Customer Reviews

A Witch's Beauty

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A Witch's Beauty brings us more of the intriguing pair, seawitch Mina, and angel warrior David, who held such sizzling promise even in their supporting roles in A Mermaid's Kiss (Berkley Sensation). I loved both the physically and emotionally scarred Mina, who has never known love, has rejected kindness and has embraced discomfort to keep from slipping into the darkness she inherited from her demon-like Dark One father, and David, the beautiful, powerful yet gentle 50-years-young angel who carries enough of his own darkness and pain from his former human life so that something in Mina draws him to her. From the start David falls in once-in-an-eternity-love with the tainted grumpy creature. He demands the right to protect Mina when all the other angels feel that the powerful witch is a lost cause, destined to succumb to the dark lure of her tainted heritage and should be wiped from the Earth. David is determined to protect Mina who does not want to be protected and finds her attraction to the angel frightening. David patiently cultivates Mina's surrender to their shared passion in order to build her trust and win her cooperation, and Mina comes to need David for the fragile hope he nutures in her. But David needs Mina just as much as she needs him - he needs to be able to save someone who he loves in order to heal the hidden scars of his own past. And when the fate of the world hangs in the balance it will be David's love and horrific sacrifice that leads Mina to embrace her power and those parts of herself that she has feared so long.

Judging by her last two books, A Mermaid's Kiss and A Witch's Beauty, if Joey Hill ever decides that the being the ruler of her erotic niche is not enough and tones down the eroticism of her stories just a tad more - though these angel romances do appear to already be toned down a bit from her vampire series- Hill would likely gain fans left and right in the larger more mainstream paranormal romance arena. Because, even with a fair amount of page time devoted to sensual activity, Hill still tells a wonderful story with loving development of both her characters and their relationship, and tops that off with an action packed climax which makes a happily ever after possible for even the most cursed or damaged. And though I read mostly on the more mainstream side of paranormal romance, I am really not complaining about the sensuality here, because it is much better integrated in A Witch's Beauty than in the previous book -- even the darker bits fit into the whole theme of balancing light and dark and pleasure and pain that are so key to Mina's control of her dark side, and David's ability to give Mina what she truly needs. I only mention it because not everyone will be comfortable enough with the sensuality and with Mina's scars and tentacles to enjoy the truly beautiful story, of acceptance, sacrifice and healing that Hill has told here.

Even though A Witch's Beauty is more erotic than my normal fare, I loved it -- Hill's tale has earned a place amoung my favorite stories. A Witch's Beauty has everything that I look for in a book: great characters, a well developed romance, triumph over evil and a well deserved happily ever after. Though the ending for Mina and David and the birth of the daughter for previous leads, Anna and Jonah, left the series feeling very finished, Hill has one more trip to this world of angels, mermaids and Dark Ones in store for us with A Mermaid's Ransom sometime next year.

Mina knows being a half-breed leaves her looking from the outside as neither her mother's race of Mermaids nor her father's Dark Ones trust her. She remains an unholy abomination although she risked her life to save that of Prime Legion Commander for the Goddess, Jonah the Angel (see A MERMAID'S KISS). Her reward is further distrust and suspicion from Jonah and his angelic horde as she displayed Dark One power.

Whereas Marcellas wants her caged as Dark One's are always evil, Jonah assigns angels to keep an eye on Mina, who detests the surveillance even if the Prime Legion Commander insists it is for her safety as well as theirs. However, her prime guard is David, a former human turned angel, who like Mina struggles with controlling the dark side that flows within his blood. As they fall in love, no one knows whether their passion will ignite the dark or light of their respective natures or burn out either or both of their souls.

The latest erotic Joey W. Hill fantasy is an excellent addition to a great saga. A WITCH'S BEAUTY is a direct sequel to the fabulous A MERMAID'S KISS with Mina in spite of her heroism even more of a pariah to the angels. David is a fascinating lead protagonist as he believes he sees the goodness in his beloved's soul while everyone else assumes his human origins tainted his perceptions with rose colored glasses. As the eternal war continues with no end in sight, a flicker of hope arises with love, trust, and a new generation. Ms. Hill is one of the best fantasists on the market today as her battle of heaven and earth excels with every entry.

Harriet Klausner

This is the 4th book I've read written by Joey Hill (her two Vampire erotica romances & the first book in this series "A Mermaid's Kiss")...and I'd have to definitely say it is my favourite. I'd read her two vampire romances & quite honestly, didn't care for them. It wasn't the erotica...I actually enjoy erotica from time to time...but it was the lack of sympathetic characters. I didn't like any of them (and I feel it's important to like the lead protagonists...or, at least, identify with them at some level) & felt the plotlines were mediocre at best. When "A Mermaid's Kiss" was released, I was hesitant but purchased it anyways...and was very glad I did. I saw a definite maturation in her writing process as well as more robust characters.

