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wanderingjedi's review against another edition
4.0
This book was the best of both magical novels and Southern fiction, and I loved every minute of it. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. The characters were believable, and even though some of them seemed too perfect in the beginning they eventually revealed their flaws, and by the end of the book they seemed like totally real high school kids. The magic wasn't your usual "I just learned I can do magic and everything is perfect" type either, which was fantastic. They had to actually work to use the spells, and they often didn't work out the way the girl intended. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book, and I'm absolutely going to go find the next one in the series as soon as possible.
reader4evr's review against another edition
4.0
I read one of the authors adult books and enjoyed it so when I heard she had a new YA novel and it was set in the south I knew I had to try it.
This book was a mixture of Mean Girls and the fantasy/paranormal rolled into a book. I had never heard of hoodoo before and it is definitely interesting but kind of dangerous like all other magic aspects you read about. I'm also a fan of the whole debutante lifestyle. Ever since I was young I wanted to do that whole ball and dressing up but it had the whole secret society I think I would pass.
Alex was a funny and smart character. She kind of reminded me of Sophie from Hex Hall with her humor without the whole hippie aspect. I felt so bad for her when she had her 1st day of school and everyone was so judgemental of her. I'm glad that she met Dex (he reminded me of Damien from Mean Girls). I'm glad she finally got rid of the dreads, so yucky.
One thing I didn't like was all the reference to smoking or growing marijuana, just felt like it really didn't go with the story.
I wish this would have ended with a better cliffhanger because I know this is going to be a series. I liked this book but not sure if I'll read on.
This book was a mixture of Mean Girls and the fantasy/paranormal rolled into a book. I had never heard of hoodoo before and it is definitely interesting but kind of dangerous like all other magic aspects you read about. I'm also a fan of the whole debutante lifestyle. Ever since I was young I wanted to do that whole ball and dressing up but it had the whole secret society I think I would pass.
Alex was a funny and smart character. She kind of reminded me of Sophie from Hex Hall with her humor without the whole hippie aspect. I felt so bad for her when she had her 1st day of school and everyone was so judgemental of her. I'm glad that she met Dex (he reminded me of Damien from Mean Girls). I'm glad she finally got rid of the dreads, so yucky.
One thing I didn't like was all the reference to smoking or growing marijuana, just felt like it really didn't go with the story.
I wish this would have ended with a better cliffhanger because I know this is going to be a series. I liked this book but not sure if I'll read on.
fishgirl182's review against another edition
3.0
After the sudden death of her mother, Alex is forced to leave the free spirited commune where she's spent most of her life to live with her very traditional and very southern grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. Alex is like a fish out of water in Savannah. She doesn't fit in with the pretty, superficial girls her age and she certainly has nothing in common with her grandmother. Alex's grandmother, Miss Lee, is the head of a social group called The Magnolia League. The group elicits both fear an awe in town. Alex initially rebels at the idea of the League but hangs out with a couple of the girls in the League in order to appease her grandmother and some of her boredom. It's quickly apparent however that things are not what they seem and that there are secrets in the League - secrets that go back many years and may have had something to do with Alex's mother's death.
The books starts of pretty strong. Alex is an independent you woman who is afraid to be herself. She has the same insecurities that most young women have (am I fat, do boys like me, etc.) but in general she comes off as a confident individual. Her two friends, Hayes and Madison are interesting as well. They can be catty and mean but, at the same time, you can see the beginnings of friendship forming and some of the dialogue is truly funny. Crouch's descriptions of Savannah are also very good, providing a moody atmosphere rich with history in which to lay out her story. Alex is a smart person and she soon figures out that something fishy is going on with members of The Magnolia League. Her grandmother and all of the other women seem unnaturally young and she becomes friends with Sam Buzzard, who seems to know something about her mother and her family. Then comes the big reveal in which the League performs a spell on Alex in order to get her to stop pining for her lame ex-boyfriend back in California. After that, the cat's out of the bag and Alex finds out that the League has made a pact with the Buzzards to keep them in spells that provide youth, power, money and whatever else the members wish for. Alex dives into this world quickly, not asking too many questions. Her insecurities get the better of her and she signs up for a spell that makes her thin along with skin and hair spells. Before you know it, Alex is a size 0 and is one of the most popular girls in school.
