The Graces (The Graces #1) ~ By Laure Eve – 1.5 Stars

Tags

Mystery, Witchcraft, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Amulet Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: September 6th, 2016

352 pages

Synopsis: Everyone loves the Graces. Fenrin, Thalia, and Summer Grace are captivating, wealthy, and glamorous. They’ve managed to cast a spell over not just their high school but also their entire town– and they’re rumored to have powerful connections all over the world. If you’re not in love with one of them, you want to be them. Especially River: the loner, new girl at school. She’s different from her peers, who both revere and fear the Grace family. She wants to be a Grace more than anything. And what the Graces don’t know is that River’s presence in town is no accident.

 

The Graces is being hyped as Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets The Craft, so what could possibly go wrong? Um, plenty. First, the pacing is so agonizingly slow that I felt as though I was drowning in quicksand. For the majority of the book there is really no cohesive plot. It just goes round and round about River’s and most of the town’s fascination with the Graces. Are they witches or aren’t they?

Honestly, by the time I reached the halfway point I couldn’t have cared less. I disliked all of them, as well as River, whose motivations are murky and in the end, just not believable. Adding to the unpleasantness is the dialogue which tries to be all deep and emo, but instead is utterly cringeworthy. Here’s a sample:

Every girl with eyes loved Fenrin. But I was not like those prattling, chattering things with their careful head tosses and thick cloying lip gloss. Inside, buried down deep where no one could see it, was the core of me, burning endlessly, coal black and coal bright.

What the heck does that even mean? The last few chapters perk up slightly where the big reveal comes and loose ends come together to set things up for the next book. The problem is the mystery involving River isn’t a big surprise and the author throws in too many things too quickly which basically makes it a muddled mess. What is truly disappointing is the potential that was wasted. This could have been a thrilling YA horror novel, but instead is just a typical and rather boring high school soap opera. 

I’m sorry to say that I just can’t find anything to recommend about The Graces. It’s receiving mixed reviews on Goodreads, and Kirkus actually gave it a positive write up, so if you’re intrigued, please don’t let my experience deter you from trying it. 

 

Smoke on the Water (Sisters of the Craft Bk. 3) ~ Lori Handeland – 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Sisters, Urban Fantasy, Witchcraft

 I received this ebook from NetGalley and St. Martin’s in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Abandoned as an infant, Willow Black spent her childhood in foster care, the object of whispers and pity…and rumors about bring certifiably crazy. Telling people that you can foresee the future–and summon the rain– is a surefire way to end up in the psychiatric ward. But when Dr. Sebastian Frasier arrives at the facility, Willow’s whole life takes a turn. Sebastian is the handsomest man she’s ever actually laid eyes on–even though he has been in Willow’s visions for years. But not even she could have predicted the storm of passion that engulfs them both. With Sebastian by her side, Willow is emboldened to embrace her history, and the sisters she never knew. Soon the true power in her blood awakens and the battle she was born to fight begins. While the tempest rages, Willow must depend on the family and friends she’s found and the man she has loved forever.

Reunited after four hundred years, three sisters join together to vanquish the power that tore them apart…and embrace the sorcery that is their birthright.

I always get a little nervous when reaching the end of a series or trilogy that I’ve loved since I’ve been burned a few times by disappointing endings. I’m happy to say though Smoke on the Water is an extremely satisfying conclusion to this enchanting trilogy.

Willow has definitely had it the worst out of the three sisters. In and out of foster homes throughout her childhood, she tried to cope with her powers by using alcohol and drugs. She’s now in a mental institution because she aassaulted a man after having a vision of him trying to harm her. She has no idea how right she is. Of course there is absolutely nothing wrong with Willow and on some level she knows that. The problem is that she doesn’t understand what is causing her visions. Willow is a wonderful mix of vulnerability and hidden strength. She’s been hurt so many times, but she’s not bitter or jaded. While she’s trusting and still manages to see the good in people, she’s also more than capable of taking care of herself.

Sebastian is a practical man who has never thought about the possibility of magic and witchcraft being real. He does know that there is some sort of immediate connection between himself and Willow, and it goes far beyond the usual one between doctor and patient. Because he’s a man of science he has some difficulty accepting Willow’s powers, but he’s never anything but supportive of her. 

Despite that instant connection between them, Sebastian spends the first half of the book trying to keep Willow at arm’s length–at least romantically speaking. Willow however immediately knows Sebastian is her soulmate and while I would normally find this somewhat annoying, given that Willow already knows him from her visions, I found this acceptable. 

Halfway through the book the story moves it’s focus from being solely on Willow and Sebastian to a wider circle which includes her sisters Raye and Becca, their soulmates, and of course their parents, Henry and Pru. Once the three sisters are finally reunited their powers expand exponentially and include some of this:

 and some of this:

I thought the additional powers were a little silly and the explanations regarding the how and the why a bit distracting, but it wasn’t enough to spoil my enjoyment of the overall story. My only other issue was with the final battle between the sisters and McHugh the villainous witch hunter. There’s a huge build-up to this yet when it finally happens I found it a slightly anticlimactic. Even so, it was nice seeing this truly nasty piece of work finally getting his just desserts.

