Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Putnam Juvenile (2012), Hardcover, 272 pages
Description
In an alternate New England of 1900, where the Brotherhood dominates and controls society, sixteen-year-old Cate Cahill has struggled since her mother's death to keep secret that she and her younger sisters are witches, but when a governess arrives from the Sisterhood, everything changes.
User reviews
LibraryThing member dizzyweasel
Cate is a witch. So are her sisters. Unfortunately, in this alternative history of the US, circa 1890, a oppressive patriarchal group called The Brotherhood has nearly stamped out witchcraft through horrible persecutions and trials. Women have no rights, no power. They are to be seen (sometimes),
But Cate and her sisters are clever. They practice their witchcraft quietly and secretly at home, until their father forces a governess on them in order to help them enter proper society. Cate must protect herself and her sisters from the over-curious gaze of this Sister Elena (a woman sent by the Brotherhood's female counterpart in oppression, the Sisterhood), all the while negotiating the slippery landscape of love. When Cate is 17, only 6 months away, she must declare her intention to marry, or enter the Sisterhood. Torn between feelings for her childhood friend Paul, her family's gardener Finn, and her desire to remain with her sisters, Cate becomes embroiled in a deadly game of power: is she the girl spoken of in the Prophecy of the Daughters of Persephone (the now defunct matriarchal government of witches), the girl destined to bring women back to power, or bring about a second Terror of persecution?
I enjoyed this book, but the narrative was too repetitive for the majority of this volume. Cate is thinking about Finn. Cate is worried about her sisters. Cate is chastening her sisters for use of magic. Cate is angry with her dead mother for not better protecting them. This goes on for over 150 pages before the narrative picks up.
When the novel does gain pace, the novel is entertaining: secret revelations, unrequited love, unconventional femininity, betrayal, blackmail. I look forward to the second installment.
I feel, however, like I've already read this book - The Prophecy of the Sisters (with a nearly identical plot) and A Great and Terrible Beauty have already tread this ground. But, if you're into Victorian witch romantic dramas, you'll enjoy this addition to the mix.
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never heard, always meek, and married by the age of 17. New England is not a good place to be a clever woman.But Cate and her sisters are clever. They practice their witchcraft quietly and secretly at home, until their father forces a governess on them in order to help them enter proper society. Cate must protect herself and her sisters from the over-curious gaze of this Sister Elena (a woman sent by the Brotherhood's female counterpart in oppression, the Sisterhood), all the while negotiating the slippery landscape of love. When Cate is 17, only 6 months away, she must declare her intention to marry, or enter the Sisterhood. Torn between feelings for her childhood friend Paul, her family's gardener Finn, and her desire to remain with her sisters, Cate becomes embroiled in a deadly game of power: is she the girl spoken of in the Prophecy of the Daughters of Persephone (the now defunct matriarchal government of witches), the girl destined to bring women back to power, or bring about a second Terror of persecution?
I enjoyed this book, but the narrative was too repetitive for the majority of this volume. Cate is thinking about Finn. Cate is worried about her sisters. Cate is chastening her sisters for use of magic. Cate is angry with her dead mother for not better protecting them. This goes on for over 150 pages before the narrative picks up.
When the novel does gain pace, the novel is entertaining: secret revelations, unrequited love, unconventional femininity, betrayal, blackmail. I look forward to the second installment.
I feel, however, like I've already read this book - The Prophecy of the Sisters (with a nearly identical plot) and A Great and Terrible Beauty have already tread this ground. But, if you're into Victorian witch romantic dramas, you'll enjoy this addition to the mix.
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LibraryThing member ladycato
I received this ARC through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
This book proved to be a fast read with mostly well-drawn characters, though some of the world-building at the beginning left me rather confused. The story takes place in an alternate New England of the 1890s. "The Brotherhood" rules over
The Brotherhood is also very black and white. It's a very insidious entity, anti-woman at the core. That made it seem rather over-the-top at times; it would be believable if it had more shades of grey, as is shown with the women's organization called the Sisters.
Cate is a strong heroine in the true YA mold: smart yet stings because of her reputation as being the "not smart" sister; pretty, but not as beautiful as her other sister; committed to keeping her sisters safe, yet suffocating under the burden left by the mother. The romance is also very well drawn and is one of the best aspects of the book. The one thing clear from the beginning is that Cate needs to find a husband, and soon, or the Brotherhood will force her into an unpleasant match. So when Cate's childhood friend returns to town, this seems like a very good thing... until a few hints of his character come through. His portrayal is nuanced and very well done, as he is never shown as a "bad guy," simply as flawed and real. However, it's only right that book-lovers will cheer for Cate's sudden attraction to Finn, the humble bookseller's son.
The book stands well on its own but also has something of a cliffhanger because of Cate's choices. I'm curious about the course that the book will take, but time will tell if I'd be willing to purchase the second book after my reservations about the worldbuilding. However, I did enjoy the book enough that I'm willing to pass it along to my 11-year-old niece as part of her Christmas gifts.
This book proved to be a fast read with mostly well-drawn characters, though some of the world-building at the beginning left me rather confused. The story takes place in an alternate New England of the 1890s. "The Brotherhood" rules over
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everyone with a combination of Puritan ideals and Gestapo tactics. In the 1700s, witchcraft (and lesbianism) was an accepted element in New England and brought witches from all over the world to live there--until their leadership collapsed, bringing in the Brotherhood. The alternate nature of the world was strange at times because it was so very different, yet it was never explained why it was so different. The demographics of Chatham reflect a contemporary mix of nationalities yet there is no racism shown at all; it's made mention that the best fashions come from Mexico City, and that women actually have rights and independence in Dubai; it felt like the author chose those things to be contrary to expectations. Lesbianism is also mentioned at several points, yet it's as though men can't love men at all, though I can assume that the Brotherhood wouldn't encourage any relationship that couldn't create children.The Brotherhood is also very black and white. It's a very insidious entity, anti-woman at the core. That made it seem rather over-the-top at times; it would be believable if it had more shades of grey, as is shown with the women's organization called the Sisters.
Cate is a strong heroine in the true YA mold: smart yet stings because of her reputation as being the "not smart" sister; pretty, but not as beautiful as her other sister; committed to keeping her sisters safe, yet suffocating under the burden left by the mother. The romance is also very well drawn and is one of the best aspects of the book. The one thing clear from the beginning is that Cate needs to find a husband, and soon, or the Brotherhood will force her into an unpleasant match. So when Cate's childhood friend returns to town, this seems like a very good thing... until a few hints of his character come through. His portrayal is nuanced and very well done, as he is never shown as a "bad guy," simply as flawed and real. However, it's only right that book-lovers will cheer for Cate's sudden attraction to Finn, the humble bookseller's son.
The book stands well on its own but also has something of a cliffhanger because of Cate's choices. I'm curious about the course that the book will take, but time will tell if I'd be willing to purchase the second book after my reservations about the worldbuilding. However, I did enjoy the book enough that I'm willing to pass it along to my 11-year-old niece as part of her Christmas gifts.
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LibraryThing member Kwidhalm
The book Born Wicked is obviously the first book in a series about the Cahill sisters. Cate seems to be the main focus of this book with only some minor information about her sisters Maura and Tess. All three sisters inherited the "witching gene" from their mother. This is a dangerous trait to have
I found this novel slow going at first as the author was building the story and developing the characters. It wasn't until about half way through that I found myself staying up a little later to read another chapter. The heroine of this novel made me want to shout a few times for her lack of good sense and her inability to make a decision. She was also rather "whiny" and bossy so it was hard to like her at first because I kept thinking.....what a twit. Then comes the typical romance with the choice between two very different guys and oh what will she do?
It sounds like I am being rather harsh with this book but to clarify........I did enjoy it and I would definitely purchase the second book since the first one left us with a MAJOR cliff hanger.
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during this time because The Brothers police everyone and try to ferret out all witches and ship them off to either a insane asylum or a barge to do manual labor. Therefore, the girls have to be very careful about using their magic.I found this novel slow going at first as the author was building the story and developing the characters. It wasn't until about half way through that I found myself staying up a little later to read another chapter. The heroine of this novel made me want to shout a few times for her lack of good sense and her inability to make a decision. She was also rather "whiny" and bossy so it was hard to like her at first because I kept thinking.....what a twit. Then comes the typical romance with the choice between two very different guys and oh what will she do?
It sounds like I am being rather harsh with this book but to clarify........I did enjoy it and I would definitely purchase the second book since the first one left us with a MAJOR cliff hanger.
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LibraryThing member ahandfulofconfetti
Born Wicked tells the story of an alternative nineteenth-century US where witches once ruled but were overthrown by the Brotherhood, who believe that witches are wicked and should be punished and eradicated. Cate Cahill is the eldest of three sisters, all of whom are witches. This makes them the
With a story and setting like that, I was hard-pressed to resist this book, and immediately suggested it as a purchase for my local library, so I could read it. I was expecting danger and magic and witchery and exciting happenings. But that's not exactly what this book provided. The truth is that this book focuses on Cate, who is determined to keep her sisters safe, per a promise she made her dying mother (who failed to prepare Cate for anything to do with the prophecy). Cate is a bit of a difficult character to like at first: she believes the Brotherhood that witchery is wicked, and that therefore she, too, is wicked. Her constant "but wicked girls don't deserve x" or "but I'm wicked, so deserve whatever I'm getting" mindset at the start of this story was maddening, and I wanted to reach through the pages and shake her. But she grew on me as the story progressed, particularly once she falls in love with Finn. I also absolutely loved her relationship with her sisters, particularly the youngest sister, Tess.
Knowing that this book is the first in a planned trilogy, I wasn't expecting things to be fully resolved. But I was not expecting very little to actually happen. Cate and her sisters get a new governess, Elena, and Cate spends most of the book from that point on being distrustful of her, jealous of her sister Maura's friendship with her, and generally being disagreeable where Elena is concerned. These feelings are not entirely unwarranted, mind you, but when the majority of this book - which I'd thought would be dealing with magic and witches - is instead taken up with feelings of distrust and the back and forth of "can I trust her", it starts to get really tedious. There is also absolutely NO forward movement with the actual prophecy; we are just as in the dark about this at the end of the book as we were at the start.
What saved this book for me - and accounts for much of this rating - is the romance between Cate and Finn. I found Finn to be utterly charming, and absolutely loved watching their relationship progress. I do want to mention that there is a second guy in this book, Paul, who is Cate's childhood friend (and the guy everyone thinks she'll marry), and there are some love-triangle-ish things happening, but it's pretty clear whom Cate has the deeper feelings for and which way she's going to go in that respect. That being said, the ending kind of broke my heart. I get why it happened; as I said, it's the first book in a trilogy and there's so much to do with the prophecy left to sort out, so it's too soon for happily-ever-afters. But I still wasn't quite expecting that particular ending, and am worried about how things are going to be resolved to my satisfaction (as if I'm the only one who matters, of course).
