Review: Spellbinding

Title: Spellbinding

Author: Maya Gold

ISBN: 9780545433808

Pages: 272                          

Available: April 1, 2013

Source: Netgalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

There's more than one way to be powerful . . .

It is during a routine school project that Abby Silva--sixteen and nearly friendless--makes a startling discovery: She is descended from women who were accused of witchcraft back in 1600s Salem. And when Abby visits nearby Salem, strange, inexplicable events start to unfold. Objects move when she wills them to. Candles burst into sudden flame. And an ancient spellbook somehow winds up in her possession.

Trying to harness her newfound power, Abby concocts a love potion to win over her longtime crush--and exact revenge upon his cruel, bullying girlfriend. But old magic is not to be trifled with. Soon, Abby is thrust headlong into a world of hexes, secrets, and danger. And then there's Rem Anders, the beautiful, mysterious Salem boy who seems to know more about Abby than he first lets on.

A reckoning is coming, and Abby will have to make sense of her history--and her heart--before she can face the powerful truth.

My Thoughts:

Now, I love a good witchy read. I mean, I really, really love one. I am always looking for one that brings a new twist into my reading, so I was excited when I saw this on Netgalley. I became even more excited when I saw that it takes place in Salem, MA, one of my favorite places to visit.

The one thing I enjoyed about the novel was that the plot was fast-paced. There was no lull. Gold took readers into Abby’s world and BOOM! We were off and going until the very end. With that said, I found the plot development uneven.

The novel’s story begins with a driving test, a trip to Salem, and almost ends in a ‘Carrie’esque way—at prom. Hence the uneven feel.

But I forgive the author for the uneven plot because I loved her protagonist, Abby. It’s Abby’s driving test that changes her life, and not in the typical teen “I’m free!” kind of way. Her driving test puts her on the radar of powerful elemental witches because she unknowingly casts. She does not understand what she sees, only that her car was in one spot and just make it to the curb to officially pass the driving test.

But Abby’s got ties to witchcraft. She has a relative that was an accused witch during the Salem Trials of 1692, and she wants to learn more about it. Okay, her teacher nudges her to find out more, but still. She travels to Salem originally to research her ancestor. Before she knows it, she has a job at a New Age bookstore, is casting a love spell on her crush, and has a mysterious stranger/crush in Rem.

I would have enjoyed the author going more in depth with Abby’s ancestor. The casting of the love spell is old hat. That happens in a lot of witchy reads, which I understand, but I am always looking for something fresh. While love spells are “safe” for the protagonist, they usually end in a mess. A mess I am accustomed to reading at this point.

It is in Rem that the author catches my intrigue. His interest in Abby will leave readers guessing. There is more to him than meets the eye, and there is a creep factor about him that will give readers a bit of hair-raising doubts as to his spot in Abby’s life. But I will reassure all of you—he is not giving Edward Cullen a run for his money. His intentions are true, and he is not secretly watching Abby sleep at night. That qualifies him for boyfriend material for sure.

But there is a small problem with Rem as boyfriend material.

Abby has a crush. His name is Travis, and his character reminded me of Brad Powell from the movie ‘Teen Witch’ (1989). It is on Travis that Abby decides to try her first official spell, and the outcome is pretty much what many of us would anticipate.

As a matter of fact, while I am typing this review, the entire book has the same feel as ‘Teen Witch.’ The two plots do not match, but the feel of the two does. If you’ve not seen the movie but love witchy reads, you should add it to your list.

While I loved Salem as a setting, I felt that the author could have really used this to her advantage. Salem could have become a character itself, bringing more intrigue into the storytelling. Instead, the author makes this character and plot-centered, but I still feel that the setting could have helped with the uneven feel of the plot. I think it’s because I’ve been to Salem several times and I love it there. I always love to see authors use this as a setting, and I am always sad when it doesn’t become a major part of the plot.

There were allusions to ‘Carrie’ throughout, and I loved Salem as a setting.

Instead of the typical witch doing witchcraft, Gold gives us elemental witches, ones that are seeking vengeance for wrongs of the past. There’s just one issue: they are missing one element. Enter Abby. In their eyes, she holds the key to their justice.

As a whole, I enjoyed ‘Spellbinding.’ I felt the author could have slowed the plot a bit toward the end, giving us two or three more chapters of development. This would have given the book a more “finished” feel.

I would recommend this book to all lovers of witchy reads.

What’s the best witchy read you’ve read in a while? Comment below and join the conversation.

