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4 out of 4 stars
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Cassandra and her sister Kessi were left at an orphanage as babies. When they were about four years old, their surrogate mother took them for a walk in the woods, where a couple of wolves attacked them. Cassandra called forth ravens for protection, and one of the wolves was killed. Although no one was told how they escaped, people sensed she was the reason. Consequently, she was mocked and ostracized as a child. The cruel administrator of the orphanage was determined to see her killed for being a witch.
Greyson was also an orphan, but he was raised by priests in another part of the world. They worshipped the god Plath, who gave them defensive magic and healing powers. The priests recognized Greyson could be a formidable force. Therefore, they recommended he undergo Plath’s trials when he was only twelve years old. This could lead to his death if he doesn’t possess enough faith.
Matilda is a priestess who worships the demon Marnelphion. She has been given unusual powers and is working on a plan to help bring him back from the underworld. To accomplish this goal, she requires the help of the vampire Heinsvick, who was a warlock in his previous life. In addition, Matilda commands a massive army of sadistic soldiers, who love to torture and enslave or slaughter the inhabitants of the towns they invade. They are commencing their campaign to capture all of the surrounding lands.
A Witch Is Born: The Adventures of Cassandra Rho by Phillip Martin is an excellent fantasy novel about good versus evil. The author showcases his wonderful imagination in the creation of this fictional story. In addition to ordinary people, witches, elves, werewolves, vampires, demons, and gods are incorporated into the tale. He has also constructed several imaginary cities with their own respective leaders. His descriptive narrative transports the reader into his book, where it feels as if the cities and characters are real. Although this book sets the stage for sequels, it still contains plenty of suspense and action to keep one thoroughly intrigued. Several threads are written into this story. Although we can’t see all of the connections yet, we begin to perceive how they might merge later.
Quite a few characters are discovered in the story, but the author has taken the time to thoroughly develop them. Cassandra, a loner because of her treatment as a child, can be quite rude and is not liked by many people. However, she is protective, fundamentally good, and just wants to be left alone to study her magic and try to uncover her family’s background. Kessi, a healer, possesses a different personality and is loved by most of the people she meets. Greyson is faithful, charming, a little arrogant, and seems to be consumed with thoughts about sex, but his religion condones this. Matilda is truly evil and loves no one but herself, Marnelphion, sex, and power. Heinsvick, a warlock and a vampire, is also despicable, but at least he loves his harem and worries about their welfare. These are merely some of the various fascinating characters that the reader will meet in this intriguing story.
I discovered nothing to dislike in the book. Therefore, because of the aforementioned reasons, I am delighted to give A Witch Is Born: The Adventures of Cassandra Rho four out of four stars. It is enthusiastically recommended to readers who enjoy suspenseful fantasy novels. Sensitive readers need to realize a lot of violence, some sexual scenes, and a few profanities are encountered in the novel. This story doesn’t end on a cliffhanger; however, being the first book in the series, very few of the issues are resolved. If readers desire all of the answers by the end of the tale, they might want to look elsewhere. Personally, I look forward to the next installment in the story.
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A Witch Is Born
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I would love to give this one a try, thank you very much for this insightful review!
