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    Bitter Night: A Horngate Witches Book
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    Bitter Night: A Horngate Witches Book
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    Bitter Night: A Horngate Witches Book
    Ebook381 pages6 hours

    Bitter Night: A Horngate Witches Book

    By Diana Pharaoh Francis

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    SOMETIMES YOU CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES. AND SOMETIMES, THEY CHOOSE YOU...

    Once, Max dreamed of a career, a home, a loving family. Now all she wants is freedom...and revenge. A witch named Giselle transformed Max into a warrior with extraordinary strength, speed, and endurance. Bound by spellcraft, Max has no choice but to fight as Giselle's personal magic weapon -- a Shadowblade -- and she's lethally good at it. But her skills are about to be put to the test as they never have before....

    The ancient Guardians of the earth are preparing to unleash widespread destruction on the mortal world, and they want the witches to help them. If the witches refuse, their covens will be destroyed, including Horngate, the place Max has grudgingly come to think of as home. Max thinks she can find a way to help Horngate stand against the Guardians, but doing so will mean forging dangerous alliances -- including one with a rival witch's Shadowblade, who is as drawn to Max as she is to him -- and standing with the witch she despises. Max will have to choose between the old life she still dreams of and the warrior she has become, and take her place on the side of right -- if she survives long enough to figure out which side that is....
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPocket Books
    Release dateOct 27, 2009
    ISBN9781416598190
    Unavailable
    Bitter Night: A Horngate Witches Book
    Author

    Diana Pharaoh Francis

    Diana Pharaoh Francis writes books of a fantastical, adventurous, and often romantic nature. Her award-nominated books include The Path series, the Horngate Witches series, the Crosspointe Chronicles, the Diamond City Magic books, and the Mission:Magic series. She's owned by two corgis, spends much of her time herding children, and likes rocks, geocaching, knotting up yarn, and has a thing for 1800s England, especially the Victorians.

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    Reviews for Bitter Night

    4/5

    38 ratings14 reviews

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    • 4/5
      All I need to do now is find book two.
    • 4/5
      I love max's personality and loyalty. The book kept me wanting to read threw out the whole thing. Defiantly would recommend.
    • 4/5
      I liked this book, the Heroin is strong, smart and fierce, Witches, guardians, shape shifters, and a few new ones that the author invented for her story. if your looking for something original yet with a familiar feel this is a book you should read. A little bit of romance, not much, but there is hope it will all work out. After all there is a war coming, who has time really , what with gathering your allies and fighting the enemy. :)
    • 5/5
      I have lately had an issue with getting into books, it's a weird and inconvenient problem in the book blogging hobby. I started reading this book after dinner last night and continued reading to about 2am today. It was amazing, it was a bit slow to start and there was a part of the plot that I was a bit lost on but everything else was amazing. The dialogue was witty, funny, and full of a few fun pop-culture references. I love the strength of Max's character and the tension between her and Alexander. I love the angels, witches, faerie folk, creatures, spells, magic, etc. I loved it all. There was so much action going on in this book, it is non-stop the whole way through, no joke, there is like 2 pages in the whole book that something is not going on. It was a complete thrill ride, one I will gladly take again when the next book is released, and I can hardly wait to see whats up with Scooter
    • 2/5
      I found it hard to get my head around the world created here. The Shadowblades and Sunspears were great but some things didn't quite fit, like the angels - I couldn't see them being in that world. I was also a bit unsure of the Guardians and their place, but I think that will be rectified later.

      Switching between narrators was a good way of introducing us to the two characters that are to become an item, though more effort was made to flesh out main character Max than Alexander, who seemed pretty dull and boring to me. Idolising Max and wishing he could be more like her are, in my opinion, grounds for a crush rather than a foundation for a serious relationship.

      The chemistry between them wasn't quite up to par. We're repeatedly told they're instantly attracted to one another in a love-at-first-sight kind of way without much interaction between them, and based on this, Max sort of trusts him and vice versa. To be honest, I was more interested in the kiss between Max and Oz and where that could lead.

      Giselle, though supposedly a tough witch and Max's superior, didn't come across as a "good torturer", and therefore, a not-so-nice person. Most of the time she was on an equal footing with Max, or she let Max take charge. I didn't see the woman who we're told tortured Max when trying to bind and rebind Max to her after Max tried to escape, despite what Giselle did to Alexander.