Happy Reading!

-          The Hodgenator

Waiting on Wednesday (1)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.  It’s designed for bloggers to spotlight the upcoming releases that they simply can’t wait to read.

This is my first time participating, but I want to make sure I'm using my blog to share my love of reading - not just reviews. So...here goes my first "Waiting on Wednesday" post, and I picked one of my favorite authors

I heart Lindsey Leavitt. I first fell in love with her because of her Princess for Hire series, which I read because she was appearing at my local B&N with Rachel Hawkins. I wanted to make sure I read Leavitt's book before meeting her, and I have been a fan ever since.

Title: 'Going Vintage'

Author: Lindsey Leavitt

Release Date: March 26, 2013

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Summary (from Goodreads):
When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). 

The List:

1. Run for pep club secretary
2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree
3. Sew a dress for Homecoming
4. Find a steady
5. Do something dangerous

But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.

What are you waiting for this week?

Happy Reading!

     - The Hodgenator

Review: The Water Witch

So I read this intriguing witchy tale that I did not know existed until I found it on Netgalley. I love that site because it helps me find reads I might otherwise miss.

The cover is what attracted me first, and then the title. What do you think of that cover?

Title: The Water Witch

Author: Juliet Dark

ISBN: 9780345524249

Pages: 352

Publisher: Ballentine Books 

Available: NOW at your local bookstore or library

Source: Netgalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

"You have only to call my name to bring me back," he whispered, his breath hot in my ear. "You have only to love me to make me human."

Seduced by a powerful incubus demon, Callie has succeeded in banishing him to the Borderlands but Liam still haunts her dreams, tempting her with the knowledge of how to bring him back.

But loving an incubus usually ends in death for a human. For her own sake, Callie must learn to control her desires and ensure Liam remains trapped for all eternity in his watery prison.

Only there is a more dangerous creature than Liam in the Borderlands. The Water Witch is looking for a way back

My Thoughts:

One word to describe this book: saucy.

With that out of the way, I want to say that I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed Dark’s pacing, which at first I thought was too slow, but as I got deeper into the plot I realized that she was pacing us in a way that seemed to mirror that of the Faerie land. Time seems to move so slow there, so much so that the creatures aren’t too sure about time at all, and for the first ten chapters, that’s how I felt.

But once I hit chapter eleven, I was grabbed and was not let go until the very end.

I have fully been warned to not every visit the Catskills town of Fairwick. Weird happenings abound.

The plot of this novel was nicely balanced: supernatural powers, character interaction, romance, friendship, fight for justice.

Okay, justice might be stretching it a bit, but Callie is fighting to keep the door open to Faerie. It is the right thing to do to keep balance and peace with all non-humans. As doorkeeper, it is Callie’s job to make sure she not only guides the undines to the door but also it is her job to keep it open.

According to The Grove, the door should be closed—and they have the backing of the IMP (Institute of Magical Professionals). I imagine the IMP to be a lot like the MIB, just with cloaks and the ability to do magic. Not that that’s true; that’s just what I imagine while reading about them. Silly, isn’t it? But Callie is up against The Grove and the IMP. This is serious.

Callie seems to have two love interests: Duncan, the tutor and Bill, the Handyman. I’m not 100% sold on either one. I’m partial to the name Liam personally, and his character longs to know whether or not Callie loves him. After all, if she does, he will become human.

(Cue dramatic music)

I guess Callie really has a triangle of love happening in this novel—with interesting results.

There’s even a bathtub scene in this book that will rival that of ‘What Lies Beneath.’ Seriously. Oh, and I cannot forget the zombie beavers. I mean, what’s a paranormal tale without having to worrying about those suckers coming for you? I will definitely think twice before heading into the woods by any type of water, that’s for sure.

As a whole, the novel is beautifully written, the plot is nicely paced, and the characters are divine.

While this is not a book I would usually review on my blog, it is about one of my favorite topics to read about: witchery. I would not recommend this novel to the YA crowd, but I would recommend it to anyone who loves an intriguing witchy tale. I’m always looking for witchy tales that take a bit of a different spin on the craft, and this novel fits the bill.

What’s the best witchy tale you’ve read in a while?

Happy Reading!

-      The Hodgenator

Review: The Nightmare Affair

Hey guys!

I feel so honored to have already read this novel, on shelves today. I loved every page of this book. It was an original mystery that kept me guessing—and my heart pumping—until the final reveal.

