Entangled: A Panoramic Review

 "Two months after dying, seventeen-year-old witch Graylee Perez wakes up in her twin sister Charlene’s body.

Until Gray finds a way back inside her own body, she’s stuck being Charlene every twenty-hour hours. Her sister has left precise instructions on how Gray should dress and behave. Looking like a prep isn’t half as bad as hanging out with Charlene’s snotty friends and gropey boyfriend.

The “normals” of McKinley High might be quick to write her behavior off as post-traumatic stress, but warlock Raj McKenna is the only person who suspects Gray has returned from the dead.

Now Gray has to solve the mystery of her death and resurrection and disentangle herself from Charlene’s body before she disappears for good." (from Goodreads)

Entangled by Nikki Jefford
 
My reaction: Entangled was surprisingly readable. The writing was actually pretty good for a self-published novel, although it was not without some flaws. I felt like the reader could have been guided through the plot points a little more; some things didn't seem to follow logically (or they leaped over the step of reasoning in the characters' heads) and I just wasn't on the same page as them, which was frustrating. This was especially true for the last half or so of the book, when it began feeling rushed, as though the author were trying to stick all the plot points she'd planned in there. Basically, it started missing out on anything that wasn't a big plot point, becoming more of a bare-boned outline than a story with fully fleshed-out characters.

Another problem I had with the writing is that it would sometimes flip perspectives in the middle of a scene, which I found a little weird. It's written in 3rd-person attached POV (to Gray and Raj) and I was fine with switching between the two perspectives as long as there were clear section or chapter breaks — but having it happen in the middle of a scene kinda threw me.

The whole magic system really wasn't explained at all, unfortunately. Covens and witches have been done many times before, and Entangled's treatment didn't feel very well thought-out or unique.

Best aspect: the concept of the sisters sharing one body, and having to deal with whatever had happened to the body the previous day. Because it had been a while since I'd read the book description, I basically just started into the book blind and totally did not see this coming (even though it is very clearly part of the premise if you read the blurb!). The two-people-sharing-one-body aspect was kind of like The Host by Stephenie Meyer, although one big difference is that they're not in the body at the same time. Instead, the sisters had to communicate by notebook (or just find things out the next day) and wouldn't actually know/remember what had happened. It was funny to watch Gray having to deal with and adapt to the situation.

If I could change something... I'd make the characters more consistent. I'm all right with the character change (or revelation) in Nolan — it was pretty much out of the blue, but I think it was supposed to be a surprise. He seemed really bland before, anyway, so at least this gave him a personality. 

I was less okay with how the characterization of Charlene and Raj was handled. Spoilers, highlight to read: I was a little confused by how much more evil Charlene actually turned out to be, although I liked that there wasn't a happy ending with the sisters. I was surprised the author decided to make their relationship deteriorate so badly.

Raj is portrayed as such a slimy creep at the beginning, who doesn't have any conscience or rules, and then as soon as he starts helping Gray and hanging out with her, he becomes good and starts lecturing her on using magic for evil purposes. Perhaps it's partly that the reader is given Gray's opinion of Raj, based on rumors or a false impression, but we actually see him acting like a jerk to her, so I can't excuse it away entirely. Frankly, "new" Raj just isn't as interesting as before; the original Raj was creepy, yeah, but he had more presence. We don't really get any explanation for why he starts acting like a decent guy, either — it just seems to be a consequence of him falling in love with Gray. 

Which brings me to another point: we aren't really shown either Raj or Gray falling in love. The chemistry and attraction is there, certainly, but there's not enough emotional explanation for the progression of their relationship. It's more a case of leaving it up to the reader to assume that "oh, they're kissing now, I guess that means they like each other." I actually preferred their interactions before they become friends, when there was more tension between them because they both seemed to dislike each other.

If you haven't read it: and you want to read something with the feel of The Ghost and the Goth series, Entangled might work for you. Just be prepared for somewhat inconsistent characterization and a rushed second half.

