Review: A Discovery of Witches

Title: A Discovery of Witches
Author: Deborah Harkness
Series: All Souls Trilogy #1
Publisher: Penguin Books
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads
Source: Purchased

A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.

Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism.

My thoughts: 

I remember thinking when A Discovery of Witches came out that I absolutely have to read that book because it sounds so amazing! It was getting rave reviews and I love books that deal with witches and magic. So why did it take me so long to finally read it!? I have no idea but I'm definitely kicking myself for not reading it sooner! 

I love the whole aspect of the story that there's all these family secrets and the fact that Diana does not want to be a witch and choose not to participate in all these witchy things.  So she run to the opposite of witchcraft which is facts, history and studying things that have evidence.  She is super smart and doesn't let anything get in the way of her studies and research.  She is also very determined.  She has a tough time coming to terms with notions that she could possibly be the chosen one and that her magic and relationship could bring about the biggest change known to her supernatural kind.  

Matthew is such a great character and one of my favorite vampires of all the vampire books that I've read. He is such a gentleman and deeply rooted in old fashioned chivalry while being very fierce and protective at the same time.  He is the ideal vampire. And he's smart and sexy to boot.  Even all the side characters were really great! They all have their own very unique personalities and while I was reading some of the vampires, I truly believed that they had been living for over a thousand years! The characterization in A Discovery is Witches is phenomenal! 

I love that A Discovery of Witches is a mix of supernatural creatures instead of focusing on just one. If witches can exist why not vampires? Even though it is a pretty long read, it is richly detailed and very interesting.  I give A Discovery of Witches 5 hearts for finally portraying vampires how I always imagined them to be.  And can I say new book boyfriend? Most definitely!

Review: Cold Kiss

Title: Cold Kiss
Author: Amy Garvey
Series: Cold Kiss #2
Publisher: HarperTeen
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads
Source: Purchased

Be careful what you wish for. . .


When Wren's boyfriend, Danny, died, Wren decided that what she wanted—what she had to do—was to bring Danny back. And so, in a heartbroken fury, armed with dark incantations and a secret power, she did.

But the Danny who returns isn't the boy Wren fell in love with, and she must hide him away while her life unravels around her. Then Gabriel transfers to her school and somehow he knows what she has done—and he wants to help make things right.

But Wren alone must undo what she has wrought—even if it means breaking her heart all over again.

My thoughts:

Cold Kiss was definitely not what I expected. I had heard that it was about zombies because the main character brings her boyfriend back from the dead but he's definitely not your typical zombie. Actually, I wouldn't really call him a zombie. Cold Kiss was more about witchcraft than anything else. It turned out that I kind of liked it and I kind of didn't like it. I've wavering between a rating of 2.5 and 3 hearts.

Wren is a weird character to me. She was really hard to relate to which is really the best way I could put it. I didn't like any of the decisions she made and I didn't enjoy getting to know this character. The parts that I did like were the flash backs of how she met Danny and the scenes that they had together. I really enjoyed their relationship before he died. Gabriel was an okay character and I'm kind of iffy about what I feel towards him too. I definitely did not like Wren's mom! She kept so many secrets from Wren even when Wren insisted that she tell her even a little bit! I was very annoyed!

Then there was the case of insta-love. Maybe it wasn't necessarily insta-love but it was definitely insta-connection. Gabriel is the new kid at Wren's high school and as soon as their eyes met from across the classroom they started to have feelings for each other! You don't even know him! You only know what he looks like! Things like this frustrate me very much!

I pretty much skimmed the last few chapters because I understood the jist of how it was going to end by then. I felt like most of the book was pretty predictable and I was ready to move on to my next read. I give Cold Kiss 2.5 hearts because it just wasn't anything special to me and I felt like this story has been told before.

Review- Always a Witch

Title: Always a Witch
Author: Carolyn MacCullough
Series: Witch #2
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads
Source: Purchased

The adventures of Tam and Gabriel continue with more time travel, Talents, spy work, and of course, the evil Knights.

Since the gripping conclusion of Once A Witch, Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmother's prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision—one so terrible that it could harm her family forever. When she discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian-era New York in order to destroy her family, Tamsin is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the nineteenth century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the advances of Liam Knight. As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice.

My take:

I love this series! Well, at least I hope it’s a series and not just a book one and book two. I really hope there’s more because Tamsin is one of my favorite witchy characters! Not only is it a witch story but there is also time travel, action and a love story. It’s so fun!

Tamsin and Gabriel are such a great couple. They work well together as a team and they have such great chemistry. It’s not like super hot with tons of sexy times, but they’re funny, cute and sweet to each other. They’re powers work well together and without Gabriel, Tamsin would have a lot harder time achieving her goal.

