Book of Shadows

The Sweep Series, Book 1

By: Cate Tiernan

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

Something is happening to Morgan that she doesn’t understand. She sees things, feels things in a new way. She can do things normal people can’t do. Powerful things. Magical things. And it scares her.

She never chose to learn witchcraft, but she’s starting to wonder if witchcraft is choosing her.

Morgan and her best friend, Bree, are introduced to Wicca when a gorgeous senior named Cal invites them to join his new coven. Morgan falls for Cal immediately—and discovers that she has strong, inexplicable powers.

©2001 17th Street Productions, an Alloy company, and Gabrielle Charbonnet (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

“This delectably dark [novel], first in the Sweep series, brings a supernatural spin to classic teen issues—popularity, romance, alienation and the search for self…While Tiernan’s ingredients are familiar, she stirs the cauldron with engaging, even cinematic, prose and sharply individuates her characters. She introduces the Wiccan material with some depth as well as with a skillful degree of ambiguity; readers will not know immediately whether or not the series embraces Wicca.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Not Enough Plot or Character Development

I bought this on sale for $5.00. Good thing, because the books are very short-- not worth an entire credit.

The main protagonist is a high school girl and I usually don't mind that, but she is very boring. Not much personality, confidence or anything to say. The author spends too much time on the monotonous moments of high school. Maybe if I was a pre-teen, this would be exciting, but this type of YA lit doesn't translate to adults.

That said, I gave the second book a shot, hoping the series would pick up the pace. Unfortunately, it did not. Worse, all the books end on a cliffhanger. It's popular these days, but it's a cheap trick. I want a full novel in itself.

Also, the narrator is stiff. She sounds like she's reading the story for the first time. She does a great Irish accent in the second book, but it's not a great performance.

I didn't hate the series, but I certainly won't finish it.

Love and deception inside the witches circle🤓

First in this series of a Wiccan coming of age story. It's interesting, if teenagery and angsty. It restoked my interest in Wicca and I liked the story. I'll probably read the next one!

I was pleasantly surprised!

I read a lot of reviews that were negative about this book but as a Pagan myself I was quite pleased with the way The OLD WAYS was portrayed here. That's saying something since I cannot remember EVER thinking or saying that ever since Witch Craft was introduced to me back in 1994. I cannot wait to start book 2. Plus they were included in my membership! WIN WIN!

Fun read!

Would you listen to Book of Shadows again? Why?

I'm glad I own the series. The evolution of Morgan along with the good verus bad struggle kept me listening.

What about Julia Whelan’s performance did you like?

Great narrator. She made the author's words come to life.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Very much so. After listening to the first book, I bought the entire series.

Any additional comments?

Looking forward to book 6 in the series.

Great series for young and old...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. I have already. Great book about young people finding out there are different views on life. No reason to judge a book by its cover, because you will never know what you get.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Morgan, Bree and Robbie. Close child hood friends.

Which scene was your favorite?

Morgan finding out she is a very powerful witch.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Morgan, a super witch at 16, will she become a healer or a destroyer...

Any additional comments?

This is a great series. The only thing that stresses me is how long it took the series to become an ebook and the fact the whole series is not out yet.

Incredible

I can’t wait to start the next book!! It’s a shame that not all of them are on Audible!

Best swept under the rug.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The performer is terrible at doing male voices. They all sound like caricatures of surfers. I expect them to begin every response "Woah babe".

Any additional comments?

Early on there's a scene that describes a moment with painstaking descriptions of the cinematography that would be used to affect it, very cringe. Using these terms in an English class to describe how the text made you feel is fine, the text using them to tell you how you should feel is an epic fail.

Really well done

I love everything paranormal, supernatural and otherwise and this story was everything I could have hoped for and more. I'm really excited to dive into the rest of the series to see what awaits.

The best! I'm hooked!

When searching for a new series, you never know what you may find. I am thrilled I found this series! The story is wonderful and I laughed and was intrigued throughout. The narrator was great and the story flows effortlessly. Excited to start the next book!

Exciting

such a wonderful book i didn't want to turn it off. the narrative captured everything perfectly