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prettypieceoffiction's review
4.0
3.5 stars
Please note, I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I just finished Brew, the first installment in the Salem's Revenge series.
Overall I really liked this story. I was really intrigued by the world that Estes created. I think the whole idea of a witch apocalypse is a really great new take on this type of story. It's definitely a story that was new and fresh for me. Rhett was a character that is easy to relate to and understand. Thankfully he has pretty good judgement, not unlike a lot of characters in these types of stories that have questionable judgement. I definitely enjoyed the second half of the book better than the beginning. I did feel that the beginning of the book dragged on a bit and it did not engage me as much as I would have hoped. The book definitely picks up the pace once Laney and Trish are introduced and the mysteries start surfacing. One of my favorite things about this book was Hex, Rhett's magical canine companion. You can never go wrong with having an awesome furry friend.
I am so interested in finding out more about this world and characters. I have so many questions that I hope will be answered in the following installments of the series. I hope that in the following books we get to know more about the magical elements of the story.
Please note, I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I just finished Brew, the first installment in the Salem's Revenge series.
Overall I really liked this story. I was really intrigued by the world that Estes created. I think the whole idea of a witch apocalypse is a really great new take on this type of story. It's definitely a story that was new and fresh for me. Rhett was a character that is easy to relate to and understand. Thankfully he has pretty good judgement, not unlike a lot of characters in these types of stories that have questionable judgement. I definitely enjoyed the second half of the book better than the beginning. I did feel that the beginning of the book dragged on a bit and it did not engage me as much as I would have hoped. The book definitely picks up the pace once Laney and Trish are introduced and the mysteries start surfacing. One of my favorite things about this book was Hex, Rhett's magical canine companion. You can never go wrong with having an awesome furry friend.
I am so interested in finding out more about this world and characters. I have so many questions that I hope will be answered in the following installments of the series. I hope that in the following books we get to know more about the magical elements of the story.
namaria's review
3.0
I love David Estes' novels, and I was looking forward to this one. It's very much like his other dystopia novels where it takes place after the general downfall of man's glory days. This one illustrated the events surrounding the actual downfall rather than simply occurring sometime in the future as in The Country Saga.
I rated this novel three stars for a few reasons. I was disappointed Rhett turned out to be a simple human that was able to resist magic. It seemed like Mr. Estes was setting him up for something a lot more grand, and I was certainly hoping he would be something more interesting than a slight alteration of what Bella was in Twilight.
I felt like Rhett's best friend should've played a much larger role than he actually had. I also wanted Beth to survive at the end, and not as a reanimated corpse.
I'm not sure what was supposed to be going on with Mr. Jackson. Was he a good guy? A bad guy? A messed up person? I had no idea what impression I was supposed to have of this character.
Trish was an interesting character, and I wanted to learn a lot more about her. I was satisfied with the information we were given about the Claires. But I still felt like there was a little something missing here. I can't quite put my finger on it.
I think the one character that was perfect was Rhett's father. That was well done.
As for the story itself, it had a "been there, done that" feeling to it. Mr. Estes was able to put his personal touch on the story, but it still felt like I was rereading something.
That being said, this is the first novel in a series, and it's likely just setting up the bigger story. Sometimes the first novel isn't the best but simply exists to set the background of better events to come.
I was really wanting to like this book more than I did because I'm a big fan of David Estes. I'll be reading the second novel soon, and I hope it has more to offer.
I rated this novel three stars for a few reasons. I was disappointed Rhett turned out to be a simple human that was able to resist magic. It seemed like Mr. Estes was setting him up for something a lot more grand, and I was certainly hoping he would be something more interesting than a slight alteration of what Bella was in Twilight.
I felt like Rhett's best friend should've played a much larger role than he actually had. I also wanted Beth to survive at the end, and not as a reanimated corpse.
I'm not sure what was supposed to be going on with Mr. Jackson. Was he a good guy? A bad guy? A messed up person? I had no idea what impression I was supposed to have of this character.
Trish was an interesting character, and I wanted to learn a lot more about her. I was satisfied with the information we were given about the Claires. But I still felt like there was a little something missing here. I can't quite put my finger on it.
I think the one character that was perfect was Rhett's father. That was well done.
As for the story itself, it had a "been there, done that" feeling to it. Mr. Estes was able to put his personal touch on the story, but it still felt like I was rereading something.
That being said, this is the first novel in a series, and it's likely just setting up the bigger story. Sometimes the first novel isn't the best but simply exists to set the background of better events to come.