I also love the message that Always a Witch sends out to teenagers. Don’t be afraid to be who you were meant to be. Tamsin soon realizes that she is the one with great power in her family and she has the responsibility to make sure that the Greene family isn’t destroyed. And when she understands what she has to do, she doesn’t let anyone get in her way!

Once a Witch and Always a Witch are both great books! They’re fun, light and super breezy reads! They’re such fun witchy books!

Review- Born Wicked

Title: Born Wicked
Author: Jessica Spotswood
Publisher: Putnam
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads
Source: ARC compliments of Putnam Publishing

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

My thoughts: 

I read Born Wicked way back in December and I have literally been mulling over writing this review for two weeks now. Not because I didn’t like it, but because I really loved it. When I first started reading YA, I would say without a doubt, hands down, no hesitation that books about vampires were my absolute favorite (I’m sure Twilight contributed to my vampire adoration). But of course the lack luster has worn off and I realized that many vampire stories are very cookie cutter.

Witches have really grown on me and they have become some of my favorite stories in YA right now. As a history major in undergrad, I was always fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials and I would have taken that class in an instant if it had been offered. But sadly it was not and it was just a subject I dabbled in on my free time.

I loved the history of this story and that it is set in the past. It is set in a little town where at any indication that someone may be a witch, their sent off to an institution or hanged! In this world that Spotswood created, the witches used to be in charge and they openly practiced their magic. But they were overthrown by the Brotherhood who now impose their religious beliefs on the townspeople and rule with a strict hand. And all the witches are female.

The subplots were reall great as well! We have the whole story with Cate and her decision of whether or not she is going to marry or join the sisterhood. I'm kept on the edge of my seat just hoping that her or her sisters are not going to get caught doing magic. And then there's the whole intermingling of the Brotherhood and the Sisterhood and their roles in the community and the impact they have on the sister's lives. Then when Cate finds her mom's diary, so much more is revealed and the story just comes together with what is really going on and what could possibly go down in the next books!

Cate is such a great character. She is strong, protective of her family and is determined to help raise her sisters as her mother would have wanted. Finn, one of her possible love interests, is so cute and awkward but he is willing to accept her for who she is. Maura was one of my least favorite characters only because she was so annoying. There were times when I wanted to just slap her! But then after finding out about the prophesy, it seems like things played out they way they were supposed to.

I really loved this book! There are very few books that keep me up into the wee hours of the early morning because I just have to finish it and this one definitely did that to me! I was crying, it left on a cliffhanger and I just have to know what happens next and this first book hasn’t even been released yet! A great debut from a fantastic writer!

Waiting on Wednesday (39)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. This is one of my favorite memes because not only is my TBR pile so much bigger at the end of the night but also the covers are always amazing!

Title: A Witch in Winter
Author: Ruth Warburton
Hitting the Shelves: March 2012

Anna Winterson doesn't know she's a witch and would probably mock you for believing in magic, but after moving to the small town of Winter with her father, she learns more than she ever wanted to about power. When Anna meets Seth, she is smitten, but when she enchants him to love her, she unwittingly amplifies a deadly conflict between two witch clans and splits her own heart in two. She wants to love Seth, to let him love her – but if it is her magic that's controlling his passion, then she is as monstrous as the witch clan who are trying to use her amazing powers for their own gain.

Although a perfect fit for the paranormal romance genre, A WITCH IN WINTER avoids fangs, excessive body hair and submissive female leads, and tells the heart-wrenching story of a couple meant to be together, but being forced apart. Seth is utterly irresistible and Anna is an empowered, proactive young woman with unimaginable magic inside her. This is fast-paced, sensuous writing with believable incantations inspired by Warburton's research into witchcraft legend and old English.

Review- Hex Hall

Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Series: Hex Hall #1
Publisher: Hyperion Book
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads
Source: Purchased

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch.  It's gotten her into a few scrapes.  Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--en elusive European warlock--only when necessary.  But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus.  Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number one suspects.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.  

My thoughts: 

Hex Hall was a really fun read and a cute series that I can't wait to finish.  The aspect I enjoyed most about this book is the boarding school.  I love books that take place in boarding schools because there aren't any parents to have to worry about, there's only a few teachers and not all that many chaperons and a lot of crazy things can happen.

I also like that there is a mix of supernatural beings in this book and they all seem to get along, more or less.  But I would think that there would be crazier things happening since they are all attending the school  because they've been unable to control their powers.  So in the beginning, you have the normal antics of high school, the mean girls picking on the new girl and so on.  But then things start to get interesting when other students start making innuendos about Sophie's dad, three other girls practically force her to join their coven and her classmates are almost being murdered.

I really enjoy books that bring family history into the characters.  Sophie's family history is rich with extremely dark magic that has effected her whole hereditary!  Even by the end of the book, we've only scratched the surface of what has happened in the past leaving much more to be discovered in coming books.  There's also so much mystery and action going on that it left me wanting to read Demonglass right away!