I was eager to read "A Witch's Beauty" because of the previous book's excellence...plus I was already intrigued by Mina, the lead character in "A Witch's Beauty" who was introduced in "A Mermaid's Kiss". Mina is an incredible character, flawed both internally and externally...continuously struggling between the light and dark halves of her persona as well as trying to reconcile with the fact she's fallen in love for the first time in her painful existence with an angel named David. To reveal any more would reveal too much of an exquisitely complex and beautiful plot...my only suggestion would be for you to read it and immerse yourself in the colorfully rich world that Hill has created. :)

Witch's Beauty is the story of Mina and David. Mina is a mermaid, a sea witch and a dark spawn who has been disfigured and alone since she was a child. David is one of the youngest angels ever put into service and has inner wounds and anger that his is still healing.

The activity of the Dark One's is getting worse and somehow Mina is involved. She has a great power and both the side of good and the side of evil want her alliance. The angels have put a watch on her but the patrols don't last. David, who has cared for her since they first met (in Joey Hill's amazing story A Mermaid's Kiss) finally convinces Jonah to let him do the job.

David has his work cut out for him, trying to protect Mina, while the Dark forces are gathering for another, even greater battle.

This is another extraordinary book by Joey Hill. Her characters and stories always come alive in a way that you will remember them for years to come.

You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll love the story. Highly recommended!

This was one of the few books I found it physically painful to read. I could not finish it, I found Mina's characterization vastly different from the first book and not for the better. Where she was delightfully cynical compared to the heroine's simpering lack of backbone, now she merely angsts about her horrible life. Where is the strength of character that was present before?

And David... Wow, where do I begin? David was not created an angel, he was transformed into one because his human life was tragical. Tragical in an over-the-top, completely unbelievable way. And the so-called "love" the two share is expressed with blood-letting and pain!

Again, I wasn't able to finish, but my impression is of an abusive relationship between two self-centered, "woe-is-me" emo cutters. Yes, cutters, as in actual knife separating flesh. This tale goes far beyond a little light BDSM. Readers be warned.

Creating a likable tortured heroine is difficult for an author thanks to readers like me.
As a reader of romance, albeit not in my real life, I tend to be more critical of female characters than male characters. I expect my heroine to be stronger, kinder, and more tolerant than the heroes. I want her to be tough, but not bitchy or even worse, feisty, a dreadful adjective that should be reserved for toy poodles. Vulnerable, but not whiney. Long-suffering but not wimpy. I want to identify with her; to do that I must like and respect her at least a little bit.
Since I 1) like myself a great deal and 2) am not a tortured soul, I often dislike and/or cannot identify with a tortured romance heroine. I'll forgive the hero all kinds of weirdness that I just won't put up with in her. (Psychoanalyze me if you want, dear reader.)
So congratulations to Joey Hill for creating Mina, possibly the most tortured and yet still likable and understandable heroine ever. She's horribly disfigured, angry, dangerous, mean, proud, and frighteningly powerful. (Not me at all!) But Mina's also gutsy, loyal, frank, devoted, self-sacrificing, and wonderfully enough, lovable. I understand what precious David the angel sees in her.
David has his own difficult history, but he's refreshingly sweet. When it comes to Mina, he wears his heart on his sleeve, but he does it with courage and style. His light and joy balance her darkness--hey, I think that's a theme in the book!
Anyway, you will like this book even if you don't like unhappy heroines. But know that Mina & David have suffered, are suffering, and will suffer a hell of a lot more before they find their Happily Ever After in the last chapter.

Things I forgot to mention:
Hill's excellent world building!
A Witch's Beauty is the second book in a series.
The introduction of a super-intriguing character for the next book, A Mermaid's Ransom, which will be on my doorstep this week!

This book was definitely different in tone & feel than the first one, much darker & sicker. David being forced to have sex with his mother in his previous life added to some of the nastier stuff mentioned in this book just kinda turned me off.

The first one was done so tastefully and classy, what went wrong with her subsequent books in this series?!?!? It was a total 180 from A Mermaid's Kiss. I don't think I'll be reading anymore books from this author.

The end is near. Time is no longer a luxury, even for an immortal. The Dark Ones want Mina, a sea-witch, for her potential ability to help in their quest to destroy the human world. The angels, although continuing their protection of her, wish their burden would just vanish. David, the youngest of Jonah's angels, sees things a bit differently. If he can't convince them of Mina's goodness then he will have to take matters into his own hands. The cost quite simply is his soul. This is a cost David is willing to pay to help Mina see her the way he does, beyond the scars.

