Review: Born Wicked

I picked up this book because of the cover - it is gorgeous! I bought it after reading the summary and first chapter while standing at the table. I couldn't put it down.

This was worth the purchase!

Summary (from book jacket):

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:

First off – WOW! I loved every single page of this novel. There have been so many witchy series written that it is hard to impress me, but Spotswood did just that.

I applaud the author for making me feel involved in every element of this novel. This is neither a plot-driven novel nor a character-driven novel, it is reader driven (if that makes sense).

The plot of this novel is quite engaging. The world the author has created is a perfect storm brewing. Tensions are high as the reader anxiously waits to see who will be accused of witchery next – after all, there is a lot at stake for the Brotherhood. They are fighting to hold on to the power they currently have, and if the prophecy is true, it will tumble down. This is the reason the Cahill sisters are in danger at every moment, the reason they must keep their secret. They must be careful; they must trust no one but themselves. But how can they live life this way? This is what Spotswood explores in the novel – how to live a life without trust.

Readers will find themselves swept away in sisterhood, brotherhood, friendship, love, lust, and the list keeps going. There are elements of the plot that will engage readers more than others, but as a whole work, bravo!  

The characters themselves are well-developed. Readers will be left with questions, but those answers must wait. The author gives us just enough to feel satisfied at the end but anxiously awaiting more. By the novel’s end I could not believe it was the end.

Cate was my favorite character, and seeing as she is the heroine, this is not a surprise. But lately with series novels I’ve been finding myself enjoying the minor characters more than the heroine. I am pleased that this is not the case with this novel. I invested in her the most because I trusted her to keep my own secret, not just the secret of her sisters. I’m not sure what my secret is, but if I had one that could cost me my life, I would trust Cate to keep it.

The dynamic between Cate and her two sisters, Maura and Tess, is one of protection. The two youngers want to practice their magic, and they’re not as careful as they should be. It is Cate’s job to protect them, to remind them that they are in danger at every moment, but especially if anyone were to catch them practicing their magic. At no time is Cate bitter about assuming this role, but her middle sister, Maura is. Of the three, she is the one who does not want to live in the necessary constraints. She is the one is seems to be the most likely responsible for their downfall. But will this be the case? Sometimes the most obvious is not the answer.

The minor characters in the novel add just enough “flavor” to enhance Cate’s character. They are front and center, but with Cate on the page that take a back seat. They do not steal the spotlight from her – they make it glow brighter. While Finn is her true love interest, I did not find myself rooting for him. I was rooting for her childhood friend, Paul. They seemed to have more on-page chemistry for me, so I will be curious to see where Spotswood takes us with that particular path.

I loved every element of this novel. I do not have a single complaint, except that I have to wait for the second novel.

If you love a good witchy read, if you love series novels, you should add this to your list. If you have not ever delved into the world of witchy reads, let Born Wicked be your first.

This novel has cast its spell on me...

I am always looking for a great, witchy tale. I was excited about this novel because (1) it was about witches and (2) it is going to be a series. After I bought the novel it was immediately on my "next to read" list. It took me a few days to get into the novel - not because it was not a great read but because I seemed to be in a reading slump. I just could not concentrate, and this novel deserved my undivided attention. After three days, the slump was broken and I raced to devour every single word.

Book jacket summary

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 lives. 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 than ever to hid 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

Wow - great storytelling! That is the first thing that comes to mind about this novel.  I would love to work in a library with Ingrid and live in a town like North Hampton.

Here's why I loved this novel: (1) Joanna, Ingrid, and Freya; (2) Killian Gardiner; (3) strong, fresh, clever plot; (4) minor characters; (5) setting.

I want to first address our three heroines in the novel: Joanna, Ingrid, and Freya. What can I say? They each bring a strength to the story that kept me wanting more. I enjoyed the narrative style of the novel where I was treated to each of their stories, sometimes simultaneously and sometimes not. Each of these women bring a fresh perspective to the witchy world of literature that really worked for me. Joanna, the mother who maybe cares too much but still allows her daughters space. Ingrid, who hides behind her work in the library while pinning away, ignoring her own needs. Freya, the spicy one who brings a bit of heated romance to the tale in a variety of ways. I loved all three of them and look forward to having their tale unfold in the next novel.

And then there's Killian Gardiner. What a H-O-T character; spicy hot! While Freya has promised herself to Bran, she cannot seem to keep away from Killian. While he seems to be a minor character, he plays into the plot in a surprising and clever way. One I definitely did not see coming.

