The Secret Witch (The Witches of London Trilogy)

True Confessions. Alyxandra Harvey is my kryptonite. She writes light YA paranormals that are a little like The Red Shoes. Once I start reading, I can NOT stop. I discovered her last year and within months I’d read everything she had written except a book of poetry. I can’t quite put my finger on what sets her books apart for me though it probably has a lot to do with how she writes characters and their relationships. For me they have universally felt likeable and genuine and when you wrap that in a fast-paced plot it apparently becomes crack for my reading soul (i.e. highly addictive). So, I was VERY excited that she had a new book coming out and that it was the beginning of a new series.The focus of her new series is on a family of witches in Regency era England. Don’t worry if you think you might struggle with old-timey dialogue and conventions because Harvey doesn’t bother infusing the story with any but the most basic of Regency era trappings. The plot begins as three cousins, Emma, Gretchen and Penelope, discover that after years of being completely ignorant on the subject, magic and witches do exist in the world and they are, in fact, heirs to the powerful Lovegrove family legacy. They are also debutantes and meant to be learning dancing and how best to attract eligible young men as husbands.This first book is mostly about Emma whose mother is crazy and whose father is a cold fish who ignores her. As she struggles to come to grips with her new found magical abilities (any strong emotions cause stormy weather) she is also mysteriously being drawn to crime scenes where other young and magical girls have been murdered violently. It makes her look suspicious, especially to the slightly ominous group called The Order who is meant to police the magical community. It doesn’t help that her mother is notorious for doing something powerful and rebellious right before she went crazy. Thankfully, Emma has her cousins and the handsome and slightly roguish Cormac Fairfax to help her in trying to solve the mystery of the deaths and to keep her from being prosecuted by The Order.There are so many things wrong with this book. The first quarter feels like an editor went through and chopped out random sentences and paragraphs with a purpose of “Who cares about all this set up, get to the good stuff”. At times, people respond to things in both speech and action in illogical or weird ways (i.e. not terribly organically). It zig zags all over the place and has flashbacks and introduces all sorts of characters just for them to disappear for most of the book. The impression is somewhat jerky in many places. Also, the overall premise isn’t terribly original and you could make comparisons with another more famous series about young magical folk in Britain. There is also the aforementioned lack of any adherence to historical accuracy. The young characters talk suspiciously like the young folk of today.However, all those problems listed above? They didn’t in the end dim my enjoyment of the book. I was perhaps a little distracted at times by the jerkiness but in the two- three days it took me to finish this book I never wanted to put it down. I’d end a chapter and compulsively start the next one even if it was time to work or go to bed. So why did I love it?Mostly, it just offers some straight up old fashioned adventure storytelling and as I said up front Harvey writes really great characters and relationships. Her characters are all likeable and straight forward but they are not boring. The three cousins are all distinctive and interesting and I love the friendship they have. Her female characters are also always independent and strong – there is a lot of girl power. In the context of this book with the time period it is particularly interesting the ways which women find to assert their strength. They are never too stupid to live or too perfect.That said Harvey is also really great at creating worthy love interests. Cormac is completely dreamy and the interactions with Emma are awesome. Almost one of the last lines is him saying “I belong to you, Emma” which is nothing special but it struck me because so many romance heroes are Alpha Males who ALWAYS say that phrase the other way around. Her love interests are always very much guys but they are never overbearing or unnaturally possessive. It’s kind of awesome.Also, if you boil away all the awkwardness of the plots progression, the overall story is really a lot of fun. A bit of a mess but good. The flashbacks that reveal her mother’s story have a fairy tale feel to them and were particularly well done. Each chapter ends exactly when it should and drew me along like a fish on a hook.Final Verdict: Despite some problems, by the end I was in love and am very excited for the future installments in this series that will shift focus to Penelope and Gretchen.

