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Occult Tales #3
Witch Hill
This little-known classic by the late Marion Zimmer Bradley is a wonderful treat for readers feeling the loss of this marvelous author. Part of Bradley's beloved "Light" series, Witch Hill is a sensuous story of witchcraft, demonic possession, and true love. Sara Latimer's last relative has died. Heartbroken and feeling totally alone, Sara moves to the family home she had just inherited, Witch Hill, only to find that she is shunned by most of her neighbors. Finally Matthew Hay, one of her only allies, explains that Sara's aunt was a powerful, evil witch and that the townspeople fear that Sara is following in her footsteps. Matthew and his ladylove, Tabitha, are also witches, and they too believe that Sara has her aunt's powers-and that she is ready to be possessed by her aunt's waiting spirit. Sara crumbles under the steady onslaught of Matthew and Tabitha's evil. For a time, her love for Brian Standish keeps her sane, but at last Sara is lost in a maelstrom of dark power and sex magick. As a Champion of Light, Colin MacLaren cannot allow Sara to be destroyed by Matthew Hay. Even at the risk of his own soul, he will save Sara.
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
About the author
Marion Zimmer Bradley
732 books4,607 followersMarion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley was an American author of fantasy novels such as The Mists of Avalon and the Darkover series, often with a feminist outlook.
Bradley's first published novel-length work was Falcons of Narabedla, first published in the May 1957 issue of Other Worlds. When she was a child, Bradley stated that she enjoyed reading adventure fantasy authors such as Henry Kuttner, Edmond Hamilton, and Leigh Brackett, especially when they wrote about "the glint of strange suns on worlds that never were and never would be." Her first novel and much of her subsequent work show their influence strongly.
Early in her career, writing as Morgan Ives, Miriam Gardner, John Dexter, and Lee Chapman, Marion Zimmer Bradley produced several works outside the speculative fiction genre, including some gay and lesbian pulp fiction novels. For example, I Am a Lesbian was published in 1962. Though relatively tame by today's standards, they were considered pornographic when published, and for a long time she refused to disclose the titles she wrote under these pseudonyms.
Her 1958 story The Planet Savers introduced the planet of Darkover, which became the setting of a popular series by Bradley and other authors. The Darkover milieu may be considered as either fantasy with science fiction overtones or as science fiction with fantasy overtones, as Darkover is a lost earth colony where psi powers developed to an unusual degree. Bradley wrote many Darkover novels by herself, but in her later years collaborated with other authors for publication; her literary collaborators have continued the series since her death.
Bradley took an active role in science-fiction and fantasy fandom, promoting interaction with professional authors and publishers and making several important contributions to the subculture.
For many years, Bradley actively encouraged Darkover fan fiction and reprinted some of it in commercial Darkover anthologies, continuing to encourage submissions from unpublished authors, but this ended after a dispute with a fan over an unpublished Darkover novel of Bradley's that had similarities to some of the fan's stories. As a result, the novel remained unpublished, and Bradley demanded the cessation of all Darkover fan fiction.
Bradley was also the editor of the long-running Sword and Sorceress anthology series, which encouraged submissions of fantasy stories featuring original and non-traditional heroines from young and upcoming authors. Although she particularly encouraged young female authors, she was not averse to including male authors in her anthologies. Mercedes Lackey was just one of many authors who first appeared in the anthologies. She also maintained a large family of writers at her home in Berkeley. Ms Bradley was editing the final Sword and Sorceress manuscript up until the week of her death in September of 1999.
Probably her most famous single novel is The Mists of Avalon. A retelling of the Camelot legend from the point of view of Morgaine and Gwenhwyfar, it grew into a series of books; like the Darkover series, the later novels are written with or by other authors and have continued to appear after Bradley's death.
Her reputation has been posthumously marred by multiple accusations of child sexual abuse by her daughter Moira Greyland, and for allegedly assisting her second husband, convicted child abuser Walter Breen, in sexually abusing multiple unrelated children.