This book is definitely not what I'd call "action-packed": there's a lot of going to teas, visiting bookshops, and weeding in gardens, but not so much in the way of magic. This had a very "historical fiction" feel to it with just little dabs of paranormal. But the romance, for me, was good enough to pull me through the book, and make me eager for the second installment. All in all, Born Wicked is a decent start to a new series, and I look forward to seeing what's going to happen next.
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focus of a prophecy which states that one of the three will be the most powerful witch in the world, who will either bring the witches back to power or drop them into another dark age.With a story and setting like that, I was hard-pressed to resist this book, and immediately suggested it as a purchase for my local library, so I could read it. I was expecting danger and magic and witchery and exciting happenings. But that's not exactly what this book provided. The truth is that this book focuses on Cate, who is determined to keep her sisters safe, per a promise she made her dying mother (who failed to prepare Cate for anything to do with the prophecy). Cate is a bit of a difficult character to like at first: she believes the Brotherhood that witchery is wicked, and that therefore she, too, is wicked. Her constant "but wicked girls don't deserve x" or "but I'm wicked, so deserve whatever I'm getting" mindset at the start of this story was maddening, and I wanted to reach through the pages and shake her. But she grew on me as the story progressed, particularly once she falls in love with Finn. I also absolutely loved her relationship with her sisters, particularly the youngest sister, Tess.
Knowing that this book is the first in a planned trilogy, I wasn't expecting things to be fully resolved. But I was not expecting very little to actually happen. Cate and her sisters get a new governess, Elena, and Cate spends most of the book from that point on being distrustful of her, jealous of her sister Maura's friendship with her, and generally being disagreeable where Elena is concerned. These feelings are not entirely unwarranted, mind you, but when the majority of this book - which I'd thought would be dealing with magic and witches - is instead taken up with feelings of distrust and the back and forth of "can I trust her", it starts to get really tedious. There is also absolutely NO forward movement with the actual prophecy; we are just as in the dark about this at the end of the book as we were at the start.
What saved this book for me - and accounts for much of this rating - is the romance between Cate and Finn. I found Finn to be utterly charming, and absolutely loved watching their relationship progress. I do want to mention that there is a second guy in this book, Paul, who is Cate's childhood friend (and the guy everyone thinks she'll marry), and there are some love-triangle-ish things happening, but it's pretty clear whom Cate has the deeper feelings for and which way she's going to go in that respect. That being said, the ending kind of broke my heart. I get why it happened; as I said, it's the first book in a trilogy and there's so much to do with the prophecy left to sort out, so it's too soon for happily-ever-afters. But I still wasn't quite expecting that particular ending, and am worried about how things are going to be resolved to my satisfaction (as if I'm the only one who matters, of course).
This book is definitely not what I'd call "action-packed": there's a lot of going to teas, visiting bookshops, and weeding in gardens, but not so much in the way of magic. This had a very "historical fiction" feel to it with just little dabs of paranormal. But the romance, for me, was good enough to pull me through the book, and make me eager for the second installment. All in all, Born Wicked is a decent start to a new series, and I look forward to seeing what's going to happen next.
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LibraryThing member renkellym
Born Wicked takes us back to the late 1800’s, a time full of proper ladies and well-dressed men. Historical fantasy is one of my absolute favorite genres, and Jessica Spotswood nails it. Her writing fits perfectly with the era: it’s delicate, detailed, and beautiful. It’s truly a joy to read
Cate is such a great character. She refuses to conform to the standards society has set for girls like her, but she also understands the safety that comes with blending in. This balance is very realistic, as are Cate’s flaws. She’s not the perfect heroine: she can be bossy and overprotective to the point of being a bit frustrating! But Cate is still lovable because of her good intentions. Tess and Maura, Cate’s sisters, are not quite as developed as Cate, but they have distinct personalities that really shine. Tess is by far my favorite of the sisters because of her maturity despite her young age.
One thing that isn’t obvious from the synopsis is the romance! Cate has a short few months before she must declare her intention: either to marry, or to join the Sisterhood. There are two men vying for Cate’s affection, but one is far superior. Though Cate only has a month or two to fall in love, Jessica Spotswood does a great job of making the romance feel as if it’s been building for a while. I think that stylistically, and because of the time period, the romance works: we end up believing that these two characters belong together.
I would highly recommend Born Wicked to any lover of historical fantasy. Even if you don’t think you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll definitely fall in love with Born Wicked. The story is engaging and at times incredibly suspenseful; and the characters are positively wonderful. Definitely give it a read if you’re looking for something lush: Born Wicked is just as beautiful as its cover.
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Spotswood’s writing because of its beauty, and because of the way it effortlessly propels us through a few hectic months in the life of a young witch. Born Wicked isn’t exactly fast-paced, but it does get its hooks in you, leaving you eager to find out what each page will bring.Cate is such a great character. She refuses to conform to the standards society has set for girls like her, but she also understands the safety that comes with blending in. This balance is very realistic, as are Cate’s flaws. She’s not the perfect heroine: she can be bossy and overprotective to the point of being a bit frustrating! But Cate is still lovable because of her good intentions. Tess and Maura, Cate’s sisters, are not quite as developed as Cate, but they have distinct personalities that really shine. Tess is by far my favorite of the sisters because of her maturity despite her young age.
One thing that isn’t obvious from the synopsis is the romance! Cate has a short few months before she must declare her intention: either to marry, or to join the Sisterhood. There are two men vying for Cate’s affection, but one is far superior. Though Cate only has a month or two to fall in love, Jessica Spotswood does a great job of making the romance feel as if it’s been building for a while. I think that stylistically, and because of the time period, the romance works: we end up believing that these two characters belong together.
I would highly recommend Born Wicked to any lover of historical fantasy. Even if you don’t think you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll definitely fall in love with Born Wicked. The story is engaging and at times incredibly suspenseful; and the characters are positively wonderful. Definitely give it a read if you’re looking for something lush: Born Wicked is just as beautiful as its cover.
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LibraryThing member rywn
Born Wicked is about three sisters, with the eldest, Cate telling the tale. Nearing her birthday, Cate must soon choose her future: Marriage to a man she may or may not have a choice in, or spending her life with the Sisterhood. Either choice means leaving her sisters, sisters that have not always
Cate has taken care of her sisters since their Mother's death as best she can, however her Father is having a new Governess brought in. New people means greater risk of exposure, and Cate already has a hard enough time keeping her younger sisters in check. Now with new dangers coming at her from all sides and the discovery of a prophecy almost certainly about their family that puts them even more in danger, Cate is put to the test.
I enjoyed Born Wicked quite a bit, and I found the world intriguing. As someone who'd always been curious about the Salem Witch Trials, it's interesting to see a twist on a world where this is taken to an extreme. Cate is an interesting character who does the best she can with the rotten hand she's been dealt, and I felt for her continuously throughout the book. No decision she makes is easy, and she's often left between choosing from bad to worse. That said, the romance in Born Wicked leaves something to be desired, and definitely screams 'insta-love!'. I had a hard time really feeling the emotions Finn and Cate as they seem to happen without any real evolution. While Cate has known Finn since childhood, she never really paid attention to him in the past, nor him with her. The characters seem to go from 'friends' to 'risking their lives for each other' in mere days.
In regards to Cate's sisters, I often wanted to throttle Maura, her next eldest sister. Headstrong and stuck in her ways, Maura listens to nothing Cate tries to tell her, and is continually putting not just herself, but her entire family at risk for completely selfish reasons. The youngest sibling, Tess is much more interesting, perhaps because we really see so little of her. Not being old enough to be involved in the social situations happening around Cate and Maura, Tess is often left to the background. A middle ground between Maura and Cate, Tess wants to learn how to use her magic but isn't as foolish as her sister about it, and she is the character I'm much more interested in seeing in the future.
While I had some problems with conclusions being leapt to that had no forethought leading to them, I'm interested to see what comes next for the sisters. The prophecy has yet to really come into play, and like any book in a good series, leaves off at a point where I need to know what happens next. Despite some slow pacing in the beginning, Born Wicked picks up in the latter half and I'd recommend it to fantasy fans.
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made the smartest decisions about hiding the magic they have. In early New England, the hunt for witches has gone to an extreme, and The Brotherhood takes girls who are even suspicious of having magic to an asylum, are forced to hard labor, or in more extreme cases, kill them. The Brotherhood preaches that women should be meek and mild, and discourages them of having passions.Cate has taken care of her sisters since their Mother's death as best she can, however her Father is having a new Governess brought in. New people means greater risk of exposure, and Cate already has a hard enough time keeping her younger sisters in check. Now with new dangers coming at her from all sides and the discovery of a prophecy almost certainly about their family that puts them even more in danger, Cate is put to the test.
I enjoyed Born Wicked quite a bit, and I found the world intriguing. As someone who'd always been curious about the Salem Witch Trials, it's interesting to see a twist on a world where this is taken to an extreme. Cate is an interesting character who does the best she can with the rotten hand she's been dealt, and I felt for her continuously throughout the book. No decision she makes is easy, and she's often left between choosing from bad to worse. That said, the romance in Born Wicked leaves something to be desired, and definitely screams 'insta-love!'. I had a hard time really feeling the emotions Finn and Cate as they seem to happen without any real evolution. While Cate has known Finn since childhood, she never really paid attention to him in the past, nor him with her. The characters seem to go from 'friends' to 'risking their lives for each other' in mere days.
In regards to Cate's sisters, I often wanted to throttle Maura, her next eldest sister. Headstrong and stuck in her ways, Maura listens to nothing Cate tries to tell her, and is continually putting not just herself, but her entire family at risk for completely selfish reasons. The youngest sibling, Tess is much more interesting, perhaps because we really see so little of her. Not being old enough to be involved in the social situations happening around Cate and Maura, Tess is often left to the background. A middle ground between Maura and Cate, Tess wants to learn how to use her magic but isn't as foolish as her sister about it, and she is the character I'm much more interested in seeing in the future.
While I had some problems with conclusions being leapt to that had no forethought leading to them, I'm interested to see what comes next for the sisters. The prophecy has yet to really come into play, and like any book in a good series, leaves off at a point where I need to know what happens next. Despite some slow pacing in the beginning, Born Wicked picks up in the latter half and I'd recommend it to fantasy fans.