4 StarsA BREATH OF FROST was a spiraling, spellbinding, magical world, with tons of magic and romance, that unfolded into a world filled of witches, warlocks, ghouls, hellhounds, underworlds, magical elements, spells, and a turmoil of murders and mystery! It was breathtakingly beautiful. Every last page had me compelled to read more. It truly was unlike anything I've ever read.THE PLOT...It's 1814 in the sparkling city of London, where witchcraft is unknown, and only revealed to those with witchcraft lineage, and other deadly paranormal beings. It's beautiful, yet dangerous, and very deadly...But for Emma, Gretchen, and Penelope, the only thing they know is the sparkling ballroom parties, fantasy dresses, and their noble name. But all that changes when Emma accidentally breaks a perfume bottle at the ball, or so she thought it was a perfume bottle. Emma actually broke a very powerful binding spell when she dropped that bottle. And now the 3 cousins, Emma, Gretchen, and Penelope's true destiny is finally revealed...The cousins return from the ball with unknown powers, and uneasy feelings that their is more to their world then they once thought. But that's not all that happened when Emma broke that bottle. People are dying, but not just any people, witches. And for some crazy reason, the wind pushes Emma to the bodies, every single one of them. With Emma being at every murder scene, and her mothers defiance against the Order (The witch police), and her mothers insanity for her defiance. Emma becomes their number one suspect for the murders. But why are these witches being murdered, and why does the wind push her to every one? But then Emma desperately gets her answers. When she broke her mothers bottle, she not only unbound her and her cousins powers, but she also opened the gates to the underworld. And unknowingly, allowed the Greymalkin sisters to rise and enter the portals from the underworld, to their world. But the Greymalkin sisters have come with a purpose, to kill and drain witches for their powers, so they can build enough strength and power to eventually solidify, and become whole enough to reclaim their old life in their world to wreck havoc, and keep killing and draining witches...With Emma now the Orders number one suspect, and the crazy things happening to her, like growing antlers out of her head...Yep, you heard me right, ANTLERS... Oh, and lets not forget about her attraction to the insanely seductive, yet dangerously alluring Cormac Blackburn. And also a member of the Order that is hunting her!! And while she battles her undying attraction to him, and he fights to keep the Order at bay from her, she also knows that he has vowed an oath to always put the Order first. So where does that leave Emma and him, since you know, they think she's a murderer and all?? Emma will go on a journey like no other, as she unravels secrets and horrifying truths that were never meant to be revealed. It's why her mother sacrificed her sanity by trapping her familiar in a bottle, thus driving her mad. And if these buried secrets ever came to the surface and were revealed, it could very well get Emma killed...Emma will have to trust herself and her cousins, while building allies with madcaps, and secret allies with the handsome, yet dangerously alluring Cormac. All while trying to master her powers and unravel her families secrets, while evading the Order, and trying to stay away from all the murders that are literally pulling her to them. Oh, and staying out of the Greymalkin sisters paths, that she inadvertently can't stay a way from. Because Emma is treading on very dangerous territory, and one wrong move and she could meet her end, either by the Order, or the warlock Sisters, or the murderer on the loose aiding the warlocks sisters and killing witches. She's on her most deadliest adventure yet, and it may be her last...Overall, A BREATH OF FROST was a magically enchanting, and highly addicting world that was more then enough to keep me glued to the last page, not wanting to do anything until it was over. It's definitely a series that I will read for many years to come! I can't wait to jump into book two and continue these cousins journey, because I have no doubt that Alyxandra Harvey will surpass A BREATH OF FROST and have me falling in love with a whole story, but from the same series!NOTE: I received a physical ARC from Bloomsbury for reviewing purposes! All opinions express are my own and are not influenced in any way!

If you can ignore the fact the characters speak with a decidedly modern vocabulary this is a fantastic novel that had me reading until the early hours.If you like Regency novels, like novels about magic, like who-dunnits and throw in a good helping of romance on top you'll like this one. Three cousins who are also debutantes suddenly find out they have magical powers and come from a long line of witches. How would you not know, you might say? You really need to read to find out as that mystery along with with a number of others can summarise the plot.The plot is interesting and never stops pace. The characters are well rounded and very believable.I definetely give this one 5 stars, well done author and publisher

I really, really enjoyed this book. It's a combination of two of my favourite genres - fantasy and Regency romance. The storyline is brilliant and very engaging, the characters are well rounded and the plot realy grips right to the end. I'm looking forward to reading the other two books in the series.

I got this book after finishing stolen away. I am already a fan of her work with the Drakes bit this book was a little harder to read a bit more grownnup you could say bit I have enjoyed it and am waiting the second installment and will be eggor to get my hands on the next after that.

Just finished this first part story of the Lovegrove Trilogy and OMG its just brillaint. I am so disappointed that we are having to wait for the 3rd part as the suspense is going to do me in......... COME on Alyxandra Harvey....... Write faster :)

Brilliant book, I thought it was very well-written and the story keeps you hooked all the way through. Looking forward to further books!