(from Wikipedia)
Bradley's first published novel-length work was Falcons of Narabedla, first published in the May 1957 issue of Other Worlds. When she was a child, Bradley stated that she enjoyed reading adventure fantasy authors such as Henry Kuttner, Edmond Hamilton, and Leigh Brackett, especially when they wrote about "the glint of strange suns on worlds that never were and never would be." Her first novel and much of her subsequent work show their influence strongly.
Early in her career, writing as Morgan Ives, Miriam Gardner, John Dexter, and Lee Chapman, Marion Zimmer Bradley produced several works outside the speculative fiction genre, including some gay and lesbian pulp fiction novels. For example, I Am a Lesbian was published in 1962. Though relatively tame by today's standards, they were considered pornographic when published, and for a long time she refused to disclose the titles she wrote under these pseudonyms.
Her 1958 story The Planet Savers introduced the planet of Darkover, which became the setting of a popular series by Bradley and other authors. The Darkover milieu may be considered as either fantasy with science fiction overtones or as science fiction with fantasy overtones, as Darkover is a lost earth colony where psi powers developed to an unusual degree. Bradley wrote many Darkover novels by herself, but in her later years collaborated with other authors for publication; her literary collaborators have continued the series since her death.
Bradley took an active role in science-fiction and fantasy fandom, promoting interaction with professional authors and publishers and making several important contributions to the subculture.
For many years, Bradley actively encouraged Darkover fan fiction and reprinted some of it in commercial Darkover anthologies, continuing to encourage submissions from unpublished authors, but this ended after a dispute with a fan over an unpublished Darkover novel of Bradley's that had similarities to some of the fan's stories. As a result, the novel remained unpublished, and Bradley demanded the cessation of all Darkover fan fiction.
Bradley was also the editor of the long-running Sword and Sorceress anthology series, which encouraged submissions of fantasy stories featuring original and non-traditional heroines from young and upcoming authors. Although she particularly encouraged young female authors, she was not averse to including male authors in her anthologies. Mercedes Lackey was just one of many authors who first appeared in the anthologies. She also maintained a large family of writers at her home in Berkeley. Ms Bradley was editing the final Sword and Sorceress manuscript up until the week of her death in September of 1999.
Probably her most famous single novel is The Mists of Avalon. A retelling of the Camelot legend from the point of view of Morgaine and Gwenhwyfar, it grew into a series of books; like the Darkover series, the later novels are written with or by other authors and have continued to appear after Bradley's death.
Her reputation has been posthumously marred by multiple accusations of child sexual abuse by her daughter Moira Greyland, and for allegedly assisting her second husband, convicted child abuser Walter Breen, in sexually abusing multiple unrelated children.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
May 9, 2008
Eh. I love Marion Zimmer Bradley, but I did not love this book. At all.
February 28, 2012
Don't ask me why I read this. I have no idea. I'm scarred for life.
May 6, 2010
I forced nay way through it just to see what would happen but ugh - cheesy writing, the "voice" of the character Sarah does not match her age (early 20's)or the time (1970's) - the dialogue was far too formal and just overall the language was wrong.
The soft porn was a bit of suprise - no clue to that in the bookcover.
Not for me I guess.
The soft porn was a bit of suprise - no clue to that in the bookcover.
Not for me I guess.
September 30, 2013
Drugs, sex, and... witchcraft? Young Sara Latimer, artist, never knew it, but she was related to a long line of Sara Latimers, all accused of witchcraft, most dying in horribly violent ways.
When her brother, mother and father all die within a period of a few weeks, she's being evicted from the too-large family apartment that she can't afford anyway, all Sara has left is a contract to illustrate a children's book. That and, apparently, the old family homestead on Witch Hill. There's an offer to purchase it, but rather than sell it sight unseen, Sara decides to go live in the place, at least until she can finish her paintings and has a little money.
Although there's no stated time period, there are time clues (doctors have an answering service, not cellphones or beepers, the vehicle of choice is a VW Beetle) and vocabulary choices that place the story in the 1970's, a time of much free love and drug experimentation. Readers of other works of MZB might be aghast at the frequency and explicitness of sex scenes, even if "all witches are promiscuous." There are also a few sex scenes that are borderline rapey. While it is stated that this particular local witch nut-cult is NOT Wicca, but its own brand of weirdness, those who are pagan or Wiccan may find some aspects of this story offensive.
