Things She’s Seen

I received a complimentary ARC of this book via Netgalley but all opinions provided are my own.

Pat Esden’s Things She’s Seen is a compelling fantasy-romance read with a strong heroine who gets stronger every day, largely because she refuses to buckle under the weight of every sad event she’s experienced in her life.

Em Adams is a medium once known as Violet Grace. As Violet, Em was exploited by her aunt and mother, literally imprisoned and tortured by them while they used her gifts to their advantage. She escaped and turned to alcohol for solace. Years later, she’s sober and living in a Coven of witches under investigation for crimes committed by an evil witch who took on the disguise of the former High Priestess of their coven and used it as an opportunity to do a lot of damage.

The investigator is none other than Gar Remillard, a man that Em knew in another life, under her other name and under his other name. Sparks fly between them, but now isn’t the best time for that, as he investigates the Coven that’s given Em so much and they all become embroiled in something bigger and more dangerous than they expected…

Em’s characterization is the stand-out for me in Things She’s Seen, and Esden sensitively and thoughtfully portrays what happened to Em in her past via flashbacks and journal excerpts and how those memories still affect her. Em experienced so much loss and heartbreak in her life, and she’s trying to rise above it throughout the book. To me, that makes her a character to root for.

While Gar is a fascinating character with a lot of potential, I wish that there had been more done to develop his life story. He’s a brave, honorable man, but he doesn’t exhibit much growth throughout the book and overall seems somewhat static.

The romance between Em and Gar, however, is lively and sweet, and the ending is particularly strong.

There's quite a lot going on in this book, and it would have probably been helpful to have read the first book in the series to give me more of a foundation for the world Esden creates. But overall, I was invested in this story and the premise Esden sets up, and I’d be interested to see where she takes it in further books in the series.

I made a tactical error with requesting to review this book. The premise! The cover! The writing! I absolutely love all three. BUT I didn't take into consideration that this is the second book in the series. Often, I can jump into a series anywhere and find my way, but with this series, I think reading book 1 is essential. I could follow the story, but a lot was lost on me. So this review is short and sweet: Stop, read book 1 and then get super excited for book 2 because I REALLY like the protagonist in book 2!

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Em can see and hear ghosts. Em also has a severe drinking problem, but is offered a way out of her destructive life into a new one, where her gifts will be useful. Gar helps Em escape the evil that is threatening her at every turn, with all kinds of magic and protective incantations. I am not a huge fan of paranormal and fantasy. Well written and plenty of action - just not really my cup of tea. I give it a 3.7 out of 5 rating.

Things She's Seen is the second in this series and it would be better to read the first before jumping into the second. This is a interesting premise for a story. The book is well written and has interesting characters. I will have to go back and read the first one.

In Things She's Seen we get Em, a recovering alcoholic and child medium (and abuse experiencer) who is trying to turn herself around by attending AA meetings and living with the Northern Circle Coven in Vermont in the meantime.

You might remember her as one of the initiates to the Coven in the first book, along with Chloe, who had minor presence in this book (although plays a pivotal plot role as she gets into trouble with the Big Bad. Always cool to see how different authors handle main characters from prior books, and Chloe felt just fleshed out enough and true to herself in this one. But you could read this and enjoy without reading the first, I would just say you understand deeper backstory and emotional depth if you've read the first).

Em comes home from a meeting one night and rescues a bunch of abandoned kittens as well as discovers that the witch Council has sent an investigator-- Gar Remillard-- to investigate all the murders, flying monkeys, and claims about Merlin's Shade resulting from the first book. And he seems entirely bent on being suspicious about the Coven because of past bad history.

Despite Gar's antagonism, there is an undeniable spark between Gar and Em...and despite being in a place of recovery, Em goes for it. Esden has shown in her prior books that she writes fun, teasing couples with no false fabricated (or unbelievable misunderstanding) angst who definitely give off sparks. I think of her as mid-steam level. (not safe for young YA, but not over the top, either. Definitely plot is more important).

For those who love witches, Hecate, spells, and Wicca, this is a fun romp. There's a lot of neat spells (like a "pick-a-roo" that opens doors) and the Big Bad's reason for kidnapping high priestesses is pretty unique and disturbing.

I feel like the bad guy didn't quite get enough time for me to understand, and his name made me roll my eyes every time I came across it (Magus Dux) in a thought sentence from one of the characters, but as I said, his big bad plan was satisfyingly unique so I mostly forgave the bit of hoky -ness surrounding him.

It looks like we get to follow Chandler in the third book, and as I love UF and paranormal romance that includes older women...and a child or children...I'm looking forward to what happens in the next one!

For fans of paranormal and fantasy comes Things She's Seen, a second in the Northern Circle Coven series by Pat Esden. I thought it was well-written, and as a fan of all things witches, I highly recommend! It would be a much better read if you read the first book, His Dark Magic.

Emily Adams is a medium, recovering alcoholic living with the Northern Circle Coven. Em is a well-written character with an intense back story, and Esden did an amazing job with her.

There's a lot to this book, and I think I missed out on some crucial details while reading, but overall I really enjoyed it!

This is the first time in reading this author with for some reason this caught my eye. Even though I knew this was already one in still had to venture in. This one has alot going on with also paranormal involved. Em is a character that many sides to her with her having alot going on. Gar is also in this drama and along with her they have alot on their plate. This does keep your attention with chemistry also hitting the pages. It has what you look for in a paranormal. I probably should of read the first one though.

Things She's Seen was a unique, well-written story with interesting characters. Emily is complex. She's had a horrible life, she's kicking an addiction, she's a medium whose skills. Gar is investigating the coven and has many misconceptions making him their enemy. Or is he?

I enjoyed following this cast of characters both the good and evil. I had great empathy for Emily and liked Gar well. I wanted to see them get together.

Edsen does a very good job of slowly pacing the revelations of all the Emily has been through in her life. As each piece falls into place Emily because more sympathetic and I was impressed with all she has had to deal with.

Any reader of romance and/or paranormal stories will enjoy this book.

As a child medium, Emily Adams was exploited and abused by people who should have protected her, her family. She can communicate with ghosts but they didn't protect her from her. When she escaped, she was helped by a stranger who then disappeared from her life. Now she has settled with the Northern Circle coven and is starting to make a new life for herself there  but they are under investigation for crimes committed by an evil witch impersonated their High Priestess and caused a lot of damage in the process.

When Gar Remillard arrives to investigate the coven on behalf of the High Council of Witches, he also seeks to break up this coven for vengeful reasons. However, Em sees that he is haunted by a ghost and strives to help him. As her ghost contacts help discover more about what is happening, will this new relationship help the coven and reveal the truth? As their enemy, Magus Dux, is identified and dark magic is used, can this small group thwart those out to destroy both the Circle and High Council?

This is actually the second book in a series but, even though I hadn't read the first one, I still enjoyed this one. It is a paranormal adventure and romance with wraiths, ghosts, secrets and magic. There's also some somewhat humorous moments, including the names applied to some spells such as one to unlock doors called "pick-a-roo"! There are a range of great characters and they are well developed through the story. I certainly enjoyed reading this and will be looking out for more in this series and by this author in future.

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.