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Salem's Revenge #1-3
Salem's Revenge Complete Boxed Set
"The Walking Dead for teens with ruthless witches instead of bloodthirsty zombies."--Katie Reed, agent at Andrea Hurst & Associates
Get the complete trilogy of the Amazon bestselling Salem's Revenge series for more than 20% off the normal price! This boxed set includes Brew, Boil, and Burn; that's more than 1,200 pages of post-apocalyptic magic and fantasy.
Salem’s Revenge strikes without warning or mercy, ravaging the powerless human race under the forces of united gangs of witches, wizards, and warlocks. During the slaughter, Rhett Carter's foster parents and sister are killed, and his best friend and girlfriend are abducted by a gang of witches calling themselves the Necromancers, who deal in the dark magic of raising the dead. Rhett’s sword-wielding neighbor with a mysterious past saves Rhett from becoming another casualty of the massacre and teaches him the skills he needs to survive in this new world.
Rhett is broken, his normal high school life of book blogging and football playing shoved in a witch-apocalyptic blender. The only thing he has left is his burning desire for revenge. Armed with his new witch hunting skills and a loyal, magic powered dog named Hex, he sets out into the unknown with one mission: hunt and destroy those who took away everyone he ever loved.
But Rhett isn’t just a witch hunter; he has secrets of his own that he has yet to discover, secrets that his enemies will stop at nothing to keep him from.
And discovering the truth about himself is the human race’s only hope.
Get the complete trilogy of the Amazon bestselling Salem's Revenge series for more than 20% off the normal price! This boxed set includes Brew, Boil, and Burn; that's more than 1,200 pages of post-apocalyptic magic and fantasy.
Salem’s Revenge strikes without warning or mercy, ravaging the powerless human race under the forces of united gangs of witches, wizards, and warlocks. During the slaughter, Rhett Carter's foster parents and sister are killed, and his best friend and girlfriend are abducted by a gang of witches calling themselves the Necromancers, who deal in the dark magic of raising the dead. Rhett’s sword-wielding neighbor with a mysterious past saves Rhett from becoming another casualty of the massacre and teaches him the skills he needs to survive in this new world.
Rhett is broken, his normal high school life of book blogging and football playing shoved in a witch-apocalyptic blender. The only thing he has left is his burning desire for revenge. Armed with his new witch hunting skills and a loyal, magic powered dog named Hex, he sets out into the unknown with one mission: hunt and destroy those who took away everyone he ever loved.
But Rhett isn’t just a witch hunter; he has secrets of his own that he has yet to discover, secrets that his enemies will stop at nothing to keep him from.
And discovering the truth about himself is the human race’s only hope.
1200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2015
51 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
David Estes
81 books2,682 followersGet a FREE short story from David Estes' #1 Amazon bestselling epic fantasy series, Fatemarked, when you sign up for his mailing list: https://www.subscribepage.com/b2v6v3
David Estes has written more than 50 science fiction and fantasy books. He loves chatting with his readers, all of whom he considers to be his friends. David lives in Hawaii with his Aussie wife, Adele, his moody cats, Bailey, Luna, and Ruby, and his rambunctious sons, Beau and Brody.
Join 3,000+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/7...
Books by David Estes:
-The Fatemarked Epic- For fans of A Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and The Way of Kings! Four kingdoms. A century-old war. One ancient prophecy that could change everything.
-The Kingfall Histories- a follow up series to the #1 Amazon bestselling series, The Fatemarked Epic
-The Forsworn Oath- the third series in the Fatemarked/Kingfall world
-Strings- “A wonderful retelling of the Pinocchio story…I simply couldn’t put this book down.”—Rysa Walker, bestselling author of TIMEBOUND
-The Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.
-Salem's Revenge trilogy- the witch apocalypse begins!
-Slip Trilogy- "Someone must die before another can be born..."
-The Adventures of Nikki Powergloves- Kid superheroes? 'Nuff said.
David Estes has written more than 50 science fiction and fantasy books. He loves chatting with his readers, all of whom he considers to be his friends. David lives in Hawaii with his Aussie wife, Adele, his moody cats, Bailey, Luna, and Ruby, and his rambunctious sons, Beau and Brody.
Join 3,000+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/7...
Books by David Estes:
-The Fatemarked Epic- For fans of A Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and The Way of Kings! Four kingdoms. A century-old war. One ancient prophecy that could change everything.
-The Kingfall Histories- a follow up series to the #1 Amazon bestselling series, The Fatemarked Epic
-The Forsworn Oath- the third series in the Fatemarked/Kingfall world
-Strings- “A wonderful retelling of the Pinocchio story…I simply couldn’t put this book down.”—Rysa Walker, bestselling author of TIMEBOUND
-The Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.
-Salem's Revenge trilogy- the witch apocalypse begins!
-Slip Trilogy- "Someone must die before another can be born..."
