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The Shadow Rises

Witch-Hunter, Book 1
By: K.S. Marsden
Narrated by: Jonathan Ip
Series: Witch-Hunter Series, Book 1
Length: 5 hrs and 12 mins
5 out of 5 stars (9 ratings)

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Summary

When a new witch threat rises, only Hunter Astley can stop it....

In the face of dark magic and evil witches, a secret witch-hunting society works tirelessly to keep them at bay. The Malleus Maleficarum Council has strict rules and practises for eradicating magic. 

Due to their work, witches have been almost forgotten, relegated to myth; but the rumours are starting to emerge of a new power that will throw the world into chaos. 

As the only seventh generation witch-hunter, Hunter Astley is the best the MMC has to offer. With the help of his colleagues, it’s a race to track down this new threat and stop it...in any way he can. 

Part one of the Witch-Hunter trilogy. 
©2013 K.S. Marsden (P)2018 K.S. Marsden

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Sort by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Witch Hunter

I highly enjoyed listening to this book which I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. With the way it ended I can't wait to listen to the rest of this series

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyable.

Hunter is a 7th generation witch hunter for the Malleus Maleficarum Council. Most witch hunters are only 3rd or 4th generation so Hunter is a bit of an anomaly. When he comes across two witches trying to sacrifice a woman for their magic, he saves her and ends up recruiting her to the life. She is apprenticed to a witch hunter, but when he is killed and Hunter hears whispers that the Shadow Witch is rising again and has her sites set on the woman he saved, he has to team up with Sophie to find the Witch before she becomes all powerful.

Every so often you open a book with no expectations at all, you hope said book will entertain you but that's about it. But said book does more than entertain you!! It enthralls you, grips you and just about blows you away. Well this is what happened here!! I had no idea what to expect when I started, but I know I didn't expect to fall in love with the world the author created. It was fantastic!!

I loved the plot. Usually the witch hunters are portrayed as bad guys, but here they are the good guys. To them, all magic is bad and witches are to be stopped. I also loved how they stopped the witches, which I won't say here because I'd consider it a spoiler ;) The whole plot was fast paced, entertaining and amazing. The author not only created a fascinating world, but they managed to throw a few extreme curve balls into the mix and had me gasping out loud because I did not see it coming!!!

The characters were all well developed. It took me a little while to warm to Hunter, but he grew on me! I loved seeing him interact with Sophie and seeing their relationship grow. I'm really looking forward to seeing where the author takes the story!!!

In all, this was an awesome read. Reading it was like finding the diamond in the rough!!! I hope book 2 comes to audio soon as I'm dying to see what happens next.

Jonathan Ip read this really well. He was easy to listen to and had plenty of tones and voices to bring the story to life. I really enjoyed his performance.

I was given this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Loved it from the start!

What can I say except I loved it!?
From the start both the author and the narrator set the tone of the story which keeps you hooked right until the end.
I can’t really find any faults with this book except to say I saw a few things coming (no spoilers!), but through no fault of the author!
Wait, yes, I can find a fault; the other 2 books aren’t yet released on audio and I’m dying to see where the story leads next! :)
Buy it and listen to this immediately under peril of death!
This is an honest review of a free review copy.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

An excellent adventure

In my opinion a good fantasy novel needs 3 things a well realised world, a compelling story and engaging characters.

The shadow rises delivers all 3.

When we are introduced to the protagonist Hunter I initially rolled my eyes and expected an arrogant hero in a contrived story, however while the story doesn't offer anything necessarily new or challenging it was nevertheless entertaining throughout and there is certainly more to Hunter than meets the eye.

The narration is also excellent handelling different characters well and giving the whole story the very English atmosphere the author intended.

A great opening to the trilogy!

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Deedra
  • United States
  • 08-11-18

The Shadow Rises

Excellent first book to a series!I loved it! Narration by Jonathan ip was perfect. I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Helen
  • Paignton
  • 13-07-19

amazing book

When a new witch threat rises, only Hunter Astley can stop it....
In the face of dark magic and evil witches, a secret witch-hunting society works tirelessly to keep them at bay.
I really enjoyed this book well written by K.S. Marsden and brought to life by Jonathan Ip
can't wait for next book

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Not the usual Witch story

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Hunter Astley works for the The Malleus Maleficarum Council who have for centuries eradicated evil witches and dark magic.
However there’s a new witch threat and only Hunter can stop them.
I love books on witches and other supernaturals and I like this goes about things in a new way.
I am going to buy book 2 now.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Simone
  • 18-06-18

Horror of the Witch Variety

I love horror content in all shapes and sizes, but I don't often come across a story about witches! I was excited to see that 'The Shadow Rises' was of the witch variety and the story delivered in a delightful way! While the tale felt just a bit slow to me at particular times, it was well worth listening to all of it and I think it's a very solid start to a new series! I would continue to listen to this series and I would recommend this book to friends who enjoy horror, but particularly.. witches! Jonathan Ip gives a good performance.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • michael martins
  • 16-06-19

Solid start to a series!

The Shadow Rises was a solid start to a new series. It takes place in the modern day in England mostly and follows Hunter, a 7th generation witch hunter. Witches are real but most of society at large doesn't know and it is up to the Malleus Maleficarum Council to either bind their magic or to kill them. Hunter being the only 7th generation witch hunter is well respected and quite powerful as each generation of witch hunter gets stronger powers, abilities and sensitivity to magic being performed. Most witch hunter families never make it that many generations as it is a very dangerous occupation and the likelihood of death is high. The danger is amped up further as it seems a Shadow Witch has come to be and this is quite a rare occurrence, A Shadow Witch has unlimited magical powers and is quite a force to be reckoned with. Hunter and his team of James and Sophie both 1st gen witch hunters try to discover the mystery behind the Shadow Witch and stop her.

