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Night World #9
Witchlight
Shapeshifter Keller meets her match in Iliana Harman, whom she suspects might be the legendary Witch Child--and a rival for her affections with Galen--but she resists her animosity to convince Iliana to join Circle Daybreak. Original.
227 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
54 people are currently reading
2,625 people want to read
About the author
L.J. Smith
301books112kfollowersLisa Jane Smith was an American author of young adult fiction best known for her best-selling series The Vampire Diaries, which has been turned into a successful television show. Her books, particularly The Vampire Diaries and Night World, have been in the New York Times Best Seller list and have been nominated for five awards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
December 6, 2020
31 May 2019
Witchlight is book 9 in the Night World series.
We finally see that the dragons are waking up but they're not on Circle Daybreak's side. And who is the "witch who isn't a witch"??? Maya was a vampire but was previously a witch... Or maybe it is one of Hunter Redfern's daughters: Garnet or Roseclear..???
Now I can't wait for Strange Fate to be released! People have been waiting for more than1520 years for the book!
Witchlight is book 9 in the Night World series.
We finally see that the dragons are waking up but they're not on Circle Daybreak's side. And who is the "witch who isn't a witch"??? Maya was a vampire but was previously a witch... Or maybe it is one of Hunter Redfern's daughters: Garnet or Roseclear..???
Now I can't wait for Strange Fate to be released! People have been waiting for more than
April 18, 2019
This was one my favourites when I first read it which is why I can’t bring myself to give it two stars, but god. It was bad. Quinn and Rashel truly remain the best one.
March 8, 2020
The ninth, and - to date - final installment of L.J. Smith's Night World series, in which a hidden society of vampires, witches and shape-shifters exists alongside the human one, Witchlight tells the story of Keller, a tough-as-nails black panther shape-shifter in the employ of Circle Daybreak. As she struggles to fulfill her mission to protect Iliana Harman, the legendary Witch Child, and the third of the four Wild Powers - beings whose extraordinary abilities will either bring about the end of the world or hold it off - Keller must also contend with her growing feelings for Galen Drache, a son of the First House of the shape-shifters. He may be her destined Soulmate, but Keller knows their love is hopeless, for Galen is promised to Iliana - an alliance between the witches and the shape-shifters that could turn the tide in the coming Night World war...
The third Night World title - after and - to focus on the Wild Powers, and the coming millennial apocalypse (this was published in 1998), Witchlight is also the first to really explore the shape-shifter aspect of Night World society. The history that Smith sets out was interesting, and I found myself wishing that she hadn't waited until so late in the series to include it.
As mentioned in some of my other reviews of the books in this series, Smith's Night World was my first exposure to vampire-fiction, and it remains something of a guilty pleasure. There is certainly quite a bit of "teen cheese" here, but there is also a collection of engaging stories, featuring strong female characters. Keller and Galen's star-crossed love story may be resolved too easily, but it's a lot of fun getting to the conclusion.
My only real complaint is that , the tenth and final installment of the series, which is described as "coming soon" at the back of Witchlight, never materialized. It's been more than ten years, the millennium has passed, and we still don't know how the story ends. For many years I was convinced that this was it, but I recently read that Smith has taken up writing again, after a long hiatus, and that the Night World story will soon be completed! Now that's a book I'm looking forward to reading...
The third Night World title - after and - to focus on the Wild Powers, and the coming millennial apocalypse (this was published in 1998), Witchlight is also the first to really explore the shape-shifter aspect of Night World society. The history that Smith sets out was interesting, and I found myself wishing that she hadn't waited until so late in the series to include it.
As mentioned in some of my other reviews of the books in this series, Smith's Night World was my first exposure to vampire-fiction, and it remains something of a guilty pleasure. There is certainly quite a bit of "teen cheese" here, but there is also a collection of engaging stories, featuring strong female characters. Keller and Galen's star-crossed love story may be resolved too easily, but it's a lot of fun getting to the conclusion.
My only real complaint is that , the tenth and final installment of the series, which is described as "coming soon" at the back of Witchlight, never materialized. It's been more than ten years, the millennium has passed, and we still don't know how the story ends. For many years I was convinced that this was it, but I recently read that Smith has taken up writing again, after a long hiatus, and that the Night World story will soon be completed! Now that's a book I'm looking forward to reading...
May 8, 2024
IL ME FAUT LE 10
S’IL TE PLAÎT LJ SMITH
(Le final et la conclusion de la série, never released à ce jour depuis 1999 selon internet)
S’IL TE PLAÎT LJ SMITH
(Le final et la conclusion de la série, never released à ce jour depuis 1999 selon internet)
March 28, 2021
And here it is the ninth book. It was better than the last. It this book a bunch of Night People find a new Wild Power who refuses to believe them until the very end. In general it was quite an interesting book. But sadly I won't be able to read the last tenth book since I can't find to download it anywhere...
June 22, 2019
Night World
Witchlight
L. J. Smith
The mall was so peaceful. There was no hint of the terrible thing that was about to happen.
Plot.
Keller is a shapeshifter, a panther.
Given the task to find and bring home the third Wild Power, what Keller didn’t expect to find was her soulmate Galen.
Things start getting bad when finding the Wild Power Iliana a stubborn seventeen year old who is refusing to believe that she is the Wild Power, and the Witch Child; she is determined to carry on with her normal life.
This becomes difficult when a Dragon shifter - the most powerful of all the shifters, they can become anything, anyone; has been woken and he’s after the Wild Power.
What I Liked.
It’s usually the male who is strong, but Galen is soft, kind, not a fighter which is refreshing.
It was action packed and fun.
What I Didn’t Like.
It’s the last book, I don’t know what is gonna happen and the wait for Strange Fate is too long.
Overall.
It was an enjoyable read, and I’m sad it’s over, I also would have liked more Keller and Galen together time.
4/5*
Witchlight
L. J. Smith
The mall was so peaceful. There was no hint of the terrible thing that was about to happen.
Plot.
Keller is a shapeshifter, a panther.
Given the task to find and bring home the third Wild Power, what Keller didn’t expect to find was her soulmate Galen.
Things start getting bad when finding the Wild Power Iliana a stubborn seventeen year old who is refusing to believe that she is the Wild Power, and the Witch Child; she is determined to carry on with her normal life.