-The Adventures of Nikki Powergloves- Kid superheroes? 'Nuff said.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 23, 2015
Salem's Revenge is a dark, thrilling, creepy series full of action and the COOLEST DOG EVER! If you like fantasy, dystopians, and paranormal reads, this is the read for you! Its apocalyptic fiction featuring WITCHES! Incredibly inventive and full of action, I just LOVED this series!
Breaking it down by book:
Brew
"I wonder what I'm really doing out here with a magic dog, a trigger-happy girl and her mute sister, and a trail of dead witches in my wake."
Those are the words of Rhett Carter, the MC of this fantastically dark and creepy tale of a witch apocalypse. Rhett is a normalish teen at the start of the book--although a self proclaimed dork--but he is soon thrown into a world that is unimaginable!
Witches have taken over the world. And not the nice kind, either. All different sorts of clans banned together to kill humans and create chaos. In the aftermath, they are all fighting amongst themselves for territory. Having lost his family, and fearing his girlfriend and best friend are dead, Rhett sets out to find the Necros, the gang that attacked his friends. And he has one thing on his mind--REVENGE.
I. Loved. This. Book. There is no other way to say it! The entire story is thrilling, action-packed, and so inventive and fresh! This book brought out every emotion in me-- moments of serious rip-roaring laughter, real tears, and goosebumps and chills. I flew through the read, and I could not put it down!
What really stands out to me in this one is the characters. Its a crazy cast, from Rhett, the Book Blogger turned Witch Hunter, to Laney, the fiery kick ass girl that I loved to cheer on, to Trish, the creepy mute sister whose weirdness seems to have a purpose, to THE COOLEST DOG EVER, Hex. Did I mention he is magical? He has all kinds of talents, like shooting flashlight beams out of his mouth when they are stuck in the dark. The cast of evil witches is even more insane, from Pyros, to Sirens, to Shifters. And let's not forget the other Witch Hunters they run into! All of these characters, even minor ones are fully fleshed out, and felt so real!
My favorite character was definitely Laney. She and Rhett have an interesting camaraderie going on throughout the book--they bicker constantly, but there is a respect and understanding going on underneath it all. They really need each other to survive. One interesting thing to note here, is there isn't romance between them in the story (yet). I predict that may come later, but for now, the only romance is the flashbacks and dreams Rhett has of his girlfriend, Beth.
One thing that I loved that really got us into Rhett's head even more were the small snippets we got from Rhett's journal. This one was my favorite:
"Words have power, for better or worse.
Like the smell of fresh rain on cut grass,
Or the stench of a decaying corpse,
Like the soft comfort of a warm blanket on your shoulders,
Or the agony of a dagger splitting your chest in two.
Use them wisely."
These are sprinkled in throughout the story, along with some of Rhett's "Blog Posts"--turning a situation into his head into a story, and therefore, writing his review on the situation--which were so funny! I loved the creativity with these!
Besides the characters, the other thing that really stood out to me was the world building. It felt so real, with all the little details putting a picture in my head. I had no trouble imagining any of it, which is amazing, considering the premise. We get details on all the witches, what the world has been turned into, even parts of the government and society itself. It made for a very deep read, which I really enjoyed!
The best part of the story was the surprise ending! I love it when a writer can pull things out of hat, and I don't see it coming! A few twists I had kind of guessed, but I wasn't exactly right. Others I had NO IDEA they were coming! Well done, Mr. Estes!
This mishmash of fantasy, post-apocalyptic, and action is truly a gem. I loved everything about it!
And now I'll leave you with a final favorite quote:
"Ignorance is the worst plague of all, a form of blindness that destroys the hearts of the people who hide behind it."
Boil
**There will be spoilers from the first book, Brew, but none for Boil**
"As my days surround me with the bitter eyes of a betrayed wolf, my nights haunt and destroy without compassion, bruising my heart and crushing my soul"--Rhett Carter
And so the sequel starts, the situation even darker for Rhett. Trying to come to terms with the fact that Beth is gone, and contemplating Xavier's actions in the whole mess. Does he still have a best friend? The only thing Rhett knows for sure is he wants REVENGE.
This was an EPIC sequel! You are really in for the wild ride of your life with this one. The stakes are even higher than before, as Rhett, Laney, and Trish follow their own paths in this crazy mixed up world.
First of all--Laney's POV! FINALLY! I was so wanting to get in her head all through the story of Brew, and we finally get that in this book! She was everything I'd imagined, and more. Still easily my favorite character in this trilogy. The voice of Laney was spot on, and so different from Rhett's. It was easy to tell who was really talking, something that can be hard to pull off, but was done BEAUTIFULLY in this book! My favorite Laney line: "If they ever create an award for best conversationalist, let me know and I’ll apply. Until then, have a sip from my bottle of I-Don’t-Give-A-Crap and keep on walking." Love it!
