Witch Hearts (Magic and Mage #1) by Angharad Thompson Rees

Witch Hearts (Magic and Mage #1) Reviews

• 
  Natalie all_books_great_and_small

  Witch Hearts is the first book in the Magic and Mage series by Angharad Thompson Rees. This is a short book (99 pages) but very well written. Told in a poetic way this book is about three sisters discovering who they truly are and learning to use their gifts. But one sister is different from the others and her anger and frustration was a great place to end the book in anticipation of the second installment. I'm definitely going to read the rest of this series and find out where the story will go. I loved the horses in this book and how they were woven into the story. Overall this was a great coming of age novel with great potential.
• 
  Brittney

  I'm so happy I stumbled on this novella because Angharad and I have two of the same loves: horses and magic! When I saw Witch Hearts' beautiful cover, I was immediately intrigued, but then I read the synopsis and downloaded it right away. Captured sisters must discover their magic before witch hunters burn them at stake? And their escape lies within the horses that pull the cart leading them to the witch trial? Yep. Sign me up for this story.
  
  Angharad's novella reminded me of the Grimms' fairytales - a dark premise with evil lurking in the shadows and villains that are creepy and cringe-worthy. This is not a light and fluffy story, but the dark beginning makes the ending that much sweeter. I loved the three sisters (triplets) and watching them discover their magic and then fight the bad guys. The last half of the story is full of action and Angharad's writing is vivid and flowery. It was easy to picture the fight scenes and to see the magic as the sisters discovered it. Not to mention, the type of magic in Witch Hearts is horse-related. My favorite kind!
  
  This was a quick read and was full of beautiful descriptions. And, there's two more novellas in the series. Perfect for fans of Grimms' fairytales or Once Upon A Time.
  
  See more of my horse-book-reviews on Brittney Joy's blog at:
  
  http://brittneyjoybooks.squarespace.c...
• 
  Elizabeth May

  As a fan of both witches and horses, I was disappointed by this novella. At just 67 pages, it didn’t exactly drag on, which was nice. Within just a few pages, we are thrust into the center of the action—the sisters being captured by witch hunters.
  
  ***
  EXCERPT:
  “Got’cha!” growled a gruff voice.
  A net whipped through the air, bundling the three sisters together and catapulting them high into the trees.
  “We’ve gor’em, Boris! We’ve captured them witches!” cried a hunchbacked man. He giggled and dribbled beneath the trap filled with the struggling sisters, rubbing his hands together with greed and mirth.
  ***
  
  Okay. Let’s dissect that, shall we? The scene is cartoonish in its artlessness. The sisters are all three entangled in a net that, in all likelihood, was only meant to capture one witch at a time. There they are, swaying from the limb of a tree, the way we have seen many animated unfortunates do so many times. The Russian name Boris—because no one in the English-speaking world has ever encountered a Russian villain. Also, of course the lowly lackey is hunchbacked. And there he stands—er, hunches—rubbing his hands together “with greed and mirth,” just like the stereotype that he is.
  
  As for writing style, it seems that Rees’s favorite method of description is to use similes and metaphors. Fae’s voice, for example, is described in numerous ways. First, it is “a threatening summer storm,” her eyes “wide as the low full moon.” Later, she whispers “as sadly as a late autumn breeze stripping the last leaf from a tree.” Finally, her voice is “as soft as wind from a butterfly wing.”
  
  Rees’s writing is often less than subtle. At one point, Amara thinks “of the witch trials and all the innocent women and children who came before her, just to line the pockets of the infamous Witch Hunter General. The witch trial had nothing to do with magic and everything to do with power; the power of gold coins.”
  
  Later, one of the witches is asked, “Should you be judged just because you are different? Should our differences not be celebrated?”
  Not exactly any hidden meanings there…
  
  As I said, Rees does a great job of dropping us right into a sense of urgency with the sisters. Their mother is deathly ill, and they venture into the woods near their home in order to find a cure to save her life. The story quickly builds to the climax, after which we are granted a few pages of falling action.
  
  Warning: the end of this novella is a cliffhanger! This was another reason that this book just wasn’t for me. I’m not generally a fan of any series in which the individual novels cannot stand alone.
  
  For many fans of witches and horses, this would probably be a great read. In fact, that statement is proven true based on all the four- and five-star reviews that Witch Hearts has received on Amazon. It just wasn’t for me.
  
  P.S. I received a free copy of this book from HiddenGems.com in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.
• 
  Emily Pennington

  The three Cheval triplet sisters looked into the darkened room, moonlight shining on their mother’s motionless, barely breathing silhouette. The sisters saw their cat, Shadow, sitting outside on the window box looking in at them. They opened the window, but he refused to enter and instead walked away, staring back at them. Amara told Morganne and Fae that they needed to follow Shadow to find the herbal cure “Witch Hazel” in the woods or she was afraid they would have no mother to take care of by morning. The herb’s power would diminish after the full moon waned tonight. Although the three of them felt the strangeness in the forest, they continued on following Shadow until he disappeared and they heard a lone wolf’s howl.
  