This becomes difficult when a Dragon shifter - the most powerful of all the shifters, they can become anything, anyone; has been woken and he’s after the Wild Power.
What I Liked.
It’s usually the male who is strong, but Galen is soft, kind, not a fighter which is refreshing.
It was action packed and fun.
What I Didn’t Like.
It’s the last book, I don’t know what is gonna happen and the wait for Strange Fate is too long.
Overall.
It was an enjoyable read, and I’m sad it’s over, I also would have liked more Keller and Galen together time.
4/5*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2012
4.5 stars.
A half-shapeshifter, a witch, and a vampire walk into a mall...it sounds like the start of a bad joke but it's actually the start of this book which was anything but bad.
Keller is a half-shapeshifter, she and her two other friends/partners a witch and vampire, are a part of Circle Daybreak and are on the trail of the third Wild Power, Iliana Harman, who is also the lost Witch Child. The WP has been tracked down to a mall, however the Night World is also hot on the WP's trail.
A fight occurs between the agents CD and NW, while trying to protect the WP an unknown teenage boy, named Galen, gets involved and, to Keller's annoyance, won't go away. Nothing is going how Keller planned it, Iliana is freaking out and she's too soft, too sweet, and too ditzy to be of any use.
There is a prophecy that mentions the Witch Child and someone from the royal? shapeshifting family would be betrothed, form an alliance and bring the shapeshifters over to the side of Circle Daybreak, which help them when the apocaplyse comes. Turns out Galen is part of that shapeshifting family and is supposed to be betrothred to Iliana.
This becomes a problem when it's clear that Galen and Keller feel a pull toward one another. However both, despite the soulmate principle fight the urge and Keller continues to protect Iliana while Galen accepts that he will be promised to Iliana.
There's plenty of action in this installment. The group is almost always on the run or planning something and it keeps the plot and the story moving well. The romance is also well paced and it's there enough to feel the pain Galen and Keller feel being apart without it being at the forefront all the time.
At first I wasn't a huge fan of Iliana but there were little moments here and there where I could see that as I read I'd grow to like her. I liked Keller from the start, she was a character I was instantly with and behind. Galen is probably one of my top 3 least favorite males in the entire series but he's still a good character. Also loved the cast of characters surrounding these three, it was a great supporting team.
Well, my reread is officially complete. I've enjoyed reading the nine books that are currently out again, although a couple in the series haven't been great this has ended on a good note, so far we'll see when Strange Fate comes out if it's really a strong finish.
With Strange Fate continually being delayed who knows when we'll finally get that last installment. I've been expecting SF for the last four or five years, ever since LJS's books were being reissued. However I will happily read it whenever it does come out.
-----
Top 3 Favorite Books in the series
1.
2.
3.
A half-shapeshifter, a witch, and a vampire walk into a mall...it sounds like the start of a bad joke but it's actually the start of this book which was anything but bad.
Keller is a half-shapeshifter, she and her two other friends/partners a witch and vampire, are a part of Circle Daybreak and are on the trail of the third Wild Power, Iliana Harman, who is also the lost Witch Child. The WP has been tracked down to a mall, however the Night World is also hot on the WP's trail.
A fight occurs between the agents CD and NW, while trying to protect the WP an unknown teenage boy, named Galen, gets involved and, to Keller's annoyance, won't go away. Nothing is going how Keller planned it, Iliana is freaking out and she's too soft, too sweet, and too ditzy to be of any use.
There is a prophecy that mentions the Witch Child and someone from the royal? shapeshifting family would be betrothed, form an alliance and bring the shapeshifters over to the side of Circle Daybreak, which help them when the apocaplyse comes. Turns out Galen is part of that shapeshifting family and is supposed to be betrothred to Iliana.
This becomes a problem when it's clear that Galen and Keller feel a pull toward one another. However both, despite the soulmate principle fight the urge and Keller continues to protect Iliana while Galen accepts that he will be promised to Iliana.
There's plenty of action in this installment. The group is almost always on the run or planning something and it keeps the plot and the story moving well. The romance is also well paced and it's there enough to feel the pain Galen and Keller feel being apart without it being at the forefront all the time.
At first I wasn't a huge fan of Iliana but there were little moments here and there where I could see that as I read I'd grow to like her. I liked Keller from the start, she was a character I was instantly with and behind. Galen is probably one of my top 3 least favorite males in the entire series but he's still a good character. Also loved the cast of characters surrounding these three, it was a great supporting team.
Well, my reread is officially complete. I've enjoyed reading the nine books that are currently out again, although a couple in the series haven't been great this has ended on a good note, so far we'll see when Strange Fate comes out if it's really a strong finish.
With Strange Fate continually being delayed who knows when we'll finally get that last installment. I've been expecting SF for the last four or five years, ever since LJS's books were being reissued. However I will happily read it whenever it does come out.
-----
Top 3 Favorite Books in the series
1.
2.
3.
December 7, 2009
Night World #9: Witchlight, by L. J. Smith
Wow. I couldn't stop turning the pages of this book last night, and ended up staying up late to finish it because I just *had* to know how it was going to end!
Keller is a shapeshifter; "Witchlight" is the only book in the Night World series to be told from a 'shifter's perspective. I wish at least another of the protagonists in the previous books had been a shapeshifter, as I enjoyed Keller's point of view so much.
Like all the girls before her, Keller is a kick ass, take no nonsense kind of main character. She's the boss of a small security team made up of herself, a vampire, and a witch. They belong to Circle Daybreak and have been tasked to protect the most recently identified Wild Power.
Iliana Harman is Keller's opposite in every way. She's soft-hearted, ditzy, immersed in her family, friends, and school life. She's never had to fight. But all that's about to change when Iliana is thought to be the lost Witch Child as well as a Wild Power. And as the Witch Child, she's been prophesied to marry the First Son of the House of Shapeshifters, to cement an alliance between the witches and 'shifters.
There's a lot going on in "Witchlight." The action is jam-packed and pretty nonstop, as Keller and her team try to protect Iliana, figure out how to fight an awakened dragon, and convince Iliana to accept her destiny. There's one big problem with the potential alliance though...Iliana's future husband is actually Keller's soulmate. It's quite a tangle, but provides Smith with opportunities for character growth. I really didn't care for Iliana at all when the novel started, but by the end I liked her.
