Book Review: Rebel Witch by Kristin Ciccarelli

Pages: 464

Genre: YA Fantasy/Romantasy

Pub. Date: February 18. 2025

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Heartless Hunter

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

Goodreads says, "A WITCH...Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. If Rune hopes to survive, she must ally herself with the cruel and dangerous Cressida Roseblood, who’s planning to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches—something Cressida needs Rune to accomplish.

A WITCH HUNTER...Apparently it wasn’t enough for Rune to deceive Gideon; she’s now betrayed him by allying herself with the witch who made his life a living hell. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to the witches and be plunged back into the nightmares of the past. In order to protect this new world he fought for, every last witch must die—especially Rune Winters.

AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE...When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse, the two must pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. The more they’re forced into each other’s company, the more Gideon realizes the feelings he had for Rune aren’t as dead and buried as he thought. Now he’s faced with a terrible choice: sacrifice the girl he loves to stop a monster taking back power, or let Rune live and watch the world he fought so hard for burn.

In Kristen Ciccarelli's Rebel Witch, the exciting conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, love has never been so deadly.

 

After Heartless Hunter ends, readers find Rune engaged to a prince with one plan in mind: take back the Republic and save her fellow witches from a horrible fate. Not only does she have to ally with the prince, but she has to work with the notorious Cressida Roseblood. This in and of itself is a betrayal to Gideon. Rune doesn't trust Cressida, but she knows if she stands a chance at succeeding, she needs her. Enter Gideon Sharpe, who is tasked with killing Rune to stop her plan. But things go awry once they see each other and as time passes, Rune makes Gideon an offer that is too enticing to pass up and they must work together to take down Cressida. Cressida has plans to bring back her sisters and regain control. They can't let this happen, especially for Gideon who was tortured by Cressida and his family killed. What ensues is an epic action-packed conclusion to the Crimson Moth duology. Kristin Ciccarell's The Rebel Witch is an outstanding young adult romantasy that I thoroughly enjoyed; fans of romantasies won't be disappointed in this compelling YA tale.

 

What I like most about Rune and Gideon is Ciccarelli's character development. She does a great job making these characters complex, have difficulties, and grapple with a lot of emotion. Both have complex backgrounds and despite not always agreeing with their decisions, readers will find themselves rooting for these two and hoping they can spark their romance again despite their differences. 

 

I will say that The Rebel Witch is much more action-packed than Book One, but I really enjoyed all the tension and suspense. It was the right amount of action + romance + fantasy elements to make this a page-turner. The middle of the book did lag a little, but overall, it was a strong conclusion to a fantastic duology. 

 

Have you read the Crimson Moth series? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Dragged Down Deep

 

I want to share my excitement for a new young adult fantasy novel that has everything I love: mythical creatures, a coastal town, and a captivating mystery. The book is titled Dragged Down Deep by Michael Okron, and it's an action-packed read that serves as the first installment in a planned series.

Learn More About the Book:

 

Dragged Down Deep 

Written by Michael Okon

Ages: 15+ | 286 Pages

Publisher: Chelshire Inc (2024) | ISBN: 978-1-950080-14-4

Publisher’s Book Summary: Logan Osborne has spent his life chasing the shadows of the past.

As a child, he watched helplessly as his father was snatched from a fishing boat by what he swore was a mermaid. No one believed him then. No one believes him now.

Determined to prove that mythical creatures exist, Logan is drawn back to the small coastal town where his nightmares began after another mysterious disappearance stirs the waters.

Teaming up with his pragmatic colleague Elliot Sheppard and his fiercely loyal friend Penny Swanson, Logan dives headfirst into an adventure packed with danger and deception. As they dig deeper, the trio faces resistance at every turn—a secretive agency with its own agenda, a suspiciously unhelpful police force, and Logan’s old flame, who may know more than she’s letting on.

What they uncover is far darker and more terrifying than Logan ever imagined: the truth about his father, the secrets of Minatuck, and the horrifying reality of the Mermaid of the Hamptons.

Will Logan and his friends expose the lies that have haunted him for years, or will they be Dragged Down Deep into the swampy, secretive underbelly of a town that guards its mysteries with deadly intent?

You can purchase your own copy of Dragged Down Deep at Bookshop, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Also, you can learn more about Michael Okron by visiting his website.

