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Wicca #1-2
Book of Shadows / The Coven
Sixteen-year-old Morgan is not who she thought she was... Something is happening to Morgan. She sees things, feels things in a new way. She has discovered a power inside her that normal people don't posses. A dark magical power. And it scares her. She never chose to learn witchcraft but now witchcraft is choosing her. Her power is seductive.
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 3, 2008
2 people are currently reading
434 people want to read
About the author
Cate Tiernan
104 books3,809 followers"was born in New Orleans, LA, in 1961. New Orleans is one of the most interesting American cities, and it has an incredibly rich and exotic culture that had a profound influence on me. Kids in other cities have lemonade stands; we sold voodoo gris-gris and made wax dolls in the likenesses of our enemies. It's a very beautiful city, and the constant heat and humidity make gardens grow out of control. There's an air of lassitude there, a general acceptance of eccentic or flamboyant behavior--the heat simply makes people do crazy things.
I went to school in New York, and after school went back to New Orleans. Then I went back to New York (Manhattan) and got a job in publishing and started writing. My first book, a young, middle-grade chapter book, was published in 1990.
Living in Manhattan was incredible, even though I didn't have a lot of money. There was so much to do and see, and so many interesting people to watch. There was a lot of frenetic energy there, and sometimes that felt very wearing and hard to live with. After eight years I was ready for a change, and my husband and I moved back to New Orleans. (Are you seeing a pattern here?)
(While I was in NY, I helped edit "The Secret Circle" by L.J. Smith. I thought it was great.)
We stayed in New Orleans five years. By the time we had two small children we knew we had to find someplace safer to live. I was glad my children were born in New Orleans--I had been born there, and my father had, and his father had, and his father had and so on. There was something about the connection of generations of blood coming from one place that I found very primal and important.
Now I live in a cohousing community in Durham, NC. This is the most suburban place I've ever lived, and it's very different from living right in the middle of a city. For one thing, there aren't enough coffee shops. However, it's incredibly safe, and the community is very important to me. There are a lot of strong women here, and I find them inspiring.
Am I a witch? Well, no. Even Wicca is too organized a religion for me. I'm much more idiosyncratic and just need to do my own thing, which is kind of new-agey and pantheistic. It's not that I don't work or play well with others, but I need to decide for myself when I do a certain thing, and how I do it. However, I can really relate to Wicca, and I so appreciate its woman-centeredness and its essentially female identity. I love those aspects, among others.
I have several favorite writers. Barbara Hambly has been the biggest influence on how I describe magic. She's an incredibly imaginative and empathetic writer with a gift for creating a rich, sensual world. I love Barbara Pym, an English writer whose books came out mostly in the fifties. She was a master at describing the thousand tiny moments that make up a woman's day; how the seemingly small and inconsequential thing can suddenly take on a huge emotional importance. I greatly admire P.D. James. She's one of the very few writers who makes me actually look up words in the dictionary. She has a beautiful, precise, educated command of the language that leaves me in awe. I love Philip Larkin's poetry. I read a lot of nonfiction and also have some favorite romance writers. Before anyone groans, let me say that these women write really well about women trying to achieve emotional fulfillment, and that's kind of what we're all doing, right? I also just like reading about sex. Anyway, Jennifer Crusie, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and early Linda Howard are my faves.
And then of course there's my dark side, but more on that later.
" -Source
Cate Tiernan is a pseudonym for Gabrielle Charbonnet
I went to school in New York, and after school went back to New Orleans. Then I went back to New York (Manhattan) and got a job in publishing and started writing. My first book, a young, middle-grade chapter book, was published in 1990.
Living in Manhattan was incredible, even though I didn't have a lot of money. There was so much to do and see, and so many interesting people to watch. There was a lot of frenetic energy there, and sometimes that felt very wearing and hard to live with. After eight years I was ready for a change, and my husband and I moved back to New Orleans. (Are you seeing a pattern here?)
(While I was in NY, I helped edit "The Secret Circle" by L.J. Smith. I thought it was great.)
We stayed in New Orleans five years. By the time we had two small children we knew we had to find someplace safer to live. I was glad my children were born in New Orleans--I had been born there, and my father had, and his father had, and his father had and so on. There was something about the connection of generations of blood coming from one place that I found very primal and important.
