Definitely an interesting creation story for a vampiric creature. The dialect was a bit jarring to begin with - think deep South, USA - but I soon got use to it. There is very little preamble in this story and the reader is thrown right into a somewhat familiar world of witches, spirits and curses. The magic system is interesting and is based solely on "poultices" that act as elixirs and physical spells as well as "the Old Language". The characters themselves are truly sympathetic, even selfish Lillian right up until the end. I was wishing that things would work out but instead I got an ugly cliffhanger (and I mean ugly in that things get ugly for the characters).
Overall it was an enjoyable, short read and I may pick up the next in the series when it becomes available.

first book read from this author and did not dissapoint . it gotten be hooked from the first chapter . i think the ending was lacking and need more answer but probably best if there is a season 2 for this and it will be answered . well recommended thriller! +thankyou netgalley for the opportunity ❤️shaye.reads

The storyline intrigued me on this one. Sadly it wasn’t for me. I know there are others who will love this one.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review

I was very intrigued when I red the blurb for this book but I unfortunately was let down, I was a dnf for me.

I went into this book knowing nothing about it but the title and the gorgeous cover.

I have some mixed feelings on this one. I really enjoyed the premise, the use of witches as a supernatural being was done in a way I haven’t seen before, and I really enjoyed that. Shepeard also has a unique and beautiful way of describing the atmosphere which gave me a vivid, rich picture of the setting and scenery.

Unfortunately, those rich descriptions felt strangely juxtaposed into the running dialect of the book, making them feel somewhat out of place and forced. The book is told from multiple first-person perspectives, so a bit of dialect is to be expected, but I had a hard time with this one. I also feel that the voices were too similar – if I didn’t put the book down at the beginning of a new chapter, I wouldn’t know which POV character I was reading since they sounded near exactly the same, with only one or two differences. While I tried to forgive this since the characters were family, but there was a large age gap between them, so having them sound identical was a bit jarring.

I wanted more of the lore. The world and the lore within it are so fascinating. I wanted to know so much more about the witches and how they worked. We got enough to make the story make sense, but only barely. The idea of having a matron, and Ellie having to go through a metaphysical initiation to make sure her ancestors accepted her was fascinating. The legend/curse of the ‘bloodbud’ flower fit in perfectly with this, and the prologue explaining it was positively chilling.

Once Lillian’s story breaks off, I feel like I’m reading two different stories that feel like they’re at odds with each other, even as they converge. Like these two things could have existed in completely separate books, and not all that much would have been different. Neither story felt quite connected, despite such a strong familial tie, and neither felt quite finished when I got to the end. I know it’s the first in a series, so not all my questions would be answered, but instead of any answers, I was left frustrated, with more questions than I’d originally had.

Overall, this book was…fine. It was an entertaining read, and sets up a lot of things that will be very interesting in future books. I’m not sure it gave me enough to entice me into picking up the next one, but it had lots of interesting bits.

2.5 rainbows, rounded up as always, to 3.

Unfortunately I really struggled with this one, I wanted to finish it but I just couldn’t. Essentially this story is about two sisters who were born to a matriarch of witches, and there’s a curse/possession that happens to the mum and one of the sisters which unfortunately means the other sister has to turn her back on them in order to become the new matriarch of the witches coven. This is all that I can remember from this one, I feel like a lot of people will enjoy it but sadly I’m not one of those people.

*Copy provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

The premise of this book was intriguing: a witch clan, a curse, the forsaken, the beginnings of vampires in the specific world. However, Taylor Shepeard's writing was an attempt at bringing forth another century, another time entirely, but all it did was making it harder to read and even harder to enjoy.
Some descriptions were delightful, and I hope the author grows in the craft and presents more notable and amazing work, but this one simply was not that great.

Unfortunately I couldn't finish this book. I can see that it would suit other readers but unfortunately it wasn't for me

An atmospheric and thoroughly witchy story where Ellie lives with her family in the Orchards. As a family of matriarch witches, they are not particularly welcomed in the village and live exiled in the nearby wilds.
Mama becomes possessed and Ellie is required to act and take responsibility for her sister Lillian, but Lillian becomes exposed to an age-old curse that causes her to develop into a blood seeking Forsaken, very vampirine in nature.
It is light and easy to read, with a localised dialogue that comes across as very authentic. Albeit I am sure some readers will be unable to tolerate the colloquialisms. It is told from the perspective of both Ellie and Lillian. Ellie feeling guilty for not protecting her sister and rising to the responsibility of being a matriarch, with Lilly feeling betrayed by her family who banish her after she becomes a Forsaken. She is creepy and unnerving as a character. The book flows well with this approach, albeit I would have liked the characters to be fleshed out a bit more. Much felt very superficial and meant parts of the book dipped with sufficient breadth of interest and plot.
There are also written spells dotted within the book, albeit I couldn’t read these as they were too faint on the Kindle. Some of the scenes are nice and bloody but there are not too many of these. It has a decent and unpredicted ending. A decent and enjoyable enough read that’s a little different.