 

The Giveaway:

 

I've partnered with Michael Okon to host a giveaway to celebrate the recent publication of Dragged Down Deep. Readers who join us on this tour can enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a copy of Dragged Down Deep, signed by Michael Okon. The grand prize winner will also take home a $100 Amazon gift card! Good luck! Dragged Down Deep: Book Giveaway

 

Mini Reviews: YA Edition

 

I've been trying to get back to some old reading habits, such as reading more young adult literature. There's been some good ones that have come out recently and today I'm happy to share two new ones that have caught my eye.

 

Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray

Pages: 480

Genre: YA Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: February 4, 2025

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: A Great and Terrible Beauty,

and The Diviners

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "It was said that if you write to the Bridegroom’s Oak, the love of your life will answer back. Now, the tree is giving up its secrets at last.

In 1940s Germany, Sophie is excited to discover a message waiting for her in the Bridegroom's Oak from a mysterious suitor. Meanwhile, her best friend, Hanna, is sending messages too—but not to find love. As World War II unfolds in their small town of Kleinwald, the oak may hold the key to resistance against the Nazis.

In 1980s West Germany, American teen transplant Jenny feels suffocated by her strict parents and is struggling to fit in. Until she finds herself falling for Lena, a punk-rock girl hell-bent on tearing down the wall separating West Germany from East Germany, and meeting Frau Hermann, a kind old lady with secrets of her own.

In Spring 2020, New York City, best friends Miles and Chloe are in the first weeks of COVID lockdown and hating Zoom school, when an unexpected package from Chloe’s grandmother leads them to investigate a cold case about two unidentified teenagers who went missing under the Bridegroom’s Oak eighty years ago."

 

It's 1939 and Hanna and Sophie are two girls living during difficult times. Things are changing in their village with the arrival of Nazis. But like any teenage girls from their village, they look to the Bridgegroom's Oak tree for answers as it has matchmaking abilities. But matchmaking is not what they find there and meanwhile, the Nazis become more overbearing every day. Fast forward to the 1980s in West Berlin. Jenny has moved, along with her family, from the United States to West Berlin due to her father's work. Jenny comes from a preppy Dallas family, so the West Berlin scene is new to her. She befriends Lena, a punk, and Lena challenges her long-held beliefs in almost every area of her life. Lastly, in 2020, there's Miles and Chloe who work on a mystery surrounding Chloe's grandmother's scrapbook. They learn of two girls who disappeared from her grandmother's village and with the help of some internet sleuthing they get some answers. Each story thread has themes of overcoming oppression and ultimately of hope. Libba Bray's Under the Same Stars is a historical mystery that will be sure to keep readers flipping pages.

I have always enjoyed Bray's writing and that is the case here with Under the Same Stars. This is a powerful novel, perfect for fans of Ruta Sepetys, as the story really stays with you. While I love WWII storylines, I am not sure I was in the right frame of mind to appreciate this one. I also struggled with the 2020 plot thread as the pandemic plays a role. Again, I am also not sure I am ready to read about COVID yet - too soon? Nonetheless, Bray's story kept me engaged, despite my issues with the difficult topics as well as some uneven pacing. Having three different points of view can be daunting at times, but overall, she really pulled together a powerful story that tied together the three narratives very well.Under the Same Stars is a GMA YA book club pick and I can see why. It would lend itself to wonderful discussions.

The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle

Pages: 510

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: October 1, 2024

Publisher: McElderry Books

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Vendetta

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars 

 

Goodreads says, "In the dark underbelly of a beautiful city, two rival assassins are pitted against each other in a deadly game of revenge, where the most dangerous mistake of all is falling in love…

In Fantome, a kingdom of cobbled streets, flickering lamplight, beautiful buildings, and secret catacombs, Shade-magic is a scarce and deadly commodity controlled by two enemy the Cloaks and the Daggers – the thieves and the assassins. On the night of her mother’s murder, 17-year-old Seraphine runs for her life. Seeking sanctuary with the Cloaks, Sera’s heart is set on revenge. But are her secret abilities a match for the dark-haired boy whose quicksilver eyes follow her around the city?

Nothing can prepare Sera for the moment she finally comes face-to-face with Ransom, heir to the Order of Daggers. And Ransom is shocked to discover that this unassuming farmgirl wields a strange and blazing magic he has never seen before… Among rumours of monsters stalking the streets and the rival guilds grappling for control of Fantome’s underworld, Sera and Ransom are drawn together by something more than just magic and must face a deadly choice - forgiveness or vengeance? Kiss or kill? Dagger or Flame?"