We also get Trish's POV in this, which was so enlightening, and really gave me insight into her character. Her story line is wicked crazy, and I enjoyed every minute. After you finish the read, the cover of the book will give you CHILLS!
The next best thing about this book was the twists. Like Brew, I did not see any of them coming! In fact, I was completely mind blown! I have no idea how the author pulled these off, but they were done so well. And they just kept on coming, one after the other!
The world building--AMAZING! I just love this world that David Estes has created, and it just builds and builds, something I love to see in a sequel.
The intensity of this story was on par with the intensity of Brew, if not more so. The story itself was incredibly gripping, with never a dull moment. There is still plenty of humor, though to balance it out. I loved every thrilling moment of this read! So unbelievably excited for the last book in the trilogy, Burn!
And finally, a quote from Rhett to leave you with:
"If you'd have told me two weeks ago that one day I'd be part of a not-so-merry band of Necros seeking to exterminate a couple of other magic-born gangs, I'd have given you directions to the strait-jacket factory."
Burn
**There will be spoilers for both Brew and Boil in this review, but none for Burn**
"A nightmare awakens,
Opening one bruised eye.
Although they scream, it doesn’t listen,
Doesn’t care,
Doesn’t feel,
Doesn’t hate nor love.
Only takes.
And because it breathes fire, the world will burn.
Burn, Rhett Carter"
And so starts the conclusion to this epic trilogy! The Necros and the Clares have joined in with the few remaining humans to defeat Flora and the Shifters. But neither humans nor the magic born in their camp are happy with the truce, forcing Rhett to choose sides. Meanwhile, Flora is planning the attack of the century.
I absolutely LOVED this book! It was an epic conclusion and I loved every minute of it! I also thought the story had a perfect balance of action and suspense, comedy and silliness, snarkiness, and tear-jerker moments. The story flowed so easily, with never a dull moment, and I was completely hooked from beginning to end.
The thing I love the most, though, is the characters. This is an insane cast of dynamic characters, and made the story very entertaining. This really is a dark story with lots of horrible things happening and death everywhere, but it still has these moments of complete hilarity that had me laughing out loud while I was reading!
First of all: Tillman Huckle The underground arms dealer and fanatic gamer who always tells Rhett like it is. I especially loved this exchange between them:
"He makes a good point, even if changing the name of New Washington seems like the least of our worries. Even still, we need something to give the people hope. Something to help us start over. Something to make us all feel connected to each other. A new name might just do that.
“How about Unity?” I say.
Huckle laughs, and at first I think it’s because he’s just used a grenade launcher to blow up a pocket of the walking dead. “What about Peaceville? Or Harmonytown? Or did you consider The Land of Butterflies and Kittens?” Huckle says. "
LOL
Then there's Mr. Jackson, THE REAPER as he's known by almost everyone. A very creepy dude, with lots of secrets, even more than we thought. Something about him just intrigues me. Rhett wonders about him a lot as well.
"Is he seriously joking with me? The master of the dark art of raising the dead has become a standup comedian? Surely this is the end of the world."
XAVE! He grew and grew on me all through the series, and the final book gave him a few well deserved highlights. Xave is incredibly smart, brave, and wise.
"“Everyone deserves help when they need it,” Xave says, “even if they think they don’t want it.”
And then there's Grogg, the huge troll made of mud, and Hex, the wonderdog! Their adventures throughout the story are PRICELESS! We even get several chapters from their POV! These were huge highlights of the book for me!
"As his legs once more gain hold on the earth, Hex tries to remember why he’s here, what he’s doing.
Protect…um…protect someone…protect…
Chipmunk!
Flowers are sniffable.
Weeds are scratchable.
Grass is munchable and usually full of lots of curious creatures.
And yet, despite the abundance of all three of these plants in his immediately vicinity, Hex finds himself on the roof, chasing after Grogg, who’s more fun than all three put together. "
And then we have Bil. Bil really grew on me in this book. In the previous one, I was really not happy with his character, but he really redeems himself in this installment! Even better are his exchanges with Laney!
"“Life is but a random echo,” Bil Nez says. Apparently I woke him up when I was trying to calm myself down.
“Thanks for that,” I say, desperately wishing Normal Bil was back. I might not like Normal Bil that much, but compared to Crazy Bil, Normal Bil feels like an old friend.
He ignores my sarcasm. “Life reverberates off the walls of a cave, searching for a way out, but it always fades away.”
“You should write these things down and publish a coffee table book,” I say."
LANEY!! My fave character of the story still had me laughing and chuckling throughout the adventure! I just love Laney, her sarcasm, snarky, bravery, and fierceness. She. is. AWESOME!
"Laney practically chokes on her laugh. “Woo her? You couldn’t woo a cocker spaniel. Just the thought of you ‘wooing’ anyone makes me want to woo my pants.”
