The Witch of Duga is a fascinating and mysterious character in Russian folklore. She is said to be a powerful sorceress who resides in the dense forests of the Duga region. Her origins are shrouded in myth and legend, with tales passed down through generations. According to popular beliefs, the Witch of Duga possesses incredible magical abilities and is capable of bending the forces of nature to her will. It is said that she can control the weather, summon spirits, and even shape-shift into different forms. Her powers are often associated with dark and malevolent forces, and she is believed to use them for her own gain.
Some Things I Liked
Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw if you liked the dynamic between Alder and Briony as well as the magic system, check out this new release by Shea Ernshaw. Lindsey Duga is a middle grade and young adult writer with a passion for fantasy, science fiction, and basically any genre that takes you away from the real world.
Her powers are often associated with dark and malevolent forces, and she is believed to use them for her own gain. Legends tell of her encounters with brave adventurers who dared to journey into the depths of the Duga forest. Many have sought her enchantments and secret knowledge, while others were drawn to challenge her powers.
The witch of duga
A lot of books use a kiss as a weapon. To kill, to hypnotize and I am sure many other things. Kiss of the Royal is another books like that. The main character in Kiss of the Royal sees her kiss as a weapon, not as something of love. Was this an interesting take of a kiss as something more than a kiss? I read the book and today is my spot on the blog tour.
Kiss of the Royal
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: July 3, 2018
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
In the war against the Forces of Darkness, the Royals are losing. Princess Ivy is determined to end this centuries-long conflict once and for all, so her new battle partner must succeed where the others failed. Prince Zach’s unparalleled skill with a sword, enhanced by Ivy’s magic Kiss, should make them an unstoppable pair—but try convincing Zach of that.
Prince Zach has spent his life preparing for battle, but he would rather be branded a heretic than use his lips as nothing more than a way to transfer magic. A kiss is a symbol of love, and love is the most powerful weapon they have—but try convincing Ivy of that.
With the fate of their world on the line, the battlefield has become a testing ground, and only one of them can be right. Falling for each other wasn’t part of the plan—but try convincing their hearts of that.
BOOK LINKS
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32173635-kiss-of-the-royal
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Royal-Lindsey-Duga/dp/1640631836/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520598738&sr=8-1&keywords=kiss+of+the+royal+lindsey+duga
- Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kiss-of-the-royal-lindsey-duga/1128128065?ean=9781640631847
- Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Royals-Kiss-Lindsey-Duga/9781640631830
- Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/kiss-of-the-royal
- IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781640631830
- iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/kiss-of-the-royal/id1324088099?mt=11
REVIEW
Cover This cover is gorgeous!! The little elements like the sword and the different shadows. Combine that with the pink elements and wow! Kiss of a Royal could be a coverbuy for many people!
Plot As I said in the beginning, the kiss is used in many ways in books and movies. Ivy is a princess and from what we read very powerful. Her Kiss is something that could solve many problems. The Evil Witch is causing a lot of problems for her people and she wants it to end. There is a problem though, she needs a partner. Ivy hasn’t had the best of luck with partners, but is determined to get one more to finish this once and for all! Zach comes along and Ivy knows his skills and her Kiss could stop a lot of things. Zach has other ideas though. He is determined to do everything without a Kiss. To him a Kiss is something you do with someone you love, it’s not a weapon. As they head off to battle together, this becomes an issue. Ivy is determined to get her Kiss and solve all of their problems. Zach is determined to show Ivy there is more to a Kiss and that they can win using their swords.
This story started off strong and very interesting. To a certain point it’s not nothing new in the sense of a Kingdom having to go to war again something evil. Except this author has given in an unique turn. The Royals have a Kiss that can help with battles, healing, etc. As long as they have a partner that is Royal, they can make things happen. I loved how dedicated Ivy was to her Kingdom. No matter what she was planning on fighting with or without a new partner. There were definitely elements of humor in this story and it was fun seeing Zach and Ivy annoy each other. For me this book was centered a bit too much around Ivy and Zach’s relationship. While reading I definitely understand why, Ivy does start realizing her people’s way, may not be the only way, but I wish we would’ve gotten a bit more background information. In the beginning more is told over the Evil Witch and the Dragon they have to beat, but that wasn’t enough for me. I would’ve loved a bit more worldbuilding, that eventually does pop up later on in the book. Kiss of the Royal has a few plot twists I didn’t see coming or really expect while reading. I loved that I didn’t see it coming. Kiss of the Royal is also amazing in the sense that we really see the characters change. They both become more open minded and willing to listen to the other. In the end, working together and maybe realizing not everything you learned is true, helped in a big way. I definitely recommend this book and hope that this author gives us more books!