Now I live in a cohousing community in Durham, NC. This is the most suburban place I've ever lived, and it's very different from living right in the middle of a city. For one thing, there aren't enough coffee shops. However, it's incredibly safe, and the community is very important to me. There are a lot of strong women here, and I find them inspiring.
Am I a witch? Well, no. Even Wicca is too organized a religion for me. I'm much more idiosyncratic and just need to do my own thing, which is kind of new-agey and pantheistic. It's not that I don't work or play well with others, but I need to decide for myself when I do a certain thing, and how I do it. However, I can really relate to Wicca, and I so appreciate its woman-centeredness and its essentially female identity. I love those aspects, among others.
I have several favorite writers. Barbara Hambly has been the biggest influence on how I describe magic. She's an incredibly imaginative and empathetic writer with a gift for creating a rich, sensual world. I love Barbara Pym, an English writer whose books came out mostly in the fifties. She was a master at describing the thousand tiny moments that make up a woman's day; how the seemingly small and inconsequential thing can suddenly take on a huge emotional importance. I greatly admire P.D. James. She's one of the very few writers who makes me actually look up words in the dictionary. She has a beautiful, precise, educated command of the language that leaves me in awe. I love Philip Larkin's poetry. I read a lot of nonfiction and also have some favorite romance writers. Before anyone groans, let me say that these women write really well about women trying to achieve emotional fulfillment, and that's kind of what we're all doing, right? I also just like reading about sex. Anyway, Jennifer Crusie, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and early Linda Howard are my faves.
And then of course there's my dark side, but more on that later.
" -Source
Cate Tiernan is a pseudonym for Gabrielle Charbonnet
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 21, 2025
I didn’t think I was gonna enjoy this but the more I read the more drawn in I got. Goos read
February 2, 2018
2.5 Stars
I read this book years ago, probably when it first came out and I haven't read it since. It was a very quick and easy reread for me. Sadly I didn't quite enjoy it as much the second time as I did the first time.
The introduction to the characters was suitably fleshed out and I still feel, as I did the first time, that Cal and Selene are shady AF. They never sat well with me then and they still don't.
I read this book years ago, probably when it first came out and I haven't read it since. It was a very quick and easy reread for me. Sadly I didn't quite enjoy it as much the second time as I did the first time.
The introduction to the characters was suitably fleshed out and I still feel, as I did the first time, that Cal and Selene are shady AF. They never sat well with me then and they still don't.
February 7, 2017
It had was an monotonous novel, with little character development; stereotypical 'insta-love', an uninteresting plot and at times had an either arid and slow or hurried and inept pace.
There was so much more that could have been done with SWEEP. Frankly, I'm disappointed.
There was so much more that could have been done with SWEEP. Frankly, I'm disappointed.
January 19, 2024
Does it count to have listened to this series vs physically read? I was sick w Covid & devoured it. The only reason why it’s 4 stars & not 5 is it’s about teens & I’m an adult. I wouldn’t read it (or listen again) but I enjoyed when I did.
July 27, 2011
Tässä siis romaani, josta aiemmin kuhistiin kristillisdemokraattien Leena Rauhalan tehtyä hallitukselle kirjallisen kysymyksen kirjassa harjoitettavan wicca-uskonnon takia. Tätä kirjaa ei Stabenfelt-kustantamo pohjoismaisille lapsille ja nuorille tarjoa. Nähtäväksi jää, jos vaikka joku muu kustantamo ehtii hätiin ja mieluiten sensuroimattomana versiona, kyllä nuoret kestävät lukea alkoholin ja tupakan käytöstä, eikö vain.
Vaan entäpä sitten juoni? Kirjan juoni on ajalle hyvin tyypillinen nuorille tytöille tarkoitettu teinitarina (vakioainekset numeroitu!). Koulun(1) alkaessa uusi, mukava ja varsin komea poika(2) kertoo joukolle nuoria järjestävänsä juhlat. Päähenkilö Morgan Rowlands on aivan lääpällään kyseiseen Caliin(3). Kun nuoret saapuvat juhlapaikalle käy ilmi, että Cal harjoittaa wiccaa ja juhlan tarkoituksena oli muodostaa wicca-rinki ja juhlistaa wiccalaista sapattia. Osa nuorista ei innostu asiasta, mutta suurin osa paikalle tulleista haluaa kokeilla. Hieman esimakua tulevasta saadaan, kun Morgan saa ensimmäisessä ringissään kohtauksen ja on pyörtyä. Onkohan Morgan erilainen nuori(4)...