I see vampires, I read. I see curses, I read.

This is a book about two sisters and a curse. It's a fun read for those who love vampires, witches, magical elements.

It uses a dialect that is non like other books, so that takes some adjusting to but is well written and a captivating story.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Leather and Sage by Taylor Shepeard in exchange for an honest review. The idea for the storyline was very interesting and I was really intrigued by it, hence I requested to read it. However, once I started reading it, I found the style wasn't mine and a bit hard to get into to. Other reviewers seemed to enjoy it, but some were like me and had a hard time with the language and changing perspectives.

I really enjoyed this book, I couldnt put it dpwn. It was dark, eerie and was full of a gothic atmosphere that gave me chills when I was reading it. I was gripped from start to finish and it engaged me the whole way through.

Actual Rating: 3.75 stars

First I'd like to thank the publisher Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing for sending me a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"We just got the gift and the way it lets us see things that ain’t there, hear things that don’t make sound, and feel gooseprickles of warning. Madness from the spirits is a big price to pay for it."

I genuinely liked this book. It had an eerie vibe throughout that made what would be a really cool witch town in the woods seem absolutely odd, and the dialect used in the writing certainly helped set the mood and paint a picture.

However, as much as I enjoyed the writing, the style definitely threw me off for a while. It took time to get used to it, and for some people I can see that being an issue. But once I got past that, I was in for a great story that made me so sad at times.

I guess maybe I should add a trigger warning for some of the content: blood, and child monsters? Is that a thing? I'm not sure. But when you read it from said child's perspective, it breaks your heart.

If you're looking for a book with a vampire origin story that's quite unique, with witches, then this is the book for you.

Leather and Sage by Taylor Shepeard is a book that immerses the reader in the story of Ellie and Lillian Hallivard, two sisters born to a matriarch of witches. Their mother is struggling with possession by a spirit when Lillian comes across a flower, picks it, and is changed into another being under the power of a curse that was put on the family. What ensues is an effort by Ellie to become the new matriarch of the clan of witches, convince those witches her sister's curse will not make her unable to lead the clan, and reject the thing that once was her sister.

I appreciated the dual first-person points of view in this book. It switches back and forth between the perspectives of Ellie and Lillian, and it is interesting to see into the mind of Lillian, who in some ways is still a child but has been twisted into something inhuman. The characters describe their feelings, thoughts and surroundings with vivid language. The struggle between the urge to love someone and hatred for what they've become is evident.

Despite this, I had difficulty getting through this book. Shepeard makes an effort to bring out the voice of the characters through colloquial language. However, I found that the use of this ebbed and flowed from chapter to chapter and passage to passage. It was actually a relief to me when less colloquial language was used for a time. The more traditionally written passages were pleasant to read with good flow, while the sections where regional dialect was prominent felt clunky and unnatural. I would have preferred to read the entire book rewritten to completely exclude the changes made to the words meant to evoke a regional accent. The author also makes a point of using the phrase "willow moss and kindling" as a replacement for the word "eyes" every single time the main characters do something with their eyes, which quickly grew tiresome.

Additionally, I would have preferred a chapter from the perspective of Lillian prior to her change. The combination of childlike innocence with monstrous intent was creepy and compelling. However I would have had more emotional reaction to Lillian's transformation and sympathy for her character if I had been able to first form a bond with her as a sweet and lively child.

Overall I thought this book had interesting elements. It is a story about family connections and how those break down when the family you loved becomes something horrible. It has vivid descriptions of nature and the world that I thoroughly enjoyed. But I didn't connect with the characters enough where I cared about their struggles and the nontraditional writing style killed my immersion rather than enhancing it.

The storyline of this book intrigued me, and even though it wasn't a five-star read, I'm glad I took the time to read it.

