Review: Sweep V by Cate Tiernan

Sweep Volume V (Reckoning, Full Circle, Night's Child)

Cate Tiernan

Publication Date: December 8, 2011

Publisher: Speak 

Paperback 697 pgs

Summary:

    This volume contains the last three books in the Sweep series Reckoning, Full Circle, and Night's Child. Reckoning is told from Alisa Soto's POV. Alisa connects with her mother's past which includes the family her mother left behind. She learns more about herself more than she thought she ever would. Full Circle, focuses on Morgan and Hunter and is told alternately from thier POV's. They are once again facing an unknown danger. But together and with the help of others they are willing to face the danger that threatens them. Night's Child is the culmination of the Sweep series. It is told from two POV's as well. We get to see how things conclude for Morgan and her friends.

Review:

     I was a little sad to read this book knowing that it would be the end of Morgan's story. I feel as though I have been reading this series forever but I guess it had to end sometime. I liked that we were able to get more of Alisa's story as well as some of her family history. It was interesting to learn about her family's past. Of course we get more of Morgan in Full Circle, she continues to grow up and learn more about her magick. Once again evil threatens her life and she has to use all she has learned thus far to try and survive. Meanwhile, Hunter is struggling to figure out what direction he wants his life to take. We get to see him use some of the skills he has learned as a seeker to help a coven that's in trouble. I did like how Hunter and Morgan continue to grow and get stronger not only individually but as a couple. In the last book we jump ahead to see how Morgan's life has turned out. We get glimpses of what has happened in between then and now which helps readers to understand how Morgan ended up where she is. 

     Overall, I enjoyed the conclusion of this series. I did have a few issues. In Full Circle and Night's Child the alternating POV's were a little confusing. It took me some time to get back into the characters head. I'm not sure why Alisa got her own book. It was great information but I felt it took away from learning about the main character, Morgan. I felt that the other books that were from another's perspective added needed information on either Morgan or the dark wave that threatened her life. I didn't think that Reckoning did that. With that being said I still enjoyed this book and thought it was a great end to the story. 

Cover:

     I really like this cover it fits in with the others quite nicely but is definitely different from the other four. I love the color as well as the design in the center with all the swirls surrounding it. 

Swoon Thursdays (29)

The ladies at YA Bound have created a hot and fun new meme called SWOON #YABound. If you want to join in here's what you need to do.

All you need to do is pick up the book you are currently reading or just finished reading. Find what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding and your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Then shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag  #YABound, post in the comments, or grab the awesome button from YA Bound (above) and share it on your blog!

This week my Swoon comes from Sweep V, Full Circle by Cate Tiernan

"I shivered as Hunter pushed his knee between my legs. I coiled one leg around his as we kept kissing each other over and over, as if we'd been separated for a year instead of a day. I wanted to drink him in, imprint him on my skin, be warmed by his touch" SWOON #YABound

This week I finished the last book in the Sweep series and I'm kind of sad that it's over. I feel like I have been reading these books forever :( 

Teaser Tuesday (8)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should be Reading. Anyone can join in. Here's what you need to do.

♥Grab your current read.

♥Open to a random page.

♥Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

♥Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)

♥Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"I noticed that his arms were covered in very light freckles as well and that they were surprisingly well defined. I guessed he did more than just work on math problems, or else he had some really heavy pencils. Then I decided to stop gawking at his arms and look like I was actually there to help."

Cate Tiernan, Reckoning, Sweep V pg 116 

Review "Sweep" Volume IV Cate Tiernan

Sweep Volume IV (Seeker, Origins, Eclipse)

Cate Tiernan

Publication Date: July 7, 2011

Publisher: Speak

Paperback: 560 pgs

Goodreads

Review:

     I was a little hesitant when I learned that the majority of the volume would not be told for the main character Morgan's  POV. But I must say that I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book despite the change in POV. Seeker is told form Hunter's POV and I really liked learning more about him in this section. he was more humorous than I thought and at times he was a total guy, yet he was still very much Hunter and if you have read this series you know who that is. Hunter has to leave Widow's Vale to try and find some answers about his past. He has to deal with some really difficult issues and does not have Morgan at his side to help him out, after she is still in high school.  I have to say that Seeker was probably my favorite out of the series this far.

     Origins is told from the POV of one of Morgan's ancestors, Rose.  In this section Morgan and Hunter read one of Morgan's ancestors Book of Spells where the two learn more about Rose and Morgan learns more about her heritage. I really didn't think I would like Origins but I liked Seeker so I hoped this section wouldn't be bad. It was really interesting to learn about Rose, the burning times, and the clan wars. It helped to clarify why certain things happened in the future (if you want to know you should read this series).  I also liked how I was able to see how Wicca was practiced by Morgan's ancestors and how most of what they practiced is passed down and is still followed. It is easy to see how the line between light and dark is so easily crossed. And you may not even know that you are crossing the line.