I was really wanting to like this book more than I did because I'm a big fan of David Estes. I'll be reading the second novel soon, and I hope it has more to offer.
megmcfarland's review
4.0
Meh
Let me start out saying, this isn't the typical type of book that I read.
The book started out pretty slow. I lost interest a couple of times, but I'm no quitter
Let me start out saying, this isn't the typical type of book that I read.
The book started out pretty slow. I lost interest a couple of times, but I'm no quitter
mlboyd20's review
5.0
I would like to thank the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Doing so does not sway my review in any way.
Having read several of the author’s books, I get a little nervous when he shifts topic gears. What if I don’t like it? What if I just can’t get into the book? So many what ifs. Once again, David Estes has swept the rug from under my feet and off I went on another adventure just thrilling and crazy as Alice in the rabbit hole.
Witches, wizards and warlocks… not just your every day run of the mill type either. These are ones with a grudge. Society has pushed them over the edge and they are taking no prisoners. Rhett has lost all that was dear to him and as he seeks his revenge, he meets new friends and magic guides him along. Together they will face whatever gets in their way.
In the beginning of the book, you learn a few things about what is going on and who Rhett and his family and friends are. The author really knows how to put together a diverse group of characters, build up their strengths and weaknesses and present it to the reader in a way that does everyone justice. The characters become solid beings to the readers pretty quickly and the loss that Rhett feels resonates in the reader’s core.
There is darkness to this novel that is quite unique. The brutality of the witches, the heavy loss of life, but also the revenge that feeds into the characters to keep on moving. The author is able to keep the story moving, not losing momentum and the reader wants nothing more to know what’s going to happen next. The layers of stories, the emotions that pulse from each character, the level of destruction throughout isn’t jumbled or strewn about; there is equality to it all.
This is an exceptional first book to a series. It delivers again and again and again to the reader. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a thriller mixed with an apocalyptic event and aren’t afraid of a bit of traumatic death here and there. I recommend this to the older teen reader through the oldest adult. An amazing read and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Boil, which will be out shortly.
Having read several of the author’s books, I get a little nervous when he shifts topic gears. What if I don’t like it? What if I just can’t get into the book? So many what ifs. Once again, David Estes has swept the rug from under my feet and off I went on another adventure just thrilling and crazy as Alice in the rabbit hole.
Witches, wizards and warlocks… not just your every day run of the mill type either. These are ones with a grudge. Society has pushed them over the edge and they are taking no prisoners. Rhett has lost all that was dear to him and as he seeks his revenge, he meets new friends and magic guides him along. Together they will face whatever gets in their way.
In the beginning of the book, you learn a few things about what is going on and who Rhett and his family and friends are. The author really knows how to put together a diverse group of characters, build up their strengths and weaknesses and present it to the reader in a way that does everyone justice. The characters become solid beings to the readers pretty quickly and the loss that Rhett feels resonates in the reader’s core.
There is darkness to this novel that is quite unique. The brutality of the witches, the heavy loss of life, but also the revenge that feeds into the characters to keep on moving. The author is able to keep the story moving, not losing momentum and the reader wants nothing more to know what’s going to happen next. The layers of stories, the emotions that pulse from each character, the level of destruction throughout isn’t jumbled or strewn about; there is equality to it all.
This is an exceptional first book to a series. It delivers again and again and again to the reader. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a thriller mixed with an apocalyptic event and aren’t afraid of a bit of traumatic death here and there. I recommend this to the older teen reader through the oldest adult. An amazing read and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Boil, which will be out shortly.
kerrithebookbelle's review
5.0
The Dwellers series by David is an amazing one, and my favorite of his...until this one came along.
Set in a not-too-distant future where witches, warlocks, and wizard are essentially rival gangs in the ruins of the United States, Brew has the post-apocalyptic genre on lock! The characters are funny, down-to-earth, and multi-dimensional. Laney one of the most kickass female characters since Katniss, and Rhett is a great combination of badass mixed with what-the-actual-hell-am-I-doing. The plot is great, and the pacing is always at full speed.
A thrill ride you won't want to miss, Brew is a fantastic combination of fantasy and post-apocalyptic that'll have you desperate for the sequel!