Characters Ivy is a stubborn one. She knows she wants to fight for her people and will do it alone if need be. At first I thought she was rather arrogant thinking this way, but once we meet her mother it all makes sense. Ivy really only wants to prove to her mother that she is worth it. Getting her approval is something that she really wants whether she would admit it or not. Ivy is talented and strong and knows to be able to do what she wants, she needs Zach. In the beginning she is a character who only believes what she knows and any other information must be wrong. I loved that this slowly changes during the story. Ivy starts to open up to other ideas and history and realizes not everything she knows is the truth. She faces the fact she may be wrong and still tries to fix things in a different way. Ivy is a character who learns a lot during her journey with Zach. A Kiss may not just be used a weapon. It could be so much more.
Zach seems like an arrogant Prince who thinks he is the best at everything. In many ways this is true, but we do find out that he really fought for it. When his mother died, he had to find a way to prove himself and he did. Zach is a believer in true love and didn’t even want a partner. Ivy seems to make him want to protect her, so he ends up being her partner. One thing he won’t budge on is the Kiss. No matter what, he will not use it as a weapon. At first this kind of bugged me, if it can help them out, why not just kiss? In the end I’m happy he stuck to that. I got to learn so much more of how his people saw things and could completely understand. Zach is actually a very sweet, brave character who just wants to protect his people and the ones he loves!
Brom is Ivy’s page and while we don’t find out a lot about him, he is my favorite character I think. He knows Ivy through and through and will call her out on things when need be. Instead of being just an employee, they are family. Brom can tell something is going on just by the way Ivy looks at something. All he wants is her to be safe. I wish we would’ve seen more of this character at times. I get that he isn’t really a main character, but during their journey, it sometimes felt like the author forgot about him.
TOUR SCHEDULE
Of course, I am not the only spot on this tour. Some other amazing blogs participated as well. Click here to check out the rest of the schedule!
GIVEAWAY
There is also a giveaway along with this tour. You have a chance to win a copy of Kiss of the Royal. This giveaway runs from June 25th to July 10th.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lindsey Duga is a middle grade and young adult writer with a passion for fantasy, science fiction, and basically any genre that takes you away from the real world. She wrote her first novel in college while she was getting her bachelor’s in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University.
Other than writing and cuddling with her morkie puppy, Delphi, Lindsey loves catching up on the latest superhero TV show and practicing yoga.
Brom is Ivy’s page and while we don’t find out a lot about him, he is my favorite character I think. He knows Ivy through and through and will call her out on things when need be. Instead of being just an employee, they are family. Brom can tell something is going on just by the way Ivy looks at something. All he wants is her to be safe. I wish we would’ve seen more of this character at times. I get that he isn’t really a main character, but during their journey, it sometimes felt like the author forgot about him.
However, very few have survived their encounters with the witch, and those who did were forever changed. The Witch of Duga is often depicted as a mysterious and seductive figure with piercing eyes and flowing black hair. In some variations of the legend, she is described as an old and haggard woman, while in others, she takes on a more youthful and alluring appearance. Her reputation as a powerful spellcaster and her ability to manipulate the forces of nature make her a feared and respected figure among the locals. The tales of the Witch of Duga serve as a cautionary reminder of the dangers that lie within the unexplored depths of the natural world. They inspire both fear and curiosity, reflecting our fascination with the supernatural and our desire to understand the unknown. Whether the Witch of Duga is merely a creation of folklore or a real figure lurking in the shadows of the forest remains a subject of debate. However, her presence in Russian mythology continues to captivate and intrigue storytellers, keeping the legend alive for generations to come..
Reviews for "From Myth to Reality: Investigating the Witch of Duga"
1. Emma - 2/5 - I was really excited to read "The witch of duga" based on the reviews I had seen, but I was ultimately disappointed. The story started off strong, but it quickly became confusing and disjointed. The characters were poorly developed, and I had a hard time connecting with any of them. The writing style was also not my cup of tea, as it felt overly pretentious and full of unnecessary metaphors. Overall, I found "The witch of duga" to be a confusing and underwhelming read.
2. John - 1/5 - "The witch of duga" was one of the most boring books I've ever read. The plot was slow-moving and lacked any excitement or suspense. The characters were flat and uninteresting, making it difficult to care about their fates. Additionally, the writing was overly descriptive and filled with unnecessary details that did nothing to enhance the story. I struggled to finish this book and ultimately regretted wasting my time on it.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high expectations for "The witch of duga" given the intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of nothing happening followed by rushed and unresolved plot points. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to believe in the interactions between characters. Overall, I found "The witch of duga" to be a disappointing read that failed to deliver on its promising concept.
4. David - 2/5 - I found "The witch of duga" to be a confusing and convoluted mess. The author seemed more focused on impressing readers with their writing style and complex narrative structure than telling a coherent story. The constant shifting perspectives and timelines only served to confuse me further, and I never felt fully engaged with the plot or characters. Unfortunately, "The witch of duga" was a frustrating and unsatisfying reading experience for me.
5. Lisa - 3/5 - While "The witch of duga" had its moments of intrigue, overall, I felt underwhelmed by the story. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of slow development followed by sudden and rushed plot twists. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to fully invest in their journeys. The concept of the witch and her powers were interesting, but the execution fell short. Overall, "The witch of duga" had potential but failed to fully captivate me.