This book has quite a bit of action and some pretty good lore and backstory. The narration by Jonathan Ip was great and I really enjoyed his accent. There are quite a few twists and surprises in the book and the ending sets up the future books in the series well.

"Please note I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Laura
  • 11-06-19

Keeps You Glued to Your Seat

I received this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review and all opinions expressed herein are mine.

This is the first book in the Witch Hunter series. It is a standalone book but does have an ending which sets up the next book in the series.

Here, Hunter is a 7th generation witch hunter, which is quite unusual. He is on holiday when he rescues Sophie, a woman he notices in the bar, from witches. He believes that he will never see her again when she shows up at his home asking to become an apprentice. Hunter agrees and apprentices Sophie to another witch hunter. Soon that witch hunter is murdered by a very powerful shadow witch and Sophie must be safe guarded. But is everything as it seems?

There is great worldbuilding in this story - the hierarchy of witch hunters and the development of witch hunters is great, although it would have been nice to have a little exploration as to why witches/magic is completely evil and must be destroyed. I loved Hunter's relationship with his mother - who he barely tolerates. But, the relationship between Sophie, Hunter and James [Hunter's assistant] is most interesting. There are plenty of twists and turns in this to keep you glued to your seat. This is a very solid start to a series.

The narrator was a perfect compliment to this work. He has a very pleasant low key voice which is both intoxicating and soothing.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Layla
  • 10-06-19

Witch Hunter

After watching the last witch hunter I have been looking for books that have a similar feel. I have to say that there aren't that many books out there like this. However, this book is exactly what I am looking for. The author has a way of writing and sucks you into the story. I loved, it has great characters and a plot. My only negative is that I found it slow at times and I wished for more action. But other than this it is a fantastic book and am looking forward to the next one in this series.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Kindle Customer
  • 23-05-19

awesome

I loved it and couldn't stop listening. I like how the story built up. very good .

I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. 

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Courtney Odor
  • 21-05-19

Gripping, terrifying, great!

First, I have to start off by stating that I got this book free of charge in exchange for a review, but as I always state, this does not in any way impact my review. My reviews are always honest and my own.

Anyone who enjoys stories involving witches…the real kind in fiction, not the silly or sweet and innocent…will like this series. The witches are finally tired of being chased down by witch hunters and being persecuted for being who they are, and the most powerful witch, “The Shadow”, rises again to free her people. The story has some unexpected twists and turns to it and finally reaches a big climax near the end regarding more than one thing. You sort of getting finality to the main build-up, but there are some things left unresolved as a cliffhanger. If you wanted to stop here, you would get sort of an ending you need, but one obviously needs to read the rest of the series for it all. The way this book builds things up, I get the feeling it will get pretty intense later in the series.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Zora Marie
  • 21-05-19

Interesting Twist of Fate

This was quite the interesting take on witch hunters. Unfortunately, some of the main character's actions and emotions felt a little wooden for my tastes though it did more or less fit the main character.

If you are listening for a nice shorter listen, then this might be good one for you.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Shayay19
  • 13-04-19

Unique and interesting

First, I listened to the audio and the narrator does a good job. I’d recommend it.

Unique and entertaining story with a couple twists. I’m not sure I like the way the story went, but the world the story is set in is interesting. I liked the characters; not much depth, but interesting and they have their quirks. The story is a bit dark with the witch hunters taking out witches and vice versa. I’m looking forward to seeing where this story is going to go.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Lidia Chymkowska
  • 01-12-18

The hunter hunt begins...:)

'The Shadow Rises' is the first book in the series - and you can feel it. It has all the elements I like in a good story about the paranormal/witchcraft/magic, but it also has some flaws that are often unavoidable in a first of any series...

The strength of the book are definitely the main characters - Hunter, James and Sophie. They are intriguing, deep, with some well developed background stories, and yet still not so obvious to the reader/listener that you'd say 'I already know everything there's to know about them'... The world of witches and witch hunters is also very well explained, and the idea of the importance of which generation a hunter belongs to and the consequences of that fact gives it a twist not found anywhere else, I think. Another strong point? The description of the development of relationships between different characters is very good - we feel that development, we see the relationships evolving, changing, tightening or loosening...

The weakness of the book, then? There are so many things that have to be explained for the reader/listener to understand the realities of the world created by the author, that the plot itself and the pace of the tale take the background seat and kind of feel slow... There are some scenes of action, good ones (no doubt about that), but there's also so much talk about the world of hunters and their fight against witches that there's not much room left for the actual fight...:)

But that one weakness shouldn't be used as an excuse for you not to give the book a chance. It's a really solid introduction to the series, and it definitely makes you want to read or listen on to find out what happens to Hunter and Sophie and other characters we met...:) Overall, I'd say it's a 3.5 star book - definitely more than 'pretty good' but a bit less than 'great':)

As for the narration, it's very good. I like Mr Ip's interpretation of the male characters, I also like the fact that he doesn't try to sound too feminine when reading females' parts. He adds quite a bit of emotions to the dialogues and makes the whole experience very relaxing.

DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Robert
  • 17-11-18

Solid story, really enjoyed it

Really enjoyed this story. It was engaging and kept me interested. Jonathan Ip's British accent gives the story a refined feel and he does a very good job in narrating the story. Definitely a fan and I'm looking forward to book 2..

"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

1 of 1 people found this review helpful