And finally, there's Rhett, our MC full of contradictions. He seems like a simple character, but there's a lot more going on to him underneath. Definitely one of the most interesting MCs ever!
"All I know is that my life feels like a giant April Fool’s Joke most of the time. Either that or a mysterious box that has something different in it every time you open it."
The twists in this book...I can't even! HOLY CRAP BEANS, the twists were completely surprising, and they just kept on coming! (Although I will admit I did figure out a smallish one near the end ;) ) David Estes is quickly becoming the master of twists, and is magic at pulling them out of his hat!
The last thing I want to talk about is the ending. This ending was one of the best endings I've ever read, for a book, and a trilogy. I LOVED every single word on that last page. It tied everything up neatly and had definite feels. It made perfect sense and gave me what I wanted as a reader.
This trilogy is truly a gem, and I am sad to say goodbye to these amazing characters. Maybe the author will surprise us with some more stories about them in the future (hint, hint).
And now I'll leave you with a few of my favorite quotes.
"Double negative,” Rhett says.
“Doesn’t that make a positive?”
“Damn,” Rhett says. “I thought I was being clever."
“Don’t kill the humans, the zombies, the guys in the dark cloaks or the girls that glow like the sun. Oh, or the crazy old woman with the fingernails growing out of her head.”
"Time is the great devourer, taking days, months, and eventually years from us all. It doesn’t discriminate, doesn’t differentiate, shows no mercy."
**I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
Breaking it down by book:
Brew
"I wonder what I'm really doing out here with a magic dog, a trigger-happy girl and her mute sister, and a trail of dead witches in my wake."
Those are the words of Rhett Carter, the MC of this fantastically dark and creepy tale of a witch apocalypse. Rhett is a normalish teen at the start of the book--although a self proclaimed dork--but he is soon thrown into a world that is unimaginable!
Witches have taken over the world. And not the nice kind, either. All different sorts of clans banned together to kill humans and create chaos. In the aftermath, they are all fighting amongst themselves for territory. Having lost his family, and fearing his girlfriend and best friend are dead, Rhett sets out to find the Necros, the gang that attacked his friends. And he has one thing on his mind--REVENGE.
I. Loved. This. Book. There is no other way to say it! The entire story is thrilling, action-packed, and so inventive and fresh! This book brought out every emotion in me-- moments of serious rip-roaring laughter, real tears, and goosebumps and chills. I flew through the read, and I could not put it down!
What really stands out to me in this one is the characters. Its a crazy cast, from Rhett, the Book Blogger turned Witch Hunter, to Laney, the fiery kick ass girl that I loved to cheer on, to Trish, the creepy mute sister whose weirdness seems to have a purpose, to THE COOLEST DOG EVER, Hex. Did I mention he is magical? He has all kinds of talents, like shooting flashlight beams out of his mouth when they are stuck in the dark. The cast of evil witches is even more insane, from Pyros, to Sirens, to Shifters. And let's not forget the other Witch Hunters they run into! All of these characters, even minor ones are fully fleshed out, and felt so real!
My favorite character was definitely Laney. She and Rhett have an interesting camaraderie going on throughout the book--they bicker constantly, but there is a respect and understanding going on underneath it all. They really need each other to survive. One interesting thing to note here, is there isn't romance between them in the story (yet). I predict that may come later, but for now, the only romance is the flashbacks and dreams Rhett has of his girlfriend, Beth.
One thing that I loved that really got us into Rhett's head even more were the small snippets we got from Rhett's journal. This one was my favorite:
"Words have power, for better or worse.
Like the smell of fresh rain on cut grass,
Or the stench of a decaying corpse,
Like the soft comfort of a warm blanket on your shoulders,
Or the agony of a dagger splitting your chest in two.
Use them wisely."
These are sprinkled in throughout the story, along with some of Rhett's "Blog Posts"--turning a situation into his head into a story, and therefore, writing his review on the situation--which were so funny! I loved the creativity with these!
Besides the characters, the other thing that really stood out to me was the world building. It felt so real, with all the little details putting a picture in my head. I had no trouble imagining any of it, which is amazing, considering the premise. We get details on all the witches, what the world has been turned into, even parts of the government and society itself. It made for a very deep read, which I really enjoyed!
The best part of the story was the surprise ending! I love it when a writer can pull things out of hat, and I don't see it coming! A few twists I had kind of guessed, but I wasn't exactly right. Others I had NO IDEA they were coming! Well done, Mr. Estes!
This mishmash of fantasy, post-apocalyptic, and action is truly a gem. I loved everything about it!
And now I'll leave you with a final favorite quote:
"Ignorance is the worst plague of all, a form of blindness that destroys the hearts of the people who hide behind it."