      I loved the gruesome scenes and the dark nature of the book in general, but the physical damage that Max and others suffered was so extensive I couldn't quite believe they were still able to walk around unaided and not hemorrhaging out on the floor. These absurdly remarkable healing abilities gave me the feeling that they were almost invincible, except against angels.

      There are some rough edges to this book but I imagine the sequel will be smoother. I'd be interested in reading about Max's future role in the coming war and how her family reacts to her being alive.
    • 4/5
      I turned the last page of BITTER NIGHT impatient for the next book to come out...despite the fact that I had a number of issues with it. Topping the list would be the fact that the heroine, Max, actually dies three times in the book - her body is destroyed, her soul reduced to shreds - and yet she somehow keeps on ticking. I'm not even going to count the number of times she almost dies, from blood loss or grave wounds, but it's a lot. The woman is apparently indestructible.

      Actually, Max would be a raging Mary Sue if it weren't for the fact that there are plenty of other, even more powerful characters peopling the novel. If Max's physical endurance is remarkable...well, she's just the #1 slave. The witches are much, much more powerful than she is. The angels are much, much more powerful than the witches. And the angels are just slaves to someone even higher up on the totem pole.

      Max begins the book as a loner whose only purpose in life is revenge. She ends it as a woman who is dedicated to a cause, strongly connected to the people around her. In the early chapters of the book, Francis executes this transformation a little awkwardly. Max isn't that revenge-driven loner anymore...but she's not yet something else, either. It seemed like Max was having a hard time accepting that she'd changed. But sometimes, as a reader, I felt like Francis just wasn't certain enough about her characterization, and was trying to have it both ways. In any case, once Max accepts her new priorities, she continues to develop realistically and becomes a very interesting person.

      In the first chapters of BITTER NIGHT, Max finds herself in possession of a hailstone - an item that will grant her a wish, any wish at all. Her first impulse is to wish for her own freedom - but as she realizes that there is some pretty major trouble on the horizon, Max begins to think about how she could use it to benefit all the people she cares about. I thought her final solution was brilliant. It was this twist at the end (no spoilers, don't worry) that convinced me that BITTER NIGHT is an excellent, solid series-starter despite my qualms.

      There's much more to be said. I really enjoyed Max's conflicted relationship with the witch she's bonded to, Giselle, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the cliche-ridden relationship she has with the book's co-narrator, Alexander. He's 100 years old but looks 23, sophisticated, jaded, dangerous. You know the drill.

      There was one particular exchange which, to me, summed up what is good about BITTER NIGHT. One of the characters says to Max, "You might do better luring me with honey rather than salt." Max replies, "Salt is the meal."
    • 5/5


      SOMETIMES YOU CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES. AND SOMETIMES, THEY CHOOSE YOU…

      Once, Max dreamed of a career, a home, a loving family. Now all she wants is freedom…and revenge. A witch named Giselle transformed Max into a warrior with extraordinary strength, speed, and endurance. Bound by spellcraft, Max has no choice but to fight as Giselle’s personal magic weapon — a Shadowblade — and she’s lethally good at it. But her skills are about to be put to the test as they never have before….

      The ancient Guardians of the earth are preparing to unleash widespread destruction on the mortal world, and they want the witches to help them. If the witches refuse, their covens will be destroyed, including Horngate, the place Max has grudgingly come to think of as home. Max thinks she can find a way to help Horngate stand against the Guardians, but doing so will mean forging dangerous alliances — including one with a rival witch’s Shadowblade, who is as drawn to Max as she is to him — and standing with the witch she despises. Max will have to choose between the old life she still dreams of and the warrior she has become, and take her place on the side of right — if she survives long enough to figure out which side that is….

      I must admit that I waited a long time before buying this book. I had tried to read Diana Pharaoh Francis before, and felt meh about her books. But since this book was urban fantasy, I wanted to try it.
      And OMG. Her writing sucked me in. For a moment, I thought I *was* in California. The characters felt real. Max anger was understandable, so was Alexanders decisions. The plot were filled with unexpected twists, that gradually raised the stakes. All in all, this was an excellent read.
      If you haven't read Diana Pharaoh Francis yet, this is a great book to start with.
    • 4/5

      On the surface, there was a lot wrong here. For example, there were a lot of little things that irritated me, like a character being able to see the expression of a person he or she wasn't facing or being able to tell not just eye color but exact shade and tone in the dark from afar. There were also a number of ridiculous cliches such as a character seeing another for the first time while hidden from sight and knowing that the man was the perfect match for her, the one who would understand her, was strong enough to equal her in combat, etc. Another was that a character's team was fiercely loyal despite that character's personality being angry and angst ridden and her taking huge risks with her own life. 