This novel follows Ellie as she struggles to protect her clan against the forsaken, who are brought into existence by her sister. In order to protect her clan and stop the forsaken, she must do the unthinkable. Can she kill her sister?

The concept of this story and its execution was good, but the writing style just threw me for a loop. I really struggled to enjoy the story when I was re-reading sections due to the unique storytelling. Other than this, the story was enjoyable and gave a different take on how vampires came to be. It was a quick read, and I recommend it to people who enjoy fantastical creatures such as vampires and witches.

Review was also posted to Goodreads.

I really enjoyed the different spin on "vampire" origin, I feel it had alot of potential, I also enjoyed the different pov from Lillian and Ellie.

However that's where it stopped for me, I felt the story line was lacking depth and was very predictable.
I really struggled with the dialect, it took me weeks to get past the prologue, now finishing the book I realised I could have skipped as it didn't reveal much that didn't show up later on.

I really wanted to love this book, unfortunately it just didn't grab me.

Special thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review

The language takes a minute to get use to...at first I thought there were some editing issues but then as the story goes on...you realize that they are in the deep country and it's just they way they talk. There are some formatting issues...like chaoter 20 and 21 are squished together on one page at the end but other wise I really liked this story.

A different take on witches, spirits and vampires then I have read before. And this one doesn't have a happy ending necessarily but I kind of liked that. The Monster gets the happy ending if you will instead of the heros.

The writing of this book just wasn't for me. The premise of the story was intriguing and I think if any word that began with "a" hadn't been replaced with a ' and can't wasn't spelled cain't I might have enjoyed it more. I couldn't decide if it was the author trying to give the characters accents or make them appear uneducated or what but it drove me nuts the whole book. Also the story was kind of disjointed and didn't flow well, but that could be I wasn't enjoying the writing style so I wasn't following the story very well.

This is a very solid book with a simple yet intriguing storyline. I don't think I have ever read a book that uses the tone that Shepeard does in this one and, despite it taking a few pages to get into, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a very intentional effort that paid off incredibly well as I can't see myself reading the characters through any other means. Speaking of characters, the mains (Lillian, Ellie, Kylie and a plethora of others) are told in depth enough for it to be intriguing, yet shallow enough to keep you wondering for more. There were sections of the book where I didn't feel entirely compelled or gripped by the plot as I would have liked but again, it is a solid piece of work that has its moments. There are also some very relatable emotions that flesh out aspects of things (mostly characters but at times it was the world too). I would have loved to see more of where the story is set and maybe even a flashback or two so we can fully understand more of the backstory and feel stronger attachments to the characters.
As a general reader, I may be compelled to pick up the second book as it comes out - all in all I would hope for that one to keep the development and exploration of the characters (and the world) a little more.

"If you see petals gray as thunder, leaves red as the setting sun, you run. Always run." One hundred years ago, a curse was placed on the Hallivard family of witches. This curse was to be completed in exactly one century, with a Hallivard witch touching the flower of the Bloodbud. When the matriarch of their family begins to unravel, the three Hallivard sisters try to protect each other from the curse. But the dark magic has a mind of its own. It lures the youngest, Lillian, to it with the beauty of the flower. With one touch of the gray petals, a terrible monster is unleashed.

Taylor Shepeard's Leather & Sage is one of the most emotionally charged monster novels readers will ever get their hands on. It feels very reminiscent of the theme of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Who is the monster in this situation? The one who was cursed, or the family that ostracized and condemned them because of it? Due to the multiple points of view, we see the characters dealing with their inner turmoil as they tumble further into their monstrosity. Taylor has done an incredible job balancing the horrific and sorrowful elements of this novel.

The dialect used throughout the novel can make it a little difficult to follow. Readers may appreciate the dedication to authenticity, but it breaks up the flow of the storytelling. Had the unique dialect been used just in the dialogue, it would have made the novel much easier to read.

That said, I rated Leather & Sage 4 out of 5 stars. It has a unique, complex plotline, with plenty of unexpected twists and an emotionally powerful theme. The idioms used throughout the novel detract from those a bit, but if readers can look past that element, it's an entertaining and beautiful read. There are written spells and doodles placed throughout the novel that add whimsy and show how much love the author poured into her work.

The violence can be a bit graphic, but it's a monster novel, so that shouldn't be surprising. I think this would be perfect for readers of any age who like their monster novels to have depth and meaning. It's the type of novel that will have readers thinking about it for days after they finish and begging for the next installment.