Boil
**There will be spoilers from the first book, Brew, but none for Boil**
"As my days surround me with the bitter eyes of a betrayed wolf, my nights haunt and destroy without compassion, bruising my heart and crushing my soul"--Rhett Carter
And so the sequel starts, the situation even darker for Rhett. Trying to come to terms with the fact that Beth is gone, and contemplating Xavier's actions in the whole mess. Does he still have a best friend? The only thing Rhett knows for sure is he wants REVENGE.
This was an EPIC sequel! You are really in for the wild ride of your life with this one. The stakes are even higher than before, as Rhett, Laney, and Trish follow their own paths in this crazy mixed up world.
First of all--Laney's POV! FINALLY! I was so wanting to get in her head all through the story of Brew, and we finally get that in this book! She was everything I'd imagined, and more. Still easily my favorite character in this trilogy. The voice of Laney was spot on, and so different from Rhett's. It was easy to tell who was really talking, something that can be hard to pull off, but was done BEAUTIFULLY in this book! My favorite Laney line: "If they ever create an award for best conversationalist, let me know and I’ll apply. Until then, have a sip from my bottle of I-Don’t-Give-A-Crap and keep on walking." Love it!
We also get Trish's POV in this, which was so enlightening, and really gave me insight into her character. Her story line is wicked crazy, and I enjoyed every minute. After you finish the read, the cover of the book will give you CHILLS!
The next best thing about this book was the twists. Like Brew, I did not see any of them coming! In fact, I was completely mind blown! I have no idea how the author pulled these off, but they were done so well. And they just kept on coming, one after the other!
The world building--AMAZING! I just love this world that David Estes has created, and it just builds and builds, something I love to see in a sequel.
The intensity of this story was on par with the intensity of Brew, if not more so. The story itself was incredibly gripping, with never a dull moment. There is still plenty of humor, though to balance it out. I loved every thrilling moment of this read! So unbelievably excited for the last book in the trilogy, Burn!
And finally, a quote from Rhett to leave you with:
"If you'd have told me two weeks ago that one day I'd be part of a not-so-merry band of Necros seeking to exterminate a couple of other magic-born gangs, I'd have given you directions to the strait-jacket factory."
Burn
**There will be spoilers for both Brew and Boil in this review, but none for Burn**
"A nightmare awakens,
Opening one bruised eye.
Although they scream, it doesn’t listen,
Doesn’t care,
Doesn’t feel,
Doesn’t hate nor love.
Only takes.
And because it breathes fire, the world will burn.
Burn, Rhett Carter"
And so starts the conclusion to this epic trilogy! The Necros and the Clares have joined in with the few remaining humans to defeat Flora and the Shifters. But neither humans nor the magic born in their camp are happy with the truce, forcing Rhett to choose sides. Meanwhile, Flora is planning the attack of the century.
I absolutely LOVED this book! It was an epic conclusion and I loved every minute of it! I also thought the story had a perfect balance of action and suspense, comedy and silliness, snarkiness, and tear-jerker moments. The story flowed so easily, with never a dull moment, and I was completely hooked from beginning to end.
The thing I love the most, though, is the characters. This is an insane cast of dynamic characters, and made the story very entertaining. This really is a dark story with lots of horrible things happening and death everywhere, but it still has these moments of complete hilarity that had me laughing out loud while I was reading!
First of all: Tillman Huckle The underground arms dealer and fanatic gamer who always tells Rhett like it is. I especially loved this exchange between them:
"He makes a good point, even if changing the name of New Washington seems like the least of our worries. Even still, we need something to give the people hope. Something to help us start over. Something to make us all feel connected to each other. A new name might just do that.
“How about Unity?” I say.
Huckle laughs, and at first I think it’s because he’s just used a grenade launcher to blow up a pocket of the walking dead. “What about Peaceville? Or Harmonytown? Or did you consider The Land of Butterflies and Kittens?” Huckle says. "
LOL
Then there's Mr. Jackson, THE REAPER as he's known by almost everyone. A very creepy dude, with lots of secrets, even more than we thought. Something about him just intrigues me. Rhett wonders about him a lot as well.
"Is he seriously joking with me? The master of the dark art of raising the dead has become a standup comedian? Surely this is the end of the world."
XAVE! He grew and grew on me all through the series, and the final book gave him a few well deserved highlights. Xave is incredibly smart, brave, and wise.
"“Everyone deserves help when they need it,” Xave says, “even if they think they don’t want it.”
And then there's Grogg, the huge troll made of mud, and Hex, the wonderdog! Their adventures throughout the story are PRICELESS! We even get several chapters from their POV! These were huge highlights of the book for me!
"As his legs once more gain hold on the earth, Hex tries to remember why he’s here, what he’s doing.
Protect…um…protect someone…protect…
Chipmunk!
Flowers are sniffable.
Weeds are scratchable.
Grass is munchable and usually full of lots of curious creatures.