**DISCLAIMER: I am a beta reader for David Estes, and received a free final copy eARC for review purposes**
Set in a not-too-distant future where witches, warlocks, and wizard are essentially rival gangs in the ruins of the United States, Brew has the post-apocalyptic genre on lock! The characters are funny, down-to-earth, and multi-dimensional. Laney one of the most kickass female characters since Katniss, and Rhett is a great combination of badass mixed with what-the-actual-hell-am-I-doing. The plot is great, and the pacing is always at full speed.
A thrill ride you won't want to miss, Brew is a fantastic combination of fantasy and post-apocalyptic that'll have you desperate for the sequel!
**DISCLAIMER: I am a beta reader for David Estes, and received a free final copy eARC for review purposes**
printedadventures's review
3.0
Brew was different. I like Estes' other works and saw this one and decided to give it a go.
The concept was interesting, with all the warring witch gangs and hunters in the mix. But the time jumps were jarring to me. But I'm curious as to where this story will get to. There were twists I completely didn't see coming and action I wasn't expecting.
I do have to say that one of my favorite parts of this book was the dog. Hex was the best.
All in all an interesting book about having to grow up too soon, facing your fears, accepting and adapting, witches who can do anything from flying , bring back the dead, throw fireballs and change into animals to eat your face. A good read.
The concept was interesting, with all the warring witch gangs and hunters in the mix. But the time jumps were jarring to me. But I'm curious as to where this story will get to. There were twists I completely didn't see coming and action I wasn't expecting.
I do have to say that one of my favorite parts of this book was the dog. Hex was the best.
All in all an interesting book about having to grow up too soon, facing your fears, accepting and adapting, witches who can do anything from flying , bring back the dead, throw fireballs and change into animals to eat your face. A good read.
dom1976's review
5.0
Rhett is a foster child in a somewhat normal life. He`s a nerdy book loving blogger football player high school student, who hangs with his journalist girlfriend Beth and his best friend/bodyguard Xavier.
People are being accused of being witches and Rhett doesn`t believe that witches or warlocks even exist in real life. In just one night, the witches exact their revenge and in an instant Rhett lose his foster family, his girlfriend and best friend are abducted by a group of Necromancers. He is saved by his mysterious neighbor and is trained to become stronger so he can save his friends and avenge his family.
Travelling with his witch experiment dog Hex, he meets Laney and her traumatized little sister Trish; they seek the truth and also a way to survive.
First of all, I appreciated the fact that the main character Rhett was dark skinned and a nerd!
The plot was great, very imaginative and well written. The story was intriguing, witches, warlocks, necromancers, sirens, the all a purpose in the story without being confusing. A lot of action, the dialogue was well thought, serious and humorous mixed together wasn`t over the top.
Each characters were intrigual in Rhett`s crusade, to Mr. Jackson who saved and trained him, Lainey, the tough teenager who is trying to protect her sister Trish who doesn’t talk but with her gestures, gives message and who also has a secret and Hex, the dog who has magical powers because a witch experimented a little too much on him (wish my dog had magic!).
While reading this book, I felt it went very fast , was never bored and wanted to know more which the sequel Boil will be on my to read list.
Great book 4.5 stars.
People are being accused of being witches and Rhett doesn`t believe that witches or warlocks even exist in real life. In just one night, the witches exact their revenge and in an instant Rhett lose his foster family, his girlfriend and best friend are abducted by a group of Necromancers. He is saved by his mysterious neighbor and is trained to become stronger so he can save his friends and avenge his family.
Travelling with his witch experiment dog Hex, he meets Laney and her traumatized little sister Trish; they seek the truth and also a way to survive.
First of all, I appreciated the fact that the main character Rhett was dark skinned and a nerd!
The plot was great, very imaginative and well written. The story was intriguing, witches, warlocks, necromancers, sirens, the all a purpose in the story without being confusing. A lot of action, the dialogue was well thought, serious and humorous mixed together wasn`t over the top.
Each characters were intrigual in Rhett`s crusade, to Mr. Jackson who saved and trained him, Lainey, the tough teenager who is trying to protect her sister Trish who doesn’t talk but with her gestures, gives message and who also has a secret and Hex, the dog who has magical powers because a witch experimented a little too much on him (wish my dog had magic!).
While reading this book, I felt it went very fast , was never bored and wanted to know more which the sequel Boil will be on my to read list.
Great book 4.5 stars.
the_cover_contessa's review
4.0
I would like to thank David for providing me with a copy of this book from his newest series to read and give an honest review. Receiving this book for free has in no way influenced my opinion or review.