If you have read it: anyone else feel like Raj did a complete 180 partway through the story?

Just one more thing I want to mention: The idea that adults would see these teens as a threat was, well, a little unbelievable. I understand that they'd take the teens more seriously because they have powers, but while Raj and Gray are mature in some ways, they're immature in others (like in their focus on revenge). Of course, not all of the adults seemed very responsible either!

Quote: 

"Gray woke up with a start. She lifted her head a couple inches off the pillow and saw the two bedposts on either side of her—Charlene's bed. Gray threw back the covers. She was wearing a red and black silk, lace babydoll.

Not again.

Oh, god. What if her life was turning into the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day? At least in Bill Murray's version he got to be himself every day." 

Final verdict: 3 shooting stars. I feel like Entangled had potential that it didn't live up to. The first half showed promise, but then it seemed to get really far-fetched and even ludicrous towards the end.

Disclaimer: I received this e-book for review from the author.

 
This book counts towards my goal for the Debut Author reading challenge. 

A Witch in Winter: A Panoramic Review

"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." (from Goodreads)

A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton

In ten words or less: witchy story with unrealized potential.

My reaction: 

Well, throughout the first half or so I was thinking it might be a 3.5 star read. But unfortunately, it started going downhill in the latter part of the book and didn't redeem itself. I feel like this book had potential in several different areas, but fell short. 

Character-wise, I liked Anna at the beginning. She seemed pretty down-to-earth and just generally relatable. My enthusiasm for her lessened as the book went on, particularly once her relationship with Seth changes. I just didn't buy that she could be "in love" that quickly, without spending very much time with him. If it had been downgraded from "love" to "interest" or "attraction" and then have the tension upped gradually, it would have been a whole lot more believable. Seth is no better, suffering from seriously rapid attitude adjustments and the unfortunate fate of ending up rather 'whipped'. And just overall, I felt like the characters didn't have much personality and could have used some more description to help me visualize them.

Plot-wise, I liked the concept of the love spell and its initial effects on Seth. The whole is-he-or-isn't-he-really-in-love-with-me premise is a great hook, and one that I think could have been exploited more effectively. Instead, the love spell storyline is pretty much resolved (in a predictable manner) about halfway through and a whole new storyline is set up to take its place. This fast acceleration of their relationship is too sudden, and love is portrayed in a black-and-white way that fails to fully explore the gray areas.

Now, at first I was okay with this second, more adrenaline-filled, plot. The Ealdwitan were threatening Anna and Mr. Brereton seemed pretty creepy. Plus, there was the question underlying their menacing stance: why do they want Anna so badly? But we don't see enough of the Ealdwitan to really get a sense of who they are or what their motivations are. Consequently, the spell they unleash on Winter just comes off as ridiculously overkill for the situation at hand — and not very well thought-out, either. The question regarding Anna's role is never answered. I suspect it is being saved for the sequel, but not having that pertinent information means the reader is left going, "WHY????"

As for the world-building... the setting of England countryside by the sea — with cliffs and a castle and an old, dilapidated house — was pretty cool. I thought more description could have been used to heighten the atmosphere, but still, the backdrop was fitting for a story about witches. However, the magic system was all over the place. Sometimes spells were done reading from a Grimoire. Sometimes they weren't. Certain witches saw the future, but not consistently. I'm pretty sure there is shapeshifting at a few points. One character conveniently talks to Anna in her mind at a crucial moment. If there'd been more structure and explanation for the different kinds of magic, then I wouldn't have so much of a problem with it, but it just seemed to depend on the individual witch. Anna basically gets no training in magic, but she seems to develop some good instincts once she's told she's a witch. It's like she's sucked up witchy knowledge by osmosis or something. The magic itself isn't articulated very clearly, beyond the generic "threads" or "webs" of spells we've seen many times before in fantasy novels.

