Monday, July 22, 2013

The Cahill witches may be Star Cursed, but I feel blessed to read these books!

Book:  Star Cursed
Author:  Jessica Spotswood
Date:  Now available
Publisher:  Putnam Juvenile
Source:  Publisher via Edelweiss
My grade:  A++++

With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.

Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess's quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England. (Description and cover taken from www.goodreads.com)
Initial Reaction
Well, that ending only broke my heart and crushed my soul, Jessica Spotswood, but it’s no biggie, k?  ::sobs inconsolably::

Cover Story
I hate it when they change the covers in the middle of the series!  I really liked the cover on the first novel, but then they changed it in the paperback and now this one matches the paperback.  It’s not a bad cover, but I LOVED the original one and wanted a great one to match it with this book.  So, I shall stomp my foot and pout like Maura!

What’s the Story?
I wouldn’t think it possible, but this book was even better than the first Cahill witch book!  It was unbelievable!  I mean, a lot of times, second books sort of fall flat, but not this one.  This one actually ramped it up a notch and then POW!!  Punched me right in the gut!

I have to warn you—if you are one of those people who hates to wait for a third book, you’re going to be really upset waiting for this one.  But there is no way I could recommend that you wait because these books are JUST THAT GOOD!  It’s worth all the torture that I will go through waiting for that third book.  And I will probably try to re-read this one before the third one comes out.  And I don’t re-read books anymore because I really don’t have time, but I will MAKE time to re-read this one.

There are spoilers for the first book here, so if you haven’t read the first book, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR????  Drop everything else you have to do and beg, borrow or steal a copy of that thing.  Don’t worry—your kids can eat cereal for dinner.

The second novel picks up with Cate in the convent of the Sisterhood in New London.  Here, Spotswood introduces the reader to a whole cast of characters in New London.  Some of them are great and some of them are just horrid, but they are all interesting and woven seamlessly into the story.  We learn a lot of the secrets of the Sisterhood, get to see inside the Haywood Asylum, meet Cate’s godmother, learn more about the prophecy and see the Brothers get more and more oppressive.

And, as if that’s not enough, Tess and Maura show up and we get more of the rivalry between Cate and Maura.  There is also the whole battle between factions in the Sisterhood.  I’m worn out just listing it and reading it just took my breath away.  It hardly seems that there’s time for a love interest, right?

WRONG!  Finn is still there and Paul even shows up a bit.  I don’t know how Jessica Spotswood does it, but let me tell you, girlfriend can sure write the swoon.  And with just some kisses!  It’s a good thing she’s not writing erotica, because if she can create this kind of sexual tension with just some innocent touches, she’d make women’s ovaries explode with anything else.  And it would not be good for half of America to have no ovaries, just sayin’.

This book had everything- romance, rebellion, espionage, true love, betrayal, subterfuge, secret plots, evil leaders, abuse of innocents, family issues, you name it.  The only thing it really needs is some sword-fighting and maybe a ninja or a pirate.  No, actually, that would probably ruin it.  I just can’t believe how jam-packed this novel was with relevant details and storylines and they all worked!

Of course, then there is the ending that literally took my breath away and left me reeling.  I’m sure I looked pretty stupid, sitting there staring at my Nook with my jaw hanging open.  I had to go back and read it several times, hoping I had read it incorrectly.  But no, Jessica really did reach into my ribcage, rip out my heart and step on it.  I am still thinking about those last few pages a few days after reading the book and I’m just shocked and horrified because there is no way to reverse what happened.  No way.  And I never saw it coming.  Never.

Please, please, please, do yourself a favor and go read this book.  Now.

The Soundtrack

Don’t Leave Home by Dido


Your Love Is a Song by Switchfoot


Cornflake Girl by Tori Amos


Adia by Sarah McLachlann


I Am Woman from Sex and the City 2


Better Day by Saving Jane


So Beautiful by Superchick


My Love by Sara Bareilles


The Final Grade
My final grade for this one is A+++++!  I can’t really give it a high enough grade.  I am so totally enamored by this series now.  If you haven’t started this series or you haven’t gotten this book yet, run as fast as you can to get it.  I hope you will fall in love too!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.  I received no compensation, financial or otherwise, in exchange for this review.  Especially not a hot scholar boy.






No comments:

Post a Comment