And yet, despite the abundance of all three of these plants in his immediately vicinity, Hex finds himself on the roof, chasing after Grogg, who’s more fun than all three put together. "
And then we have Bil. Bil really grew on me in this book. In the previous one, I was really not happy with his character, but he really redeems himself in this installment! Even better are his exchanges with Laney!
"“Life is but a random echo,” Bil Nez says. Apparently I woke him up when I was trying to calm myself down.
“Thanks for that,” I say, desperately wishing Normal Bil was back. I might not like Normal Bil that much, but compared to Crazy Bil, Normal Bil feels like an old friend.
He ignores my sarcasm. “Life reverberates off the walls of a cave, searching for a way out, but it always fades away.”
“You should write these things down and publish a coffee table book,” I say."
LANEY!! My fave character of the story still had me laughing and chuckling throughout the adventure! I just love Laney, her sarcasm, snarky, bravery, and fierceness. She. is. AWESOME!
"Laney practically chokes on her laugh. “Woo her? You couldn’t woo a cocker spaniel. Just the thought of you ‘wooing’ anyone makes me want to woo my pants.”
And finally, there's Rhett, our MC full of contradictions. He seems like a simple character, but there's a lot more going on to him underneath. Definitely one of the most interesting MCs ever!
"All I know is that my life feels like a giant April Fool’s Joke most of the time. Either that or a mysterious box that has something different in it every time you open it."
The twists in this book...I can't even! HOLY CRAP BEANS, the twists were completely surprising, and they just kept on coming! (Although I will admit I did figure out a smallish one near the end ;) ) David Estes is quickly becoming the master of twists, and is magic at pulling them out of his hat!
The last thing I want to talk about is the ending. This ending was one of the best endings I've ever read, for a book, and a trilogy. I LOVED every single word on that last page. It tied everything up neatly and had definite feels. It made perfect sense and gave me what I wanted as a reader.
This trilogy is truly a gem, and I am sad to say goodbye to these amazing characters. Maybe the author will surprise us with some more stories about them in the future (hint, hint).
And now I'll leave you with a few of my favorite quotes.
"Double negative,” Rhett says.
“Doesn’t that make a positive?”
“Damn,” Rhett says. “I thought I was being clever."
“Don’t kill the humans, the zombies, the guys in the dark cloaks or the girls that glow like the sun. Oh, or the crazy old woman with the fingernails growing out of her head.”
"Time is the great devourer, taking days, months, and eventually years from us all. It doesn’t discriminate, doesn’t differentiate, shows no mercy."
**I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
December 25, 2015
Estes's Salem's Revenge has been made available as a box set and I encourage you to grab it and dive right in. I'm including my original reviews for each individual book below:
Brew
Estes is BACK!! In his new Salem's Revenge series, Estes tackles an apocalyptic world in his own creative and unique style and I. Loved. Every. Minute! Estes' take of a "witch" apocalypse is truly original and a must read.
Rhett Carter's world has ended in one giant apocalyptic event called Salem's Revenge. His family is killed, his beloved girlfriend and best friend have disappeared and it's everything he can do to want to continue on without everyone he loves. One thing keeps him going and that's revenge.
Rhett's journey brings him Hex - the magical wonder dog, and Laney and her little sister, Trish. Together they go looking for revenge against the Necromancers who killed Rhett's family and abducted (and most likely killed) his loved ones.
Let me tell you, I could not stop reading this book! Most of it was dark and creepy, but along the way, the most memorable characters appeared. There is also some major comic relief going on that had me laughing out loud. I was glued to my e-reader until the wee hours having no choice in the matter but to finish before I could sleep.
And the twists and turns! Estes is a master at making you gasp as he reveals one twist after another which I never ever see coming. By the end of the book, I had major goosebumps all over.
Even now, a day later, I still can't get Rhett, Laney, Trish, and especially Hex, out of my head. I want more and can't wait to start the sequel, Boil. Another brilliant series, David Estes. You've done it again!
Boil
Estes is ON FIRE with the Salem's Revenge series. And before I start my review, can I just gush over THAT COVER!! Oh my word... Having read the book as an eARC before seeing the cover, I seriously got chills all over when I first saw it. (And still keep getting chills every time I see it...!) I have never pictured a character in my mind that turned out to be the exact same image that the author then chose for his cover. I'm in awe of your talent, David Estes! And those colors!! WOW!
So on to the story. As Rhett, Laney, Trish and Hex's journey continues in Boil, we find our heroes splitting up with Rhett and Hex heading to New Washington to join the humans' fight against the witches. Laney only wants to keep her sister safe so she takes Trish and heads north, away from the upcoming fight.
From there, this book explodes with action, twists, and the hilarious laugh out loud antics of Hex and his new friend Grogg. And Estes never fails to give us those moments of heartbreak that just messes with your emotions, so you're laughing one moment and tears are running down your face the next.