Seraphine Marchant's mother makes Shade, which can be manipulated for various uses by Fantome's underworld. For starters, a person can use it to hide in the shadows, which makes it perfect for stealing, and when ingested it makes you a lethal killer. When Sera's mother is killed, Sera flees to Fantome's countryside and seeks refuge with the Cloaks. The Cloaks and the Daggers are two rival groups and now she is the Dagger's newest mark. Ransom, a talented Dagger, is looking for her. The two, while rivals have an undeniable connection, and as secrets unfold, alliances will be challenged. The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle is the first installment in a new romantasy perfect for fans of the genre.

 

I found Sera's story very compelling in The Dagger and the Flame, mostly due to Doyle's outstanding world-building. She develops Fantome very well; the details surrounding the catacombs, the dark underbelly of the town, and the cobblestone streets lit by lamplight are all very well done and atmospheric. My only gripe with The Dagger and the Flame is that Sera and Ransom lacked any real chemistry. While it is implied throughout the novel, it really isn't developed and it feels too superficial and immature at times. Nonetheless, fans of the romantasy genre will be pleased with the immersive world-building. I am sure many will continue with the series; however, I think I will look to many other novels from this genre that are saturating the market.

Are you a fan of young adult literature? Do you plan to read Under the Same Stars or The Dagger and the Flame? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Book Review: Heartless Hunter by Kristin Ciccarelli

Pages: 416

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: February 20, 2024

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.

Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe – a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution – who she can't help but find herself falling for.

Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?

Kristen Ciccarelli’s The Crimson Moth is the thrilling start to a romantic fantasy duology where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch… is falling in love."

 

 

 

Rune Winters, at first glance, appears to be a flighty socialite who bounces from party to party. But she is so much more than that and hides her secrets from everyone but her best friends, Alex and Verity. Rune is a witch, but it's a dangerous time to be one.  The Blood Guard took over, killed the Queen/witches in charge and is now killing witches one by one. During this time the elusive Crimson Moth has rescued witches from imminent peril and hasn't been caught yet. This Moth is Rune and she does this to avenge her grandmother's death who died at the hands of the Blood Guard. Gideon Sharpe, Alex's older brother, is a well known witch hunter and has very personal reasons why he loathes witches, starting with the fact that they destroyed his family. He has his eye on Rune as he thinks she may be the Moth or in cahoots with the Moth. Rune has her eye on Gideon as she is now eighteen and must marry. She could really use Gideon's connections to help rescue captured witches and find out where they are being held. A cat-and-mouse game ensues between Rune and Gideon, but what they don't expect is for real feelings to develop between the two. Kristin Ciccarelli's Heartless Hunter is a fantastic romantasy that kept me flipping the pages.

Rune is such an interesting character in Heartless Hunter; Ciccarelli did a great job developing her. Her backstory about life with her grandmother and what life is like as a witch in hiding was also done well and added to the story. It also explained her motivation as the Crimson Moth. Gideon's backstory is also complicated and I am glad Ciccarelli told the story from his point of view as well. Readers get the history surrounding his  family and how they were wronged by witches, which gives legitimacy to his motivations as a Blood Guard. Rune and Gideon's relationship is the usual enemies to lovers trope, but Ciccarelli gives it a fresh twist. Plus, matters get complicated when Rune's best friend, Alex, reveals he also has feelings for Rune-- cue the love  triangle! While that isn't my favorite of situations, I think Ciccarelli did a solid job making it seem not only authentic, but original, too.

My only issue with Heartless Hunter was some decisions the characters made towards the last quarter of the novel. A few choices made seemed very out of character as they didn't always align with the character's motivation, but overall, it didn't bother me as I was hooked. There are some twists in the novel, which definitely added to the suspense and while this is a YA novel, I think many fans of the romantasy genre will appreciate this one. I enjoyed Heartless Hunter's fresh take on The Scarlet Pimpernel and all the Bridgerton vibes within the novel. I will definitely be reading book two, which comes out this winter.

Are you a fan of Kristin Ciccarelli? Have you read Heartless Hunter? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Book Review: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Pages: 368

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: April 4, 2023

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever. After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish—into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.

Shadow and Bone meets Lore in Rebecca Ross's Divine Rivals, an epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel filled with hope and heartbreak, and the unparalleled power of love."