I liked the sex scenes, and the way Sara (the younger) was able to call upon her love for Brian to combat the influences of creepy-sexy Matthew Hay and old aunt Sara in the end.
When her brother, mother and father all die within a period of a few weeks, she's being evicted from the too-large family apartment that she can't afford anyway, all Sara has left is a contract to illustrate a children's book. That and, apparently, the old family homestead on Witch Hill. There's an offer to purchase it, but rather than sell it sight unseen, Sara decides to go live in the place, at least until she can finish her paintings and has a little money.
Although there's no stated time period, there are time clues (doctors have an answering service, not cellphones or beepers, the vehicle of choice is a VW Beetle) and vocabulary choices that place the story in the 1970's, a time of much free love and drug experimentation. Readers of other works of MZB might be aghast at the frequency and explicitness of sex scenes, even if "all witches are promiscuous." There are also a few sex scenes that are borderline rapey. While it is stated that this particular local witch nut-cult is NOT Wicca, but its own brand of weirdness, those who are pagan or Wiccan may find some aspects of this story offensive.
I liked the sex scenes, and the way Sara (the younger) was able to call upon her love for Brian to combat the influences of creepy-sexy Matthew Hay and old aunt Sara in the end.
August 14, 2013
Primeiro livro que li desta autora mas fiquei com vontade de ler mais (já lá tenho outro à espera na estante).
A escrita pode descerver-se como enigmática e mágica, transporta-nos a mundos onde há muito não ousávamos entrar.
A autora aborda o tema erotismo de uma forma muito bonita, nada chocante, que faz com que o livro se torne muito agradável de ler.
Ao desfolhar as páginas confesso que me senti a viver realmente na Colina das Bruxas e cheguei a sentir o cheio das ervas aromáticas descritas no livro.
Gostei muito!
A escrita pode descerver-se como enigmática e mágica, transporta-nos a mundos onde há muito não ousávamos entrar.
A autora aborda o tema erotismo de uma forma muito bonita, nada chocante, que faz com que o livro se torne muito agradável de ler.
Ao desfolhar as páginas confesso que me senti a viver realmente na Colina das Bruxas e cheguei a sentir o cheio das ervas aromáticas descritas no livro.
Gostei muito!
May 15, 2008
Wow, what a disappointment. You would think that after writing the Mists of Avalon she could turn out a better shorts story. What awful crap. It belongs in the bad romance novel section of the checkout line in a Pathmark!
August 14, 2008
This book is the weirdest thing i've ever read! haha
May 13, 2009
total crap
October 17, 2020
Já por várias vezes que referi que foram as Brumas de Avalon de Marion Zimmer Bradley que me deram o gosto pela leitura, por isso, tinha muitas expectativas com este livro. A própria sinopse despertava-me interesse e achei que seria uma boa escolha para o #leseteatreves d’A Outra Mafalda.
A nossa protagonista é Sara e logo no início perde, num curto espaço de tempo, a sua família, pais e irmão, sendo que minutos antes de morrer, o seu pai tinha-lhe falado um pouco da sua família e de como, todas as Sara morreram de forma trágica e dolorosa.
Com algumas dificuldades financeira, Sara decide ir morar para a casa que pertencia à família do pai e que desconhecia completamente. No entanto, percebe que a sua família está associada a bruxas e é, extramente parecida com o retrato da sua tia-avó, também ela Sara.
Confesso que estava a gostar muito desta parte inicial da história e das pequenas cenas com comportamentos e sensações estranhas. No entanto, o nível de estranheza aumentou consideravelmente quando Sara conhece um dito “padre/pastor” de uma congregação à qual também a sua tia Sara pertencia.
Não só pela estranheza de acontecimentos, mas também pelas descrições das cenas, onde senti que tudo acontecia rapidamente e sem grande ligação entre cenas. As cenas de sexo não foram propriamente uma surpresa, pois costumam ser hábito nos livros que li da autora, no entanto, senti que eram muito “cruas” e sem envolvência na história.
