Bianca wanted a thrill. Maybe magic. Not monsters.
In an Edinburgh graveyard on Halloween, Bianca Nash is waiting for a monster to strike a deathblow. Instead, strange men appear, desperate for her to stick around.
Within days she’s forced on a plane to Latvia – and magic school. But her first student welcome comes with a glare. What does devastatingly handsome bad boy Shane McKee have against throwback witches like her?
The deeper Bianca gets into life at Wildes Witch Academy, the more questions she has – and the more she has to hide. This school is swimming in secrets, but who can she trust to help her find the truth?
A Throwback Witch is the first book in a brand-new urban fantasy series featuring a strong, snappy heroine, a tattooed and deliciously bad-for-you hero, and serious romantic tension.
Click now to join Bianca on her whirlwind introduction to magic and the infuriating Shane McKee.
Holly Ice loves the unusual and the unexpected, and that extends to her fantasy and science fiction. She loves to read and write about myths, new worlds, new creatures, and old creatures that are relatively unknown or re-imagined.
She lives in the countryside not far from Bristol, England with two adopted, part maine coon cats, a boyfriend of many years, and an overactive imagination.
Another Dnf *sigh*. Apparently this is my new hobby, Dnfing books...
I've tried to read this book 2 times, and both times, I found myself dozing off more than once or just thinking about other stuff (writing a grocery list in my head / thinking about other books / kittens / weather). The premise and MC were ok, but the writing style was difficult to get used to, so erratic which made me lose track of what was going on. And the constant use of the word “ken” (the Scots version of the verb “to know”, thanks Google!) was a bit annoying.
Hmmm... this was pretty good, although I was frustrated by the back and forth between the MCs. In the end, they got there, but I'm worried in future books, that will be a constant issue.
I think I liked Bee. She at least had the right instincts... unlike Kaylee... Honestly, who goes along with being dragged off to a different country without a WHOLE LOT OF QUESTIONS? I'm also really irritated that the whole freaking witch community is so hateful, but maybe that will change.
I like Shane. He seems like he has his heart in the right place, so I hope it stays there. His uncle can kick rocks...
I would be happy reading the next book in this series.
This is book one of the Wildes Witch Academy and the main character is eighteen year old Bee (Bianca) who lives in Edinburgh, Scotland with her fellow ex-foster kid best friends Finn and Rhea. She works a low paid job, trying to save up enough money to go to university one day. After a late night out drinking, she makes her way home, walking the couple of blocks alone. When near the famous Greyfriar’s Kirk graveyard, she is attacked by some strange creature and injured. Just before the creature is about to deal a deathblow, a strange force knocks it far away and she is grabbed by two strange men and forced into a van. Then off to a private plane to Latvia and a private magic academy! While she has always been interested in the supernatural, she never knew magic was real.
There is another girl taken with her, called Kaylee and they end up as roommates together. They have arrived at the school the day before an initiation ceremony, which will decide what sort of witch they are. Kaylee seems to take to it all easily, but Bee is annoyed more than anything, having been given no answers by their escorts as to what was happening to her, not having any time to say goodbye to her friends or even pick up any of her own clothes! The school is split into two houses, those with human spirit guides and those who have an animal familiar guides. Bee’s initiation isn’t quite so straight forward, but she ends up with an animal familiar, whereas Kaylee gets a human familiar. Trying to ask for instructions to her first class, one the first day of lessons, sees Bee be given a nasty look and she soon learns that there is a massive split and discord between the two houses. Those with animal guides are seen as less powerful witches and looked down on by the others.
Being a foster kid and never having known her father, she has no real idea of her family history and where her magic must have come from. She is told that most witches have their magic triggered as they turn eighteen, but she and Kaylee are what is known as ‘Throwback Witches’, those with no family link to magic for the last generation or so. The only bright spark so far is the gorgeous Shane McKee, the headmaster’s nephew, but he is more a distraction and has a bad boy vibe, she should be avoiding. As a throwback witch, she receives funds and expenses to cover her schooling and her friends are given a story to hide the reality of her new school. But not everyone is being kind, most have something against witches like her and make their opinions plain.
There seems to be a lot hidden by many in the academy and a lot of it surrounds the headmaster, Eugene McKee. He gathers the other throwback witches and offers to help them find out who their former families are and where their magic came from, but only those with human familiars, supposedly as this makes it easier to identify their ancestors. But there has been a huge increase in throwback witches being found and attending various academies around the world. This is very strange and is being investigated by a small group within the WMCF, the magical police attached to the academy. Bee is not very open, due to her past life experiences, but is finding it even harder to find out anything from those around her. She has lots of questions, and no-one to help answer them. Shane is a help, but she doesn’t fully trust him either.