 

 

Iris Winnow is down on her luck. Her brother has enlisted to fight in the war and she hasn't heard from him as he is missing. Her mother lost her job due to her alcohol dependence, which left Iris to quit school early and venture out to find a job to survive. She is a talented writer so she gets a job at the Oath Gazette and while there she finds herself competing for a job as a regular columnist. It's very hard to separate her home life and work life as her home life is a mess and this spills over into work. She has to compete for the job against Roman Kitt, a wealthy and connected budding journalist who is the polar opposite of Iris. He has family money and his dad loves to interfere in his life by controlling his son and his opportunities. Iris misses her brother greatly and despite not knowing where he is, she writes him a heartfelt letter, and then doesn't drop it in the mail, but rather puts it in her wardrobe. Lo and behold the letter goes missing and a reply is in its place. Iris doesn't know this, but Roman is the one replying and these two form a beautiful correspondence where they share their thoughts and feelings. The letters change Iris's outlook and when she has the opportunity to leave town, she does and heads to the war front to investigate why there are so many missing soldiers as well as her brother's whereabouts. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross is a strong start to a compelling YA fantasy series and while I had some issues with it; overall, it was a solid read.

Iris is a bit of an underdog in Divine Rivals. How could you not root for her? Her mother is a mess, her brother is missing at war, and it's up to her to save things. I enjoyed her job at the Oath Gazette; it felt very Lois Lane to me and Roman, although he has good intentions, has so many more opportunities than her given his familial connections and his meddling father. I really enjoyed their rivalry and the ensuing friendship. Roman's life at first glance may seem perfect, but he deals with a lot at home and he is even being pushed into an arranged marriage that he doesn't want. Their letter writing (even if she didn't know it was Roman writing back) only added to their connection and slowly feelings formed.

My only issue with Divine Rivals was the setting. I liked the historical feel to the story (there are typewriters, etc), but I didn't quite buy into the Gods piece. It felt a bit more historical than fantasy and not a full fledged fantasy novel. Who are the Gods? Do they mettle in mortal's lives? What time period is it? I didn't quite buy into that aspect of the story and due to that, the setting didn't feel entirely fleshed out to me. I recognize there's magic in the story as well (the wardrobe! the letters!), but it never was a big focus, so I wasn't quite sure if Divine Rivals knew what kind of book it wanted to be.

Nonetheless, Iris and Roman's story sucked me in and the last few chapters of Divine Rivals were captivating to the point that I will definitely have to pick up book two in the Letters of Enchantment series to find out what happens next.

Have you read Divine Rivals? Did you pick up the sequel yet? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

Book Review: Spells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans Welch

Pages: 368

Genre: YA Fiction 

Pub. Date: September 27, 2022

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Love & Gelato,

Love & Olives, and Love & Luck

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "Willow has never felt like she belonged anywhere and is convinced that the only way to find a true home is to travel the world. But her plans to act on her dream are put on hold when her aloof and often absent mother drags Willow to Salem, Massachusetts, to wrap up the affairs of an aunt Willow didn’t even know she had. An aunt who may or may not have been a witch. There, she meets Mason, a loner who’s always felt out of place and has been in and out of foster homes his entire life. He’s been classified as one of the runaways, constantly searching for ways to make it back to his mom; even if she can’t take care of him, it’s his job to try and take care of her. Isn’t it? Naturally pulled to one another, Willow and Mason set out across Salem to discover the secret past of Willow’s mother, her aunt, and the ambiguous history of her family. During all of this, the two can’t help but act on their natural connection. But with the amount of baggage between them—and Willow’s growing conviction her family might be cursed—can they manage to hold onto each other?"

 

Willow and Mason both find themselves at Salem, Massachusetts, but for very different reasons. Mason is at a new foster home, but deep down inside he hopes to one day be reunited with his mother.  Willow is visiting Salem, because her mom is dealing with an unexpected family inheritance. This surprises Willow as she didn't know about her family from Salem and her mother isn't giving too much away about her mysterious past. When Willow and Mason meet, there is an instant connection between the two. Willow relies on Mason to help her navigate things with her family including a possible family curse. Jenna Evans Welch's Spells for Lost Things is a cute YA magical romance with a strong focus on family. 

Willow is an interesting character in Spells for Lost Things. Unlike Mason, her mother is present in her life, she isn't exactly presenting a clear picture. She is hiding things from Willow, especially when it comes to her past in Salem. Once Willow tags along to help her mother with the inheritance, she meets family members she didn't know about and in turn learns about her ancestry and her mother's past. There's a possible family curse, there's hidden letters, and more!  