A nossa protagonista é Sara e logo no início perde, num curto espaço de tempo, a sua família, pais e irmão, sendo que minutos antes de morrer, o seu pai tinha-lhe falado um pouco da sua família e de como, todas as Sara morreram de forma trágica e dolorosa.
Com algumas dificuldades financeira, Sara decide ir morar para a casa que pertencia à família do pai e que desconhecia completamente. No entanto, percebe que a sua família está associada a bruxas e é, extramente parecida com o retrato da sua tia-avó, também ela Sara.
Confesso que estava a gostar muito desta parte inicial da história e das pequenas cenas com comportamentos e sensações estranhas. No entanto, o nível de estranheza aumentou consideravelmente quando Sara conhece um dito “padre/pastor” de uma congregação à qual também a sua tia Sara pertencia.
Não só pela estranheza de acontecimentos, mas também pelas descrições das cenas, onde senti que tudo acontecia rapidamente e sem grande ligação entre cenas. As cenas de sexo não foram propriamente uma surpresa, pois costumam ser hábito nos livros que li da autora, no entanto, senti que eram muito “cruas” e sem envolvência na história.
September 21, 2020
A fascinating gothic horror story of haunting, possession and black witchcraft. The witchcraft of this story is gothic witchcraft, a mixture of old earth religion and devil worship. Some of its details are an interpretation of old fertility cults. The story's atmosphere strongly resembles that of the Rosemary's Baby, even some details are very similar. Mixed with the horror are strong sexual encounters and a sweet love story. The end is kind of anticlimactic and sudden and leaves questions unanswered.
November 5, 2019
Não sei o que pensar deste livro. Em algumas cenas senti-me arrepiar . Quanto à história em si não achei grande interesse. Apesar de pequeno e de fácil leitura não me agradou muito em comparação com outros livros desta autora.
February 19, 2017
"Confesso que esperava mais de uma obra da autora, mas ainda assim, o livro tem um enredo que cativa a atenção e personagens cativantes.
Os elementos sobrenaturais do livro são bem maduros e indicam que o leitor deve estar confortável com um conteúdo mais adulto.
Acho que o enredo precisava de mais alguns capítulos para ser melhor desenvolvido, especialmente do meio para o final. Os personages, embora fossem tambem pouco desenvolvidos, foram mais relacionáveis desde o início.
Recomendo a leitura, mas vale dizer que existem obras melhores da autora, como "Incendio de Tróia".
Os elementos sobrenaturais do livro são bem maduros e indicam que o leitor deve estar confortável com um conteúdo mais adulto.
Acho que o enredo precisava de mais alguns capítulos para ser melhor desenvolvido, especialmente do meio para o final. Os personages, embora fossem tambem pouco desenvolvidos, foram mais relacionáveis desde o início.
Recomendo a leitura, mas vale dizer que existem obras melhores da autora, como "Incendio de Tróia".
December 7, 2012
Where to begin with this book? I grabbed it not knowing much about it, other than it was about witches. So I decided to give it a try. It was an easy read and I was incredibly curious about how it was going to end.
It started with some action but right away it jumps into a sex scene that left me thinking "wow that escalated quickly". Also the main character Sara fell in love almost immediately with one of the other chracters and that was quite unbelievable, but I accepted it.
Something that I really disliked about this book was the ending. It seemed rushed and everything happened in the last 4 pages or something like that.
If you enjoy quick books about witches that also have some erotic scenes that this might be your book.
It started with some action but right away it jumps into a sex scene that left me thinking "wow that escalated quickly". Also the main character Sara fell in love almost immediately with one of the other chracters and that was quite unbelievable, but I accepted it.
Something that I really disliked about this book was the ending. It seemed rushed and everything happened in the last 4 pages or something like that.
If you enjoy quick books about witches that also have some erotic scenes that this might be your book.
