The Coven
By Sioph W. Leal
Willow has been raised as her father’s weapon, to be used against the Coven that took away her father’s sister and his birthright as well as protecting her younger brother from suffering the same fate. Her duties force her to the prestigious Hollow’s Grove University, where the best and the brightest learn to practise their magic, free from human judgement but secrets threaten to tear the school in two while for the first time in fifty years, the Coven will open its doors to the Thirteen. These thirteen are promising students who are destined to change the world.
One of the most compelling aspects of The Coven is how Harper L. Woods creates a vibrant world with a female lead character to match. Willow is a joy to read and while she is a young character, this is balanced by her strong will and her maturity. So many books describe their female lead characters as strong, but often write them constantly doubting themselves or with a victim mentally but thankfully Willow does not fall into that category. Willow shows her strength but it’s her tender side that will have readers rooting for her.
Alaric Grayson Thorne is the headmaster of Hollow’s Grove University and is the perfect addition to Willow. He’s possessive, powerful and brooding, making him the perfect character that you will love to hate! Being tasked with bringing Willow into the world of The Coven, Alaric and Willow have a brilliant repartee, especially when they delve deeper into their tension as Willow tries to uncover the secrets of the past.
The Coven offers a rich, well-thought-out world but while the short chapters speed along the story, it can lead to some plot points to feel a bit rushed. Owing to the short chapters, some plots can feel a little rushed, but that doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of The Coven.
The tension between Willow and Alaric is one of the main draws, Harper L. Woods creates a rich, fleshed out world in The Coven. Within the witch lore, each colour witch has a unique way of accessing their element, which allows the reader to be fully immersed into the world. Adding to that, Harper L. Woods adds a lot of history into the witch lore, which added to the swoon-worthy tension between Willow and Alaric makes The Coven a joy to read.
The Coven offers a rich, well-thought-out world, but some plot points may feel rushed due to short chapters. The tension between Willow and Alaric is a main draw, as is the witch lore that allows readers to be fully immersed into the world.
The Coven releases on October 3rd 2024, pre-orders are now available.