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Fern Capel #1-3
The Way of the Witch
Omnibus version including Prospero's Children, The Dragon Charmer, and The Witch Queen.
627 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
2 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Jan Siegel
14 books69 followersJan Siegel is a pseudonym of Amanda Hemingway. She is a British author of fantasy novels, best known for her Fern Capel and Sangreal trilogies.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 30, 2024
One of my all-time favorites! 🗝️💚
This book features in my Best Sci-fi & Fantasy Books video on BookTube at Hello, Bookworm.
This is a fantasy trilogy bound in one book. All three books follow a young woman named Fern, who is inextricably drawn to magical realms.
Book One: Concerns Fern searching for a key to the fabled lost city of Atlantis.
Book Two: Fern is swept away to a realm where a dragon is the key to her survival.
Book Three: Fern goes head-to-head with a witch queen in a ghostly otherworld.
These are stories of mythic proportions. They contain mermaids, goblins, a creaky old house, ancient cities, and a tree whose fruit is human heads.
These books have been slept on for far too long. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
This book features in my Best Sci-fi & Fantasy Books video on BookTube at Hello, Bookworm.
This is a fantasy trilogy bound in one book. All three books follow a young woman named Fern, who is inextricably drawn to magical realms.
Book One: Concerns Fern searching for a key to the fabled lost city of Atlantis.
Book Two: Fern is swept away to a realm where a dragon is the key to her survival.
Book Three: Fern goes head-to-head with a witch queen in a ghostly otherworld.
These are stories of mythic proportions. They contain mermaids, goblins, a creaky old house, ancient cities, and a tree whose fruit is human heads.
These books have been slept on for far too long. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
August 20, 2012
The first book was phenomenal; the second book you just kind of have to endure to get to the third book which, while not quite as amazing as the first one, was much more enjoyable than the 2nd, and although I wasn't always sure where the author was going, by the very end it all made sense and the 3-book story was excellent and absolutely worth reading. In fact, it may be time to go back and read them all again...
February 18, 2012
This is an omnibus so I'll review the three books separately. Overall I thought the characters were appealing and the setting (or most of it) was believable. I liked that the timeline started in the 80's and moved forward from there, basically making the characters my contemporaries.
The first book brings you into the world where witches and magic have a place, albeit a small one, in the world we live in. The family goes to stay in their newly inherited home in the country which makes an excellent setting for the weirdness that happens. My one complaint was that the second half of the book dramatically changes the setting and tone of the novel in a way I found discombobulating. I think I might have been happier if the story had even ended on a bit of a cliff hanger and then the author picked up in the new setting. The way it was it felt like she was trying to splice a wholly different story into the thing and it really didn't work for me. That said, I did enjoy the book and moved right into the next one.
Of course with this book I started out disappointed. I'd gotten so used to the voice of the main character from the first book that when the author introduced someone else as the teller of the tale I was annoyed. The good thing was that the book shifted in the middle again, rather abruptly and we were back to Fern's perspective. Overall again I enjoyed the story and the characters, but wanted a little more consistency in the writing style.
The final book was perhaps my favorite. The horror aspect built from book to book to culminate in an appealing way in this story and there was no jarring transition halfway through. The ending was surprising to me, but satisfying. Overall an enjoying read.
The first book brings you into the world where witches and magic have a place, albeit a small one, in the world we live in. The family goes to stay in their newly inherited home in the country which makes an excellent setting for the weirdness that happens. My one complaint was that the second half of the book dramatically changes the setting and tone of the novel in a way I found discombobulating. I think I might have been happier if the story had even ended on a bit of a cliff hanger and then the author picked up in the new setting. The way it was it felt like she was trying to splice a wholly different story into the thing and it really didn't work for me. That said, I did enjoy the book and moved right into the next one.
Of course with this book I started out disappointed. I'd gotten so used to the voice of the main character from the first book that when the author introduced someone else as the teller of the tale I was annoyed. The good thing was that the book shifted in the middle again, rather abruptly and we were back to Fern's perspective. Overall again I enjoyed the story and the characters, but wanted a little more consistency in the writing style.
The final book was perhaps my favorite. The horror aspect built from book to book to culminate in an appealing way in this story and there was no jarring transition halfway through. The ending was surprising to me, but satisfying. Overall an enjoying read.
July 31, 2010
I really liked Prospero's Children, and had read it separately, but did not care much for the other two stories. I ended up not finishing the book, and may stick with re-reading the first book of the omnibus in the future.
March 28, 2020
Three books in one. Beautifully written. A book about a young girl who had the Gift. She discovered on a trip to an old house her father had inherited.
The first book starts with the story of the story of the mermaid who created a storm to bring down a ship of a man who is trying to escape from the sinking city of Alantis he holds the key to a door that should never be opened. The stories goes on taking you into the world of witches, goblins and the forces of power that wants to rule the earth. The second book is about the last dragon and the world it lives in. The girls quest to learn how to use the power that has been passed on to her. The third book is about the power struggle between good and evil and a decision that has to be made to save the world as we know it. Fantasy at its best.
The first book starts with the story of the story of the mermaid who created a storm to bring down a ship of a man who is trying to escape from the sinking city of Alantis he holds the key to a door that should never be opened. The stories goes on taking you into the world of witches, goblins and the forces of power that wants to rule the earth. The second book is about the last dragon and the world it lives in. The girls quest to learn how to use the power that has been passed on to her. The third book is about the power struggle between good and evil and a decision that has to be made to save the world as we know it. Fantasy at its best.
October 5, 2023
I really struggled through the first book and almost stopped reading it but I’m glad I pushed through because the 2nd and 3rd were a lot better. I really enjoyed the character growth from both of the siblings.
July 9, 2017
This was awesome trilogy!I have no words to describe how I feel about this amazing books!I recommend them to anyone who fancy this type of readings!
August 3, 2020
Points for consistent characterization and awesome world building. Points deducted for lack of payoff. Having your main character forget the events of the last three books is never satisfying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2011
an omnibus! I should know better then to get an omnibus but I'll try again.
really enjoyed the writing! characters, description etc all good. due to the nature of the writing, this was a slow read for me; in a good way, immersion slow reading kind of way. would probably give this more of a 4 and a half star but will give it 5. great enough to drag me through the omnibus.
still hate omnibus! shoot me if i ever try it again.
really enjoyed the writing! characters, description etc all good. due to the nature of the writing, this was a slow read for me; in a good way, immersion slow reading kind of way. would probably give this more of a 4 and a half star but will give it 5. great enough to drag me through the omnibus.
still hate omnibus! shoot me if i ever try it again.
October 5, 2012
I did read several reviews before I dove into this book, and they were basically on the mark. The first and last story are the best, and more compelling. The second story went slow, but in a way it made sense. A young witch learning the ropes does take time. It can't be rushed.
I really enjoyed the tale, as a whole. I found the ending a bit sad for me, but it really was the only way it could end, and still on a good note.
I really enjoyed the tale, as a whole. I found the ending a bit sad for me, but it really was the only way it could end, and still on a good note.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews