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Those Which Remain by Angela V. Cook

WOW. Angela V Cook does it again! If you read Into a Million Pieces, you have GOT to read this book

 

Title:  Those Which Remain
Author: Angela V. Cook
Series: Pieces Duology #2
Publish Date: January 28, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Paranormal

Publisher’s Description:  In Into a Million Pieces, seventeen-year-old Allison solved her sister’s murder, barely escaping an attempt on her own life. Now, with the past behind her, Allison is finally getting a taste of teenage normalcy—going to school, hanging out with her best friend, and sharing it all with her loving boyfriend, Ren. Life is good.

But it doesn’t stay that way. It never does for a succubus.

When Allison’s nature draws in a predator, shattering her sense of trust and safety, she realizes the succubus curse is behind all the darkness and heartache in her life. Determined to end it, she tracks down a distant relative with knowledge about the curse. But more questions are raised than answered when Allison meets the mysterious and wealthy Leona Doriano. Suddenly thrust into a dangerous world of money, power, and deadly secrets, Allison must find a way to break the curse—a curse not everyone wants broken—before she’s drawn in too deep.


Fickle Fiona says…

WOW. Angela V Cook does it again! If you read Into a Million Pieces, you have GOT to read this book. If you haven’t read it, go do that now, then come back for this one…..

If you still have unanswered questions from the first book, you’ll get your answers here! Ms. Cook does such a great job of pulling you in to such a seemingly simple story and then blowing your mind with twists and turns galore. And once again, she does a fantastic job with the sexual nature of the book – not going so far as to make it inappropriate for older teens to read (the vernacular sounds just like them), but keeping true to the succubus legends, as well.

One of the things I enjoyed, given that this is a book in a series, is that there isn’t much recap of the first book. I’m not ever thrilled when I get into the next book in a series just to reread the description of all the characters and the relationships, etc. So, I appreciated that. Anyway, in this book we find out a LOT more background on the curse over Allison and the females in her family. Can the curse be broken? Are there other advantages/disadvantages to the curse? We also find out Allison has more family – like, a lot more family – that she never knew about….on both sides of her family. And more family isn’t always a good thing. The new characters, the ups and downs that Allison experiences…..it’s just like a real teenager’s life! Except we aren’t typically succubi. And as you read, you get sucked in for the ride. I couldn’t put it down.

Our reviews in this series…

 

 

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T*Witches: Destiny’s Twins by H.B. Gilmour & Randy Reisfeld

The Twitches are back in the final book of the series. Can they become witches and follow in their family’s legacy? Or will Thantos prevent them from their initiation by throwing evil at them from all directions?

Title: Destiny’s Twins
Author: H. B. Gilmour & Randy Reisfeld
Series: T*Witches Book 10
Publish Date: February 1, 2004, Scholastic
Genre: YA paranormal fantasy
Source: Purchased

Publisher’s Description: In this gripping installment, Cam and Alex are on the brink of Initiation—until someone evil sets out to stop them from succeeding. Can the twins still become true witches?

It’s the moment they’ve been waiting for. Cam and Alex are about to be initiated. In just a month, the girls will be welcomed as full-fledged witches in a blowout bash on Coventry.

But first, they’ve got to prove themselves witch-worthy. The twins must complete a series of tough magick tests. And they’ve got an extra-credit exam: someone sketchy is out to stop them both from succeeding. It’s up to the twins to decide how to get rid of this creep. But they’d better choose wisely. Because nothing less than their destiny is at stake.

Possible spoilers beyond this point.


Kat Mandu says…

The Twitches are back in the final book of the series. Can they become witches and follow their family’s legacy? Or will Thantos prevent them from their initiation by throwing evil at them from all directions?

All bets are off for the twins as they spend their entire birthday month studying, training, and preparing for their Coventry Island initiation. This test will prove just how strong, brave, and kind they are against all witchy situations. But they’re also dealt wild cards in the fact that their malicious Uncle Thantos is plotting against them. He’s recruited Sersee and some of his other lackeys to tear Alex and Cam apart when they need each other most.

I don’t really have much to say about this book. I mean, happy ending, and lots of precious self-discovery and proud moments. However, it lacks in the build up. I just thought that there would be more to their initiation or more to the book itself perhaps? There was very little backlash from other villainous characters, like Sersee and the other Furies. Plus, you never really hear about the drama with Shane and what’s happened to him after he tried to kill Thantos.

Either way, I enjoyed this reread of the series.

Our reviews in this series…

Other recommendations…

You might try the Daughters of the Moon series by Lynne Ewing, the Sweep series by Cate Tiernan, and Witches’ Key To Terror by Silver RavenWolf.

T*Witches: Split Decision by H.B. Gilmour and Randy Reisfeld

Shocking secrets come to light at last as readers discover Thantos’s true nature, leaving the twins to deal with family drama, sinister death traps, and the loss of their magick without each other.

Title: Split Decision
Author: H.B. Gilmour & Randi Reisfeld
Series: T*Witches, Book 09
Publish Date: September 1, 2003 by Scholastic
Genre: YA paranormal fantasy
Source: Purchased

Publisher’s Description: Despite their much-needed vacation from themselves, Cam and Alex find their magick very weak while separated, resulting in evil settling in with no intention of leaving.

Possible spoilers beyond this point.

 


Kat Mandu says…

Alex and Cam haven’t really been apart since Alex first showed up on her sister’s doorstep in book one. Now for the first time, the Twitches are doing their own thing. Alex is figuring out her relationship with Cade and Cam, recently split-up with Jason, and is lonely enough to fall for another one of Shane’s romantic tricks.

So Cam ends up on Coventry Island to deal with not only Shane, but also Sersee and her friends, Miranda and a very angry Ileana. Thantos tries to lure her in with promises of power and a family, with one exception: Alex isn’t part of the picture.

Alex herself has fallen into Michealina’s spell – one that promises she’ll see Sara again – and finds herself wondering if things would be better if she went back to Montana. Which is exactly how Thantos wants her to feel.

This book has a big “finding myself” kind of theme as the twins discover what life could mean for themselves without the interference of the other sister. The last eight books have tested their powers, and now it’s time to test their mettle and inner strength.

So overall, I really liked it and am ready for the finale.

Our reviews in this series…

Other recommendations…

You might try the Daughters of the Moon series by Lynne Ewing, the Sweep series by Cate Tiernan, and Witches’ Key To Terror by Silver RavenWolf.

T*Witches: The Witch Hunters by H.B. Gilmour and Randi Reisfeld

Cam and Alex are back in their hometown with new drama and new powers – just as a new enemy comes to visit.

Title: The Witch Hunters
Author: H.B. Gilmour and Randi Reisfeld
Series: T*Witches, Book 08
Publish Date: June 1, 2003, Scholastic
Genre: YA paranormal fantasy
Source: Purchased

Publisher’s Description: In the aftermath of an unsettled trip to Coventry Island, Cam and Alex cannot rest until they find out why one of the Six Pack is showing off some strange powers, and why a stranger to Marble Bay wants to deprive its people of magic.

Possible spoilers beyond this point.


Kat Mandu says…

If you were to read the original paperback summary of what this story is about, you’d probably be confused. My copy says that Cam’s BFF’s are acting way weird. But the fact is they’re really not. With the exception of one particular friend the twins discover is a “sensitive”—aka someone who is not born a real witch, but has certain abilities like ESP or heightened senses)—Cam’s friends don’t really play a particular role in the plot at all.

It does start with an assassination attempt on the warlock-turned-actor, Brice Stanley, which the girls manage to stop. Obsessed with finding this reaper-like stalker, the girls get in tune with their newly developed abilities to find out just who this mad guy is. Turns out he’s connected with Sersee, the enemy witch from the previous book. He hates all things witchy and has spent the last few years hunting down and calling out several witches in his attempt to expose them and magic in general.

Ileana and Miranda have their own adventure as well, confronting Sersee, who stole Karsh’s sacred journal, and Thantos, who gets a taste of his own medicine once Sersee exacts her revenge for cursing her into stone. But they end up retrieving the book and regaining some confidence. Plus, Miranda sees a new side to Thantos she’s been denying, so hopefully, she figures out that even if he isn’t a murderer, he’s still a dick.

This one had a nice flow to it, which is why I rated it higher. The bad guys are still goofy and there are some inevitably cheesy moments, but all in all, it’s a great addition to the series.

Our reviews in this series…

Other recommendations…

You might try the Daughters of the Moon series by Lynne Ewing, the Sweep series by Cate Tiernan, and Witches’ Key To Terror by Silver RavenWolf.

T*Witches: Kindred Spirits by H.B. Gilmour and Randi Reisfeld

In Kindred Spirits, Alex and Cam are off to Coventry Island—the small island where they were born and where witches and warlocks are free to use their magic. But it’s not all fun. The twins are there for a funeral—but may soon be attending their own.

Title: Kindred Spirits
Author: H.B. Gilmour and Randi Reisfeld
Series: T*Witches, Book 07
Publish Date: February 1, 2003, Scholastic
Genre: YA paranormal fantasy
Source: Purchased

Publisher’s DescriptionIn the seventh installment of this mega-popular series, teen witches Cam and Alex return to their birthplace and discover a few shocking secrets about their mysterious past!

Welcome to Coventry Island, a lush, mystical land that is home to a powerful community of witches and warlocks. It is here that teen witches Cam and Alex were born. And now, the twins have returned to Coventry to say a final farewell to their beloved guardian Karsh. But when the girls visit their ancestral home on the island, they discover there are many truths to be revealed about their past. Their mother, Miranda, has secrets to share. And then there’s the group of teen witches and warlocks who Cam and Alex meet. Will these teens help the twins…or are they up to something more sinister?

Possible spoilers beyond this point.


Kat Mandu says…

The Twitches are back in the seventh installment of this fun, magical series. Alex, excited to be finally around people and magic she understands, feels at home on Coventry Island. Not so much for Cam, who feels like the only home that is truly hers is the one she left behind. Either way, both girls get to see their family estate their own is the ruined house where they were born. They get to meet up with Miranda, their mother, plus Ileana and Thantos, who each have agendas and drama of their own.

The plot focuses on them “coming out” into the witch land and accepting their heritage, dealing with the loss of their beloved mentor Karsh, and facing off against a new enemy they weren’t expecting.

Sersee is an interesting villain, though she doesn’t come off as truly evil—more something to be feared, but also pitied. She’s got a history and a bad one at that. Plus she’s determined to prove herself to Thantos, so she’ll do anything to please him, even if it means handing over the twins to him.

But in the end, the sisters kick butt and use their powers of good to help win the fight. It’s cheesy and sometimes overdramatic, but still a fun read for kids and adults going through their old books. *wink wink*

Our reviews in this series…

Other recommendations…

You might try the Daughters of the Moon series by Lynne Ewing, the Sweep series by Cate Tiernan, and Witches’ Key To Terror by Silver RavenWolf.

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