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LibraryThing member shellyquade2
Born Wicked is a fiction that takes place in an alternate history. In this novel's world, the time is the late nineteenth century, the place is New England, and the problem is a world full of witches and rules.
The Cahill Witches are three sisters. This book primarily focused on the eldest sister,
Cate is almost 17, and so has to figure out if she wants to get hitched or join the Sisterhood. While pondering this life-long decision (which will ultimately get taken out of her hands, anyway), she is also investigating a prophecy that she finds out about near the beginning of the book. The prophecy indicates that she and her two sisters were foretold, and can either bring women & witches back into a powerful position, or can bring about death and horror which essentially sounds like the Burning Times in Europe.
Overall, I wasn't a huge fan of this novel. Like a lot of young adult fiction, I felt like there were some interesting ideas, but wasn't particularly fond of the manner in which those ideas were executed. The writing was not bad, it just wasn't of high caliber. And the ideas were okay, but I found some of them rather far-fetched (I'm not even talking about the witch stuff).
This novel had a lot of potential, which it did not live up to. I do not recommend reading it.
The Cahill Witches are three sisters. This book primarily focused on the eldest sister,
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Kate -- I have a feeling the next couple of books will focus on the other sisters. They live in a world dominated by a religious order called the Brothers, men who make and enforce rules that essentially prevent women from having power, under the guise of seeking to protect everyone from witchcraft. According to the Brothers, women have two choices once they reach the age of 17 - they can get married, or they can join the Sisterhood.Cate is almost 17, and so has to figure out if she wants to get hitched or join the Sisterhood. While pondering this life-long decision (which will ultimately get taken out of her hands, anyway), she is also investigating a prophecy that she finds out about near the beginning of the book. The prophecy indicates that she and her two sisters were foretold, and can either bring women & witches back into a powerful position, or can bring about death and horror which essentially sounds like the Burning Times in Europe.
Overall, I wasn't a huge fan of this novel. Like a lot of young adult fiction, I felt like there were some interesting ideas, but wasn't particularly fond of the manner in which those ideas were executed. The writing was not bad, it just wasn't of high caliber. And the ideas were okay, but I found some of them rather far-fetched (I'm not even talking about the witch stuff).
This novel had a lot of potential, which it did not live up to. I do not recommend reading it.
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LibraryThing member andreablythe
Set in an alternative history, one in which witches were the leaders of the Americas until a religious group, called the Brotherhood took power and persecuted all witches, this novel follows the lives of Cahill sisters. All three sisters are forced to hide the fact that they are witches or risk
Cate Cahill is almost to her 17th birthday, when she will be forced to make a choice, either declare her intent of marriage, join the Sisterhood (rather like nuns), or have the Brotherhood choose a husband for her. She thinks she has her decision figured out, but she discovers her mother's diary and the secret of a prophecy that could change everything and puts both her and her sisters in danger.
Cate is the narrator of the story, and is a typical older sister, feeling that she must protect her sisters. She's taken on the mother role, trying to maintain discipline and keep her sisters safe in a dangerous world. There's a strength in her, more than just her rather remarkable power, but strength in how she chooses to face the world and take on what burdens she must. Her choices each have positive and negative, giving them proper weight. It's right that she weighs them so carefully and I never felt she was being stupid for considering and reconsidering in each case. It was always appropriate.
I rather like her love interests, too, especially the slightly nerdy one. I'm smiling just thinking about how sweet he is. In general, I think Spotswood did a good job with all the characters in the book, offering up surprises here and there that seem logical as you look back on them.
The secrets and the intrigue that propels the plot is also fun. I'm very interested to see what happens in upcoming books, whether the sisters can face the prophecy and whether they can get our of the tangled web of a mess their in. I kind of hope that Spotswood shifts to another sister's point of view in the next novel, not because I didn't like Cate (her character was great), but because all three sister are interesting enough to carry their own story.
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being sent to an asylum, a prison ship, or death. Cate Cahill is almost to her 17th birthday, when she will be forced to make a choice, either declare her intent of marriage, join the Sisterhood (rather like nuns), or have the Brotherhood choose a husband for her. She thinks she has her decision figured out, but she discovers her mother's diary and the secret of a prophecy that could change everything and puts both her and her sisters in danger.
Cate is the narrator of the story, and is a typical older sister, feeling that she must protect her sisters. She's taken on the mother role, trying to maintain discipline and keep her sisters safe in a dangerous world. There's a strength in her, more than just her rather remarkable power, but strength in how she chooses to face the world and take on what burdens she must. Her choices each have positive and negative, giving them proper weight. It's right that she weighs them so carefully and I never felt she was being stupid for considering and reconsidering in each case. It was always appropriate.
I rather like her love interests, too, especially the slightly nerdy one. I'm smiling just thinking about how sweet he is. In general, I think Spotswood did a good job with all the characters in the book, offering up surprises here and there that seem logical as you look back on them.
The secrets and the intrigue that propels the plot is also fun. I'm very interested to see what happens in upcoming books, whether the sisters can face the prophecy and whether they can get our of the tangled web of a mess their in. I kind of hope that Spotswood shifts to another sister's point of view in the next novel, not because I didn't like Cate (her character was great), but because all three sister are interesting enough to carry their own story.
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LibraryThing member AmberFIB
I was so excited for Born Wicked to come out. I waited patiently for whoever had it checked out to return it to the library so that I could read it. I don't like buying books before I try them out first, and I am super that I got this one from the library first. This book was such a disappointment.
Let's start with the characters. I think Cate was supposed to be a strong woman in an oppressed society, but instead, she just came across as a whiny brat who's too weak to stand up for what's right. Oh she thinks she's noble, but she's not. She's a coward and she's weak. Maura is a temperamental brat, and I wanted her to get shipped off to the nuthouse or something. I really couldn't stand her. Tess was a pushover, but still the strongest of the three. The Sisterhood and the Brotherhood are both bunches of bullies. Finn was weak and Paul was just annoying. Basically I didn't like anyone in this book.
The plot was supposed to be a mystery, I think, or suspenseful, or something. I'm sure there was some point to this book other than to serve the author's purpose of preaching a message, but I'm not sure what, exactly, it was. I mean I guess it could have been a romance, but the ending kind of killed that for me. Sure, Finn and Cate were fine together, but I've seen better couples in YA. Of course, if I had been able to tolerate Finn and Cate, that may have helped. Also, I never felt like anything bad was really going to happen. This is the most anti-climactic novel I've ever read. I was completely bored the entire time. I had to make myself finish this book, and the only reason I did was because I kept hoping it'd get better at the end.
The pacing was slow-as-molasses, and the smallest and most insignificant things drag out FOREVER. There was also no world-building to speak of. I think this was the Victorian era, but they talked in modern colloquial phrases sometimes, so I can't be sure. I mean if she hadn't stated she was in New England and talked about carriages, I wouldn't have know where this book was taking place. And for all the history about horrible witches, Brotherhood, male dominance, etc., I still don't feel like I know anymore about the world than I did to start with.
As I previously stated, the only redeeming factor about this novel was the author's writing. Spotswood has a good writing style, but style alone isn't enough to make me pick up the next book in the series. This is one that I won't be continuing.
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The pacing was slow, the plot was boring, the characters were all brats, and the world-building was non-existent. I wanted to love Born Wicked so much, but it fell completely flat for me. The only thing that redeemed it was that the writing was good, even if it was boring. That's what saved this novel from an F rating. Let's start with the characters. I think Cate was supposed to be a strong woman in an oppressed society, but instead, she just came across as a whiny brat who's too weak to stand up for what's right. Oh she thinks she's noble, but she's not. She's a coward and she's weak. Maura is a temperamental brat, and I wanted her to get shipped off to the nuthouse or something. I really couldn't stand her. Tess was a pushover, but still the strongest of the three. The Sisterhood and the Brotherhood are both bunches of bullies. Finn was weak and Paul was just annoying. Basically I didn't like anyone in this book.
The plot was supposed to be a mystery, I think, or suspenseful, or something. I'm sure there was some point to this book other than to serve the author's purpose of preaching a message, but I'm not sure what, exactly, it was. I mean I guess it could have been a romance, but the ending kind of killed that for me. Sure, Finn and Cate were fine together, but I've seen better couples in YA. Of course, if I had been able to tolerate Finn and Cate, that may have helped. Also, I never felt like anything bad was really going to happen. This is the most anti-climactic novel I've ever read. I was completely bored the entire time. I had to make myself finish this book, and the only reason I did was because I kept hoping it'd get better at the end.
The pacing was slow-as-molasses, and the smallest and most insignificant things drag out FOREVER. There was also no world-building to speak of. I think this was the Victorian era, but they talked in modern colloquial phrases sometimes, so I can't be sure. I mean if she hadn't stated she was in New England and talked about carriages, I wouldn't have know where this book was taking place. And for all the history about horrible witches, Brotherhood, male dominance, etc., I still don't feel like I know anymore about the world than I did to start with.
As I previously stated, the only redeeming factor about this novel was the author's writing. Spotswood has a good writing style, but style alone isn't enough to make me pick up the next book in the series. This is one that I won't be continuing.
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LibraryThing member skaohee
Full Disclosure: Jessica and I are both part of the (totally awesome) DC YA Mafia aka a group of mostly writers (but sometimes bloggers) who live in the DC Metro Area. What I’m trying to say is: we hang out with the same peeps/run in the same crowd, go to the same bookish DC events, and know each
Born Wicked is the story of three sisters and how they deal with late 1800s-ish life after their mother, who was a witch, dies. Their mother’s passing isn’t something new – it happened three years ago but they’re not sure how they should act in their town, which is full of witch-hunters and sentences witches to prisons and hard labor. Cate, Maura, and Tess are trying to hide what they all are – witches.
I’m not usually one for witch tales but I really, really enjoyed this book. Cate is 16 years old, the oldest of the three sisters, and while she is bossy at times I can understand her trying to fill the shoes of a motherly-role. Then there’s 15 year old Maura, who suffers from the worst case of Middle Child Syndrome EVER. She’s rash and bratty and thinks magic is for fun (and doesn’t try to hide it). And finally baby Tess who, at only 12 years old, seems to be the strongest of them all. Cate tries her best to protect them from being revealed as witches by keeping them away from the public, but outside forces such as their nosey neighbor and a menacing new governess have different plans.