There are so many characters that I am in love with in this series. Laney with her sarcastic wit but big heart; Rhett the lovable book blogger who morphs into an incredible warrior; Trish, who you just want to protect and cuddle from the moment you meet her; and Hex, the magical wonder dog who floats, glows, and has all kinds of little tricks up his fur to help his human friends.
And then there are the twists that you never see coming which Estes is so famous for. I gasp each time even knowing he's going to pull something big.
Estes never fails to deliver and Boil is no exception. You just keep amazing me, Mr. Estes.
Burn
The final book in the Salem's Revenge series left me a bit breathless and very much in awe of the wordsmithing talent of David Estes!
All of our favorites come together again for an epic battle between good and evil. Although this book can be very dark at times, Estes makes sure to balance the dark with the light as we get the hilarious antics of Hex the wonder dog and Grogg the mud troll. Laney and her snarkiness make her one of my all time favorite characters as she throws one zinger after another.
New characters are introduced who make a huge impact on certain events while old not so favorites become new favorites. Estes weaves his magic once again to give us twist after twist which are never expected!
And those feels!! Estes always gets to me. Without fail, there are always moments where tears will leak and trickle down my face, both happy AND sad.
The pacing was spot on, and just as you could breathe again, I'd find myself holding my breath again, or giggling like an idiot, or gasping in horror. I completely lost myself as I was immersed in Rhett's mission to bring peace to the Witch Apocalypse.
I'm sad to see this series end. I'll miss Rhett, Laney, Hex, Grogg, and even Bil Nez and Tillman Huckle!
Brew
Estes is BACK!! In his new Salem's Revenge series, Estes tackles an apocalyptic world in his own creative and unique style and I. Loved. Every. Minute! Estes' take of a "witch" apocalypse is truly original and a must read.
Rhett Carter's world has ended in one giant apocalyptic event called Salem's Revenge. His family is killed, his beloved girlfriend and best friend have disappeared and it's everything he can do to want to continue on without everyone he loves. One thing keeps him going and that's revenge.
Rhett's journey brings him Hex - the magical wonder dog, and Laney and her little sister, Trish. Together they go looking for revenge against the Necromancers who killed Rhett's family and abducted (and most likely killed) his loved ones.
Let me tell you, I could not stop reading this book! Most of it was dark and creepy, but along the way, the most memorable characters appeared. There is also some major comic relief going on that had me laughing out loud. I was glued to my e-reader until the wee hours having no choice in the matter but to finish before I could sleep.
And the twists and turns! Estes is a master at making you gasp as he reveals one twist after another which I never ever see coming. By the end of the book, I had major goosebumps all over.
Even now, a day later, I still can't get Rhett, Laney, Trish, and especially Hex, out of my head. I want more and can't wait to start the sequel, Boil. Another brilliant series, David Estes. You've done it again!
Boil
Estes is ON FIRE with the Salem's Revenge series. And before I start my review, can I just gush over THAT COVER!! Oh my word... Having read the book as an eARC before seeing the cover, I seriously got chills all over when I first saw it. (And still keep getting chills every time I see it...!) I have never pictured a character in my mind that turned out to be the exact same image that the author then chose for his cover. I'm in awe of your talent, David Estes! And those colors!! WOW!
So on to the story. As Rhett, Laney, Trish and Hex's journey continues in Boil, we find our heroes splitting up with Rhett and Hex heading to New Washington to join the humans' fight against the witches. Laney only wants to keep her sister safe so she takes Trish and heads north, away from the upcoming fight.
From there, this book explodes with action, twists, and the hilarious laugh out loud antics of Hex and his new friend Grogg. And Estes never fails to give us those moments of heartbreak that just messes with your emotions, so you're laughing one moment and tears are running down your face the next.
There are so many characters that I am in love with in this series. Laney with her sarcastic wit but big heart; Rhett the lovable book blogger who morphs into an incredible warrior; Trish, who you just want to protect and cuddle from the moment you meet her; and Hex, the magical wonder dog who floats, glows, and has all kinds of little tricks up his fur to help his human friends.
And then there are the twists that you never see coming which Estes is so famous for. I gasp each time even knowing he's going to pull something big.
Estes never fails to deliver and Boil is no exception. You just keep amazing me, Mr. Estes.
Burn
The final book in the Salem's Revenge series left me a bit breathless and very much in awe of the wordsmithing talent of David Estes!
All of our favorites come together again for an epic battle between good and evil. Although this book can be very dark at times, Estes makes sure to balance the dark with the light as we get the hilarious antics of Hex the wonder dog and Grogg the mud troll. Laney and her snarkiness make her one of my all time favorite characters as she throws one zinger after another.
New characters are introduced who make a huge impact on certain events while old not so favorites become new favorites. Estes weaves his magic once again to give us twist after twist which are never expected!