    The last book in this volume is told from Morgan and Alisa's (Ex-Coven Member) POV. Though I liked the way the story developed I wasn't too fond of Alisa's chapters, I would have preferred to just have Morgan's chapters.  In Eclipse a darkness that has threatened those that Morgan loves is now aimed at her. Morgan has struggled to keep Wicca from completely taking over her life in Eclipse she is finally able to get school, Wicca  and her family life more evenly balanced out. But a wave of darkness threatens to destroy what she has come to love. Morgan along with her soul mate Hunter and a few others must try to stave of the darkness that is directed at them. Will they be able to stop the darkness in time I sure hope so (wait I already know). I am more than ready for the final volume in this series.

Cover:

     Though I liked this cover it is not my favorite. It seems a little too plain for my tastes it does not have the same feel as the others. Yet it still fits in with the other volumes.I really like the beauty of the others but this one did not stack up in my opinion. 

Review "Sweep Vol III" by Cate Tiernan

Sweep Volume III (The Calling, Changeling, Strife)

Cate Tiernan

Publication Date: February 3, 2011

Publisher: Speak

Paperback: 592 pgs

Goodreads

Review:

     This is the third volume in the Sweep series, Morgan continues to enhance her knowledge of magick and her personal life gets even more hectic than it has ever been before. In this volume Morgan learns of some difficult truths about her family, truths that threaten to shatter her and the life she has come to know. Morgan has several difficult choices to make ones that could change the course of her life forever. I thought this book was pretty good. I loved learning more about the series main characters such as Morgan, Hunter, Bree, Robbie and all the others in Morgan's life. Sometimes it feels as though you don't have enough time to get a clear view of the characters. That is one the things that I really like about this series since there are so many books in this series character development is not an issue.I also don't feel as though the story is being dragged out until the point where I really don't want to hear anymore about these characters. These books are well planned out and I have really enjoyed getting to know these characters and the world that Cate Tiernan has created. 

Cover:

     Like the two previous volumes in this series I have really loved these covers. They are bold yet simple and each one totally catches your eye. Plus even though the covers are all different (color, picture) they are all tied together letting you know that they belong together yet are not the same.

Review "Sweep Vol II" by Cate Tiernan

Sweep Volume II (Dark Magic, Awakening, Spellbound)

Cate Tiernan

Publication Date: November 11, 2010

Publisher: Speak

Paperback: 564 pgs
Goodreads Summary

Review:

     Volume II, is the continuation of Morgan Rowlands' journey with magick. In this book Morgan experiences many heartbreaks and tragedies some of which threaten to overwhelm her. This volume is definitely darker than the previous volume which I did't really have an issue with, I think that it adds to the story. Cate Tiernan shows that where there is light there is also dark and Morgan must be prepared to deal with the dark since she is such a powerful blood witch. If she doesn't learn to deal with the dark than how will she be able to protect herself from those trying to harm her. Along with the beauty of magick that she discovered in the first volume Morgan is exposed to the dark and ugly side of magick. Once I finished volume I, I had to find out what was going to happen next and I wasn't disappointed. I found myself devouring this book instead of making myself read like I did with the first. Morgan's life becomes more complex and I enjoyed reading about how she not only deals with the difficulties that arise because of magick but I also liked the way she handles herself in other situations. All of the characters that were found in volume I return in volume II. In this book the characters continue to develop and we learn more about those closest to Morgan. I appreciate it when an author doesn't leave her characters flat but she develops them and lets them grew as the story unfolds. As readers we become invested in the characters and it would be a huge disappointment if the characters did not change as the story develops.

  

Cover:

     Just like with the first volume, I was drawn to this cover as well. Plus I liked how the book cover changes color and the image is different but it doesn't feel like a different series, it matches nicely with the first volume. Good job to those who designed this cover.

Review "Sweep" Volume I Cate Tiernan

Sweep Volume I (Book of Shadows, The Coven, Blood Witch)

Cate Tiernan

Publication Date: September 2, 2010

Publisher: Speak

Paperback 592pgs

Goodreads

Review:
       In Sweep Cate Tiernan is building a world that revolves around the main character Morgan and her magick.  I like this series but I did have some issues with it. The things I liked about Sweep Volume I, was the way that the characters were developed. I was able to get a good sense as to who everyone was such as Morgan's best friends Robbie and Bree along with her little sister Mary K. Plus once more characters were introduced I was able to understand how they fit into the story because of how the characters were written.  This series is about magick and I enjoyed how the reader is introduced to magick.  I wasn't expected to know everything going in. Bit by bit as Morgan discovers her magick so do we. I appreciated how Morgan learns to use her powers slowly. She just doesn't discover she is a witch and all of the sudden she knows everything and can do anything.  She must take her new powers step by step in order to grow her abilities. 
    One of the things about this series that I took issue with was how Morgan is surrounded by gorgeous poeple and she just happens to be the plain Jane of the group. The main character does focus on her looks a bit too much for my liking. But I suppose everyone has insecurities and that is hers. In some places I thought the wording was a little dated it kind of took me out of the story since it didn't flow quite right. Overall I thought this book was good and will continue reading the rest of the series.

Cover:

     I really liked the cover of this volume. It is simplistic and engaging it drew my attention right away. It screams read me, and I did so I guess the cover worked. The cover was the reason I picked up this book in the first place.