Mina just wants to go back to her old life. Left alone in her underwater caves unseen where her scars both physically and spiritually can be hidden. That is the only way she can guarantee the darkness inside of her, won't escape. David confuses Mina and if he continues with this silly quest of his she is afraid she will lose the tentative hold she has on her emotions. If Mina loses control of those there is no telling what will happen once the floodgates are open.

As the battle ensures the restlessness between David and Mina heat up. When the climax finally comes it will be more than just release for these two. To be precise it will be more like a detonation!

Take the sea-wicked witch from The Little Mermaid and throw in a bit of The Beauty and the Beast and VO`ILA you have JOEY HILL'S, A WITCHES BEAUTY. By no means is this in anyway shape or form a children's story, strictly adults only. With all the twists and turns only Joey Hill can bring across with her talented style. Where A MERMAIDS KISS left off A WITCHES BEAUTY hits the floor running, and doesn't slow down until you get to the end. Mermaids, angels, and a sea-witch what a great combination of characters JOEY HILL brings together for us to enjoy.

In reading order:
A Mermaids Kiss
A Witches Beauty

Mina, the unholy sea witch, is the product of rape, a forced union between a mermaid and a Dark One. Mina should have been destroyed when she was born; instead she was tortured when she was a young girl resulting in scars covering her face and body. And yet she has many powers at her disposal, from the ability to shape shift into a human and dragon to an abnormal mermaid with two tentacles in place of a tail. And despite her disfigurements and because of her special abilities she is able to overcome, but remains alone, for she can barely keep the darkness inside her under control.

There is one angel who is willing to stand up to this challenge, David. He is the youngest angel in Jonah's army, but has the biggest heart. David sees something special in Mina and wants to tap into the goodness he knows she has inside. Mina has no choice but to allow David into the safe haven that is her underwater home. All too soon, David sees the many different sides to Mina. He wants her to feel happiness and joy. But what David doesn't know is that Mina can not feel too much joy, or the darkness that is threatening to consume her will explode. Light must equal the darkness and with that she needs both pleasure and pain. David is willing to give her as much pleasure as she can stand. He shows her the joys of sex. Mina wants to give into David, but she must always have balance and that means she must feel pain.

When a portal to the Dark Ones' world is found and ready to be opened, Mina and David must work together to stop this from happening. This will require Mina to confront her demons, and for David to stand by her side, to be her hope in a future where the brightness she has always turned away from will now embrace her.

When Mina made her first appearance as a secondary character in A Mermaid's Kiss, she almost took over the story. I was so very intrigued by this character and when I heard Joey wrote a sequel making Mina the lead heroine, I just had to read it. At first I was a bit, shall we say, turned off by the notion of an underwater sea witch with tentacles having a love story. But just as Joey pulled off the mermaid and angel love story in a Mermaid's Kiss, she has done it here with A Witch's Beauty. Mina is one tortured character. You can not help but feel deeply for her. Not only does she have scars, both inside and out, but even if she wanted to love and be loved, she may destroy herself in the process because of each half she embodies. Mina has been dealt some really bad cards in her life. But things look up when David enters it.

David is everything a hero should be. He is stoic, kind and understanding. He sees something in Mina no one else has and because of that he is able to break down her defenses. These two are so perfect for one another. David has a bright outlook on life even though the way he lived as a human and died will shock you senseless. He has lived through the most horrible of situations, and understands Mina's actions and why she lashes out. He won't back down and turns Mina's world upside down.

These two have great sexual chemistry and the sensuality between them can be dark at times but also very loving. The way David embraces Mina, from her scars to her surly nature is a lovely thing to read. These two become a great team and that is where each one finally understands what it means to love and sacrifice.

Joey W. Hill stretches the boundaries of romance with her books. Who would have thought angels loving underwater creatures could be such great reading? I was pleasantly surprised, and don't be surprised if you find yourself in the same situation I was. A Witch's Beauty is a very beautiful story that shouldn't be passed by.

Katiebabs
A Mermaid's Kiss (Berkley Sensation)

I really loved this book even though I feel I have to give it four stars for a few discrepancies. One I can't imagine David's mother having sex with David if he is unwilling. How could he possibly perform? But the one that got me was I thought David had made Mina pregnant when they were in the dark area. She did say what have you done and he said she would make a good mother. What happened? I don't mind that the act didn't result in her pregnancy only that it was not explained. I didn't really understand why removing Mina's scars would cause her problems and I am not sure it actually did. What did she sacrifice?

Other than these confusing parts, I loved this story even though much of it was hard to take and very violent. I don't think I could have watched it in a theater setting. Reading it was much easier than seeing it. Mina was a very difficult, tormented, mean and possessed witch, but I cried for her and David too. I suppose this was a twist on beauty and the beast, but much darker. Great read, but I would say read the series in order or you miss much of the whys and hows of the story.