This book takes place in a time in which young girls were expected to be brought up a certain way. I was okay with the notion of the sisters having a governess who teaches them “the arts”, such as French and Painting, as well as how to dress like a “proper lady”, and how to take tea with other ladies – all of that seemed to mesh with my thoughts of 1800s America. But I was confused on the actual town that they lived in. The setting was something like a parallel universe (or historical fiction dystopianish society?) of what I think it should have been. I didn’t understand why they couldn’t just up and move away if their father worked a 2-days-journey away? I get that their mother was buried in that town, but since this whole witch thing is a life or death type of situation, I would have thought that they could have taken some perspective and thought “Oh, maybe we should just MOVE.”. Or were other towns as into the Witch Hunting as The Brotherhood seemed to be? That, along with this weird notion of The Sisterhood and all of the religious tones of the novel didn’t seem to jive with my thoughts of 1800s New England, but I admit I’m not exactly a scholar on the subject (I wouldn’t even consider myself “well-informed” about it.).
Other than that, I thought the novel itself was fantastic. The story kept me on the edge of my seat and was well-written. Yes, there is a sort-of Love Triangle, but it’s clear from the beginning which boy Cate is leaning toward, though I did feel for the “Other Boy” (what I like to call the ones who don’t “get picked”). I enjoyed Cate’s discovery of first love and the first kissing scene in the book was perfectingly written. Speaking of love, Huzzah! for same-sex relationships being talked about in this time period.
This book reminded me of The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell. The writing styles are different and Born Wicked is definitely more of a thriller (I enjoyed it much more) but both have Supernatural/Paranormal elements set inside a Historical Fiction-esque type novel. I loved both books’ descriptions of Callers, Tea Parties, and Skirts.
Also, I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator. Audiobooks can make or break a book and this particular voice actor really brought Cate to life for me. If you’re new to audiobooks or are hesitant to try one out, this would make a wonderful first audiobook. I also think this book is a good recommendation for someone looking to test the waters of Historical Fiction and a GREAT recommendation for Paranormal readers.
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other IN REAL LIFE. However, this review is my “professional” (ha!) opinion of her book. Born Wicked is the story of three sisters and how they deal with late 1800s-ish life after their mother, who was a witch, dies. Their mother’s passing isn’t something new – it happened three years ago but they’re not sure how they should act in their town, which is full of witch-hunters and sentences witches to prisons and hard labor. Cate, Maura, and Tess are trying to hide what they all are – witches.
I’m not usually one for witch tales but I really, really enjoyed this book. Cate is 16 years old, the oldest of the three sisters, and while she is bossy at times I can understand her trying to fill the shoes of a motherly-role. Then there’s 15 year old Maura, who suffers from the worst case of Middle Child Syndrome EVER. She’s rash and bratty and thinks magic is for fun (and doesn’t try to hide it). And finally baby Tess who, at only 12 years old, seems to be the strongest of them all. Cate tries her best to protect them from being revealed as witches by keeping them away from the public, but outside forces such as their nosey neighbor and a menacing new governess have different plans.
This book takes place in a time in which young girls were expected to be brought up a certain way. I was okay with the notion of the sisters having a governess who teaches them “the arts”, such as French and Painting, as well as how to dress like a “proper lady”, and how to take tea with other ladies – all of that seemed to mesh with my thoughts of 1800s America. But I was confused on the actual town that they lived in. The setting was something like a parallel universe (or historical fiction dystopianish society?) of what I think it should have been. I didn’t understand why they couldn’t just up and move away if their father worked a 2-days-journey away? I get that their mother was buried in that town, but since this whole witch thing is a life or death type of situation, I would have thought that they could have taken some perspective and thought “Oh, maybe we should just MOVE.”. Or were other towns as into the Witch Hunting as The Brotherhood seemed to be? That, along with this weird notion of The Sisterhood and all of the religious tones of the novel didn’t seem to jive with my thoughts of 1800s New England, but I admit I’m not exactly a scholar on the subject (I wouldn’t even consider myself “well-informed” about it.).
Other than that, I thought the novel itself was fantastic. The story kept me on the edge of my seat and was well-written. Yes, there is a sort-of Love Triangle, but it’s clear from the beginning which boy Cate is leaning toward, though I did feel for the “Other Boy” (what I like to call the ones who don’t “get picked”). I enjoyed Cate’s discovery of first love and the first kissing scene in the book was perfectingly written. Speaking of love, Huzzah! for same-sex relationships being talked about in this time period.
This book reminded me of The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell. The writing styles are different and Born Wicked is definitely more of a thriller (I enjoyed it much more) but both have Supernatural/Paranormal elements set inside a Historical Fiction-esque type novel. I loved both books’ descriptions of Callers, Tea Parties, and Skirts.
Also, I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator. Audiobooks can make or break a book and this particular voice actor really brought Cate to life for me. If you’re new to audiobooks or are hesitant to try one out, this would make a wonderful first audiobook. I also think this book is a good recommendation for someone looking to test the waters of Historical Fiction and a GREAT recommendation for Paranormal readers.
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LibraryThing member Aerrin99
I was a bit wary about this book. It could have very easily been shallow and gimmicky - but it is instead a really lovely tale that mixes up loyalty and family and love with ideas of power and responsibility and danger.
The witches here are young and dealing with something that's portrayed as both
The romance here is also captivating - my heart ached several times for a number of characters, and the answers aren't easy or obvious.
This is a series and an author I'll be keeping an eye on.
The witches here are young and dealing with something that's portrayed as both
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wonderful and scary on their own - to talk about witchcraft, let alone to practice it, is to put your life in danger. Everything's shrouded in mystery and rumors, and Cate's mission to sort fact from fiction and work out who to trust is interesting and well-written. The romance here is also captivating - my heart ached several times for a number of characters, and the answers aren't easy or obvious.
This is a series and an author I'll be keeping an eye on.
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LibraryThing member PureImagination
There's been a lot of hype surrounding Born Wicked from the very beginning. Rest assured that all that hype is deserved. I loved this book. I adored this book! I think I'm a little hard to please when it comes to paranormal books, so that means a lot coming from me.
Witches are my favorite flavor of
Cate was very likeable. She's in a tough situation, but she's strong and brave. She's willing to make sacrifices to protect the people she loves. What's not to like about that? Her sisters were also very well developed. Tessa was wonderful. She's wise well beyond her years and I just really liked her. Maura on the other hand is a spoiled brat. I wanted to smack her on more than one occasion, but I loved the dynamic between all three sisters. Cate's love of them makes you love them.
I must also mention the swoonworthy romance. That boy....I love him, more than I've loved a YA boy in awhile. He says and does things that I never would have expected, but they were all the right things. Just...*swoon*
The world that Jessica Spotswood has created in this book is definitely unique. I couldn't get enough of it. The whole idea of the Brotherhood and the witches was really fantastic. There wasn't quite as much magic as I was expecting, but there was so much story that I didn't even care. I suspect there will be more magic in book 2.
As you can tell I just loved everything about this book. The mystery surrounding the sisters unfolded in a way that made the book impossible to put down. The romance made me hold my breath. The ending left me craving the sequel. Trust the hype. This is a fantastic debut that you should not miss.
Witches are my favorite flavor of
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paranormal, but I was still a little uncertain of Born Wicked. Mostly because it's set in an alternate 1890's past. I sometimes have trouble connecting with a historical story, but that wasn't a problem at all. This book is filled with such fascinating characters and such a expertly crafted world that I was swept off my feet within the first chapter.Cate was very likeable. She's in a tough situation, but she's strong and brave. She's willing to make sacrifices to protect the people she loves. What's not to like about that? Her sisters were also very well developed. Tessa was wonderful. She's wise well beyond her years and I just really liked her. Maura on the other hand is a spoiled brat. I wanted to smack her on more than one occasion, but I loved the dynamic between all three sisters. Cate's love of them makes you love them.
I must also mention the swoonworthy romance. That boy....I love him, more than I've loved a YA boy in awhile. He says and does things that I never would have expected, but they were all the right things. Just...*swoon*
The world that Jessica Spotswood has created in this book is definitely unique. I couldn't get enough of it. The whole idea of the Brotherhood and the witches was really fantastic. There wasn't quite as much magic as I was expecting, but there was so much story that I didn't even care. I suspect there will be more magic in book 2.
As you can tell I just loved everything about this book. The mystery surrounding the sisters unfolded in a way that made the book impossible to put down. The romance made me hold my breath. The ending left me craving the sequel. Trust the hype. This is a fantastic debut that you should not miss.
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LibraryThing member Candacemom2two
Born Wicked is one of those books I would have read just for the cover. Seriously, I love this cover! But when I heard it was historical and was about witches, well- I was sold! And this book really lived up to my expectations!
It starts out just a bit slow and the entire story is slower paced. I
Cate took a bit to get used to. The story is told in first person present tense and I think her voice was just rather different. I can't pinpoint what it was because I'm fairly certain I liked her quite well from the get-go, but there was something about it that took me just a few chapters to adjust to. While Cate does have her faults (she's a bit over-protective of her sisters), it all felt real to me. That's how she should be because her mother placed this responsibility on her and the slightest slip up and they could all be sent away for being witches. I did love that Cate didn't deny herself her true feelings. She would contemplate what she should do and what she truly wanted to do. And she never denied herself the truth. I hate a character that goes on about how they will just force themselves to want something that they don't really and you know it never works out.
The way the romance plays out was pretty sweet. I wished for maybe a bit more time with Finn and Cate together but honestly I don't think we could ever get enough. I liked that they knew eachother for quite some time but as they run into the other time and time again they realize there's something there. And when placed in great danger your deepest, truest emotions come out. And this was one of those romances that I can honestly say was sweet. Yes it was forbidden, but it was still as sweet as they get.
Finn is a big reader and his mother owns the town bookstore. This puts him 'beneath' Cate, who really couldn't care less about that, and under the radar of the Brotherhood who suspect that unapproved books are being sold there. Which is not so good for Cate and her sisters since they are trying to stay off the radar of the Brotherhood. But Finn is just a 'good' guy. He's not good as in he believes in the Brotherhood, but he's scholarly and very smart and isn't about causing trouble. I liked that for once the smart guy gets the girl. But does he really get her? Well, you'll have to read the book to find out!
I very highly recommend you pick this one up! I can't wait for the next one!