  Suddenly a net captured the sisters and they were thrown in a cage by evil men who referred to them as witches. The cage sat in a rotted cart pulled by three exhausted, lifeless horses. They look starved and their bones protruded. Oddly the hair color of each sister matched the color of each horse! Then the men cracked a whip at the horses, heading for the witch trials and a hefty reward for capturing the three witches. Unheard by the men, the horses conversed quietly among themselves as they struggled with the heavy load.
  
  Unable to continue, the red horse collapsed, bringing the cart to a sudden stop as the cage fell off and broke apart. As the men kicked at the horse to get up, Amara scolded that the three needed water; so the evil man made her carry a bucket down a steep embankment to the river below to get them water. She also dug in the snow to get grass for the starving animals, but she was not expecting to hear “Thank you” from the red horse!
  
  Realizing the sisters really were witches, the horses talked about helping them somehow. Amara heard them and told them she would try to help them as well if they could free the sisters. The horses began to gallop as the cart started shaking apart. Would this simple plan really work? Could the horses help the sisters? Could they escape the certain death awaiting them at the witch trials?
  
  I loved this story – it read like a favorite childhood fairy tale! The story line was fast-paced and intriguing, carrying the reader along as the sisters were captured and taken away. There is mystery as well regarding how their mother became so deathly ill, having previously been strong and healthy. And what happened to Shadow? How would Morganne and Fae react to the news of being witches? There are lessons to be learned from this story. Grab your copy and find out the answers the tale is trying to tell you! It’s well worth your time!
• 
  Saundra Wright

  With writing as brilliant and magical as the plot line thanks to the skill and imagination of Angharad Thompson Rees, Witch Hearts is a 3D experience only in writing format. Step directly into the world of these budding witch triplets on their journey of self-discovery. Feel, see, hear, touch, taste and smell the world around them through their senses and later through the unique animal familiars they meet along this journey. A journey granted through Andharad's gracious gifts.
  
  Three sisters, as alike at heart as their looks vary, ordinary, living together with their mother in an isolated woodside cottage. The three are already victims of village gossips, being assused of witchcraft unjustly, by ignorant villagers for their triple birth and differing appearances. Bigotry, hatred and jealousy breed many unjust accusations.
  
  Lately their mother has fallen ill. The condition worsening, Amara, the middle sister, strongly influenced by the moon, and trusting always her intuition, says to follow Shadow, their mother's cat, and collect witch Hazel from the forest before the full moon wanes this night to cure their mother before she should be lost to them for good.
  
  The unprepared trip into the wild forest is strange and frightening, but they place their trust in Shadow and the moon. Dressed only in their night frocks, with bare feet, lest they lose the cat, they keep on. However this trip proves to be one long thrilling adventure, and a struggle for their very lives before they can even attempt to find their way back from this wild, enchanting and frightening forest. Will the sisters make it home in time to save their mother? Will they be able to even save each other?
  
  There is only one way to meet these unique, intriguing sisters plus get all your questions answered. Buy the book today! Or borrow it on Kindle Unlimited. It will whet your apetitie for more adventures in the upcoming Magic and Mage series releases to follow.
  
  Kindle Unlinited edition
• 
  Lana

  This is episode 1 called Witch Hearts and it is a beautiful tale of magic and witches who did not know they were witches till they were kidnapped by an evil duo of witch hunters!! Three sisters, triplets who were as the same as they were different, their hair being red like flame, black like jet and white as snow trying to find a herbal cure in the wood for their ailing mother when evil struck! On their ride into town in a rickety cart with tired and starving horses things start to happen!! I really enjoyed this lovely tale full of wonder and magic but also one full of evil and superstition and hatred for those who are different. I really loved the bond the three sisters formed with the three horses and the mind-link they had, I also loved the witch's cat shadow with his arrogance and sentience. I cannot wait to read episode 2 Fire Heart in the magic and Mage series, one can feel how close to animals and nature Angharad really is in this captivating book! Readers who love all things witchy, enjoy!!
• 
  Ally

  ⭐ 2 stars ⭐
  
  This book was short and sweet. It takes place over the course of a day as three sisters venture to find a cure for their ailing mother. They end up running into trouble and must figure out a way to get back home to their mom. I liked how I was able to see how much the sisters cared for each other, but there was just so much this book was lacking. I wish it was longer and more detailed.
  