Mason, on the other hand, is dealing with harder issues than Willow in Spells for Lost Things. He is in foster care and while he appreciates his new foster placement, he maintains hope that he will one day be reunited with his mother. He looks at the stars and the signs--always hoping they will point to her. His mother is an addict, so it's extremely heartbreaking.  I appreciate that Welch included such serious issues of addiction and foster care in her novel as I think it's important. Another theme throughout is the relationship with your mother as both Willow and Mason have challenging relationships with their own mother. I think many teens can appreciate this part of the novel and how the navigate it.

The romance in Spells for Lost Things was cute and the magical aspect of the novel makes it a perfect YA read for fall, especially if you are looking for something witchy, but not necessarily spooky. While it wasn't my favorite of Welch's novels, it was a solid read that I think many readers will enjoy this fall season.

So, are you a fan of Welch? Have you read Spells for Lost Things? Let me know in the comments below.

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone

Young adult fantasy holds a special place in my heart--it's one of my favorite genres! I am excited to share with you all a new young adult fantasy novel that is coming out August 1st. It's Jimmy Charton and the Lost Keystone by J.T. Michaels. I've partnered with The Children's Book Review and J.T. Michaels to share with you guys a great giveaway today to celebrate its upcoming publication.

 

 

Learn More About the Book:

 

 

Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone
Written by J.T. Michaels

Ages 13-18 | 336 Pages

Publisher: J.T. Michaels | ISBN-13: 9781778035203

Publisher’s Synopsis: "Author J.T. Michaels brings a fantasy tale of an ancient war, a modern-day murder mystery, mystical creatures, and memorable characters in his masterfully written young adult novel, Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone. The Great War ended a century ago. Peace reigns across the eight countries. Epic tales of heroic men and women of those times are recounted in song and story. Yet, history seems to have forgotten a young battlefield healer, Tessa Marlise…Sixteen-year-old Jimmy Chartron has just enrolled at the Navale Academy of Eagleon, his mind set on becoming an electrician. A chance magical encounter binds him to the trapped soul of Tessa Marlise. As Jimmy struggles to deal with this shocking development, murder and mystery unravel in the academy. Caught in the middle of everything, Jimmy realizes that a larger evil is afoot and that only two things can stop it: himself and the ghost in his head…"

 

You can purchase your own copy of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone at Amazon and Bookshop.  You can learn more about J.T. Michaels by visiting his website and connecting with him on Instagram.  

The Giveaway:

 

 

Enter for a chance to win a Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone prize pack.  One grand prize winner will receive The Comfy Couch Reader prize pack that includes two Alice in Wonderland throw covers, a side lamp with a unique horse stencil design and a signed copy of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone.  

 

 

 

One grand prize winner will receive The Books and Beverage Lover prize pack which includes a Jimmy Chartron mug, a magic mug with three reveal characters, and a signed copy of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone.  Three winners will also receive a signed paperback copy of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone.  Good luck!  

 

Jimmy Chartron Book Giveaway  

 

 

 

Book Review: The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith

Pages: 448

Genre: YA Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Pub. Date: August 31, 2021

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars  

 

Goodreads says, "In 1911 New York City, seventeen-year-old Frances Hallowell spends her days as a seamstress, mourning the mysterious death of her brother months prior. Everything changes when she’s attacked and a man ends up dead at her feet—her scissors in his neck, and she can’t explain how they got there. Before she can be condemned as a murderess, two cape-wearing nurses arrive to inform her she is deathly ill and ordered to report to Haxahaven Sanitarium. But Frances finds Haxahaven isn’t a sanitarium at all: it’s a school for witches. Within Haxahaven’s glittering walls, Frances finds the sisterhood she craves, but the headmistress warns Frances that magic is dangerous. Frances has no interest in the small, safe magic of her school, and is instead enchanted by Finn, a boy with magic himself who appears in her dreams and tells her he can teach her all she’s been craving to learn, lessons that may bring her closer to discovering what truly happened to her brother. Frances’s newfound power attracts the attention of the leader of an ancient order who yearns for magical control of Manhattan. And who will stop at nothing to have Frances by his side. Frances must ultimately choose what matters more, justice for her murdered brother and her growing feelings for Finn, or the safety of her city and fellow witches. What price would she pay for power, and what if the truth is more terrible than she ever imagined? "

 

