Thursday, April 5, 2012

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
Published by Putnam
On Shelves NOW!!!!
The Sisters Say:  Bewitching, Beguiling, Beautiful

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.
 
It’s 1896 in a world reminiscent of Salem, a world where witches are hunted, imprisoned, enslaved—or they just disappear.  And right in the middle of it all—the Cahill sisters, Cate, Maura, and Tess. 
The fate of the world rests on these three Witches and one clandestine prophecy. 
This is the first paranormal romance I’ve read that is set in the past, and at first, I didn’t know if I would enjoy it or not.  The first few chapters were very slow, and while it was interesting to see how life was during this time (the petticoats, tea time, misogynistic attitudes toward women), I didn’t know if it was going to keep me interested enough to finish; however, once I passed the first four chapters, I was hooked.  The mystery reeled me in, and I rushed through because I absolutely had to see how it was going to end.
I loved the idea that there is a trio of sister witches.  I mean, I grew up with 2 sisters, who, like me, wished they had magical powers.  I won’t give anything away, either, but I found that the sister’s personalities echoed our own.  Cate, like Amy, is the bossy one—sorry Amy.  Maura, like me, is the troublesome one.  And Tess, like Britt, is the know-it-all.  This made their relationships seems very real to me.
I really enjoyed getting to know Cate, the oldest of the three sisters and the pov from which the book is written.  As her mother was dying, she pleaded to Cate to watch over her sisters, to protect them.  As a result, Cate had to push back her desire to just be a teenager and become the woman of the house.  All is well until Cate turns 17, when she has to announce who she will marry or join the Sisterhood convent.  With this date looming very near in the future, Cate starts to panic not only about which to choose, but how to keep her sisters safe.  This is the part of Cate I loved—seeing her struggle made me connect with her, and I found myself wishing I was a witch in her world so I could help!
But, of course, my favorite part was the boys.  There are two again, and I adore me a good love triangle!  If there are two hot guys in a book, I break out into my happy dance.
First, there’s Paul—the childhood friend turned gentlemen who comes home from New London to court Cate.  He’s charming, rugged, and rich.  Cate has adored Paul since she was a child, and she knows that he would be the perfect man for her to marry.  Only, she struggles to choose because there is another man who has also caught her attention.
 Finn.  Oh, Finn, I absolutely love him.  He’s the gardener (who knows nothing about gardening) and he and his mother own the bookshop in town (which is the subject of scrutiny from the Brotherhood—the religious sect hunting witches).  Cate feels connected to Finn on a deep level, and you will love to see how the romance unfolds!
I loved the romance and the mystery in Born Wicked.  There are many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, and the prophecy is a doozy!  I keep going over and over again in my mind how I think the prophecy will play out—especially after the cliffhanger ending!  In fact, I’m troubled (more than troubled, let’s say outright in turmoil) that I have to wait a full year for book 2 to come out! 
With the history of The Crucible, the magic of Harry Potter, and the love story of The Mortal Instruments, this is a must read for fans of paranormal romance!!!!  And it’s so original because there aren’t that many books out there that focus completely on witches! 
So—go buy this book, and let me know what you think!!!!! (I think you’ll daydream about Finn, too!)