The strong, fresh plot I will not say much about for one reason: spoilers! I am so afraid of revealing something, so all I will say is this - if you read a lot of witchy lit like myself, you will enjoy fresh take de la Cruz takes with this novel. This was not just a novel about three witches, it was an unfolding mystery that needed solving. I also enjoyed the way she wrapped up the mystery. It was not in a cheesy way - it was well-done.

The minor characters that are scattered throughout only add to my love of this novel. From those who work with Ingrid in the library to the little boy who steals Joanna's heart to those Freya encounters while working in a bar, it is clear that de la Cruz understands how important minor characters are to strong storytelling. There was not one single character where I thought, "What was the point of that one?" Every character was needed to move the plot forward.

Finally the setting - North Hampton, NY. The creation of this setting really worked for me. It acted as the perfect background for what de la Cruz was trying to accomplish with novel. I had this quaint island in my mind while I read with a town not unlike Salem, MA (which happens to be alluded to throughout), with just as much mystery to it as its inhabitants. This is a town I could see myself living in.

I look forward to the continuation of this series, one I expect mighty things from...after all, after that ending, it can only get better.

Princess Substitute as a possible career? Count me IN!

I first discovered Leavitt on the shelves of B&N with Princess for Hire, and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite children authors with this series. Her sequel, The Royal Treatment was an absolute delight to read.

Desi Bascomb is back as a princess substitute, advancing to Level Two at Facade. She is working on BEST (Betterment of Elite Sub Training) for her Level Two jobs; she is starring as Titania in the school's production of Midsummer Night's Dream; she is dealing with her crush for Karl; she is dealing with her mother coaching and helping her enemy, Celeste; and that's just the start. There is still Reed to consider. Reed, who is hands off because he is her best friend's crush. Reed, who is starring as Bottom alongside Desi. Reed, who seems to have a lot of acting experience and is full of advice. This novel turns into a mystery when Desi is on the hunt for how magic makes Facade work, and what should she do when the one she is substituting for has no plans to return?

The character of Desi has a lot of growth in this novel, as do the other characters. We learn a bit more about the workings of Facade and of Meredith, who oversees Desi's training and jobs. With a few surprise twists (okay, I saw one of them coming) sprinkled with allusions to Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, and Marilyn Monroe and topped with clever dialogue, The Princess for Hire series is one of my favorites. 

 A few of my favorite moments

"Who made up that expression anyway?" Kylee said. "Why is rolling in your grave bad?Maybe it means you're a zombie or something. If your acting creates a  Shakespeare zombie, I'd be all for that. Like, he could come on the stage during all his plays and be like...'Iambic pentameter...bad. Brains...good.'"

I picked up a bottle of Some Like It Hot nail polish. "This is great! It's like the perfect red."

"I prefer Swan Princess Pink."

 "You like Grace Kelly?"

"High Society is my favorite old movie." Meredith sighed. "Witty banter, a love triangle, snappy music. Plus, Frank Sinatra is an absolute dreamboat."

Kelly and Sinatra

She shook her head. "I don't know if I can. He's, like, a good-looking guy Medusa: I just 

freeze up when I see him."

Final thoughts

With a strong plot, strong characters, and strong writing, this is a must-read series for tweens, period. Tween girls will delight in the prospect that one day, while taking a bubble bath, they too might be invited to be a part of Facade and work as a princess substitute; otherwise, it's just a great, fun read.

Leavitt hits it out of the park for me with this novel, and I predict we will see a lot of great reads from her in the future. Right now, I'm looking forward to the final book in this series. If you have not read her YA novel, Sean Griswold's Head, you should. I review it here.

Spotlight on Salem Witch Tryouts

I love reading anything to do with Salem, and I love reading young adult witch books. This book did not disappoint.


Prudence Stewart, the "it" girl of Beverly Hills High School. She has it all, including a family secret that lands her and her family in Salem, Massachusetts. See, Prudence comes from a long line of witches, a secret she was very aware of...but now it is necessary for her to attend a high school designed for her "kind." Enter Agatha's Day School, the one place Prudence cannot seem to grasp. As a "mortal" she was perfectly fine in Beverly Hills, but now that she is allowed to be herself, she cannot seem to come to grips with how to survive - her classes, her classmates, her new
life.


Now that Prudence is allowed to be a full-time witch, she has to trade in her Beverly Hills pom-poms and tryout for Agatha's cheer squad via a broomstick. Easier said than done, especially by this witch, who is currently failing Witchcraft 101.


Will Prudence be able to cast a spell at her new school and be as successful as she was in her old school?