Review for "Witch Song"

 "Witch Song" is the debut novel of author Amber Argyle.
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Golden but still managing a gothic air the cover of "Witch Song" is absolutely gorgeous. A young woman stands in front of a sheath of oxidized gold, her pale face framed by curves of blonde locks and the dark shadows of grasping branches.Bright amber doey eyes stare out at the reader daring and welcoming all at the same time. Her pink tinged lips are drawn up into a pout almost as if at any moment she will speak. At her neck more gold sparkles, a spherical necklace glowing in the shadows that linger at the bottom of the page. Check out the graphics on the author's main webpage for a breathtaking view of the cover up close and in a higher definition.
"Witch Song" is actually the first book I got for my Kindle. I'm not sure why I waited to read it instead of gobbling it up all at once. I guess I got caught up with getting as many free good looking books as possible and then forgot the one that first pulled me in. At any rate I have to say that "Witch Song" is an absolutely great read. I couldn't put it down and wound up finishing it in about a day.
The story of "Witch Song" follows a young girl named Brusenna. It opens in a medieval marketplace where young Brusenna is doing her shopping. Within the first page we learn that Brusenna is an outcast, feared and hated by the villagers. When a mysterious woman saves her from the torment of the townspeople, Brusenna's world is turned upside down. She learns that her mother has been hiding her away from the community of witches, desperately hoping to keep them both safe from their war. A war that affects the whole planet because witches are the ones that keep the world in balance and without their benevolent guiding witchsong the world is going to pot. Her mother follows the stranger leaving Brusenna to fend for herself. When her mother doesn't return home, Brusenna is forced from her home with only her trusted dog Bruke as a companion in a life or death fight against the most powerful witch ever, Espen.

What I loved about the book:

• Honestly I loved almost everything about this book from the setting to the wonderful writing to the character development. Its easy to identify with Brusenna and Joshen. The two young people searching for their place in the world, a way to save it and each other.
• The implementation of the magic in this book through song is brilliant, memorable, and not overly done.
• The witches as safeguards for the earth, appointed as guardians by the four goddesses or creators. 
• The romance that blooms in its own time between Brusenna and Joshen. It never feels forced or used for shock value like in many novels and it doesn't become the end all consuming romance leaving the plot to really shine.
• Bruke, I mean who doesn't love the faithful dog.

What I didn't like:

• There's not much...But I didn't like Brusenna's full name. For some reason even in my head it just doesn't flow. But it seems the author figured this out because midway through she becomes Senna. Which is much more palatable. 
• I kept expecting time and time again for Bruke's part in the story to expand for it to be revealed that he was more than a simple dog. There were at least a half a dozen times that the story seemed to gear up for the announcement and then it just didn't happen. I was a little disappointed in that.

• Wardof and Garg. Besides Wardof being blatantly evil and twisted their final confrontation was actually a little anti-climatic. I couldn't help but think how much simpler it would have been if she'd just dispatched them first time around if it was going to be that easy. 

As I said before this was a wonderful work and well worth the read. I enjoyed it immensely. I'm hoping that the author might write another book in this world if not about Senna and Joshen then about any of the witches of Haven. At the time of this review you can get "Witch Song" for the Kindle for $4.49 and its worth every penny. You can find more information about "Witch Song" and its author Amber Argyle at the official website www.amberargyle.com

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5 out of 5 Smilies

Recommended to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy or a story about witches, magic, or plucky young heroes. Suitable for mature young readers and adults alike.

Synopsis: 

"The world is changing. For thousands of years, witch song has controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons. But not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by the dark Witch, Espen.
As the last echoes of witch song fade, Espen grows stronger as winter and summer come within the space of a day. Now she's coming for the one she missed—a shy, untrained girl of fifteen named Brusenna.
Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find Espen. Fight her. Defeat her.
Or there won't be anything left to save."