Although it was a little surfacey and shallow, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Review- Witches of East End

Title: Witches of East End

Author: Melissa de la Cruz

Publisher: Hyperion

Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

Source: ARC compliments of Hyperion

The three Beauchamp women--Joanna and her daughters Freya and Ingrid--live in North Hampton, out on the tip of Long Island. Their beautiful, mist-shrouded town seems almost stuck in time, and all three women lead seemingly quiet, uneventful existences. But they are harboring a mighty secret--they are powerful witches banned from using their magic. Joanna can resurrect people from the dead and heal the most serious of injuries. Ingrid, her bookish daughter, has the ability to predict the future and weave knots that can solve anything from infertility to infidelity. And finally, there's Freya, the wild child, who has a charm or a potion that can cure most any heartache.

For centuries, all three women have been forced to suppress their abilities. But then Freya, who is about to get married to the wealthy and mysterious Bran Gardiner, finds that her increasingly complicated romantic life makes it more difficult that ever to hide her secret. Soon Ingrid and Joanna confront similar dilemmas, and the Beauchamp women realize they can no longer conceal their true selves. They unearth their wands from the attic, dust off their broomsticks, and begin casting spells on the townspeople. It all seems like a bit of good-natured, innocent magic, but then mysterious, violent attacks begin to plague the town. When a young girl disappears over the Fourth of July weekend, they realize it's time to uncover who and what dark forces are working against them.

My thoughts:

I've been a long time fan of Melissa de la Cruz and I haven't come across a published work of hers that I do not like. She is a fantastic writer, the Blue Bloods series is amazing and Witches of East End is no different.

Cruz weaves such a uniquely complicated story that at first I was worried that I was going to get lost in all the details of the witches and the townspeople. But I was sucked in so completely that following along and understanding was very easy. It was so interesting and I always wanted to know what happened next.

The chemistry and tension between Freya and Killian was so intense and hot I could almost feel the heat coming off the pages. Even though she's technically cheating on her fiance Bran, in a way I was rooting for Killian because of their unusual connection. I loved Freya's centuries old love story and that she has been searching for her long lost love for hundreds of years.

While they were doing their magic, I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for something bad to happen because they're not supposed to be using their powers! I was almost saying to myself, "Not so much magic. Take it down a notch, you're using too much!" The mystery and the possibility of what was lurking around the next corner was just to intriguing! And just when I thought I had the whole story figured out, the ending blew me a way and completely caught me off guard.

Anyone who loves Melissa de la Cruz and the Blue Bloods series, then Witches of East End is a must read; especially with the mysterious appearance of a few Blue Blood characters!

Review- Spellbound

Title: Spellbound

Author: Cara Lynn Shultz

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Rating: 4/5

Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

Source: ARC via Netgalley

What's a girl to do when

meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to-Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Street lamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives-visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

My thoughts:

Spellbound was such a great love story! I really loved the past life tragedies and the fact that they were fated to be together. Brendan and Emma are drawn to each other in a way that they've never felt before. But their lives are possibly in danger if they act on their feelings.

As much as I loved this book, I expected there to be a lot of magic in it because of the name. I thought there was going to be unknown witch heritage, coven initiation and spells. But there was only one witch who did not know very much.

This Upper East side private high school full of snotty rich brats reminded me a lot of the high school I went to in Southern California. Kids with all the clothes they want, brand new cars and parents who just throw money at them.

I really loved the chemistry between Brendan and Emma. The writing was spectacular and sucked me right in from the beginning. I wanted them to end up together so bad and to break the spell. Of course I'm not going to tell you how it ended, so you're just going to have to read it for yourself!

Review-Once a Witch

Title: Once a Witch

Author: Carolyn MacCullough

Published by: Clarion Books

Pages: 292

Rating: 4/5

Find it here: Amazon, GoodReads

Blurb:

Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search-and the stranger-will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all.

My thoughts:

Once a Witch is about a girl who feels completely left out of her family because she is one of the only ones who does not have a Talent. In an attempt to show then that she is not absolutely useless, she agrees to help a professor find his lost family heirloom. She enlists the help of Gabriel who, by the way, sounds drop dead gorgeous and he is totally into her. Together they travel though time and figure out what has really been going on with the family.

I loved this book. It was so fun to read and there was action at every turn. I also loved that they time traveled. Since I love the idea of being able to go back and forth through time and the notion that you can change aspects of the future from the past, I was having a lot of fun reading Once a Witch.

I also liked the characters names. They were so unusual and the sister's name is Rowena, which is my middle name and also very uncommon. I definitely recommend this book for young adult and supernatural readers alike.

**Very short review, about to lose internet :/ **