Best aspect: I enjoyed Abe's character. He's this older, mysterious, sexy rebel guy (with a faint aura of danger) and you can't always anticipate what he'll do next. I hope he'll figure more prominently in book 2, but I kind of doubt I'll be reading it to find out. (That would be pretty much the only reason I would read book 2.)

If I could change something... I would majorly rehash the magic system to make it logical and straightforward. The storyline would be reworked so it didn't come across as two sub-plots accidentally smacking into each other at the halfway point. And I would keep cheesy emotional declarations to a bare minimum, spicing up the dialogue to make it more fresh, memorable, and authentic.

Spot the allusion? There's one scene that made me think of Romeo & Juliet. I'm not sure if this was intentional or not, but I enjoyed the dramatic irony (and humor!) inherent in the scene. (Spoiler, highlight to read: the part where everyone thinks Anna's dead and she's actually recorded at the hospital as such, but the reader knows she isn't. And then she shocks everyone by sitting up!)

Just one more thing I want to mention: June, Lily and Prue just get dropped out of the story soon after the love spell is cast. I'm pretty sure the only reason they were included was to provide a plausible vehicle for Anna enchanting Seth. Plot device, anyone?

If you haven't read it: if you're really crazy about witches and don't mind unreasonably lovestruck teens, you might like this one better than I did. Just don't expect it to make a whole lot of sense.


If you have read it: Anyone else have a Twilight flashback in the scene with Seth in the tux? 

Quote: 

My breathing slowed. I was almost asleep when my ear caught another sound, something fluttering against the window pane. The noise was stealthy, soft, persistent. I shut my eyes tighter and pulled the sheets to my chin, pushing away the vision of a dry, dead hand, pressed paper-thin, scrabbling against the window, trying to get in.

Final verdict: 2.5 shooting stars. I think the book description is a bit misleading, since the love spell aspect really only has a role to play in the first half of the book. On the whole, I found this one pretty bland and generic, not adding anything new to the genre. 

 

Disclaimer: I received this book for review from the publisher.


This book counts towards my goal for the Debut Author reading challenge.


 

Beautifully Broken Guest Post & Giveaway (Blog Tour)

Today I'm welcoming Sherry Soule, author of Beautifully Broken, to the blog today for a guest post and giveaway as part of her blog tour.
 
Hi Everyone! I thought it might be entertaining if I did an interview with one of the the main characters from my recent release, Beautifully Broken. I decided to interview the quirky, Shiloh Ravenwolf

If you’ve already read the novel, this interview should be amusing and insightful. If you haven’t read the novel yet, hopefully the character interview will pique your interest.

Synopsis: They say every town has its secrets, but that doesn’t even begin to describe Whispering Pines. The townsfolk are a superstitious lot and the mystical disappearance of a local teen has everyone murmuring about a centuries old witch’s curse.

Sixteen-year-old Shiloh Ravenwolf is a heritage witch from the Broussard family, a family both destined and cursed. When she takes a summer job at Ravenhurst Manor, she discovers a ghost with an agenda. That’s where she meets the new town hottie, Trent Donovan, and immediately becomes spellbound by his charms.

Finally, Shiloh's met someone who is supercute and totally into her, but Trent may be the next victim on the supernatural hit list. And Shiloh is the only person with the power to save him. Complicated much?

It sucks to have a destiny, especially since Shiloh would rather spend her summer being a normal girl who worries about clothes and boys, not the supernatural. But she’s never been normal, and the stranger things become the more her own magical senses awaken.

With cryptic messages from a pesky wraith, she will begin to understand the mysterious significance of the strange mark branded on her wrist and decide how much she's willing to sacrifice to protect the other teenagers in town.

Unfortunately, for Shiloh, not all ghosts want help crossing over. Some want vengeance.

Please state your name: Shiloh Nahimana Ravenwolf

Astrological sign: Leo

Age: 16

Vehicle: Jeep Wrangler

Dog/Cat: Siamese cat

Favorite food: pizza

Describe yourself in three words: out-spoken, hopeless romantic, survivor

Wardrobe/Personal Style:

I have my own quirky, artsy style. I like to wear fayed jeans, a hoodie over a tank, with my hot pink Doc Martens boots.