It starts out just a bit slow and the entire story is slower paced. I
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thought it worked fine in the second half but the first half could have used maybe a bit more action. However in the whole scheme of things this ended up feeling rather minor to me by the end of the book. The second half I read in pretty much one sitting. It was getting to where I was dying to know more as more and more things we were revealed and I felt like something big was going to happen any moment. There was romance that had me swooning left and right (okay, that sounds kind of funny...) there were twists that I never saw coming and events revealed that could bring about some major catastrophe. Cate took a bit to get used to. The story is told in first person present tense and I think her voice was just rather different. I can't pinpoint what it was because I'm fairly certain I liked her quite well from the get-go, but there was something about it that took me just a few chapters to adjust to. While Cate does have her faults (she's a bit over-protective of her sisters), it all felt real to me. That's how she should be because her mother placed this responsibility on her and the slightest slip up and they could all be sent away for being witches. I did love that Cate didn't deny herself her true feelings. She would contemplate what she should do and what she truly wanted to do. And she never denied herself the truth. I hate a character that goes on about how they will just force themselves to want something that they don't really and you know it never works out.
The way the romance plays out was pretty sweet. I wished for maybe a bit more time with Finn and Cate together but honestly I don't think we could ever get enough. I liked that they knew eachother for quite some time but as they run into the other time and time again they realize there's something there. And when placed in great danger your deepest, truest emotions come out. And this was one of those romances that I can honestly say was sweet. Yes it was forbidden, but it was still as sweet as they get.
Finn is a big reader and his mother owns the town bookstore. This puts him 'beneath' Cate, who really couldn't care less about that, and under the radar of the Brotherhood who suspect that unapproved books are being sold there. Which is not so good for Cate and her sisters since they are trying to stay off the radar of the Brotherhood. But Finn is just a 'good' guy. He's not good as in he believes in the Brotherhood, but he's scholarly and very smart and isn't about causing trouble. I liked that for once the smart guy gets the girl. But does he really get her? Well, you'll have to read the book to find out!
I very highly recommend you pick this one up! I can't wait for the next one!
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LibraryThing member BookLizard
Born Wicked is the first book in a new series that has the potential to be "the next big thing." Cate Cahill is the eldest of three sisters who inherited a special talent from their late mother - witchcraft. Before their mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters, Maura and Tess, but Cate is
This novel has something for everyone. Cate's story takes place in a dystopian alternate history at the turn of the twentieth century. Although it can be read as a paranormal romance with the requisite love triangle, it's really more of a suspense novel: Cate wants to learn about her mother's past and her own heritage, but who can she trust when exposure as witches would mean imprisonment or death? The novel focuses on Cate's relationships - with her sisters, with her love interests, and with a society that would fear and reject her if they knew her powers. Although more likely to appeal to girls, there is enough suspense to satisfy the boys as well. Fans of The Secret Circle, Charmed, or Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle series will enjoy. Recommended.
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almost 17 and the time is quickly approaching when she must choose between marriage or the Sisterhood. Neither option appeals to Cate as both would take her away from her sisters, but when she finds herself attracted to Finn Belastra, the family's new gardener, she begins to resent the promise she made to her mother and to discover her own desires.This novel has something for everyone. Cate's story takes place in a dystopian alternate history at the turn of the twentieth century. Although it can be read as a paranormal romance with the requisite love triangle, it's really more of a suspense novel: Cate wants to learn about her mother's past and her own heritage, but who can she trust when exposure as witches would mean imprisonment or death? The novel focuses on Cate's relationships - with her sisters, with her love interests, and with a society that would fear and reject her if they knew her powers. Although more likely to appeal to girls, there is enough suspense to satisfy the boys as well. Fans of The Secret Circle, Charmed, or Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle series will enjoy. Recommended.
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LibraryThing member AmieG
Born Wicked takes the reader into 1890s New England, but it is not the New England of our past, instead it is a vastly different world, a world run by the Brotherhood—an oppressive, religious group that lords over everyone and everything. After taking control of New England from the witches, the
I enjoyed Born Wicked. Spotswood has managed to write an original and engaging story in a genre full of copycats and lackluster storylines. She created memorable characters and a fascinating world. She gives us just enough back story to move things forward, but leaves us wanting more. I am extremely curious to learn more about the Brotherhood, how they came to power and why. I also want to know the history of the witches and what caused them to lose power. I am hoping many of these questions will be answered in later books. Cate, Tess and Maura, the three Cahill sisters, are very well-written, dynamic characters. There were many characters in this book who took me by surprise, not fitting the mold I expected them to fit. After reading the book jacket, I expected Finn Belastra, the “completely unsuitable” and “forbidden romance” to be one of those bad boy, brooding young adult characters, but he wasn’t. And I loved him for it. Spotswood throws quite a few curveballs into this story, which is why I found it original and engaging. Things are never quite what you expect. Thank you for that, Ms. Spotswood, thank you.
I recommend picking up Born Wicked, especially if you are looking for something new and different. I really enjoyed it and I will be passing it on to my daughters, I think they will like it. I can’t wait for the second book!
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Brotherhood has forbidden any one to use magic and everyone is required to attend religious services twice a week. They believe women have a “higher purpose,” that is to bear children and be a comfort to their husbands, obedient to the Brotherhood, pure of heart, meek of spirit and chaste of virtue. Women are forbidden to run businesses or study at university. The only choices given to women are to marry or to join the Sisterhood, the powerless female arm of the Brotherhood. The Cahill sisters must navigate their way through this oppressive lifestyle, motherless and constantly in fear of being discovered. Because the Cahill sisters are witches and discovery would mean the end of everything they know and love. I enjoyed Born Wicked. Spotswood has managed to write an original and engaging story in a genre full of copycats and lackluster storylines. She created memorable characters and a fascinating world. She gives us just enough back story to move things forward, but leaves us wanting more. I am extremely curious to learn more about the Brotherhood, how they came to power and why. I also want to know the history of the witches and what caused them to lose power. I am hoping many of these questions will be answered in later books. Cate, Tess and Maura, the three Cahill sisters, are very well-written, dynamic characters. There were many characters in this book who took me by surprise, not fitting the mold I expected them to fit. After reading the book jacket, I expected Finn Belastra, the “completely unsuitable” and “forbidden romance” to be one of those bad boy, brooding young adult characters, but he wasn’t. And I loved him for it. Spotswood throws quite a few curveballs into this story, which is why I found it original and engaging. Things are never quite what you expect. Thank you for that, Ms. Spotswood, thank you.
I recommend picking up Born Wicked, especially if you are looking for something new and different. I really enjoyed it and I will be passing it on to my daughters, I think they will like it. I can’t wait for the second book!
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LibraryThing member highvoltagegrrl
I was so looking forward to reading Born Wicked from the moment I heard about it and it did not disappoint. The more I think about the story, the more I like it. The story opens right away with magic, no holding back here. And anyone that reads my reviews know how I love my characters and the
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characters drive this story. The addition of the Brotherhood and the Sisterhood adds some scare and dread factor for the girls. There are a few mysteries to the story that were easy to guess and it was logical for things to go in that direction, I just wish that it would have been more surprising in those aspects. Even with that I still loved the storyline and the idea behind it all. I was left wondering where the story would go from the ending and how it will affect each of the sisters and the other characters that were featured more prominently. Yes, I will absolutely, definitely be reading the next book in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member booknerdreviews
This book took me about 50 or so pages to really get into it, but once I did, this was a complete page turner of a book. I am not one that usually gets into historical fiction, however I am completely sold on this book!
Set somewhere around the 1890′s, in an alternate history in New England. Cate
By day, they do their best to fit in to society. Their mother (also a witch) died when the girls were younger, before the girls really had too much of an understanding about who they were or their family history. There is also a prophecy that will potentially change the sisters lives. Their father has no idea. Conflicted between wanting to develop their skills and the need to keep their gift a secret from everyone else, the girls spend most of their time secluded at their home.
The characters are so in depth and the sisters have completely different personalities. Cate is the sensible one. She stepped up when her mother died and really tries to protect her sisters at all costs. Maura is the bratty sister who by all accounts will go out of her way to cause trouble and rebel against everything Cate asks of her and Tess… Tess is adorable. The youngest sister who I think might be spotlighted in one of the upcoming books. She is a powerful witch but too young to realise her potential.
Under pressure from The Brotherhood, Cate has only a few months to make her intentions clear. Will she get married or will she join The Sisterhood?
Part of what makes this book so readable is the boys! What story isn’t complete without a love triangle? I completely loved that Jessica Spotswood put so much thought and detail into the relationships, because as a reader you can truly appreciate how conflicted Cate is. Should she just accept Paul’s marriage proposal and live the live of a proper wife? It would certainly keep the suspicions of the Brotherhood at bay. But does she really love him? She’s not sure. And then, there is Finn Belastra, the Cahill’s gardener… and proof that boys that read are sexy! Finn doesn’t have the money or the social status to be in a position to marry Cate, but their forbidden romance is what makes Cate undertsand what love really is about. She is officially torn.
The end of this book. OMG. Jessica Spotswood, that is completely unfair! The end.. I can’t spoil, but my jaw dropped. It was so sudden. It certainly has set the next book up to answer a lot of questions!
Set somewhere around the 1890′s, in an alternate history in New England. Cate
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Cahill and her sisters Maura and Tess are witches living in a strict society run by “The Brotherhood”. The Brotherhood conduct themselves in a way similarly to how the Salem Witch Trials were conducted – innocent girls were accused of witchery over the smallest of things. Which makes it really all the harder for Cate and her sisters to blend in… because they really ARE witches.By day, they do their best to fit in to society. Their mother (also a witch) died when the girls were younger, before the girls really had too much of an understanding about who they were or their family history. There is also a prophecy that will potentially change the sisters lives. Their father has no idea. Conflicted between wanting to develop their skills and the need to keep their gift a secret from everyone else, the girls spend most of their time secluded at their home.
The characters are so in depth and the sisters have completely different personalities. Cate is the sensible one. She stepped up when her mother died and really tries to protect her sisters at all costs. Maura is the bratty sister who by all accounts will go out of her way to cause trouble and rebel against everything Cate asks of her and Tess… Tess is adorable. The youngest sister who I think might be spotlighted in one of the upcoming books. She is a powerful witch but too young to realise her potential.
Under pressure from The Brotherhood, Cate has only a few months to make her intentions clear. Will she get married or will she join The Sisterhood?
Part of what makes this book so readable is the boys! What story isn’t complete without a love triangle? I completely loved that Jessica Spotswood put so much thought and detail into the relationships, because as a reader you can truly appreciate how conflicted Cate is. Should she just accept Paul’s marriage proposal and live the live of a proper wife? It would certainly keep the suspicions of the Brotherhood at bay. But does she really love him? She’s not sure. And then, there is Finn Belastra, the Cahill’s gardener… and proof that boys that read are sexy! Finn doesn’t have the money or the social status to be in a position to marry Cate, but their forbidden romance is what makes Cate undertsand what love really is about. She is officially torn.