      But none of that really mattered because this was a breathtakingly fast-paced story with interesting, likable, and individual characters, a fairly different sort of UF world (where there are violent and terrible angels but no demons) that's not totally black and white. The enormous powers of the superhuman characters are offset by terrible weaknesses. 

      The plot is world-affecting and cataclysmic but only a foreshadowing of what is to come so there is much room to build. I didn't feel like I was rereading the same old UF novel I read last week. 

      There are complex relationships (although a hint of a possible love triangle or at least third wheel complication--argh!) and the heroine really is kick ass. She's a little reckless like usual but not so bad and but is actually very competent. She's stronger and more capable than the love interest and he is intrigued by it and is attracted to her partially because of it. He in turn is her reality check, her anchor as well as her savior in many ways.

      I did think there were parts where he should have been stronger or faster than he was. And I think there was a huge plot device that should never have happened in the first place. I mean, the situation the character's found themselves in could have been remedied far more easily the usual way (far worse situations were handled directly in other parts of the book) than the more convoluted and dangerous way it was. I understand the need to get the two into that eventual situation but another believable entry point would have been much better. 

      I think the intense feelings all the characters had for one another happened too fast. I wasn't caught up to where the author wanted me to be yet. But when I did get there, I was in line all the way: lots of intense, codependent emotional scenes; live those. 

      The fact is that I simply loved this book. I couldn't put it down. I found myself rereading passages right after I read them. When I was done I wanted to pick up the sequel immediately. I finished it two days ago and I can't stop thinking about it. It's pulled me emotionally. 