  The things I like most about reading is feeling engaged in the plot and feeling a connection to the characters. I felt neither of those things when reading this book. The world-building could have been much better as well as the character development. The writing also felt more like I was reading a middle grade novel rather than YA. It left a lot of questions, which I hope would be answered in future novels. Overall, it was a quick read that had its cute moments.
  
  Thank you Hidden Gems for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Kysha

  Short novella about triplets during a time of witch trials. I know from history that multiple births and red haired women were always accused of witchcraft and these girls are no exception. The story finds them kidnapped and lead to town along with 3 matching desolate horses.
  The 3 girls, Morganne, Amara, and Fae, are all different and compliment each other. I like their differing personalities and think it brings a lot to the story. The book is short so we really don't get to know much about them though. The horses each have a unique personality as well.
  I look forward to the rest of the series and finding out more about each sister in turn.
• 
  Renay

  A short story that could've been an amazing full length novel.
  
  I may be bias because its a story about 3 sisters, and we are 3 sisters in my family, but it was a well written, easy read.
  
  Anything that can't be real (witches, dragons, vampires, werewolves, etc.) Coupled with animals is usually a sure win with me.
  
  I read this using Google Play Books App
  
  It was free.
  
  5⭐ for the cover art
  3.75⭐ for the book (could've been higher if it were longer!)
  Will be checking out the other works of this author!
• 
  Jane

  An enjoyable short story about 3 sisters and their endeavors to save their mother from dying. While searching the forest for a cure, they are captured by witch hunters. The sisters then join forces with the 3 horses pulling the cart they are confined in. Together, they all begin a journey of self-discovery that will change all their lives.
  
  With a well written storyline and characters that seem real, this is a good start to an intriguing series. I've already pre-ordered the next book.
• 
  Kim Gregory

  This story wasn't quite what I expected. Three sisters, triplets, go out into the woods to find an herb that might save their mother. A group of witch hunters captures the girls to take them to the witch trials. Along the way, two of the girls realize that they truly are witches and are able to save the sisters from their fate - being burned alive.
  
  I wasn't expecting that they would truly be witches, albeit good witches. Overall it was a good story, just don't like that they were witches!
• 
  Stephanie

  This was a great story about triplets whom leave their home in the middle of the night to attempt to find herbs to help their ailing mother. They have quite the magical adventure. I enjoyed following along with the sisters and look forward to seeing what comes next!
  
  I was gifted an ARC in return of an honest review.
• 
  Reena

  Three sisters, although triplets, yet so unlike each other in looks and personality, set out to find a herb to save their mother's life but they find their true self instead.
  
  Although a novella, the story is captivating and full of action, and sets the foundations for the next book, where I'm certain ŵe will find more about each sister and their powers.
• 
  Philip Jones

  I liked this story
  
  I liked this story read it in one short setting kept my attention it is not what I normally read would highly recommend for its targeted audience kinda light reading for one on the short side of 70 retired who normally reads hard science fiction or space opera love kindle unlimited, Amazon prime, good reads challenge. Off to get the next one!
• 
  Angelina Kerner

  This is a quick fantasy read about three sister witches and their horses. It's written beautifully and engaging for a novella. I loved how one can learn a couple of lessons from reading this -one about people and hatred. People need to read it to be reminded of things. 
  
  I’d say this book will be good for 15+.
• 
  Amanda M

  A quick, fast paced read about three sisters who find themselves. This is well written and as the story flows you get a feel for what's happening, almost like you're there. I look forward to reading the next in this series.
• 
  Kathy Zuercher Diveley

  Three Sisters
  
  Triplets with different colored hair, are captured. Taken to be burned as witches. On the way they discover that they are witches, and work to save themselves with the help of the horses.
• 
  RaChelle Holmberg

  A bit out of my wheelhouse, it wasnt at all the type of book I ordinarily read, but it was enjoyable - two books in one, so it was a long read. Offered as an ARC from Hidden gems, I'm glad I chose it. Interesting characters and scenes.
• 
  Devyn Jayse

  A whimsical story about sisterhood & magic. A quick & fun read. Looking forward to reading the second installment.
• 
  Intellectual Magpie

  Overall a cute quick read I give it 3.5 stars. A little repetitive with the descriptions but was a magical cute story that makes you curious what will be happening next .
• 
  Patricia A.Bunn

  Great Book
  
  Great Book I love this book it was great and powerful and cute little book
  Thank You For Letting Me Read This Book I love it
• 
  Elizabeth

  Very Enjoyable! An entertaining short read that introduces us to the triplets Morganne, Amara, & Fae and sets the stage for what should be a great series.
• 
  Louise

  A fairly straightforward start for a coming of age story. 3 triplets get kidnapped as witches. Find out 2 of them really are.
• 
  Jack Murphy

  couldn't put it down.