Nuorista tuleekin pikku hiljaa wiccan kannattajia. Cal on syötävän komea ja mukava ja ringissä koetaan hyviä hetkiä. Läheisestä kaupungista löytyy mielenkiintoinen okkultistinen kirjakauppa, josta tulee Morganille tärkeä paikka. Mutta sitten tulee vastoinkäymisiä: vanhemmat saavat halvauksen kuultuaan, että tytär lukee kirjoja wiccalaisuudesta. Onhan se nyt järkyttävää, kun oman teinin huoneesta löytyy vino pino uskonnollista tietokirjallisuutta! Aika valistuneita vanhempia tosin, moniko vanhempi oikeasti tietää tai edes välilttää, mitä on wicca..? No joopa joo.
Sitten seuraa tyypillisiä teinijuttuja, ihastus- ja poikaystävähuolia, kavereita ja riitoja, teini-vanhempisäätöä jne. Välissä taas wiccamenoja ynnä muuta. Tarina etenee verkkaiseen tahtiin, mutta mielenkiinto pysyy kyllä ihan hyvin yllä. Sarjan ensimmäisessä osassa ei vielä päästä actionin makuun, eikä sen koommin toisessakaan. Myöhemmissä osissa sitten onkin jo villimpää menoa.
Kirjan henkilögalleria on moniulotteinen ja henkilöt pitävät kyllä tarinan mielenkiintoa yllä. Morgan löytää itsestään sisäisen noidan ja magick-taikuus puhuu hänelle. Kylläkyllä, Morgan on "erityinen", jos et vielä arvannut.
Omassa niteessäni on sarjan toinen osa yhteennidottuna. Osat ovat yksittäin aika lyhyitä nykymittakaavassa, alle 200 sivua per osa. Sarjaa on yhteensä 15 osaa, mutta lukemisen voi hyvin jättää ensimmäiseen kuuteen osaan, jolloin tarina katkeaa sopivasti. Kirjat muistuttavat asetukseltaan hyvin paljon Yön talo -sarjaa ja wiccamenot ovat lähes sanatarkasti samat. Myöhemmin kuitenkin tarinat saavat omat käänteensä. Jos piti Yön talo -sarjasta, niin tämä on hyvin samantapaista, paitsi nyt mukana on noitia, ei vampyyreitä. Wicca/Sweep -sarjassa riittää juonenkäänteitä, teiniromantiikkaa, wiccalaisuutta ja jos siihen jää koukkuun, palkitaan uskollisuus yllätyksillä ja huimilla voimienmittelöillä.
Vaan entäpä sitten juoni? Kirjan juoni on ajalle hyvin tyypillinen nuorille tytöille tarkoitettu teinitarina (vakioainekset numeroitu!). Koulun(1) alkaessa uusi, mukava ja varsin komea poika(2) kertoo joukolle nuoria järjestävänsä juhlat. Päähenkilö Morgan Rowlands on aivan lääpällään kyseiseen Caliin(3). Kun nuoret saapuvat juhlapaikalle käy ilmi, että Cal harjoittaa wiccaa ja juhlan tarkoituksena oli muodostaa wicca-rinki ja juhlistaa wiccalaista sapattia. Osa nuorista ei innostu asiasta, mutta suurin osa paikalle tulleista haluaa kokeilla. Hieman esimakua tulevasta saadaan, kun Morgan saa ensimmäisessä ringissään kohtauksen ja on pyörtyä. Onkohan Morgan erilainen nuori(4)...
Nuorista tuleekin pikku hiljaa wiccan kannattajia. Cal on syötävän komea ja mukava ja ringissä koetaan hyviä hetkiä. Läheisestä kaupungista löytyy mielenkiintoinen okkultistinen kirjakauppa, josta tulee Morganille tärkeä paikka. Mutta sitten tulee vastoinkäymisiä: vanhemmat saavat halvauksen kuultuaan, että tytär lukee kirjoja wiccalaisuudesta. Onhan se nyt järkyttävää, kun oman teinin huoneesta löytyy vino pino uskonnollista tietokirjallisuutta! Aika valistuneita vanhempia tosin, moniko vanhempi oikeasti tietää tai edes välilttää, mitä on wicca..? No joopa joo.