It's around this point that the book goes a little downhill for me. I just expected a bit more from Alex. She becomes everything she didn't like about the Magnolia League. The independent young woman from the commune is replaced someone I am not sure I like. Pieces of the old Alex are still there but they're being overshadowed by the new Alex, and she ends up doing something she swore she would never do. At the end of the book, we do see the spark of the old Alex come back. The ending does seem somewhat abrupt though. Everything seems to happen in the last ten pages and then sets itself up for a sequel. I am definitely interested in seeing where the story goes though. Will Alex live up to her potential and break the curse of the Magnolia League? Guess we'll have to wait and see.
The books starts of pretty strong. Alex is an independent you woman who is afraid to be herself. She has the same insecurities that most young women have (am I fat, do boys like me, etc.) but in general she comes off as a confident individual. Her two friends, Hayes and Madison are interesting as well. They can be catty and mean but, at the same time, you can see the beginnings of friendship forming and some of the dialogue is truly funny. Crouch's descriptions of Savannah are also very good, providing a moody atmosphere rich with history in which to lay out her story. Alex is a smart person and she soon figures out that something fishy is going on with members of The Magnolia League. Her grandmother and all of the other women seem unnaturally young and she becomes friends with Sam Buzzard, who seems to know something about her mother and her family. Then comes the big reveal in which the League performs a spell on Alex in order to get her to stop pining for her lame ex-boyfriend back in California. After that, the cat's out of the bag and Alex finds out that the League has made a pact with the Buzzards to keep them in spells that provide youth, power, money and whatever else the members wish for. Alex dives into this world quickly, not asking too many questions. Her insecurities get the better of her and she signs up for a spell that makes her thin along with skin and hair spells. Before you know it, Alex is a size 0 and is one of the most popular girls in school.
It's around this point that the book goes a little downhill for me. I just expected a bit more from Alex. She becomes everything she didn't like about the Magnolia League. The independent young woman from the commune is replaced someone I am not sure I like. Pieces of the old Alex are still there but they're being overshadowed by the new Alex, and she ends up doing something she swore she would never do. At the end of the book, we do see the spark of the old Alex come back. The ending does seem somewhat abrupt though. Everything seems to happen in the last ten pages and then sets itself up for a sequel. I am definitely interested in seeing where the story goes though. Will Alex live up to her potential and break the curse of the Magnolia League? Guess we'll have to wait and see.
mandalouwho's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book, I love Thaddeus so much XD
kay2198's review
1.0
I usually don't write reviews but I felt for this novel, it was necessary.
I didn't hate this book but I also didn't like it. I felt that there was a promising plot line but it just wasn't written to its full potential so to speak. At some points the plot was really strong and others it was really weak.
What really upset me though was when Madison and hayes totally transformed Alex into the 'beautiful' magnolia girl. Alex was now skinny and had beautiful hair and skin and got Thaddeus the guy she had a huge crush on. I just felt that was way too stereotypical and unrealistic.
I also find it hard to believe that Madison and Hayes are truly Alex's friends because they totally changed her into someone she's not. And what Alex does to Thaddeus at the end by just ignoring him was totally uncalled for. She should have spoken to him and told him about her mother.
Overall I feel that this book was a rollercoaster of good and bad sections, and that it was often juvenile at times. I do not believe that this is a horrible book. It just wasn't for me and I feel it wasn't as developed as it could have been that's why I gave it only two stars. I will not be reading the sequel.
I didn't hate this book but I also didn't like it. I felt that there was a promising plot line but it just wasn't written to its full potential so to speak. At some points the plot was really strong and others it was really weak.
What really upset me though was when Madison and hayes totally transformed Alex into the 'beautiful' magnolia girl. Alex was now skinny and had beautiful hair and skin and got Thaddeus the guy she had a huge crush on. I just felt that was way too stereotypical and unrealistic.
I also find it hard to believe that Madison and Hayes are truly Alex's friends because they totally changed her into someone she's not. And what Alex does to Thaddeus at the end by just ignoring him was totally uncalled for. She should have spoken to him and told him about her mother.
Overall I feel that this book was a rollercoaster of good and bad sections, and that it was often juvenile at times. I do not believe that this is a horrible book. It just wasn't for me and I feel it wasn't as developed as it could have been that's why I gave it only two stars. I will not be reading the sequel.
vikcs's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
greatbutuseless's review against another edition
1.0
HATED it
Nothing happened, don't waste your time or money.
Nothing happened, don't waste your time or money.