Her questions and certain revelations are going to get her into more trouble than she can ever imagine and may finally give her an answer about part of her history. It will not be what others will react well to and she will be in grave danger. Her present is going to now be marred with the actions of others in the past and the hatred of many around her. Someone is trying to get rid of her, before she manages to uncover any more of their secret plans. A great start to the series and there is even a short prequel, A McKee Witch, which gives background on Shane’s journey to the academy and his place within the McKee family, a powerful witch family for many generations.
An interesting look into an unusual manner of coming into magical powers. There is lots of intrigue into the conspiracy of large numbers of throwback witches coming into existence and this being investigated, which makes for an interesting read. Bee and Shane are great characters and Kaylee is one that Bee early on registers as one influenced more by others like her and following like a lamb, which leads to a dangerous outcome. A new look at witches and an academy story, which flows easily and left me wanting more. I can’t wait to read book two, A Dangerous Witch, which should have a lot more action in it. A new author to me, but definitely one to follow if you like magic or academy life. I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
A Throwback Witch by Holly Ice. In an Edinburgh graveyard on Halloween, Bianca Nash is waiting for a monster to strike a deathblow. Instead, strange men appear, desperate for her to stick around.
Within days she's forced on a plane to Latvia - and magic school. But her first student welcome comes with a glare. What does devastatingly handsome bad boy Shane McKee have against throwback witches like her? A brilliant read. I loved the story and some of the characters. 5*.
This is actually a 2.5 stars. Let me explain. I loooved the concept of this book, it’s something unusual and the story was very well planned out. Now comes the but; BUT the characters were just a blurr and couldn’t convey many emotions. I felt like Bee was just constantly drooling over Shane and treated all of her old friends like an arsehole. But even in the academy she had no bonding moment with anyone and the relationship to Shane seemed really superficial since every time they should have bonded through words they just fucked. Their quibbles seemed forced as well, either they just have the worst temper and search for a reason to be angry at another (especially you Shane) or there was not enough development in their relationship, but the fights over meaningless shoot and their inability to talk things through (again where is the expression of emotionsss) didn’t help with that. Having said all that I couldn’t really identify with any of the characters, bc there was no way to build a connection to them through what they felt. BUT (again) the story line was great and really picked up spice after some things became clearer in the whole ancestry mistery. And now that things are getting real at the end of the book I’m really hoping for a bit more STORY development (especially on the sci-fi and fantasy part since it is about a magic school after all) and actual friendships in the next volume.
It was very difficult to get through the beginning of this book.....but then it started to get interesting with mystery and integer and romance. Ok book. Part of a series so it ends with a cliffhanger.
Bianca is a young woman working trying to make ends meet and save for University one Halloween night when she was supposed to get a cab home from the club she decided to walk home through the park on her way to the cemetery, it was Halloween and she just needed more than she was getting out of the night. And she was shocked when something happened and she was about to be killed and her whole life changed right in front of her eyes and she didn't even want to think about what happened and what she saw at the cemetery as she hurried to catch a cab home the guys she had seen earlier were screaming for her to stop. When her best friend came in after his date the next morning he realized that she was hurt he wasn't aware of how badly. She got more out of the night than she expected and had to run for her life. Then she was found by the men she saw in the cemetery and they did the unexpected and she found herself in a fast-moving car and then a private plane to a foreign country Latvia. She is being enrolled in the Wildes Witch Academy. On her first day, she meets Shane who looks like the school bad boy but he only asks her about her roommate who happened to come on the plane willingly with her and why they happened to be sharing the same room in their dorm. They were introduced to the school and their familiars were assigned to each witch she was a bit shocked that her familiar had more than one appearance. Bianca and her roommate Kaylee were not getting along as well as she had hoped. But she and Shane seem to become closer after she finds out about him and his roommate Cameron is investigating something that has to do with the throwbacks, she is determined to find out what. Shane won't tell but he agrees to let her talk to their superior. Very interesting storyline and the characters are intriguing too. I purchased this book. I am providing an honest review.
This is almost an exact copy of so many books written before, so so many. Girl doesn’t know she’s a witch, goes to school, meets boy, lies keep splitting the two apart, bad guys have evil plan which girl is somehow a part of, etc, etc, etc. change the names and you have almost every other magical school urban fantasy written and add to that tv series like “motherland “ and “Fate: the Winx saga” and heck, throw Harry Potter in there. Only difference is the names, the ages (college kids this time) and the sex. Oh, and add a cliffhanger in there too to try to force you to buy the next. Are the Characters well written? Yes, at least that is there, the world is light on details… never knew of the witches council until her arrest, but the story reads like an AI generated story that just cuts and pastes the storylines that are overused. And if her ancestors are so hated why is the school still named after them? Pass on this… please.