What do you do for a living?

High School Student

Are any other people living with you? Who are they?

My dad, Jackson, and my mom—Jillian.

What were three things you liked to do when you were younger?

Me and my friends would sneak onto the Ravenhurst property and dare each other to stand on the porch for five minutes. I won twice. Although, my gaze caught eerie shadows swooping menacingly within the shrubs and trees.

What makes you happy?

Being with Trent Donovan

What is your greatest fear?

That I will succumb to darkness

What would you change about yourself if you could?

Uh, I would not blurt things out so much. Stop saying what I’m thinking all the time.

What is it that you have never told anyone?

Wow, tough question. About the darkness locked away inside me, trying to claw its way out.

What's the worst thing you've ever done? Why?

I lied about my gift of Sight. Only my Aunt Lauren knows.

If you could be an animal, what would it be?

Oh!—I’d like to be a raven and be able to fly!

To learn more the characters inhabiting the town of Whispering Pines, please go here: http://sherrysoule.blogspot.com/p/character-gallery.html

About the Author:

Sherry Soule has won numerous awards for her short stories and now writes full-time. She adores cats, loves scary movies, and lives on peppermint mochas. Sherry writes young adult, horror, and paranormal, but no matter what genre she's writing, there has to be an element of romance. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family and her black cat, Charm.

Where you can find Sherry Soule:

Official website: http://sherrysoule.com/

Her blog: http://sherrysoule.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/writersherry

Book Trailer/YouTube: http://youtu.be/5uqVXKygvUs

goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11634793-beautifully-broken

Thanks for the interview, Shiloh (and Sherry)! And now for the giveaway — Sherry has offered up an eBook of Beautifully Broken.

Rules:

- Open internationally
- One entry per person
- Following Sherry's blog (http://sherrysoule.blogspot.com/) AND Twitter (http://twitter.com/writersherry) are required
- Ends July 29 at 11:59 pm EST.

The winner will be randomly selected and contacted by e-mail.

Comments, while nice, do not count as entries.

Contest is now closed. 

Once a Witch: Review

I was a bit dubious about this book originally, just because witches have been done to death in literature and I wasn't sure how much fresh new insight could be brought to the topic. However, I noticed that it got some good reviews so I decided to give it a try.

Carolyn MacCullough's Once a Witch centers around Tamsin, a girl born into a family full of witches, prophesied to be a beacon among them - who is now seventeen years old and has yet to show a glimmer of Talent. Frustrated at constantly being the "family misfit," Tamsin jumps at the chance to prove herself when a stranger strolls into her family's bookshop - and undercover magical agency - needing help in finding a particular clock in the picture he carries. The stranger mistakes her for her powerful older sister, Rowena, and Tamsin does nothing to dissuade him of this notion, instead promising to take on the task. But it proves more difficult than she'd thought, and she turns to her childhood friend Gabriel, whose magical Talent is finding anything he searches for. Gabriel soon realizes the clock doesn't exist in their world - or rather, in their time. When they both Travel back to 1899 in order to find it, they unleash a series of events they never expected, putting Tamsin's sister Rowena into the clutches of a man who feasts on power over others. It is then that Tamsin discovers she is not as Talentless as she may have believed...and it's just in time, because she will need to figure out how to use her newfound powers to save the ones she cares about before it's too late.

Carolyn MacCullough does breathe new life into the interpretation of witches and magic, although she  keeps to some traditions (such as incantation circles and invoking the elements.) I enjoyed the idea that the witches each have their own unique power, be it reading minds, teleportation, persuasion, etc.