And those feels!! Estes always gets to me. Without fail, there are always moments where tears will leak and trickle down my face, both happy AND sad.
The pacing was spot on, and just as you could breathe again, I'd find myself holding my breath again, or giggling like an idiot, or gasping in horror. I completely lost myself as I was immersed in Rhett's mission to bring peace to the Witch Apocalypse.
I'm sad to see this series end. I'll miss Rhett, Laney, Hex, Grogg, and even Bil Nez and Tillman Huckle!
Read
November 21, 2015Salem's Revenge now comes in a complete three-book boxed set, and is available on Kindle Unlimited!
July 12, 2017
From beginning to end this series is a must read. It is a great concept of a witch apocalypse where witch gangs rule the world and some want human extinction. It gets exciting pretty quickly and doesn't miss a beat after that. The characters evolve from just regular kids to magnificent adults where their talents will shine. It has some heavy topics and it faces each one of them. It has a satisfying conclusion. Be ready to be consumed by Salem's Revenge.
July 18, 2024
Wow!
David Estes is quickly becoming my favorite author. After Slip, Fatemarked, and more I didn't think these books would be this amazing but I couldn't have been more wrong. This series is another home run! I literally couldn't put them down so far as to resorting to using my headphones and reading assist when other lively duties called. David Estes writes the kind of books that you can't help but rereading again and again and this series is no different. If you haven't yet had the opportunity to read this authors amazing books I strongly recommend that you give them a try. I will be rereading this series again because it is another story that I will be thinking about for a long time to come. Great job once again D Estes!!!!!!!
David Estes is quickly becoming my favorite author. After Slip, Fatemarked, and more I didn't think these books would be this amazing but I couldn't have been more wrong. This series is another home run! I literally couldn't put them down so far as to resorting to using my headphones and reading assist when other lively duties called. David Estes writes the kind of books that you can't help but rereading again and again and this series is no different. If you haven't yet had the opportunity to read this authors amazing books I strongly recommend that you give them a try. I will be rereading this series again because it is another story that I will be thinking about for a long time to come. Great job once again D Estes!!!!!!!
September 24, 2018
Wow!
This was a great story, far out but the characters make it believable. There is great action in every page and real life emotions too.
Hex is my favorite character he steals the show.
I appreciate the author not dousing this book with cusing & filthy words. That is what makes me close a book & never read it. This world has enough people cusing in public that turns my stomach and I don't know why folks would want to invite it into their homes via a book.
This was a great story, far out but the characters make it believable. There is great action in every page and real life emotions too.
Hex is my favorite character he steals the show.
I appreciate the author not dousing this book with cusing & filthy words. That is what makes me close a book & never read it. This world has enough people cusing in public that turns my stomach and I don't know why folks would want to invite it into their homes via a book.
January 2, 2020
Review Wonderful series
Well written Characters were well developed and plot complex Ending of the feud with the panther was not as well thought out The twist of Langley wither curse and its resolution was rushed It seemed to be too conscribed Overall Fantastic series Enjoyed the evolution of the characters which was very well done Major characters evolved with a few unexpected twists Congratulations to the author
Well written Characters were well developed and plot complex Ending of the feud with the panther was not as well thought out The twist of Langley wither curse and its resolution was rushed It seemed to be too conscribed Overall Fantastic series Enjoyed the evolution of the characters which was very well done Major characters evolved with a few unexpected twists Congratulations to the author
January 24, 2017
These books are amazing from the first to the last one. I'm so glad I took the time to read them. They are creepy, and thrilling at the same time. Witches galore, which is my favourite. Going to be reading everything else by this author
May 15, 2021
Thoroughly entertaining
Kept me thoroughly entertained from the first word to the last! Lots of love, magic, loss, and triumph. Well done… now that it’s over, I will miss Hex most of all.
Kept me thoroughly entertained from the first word to the last! Lots of love, magic, loss, and triumph. Well done… now that it’s over, I will miss Hex most of all.
June 11, 2020
Great works
Wow I am officially hooked on David Estes books. I love the characters and am really going to miss them.
Wow I am officially hooked on David Estes books. I love the characters and am really going to miss them.
May 18, 2016
Magic-borne apocalyptic love story worth the time to read
The prose is lovely, even when the author is describing gruesome scenes. This trilogy takes a bit of effort to read, but I still enjoyed it. I even caught a Potter homage or two.
The prose is lovely, even when the author is describing gruesome scenes. This trilogy takes a bit of effort to read, but I still enjoyed it. I even caught a Potter homage or two.
January 18, 2016
Wow!
I hate leaving reviews! This book was awesome and deserves a good review! Thank you for the good read! I just hope everyone else loves it as much as I did.
I hate leaving reviews! This book was awesome and deserves a good review! Thank you for the good read! I just hope everyone else loves it as much as I did.
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