Blurb:
Salem’s Revenge strikes without warning or mercy, ravaging the powerless human race under the forces of united gangs of witches, wizards, and warlocks. During the slaughter, Rhett Carter's foster parents and sister are killed, and his best friend and girlfriend are abducted by a gang of witches calling themselves the Necromancers, who deal in the dark magic of raising the dead. Rhett’s sword-wielding neighbor with a mysterious past saves Rhett from becoming another casualty of the massacre and teaches him the skills he needs to survive in this new world.
Rhett is broken, his normal high school life of book blogging and football playing shoved in a witch-apocalyptic blender. The only thing he has left is his burning desire for revenge. Armed with his new witch hunting skills and a loyal, magic powered dog named Hex, he sets out into the unknown with one mission: hunt and destroy those who took away everyone he ever loved.
But Rhett isn’t just a witch hunter; he has secrets of his own that he has yet to discover, secrets that his enemies will stop at nothing to keep him from.
And discovering the truth about himself is the human race’s only hope.
If you know me I'm a huge Estes fan. I love everything he writes, so it's no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not only is a great to see a YA book from the male POV (my favorite) but he's witch hunter to boot (hello Supernatural!). So of course I jumped right in and I was not disappointed in the least!
Meet Rhett. Rhett's world changed when the witches took over. He went from high-school boy with a girlfriend living a nice life, to hunting witches and not having a family to speak of. He goes from jock to super hunter in no time flat. He's snarky and out for revenge, or at least out to avenge his family.
David gives great background at the beginning of the book, showing us exactly what happened and what lead up to it. I love that we meet a character who becomes very important later in the book. There's a lot of darkness throughout the book. Don't think you'll go into this one and watch cool spells Harry Potter style. Nope, there's destruction and the battle for who will claim ultimate power.
The world building is so great. David has rich descriptions of the surroundings and total destruction that has happened because of the witches. And while you know this world is not real, it's impossible to not picture it in your mind and see that it's an absolute possibility (even if witches aren't real...or are they?). And not only are they fighting with the humans, they are fighting amongst themselves for control. So while they've already pretty much taken over, things are still getting destroyed because they are not done! And there are so many different kinds of witches with so many different powers. They are hell bent on destroying each other!
While there is a hint of romance in this book, the book does not revolve around this theme at all. The undertone is there, but the important part of the story is how Rhett becomes a hero, or at least tries to become one.
As with all of David's books, his characters are great. They are rich and full of many dimensions. You feel an immediate connection with them. Not only is Rhett down to earth and a little angsty, but his companion, Laney, puts the snark in snarky. She's funny and loyal and very protective.
And David's books would not be complete with some kind of companion for the MC. In Fire Country we got Perry. In Brew you get to meet Hex, who is definitely the coolest dog to ever walk the universe (I won't tell you why and let you see for yourself). I do promise that Hex's antics will not disappoint in any way, shape or form!
And interesting addition to this book are the snippets from Rhett's journal. They really get you inside his head and help you to understand who he is and what he's doing. You see how he was before and after the witchy take over. It's great to watch especially as he becomes stronger and stronger.
Fans of post apocalyptic fiction and shows like The Walking Dead and Supernatural will truly love this story of witches and power.
Blurb:
Salem’s Revenge strikes without warning or mercy, ravaging the powerless human race under the forces of united gangs of witches, wizards, and warlocks. During the slaughter, Rhett Carter's foster parents and sister are killed, and his best friend and girlfriend are abducted by a gang of witches calling themselves the Necromancers, who deal in the dark magic of raising the dead. Rhett’s sword-wielding neighbor with a mysterious past saves Rhett from becoming another casualty of the massacre and teaches him the skills he needs to survive in this new world.
Rhett is broken, his normal high school life of book blogging and football playing shoved in a witch-apocalyptic blender. The only thing he has left is his burning desire for revenge. Armed with his new witch hunting skills and a loyal, magic powered dog named Hex, he sets out into the unknown with one mission: hunt and destroy those who took away everyone he ever loved.
But Rhett isn’t just a witch hunter; he has secrets of his own that he has yet to discover, secrets that his enemies will stop at nothing to keep him from.
And discovering the truth about himself is the human race’s only hope.
If you know me I'm a huge Estes fan. I love everything he writes, so it's no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not only is a great to see a YA book from the male POV (my favorite) but he's witch hunter to boot (hello Supernatural!). So of course I jumped right in and I was not disappointed in the least!