I enjoyed "Witchlight" quite a bit, and I'm happy that I'm reading it now, when the sequel novel will finally be coming out. In 1998 Smith left her fans with quite a cliffhanger, and left them there for a decade. But "Strange Fate" is finally slated to be published in 2010 and I hope it is because now I'm rather anxious to find out how Smith will tie everything together that she's created over the course of the first 9 books.
4/5.
Wow. I couldn't stop turning the pages of this book last night, and ended up staying up late to finish it because I just *had* to know how it was going to end!
Keller is a shapeshifter; "Witchlight" is the only book in the Night World series to be told from a 'shifter's perspective. I wish at least another of the protagonists in the previous books had been a shapeshifter, as I enjoyed Keller's point of view so much.
Like all the girls before her, Keller is a kick ass, take no nonsense kind of main character. She's the boss of a small security team made up of herself, a vampire, and a witch. They belong to Circle Daybreak and have been tasked to protect the most recently identified Wild Power.
Iliana Harman is Keller's opposite in every way. She's soft-hearted, ditzy, immersed in her family, friends, and school life. She's never had to fight. But all that's about to change when Iliana is thought to be the lost Witch Child as well as a Wild Power. And as the Witch Child, she's been prophesied to marry the First Son of the House of Shapeshifters, to cement an alliance between the witches and 'shifters.
There's a lot going on in "Witchlight." The action is jam-packed and pretty nonstop, as Keller and her team try to protect Iliana, figure out how to fight an awakened dragon, and convince Iliana to accept her destiny. There's one big problem with the potential alliance though...Iliana's future husband is actually Keller's soulmate. It's quite a tangle, but provides Smith with opportunities for character growth. I really didn't care for Iliana at all when the novel started, but by the end I liked her.
I enjoyed "Witchlight" quite a bit, and I'm happy that I'm reading it now, when the sequel novel will finally be coming out. In 1998 Smith left her fans with quite a cliffhanger, and left them there for a decade. But "Strange Fate" is finally slated to be published in 2010 and I hope it is because now I'm rather anxious to find out how Smith will tie everything together that she's created over the course of the first 9 books.
4/5.
July 26, 2017
4 Stars:
Each story has built to the climatic end. However, it still leaves you wanting more and more.
The series has been about vampires, witches, shape shifters, and the humans who know about them. However, don't be turned off if this isn't typically your thing. They are more love stories between teenagers who happen to be supernatural beings than they are books about supernatural beings who happen to fall in love. The characters are easy to relate to because they have the same types of problems that normal teenagers have.
Among some of my favorites. Outstanding literary work. The characters are well developed, interesting. The liked characters are likable and the hated are unlikable. The writing is captivating enough to keep you interested until the end and leave you wanting more. It has a fairly original or uniquely well-developed plot. The pretense and romance were well balanced and done with properly distributed amounts of hints, behaviors, and chemistry. Not so much predictable if at all. Overall, loved it, I recommend reading!!
Full Disclosure : I participate in reviews with NetGalley, Author Review Requests, Publisher Requests, and Book Tours. An e-copy was provided to me by NetGalley and/or the Author, and/or the publishers. No payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was not any obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist, or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Each story has built to the climatic end. However, it still leaves you wanting more and more.
The series has been about vampires, witches, shape shifters, and the humans who know about them. However, don't be turned off if this isn't typically your thing. They are more love stories between teenagers who happen to be supernatural beings than they are books about supernatural beings who happen to fall in love. The characters are easy to relate to because they have the same types of problems that normal teenagers have.
Among some of my favorites. Outstanding literary work. The characters are well developed, interesting. The liked characters are likable and the hated are unlikable. The writing is captivating enough to keep you interested until the end and leave you wanting more. It has a fairly original or uniquely well-developed plot. The pretense and romance were well balanced and done with properly distributed amounts of hints, behaviors, and chemistry. Not so much predictable if at all. Overall, loved it, I recommend reading!!
Full Disclosure : I participate in reviews with NetGalley, Author Review Requests, Publisher Requests, and Book Tours. An e-copy was provided to me by NetGalley and/or the Author, and/or the publishers. No payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was not any obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist, or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
February 8, 2011
I got into this story from the first page - the whole thing was like a rollercoaster ride of plot and emotions. Keller was such an awesome character, with her own strengths and weaknesses, and I really believed in the story here. The concept of being a dragon is just too awesome to comprehend - I found myself shivering when I read the parts about their past. Totally wish I had that power - wish that there could have been more development or more exploration of that ancient being, or even for some kind of romance - how awesome would it have been if the dragon had had a soul mate?
I thought that Iliana was a pretty cool character too - her refusal to accept her destiny was very realistic - if she had agreed straight out then that would've taken a lot of the fire out of her character. I think I liked her more because of her resilience to accept the truth despite having almost died twice before the girls come to stay with her.
There is so much action, so many complimentary and clashing personalities that created such a vibrant atmosphere and kept me reading from beginning to the end - dropping all of my current workload to do so! This is the first shapeshifter story in the Night World series and LJ Smith has done a wonderful job here. Bring on Strange Fate!
I thought that Iliana was a pretty cool character too - her refusal to accept her destiny was very realistic - if she had agreed straight out then that would've taken a lot of the fire out of her character. I think I liked her more because of her resilience to accept the truth despite having almost died twice before the girls come to stay with her.
There is so much action, so many complimentary and clashing personalities that created such a vibrant atmosphere and kept me reading from beginning to the end - dropping all of my current workload to do so! This is the first shapeshifter story in the Night World series and LJ Smith has done a wonderful job here. Bring on Strange Fate!
June 23, 2017
Ну наконец-то книга про оборотней. Последняя (пока, а возможно и последняя на самом деле) в серии.
Схема та же: берем даму в беде, добавляем парня спасающего ее, придаем эффект "короткого замыкания", короче, искры, не забываем наделить этих ребят не совсем человеческим ДНК, так же создаем вокруг них фон, то есть сюжетную линию, и добавляем фону масовки то есть друзей и злодеев. Втискиваем все повествование в временные рамки максимум до 7 дней и вуаля книга готова.