September 14, 2009
Sorry, but just dreadful. It was liking reading a porno script with some witchcraft thrown in - eew! There were a lot of parts where I was quite confused and looking at some of the other reviews, that may have been because this was the third book in a series (which I didn't realize). Maybe that is why a lot of the dialogue was vague to me and seemed to elude to things the reader should already have known. I have had The Mists of Avalon on my to-read list for a long time, so am hoping when I get to it that it is much better than this.
August 26, 2010
I loved this book!
I didn't like the vision it gives about Witchcraft but I liked the fact that Marion did difference Wicca (and Paganism) from the Witchcraft portraited in this book!
The story, the love, the rituals and the intensity of what Sara lives is given to us by the marvelous writing of our dear Marion Zimmer Bradley.
The female main character, as usual in Marion's books, is strong and determined which is something I loved.
This is a book I recommend to all Marion Z. Bradley's fans!
I didn't like the vision it gives about Witchcraft but I liked the fact that Marion did difference Wicca (and Paganism) from the Witchcraft portraited in this book!
The story, the love, the rituals and the intensity of what Sara lives is given to us by the marvelous writing of our dear Marion Zimmer Bradley.
The female main character, as usual in Marion's books, is strong and determined which is something I loved.
This is a book I recommend to all Marion Z. Bradley's fans!
December 11, 2014
:)
Este foi o segundo livro que li da Marion Zimmer Bradley o que me deixa sem saber muito bem como encarar a sua ficção.
A história em si tem uma trama envolvente e ao mesmo tempo muito "estranha".
Tem cenas "hot" narradas com alguma rudeza e crueza, beira por assim dizer uma historia erotica com laivos de agressividade psicologica.
digamos que não é propriamente o meu género de leitura mas serviu como experiência sobre o tema.
Dei 3* meramente pela obra literária e pela autora célebre pelos seus livros de fantasia.
Este foi o segundo livro que li da Marion Zimmer Bradley o que me deixa sem saber muito bem como encarar a sua ficção.
A história em si tem uma trama envolvente e ao mesmo tempo muito "estranha".
Tem cenas "hot" narradas com alguma rudeza e crueza, beira por assim dizer uma historia erotica com laivos de agressividade psicologica.
digamos que não é propriamente o meu género de leitura mas serviu como experiência sobre o tema.
Dei 3* meramente pela obra literária e pela autora célebre pelos seus livros de fantasia.
May 14, 2008
You know how in porn films the main character sleeps with pretty much everyone she meets, to the point where it gets fairly tedious? This story is very much like that. Creepy and paranoid in an early 70's Rosemary's Baby kind of way, but overall too lurid to be very satisfying, despite starting out in a manner very similar to Barbara Michaels' girl-gets-house books. Claire and Colin pop in once again to save the day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2008
Wow. Well, this was NOT "The Mists of Avalon", for certain; As this was only my second read of this author, the first now one of my most favorite fiction reads, I was extremely disappointed by this tale - the best I can say about it, is it was short enough to waste only one day reading it.
("Witches can't love.
I love Brian.
Therefore, I'm not a witch."
Oh....gimme a BREAK!)
("Witches can't love.
I love Brian.
Therefore, I'm not a witch."
Oh....gimme a BREAK!)
October 2, 2007
Dreck.
May 8, 2012
It's a decent book, but I'm getting really annoyed with the very inaccurate representation of witchcraft. I am surprised by that after reading some of her other books.
April 6, 2020
É o meu primeiro contacto com esta escritora mas tudo nesta história não se parece nada com a fama que a autora detêm;
é uma história que acontece toda muito rápido, utiliza de sítios associados ao imaginário de H.P Lovecraft, o que no meu caso, já conhecendo a obra dele, foi interessante ver como a autora utilizou esses locais,podem ser relevantes, ao mesmo tempo que não precisariam de constar na obra.
Inicialmente, consegui sentir uma involvência de mistério aquando da chegada da Sara à casa de Witch hill, e foi tudo o que poderia ter uma conmponente mais de terror/mistério. O resto dos acontecimentos acontecem todos muito rápido e muito mais do mesmo, quando a cada cena x com pessoa x acaba sempre em cenas de sexo, acabando a história por girar muito em torno do sexo e de forma desnecessária.