HERE THERE BE SPOILERS:

Of course, the exception to this is Tamsin, really, in that her power basically can negate anyone else's powers (and moreover, she can learn anyone's Talent provided they use it on her often enough). I wasn't expecting this to be her Talent, so that was a bit of a surprise, although I thought that the concept of others' Talents 'rubbing off' on her, so to speak, was a little too convenient. She could become awfully powerful that way rather quickly (indeed, by the end of the book she is throwing fireballs everywhere and freezing people on the spot). I was also a little disappointed that the book succumbed to the archetype of the unlikely hero/heroine suddenly discovering they possess great powers no one else does and that they are the one destined to save everybody and destroy evil. However, I suppose the novel wouldn't have been quite so interesting if Tamsin really had been so very Talentless as she originally thought.

I also thought that all the loose ends weren't tied up so well. For one thing, what exactly does Tamsin do when she touches the clock in the train station? How does her grandmother's power affect her? This isn't explained well enough for my liking. Not to mention how Tamsin suddenly becomes the Keeper at the end (and why Alistair gives up and goes back in time - I'm assuming that's where the door leads - without Rowena. What does he hope to accomplish?) I did think it was cool that Tamsin's "clocket" as she calls it becomes the object to hold all the power (that clocket was mentioned way earlier in the book and I didn't suspect a thing!)

Hence I am really hoping for a sequel. I mean, the bad guy seemed to be vanquished kind of easily at the end. I wouldn't expect Alistair to give in without way more of a fight. Plus, Tamsin's going to have some major life changes now that she has Keeper responsibilities. And whatever becomes of Agatha? We never find out.

These quibbles aside, I definitely enjoyed the mystery that surrounded Alistair, the clock, and the history between the two families. For the first half of the novel I was really lost as to what was going on, but not so confused that I gave up reading - just enough to make me keep puzzling about it. In retrospect, things make more sense (or about as much sense as a story involving time travel can make), and MacCullough obviously didn't want to give everything away right from the start.

I liked Tamsin's voice as well - she has a dry, self-deprecating sense of humour I could relate to and appreciate. Sure, she complains about being the only one in the family without Talent, but given her situation, I don't really blame her. However, sometimes she came off as sounding too mature for her age (she herself admits to being "self-aware" which most teens aren't), and yet she sometimes does some very immature things. For instance - I could not figure out why she would leap into the past to find a clock for a stranger when she doesn't even understand his motives. Surely she would know that time travel usually has grave repercussions? (For that matter, why does Gabriel go along with it so easily? Sheer curiosity? Or just to please Tamsin?) I understand, obviously, that this event was critical to furthering the plot, but surely she could have had a slightly better reason for it. Simply wanting to "prove herself" to her family and sister (and what would she be proving except that Gabriel has the ability to find things in the past?) really isn't good enough to risk messing up the fabric of time for a man you haven't even done a background check on yet.

The romance that develops between her and Gabriel was sweet and not too rushed, although of course you could see it coming a mile away (if anything, my complaint would be that there could have been a bit more of it!) Still, I did enjoy Gabriel's character and the lightness he brought to the conversations between the two of them. The only thing I didn't really like was that Gabriel sometimes prioritized Tamsin's wishes over the smarter choice of action (for example, when he blindly Travels back in time with her).

Finally, I thought Alistair was a great villain up until the climax, where he seemed to lose some of his edge. The way he fed on Rowena, draining her while building up his own energy was intriguing (although I'd like to know a bit more about how it works, and how he was able to influence Rowena so strongly. Also, what exactly does he use Agatha for?) I must admit, I really disliked Rowena too; the snooty, condescending, admired-by-all older sister was characterized to perfection, and I admired Tamsin for fighting as hard for Rowena's life as she did (considering how much Tamsin also appeared to dislike her). However, Alistair was written in such a nasty fashion that MacCullough succeeded in making me feel a little sorry for Rowena (though once Rowena returned to normal she went right back to being very irritating, of course).

END OF SPOILERS.

Overall, a fun read, particularly if you don't want to think too hard about the intricacies of a plot involving a feud between two magical sides across time. My rating: 3.5 out of 5 shooting stars.