Весь цикл книг о Царстве ночи строится на двух простых принципах: наличие нечисти и духовной связи между персонажами, неважно какой они расы, чем больше они различные - тем трагичнее история. Незатейливый сюжет и краткость повествования.
Легке чтиво для расслабления.
Схема та же: берем даму в беде, добавляем парня спасающего ее, придаем эффект "короткого замыкания", короче, искры, не забываем наделить этих ребят не совсем человеческим ДНК, так же создаем вокруг них фон, то есть сюжетную линию, и добавляем фону масовки то есть друзей и злодеев. Втискиваем все повествование в временные рамки максимум до 7 дней и вуаля книга готова.
Весь цикл книг о Царстве ночи строится на двух простых принципах: наличие нечисти и духовной связи между персонажами, неважно какой они расы, чем больше они различные - тем трагичнее история. Незатейливый сюжет и краткость повествования.
Легке чтиво для расслабления.
August 12, 2007
The final (not really, but since the real final book hasn't come out, this is pretty much what this one has to be referred to as) book in the Night World series.
This book again goes into the Wild Powers topic, showing the importance of them in order to save the world.
This book added a lot more interesting races to the Night World, mostly the shapeshifters as it went more in depth about their powers.
This book again goes into the Wild Powers topic, showing the importance of them in order to save the world.
This book added a lot more interesting races to the Night World, mostly the shapeshifters as it went more in depth about their powers.
August 31, 2020
This was pretty good and I was glad that Iliana
May 26, 2022
This is the Night World book I know least well. It was one of my favourites to re-visit.
February 12, 2019
Okay I teared up at one point in this book which is a huge feat for this series considering how poorly I've liked the majority (like 1/3 of the books are decent and the other 2/3 are either just passable or wretched).
Also, the blurb is wrong. Keller is in love with her soulmate who is promised to a Wild Power who has fallen in love with him and it's an integral alliance, so like, this isn't her like one-sidedly loving someone else's soulmate it's that she and her soulmate have an obstacle in the way of them being together.
See, that detail is kind of important so, fuck whoever wrote that shitty ass blurb. This is a major publishing company and this book has been edited and reprinted like 3 times, how to do you leave an error in like that?
Anyway this is also the end of the series because it's been 20 years and Strange Fate, which is like, the final Wild Power and the Big Battle Of Things story to tie together these last 9 books and all they've tried to build up, will probably never be published and at this point I don't care because, based on the way the first nine books were, the final one will be pretty predictable and simplistic--if it's ever written and every published. There's like a short preview that exists out in the world and it had a cover made twice; once for the 90's release that never happened and then for the like 2010 release that was supposed to happen, but since the 2016 reprint doesn't seem to have one made for it I'm just gonna assume it's never happening.
Anyway, that's 9 books down. Go me! Not even finished with February and I'm at 25 books completed. I'm on FIRE in 2019!
Also, the blurb is wrong. Keller is in love with her soulmate who is promised to a Wild Power who has fallen in love with him and it's an integral alliance, so like, this isn't her like one-sidedly loving someone else's soulmate it's that she and her soulmate have an obstacle in the way of them being together.
See, that detail is kind of important so, fuck whoever wrote that shitty ass blurb. This is a major publishing company and this book has been edited and reprinted like 3 times, how to do you leave an error in like that?
Anyway this is also the end of the series because it's been 20 years and Strange Fate, which is like, the final Wild Power and the Big Battle Of Things story to tie together these last 9 books and all they've tried to build up, will probably never be published and at this point I don't care because, based on the way the first nine books were, the final one will be pretty predictable and simplistic--if it's ever written and every published. There's like a short preview that exists out in the world and it had a cover made twice; once for the 90's release that never happened and then for the like 2010 release that was supposed to happen, but since the 2016 reprint doesn't seem to have one made for it I'm just gonna assume it's never happening.
Anyway, that's 9 books down. Go me! Not even finished with February and I'm at 25 books completed. I'm on FIRE in 2019!
June 27, 2021
So I've never actually read a book about shapeshifters, unless you count like.....werewolves. This was not for me. I probably won't be reading other shapeshifter books anytime soon.
Keller is as sleek as a panther, even in human form. She and her team are on a mission to locate and protect the fourth and final Wild Power. Which isn't easy to do when you're searching for a teenage girl in a shopping mall while shoppers hunt for their last minute Christmas gifts. But somehow they spot her, well they actually spot other Night People who are also following the girl.
Now Iliana, isn't just a Wild Power, she's also the lost Witch Child. The Witch Child is fated to save the world by falling in love with an original member of the Shapeshifters House, Galen. Oh, and he's at the mall while all this is going down too.
I don't know why my brain accepts vampires, werewolves, and witches but refuses to acknowledge dragons. Like as soon as a dragon was spotted I snorted and thought "Yeah, right. A freaking dragon."
This one was just a lot. As far as the soulmate romance aspect of it, it wasn't a bad romance. It felt real, well until the dragon popped up again.
Anyway! Full series review posted on
Keller is as sleek as a panther, even in human form. She and her team are on a mission to locate and protect the fourth and final Wild Power. Which isn't easy to do when you're searching for a teenage girl in a shopping mall while shoppers hunt for their last minute Christmas gifts. But somehow they spot her, well they actually spot other Night People who are also following the girl.
Now Iliana, isn't just a Wild Power, she's also the lost Witch Child. The Witch Child is fated to save the world by falling in love with an original member of the Shapeshifters House, Galen. Oh, and he's at the mall while all this is going down too.
I don't know why my brain accepts vampires, werewolves, and witches but refuses to acknowledge dragons. Like as soon as a dragon was spotted I snorted and thought "Yeah, right. A freaking dragon."
This one was just a lot. As far as the soulmate romance aspect of it, it wasn't a bad romance. It felt real, well until the dragon popped up again.
Anyway! Full series review posted on
June 21, 2023
I loved this book. Keller, Ilianana and Galen were brilliant. Iliana ||really suprised me in the end, when she sets her mind on something she really doesn't hesitate, she was so brave||. Galen was not quite as strong a character as the girls but ||the sacrifice he made was so immense||. Keller reminded me a little of Jez, such a jaded outlook for life, like her though all she needed was people there for her who could pull her into the light. ||The Dragon suprised me, I was endlessly on the lookout for one of the characters having a pet or something, I didn't even consider he could become a human||. The only problem I had with this book is that it in no way finishes off the series and currently while I'm writing this book 10 has not been released, its been over 20 years and while there has been a rumor of one as long as I can remember it still means I can't currently find out how the series ends.
