I do say so. I'm already checking out book 2 and plotting when I'll be able to get my hands on it.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Anyway. This book is light on the romance (and negative on both sex and teens) but heavy on the blood and gore. Yes! I really liked the worldbuilding and the idea behind the Shadowblades and they way they're created and bound to the witch who makes them. As a character, Max is intriguing. She's powerful, filled with rage and she hates the life she's been forced into. Yet at the same time she's finding out that she has people who depend on her to protect them. Her warriors respect her and would follow her into the darkest pits of hell itself if she asked.
Alexander, on the other hand, is cautiously content with his life as a Shadowblade. He's good at what he does and while he might not agree with every order he's given he has every intention of following those orders. When circumstances push him directly into Max's path he begins to question the things he's always thought of as truth.
As the first book in a series, there were a lot of plot threads left unanswered. There's a war on the horizon, Max and her warriors have been weakened and Max has bound herself into a mysterious deal. Alliances are formed, enemies are made and questions of trust abound. Not a bad start, if I do say so. I'm already checking out book 2 and plotting when I'll be able to get my hands on it.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
November 10, 2009
The first book of the "Horngate Witches" series, Bitter Night is full of bloody, gruesome, and high flying adventure. I can almost say, this isn't for those with weak constitutions. Some of the injuries Shadowblades and Sunspears endure are pretty gruesome and the author is very sadistic.. in a good way! LOL. For the first book right out the gate of this series, I have to say, not bad. Not bad at all. I definitely wouldn't say fantastic or anything but not bad. There were a few nuances with the changing in viewpoints I thought was odd and there was some inconsistency with the shifting of the viewpoint that caused me to backtrack a little bit to reconfirm who's view it was. Sometimes first books in a new series can be slow with attempting to build the characters, the scenery, back stories and so forth, Bitter Night definitely didn't lull. I could easily have read this in half the time it took me if I didn't have to eat, take a shower, feed the kid, shower her, put her on the potty, ya know.. all those responsibilities and believe me, breaking away was hard for me to do.
I really like Max's character. I felt we didn't get enough of the other Sunspears and Shadowblades to decide if I liked them or not. Akemi, Oz and Niko seemed cool. I am on the fence about Alexander, he was borderline weak and kind of grated my nerves. I don't see he and Max in a romantic relationship. I can't wait to find out what's next with the Horngate, the witches, the angels, and the war..
Sooo.. Diana Pharoah Francis, when's book two coming out? :D
I really like Max's character. I felt we didn't get enough of the other Sunspears and Shadowblades to decide if I liked them or not. Akemi, Oz and Niko seemed cool. I am on the fence about Alexander, he was borderline weak and kind of grated my nerves. I don't see he and Max in a romantic relationship. I can't wait to find out what's next with the Horngate, the witches, the angels, and the war..
Sooo.. Diana Pharoah Francis, when's book two coming out? :D
October 13, 2011
Max is the very angry, very capable heroine of the first in Diana Francis's Horngate Witches urban fantasy series. Francis is a fine writer-clean, clear prose, beautifullly suited to her genre. And I've got to say, an interesting world set-up - the role of witches and the attributes of Shadowblades and Sunspears in particular - and non-stop action carried me through this book. I wasn't so sure of the cast in the beginning. I'm a hero/ine geek,so my opinions of the main character and the principals in the supporting cast figure greatly in my overall opinion of the book. Max is pretty awesome - almost too much so. She's been through really, really horrible things - lots of them in the past and not spelled out. Some in the current action. But she heals fast and has incredible endurance, reflexes, again, almsot too much. In the early going she is so defined by anger, and between that and the super-heroine attributes, I found it hard to relate. But she grew on me. I really liked the changing dynamic between Max and her partners, and between her and the authoress of her fury, Giselle, the witch. I would love to see more of this in the subsequent episodes of Max's adventures saving the world. And yes, I will read more.
January 15, 2010
I really liked this book but was worried at first because there was a lot of info in the first 20 pages, then they introduced one of the main characters and the story flew by from there and it is different from so much that is out there.
Max seems to be a person that draws people to her not knowing that she is doing it and when faced with the results she is stunned that such a thing has happened. Through the book she is like the pied piper and people you wouldn't expect follow her because of who she is and what she stands for.
Some great points, the woman needs, yes that is needs 20,000-30,000 calories a day to survive. Just think of all the great food we could eat if that was us, chocolate, cheesecake, chips, and all the other bad food. Plus she has a violent hate and want to kill the woman how put her in her situation, which I loved as they started out as friends. The world was a fun one, where words like "I promise", "I owe you", and "honor" actually mean something and actually can do more than bullets, knives, and RPG's.
This book set up the series very well and I look forward to seeing what happens next after the destruction of this book.
Max seems to be a person that draws people to her not knowing that she is doing it and when faced with the results she is stunned that such a thing has happened. Through the book she is like the pied piper and people you wouldn't expect follow her because of who she is and what she stands for.
Some great points, the woman needs, yes that is needs 20,000-30,000 calories a day to survive. Just think of all the great food we could eat if that was us, chocolate, cheesecake, chips, and all the other bad food. Plus she has a violent hate and want to kill the woman how put her in her situation, which I loved as they started out as friends. The world was a fun one, where words like "I promise", "I owe you", and "honor" actually mean something and actually can do more than bullets, knives, and RPG's.
This book set up the series very well and I look forward to seeing what happens next after the destruction of this book.
June 2, 2011
3.5 stars. As fast paced urban fantasy, I liked the book quite a lot. It had a lot of original elements, a kick-ass heroine who was strong without being whiny or overly sarcastic, and a lot of action. But the romance novel aspect of the book was too trite and predictable to be at all enjoyable. For example, by page 30, "without even speaking a word to each other, she knew that he already understood her better than anybody else in her life." Why that was necessary instead of just developing a believable romance, I don't understand. Especially since this is the first book in a series and there appears to be time to explore a relationship over the course of several books. Thankfully, the romance is a minor part of the book, what's there is fine if predictable, and the action and intrigue were very good.
May 3, 2016
Je ne vous remercie pas du conseil, j'en ressors avec une insomnie tellement j'ai lu pour le terminer XD
The first of a four book saga. A magic universe with witches and their servants (or slaves if you think like Max).
I really like this universe and all the magic interactions. I think the author could write many, many books with her characters!
Max is cool, but a little obsessed by her revenge, so it was cool to see her through other characters (even if it was a man who like her).
She is loyal, strong, determined and a real smart-ass ^^
I think there are some writing tics, but I love this book nonetheless. I even read the four in one week!
The first of a four book saga. A magic universe with witches and their servants (or slaves if you think like Max).
I really like this universe and all the magic interactions. I think the author could write many, many books with her characters!
Max is cool, but a little obsessed by her revenge, so it was cool to see her through other characters (even if it was a man who like her).
She is loyal, strong, determined and a real smart-ass ^^
I think there are some writing tics, but I love this book nonetheless. I even read the four in one week!
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