The year is 1911 and Frances lives a pretty normal life as a seventeen year old seamstress.  One night her boss, clearly intoxicated, tries to assault her, and ends up dead with her sewing shears in his neck.  The thing is Frances didn't attack him with her shears!  Much to her surprise, they flew across the room.....like magic.  Before the police take her into custody, two nurses whisk her away to Haxahaven Sanatarium. They tell everyone that Frances needs treatment immediately as she has tuberculosis.  Clearly Haxahaven isn't a hospital, instead it's an academy where girls like her can learn how to harness their magical powers in a safe way.  While there, Frances is excited to learn about magic, but instead is disappointed by the school's lessons. They focus on magical housekeeping and how to suppress their innate abilities.  She wants to harness her powers, not limit them and in turn finds herself gravitating towards Finn, a friend of her deceased brother, who has magical abilities. Finn says he can teach her how to perform the magic she is interested in as well as help her figure out how her brother died. Things get even more complicated when different magical leaders in the city learn about Frances's power and want her for themselves.  The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith is an enchanting witchy tale for fans of historical fantasies. It's a great book to get lost in, especially this time of the year.

Frances is a really fun heroine in The Witch Haven .  Despite the year being 1911, Frances is ahead of her time and finds strength with the other women at Haxahaven. It's interesting how the school wants her to to be a "good little witch," but Frances has bigger plans. She is motivated by the mystery surrounding her brother's death and wants answers as she is getting cryptic messages from someone at school about it. She hopes that magical Finn can help her get some answers, not to mention she has been seeing him in her dreams! Cue the drama!

There's a lot of action in The Witch Haven surrounding the various subplots and especially towards the end when it involves a big showdown.  The plot definitely kept me flipping the pages in addition to the historical setting of 1911. That definitely added to the drama and the atmosphere of the novel. Plus, The Witch Haven takes place at a boarding school, so if you are like me, you'll enjoy that setting.

Like I said, October would be the perfect month to curl up with this witchy tale. It was a perfect fit for me, because I wanted a spooky read, but nothing that would be fall into the horror genre. I recommend The Witch Haven to fans of Libba Bray.  So, have you read The Witch Haven? Is it on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

 

 

Audio Book Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: September 18, 2012

Publisher: Scholastic Audio

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”  It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.  Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.  His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.  But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.  For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore."

Blue lives in a small Virginia town and is the daughter of the town psychic.  She's been told her whole life that if she kisses her true love, he will die.  Pretty ominous, right? Blue isn't a psychic like her mother, but when she is nearby her, she helps to strengthen her powers.  As legend would have it, on the night of St. Mark's Eve, you will see a spirit for two reasons: either you're his true love or you killed him.  She is in the graveyard with her mother on that very night and she sees a ghost who speaks to her and she realizes that he is a boy, Gansey, who goes to the private school in town.  Normally Blue stays far away from these guys (The Raven Boys), but can she make an exception this time? Once she meets Gansey in person, she can't help but be drawn to him.  But Gansey isn't your average Raven Boy. He is on a quest with his friends that involves an ancient Welsh king who may or may not be buried in Virginia.  This quest involves a few of his other Raven Boy friends and Blue inevitably gets involved as well.  Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys is an expertly written fantasy that fans will thoroughly enjoy.

Blue is such an interesting character in The Raven Boys. Stiefvater always writes such complex characters that really stay with you.  As the story progresses, I got wrapped up in the boys' quest, but hanging over Blue's head the entire time was the premonition about her true love.  It definitely keeps the tension building throughout.  The narration also jumps to Gansey who is so much more than a trust-fund kid.  His quest to find the Welsh King is all-consuming at times.  His crew of friends: Adam, Ronan, and Noah are also very interesting in their own right and truly added to the story.

Stiefvater does a brilliant job molding The Raven Boys into a compelling fantasy filled with magic all while making it quite possible that something like this *could* happen.  There were some unexpected twists and turns throughout that I thought were also well done and most definitely took me by surprise.

However, I listened to the audio book of The Raven Boys and was a bit disappointed though.  As an actor, I really like Will Patton, but for me at times I thought his narration was grating, especially when he performed the voices for females. It was rough at times.  Nonetheless, Stiefvater's story was so well done, that I didn't let the (sometimes) difficult narration deter me from finishing the audio book.

So, if you are a fan of Stiefvater and love a good fantasy novel, check out the audio book The Raven Boys. I am so glad I finally got around to starting this much-talked about series and I can't wait to revisit the gang sometime soon.

Are you a fan of this series? Have you read it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.