I’m a sucker for happy endings, and in Smoke and Water everyone gets theirs. There are no loose ends left so there is no doubt that this is the end of Willow’s, Raye’s and Becca’s story. There is however a teaser thrown in that gives you an idea of where Lori Handeland might be headed for her next trilogy. It’s left me wondering if perhaps some of the characters from this trilogy will be making mini-cameos. I’m definitely looking forward to finding out.

 

Heat of the Moment (Bk. 2 Sisters of the Craft) by Lori Handeland – 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Historical Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Witchcraft

  I received this ebook from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Flame-haired Becca Carstairs was born to be a veterinarian. Since childhood, her affinity for animals has been special, and her healing touch nothing short of magic. But only Becca knows the truth–that she alone can hear the creatures’ voices. She’s always trusted her sixth sense…until a string of missing pets, an attempted murder, and a face from her past converge into one explosive mystery, with her at it’s center. Is haunted Owen McAllister, the boy who broke her heart ten years ago, related to the sinister crimes that have peaceful Three Harbors, Wisconsin, on it’s guard? Or is his reappearance part of the answer to questions that have troubled her all her life? As Becca delves into her strange heritage, she’ll have to fight for her life…and the man she will always love.

Heat of the Moment is a good example of how the second book of a trilogy doesn’t have to suffer from middle book syndrome! Everything works in this, from the characters to the storyline. With many trilogies I’ve had this sense of familiarity when reading the second and third books, but even though this book moved along the mythology behind the three sisters, it was also different than it’s predecessor, In the Air Tonight. 

As the story begins, the remains of several missing pets are found in an abandoned house. Thankfully this isn’t graphically depicted. The ramshackle dwelling is the childhood home of Owen, who joined the Marines ten years earlier without a word of warning and left a heartbroken Becca behind. Recovering from injuries sustained by a roadside bomb, he’s come back with his canine partner Reggie to recuperate.  It soon becomes apparent that something even more sinister is at work when a masked figure tries to kill Becca. She and Owen have to learn to trust each other again if they’re to put a stop to the evil plot that’s unfolding.

Unlike Raye, Becca is extremely close with her family and has always felt loved and accepted by her parents and brothers. She does keep her gift hidden though, because even she’s not sure if it’s all in her mind. Some of her conversations with animals are hysterical, especially the one between her and a pregnant cow she’s trying to birth. When Owen re-enters her life, she’s hurt, but she’s not bitter. You can immediately tell that they still love each other and belong together. 

Owen has been scarred both physically and emotionally. Brought up by an unstable mother, he and Becca started as childhood friends, but their feelings grew into something much deeper. Unfortunately he allows himself to be persuaded that he’s not good enough for her, which is why he initially joins the Marines. His relationship with Reggie, his canine companion, is one of the most touching parts of the book. These two are partners in every way. Owen will do anything for Becca, and proves it time and time again. Even when confronted with Becca’s gifts, while his immediate response is disbelief, it doesn’t take long for him to accept them as being part of the woman he loves so much. 

The story moves along very quickly with key characters from the first book making welcome appearances. The narrative is tightly woven and as in the first book, showcases the hatred and bigotry towards witches by Christians during a dark period of history while at the same time bringing it seamlessly forward into the present day. 

The final story will be that of the third sister, Willow Black, which I’m guessing, like her sisters, will have no clue as to her origins. It’s coming out August 4th so I’m going to read and review it a little closer to the date. If it’s as good as the first two books, Sisters of the Craft will wind up being one of my favorite paranormal romance triloges. If you loved Nora Roberts’ Three Sisters Island Trilogy please try this. You won’t regret it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miss Mabel’s School For Girls (The Network Series: Book 1) ~ by Katie Cross – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Family Bonds, Fantasy, Friendship, Witchcraft, YA Fiction

 I received this ebook from NetGalley and Antebellum Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

~ Letum Wood is a forest of fog and deadfall, home to the quietly famous Miss Mabel’s School for Girls, a place where young witches learn the art of magic.

Sixteen-year-old Biance Monroe has inherited a deadly curse. Determined to break free before it kills her, she enrolls in the respected school to confront the cunning witch who cast the curse: Miss Mabel.

Bianca finds herself faced with dark magic she didn’t expect, with lessons more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. Will Bianca have the courage to save herself from the curse, or will Mabel’s sinister plan be to powerful?

It’s always a good sign when you wind up reading a book in one sitting, which is what I did with Miss Mabel’s School For Girls. This first book introduces young Bianca who has been secretly training with her father to defeat Miss Mabel. The curse has affected her beloved grandmother, and mother, and now, unless Bianca is successful in her quest, she will lose her life when she turns seventeen. So, while her fellow students are there to learn the magic that will help them find their proper place in society, Bianca is there solely to get close to Miss Mabel. Once she’s at the school, what unfolds is reminiscent of The Hunger Games and Harry Potter, but Katie Cross gives these elements a neat twist, so the similarities didn’t bother me.