The end of this book. OMG. Jessica Spotswood, that is completely unfair! The end.. I can’t spoil, but my jaw dropped. It was so sudden. It certainly has set the next book up to answer a lot of questions!
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LibraryThing member stephxsu
Every day Cate Cahill worries that today’s the day she and her younger sisters Maura and Tess will be exposed as the witches they are. The Brotherhood, who controls almost every aspect of life in New England, nearly wiped out the Daughters of Persephone several decades ago, and Cate fears for
When a warning note from a stranger and her mother’s diary reveal to Cate a dreadful prophecy that affects them all, Cate finds herself ever more mired in the events and relationships of Chatham: trying to decide what the new friendships of several popular girls in town means, dealing with a suspicious new governess, fending off the advances of her childhood friend, falling for someone completely inappropriate for her, and searching more into her mother’s history and the details of the prophecy. The more Cate explores, the more she realizes that few people are who they seem…and they all seem to want something from her. But what about what she wants for herself?
There’s no good way for me to start this review except to just come straight out and say that this book disappointed me. With a pretty cover and interesting premise but lacking in world-building, solid pacing, and full characterization, BORN WICKED seems to exemplify all that is characteristic of recently published YA that are big hits but technically weak. So what follows is probably going to be more of a what-not-to-do essay for YA writers, and I hope to God that future writers and publishers will take these points into consideration before publishing their books.
So let’s begin by going down that list, I guess. BORN WICKED claims to take place in an alternate history of the world, but unless your copy of the book came with a special Note for Reviewers, it’s extremely difficult to figure out the “rules” of said world. BORN WICKED is set in an alternate world where New England is religiously oppressed and women dream of someday going to “Dubai,” where freedom of expression for women is enviable. All of these similarities-but-differences beg the question: so where in the course of Earth’s history did things change? Only that was never explained. There is no explanation of any “turning points” that led to this alternate course of history. Instead we simply have proper nouns like Dubai and New London and Mexico and the Indo-China War with no anchors in our history. We have details like dress shapes and vague descriptions of architecture but the details seem to be a jumbled mix of Victorian, American Colonial, and Asian history.
Look. If you want to write a fantasy, then just make up different names and say that your inspiration came from the Salem Witch Trials. Dune is often said to be an allegory of the Middle East oil crisis, but it’s not set in the Middle East of our world, is it? If you want to write a story that has its roots in our world, then you damn well better explain in the story how your fictional setting came about. People seem to be confused about how to world-build different genres. For the record, science fiction, dystopian, and alternate-history settings require MORE world-building than fantasy, because they are a what-if regarding a possible different future or past track that we could take. Science fiction, dystopian, and alternate-history settings must, if anything, read like contemporary fiction: the world in the story must be completely natural for readers.
I think I’ve said enough about that one subject. Moving on.
Some people think it’s a good thing that the last several chapters of a 300-plus-page book are dramatic and full of startling revelations and villains going BOOM and protagonists agonizing over difficult decisions that they must make in a pinch of a moment. This is not a good thing. It means that the pacing is uneven and that the rest of the book up until the last few dramatic chapters either drag painfully or could have been condensed into a few chapters without losing anything. You don’t sell a 300-plus-page book by saying, oh my goodness, but just wait until you get to page 300. Page 300?! No. The first 300 pages need to be tight. They need to be informative. They need to snare the readers’ attention. The last few chapters CANNOT justify the first several hundred pages. I don’t find the last few dramatic chapters of a book to ever justify the amount of time I spent dragging myself through the first several hundred pages.
And finally, characterization. Writers, minor characters deserve almost the same amount of thought and development you give to major characters. Consider that, if they were real (which is kind of the point of writing fiction: to make everything feel as real and believable as possible, no matter your intention for doing so), minor characters could and should have the potential to be protagonists of their own stories somewhere out there. All of the characters in BORN WICKED are kind of jumbled together in my mind. No one stands out. The Biggest and Baddest Villains are Completely Opaque-Black Baddd, but nearly everyone else’s natures and backstory seem to be able to be summarized in just two sentences each. If you want your characters—and thus, essentially, your story—to be memorable for readers, this is not the way to go.
BORN WICKED is probably not better or worse than most of the other hyped YA out there, but, coming at the end of a looooong line of other hyped YA that display the same problems, it has, unfortunately, been forced to bear the brunt of my frustration with recent YA. BORN WICKED really isn’t bad, depending on what standards you have. If you’ve found yourself enjoying most of the YA bestsellers of the past year or so, then BORN WICKED will be your cup of tea. If you are looking for standout YA that elevate the genre, though, it may be best not to have too high expectations for this book. I’m going to get off the computer and go hit some walls now.
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their lives every day.When a warning note from a stranger and her mother’s diary reveal to Cate a dreadful prophecy that affects them all, Cate finds herself ever more mired in the events and relationships of Chatham: trying to decide what the new friendships of several popular girls in town means, dealing with a suspicious new governess, fending off the advances of her childhood friend, falling for someone completely inappropriate for her, and searching more into her mother’s history and the details of the prophecy. The more Cate explores, the more she realizes that few people are who they seem…and they all seem to want something from her. But what about what she wants for herself?
There’s no good way for me to start this review except to just come straight out and say that this book disappointed me. With a pretty cover and interesting premise but lacking in world-building, solid pacing, and full characterization, BORN WICKED seems to exemplify all that is characteristic of recently published YA that are big hits but technically weak. So what follows is probably going to be more of a what-not-to-do essay for YA writers, and I hope to God that future writers and publishers will take these points into consideration before publishing their books.
So let’s begin by going down that list, I guess. BORN WICKED claims to take place in an alternate history of the world, but unless your copy of the book came with a special Note for Reviewers, it’s extremely difficult to figure out the “rules” of said world. BORN WICKED is set in an alternate world where New England is religiously oppressed and women dream of someday going to “Dubai,” where freedom of expression for women is enviable. All of these similarities-but-differences beg the question: so where in the course of Earth’s history did things change? Only that was never explained. There is no explanation of any “turning points” that led to this alternate course of history. Instead we simply have proper nouns like Dubai and New London and Mexico and the Indo-China War with no anchors in our history. We have details like dress shapes and vague descriptions of architecture but the details seem to be a jumbled mix of Victorian, American Colonial, and Asian history.
Look. If you want to write a fantasy, then just make up different names and say that your inspiration came from the Salem Witch Trials. Dune is often said to be an allegory of the Middle East oil crisis, but it’s not set in the Middle East of our world, is it? If you want to write a story that has its roots in our world, then you damn well better explain in the story how your fictional setting came about. People seem to be confused about how to world-build different genres. For the record, science fiction, dystopian, and alternate-history settings require MORE world-building than fantasy, because they are a what-if regarding a possible different future or past track that we could take. Science fiction, dystopian, and alternate-history settings must, if anything, read like contemporary fiction: the world in the story must be completely natural for readers.
I think I’ve said enough about that one subject. Moving on.
Some people think it’s a good thing that the last several chapters of a 300-plus-page book are dramatic and full of startling revelations and villains going BOOM and protagonists agonizing over difficult decisions that they must make in a pinch of a moment. This is not a good thing. It means that the pacing is uneven and that the rest of the book up until the last few dramatic chapters either drag painfully or could have been condensed into a few chapters without losing anything. You don’t sell a 300-plus-page book by saying, oh my goodness, but just wait until you get to page 300. Page 300?! No. The first 300 pages need to be tight. They need to be informative. They need to snare the readers’ attention. The last few chapters CANNOT justify the first several hundred pages. I don’t find the last few dramatic chapters of a book to ever justify the amount of time I spent dragging myself through the first several hundred pages.
And finally, characterization. Writers, minor characters deserve almost the same amount of thought and development you give to major characters. Consider that, if they were real (which is kind of the point of writing fiction: to make everything feel as real and believable as possible, no matter your intention for doing so), minor characters could and should have the potential to be protagonists of their own stories somewhere out there. All of the characters in BORN WICKED are kind of jumbled together in my mind. No one stands out. The Biggest and Baddest Villains are Completely Opaque-Black Baddd, but nearly everyone else’s natures and backstory seem to be able to be summarized in just two sentences each. If you want your characters—and thus, essentially, your story—to be memorable for readers, this is not the way to go.
BORN WICKED is probably not better or worse than most of the other hyped YA out there, but, coming at the end of a looooong line of other hyped YA that display the same problems, it has, unfortunately, been forced to bear the brunt of my frustration with recent YA. BORN WICKED really isn’t bad, depending on what standards you have. If you’ve found yourself enjoying most of the YA bestsellers of the past year or so, then BORN WICKED will be your cup of tea. If you are looking for standout YA that elevate the genre, though, it may be best not to have too high expectations for this book. I’m going to get off the computer and go hit some walls now.
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LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A fantastic fantasy set in an alternate world, a strong narrative voice brings the world alive and will make the reader wish it didn’t end! The perfect balance between a unique plot and a sweet romance.
Opening Sentence: Our Mother was a witch,
The Review:
Let me start out by saying, this is the book I’ve been waiting to read. It’s a fantasy, with an almost alternate history where witches were once a part of everyday life. They were powerful and respected–until people began figuring out what they could do, like mind magic. Then the people rebelled and the witches were hung or burned at the stake and the Brotherhood took over. The Temples of the Daughters of Persephone were burned to, usually with witches still inside. That was in 1780. Present day, girls are wearing corsets and riding in barouches, but witches are few and far between. There are still witch trials conducted by the Brotherhood, and women old and young are sentenced to hard labor on ships or Harwood–supposedly a mental asylum. Most of the girls convicted, however, aren’t witches. But to stand against the Brotherhood is to put yourself in danger, so no one speaks out against them.
Especially not Cate and her sisters. They really are witches. Since their mother died, no one knows their secret. Not even their Father, who’s character turned into an empty shell since the mother’s death. Cate, Maura and Tess only have each other, but they learn very quickly they can’t survive the way they have been. Terrified her sisters will be careless with their magic and expose them, Cate’s turned her family into recluses. They only go out to Sunday School and services, to hear the Brothers lecture them on the wickedness of being female. But being reclusive is starting to draw attention, and worse Cate only has six months before she turns seventeen.
At seventeen every woman has to go through an intention ceremony. They either get married, or they join the Sisterhood–the Brotherhood’s female annex. These girls seem way to young to be deciding on the rest of their lives. As you meet more of the almost brainwashed society you see how important these choices are and see Cate’s peers for who they really are. An engagement has to be announced three months before the intention ceremony, but Cate’s prospective fiancee Paul McLeod isn’t home yet. And then there’s Finn Belastra. The incredibly attractive bookstore owner’s son turned gardener for the Cahill family. He seems to understand Cate in a way her childhood friend Paul doesn’t. But Cate’s a gentlewoman and the last thing she can do is marry beneath her, especially with the Brother’s paying such close attention to the bookstore.