January 23, 2020
This book was so exciting, can’t wait to get the last one in the series and see what happens!
February 17, 2020
Una entrega más del Night World. En su línea, entretenido hasta el final. El rollo de las almas gemelas me gusta mucho así que es por eso que sigo con esta saga.
March 1, 2024
Before I get into the review of the actual book...just a few thoughts.
The Night World series by L.J. Smith has been a really good series to read and I would say it is on par with The Vampire Diaries since so far these series by her are the only ones I have read.
There has always supposed to have been an epic final conclusion in the book Strange Fate as the last book hyped up in Witchlight at the beginning of 1998.
Smith had a lot of personal things going on in her life so I can understand why putting it off was essential. Then The Vampire Diaries got turned into a TV series along the lines of The Secret Circle also getting an adaptation for television so interest in her works grew.
A sequel series to TVD books got written but then publishing went crazy clashing with what they wanted versus what Smith wanted to do with her characters and ghostwriters have been continuing both TVD and TSC without Smith's involvement.
Strange Fate may never come out unless 2030 as sited here on ŷ is true...
That out of the way it is nice that Witchlight gives us more of an insight to the shapeshifters as most of the other books are still big on witches and vampires. Werewolves don't seem to get a lot of focus but I think the shapeshifters are a little more interesting.
Our main character is a girl named Raksha Keller but she goes by her last name...her given name means demon so who could blame her right? She is a shapeshifter who can go full on Cat People as a black panther or even be a half panther-half human with a tail and claws.
She is already a player in Circle Daybreak as she has been raised since she was a child by those who tolerate her being a shapeshifter but has seen many different homes due to her animal instincts getting the better of her. Her birth mother abandoned her for unknown reasons but Keller is not optimistic that it was for any positive reason.
With all of this prophecy about the end of the world and the Wild Powers, Keller is in charge of a team sent out to find the next potential power. Her name is Illiana Harman and she is a lost witch but also supposed to be the Witch Child they have all been looking for.
Keller, a vampire named Nissa and a witch named Winnie are to bring Illiana to the witch leader and put her under protection of Circle Daybreak with the other Wild Powers who have already been located. It is said that the Witch Child will be promised to the heir of the First House of Shapeshifters and align them as witches and shapeshifters have never really gotten along.
In the current state of the Night World, Circle Daybreak needs the shapeshifters on the side of good to save the world instead of siding with the vampires and evil witches to make sure that humans don't survive.
Illiana is at a mall where the trio track her down, the three young women the best of their respective races. Unfortunately, Keller finds that the bad vampires are also their trying to get to Illiana too in the guise of being handsome young boys flirting and such.
Keller is frightfully fascinated that one of the young men is the most ancient of the shapeshifters that have not been seen in thousands of years. In class of what species they can change into...it's dragons.
He is a dragon.
When Winnie is not satisfied that these unworthy creatures even touch a witch as illustrious as a Harman, the plan goes bonkers as the dragon throws out a very powerful blast of dark energy in a crowded store of humans. Winnie is sent flying and Keller has no choice but to go into panther mode to try and defeat him in his human body before he goes all scaly.
Keller almost kills him but is stopped when a handsome young man comes out of nowhere and is able to subdue her huge panther body with pressure points and telepathically telling her to stop.
Keller is not at all amused that this boy has put himself in her way of killing one of the first dragons seen in centuries and insisting that he stay with Illiana, who has been watching in shock and then faints into his arms.
Police called and humans running around in panic, the group have no choice but to flee to the safe house with an unconscious Illiana and their unwanted guest who tells them that his name is Galen.
In the limo they were driving when Illiana wakes up, she goes all screaming in panic because she has just been kidnapped by a group of strangers where one of them turned into a full grown jungle cat! They try to explain things to her with Keller the most serious but Illiana is in full on denial mode as well as being a full on pain despite a handsome blond boy being the most gentle with his input.
Later that night, Grandma Harman arrives at the safe house to see for herself the young girl who is a descendant of their great line, the lost Witch Child and a Wild Power in one.
Illiana is only slightly intrigued when her ancestor Elspeth is brought up but she still goes into denial that she is a witch or anything out of the ordinary, complete with babbling on about dances and parties since she is still only seventeen going to high school like a normal teenager.
Despite her high rank, Keller isn't going along with any of the suggestions Grandma Harman makes about handling Illiana's resistance as she takes her job very personal knowing the stakes are high to get the witches and shapeshifters to align. She is quickly changing her objectives when it is revealed just who Galen really is and why he suddenly showed up.
He is Galen Drache, the heir of the First House of Shapeshifters, who is supposed to be promised to Illiana as the Witch Child and untie them. He wanted to see Illiana and try to talk with her before being just thrown together in a promise ceremony on the night of the Winter Solstice which is supposed to be the following Saturday.
Keller begrudgingly shows Galen respect when some dark vampire ninjas and the dragon show up to try and grab Illiana. Galen wants to make sure that Grandma Harman doesn't get hurt and then the whole building goes to pieces on top of Keller over top of Galen over top the older witch.
When Keller comes back from the ton of bricks knocking her out, she finds that Grandma Harman is safely going back to Las Vegas to report to Circle Daybreak but another bunch of news that does not leave her wanting much to purr about.
Illiana's mother Anna has gotten some magic whammy done on her brain where Keller, Nissa, Winne and Galen are supposed to be Harman cousins from Canada visiting for Christmas.
All of them are in charge of keeping an eye on Illiana because she still wants to go to school and go to a party for her best friend Jamie's birthday on Saturday...same night as the Promise Ceremony that has to be done before midnight.
If not, the shapeshifters may go along with the vampires and evil witches to destroy the world.
One thing I can't go without mentioning because it brought a smile to my face is that Illiana has a baby brother named Alex, who also seems to have witch blood. Why is that?
It seems that he knows Keller is basically just a big kitty because he uses baby talk words for both kitty and pretty towards Keller and takes a special liking to her. It is just too adorable not to find it charming since I am a mommy or the fact that it seems to be sort of wearing Keller down enough to smile.