Meet Rhett. Rhett's world changed when the witches took over. He went from high-school boy with a girlfriend living a nice life, to hunting witches and not having a family to speak of. He goes from jock to super hunter in no time flat. He's snarky and out for revenge, or at least out to avenge his family.
David gives great background at the beginning of the book, showing us exactly what happened and what lead up to it. I love that we meet a character who becomes very important later in the book. There's a lot of darkness throughout the book. Don't think you'll go into this one and watch cool spells Harry Potter style. Nope, there's destruction and the battle for who will claim ultimate power.
The world building is so great. David has rich descriptions of the surroundings and total destruction that has happened because of the witches. And while you know this world is not real, it's impossible to not picture it in your mind and see that it's an absolute possibility (even if witches aren't real...or are they?). And not only are they fighting with the humans, they are fighting amongst themselves for control. So while they've already pretty much taken over, things are still getting destroyed because they are not done! And there are so many different kinds of witches with so many different powers. They are hell bent on destroying each other!
While there is a hint of romance in this book, the book does not revolve around this theme at all. The undertone is there, but the important part of the story is how Rhett becomes a hero, or at least tries to become one.
As with all of David's books, his characters are great. They are rich and full of many dimensions. You feel an immediate connection with them. Not only is Rhett down to earth and a little angsty, but his companion, Laney, puts the snark in snarky. She's funny and loyal and very protective.
And David's books would not be complete with some kind of companion for the MC. In Fire Country we got Perry. In Brew you get to meet Hex, who is definitely the coolest dog to ever walk the universe (I won't tell you why and let you see for yourself). I do promise that Hex's antics will not disappoint in any way, shape or form!
And interesting addition to this book are the snippets from Rhett's journal. They really get you inside his head and help you to understand who he is and what he's doing. You see how he was before and after the witchy take over. It's great to watch especially as he becomes stronger and stronger.
Fans of post apocalyptic fiction and shows like The Walking Dead and Supernatural will truly love this story of witches and power.
booklife4life's review
4.0
Edit 11/18: i changed my rating to 4 stars, the more i thought about some parts and after reading some of my friend's reviews, i realize some things that bothered me too much
I receive a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review
Title: Brew
Series: Salem's Revenge #1
Author: David Estes
Format: PDF file, 454 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Time to Read: 2 days
Recommend it to?: Anyone who likes reading about bad witches getting their butts kicked!
My Review:OH MY GOODNESS!!!
I couldn't put this down at all, i put off work for this book! i just kept turning the page!
Plot:We humans fear things we can't explain, and instead of embracing, we destroy. Salem's Return, humans killing "witches" without any proper evidence. Well the real witches in the world didn't like that too much, so they fight back. Salem's Revenge, all the different witches and warlocks gang up to destroy humans. They do a pretty good job of whipping out a good majority of us in a single day. Rhett Carter's family is killed and he becomes a witch hunter.
Main Characters:
Rhett:The whole story is told from Rhett POV. He's a book blogger :] so that scores some points with me! He's also a jock, football player! He's a bit of a coward in the beginning but the world makes hard.
Laney:She's amazing. She doesn't take shiz from anyone and says whatever the heck she wants! All she cares about is her sisters safety and maybe Rhett towards the end :] she's my witch killing side kick :]
Overall: This is a must read and everyone needs to read this!! it's filled with action and love :]
I receive a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review
Title: Brew
Series: Salem's Revenge #1
Author: David Estes
Format: PDF file, 454 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Time to Read: 2 days
Recommend it to?: Anyone who likes reading about bad witches getting their butts kicked!
My Review:OH MY GOODNESS!!!
I couldn't put this down at all, i put off work for this book! i just kept turning the page!
Plot:We humans fear things we can't explain, and instead of embracing, we destroy. Salem's Return, humans killing "witches" without any proper evidence. Well the real witches in the world didn't like that too much, so they fight back. Salem's Revenge, all the different witches and warlocks gang up to destroy humans. They do a pretty good job of whipping out a good majority of us in a single day. Rhett Carter's family is killed and he becomes a witch hunter.
Main Characters:
Rhett:The whole story is told from Rhett POV. He's a book blogger :] so that scores some points with me! He's also a jock, football player! He's a bit of a coward in the beginning but the world makes hard.
Laney:She's amazing. She doesn't take shiz from anyone and says whatever the heck she wants! All she cares about is her sisters safety and maybe Rhett towards the end :] she's my witch killing side kick :]
Overall: This is a must read and everyone needs to read this!! it's filled with action and love :]