Sitten seuraa tyypillisiä teinijuttuja, ihastus- ja poikaystävähuolia, kavereita ja riitoja, teini-vanhempisäätöä jne. Välissä taas wiccamenoja ynnä muuta. Tarina etenee verkkaiseen tahtiin, mutta mielenkiinto pysyy kyllä ihan hyvin yllä. Sarjan ensimmäisessä osassa ei vielä päästä actionin makuun, eikä sen koommin toisessakaan. Myöhemmissä osissa sitten onkin jo villimpää menoa.
Kirjan henkilögalleria on moniulotteinen ja henkilöt pitävät kyllä tarinan mielenkiintoa yllä. Morgan löytää itsestään sisäisen noidan ja magick-taikuus puhuu hänelle. Kylläkyllä, Morgan on "erityinen", jos et vielä arvannut.
Omassa niteessäni on sarjan toinen osa yhteennidottuna. Osat ovat yksittäin aika lyhyitä nykymittakaavassa, alle 200 sivua per osa. Sarjaa on yhteensä 15 osaa, mutta lukemisen voi hyvin jättää ensimmäiseen kuuteen osaan, jolloin tarina katkeaa sopivasti. Kirjat muistuttavat asetukseltaan hyvin paljon Yön talo -sarjaa ja wiccamenot ovat lähes sanatarkasti samat. Myöhemmin kuitenkin tarinat saavat omat käänteensä. Jos piti Yön talo -sarjasta, niin tämä on hyvin samantapaista, paitsi nyt mukana on noitia, ei vampyyreitä. Wicca/Sweep -sarjassa riittää juonenkäänteitä, teiniromantiikkaa, wiccalaisuutta ja jos siihen jää koukkuun, palkitaan uskollisuus yllätyksillä ja huimilla voimienmittelöillä.
January 20, 2011
I am really sorry i finished this book eons ago, So bear with me. As with all series some are better than others. This one was very good i really enjoyed it. Infact i have completed the whole series and there was only one out of 15 which was misable. Speaking on behalf of all the slightly older than YA readears. Books are for all ages and to be enjoyed. Ok about the book.......
The main people in the the storyline through out the 15 books in this series are Cal-The bad boy who everybody falls for. But he only has eyes for the lead female for reasons i can not give away as it will ruin the story. Morgan is the leading lady in all 15 books in the series. She falls hard and fast for the too good looking for his own good warlock Cal.
Without giving away too many spoilers its basically Morgan and her friends share an intrest in wicca. When Cal turns up he forms a wiccan circle with Morgan and her friends who are all very different and colourful in there individual ways.
Morgan discovers she has a natural gift for the wiccan craft. Cal is instructed by his very powerful and evil wiccan mother to intice Morgan so she can get close to her. For the purpose you will have to read the book.
There are different Wiccan circles and the one who Selene (Cals Mother) leads is evil we are talking the deepest pits of hell evil (FUBAR). But Selen's plan back fires as Cal actually does fall in love with Morgan.
Mogan finds out here actual family has ties to the wiccan world and she finds out more as the story unfolds. Its left at a rather steep cliffhanger. Which will intice you to automatically reach for the next installment which is Blood witch and Dark magic. So enjoy and be pre paired to lose your self for a month to complete the whole series because belive me you will want to complete it. Take care all you book lovers out there till next time x
The main people in the the storyline through out the 15 books in this series are Cal-The bad boy who everybody falls for. But he only has eyes for the lead female for reasons i can not give away as it will ruin the story. Morgan is the leading lady in all 15 books in the series. She falls hard and fast for the too good looking for his own good warlock Cal.
Without giving away too many spoilers its basically Morgan and her friends share an intrest in wicca. When Cal turns up he forms a wiccan circle with Morgan and her friends who are all very different and colourful in there individual ways.
Morgan discovers she has a natural gift for the wiccan craft. Cal is instructed by his very powerful and evil wiccan mother to intice Morgan so she can get close to her. For the purpose you will have to read the book.
There are different Wiccan circles and the one who Selene (Cals Mother) leads is evil we are talking the deepest pits of hell evil (FUBAR). But Selen's plan back fires as Cal actually does fall in love with Morgan.
Mogan finds out here actual family has ties to the wiccan world and she finds out more as the story unfolds. Its left at a rather steep cliffhanger. Which will intice you to automatically reach for the next installment which is Blood witch and Dark magic. So enjoy and be pre paired to lose your self for a month to complete the whole series because belive me you will want to complete it. Take care all you book lovers out there till next time x
April 5, 2015
I enjoyed these 2 books in one. I think they are a great start to an interesting series.