A persnagem Sara parecia nunca ter livre arbitrio para poder fazer as suas próprias escolhas, podendo parecer oprmida por vezes, ao mesmo tempo que se subentende um querer de emancipação feminina ao longo da história.
Em suma ao ler este livro imaginava se este livro vira-se um filme, iria ser um daqueles filmes de "terror" muito maus e com muito mau dialogo, pois é o que acontece nesta história. O que lhe valeu para mim, foi a certa envolvência misteriosa que a casa dá e toda a localização e até ligeiramente a referência a Lovecraft.
Entreteve, foi estranho, não é memorável
é uma história que acontece toda muito rápido, utiliza de sítios associados ao imaginário de H.P Lovecraft, o que no meu caso, já conhecendo a obra dele, foi interessante ver como a autora utilizou esses locais,podem ser relevantes, ao mesmo tempo que não precisariam de constar na obra.
Inicialmente, consegui sentir uma involvência de mistério aquando da chegada da Sara à casa de Witch hill, e foi tudo o que poderia ter uma conmponente mais de terror/mistério. O resto dos acontecimentos acontecem todos muito rápido e muito mais do mesmo, quando a cada cena x com pessoa x acaba sempre em cenas de sexo, acabando a história por girar muito em torno do sexo e de forma desnecessária.
A persnagem Sara parecia nunca ter livre arbitrio para poder fazer as suas próprias escolhas, podendo parecer oprmida por vezes, ao mesmo tempo que se subentende um querer de emancipação feminina ao longo da história.
Em suma ao ler este livro imaginava se este livro vira-se um filme, iria ser um daqueles filmes de "terror" muito maus e com muito mau dialogo, pois é o que acontece nesta história. O que lhe valeu para mim, foi a certa envolvência misteriosa que a casa dá e toda a localização e até ligeiramente a referência a Lovecraft.
Entreteve, foi estranho, não é memorável
October 14, 2022
“I did not recognize, then, the reason for my own sudden eagerness to have a place again, roots, a family history. I just knew that suddenly there was a place to go, from having no plans, no home, no future, I could think ahead again.”
I knew nothing about this book going into it… I picked it up from a discard pile because it had an obnoxious orange cover and I saw the word Witch … and I paid dearly for it.
This book was godawful… The voice felt like a YA book but the subject matter was well beyond (I described it to a friend as late night, softcore Cinemax type but with less of a plot and far less sense). The story and the characters were incredibly predictable until, well, they weren’t… but only because of the absolutely nonsensical change-up to get to the strange and unfulfilling ending. I did finish this because I had to know how this trainwreck was going to wrap up…
I knew nothing about this book going into it… I picked it up from a discard pile because it had an obnoxious orange cover and I saw the word Witch … and I paid dearly for it.
This book was godawful… The voice felt like a YA book but the subject matter was well beyond (I described it to a friend as late night, softcore Cinemax type but with less of a plot and far less sense). The story and the characters were incredibly predictable until, well, they weren’t… but only because of the absolutely nonsensical change-up to get to the strange and unfulfilling ending. I did finish this because I had to know how this trainwreck was going to wrap up…
June 27, 2017
This is one of the worst books I have ever tried to read. I don't even know why I had it in the house. It was just weird sex set in a town near Arkham, MA (Arkham, really?) And according to the plot, there really were witches in New England, but all the witch crazes happened because the witches were really just early feminists (women's libbers) and the Puritans couldn't deal with their sexual independence. Puritans just needed more sex. And BTW, our heroine gets plenty of it. Four times with three complete strangers in less than 48 hours in the first half of the book which is where I stopped.
I think this was written in 1970 or 1971 which explains a lot, but still.... I would have given it 0.0025 stars if I could. I couldn't even finish it. Ewwwwww. >.<
I think this was written in 1970 or 1971 which explains a lot, but still.... I would have given it 0.0025 stars if I could. I couldn't even finish it. Ewwwwww. >.<
February 9, 2023
3.5 stars. This was my first novel of Bradley’s. I really didn’t feel like following suite with starting with the Mists of Avalon. Starting with the most popular has never been my style. I wanted to read something that contains interests of mine.