Bianca is a kick-ass heroine who had me rooting for her from the very first page. While she’s focused on her mission, she also is cognizant of her friends struggles, and tries to be as supportive as she can. She also has a snarky sense of humor and some of her observations had me laughing out loud. Camille and Leda are the two steadfastly loyal best friends, and while they’re not terribly original, there’s some tidbits thrown in regarding their backstories which left me intrigued, particularly Leda’s. Hopefully their characters will be more fully developed as the series develops. Also interesting is Bianca’s father, who really doesn’t make an appearance until the end of the book, yet still is a strong presence throughout the book.

And then there’s Miss Mabel. All I can say is she is a truly nasty piece of work! If you combined Dolores Umbridge, with Voldemort, and President Snow than you might come up with this evil witch. Some of my favorite scenes were the ones with her and Bianca having a battle of wits. What I really liked though, is that just when you think you know her endgame, you discover she has more surprises in store. 

Needless to say this is a fast-paced story culminating in a thrilling conclusion. The worldbuilding is phenomenal and never takes away from the action which can sometimes happen. I’m excitedly anticipating reading the other books in this series.

The Witch Hunter ~ By Virginia Boecker 4.0 Stars.

Tags

Alternate History, Fantasy, Middle Ages, Persecution, Witchcraft, YA Fiction

 I received this ebook from NetGalley and Little Brown Books in exchange for an honest review.

~ Elizabeth Grey is one of the king’s best witch hunters, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and doling out justice. But when she’s accused of being a witch herself, Elizabeth is arrested and sentenced to burn at the stake. 

Salvation comes from a man she thought was her enemy. Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful and dangerous wizard in the kingdom, offers her a deal; he will save her from execution if she can she can break the deadly curse that’s been laid upon him. 

But Nicholas and his followers know nothing of Elizabeth’s witch hunting past–if they find out, the stake will be the least of her worries. And as she’s thrust into the magical world of witches, ghosts, pirates, and one all-too handsome healer, Elizabeth is forced to redefine her ideas of right and wrong, of right and wrong, of friends and enemies, and of love and hate.

Virginia’s Boecker’s debut is set in an an alternate version of the Middle Ages. Witches are known as Reformists, and they are considered evil. Malcolm, who is the king, is weak, ineffective, and corrupt. It is Blackwell, the Inquisitor who is the true power behind the throne. He reminded of Cromwell, and is a master manipulator. While it’s a period piece, the language is more contemporary, which I found a little strange, but not enough to spoil my enjoyment of the story. There’s a lot of world-building, particularly at the beginning, but it never slows down the pace of the story. From the very first page I was absolutely riveted. 

Quite a few readers have mentioned their dislike of Elizabeth, but I actually found her a very compelling character. Yes, she’s done some pretty horrible things as a witch hunter, but she and her fellow hunters have been brainwashed by Blackwell. I’m telling you, if you decide to try this book, you will absolutely loathe this man. He takes young orphans such as Elizabeth, and with some truly horrifying training methods, molds them into soldiers who will do whatever he wants. Even when he turns on Elizabeth, all she can think about is clearing her name and getting back in his good graces. Gah! It was very frustrating. She also is pining for her childhood friend and fellow witch hunter Caleb. To my surprise, he’s another character who I felt sympathetic towards. He’s torn between his duty as a hunter and his feelings for Elizabeth. Once Elizabeth gets involved with Nicholas and his followers, things get really interesting. There’s a prophecy which points to Elizabeth as being the one who will turn the tide in favor of the reformists. The problem is none of them know she’s a witch hunter and when they find out, well, things get a little tense. As Elizabeth is accepted into the group of rebels, she begins to see that things aren’t quite as black and white as she’s thought, and she begins to regret some of her actions. One member of the group is a magical healer named John, who becomes Elizabeth’s love interest. The development of their relationship is slow but sweet, and I found the idea of them as a couple quite believable. Despite Elizabeth’s feelings for Caleb at the beginning, there is no love triangle, thank goodness! I’m hoping this continues in the next book, although I wouldn’t mind learning more about Caleb.

Overall, I think The Witch Hunter is an auspicious debut. The characters are fascinating and well-developed. There’s a few loose ends including the mention of a plague that the witches supposedly started, but it doesn’t really go anywhere. The action is fast-paced and the ending is neatly tied up, but it’s obvious there’s going to be another book. There is a reference to rape, but it happens before the story begins, and isn’t graphically depicted. However, because of this and some of the disturbing scenes describing the executions of witches, and the training the hunters go through, I’d probably recommend this for ages 13 and up. Virginia Boecker is definitely an author I’m interested in following.