But Father’s worried Cate and Maura won’t make matches at all, especially since they don’t move about in society. So in comes their governess Sister Elena, who seems to embody everything the Sisterhood should oppose–vanity, pride, and materialism. Her sisters love her, but Cate is beginning to realize that everything isn’t as it seems and she resents Elena for barging into their lives. Having a Sister living with them isn’t going to make hiding their magic any easier, but refusing her help would be worse.
The Cahill sister’s are in danger. Or so says the note Cate receives from a mysterious ZR and her mother’s diary. Turns out there’s a lot about magic and the people who wield it that Cate’s mother never told her. Like the fact people will begin hunting down the three sisters mentioned in a prophecy–sisters who could very well be the Cahills. Because according to the prophecy, one of the sisters can do mind magic. She can bend anyone to her will and make them forget anything, and she’ll either lift the witches up from repression or bring about their destruction. And there’s more to the prophecy–the half Cate’s mother never wrote down–that will change everything for the Cahill family. No one’s safe, and nothing is as it seems.
This story has a wonderful budding romance, but it doesn’t overpower the plot. Cate has a lot of choices to make in this book, as do her sisters. She shoulders a lot of responsibility in this novel and it’s hard not to pity her for never being able to be a normal girl. But then, what’s normal when you have to hide who you are? This book builds a wonderful fantasy world that closely parallels our own, making it easy to understand the culture brought to life in this book. I fell in love with her characters and I am dying to read the next book!
Notable Scene:
Elena’s voice is like a whip, and I flinch as though she’s struck me. “Has it ever occurred to you that not all women who refuse to flout convention are mindless? Perhaps it means that they’re clever enough to remain inconspicuous.”
Is she implying that our reputation is my fault? That I’ve mishandled things because I’m not clever enough? I’ve kept my sisters out of Harwood, away from teh Brotherhood and their snooping informants. Whatever the old crows in town might say about us, I consider that a success.
The Cahill Witch Chronicles Series:
1. Born Wicked
FTC Advisory: Putnam Juvenile provided me with a copy of Born Wicked. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: A fantastic fantasy set in an alternate world, a strong narrative voice brings the world alive and will make the reader wish it didn’t end! The perfect balance between a unique plot and a sweet romance.
Opening Sentence: Our Mother was a witch,
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too, but she hid it better.The Review:
Let me start out by saying, this is the book I’ve been waiting to read. It’s a fantasy, with an almost alternate history where witches were once a part of everyday life. They were powerful and respected–until people began figuring out what they could do, like mind magic. Then the people rebelled and the witches were hung or burned at the stake and the Brotherhood took over. The Temples of the Daughters of Persephone were burned to, usually with witches still inside. That was in 1780. Present day, girls are wearing corsets and riding in barouches, but witches are few and far between. There are still witch trials conducted by the Brotherhood, and women old and young are sentenced to hard labor on ships or Harwood–supposedly a mental asylum. Most of the girls convicted, however, aren’t witches. But to stand against the Brotherhood is to put yourself in danger, so no one speaks out against them.
Especially not Cate and her sisters. They really are witches. Since their mother died, no one knows their secret. Not even their Father, who’s character turned into an empty shell since the mother’s death. Cate, Maura and Tess only have each other, but they learn very quickly they can’t survive the way they have been. Terrified her sisters will be careless with their magic and expose them, Cate’s turned her family into recluses. They only go out to Sunday School and services, to hear the Brothers lecture them on the wickedness of being female. But being reclusive is starting to draw attention, and worse Cate only has six months before she turns seventeen.
At seventeen every woman has to go through an intention ceremony. They either get married, or they join the Sisterhood–the Brotherhood’s female annex. These girls seem way to young to be deciding on the rest of their lives. As you meet more of the almost brainwashed society you see how important these choices are and see Cate’s peers for who they really are. An engagement has to be announced three months before the intention ceremony, but Cate’s prospective fiancee Paul McLeod isn’t home yet. And then there’s Finn Belastra. The incredibly attractive bookstore owner’s son turned gardener for the Cahill family. He seems to understand Cate in a way her childhood friend Paul doesn’t. But Cate’s a gentlewoman and the last thing she can do is marry beneath her, especially with the Brother’s paying such close attention to the bookstore.
But Father’s worried Cate and Maura won’t make matches at all, especially since they don’t move about in society. So in comes their governess Sister Elena, who seems to embody everything the Sisterhood should oppose–vanity, pride, and materialism. Her sisters love her, but Cate is beginning to realize that everything isn’t as it seems and she resents Elena for barging into their lives. Having a Sister living with them isn’t going to make hiding their magic any easier, but refusing her help would be worse.
The Cahill sister’s are in danger. Or so says the note Cate receives from a mysterious ZR and her mother’s diary. Turns out there’s a lot about magic and the people who wield it that Cate’s mother never told her. Like the fact people will begin hunting down the three sisters mentioned in a prophecy–sisters who could very well be the Cahills. Because according to the prophecy, one of the sisters can do mind magic. She can bend anyone to her will and make them forget anything, and she’ll either lift the witches up from repression or bring about their destruction. And there’s more to the prophecy–the half Cate’s mother never wrote down–that will change everything for the Cahill family. No one’s safe, and nothing is as it seems.
This story has a wonderful budding romance, but it doesn’t overpower the plot. Cate has a lot of choices to make in this book, as do her sisters. She shoulders a lot of responsibility in this novel and it’s hard not to pity her for never being able to be a normal girl. But then, what’s normal when you have to hide who you are? This book builds a wonderful fantasy world that closely parallels our own, making it easy to understand the culture brought to life in this book. I fell in love with her characters and I am dying to read the next book!
Notable Scene:
Elena’s voice is like a whip, and I flinch as though she’s struck me. “Has it ever occurred to you that not all women who refuse to flout convention are mindless? Perhaps it means that they’re clever enough to remain inconspicuous.”
Is she implying that our reputation is my fault? That I’ve mishandled things because I’m not clever enough? I’ve kept my sisters out of Harwood, away from teh Brotherhood and their snooping informants. Whatever the old crows in town might say about us, I consider that a success.
The Cahill Witch Chronicles Series:
1. Born Wicked
FTC Advisory: Putnam Juvenile provided me with a copy of Born Wicked. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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LibraryThing member Book_Girl2010
Read this book. Read it right now, read it in ten years, read it tomorrow, I don't care when, just read it!
The message above is for people who I know won't read the entire review, its alright, just read the sentence above!
For those of you who like to read the whole review (thank-you), prepare
From the beginning, it was all secrets and magic. I was flipping the pages madly, trying to find out what happened next. This book was action, mystery, fantasy and forbidden romance. It was just that good.
Cate Cahill was such an amazing and strong character, she has two sisters to look over after her mother's death. She puts them first, she would give anything for them. She is really an awesome character, Jessica Spotswood does such a good job at writing up lovable characters that you just cannot help yourself and fall in love with Cate and wish she was your best friend.
Finn, he is more than just the love interest and dream boy, he is brave and humble. I just love everything about this boy. I need more of him on the next book, please!
The plot of this story was amazing, the twist and turns were just making this but IMPOSSIBLE to put down, just when you think things cannot get any worse, they do, and the ending just about broke my heart
I started the year off really good, I am glad I chose this book to be my first read of the year, because this book will probably in my top books of 2012. That is just how good Born Wicked was.
Also, I will be posting the book trailer too, because I just LOVE it so much! Great book trailer for a great book!
The message above is for people who I know won't read the entire review, its alright, just read the sentence above!
For those of you who like to read the whole review (thank-you), prepare
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yourself for some major gushing. I started Born Wicked with no major expectations, I really love it when fantasy and historical fiction mix, so I was intrigued.From the beginning, it was all secrets and magic. I was flipping the pages madly, trying to find out what happened next. This book was action, mystery, fantasy and forbidden romance. It was just that good.
Cate Cahill was such an amazing and strong character, she has two sisters to look over after her mother's death. She puts them first, she would give anything for them. She is really an awesome character, Jessica Spotswood does such a good job at writing up lovable characters that you just cannot help yourself and fall in love with Cate and wish she was your best friend.
Finn, he is more than just the love interest and dream boy, he is brave and humble. I just love everything about this boy. I need more of him on the next book, please!
The plot of this story was amazing, the twist and turns were just making this but IMPOSSIBLE to put down, just when you think things cannot get any worse, they do, and the ending just about broke my heart
I started the year off really good, I am glad I chose this book to be my first read of the year, because this book will probably in my top books of 2012. That is just how good Born Wicked was.
Also, I will be posting the book trailer too, because I just LOVE it so much! Great book trailer for a great book!
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LibraryThing member Bookswithbite
I picked up this book anticipating it. I was so excited to read something fresh and new. It gave me exactly what I wanted .The feel of history flowing through my fingers as I turned each page.
What I loved most about this book is the plot line. I love historical books. Falling into the shoes of Cate
I really adored the love interest. It was sweet and pure. With this love, the reader gets to see it form right before your eyes. I love watching two people fall in love. And with the obstacles facing both of them it just makes me want to root them on!
Now, the ending! UGH!!! Such a good and shocking ending. I mean wow! I did not see that coming since she had already made up her mind, but WOW! Yeah, my mouth dropped open on that tidbit.
Overall, Born Wicked is an entertaining, magical, surprising novel. Born Wicked tantalize it's readers with well written dialogue. A worthy novel from start to finish, Born Wicked is impressive.
What I loved most about this book is the plot line. I love historical books. Falling into the shoes of Cate
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and seeing everything she is, is wonderful. I loved the description of the town, the minor characters and the history that is going on at the moment. The plot pacing is perfect as the reader follows along with the sisters, discovering dark secrets hidden from them.I really adored the love interest. It was sweet and pure. With this love, the reader gets to see it form right before your eyes. I love watching two people fall in love. And with the obstacles facing both of them it just makes me want to root them on!
Now, the ending! UGH!!! Such a good and shocking ending. I mean wow! I did not see that coming since she had already made up her mind, but WOW! Yeah, my mouth dropped open on that tidbit.
Overall, Born Wicked is an entertaining, magical, surprising novel. Born Wicked tantalize it's readers with well written dialogue. A worthy novel from start to finish, Born Wicked is impressive.
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LibraryThing member beckybrarian
The Cahill sisters are witches in a time when being a witch, or even a strong woman, means life imprisonment or death. Their world is controlled by the Brotherhood, an all male religious order that imposes strict rules of conduct. Cate Cahill has been trying to supress her magic and that of her
Cate is an interesting character. She seems to want nothing more than to disappear into the world she lives in. She doesn't want anyone to notice her, or her sisters, but she can't help but stand out. She is strong, brave, and caring. I loved her instantly. Cate's journey throughout the novel is one that will keep readers turning pages and longing for the sequel to come out faster!
Jessica Spotswood has created a compelling, interesting world. Her United States was colonized, but never pulled away from England. The big city is called New London, the overall feel of the place is very British, and magic permeates everything (whether the Brotherhood wants it to or not). This is a great book for teens who enjoy historical fantasy and who were fans of Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters.
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sisters for their own protection, but the girls are getting stronger. With their mother gone, and a new governess in the house, and only a few months before Cate must either announce her engagement or join the Sisterhood (the Brotherhood's female counterpart) the stage is set for some serious historical supernatural drama! Cate is an interesting character. She seems to want nothing more than to disappear into the world she lives in. She doesn't want anyone to notice her, or her sisters, but she can't help but stand out. She is strong, brave, and caring. I loved her instantly. Cate's journey throughout the novel is one that will keep readers turning pages and longing for the sequel to come out faster!
Jessica Spotswood has created a compelling, interesting world. Her United States was colonized, but never pulled away from England. The big city is called New London, the overall feel of the place is very British, and magic permeates everything (whether the Brotherhood wants it to or not). This is a great book for teens who enjoy historical fantasy and who were fans of Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters.
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LibraryThing member Tatiana_G
I've only read a couple of chapters of "Born Wicked" and thus far there are no objective issues with this novel that would justify my giving it a low rating or a bad review. It is written like everything else popular in YA right now, down to the 1st person present tense narration; a teen girl
Born Wicked is marketed as a "A Great and Terrible Beauty" stand-in, but as flawed as Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle trilogy was, it was never this... glaringly uninteresting and unoriginal.
It goes without saying, this book might entertain someone else.
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protagonist who is smart and protective of her family, who is forced to fight against the social system that oppresses her, who strives for independence and freedom; a love interest/love triangle introduced at the very beginning. I can't accuse "Born Wicked" of anything but it being a standard write-by-numbers commercial fare and its failure to entertain me. And if I am not entertained while reading something this formulaic, everything falls apart - the characters seem like cliches, the plot predictable, and the world-building nonsensical.Born Wicked is marketed as a "A Great and Terrible Beauty" stand-in, but as flawed as Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle trilogy was, it was never this... glaringly uninteresting and unoriginal.
It goes without saying, this book might entertain someone else.
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LibraryThing member _Lily_
I was so excited to win this book, I had been waiting for ages for my copy to arrive, I finally got it today. Turns out a neighbor who was on vacation had it. I started reading it the second I got it and I instantly hooked! The characters are very dynamic I loved them all. My only "Issue" was the
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ending. The ending left me wanting more now I have to wait a year or so for the next one to come out. I can't wait! Show Less
LibraryThing member usagijihen
4.5/5 stars!
If you've been reading the blog, you guys know how much I love alternate histories. Spotswood totally knocks it out of the park in her debut "Born Wicked". I also love anything that's set in Victorian/Edwardian times. Combine all of this and some teenage witches, and you've got one
I will admit that at first the alternate history that Spotswood constructs is a bit confusing in terms of how much time has gone by since the Salem witch trials and how the US has (if at all) gotten out from under British rule. Constructing a completely understandable alternate history is difficult to do, and aside from the actual time as measured in years where I got confused, Spotswood did this very well. I had to do some digging on the location of New London as I'm not a East-coast native, but I figured out that, should this hold to where the actual New London is, takes place in Connecticut. However, I could be wrong. But from where the village is compared to the "big city" of New London, this makes a lot of sense. This is the only place in the story where I had to sit and rearrange some of the pieces in the puzzle, because this alternate history itself is part of the extremely important foundation of the story. I think this where a lot of reviewers got puzzled and felt it got stilted, because you had to really grab for where we were in time and space compared to the time and space we have within the books of real history. I hope that this gets a bit more clarified in the next books in the series.
However, this is not to say you shouldn't try it. The time puzzle is interesting and it became a fun challenge to figure out where we were. And after I managed to figure everything out time-wise, I was fine. The characters all felt very real, very 3D in the completed-character sense. There wasn't anything lacking in any of the characters, and some of the Big Reveals that took place took me completely (and quite pleasantly) by surprise. I won't reveal what these Big Reveals were (that'd spoil things, wouldn't it?), but I'll just have to say that Spotswood did a fantastic job on the LGBTQIA front and fit all of that in with (alternate) Victorian times quite well.
Everything felt so real and lush on the sensory language front that I could smell the flowers, feel the fabrics of the dresses and skirts, and taste the glamoured food in the Cahill household. If Spotswood has a strong point, it's definitely in the sensory/descriptive language area. She injects magic into everything, even into the horrifying moments where we fear our witches are done for, and even into the areas where there's no witchery going on at all. That takes talent, and Spotswood's definitely got that.
Some have mentioned their issue with the love triangle and insta-love, but if you read carefully enough, there really isn't a definite triangle, which really made the book even better. It only appears that there MIGHT be one, because Cate has to go and re-examine her feelings for a childhood friend returned. I won't give away what happens, but it's less of a triangle and more of a "I should probably marry this guy, who I can get along with, in order to protect my sisters, but this guy I've totally fallen for and kind of want to jump his bones and oh, I could probably escape the entire world with him if I wanted to." The honesty about Cate's lust/desperation versus the duty she feels to protect her sisters was pretty refreshing, as was the self-examination that she had to do multiple points in the book. There was that element of insta-love, but I think that this part of it was born more out of Cate's feeling of the world closing in around her rather than a Twilight-syndrome'd "oh wow, guy in my class is dreamy and I'm going to stalk him!" sort of thing. Finn could be her way out; she's noticing him now because he's attractive AND because he could be an ally.
However, I could have done with a little more talking on Finn's part, but we can't get everything we want.
All of this makes for very fascinating reading and even more fascinating conversations about where Spotswood could be going with all of this. I'm probably really overreading into all of Cate's motives with two of my most hated YA tropes, but the way Spotswood made it all work just makes me forgive her if I have indeed overread into things. It all came together so well that I can't help but love this story, these characters, and this world.
Final verdict? Read it. I adored this book and I can't wait for the others to come out. Grab it at your bookstore or library once it hits shelves in early February 2012 (in North America, other places, you should check). One thing that's for certain - you most definitely won't get bored.
(posted to goodreads, shelfari, librarything, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)
If you've been reading the blog, you guys know how much I love alternate histories. Spotswood totally knocks it out of the park in her debut "Born Wicked". I also love anything that's set in Victorian/Edwardian times. Combine all of this and some teenage witches, and you've got one
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awesome book. There was never a dull moment in the story, and it felt very full and well-rounded: definitely an awesome start to a new series and a very solid first book.I will admit that at first the alternate history that Spotswood constructs is a bit confusing in terms of how much time has gone by since the Salem witch trials and how the US has (if at all) gotten out from under British rule. Constructing a completely understandable alternate history is difficult to do, and aside from the actual time as measured in years where I got confused, Spotswood did this very well. I had to do some digging on the location of New London as I'm not a East-coast native, but I figured out that, should this hold to where the actual New London is, takes place in Connecticut. However, I could be wrong. But from where the village is compared to the "big city" of New London, this makes a lot of sense. This is the only place in the story where I had to sit and rearrange some of the pieces in the puzzle, because this alternate history itself is part of the extremely important foundation of the story. I think this where a lot of reviewers got puzzled and felt it got stilted, because you had to really grab for where we were in time and space compared to the time and space we have within the books of real history. I hope that this gets a bit more clarified in the next books in the series.
However, this is not to say you shouldn't try it. The time puzzle is interesting and it became a fun challenge to figure out where we were. And after I managed to figure everything out time-wise, I was fine. The characters all felt very real, very 3D in the completed-character sense. There wasn't anything lacking in any of the characters, and some of the Big Reveals that took place took me completely (and quite pleasantly) by surprise. I won't reveal what these Big Reveals were (that'd spoil things, wouldn't it?), but I'll just have to say that Spotswood did a fantastic job on the LGBTQIA front and fit all of that in with (alternate) Victorian times quite well.
Everything felt so real and lush on the sensory language front that I could smell the flowers, feel the fabrics of the dresses and skirts, and taste the glamoured food in the Cahill household. If Spotswood has a strong point, it's definitely in the sensory/descriptive language area. She injects magic into everything, even into the horrifying moments where we fear our witches are done for, and even into the areas where there's no witchery going on at all. That takes talent, and Spotswood's definitely got that.
Some have mentioned their issue with the love triangle and insta-love, but if you read carefully enough, there really isn't a definite triangle, which really made the book even better. It only appears that there MIGHT be one, because Cate has to go and re-examine her feelings for a childhood friend returned. I won't give away what happens, but it's less of a triangle and more of a "I should probably marry this guy, who I can get along with, in order to protect my sisters, but this guy I've totally fallen for and kind of want to jump his bones and oh, I could probably escape the entire world with him if I wanted to." The honesty about Cate's lust/desperation versus the duty she feels to protect her sisters was pretty refreshing, as was the self-examination that she had to do multiple points in the book. There was that element of insta-love, but I think that this part of it was born more out of Cate's feeling of the world closing in around her rather than a Twilight-syndrome'd "oh wow, guy in my class is dreamy and I'm going to stalk him!" sort of thing. Finn could be her way out; she's noticing him now because he's attractive AND because he could be an ally.
However, I could have done with a little more talking on Finn's part, but we can't get everything we want.
All of this makes for very fascinating reading and even more fascinating conversations about where Spotswood could be going with all of this. I'm probably really overreading into all of Cate's motives with two of my most hated YA tropes, but the way Spotswood made it all work just makes me forgive her if I have indeed overread into things. It all came together so well that I can't help but love this story, these characters, and this world.
Final verdict? Read it. I adored this book and I can't wait for the others to come out. Grab it at your bookstore or library once it hits shelves in early February 2012 (in North America, other places, you should check). One thing that's for certain - you most definitely won't get bored.
(posted to goodreads, shelfari, librarything, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)
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Original publication date
2012-02-07
Physical description
272 p.
ISBN
0399257454 / 9780399257452