That bit of warmth aside, Keller soon realizes that she and Galen have a connection to one another and not just because they are both shapeshifters.
What are you supposed to do when your soulmate is promised to someone else in an act that could save the entire world from destruction? It may be a big problem but not as big when other forces are out to get Illiana and put everyone she knows and cares about in danger...
Things start to get out of hand and take some very dark turns that I didn't think would happen but it makes the gravity of the situation even more prominent than just a love triangle or a fish out of water bodyguard scenario.
Despite her initial personality, Illiana is just as complex as Keller and even Galen in figuring out who they really are. Nissa and Winnie are just as important to the plot but they don't seem to be given much of a backstory to causes a growth or development of them as characters.
As we get to the climax, it is no longer a comedy or romantic teen drama but a full on fantasy fight pitting good against evil. The ending of the final act is full of hope and promise and friendships being forged alongside alliances but Witchlight is literally a cliffhanger that may not be resolved...
Despite that and how the tease of Strange Fate is dangled in front of us at the end, I have to give Witchlight and the Night World series as a whole five glorious stars.
The Night World series by L.J. Smith has been a really good series to read and I would say it is on par with The Vampire Diaries since so far these series by her are the only ones I have read.
There has always supposed to have been an epic final conclusion in the book Strange Fate as the last book hyped up in Witchlight at the beginning of 1998.
Smith had a lot of personal things going on in her life so I can understand why putting it off was essential. Then The Vampire Diaries got turned into a TV series along the lines of The Secret Circle also getting an adaptation for television so interest in her works grew.
A sequel series to TVD books got written but then publishing went crazy clashing with what they wanted versus what Smith wanted to do with her characters and ghostwriters have been continuing both TVD and TSC without Smith's involvement.
Strange Fate may never come out unless 2030 as sited here on ŷ is true...
That out of the way it is nice that Witchlight gives us more of an insight to the shapeshifters as most of the other books are still big on witches and vampires. Werewolves don't seem to get a lot of focus but I think the shapeshifters are a little more interesting.
Our main character is a girl named Raksha Keller but she goes by her last name...her given name means demon so who could blame her right? She is a shapeshifter who can go full on Cat People as a black panther or even be a half panther-half human with a tail and claws.
She is already a player in Circle Daybreak as she has been raised since she was a child by those who tolerate her being a shapeshifter but has seen many different homes due to her animal instincts getting the better of her. Her birth mother abandoned her for unknown reasons but Keller is not optimistic that it was for any positive reason.
With all of this prophecy about the end of the world and the Wild Powers, Keller is in charge of a team sent out to find the next potential power. Her name is Illiana Harman and she is a lost witch but also supposed to be the Witch Child they have all been looking for.
Keller, a vampire named Nissa and a witch named Winnie are to bring Illiana to the witch leader and put her under protection of Circle Daybreak with the other Wild Powers who have already been located. It is said that the Witch Child will be promised to the heir of the First House of Shapeshifters and align them as witches and shapeshifters have never really gotten along.
In the current state of the Night World, Circle Daybreak needs the shapeshifters on the side of good to save the world instead of siding with the vampires and evil witches to make sure that humans don't survive.
Illiana is at a mall where the trio track her down, the three young women the best of their respective races. Unfortunately, Keller finds that the bad vampires are also their trying to get to Illiana too in the guise of being handsome young boys flirting and such.
Keller is frightfully fascinated that one of the young men is the most ancient of the shapeshifters that have not been seen in thousands of years. In class of what species they can change into...it's dragons.
He is a dragon.
When Winnie is not satisfied that these unworthy creatures even touch a witch as illustrious as a Harman, the plan goes bonkers as the dragon throws out a very powerful blast of dark energy in a crowded store of humans. Winnie is sent flying and Keller has no choice but to go into panther mode to try and defeat him in his human body before he goes all scaly.
Keller almost kills him but is stopped when a handsome young man comes out of nowhere and is able to subdue her huge panther body with pressure points and telepathically telling her to stop.
Keller is not at all amused that this boy has put himself in her way of killing one of the first dragons seen in centuries and insisting that he stay with Illiana, who has been watching in shock and then faints into his arms.
Police called and humans running around in panic, the group have no choice but to flee to the safe house with an unconscious Illiana and their unwanted guest who tells them that his name is Galen.
In the limo they were driving when Illiana wakes up, she goes all screaming in panic because she has just been kidnapped by a group of strangers where one of them turned into a full grown jungle cat! They try to explain things to her with Keller the most serious but Illiana is in full on denial mode as well as being a full on pain despite a handsome blond boy being the most gentle with his input.
Later that night, Grandma Harman arrives at the safe house to see for herself the young girl who is a descendant of their great line, the lost Witch Child and a Wild Power in one.
Illiana is only slightly intrigued when her ancestor Elspeth is brought up but she still goes into denial that she is a witch or anything out of the ordinary, complete with babbling on about dances and parties since she is still only seventeen going to high school like a normal teenager.
Despite her high rank, Keller isn't going along with any of the suggestions Grandma Harman makes about handling Illiana's resistance as she takes her job very personal knowing the stakes are high to get the witches and shapeshifters to align. She is quickly changing her objectives when it is revealed just who Galen really is and why he suddenly showed up.
He is Galen Drache, the heir of the First House of Shapeshifters, who is supposed to be promised to Illiana as the Witch Child and untie them. He wanted to see Illiana and try to talk with her before being just thrown together in a promise ceremony on the night of the Winter Solstice which is supposed to be the following Saturday.
Keller begrudgingly shows Galen respect when some dark vampire ninjas and the dragon show up to try and grab Illiana. Galen wants to make sure that Grandma Harman doesn't get hurt and then the whole building goes to pieces on top of Keller over top of Galen over top the older witch.
When Keller comes back from the ton of bricks knocking her out, she finds that Grandma Harman is safely going back to Las Vegas to report to Circle Daybreak but another bunch of news that does not leave her wanting much to purr about.
Illiana's mother Anna has gotten some magic whammy done on her brain where Keller, Nissa, Winne and Galen are supposed to be Harman cousins from Canada visiting for Christmas.
All of them are in charge of keeping an eye on Illiana because she still wants to go to school and go to a party for her best friend Jamie's birthday on Saturday...same night as the Promise Ceremony that has to be done before midnight.
If not, the shapeshifters may go along with the vampires and evil witches to destroy the world.
One thing I can't go without mentioning because it brought a smile to my face is that Illiana has a baby brother named Alex, who also seems to have witch blood. Why is that?
It seems that he knows Keller is basically just a big kitty because he uses baby talk words for both kitty and pretty towards Keller and takes a special liking to her. It is just too adorable not to find it charming since I am a mommy or the fact that it seems to be sort of wearing Keller down enough to smile.
That bit of warmth aside, Keller soon realizes that she and Galen have a connection to one another and not just because they are both shapeshifters.
What are you supposed to do when your soulmate is promised to someone else in an act that could save the entire world from destruction? It may be a big problem but not as big when other forces are out to get Illiana and put everyone she knows and cares about in danger...
Things start to get out of hand and take some very dark turns that I didn't think would happen but it makes the gravity of the situation even more prominent than just a love triangle or a fish out of water bodyguard scenario.
Despite her initial personality, Illiana is just as complex as Keller and even Galen in figuring out who they really are. Nissa and Winnie are just as important to the plot but they don't seem to be given much of a backstory to causes a growth or development of them as characters.
As we get to the climax, it is no longer a comedy or romantic teen drama but a full on fantasy fight pitting good against evil. The ending of the final act is full of hope and promise and friendships being forged alongside alliances but Witchlight is literally a cliffhanger that may not be resolved...
Despite that and how the tease of Strange Fate is dangled in front of us at the end, I have to give Witchlight and the Night World series as a whole five glorious stars.
November 13, 2021
Witchlight is one of my favorites even upon re-read, and I don't really know why. I guess I like Keller and Galen a lot, all of the characters really. Even Iliana was quite sweet in the end and likable. You just grow really found of the characters and the story. The story was one of the strongest in the NightWorld series along with the characters and I enjoyed it. It was one of my favorites when child and upon re-read as an adult loved it just as much.
Only 2 things for me slightly spoiled/overshadowed it from being perfect -
1) I wish Galen would have showed a bit more visible unhappiness when about to marry Iliana, we knew he looked at Keller before looking set at the crowd, but to me personally I didn't pick up that that was upset, I don't know if it was written that way though. I would have liked a bit more obvious reluctance/upset just to demonstrate his love for Keller in that moment more.
I actually found Galen and Keller really convincing as a couple so I didn't care that the connection was "instalove" for some. I find if the chemistry of the couple is right it doesn't matter how instant it is. I can see why he loved her and why she felt the same, it was very oppsoites attract but in a good way
2) The whole thing made me so excited and crave for Strange Fate and wish so much that I could read it..of course 25 years on and no sign of it. It's cool, I've accepted along with anyone else that we're never getting Strange Fate, but reading Witchlight and really enjoying the story and becoming entrhalling in NightWorld much more, especially on Witchlight, sort of makes the unhappening of Strange Fate super disappointing and sad. I think if I hadn't re-read this amazing series especially ending with Witchlight, it wouldn't feel as bad about SF as it does now.
Only 2 things for me slightly spoiled/overshadowed it from being perfect -
1) I wish Galen would have showed a bit more visible unhappiness when about to marry Iliana, we knew he looked at Keller before looking set at the crowd, but to me personally I didn't pick up that that was upset, I don't know if it was written that way though. I would have liked a bit more obvious reluctance/upset just to demonstrate his love for Keller in that moment more.
I actually found Galen and Keller really convincing as a couple so I didn't care that the connection was "instalove" for some. I find if the chemistry of the couple is right it doesn't matter how instant it is. I can see why he loved her and why she felt the same, it was very oppsoites attract but in a good way
2) The whole thing made me so excited and crave for Strange Fate and wish so much that I could read it..of course 25 years on and no sign of it. It's cool, I've accepted along with anyone else that we're never getting Strange Fate, but reading Witchlight and really enjoying the story and becoming entrhalling in NightWorld much more, especially on Witchlight, sort of makes the unhappening of Strange Fate super disappointing and sad. I think if I hadn't re-read this amazing series especially ending with Witchlight, it wouldn't feel as bad about SF as it does now.
June 3, 2024
What LJ Smith's publishers thought she was writing: Another het romance, huzzah!
What LJ Smith herself and her readers knew she was writing: An enemies to lovers lesbian romance, where the guy is just kind of there.
Anyway, this was another one that I had kind of mixed memories of but that I REALLY enjoyed as an adult. The technical romance is a bit weak, but as I said above that's barely the point of the book. The truly important dynamic is between Keller and Iliana, and that is EXCELLENTLY done.
And so I'm done rereading the entire Night World series! You know, unless Strange Fate barrels in 20 years late and upends everything. I absolutely loved it as an experience. Technically these are just trashy teen romances, but they have a lot of depth to them and a lot of strong female characters. And it's so interesting to see a romance novel series that has absolutely no focus on having children, especially in the nineties!
Teenage!me is very content right now.
What LJ Smith herself and her readers knew she was writing: An enemies to lovers lesbian romance, where the guy is just kind of there.
Anyway, this was another one that I had kind of mixed memories of but that I REALLY enjoyed as an adult. The technical romance is a bit weak, but as I said above that's barely the point of the book. The truly important dynamic is between Keller and Iliana, and that is EXCELLENTLY done.
And so I'm done rereading the entire Night World series! You know, unless Strange Fate barrels in 20 years late and upends everything. I absolutely loved it as an experience. Technically these are just trashy teen romances, but they have a lot of depth to them and a lot of strong female characters. And it's so interesting to see a romance novel series that has absolutely no focus on having children, especially in the nineties!
Teenage!me is very content right now.
February 11, 2015
3.5 STARS
"Keller is a black panther. She will do whatever it takes to survive. Keller meets her match when she’s hired to protect Iliana Harman, a blond ditz whose only concerns are clothes, boys, and parties. Can Iliana be the legendary Witch Child, one who can fend off the end of the world? Galen, the gorgeous boy destined to be the Witch Child’s soulmate, and Keller are falling in love, but it’s a love that will destroy everything. Keller knows she has to give him up � but her heart won’t listen.
Meanwhile, the Night World is closing in, to kill all three of them." (From Amazon)
A great paranormal romance series. For fans of Twilight and Christopher Pike.
"Keller is a black panther. She will do whatever it takes to survive. Keller meets her match when she’s hired to protect Iliana Harman, a blond ditz whose only concerns are clothes, boys, and parties. Can Iliana be the legendary Witch Child, one who can fend off the end of the world? Galen, the gorgeous boy destined to be the Witch Child’s soulmate, and Keller are falling in love, but it’s a love that will destroy everything. Keller knows she has to give him up � but her heart won’t listen.
Meanwhile, the Night World is closing in, to kill all three of them." (From Amazon)
A great paranormal romance series. For fans of Twilight and Christopher Pike.
December 23, 2015
Source: I own a bind up of books 7-9 of this series.
Cost: Free gift
Title: Witchlight
Series: Night World #9
Author: LJ Smith
Overall Rating: 4 stars
I liked this one a lot, but still not enough to call it a favourite. I love the whole Wild Powers story arc as it gives this series a purpose, which it was kind of void of for the first few books.
I think Keller might be one of my favourite female leads and I really enjoyed the action-y nature of this book, she was definitely a take no nonsense kind of girl, but I don't know if I liked the love story of her and Galen enough to make this a favourite.
In fact, I know I didn't care enough.
Cost: Free gift
Title: Witchlight
Series: Night World #9
Author: LJ Smith
Overall Rating: 4 stars
I liked this one a lot, but still not enough to call it a favourite. I love the whole Wild Powers story arc as it gives this series a purpose, which it was kind of void of for the first few books.
I think Keller might be one of my favourite female leads and I really enjoyed the action-y nature of this book, she was definitely a take no nonsense kind of girl, but I don't know if I liked the love story of her and Galen enough to make this a favourite.
In fact, I know I didn't care enough.
Read
August 25, 2008I liked this one as well, she has a way with magic and reality.
January 9, 2015
This book (along with The Chosen and Huntress) was one of my absolute favorites! I loved the characters, the plot and over all epic-ness. However, wish the ending wasn't so cliche.
August 7, 2016
For a more detailed review, please check out my review below:
Debs :-)
Debs :-)
September 1, 2016
A page turner and it kept me wondering what was going to happen and only one part was predictable but overall it was a good read.
April 27, 2020
The story centres around Keller, a panther shapeshifter from Circle Daybreak who is on a mission to find and recruit the third Wild Power of the ancient prophecy. She and her team find this girl in the form of Iliana, a lost witch who has no notion than she’s anything but a well-liked and somewhat airheaded normal teenage girl. Working against them is a revived dragon, the oldest known shapeshifter and being who is bent on the rule of humanity ending by any means necessary. Romantic conflict appears with Iliana and Galen being destined to marry and unite the withes and shapeshifters, but Galen and Keller find themselves growing more attracted to each other.
Definitely an interesting premise, and I only wish that the book had actually been longer to allow a better exploration of each of the plot elements. As with all of the previous Night World, the story moves very quickly, often comprised of only the bare essentials to make the reader aware of what’s happening, all so that it can be crammed into around 200 short pages. In some books, this is a blessing, because it means the clumsy story ends sooner. But here, the shortness becomes a real detriment.
In particular, the characters needed expansion. Keller, Galen, Iliana, and the dragon Azhdeha were the only ones who got decently fleshed out. Winnie and Nissa were practically invisible unless needed. In Iliana’s family, the most well-defined character was the baby who could barely speak properly yet. Iliana’s friends? Nothing noteworthy about them, unless you count Jaime’s hearing problems. They didn’t feel like people so much as filler characters that only sometimes actually served a purpose.
But what really grated my cheese here was Keller’s reaction to realizing that she and Galen are soulmates. She goes from being a closed-off, aloof, no-nonsense leader to someone who suddenly has gained more patience and understanding, and has an instant open-heart discussion with Galen. I can understand that the author was trying to convey the connection between soulmates, but I’m sorry, habits of a lifetime don’t change that suddenly. It was awkward and unbelievable, and it came across as an attempt to show how falling in love can soften and “improve� a person. It didn’t sit well with me.
Still, this book was one of the better ones. Though considering it still only gets a rather lackluster rating from me, that doesn’t say much. It has potential, but a lot of that potential ended up unexplored and wasted, and while I wasn’t aching to be done with it the way I was with some earlier books in the series, it still wasn’t particularly special outside the context of the series.
I’ll be doing a review of the series as a whole in a few days, putting all the pieces together and making a final determination as to whether these books really do stand the test of time.
Definitely an interesting premise, and I only wish that the book had actually been longer to allow a better exploration of each of the plot elements. As with all of the previous Night World, the story moves very quickly, often comprised of only the bare essentials to make the reader aware of what’s happening, all so that it can be crammed into around 200 short pages. In some books, this is a blessing, because it means the clumsy story ends sooner. But here, the shortness becomes a real detriment.
In particular, the characters needed expansion. Keller, Galen, Iliana, and the dragon Azhdeha were the only ones who got decently fleshed out. Winnie and Nissa were practically invisible unless needed. In Iliana’s family, the most well-defined character was the baby who could barely speak properly yet. Iliana’s friends? Nothing noteworthy about them, unless you count Jaime’s hearing problems. They didn’t feel like people so much as filler characters that only sometimes actually served a purpose.
But what really grated my cheese here was Keller’s reaction to realizing that she and Galen are soulmates. She goes from being a closed-off, aloof, no-nonsense leader to someone who suddenly has gained more patience and understanding, and has an instant open-heart discussion with Galen. I can understand that the author was trying to convey the connection between soulmates, but I’m sorry, habits of a lifetime don’t change that suddenly. It was awkward and unbelievable, and it came across as an attempt to show how falling in love can soften and “improve� a person. It didn’t sit well with me.
Still, this book was one of the better ones. Though considering it still only gets a rather lackluster rating from me, that doesn’t say much. It has potential, but a lot of that potential ended up unexplored and wasted, and while I wasn’t aching to be done with it the way I was with some earlier books in the series, it still wasn’t particularly special outside the context of the series.
I’ll be doing a review of the series as a whole in a few days, putting all the pieces together and making a final determination as to whether these books really do stand the test of time.
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