Bee is at a club celebrating Halloween with her roomie. She wants some real spooky feelings so she heads for a graveyard. She is attacked by a by a supernatural being and the next thing she knows the beast is thrown back in the air. Shocked, she runs for home hearing people in the graveyard calling her but she just has to leave. The next thing you know she is kidnapped and shoved on a private plane to Latvia and told she is going to a Magic school. Cue new roomie, getting a familiar, sexy male student, mystery to solve and danger. I enjoyed this book, but it left off as a cliffhanger. I recommend this book, but know in advance that you will need to read the next book (along with me) to find out what happens. I was given a free copy of this audiobook at my request and this is my honest review.
A Throwback Witch is Book 1 in the Wildes Witch Academy series by Holly Ice. This is a very interesting and intriguing storyline with excellent character development. Bianca (Bee) is celebrating Halloween with friends but wants more excitement out of the night so she visits the Edinburgh graveyard. She is attacked by a supernatural creature, injured, and uses witch powers (which she did not know she had) to defeat the creature. Within a few days after the attack, Bee finds herself kidnapped and taken to a magic academy in Latvia. This is a very superb read which I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend. I received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary and honest review.
Fantastic read and amazing start to the series, read in one sitting as I could just not put the book gown I was so engrossed in this amazing witchy suspenseful and mysterious story. Loved the characters in this story and their interactions were great, I need to find out more about what is going on as it is still very much shrouded in mystery. Hopefully some of the secrets and mystery will be revealed in the next book of this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Throwback Witch (Wildes Witch Academy Book 1) by Holly Ice Wow, this book will grab you. Bianca Nash had no idea she was a witch. Growing up in foster care and a loner, she is used to having to fend for herself while hoping to improve herself though going to university. When she ends up abducted and forcibly entered into Wildes Witch Academy, she rebels at first, but is fascinated by what she learns. I can’t wait until Book 2 is available to continue following her pursuit of learning and justice.
Holly Ice is a very good author. This story is about Bianca Nash. She finds out that she is witch and she doesn’t know from what family. Bianca gets involved with something about the school. She also is attracted to a sexy witch named Shane McKee. Will Bianca be able to find out what is going on? Will Bianca and Shane get together?
I look forward to reading the second book to this upcoming series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Bianca has no idea what is going on. There are scenes and people that don't matter. The rules of the world don't make sense. You need a potion to see your familiar and access your magic. But no one drinks it again after the first time and Bianca has access to her magic under very strict circumstances. The McGee family also creates these potions so people have to be taking them again but, again no one drinks another dose. It's hidden from humans but they float books in the open. And Bianca and Shane need therapy not a relationship.
This has a slow start but it doesn't last long. After an attack in a graveyard, Bianca is strong armed onto a plane and ends up in Latvia at a witch university. I like her internal dialog which explains a lot in the story. The characters have strong personalities and lots of emotion. There are mysteries to be solved. It is an unusual but interesting story about throwback witches. I'd never heard that term before.
This is the first book I've read by this author, but it won't be the last. For me it was a fast entertaining read. I read this book in an afternoon. The characters and the story were both good. A very enjoyable, entertaining read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An orphan on her way to discovering magic, attending a school for witches and learning secrets can be dangerous. So many twists and turns, secrets and mysteries with the odd murder but who is behind it. A fantastic adventure of discovery and one you will want to continue...Will be adding this series to my TBR...need to know what happens next!!!!
I enjoyed this book! Bianca is a Throwback Witch, and is learning about a whole world she didn't know existed! She's enrolled onto a Witch Academy, where her learning begins. Shane is a Witch from an old family, and both he and Bianca are drawn to each other. A fast moving, action packed read but with the dreaded cliff hanger!
Another excellent story from this exciting fantasy series! I really enjoyed this, I always do with Holly Ice books! Well written, good characters, excellent storylines! I do recommend this to all that love witches & fantasy!
A fantastic read that kept me inthralled from start to finish. I love the humor as well, the Author has done a great job with the World building as well as Character building. Theres twists and turns. There's never a dull moment. I definitely recommend. Shauna Joesten
Wow am I glad I read this book. I finished it in under 24 hours. This book has the perfect amount of twists and turns; the perfect amount of romance, and a badass MC who lives her life on her terms. I am so ready to read book 2.
This is a fab academy read! It’s well written with an interesting and intriguing storyline that just captivates from the very start! With fab characters it’s got action, magic, drama and supernatural beings, i look forward to reading more!
Unfortunately I just couldn’t get into this book. Maybe it’s just me but when a lot of the sentences have ken in them and I’m not sure what that is meant to mean it makes reading it hard. This book was a DNF for me
I got to 55% and I just couldn't finish. I didn't really like Bianca or Shane. I hated how she was instantly obsessed with him. I didn't like how they acted towards each other and I felt she was very judgemental of everyone.
All Bee wanted was to learn more about her family,what she didn't know was that her ancestors got into some big trouble.Will she be able to get out of trouble or will the witches come for her? I have to read the next book.
Starts well with lots of action and good chara cters then about halfway through it seems to lose its way slightly, having said that overall the storyline is quite interesting and the characters are well written it just seems to lose its oomph toward the end, Baz