I like Morgan, and i like how she's beginning to discover exactly who she is and just how she feels about certain things. I can foresee that she'll really find herself as the series proceeds and i'm looking forward to reading her do just that.
One of the things i really loved in this book was the relationship Morgan has with her sister Mary K. Morgan was so caring and protective over her. She loves her so much and i think it's so sweet. I've read so many books where siblings didn't exactly get along and this was refreshing for me.
I recommend this series!
I like Morgan, and i like how she's beginning to discover exactly who she is and just how she feels about certain things. I can foresee that she'll really find herself as the series proceeds and i'm looking forward to reading her do just that.
One of the things i really loved in this book was the relationship Morgan has with her sister Mary K. Morgan was so caring and protective over her. She loves her so much and i think it's so sweet. I've read so many books where siblings didn't exactly get along and this was refreshing for me.
I recommend this series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2010
When Cal starts at the local high school he has an immediate effect. He decides to preach his faith and encourage others to join him. He is Wiccan. The story focuses on Morgan, who discovers a secret family history and an unexplicable pull towards Cal and his religion. Her strange reactions to the rituals give a clue that she is unlike the others within the self styled coven.
This book combines a tale of growing up and romance with a beginners guide to Wicca - all terms are explained clearly and simply as Morgan learns alongside the reader. Fairly enjoyable teenage romance with a difference!
This book combines a tale of growing up and romance with a beginners guide to Wicca - all terms are explained clearly and simply as Morgan learns alongside the reader. Fairly enjoyable teenage romance with a difference!
April 27, 2015
Where do I begin?....
it is the most compelling and gripping series you will ever succumb to read! I literally finished the 2 books in 1 in like a day and a half. I highly recommend it to people who haven't read it yet because your in for one WICCA-RIDE! btw whats with Bree? ugh she annoys me
anyway... I cant believe this book was written in 2001. I was 2 years old! OMG! Its funny that ive just started reading the series now (im on book 3 currently) and its like 14 years later LOL! Anyway love ya Cata Tiernan you truly have a gift for imagination. OOOOOOH im an air sign!
it is the most compelling and gripping series you will ever succumb to read! I literally finished the 2 books in 1 in like a day and a half. I highly recommend it to people who haven't read it yet because your in for one WICCA-RIDE! btw whats with Bree? ugh she annoys me
anyway... I cant believe this book was written in 2001. I was 2 years old! OMG! Its funny that ive just started reading the series now (im on book 3 currently) and its like 14 years later LOL! Anyway love ya Cata Tiernan you truly have a gift for imagination. OOOOOOH im an air sign!
June 30, 2016
Cate Tiernan's novels (the edition I read had the first two books in the Sweep series), is a compelling story with an unravelling mystery. The Book of Shadows follows a teenage girl, Morgan Rowlands who posses an uncanny ability to do magick. The coven folloed on with Morgan discovering she is the descendant of a long line of witches, and possesses powerful magick of her own. It is definitely worth a read as the story line is quite intersting. The writing at times can become a little immature. Nonetheless, still a good read.
May 2, 2010
I actually have the 3 in 1 bindup and it was an unbelievable read. I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the series to be able to finish out the story. I'm completely entranced with the series and im very giddy about finding and finishing them as soon as possible.
March 19, 2019
Reading it a second time, the plot just seems so quick with little characterisation. Definitely loved it when I was a teenager, but all this instant love business just seems so silly now. Still love the wicca aspects of it all, though. 2*s on the second read.
June 16, 2009
I like this...
Its a wee bit "young" for me (i'm 44) but just below the Twilight series..
But still enjoying the series, am already on the 2 double book.
looking forward for the rest...
Its a wee bit "young" for me (i'm 44) but just below the Twilight series..
But still enjoying the series, am already on the 2 double book.
looking forward for the rest...
May 11, 2010
Cal is a total hottie ;)
May 6, 2011
See full series review here.
July 3, 2011
Captivating.
April 21, 2012
Morgan 16 yr discovers hse has powers related to Wicca when new boy in town Cal asks some people to meet with him. Morgan & Cal get together romantically and morgan discovers she is a blood witch.
May 28, 2015
Brilliant book(s). Read it in an evening
April 2, 2022
It is a very enticing read 📚 ... convincing me to buy the other books if the series to finish it !!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews