Witches by Phil Stern

Book Review of Witches by Phil Stern

Book Synopsis:

When it comes to magic, women have always been in control.
Until Now.

For centuries, only gifted young women have been able to wield magic, using their special gifts to protect those in need.

But now a powerful wizard has appeared, attacking empowered women across multiple worlds.

A young Terran-based sorceress, the strongest of her generation, must find and stop the magical madman before he can bend the Coven to his depraved will. Along the way, she must also confront doubts about the role her fellow witches may have played in her own family’s demise.

Author Information:

Phil Stern is the author of both Contemporary and Science Fiction.

His debut novel, The Bull Years, was published in 2011. A hard-hitting commentary on both the frustrations and ultimate validation of modern-day life, The Bull Years follows the lives of four people throughout the late 80′s, 90′s, and into the 21st century, directly addressing the gradual alienation and disconnection often experienced during young adulthood.

"I wanted to write about characters everyone could relate to," Stern says. "We've all had our ups and downs. I think people sometimes feel everyone else has experienced more success than they have, or are more firmly grounded in our world than they could ever be. My hope is that everyone will recognize a little part of themselves in Steve, Sophia, Dave, and Brooke."

Born in 1970 in Ossining, New York, Stern grew up with a love of all types of science fiction, including the works of Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey, John Wyndham, Piers Anthony, and more.

"Speculative fiction is so different today than it was back then," Stern says. "I wanted to write stuff a bit more recognizable to fans of my generation. Science fiction should be about ideas and alternate worlds, strong characters and good stories.

Going into talk radio after attending SUNY Albany, Stern hosted regular shows in the New York City area, Albany, Utica, NY, and Greenville, NC. He later went into the advertising and sales industries.

Stern now lives in Florida, and is working on his next novel.

Book Review:

Phil Stern is an unusual author.  If you did not know that his name was Phil and he was a man it would be easy to think he was a female as his writings often have female leads and he is in tune with that strong, yet vulnerable side women really want to see in female leads.  You know this is true, when you are alone at home you yell at the foolish girls in movies that go into dark basements with no weapons and die, or have to be rescued; wonder why anyone would go into the woods on a hike in skimpy clothing and high heels; and bemoan the weak woman who needs to be rescued.

Real women are strong, weak, vulnerable, powerful, and use all of that to take care of themselves and everyone around them.  This is what Tiffany does in Witches.  She has had a rough life, we find out, but she doesn’t whine or blame anyone.  She works hard to help others and she is more powerful that you would think.

Phil Stern brings this world to life and makes you want to get in there and help Tiffany, not because she needs it but because she brings out that quality in you.  I enjoyed this book.  I read it in one sitting and was totally amazed to find that time had passed while I was in this other world.

My only complaint was that the story ends with characters that hadn’t been introduced before and I was really confused by it.  I am going to hope that as I read more I can connect these character in another book to help me come to some sense as to why they suddenly showed up.

I give this 4 out of 5 clouds.