Witchcraft, sex, holistic usage, and horror are the basic pillars of this novel. I really enjoyed it. Due to being a shorter novel it was easy to read and follow. I will mention that this was more intimate than I was originally anticipating but I did not mind. In all honest truth I wish that this book would of been longer so that there was better character development and plot to the story. But definitely worth the read. I’ll be reading the two others occult series novels written by her as well down the road.
Witchcraft, sex, holistic usage, and horror are the basic pillars of this novel. I really enjoyed it. Due to being a shorter novel it was easy to read and follow. I will mention that this was more intimate than I was originally anticipating but I did not mind. In all honest truth I wish that this book would of been longer so that there was better character development and plot to the story. But definitely worth the read. I’ll be reading the two others occult series novels written by her as well down the road.
May 10, 2018
Bradley really needs to stay in the Arthurian world. Her Avalon stuff was primo fantasy, but this? Soft porn. It’s the literary equivalent of those Skinemax movies of the ‘80s that had just enough plot to offer the tiniest fig leaf of respectability. Seriously, it hits all the points on the late-night-cable checklist - male/female, female/female, threesome, unusual setting, etc. Furthermore, the book was of two minds about witchcraft, seesawing between “Realistic portrayal of nature faiths” and “EVIL EVIL SATANIC EVIL!!!!” Not exactly complementary to Neo-Pagans. Giving it an extra star because the writing was at least decent, but seriously, look elsewhere for Bradley’s better work.
October 22, 2018
When I saw that this was a "dark fantasy" I thought it would be right up my street, but the author seems to have a fuzzy idea of the difference between consensual sex and rape, and I just couldn't read any more. I didn't know that this was going to be a book that turns into a series of sex scenes, at least one a rape, with every possible character, and I stopped reading when I got to a chapter with "orgy" in the title. I'm sad because I was interested in this story until it turned into "let's see who else the heroine can sleep with, and let's gloss over the whole rape thing and just call it more sex." For a woman to write such a thing is just sad.
April 30, 2023
God, these are SO BAD and yet I love them. MZB is controversial for good reason, but we’ll leave that out of it. I don’t know why I find these so much fun. They are total trash, but so earnest and over the top, I get sucked in. I don’t know if this is one of the ghost-written ones but it’s sexy gothic garbage, with a really stupid ending. However, how can you resist a chapter titled Orgy at Moonrise?! I can’t recommend this but I will eagerly search out others in her gothic style. I don’t think I’ve read #1 in the Occult series but I loved The Inheritor, so I assume it’s just as delightfully bad as the others. Three stars for pure entertainment.
November 4, 2018
I liked this book so much because it is not a book that was written only to become a bestseller. This book was raw, insane and meant to shock. It was as if Zimmer Bradley had written it for herself and was not concerned if people were going to like it or not. She did not care about keeping up with the avalon's series fever. She just wrote what she wanted to write and for me that is courage in an universe where famous writers often write books that they know will sell and she was not concerned about that. And for me that makes Bradley the real deal when it comes to books!
June 3, 2022
Sara Latimer has lost her parents and brother in the space of only a couple of weeks. Then she discovers that she is the sole heir to her great-aunt Sara's house in New England. She goes for some time to recoup but gets embroiled in sinister doings. A mirror image of her aunt, who was apparently the most recent in a long line of witches, Sara gets drawn into the coven, who thinks she IS Sara the First. And a weird doubleness of personality seems to confirm that. But the love of Brian, a young doctor, frees her from the coven's bonds.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2020
I am a huge Marion Zimmer Bradley fan but I'm afraid I didn't like this one. I thought it had promise in chapter 1 but after that it was a chore. A woman inherits a spooky house, is possessed by her old aunt who was a witch and has sex with three strangers in 48 hours after moving into her aunts old house. Don't worry I am not giving the ending away.
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