In LOVE with this cover

Title: The Nightmare Affair

Author: Mindee Arnett

ISBN: 9780765333339

Pages: 367                          

Available: Available NOW from your bookstore or library

Source: Netgalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.

Literally.

Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.

Then Eli’s dream comes true.

Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target

My Thoughts:

One word to describe this book: incredible.

I loved the concept, I loved the execution, I loved it.

From the moment I stepped into the novel, I was thrown into a world I know nothing about. As readers we think we do—we’ve read all the legends. But we do not know the entire truth.

You will question all you’ve been taught in various legends and myths when you finish this novel. Okay, that’s not really true, but there were moments where I thought, “Wait a minute. I thought…” You may have the same reaction. Or you may not.

That’s what I loved so much about this novel. Arnett kept me guessing until the very end. Just when I thought I had a hold on the plot and what was unfolding, I was wrong. This is masterful construction. I mean, this novel is if Nancy Drew was a Nightmare and could manipulate dreams to uncover the truth of the crimes she’s solving.

Yep, I just equated a dream about a crime-solving Nightmare to Nancy Drew. Original, right?

Now on to my love for the two main characters: Dusty Everhart and Eli Booker

From the moment Dusty appeared on the page I knew I would love her. She was brave. And limber. And crawling through a boy’s window.

See, love it!

Dusty was a breath of fresh air for me because she was a Nightmare, something I suffer from, and I almost feel as if they are now necessary in my life so creatures like her can survive. That’s all it’s about anyway, surviving. Even if that means a Nightmare crawls through my window, crouches over me, and well, I’ll save that for the book. But I get it now. Thanks Nightmare(s), you’ve simply used me to help you survive. Excellent.

Back to Dusty. This poor girl. I mean, she is one of only a few Nightmares. Her mother gives Joan Crawford a run for her money (in a metaphorical way), and she is a new student who seems to have a hard time fitting in at Arkwell Academy.

Enter Eli Booker. Readers meet him right away. There is no holding back. No mystery. Nope, it is his window Dusty crawls through as the novel opens, and what transpires between them is heart-pumping. In all the right ways. See, he affects Dusty differently than the others she visits.

As a matter of fact, Eli dreams of a murder that turns out not to be a dream. He is Dusty’s other half, at least while sleeping. As a result, he gives up his mundane “human” life to become Dusty’s other half. It’s necessary to catch the killer, and to stop the destruction of the Will.

The Will in the novel reminds me of The Force. Yep, Star Wars style. It is there to keep all magickind honest. To use their powers for the right reasons, not the wrong. But as with any good mystery, someone wants to get his/her hands on it—and not for the right reasons.

I spent the novel figuring out who to trust, who to love, who to suspect. After all, many have quite a bit to gain with having power of the Will. Many.

Mix together two crime-solving-through-their-nightmare teenagers plus an evil so heinous that he/she murders for power, and you get ‘The Nightmare Affair.’

Dusty and Eli had great “on page” chemistry. They were funny. They were at ease. They were themselves more with one another than any other character. They were the dream team. They worked.

Of course, these aren’t the only two staring in the novel, there are plenty of other secondary characters who bring out the best in what makes Duty and Eli great characters. From suspicious teachers to a suspicious handyman, these characters will keep you on your toes and keep your alert levels high.

The killer could be anyone, anywhere, anytime.

A heart-pumping novel that I could not put down. I had to put it down to eat and sleep, but it wasn’t easy. I read this in two sittings and a run on the treadmill. Although, I should really watch the reading while running because it’s starting to make me always question whether or not someone is standing over my shoulder while I read these fantastically creepy novels.

And this one is creepy. But in a gentle way. Not in a, “I’m going to have nightmares for the rest of my life” way. After all, I’ve already told you it has a Nancy Drew feel. Which I loved.

And let me tell you, there is a scene that is a ‘Harry Potter’ combination of two novels. I remember reading it and making the analogy to my husband. I said, “It’s like Sorcerer Stone meets Order of the Phoenix while in the Ministry of Magic…but in a gentler way.” When you read it, you’ll have to let me know if you feel the same.

‘The Nightmare Affair’ needs to be added to your mound of reads. I recommend it for all readers, not just readers of a certain type of book. If I have to “type” it out I will say readers of Duncan, Gaiman, Schwab, Stine. There. I’ve given a reader type, but it’s not needed. This one has a broad appeal.

What’s the best novel you’ve read lately?

Happy Reading!

-          The Hodgenator