Witch (Doppelganger)

The second book in the doppelganger series. This book is just as enthralling as the first. The story line has changed somewhat with the arrival of Mirei, but the same basic story writing that got me to love the first one still exists. This book has some good ups and downs with some twists that you won't see coming. Brennan does a great job of describing the landscape in a way that you can picture it and create the book in your mind. Awesome sci-fi story that's not your average witch story. Wonderful break from the "everyday" witch stories.

The witch and the warrior become one! You have to read it to find out what happens! :)

I just love redheads and than i read this book and.....WOW! It was great! i even wrote the auther asking for more.

WARRIOR AND WITCH is the stunning sequel to DOPPELGANGER. If one hasn't read DOPPELGANGER, be forewarned that the very plot of WARRIOR AND WITCH is a spoiler for DOPPELGANGER.... Mirei's merger of her Hunter and witch halves, previously named Mirage and Miryo, has caused a great rift in the witch community. Some, such as the Void Ray Prime Satomi, proclaim Mirei as the future when all doppelgangers and witches can be reunited as one whole person rather than the witch killing the doppelganger in order to control her magic. Others, however, see Mirei's very existence as an abomination and are willing to sacrifice all to destroy her. Mirei's strength in her newly found magic will be tested as war erupts within the witch community. Marie Brennan proves once again that she is a master at weaving a compelling story. WARRIOR AND WITCH is a thought-provoking fantasy tale populated with characters who are neither wholly good nor evil but are instead placed in tough situations in which there are no easy answers. The philosophical debate over the splitting of the two halves of the soul also explodes in this sequel but the storyline is not bogged down in this but rather enhanced by it. The action and the metaphysical aspects are cleverly interwoven and unfold gradually through Ms. Brennan's beautiful prose. WARRIOR AND WITCH is not completely a stand alone novel. While Marie Brennan does an excellent job at describing all that the reader needs to know in this sequel, one cannot truly appreciate the split within the witches without having experienced the struggles documented in DOPPELGANGER. A very helpful glossary is included at the back of the book that assists with keeping the multitude of characters and the various ruling titles of the witches straight as it could be overwhelming otherwise. WARRIOR AND WITCH demonstrates the heart of what good fantasy truly is meant to be. Surpassing even her superb DOPPELGANGER in ingenuity, Marie Brennan shows what a gift she has. This reviewer is already eagerly anticipating what next adventure Ms. Brennan has in store for her readers. WARRIOR AND WITCH is highly recommended and easily one of the best fantasy novels published this year! COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

I've been waiting for this one ever since I read Brennan's first book, Doppelganger, and it was worth the wait. Sequels aren't easy to write, but Brennan did a wonderful job. Everything in Warrior & Witch flows out of the events of Doppelganger. The main character, Mirei, has overturned centuries of tradition and religious belief, discovered a new kind of magic, and begun a revolution in how witches and doppelgangers are raised. Unfortunately, not everyone is happy about these changes. W & W sees the witches of Starfall turning against themselves, with Mirei racing to rescue the other doppelgangers from those who would destroy them as abominations. But not all of those doppelgangers are so eager to be rescued, or to lose their individuality. We also learn more about the witches' culture, including the nature of the mysterious Cousins. Mirei explores the limits of Void magic, as well as the duality of her newly-merged self. One of the things that most impresses me about Brennan's writing is her honesty. She has created a fascinating world, and she refuses to shy away from some of the uglier implications of that world. In her first book, the ritual murder of (soulless) infants was a natural outgrowth of the religious beliefs and magical rules of that world. In book two, she continues to write with that same courage. Some terrible things happen, not because the author wants to get an easy, knee-jerk reaction from the readers, but because they must happen. Because the characters in this world are desperate, and it's not just the "evil" characters who sometimes cross the line. Life is rarely as simple as black and white, and Brennan does a masterful job of capturing that messy complexity. I love her characters, both for their courage and for their flaws. There were one or two moments where I was thrown out of the book. A plot thread that seems to disappear for more than half the book before popping up again ... a bit of foreshadowing that felt a little too heavy-handed for me ... but I'm picking nits here. Brennan's first book was good. This one's even better. Sadly, I'm told there are no immediate plans for a third book in the series. But on the bright side, I've also heard the author is hard at work on a different project. I can't wait to read it!