      This us a solid first book and up my alley. So, even though a lot of the nitpicky type stuff usually has me rating books quite a bit lower, I enjoyed this book so much, it's a solid four. Here's hoping the next one is better edited and just great all the way around. 
    • 4/5
      This review was originally posted on my review blog, Falling Off The Shelf.Max hasn't always been hell-bent on getting revenge for the freedom that was stolen from her. There was a time in her life when she was just another normal girl trying to make her mark on the world. All of that changed when a witch named Giselle transformed her into her own personal Shadowblade. Now Max is equipped with extraordinary strength, speed, and endurance, making her the perfect weapon. Max has no choice, no matter how hard she fights against it, but on her honor she isn't going to make things easy for Giselle.When the ancient Guardians of the earth decide it's time to destroy the mortal world, they turn to the witches for help. Each coven leader is expected to make the choice of life or death for their coven. Denying the request of the Guardians means certain death, while accepting signs the death certificate of the human race. While Max clearly hates being a Shadowblade, she can't think of what life would be like if she lost Horngate too. In order to protect her home, she must turn to her enemies, a rival witch's Shadowblade, and the witch who turned her into the warrior that she is.Bitter Night is the first book in a new series called the Horngate Witches. In the beginning I was confused as to why Max was so eager for revenge, but reading further on in the book gave me the full picture. While her character is an awesome warrior, and clearly has no problem getting a date if she so dares, she's not perfect. She definitely has anger issues, and she knows how to hold a grudge. In my honest opinion, I think this has only made her stronger in the long run, despite the not always great outcome.I'm only hoping that the series will continue to be just as action packed as this first installment. I'm also looking forward to seeing if the romantic interests in this book will continue in the next, and what conflicts they will create.
    • 4/5
      Max a Shadowblade Prime lives for one reason, to kill Giselle the witch that made her a shadowblade. For thirty years Max has fought Giselle every step of the way or as far as her magical compulsions (spells etched into her very bones by soul madding torture) will let her. The Guardians have decided to wipe out humanity and restore magic to the world, they need the witches to be their generals on the front lines, but if this happens they will be little more than puppets, so Giselle needs Max to stop fighting her and help save their home Horngate. Max will find that there is more to live for than her need for revenge. This was a well written and riveting book, I could not put it down, I hope that there are many more to read.
    • 5/5
      Bitter Night by Diana Pharaoh FrancisA young woman is given extraordinary powers by her friend, a witch. In exchange for these powers she must serve the witch for eternity. Her struggle with her identity and her ethics while immersed in a violence prone culture defines the story. A war among immortals plays second chair to Max’s search for self. Frankly when I requested this book for review I did it with skepticism. I wasn’t sure it was my cup of java. Once again I am glad I pushed aside my cynical bent and tried someone new. I am now a fan. I truly enjoyed the emotional interplay between the characters. Francis imbues realism into her fantasy world. Max’s self destructive urges are sublimated by her loyalty to those dependent on her strength. Honor and loyalty are sure fire captivators of my literary interest and Francis illustrates them quite graphically. I will do my best to follow up on this review by reviewing the next in the series. There is plenty of action and good solid character development. I heartily enjoyed the book. I recommend the book.
    • 3/5
      The first book of the "Horngate Witches" series, Bitter Night is full of bloody, gruesome, and high flying adventure. I can almost say, this isn't for those with weak constitutions. Some of the injuries Shadowblades and Sunspears endure are pretty gruesome and the author is very sadistic.. in a good way! LOL. For the first book right out the gate of this series, I have to say, not bad. Not bad at all. I definitely wouldn't say fantastic or anything but not bad. There were a few nuances with the changing in viewpoints I thought was odd and there was some inconsistency with the shifting of the viewpoint that caused me to backtrack a little bit to reconfirm who's view it was. Sometimes first books in a new series can be slow with attempting to build the characters, the scenery, back stories and so forth, Bitter Night definitely didn't lull. I could easily have read this in half the time it took me if I didn't have to eat, take a shower, feed the kid, shower her, put her on the potty, ya know.. all those responsibilities and believe me, breaking away was hard for me to do.I really like Max's character. I felt we didn't get enough of the other Sunspears and Shadowblades to decide if I liked them or not. Akemi, Oz and Niko seemed cool. I am on the fence about Alexander, he was borderline weak and kind of grated my nerves. I don't see he and Max in a romantic relationship. I can't wait to find out what's next with the Horngate, the witches, the angels, and the war..Sooo.. Diana Pharoah Francis, when's book two coming out? :D
    • 5/5
      Wow It obviously has been awhile since I visited this kind of book. I had forgotten just how much I enjoyed reading them. This book was simply fantastic!! It was fast paced, lots of action, battles, and a little bit of romance thrown in for good measure.The main character, Max, was so easy to like. She's tough, independent, bull headed, with an underlying of softness you just want to see emerge from her. She's a Shadowblade of a powerful witch in which she loves/hates. She is at constant battle with her feelings towards Giselle. I really enjoyed that aspect. It gave the book a sense of realism.I got to say in this book a Shadowblade has to eat to heal, maintain strength, etc. and I don't mean make sure you don't miss meals eating. I'm talking eating whatever you want, whenever you want and tons of it!! I was drooling for all the scrumptious food I was reading about throughout the book. Imagine being able to eat like that!Okay I got off topic back to the review. In short this book was a great read and I can't wait to read the next in the series to see what happens next. It was that good!I received this book from Pocketbooks for a blog tour.
    • 4/5
      Reading the first chapter or two I had my doubts about this book but about 50 pages in and I was hooked. The cast of characters was wonderful and I can't think of a single one I did not like. Even the villains played their roles brilliantly so you can't help but appreciate the way they were developed. Max is a warrior with a chip on her shoulder that you sometimes wonder if she will cut off her nose to spite her face and yet you cannot help but feel sympathy for her role in life. Eventually though you also begin to see Giselle's point of view and why she did what she did. Does that make you like her more as a person? I don't know but at least you can understand her. Giselle and Max have a complex relationship that I can't wait to see how it develops in the next book. As for Alexander, he is your typical hot and sexy guy that Max feels instant chemistry with. He did not grab me as much as Max or some of the other characters in the book but he was still enjoyable. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book for being book 1 in a series. Usually I find the first book in series somewhat boring as there is a lot of set up and character building going on. So I was gladly surprised by this book. The only draw backs for me were a few times where things were just too unbelievable. For someone who was supposed to be a great warrior I was not impressed at some points with Alexander's warrior prowess, I also found it hard to believe at one point that they would linger and take a shower while in an enemy's stronghold, etc. Things like that bugged me but overall a wonderful book.