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magikspells's review against another edition
3.0
So this was a pretty quick read. I think this story was interesting, though it could have benefitted from a little more background in some places, it just felt like things suddenly happened. I think the ending had a good twist, but it too felt very sudden, then the book ended.
Overall it was an enjoyable little fantasy story.
Overall it was an enjoyable little fantasy story.
mdegraff's review against another edition
4.0
Captivating and Intriguing
I received this book by the Author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity!
[b:Escape from Witchwood Hollow|23351890|Escape from Witchwood Hollow|Jordan Elizabeth Mierek|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1412946970s/23351890.jpg|42785759], by Jordan Elizabeth Mierek is an intriguing story that pulls you in from the beginning. I was captivated by all the twists and turns the story took – it keeps you guessing all the way to the end!
Escape from Witchwood Hallow is about three young women on a journey all their own. The story unfolds through the eyes of these young lady’s; Honoria a 15-yr old girl in present day (2001). Her Aunt, Uncle, and brother just moved from NYC to the small town, Arnn, in Upstate New York. She’s grieving the loss of her parents and intrigued by the local lore about the forest, Witchwood Hallow, near her new house. Lady Clifford is a young lady in 1670 whom just arrived to the New World from England. She’s misunderstood and suffers a great loss to her heart. She grieves the loss of her love and searches for a new family. And lastly, but certainly not least, Albertine is a 17-yr old in 1850 England, hoping to be reunited with her Father that travelled to the New World.
“‘Damsel in distress,’ she muttered, her mother’s favorite cuss. Regular cursing made some people look down on a person, but imaginative cursing made a person feel better and those around smile.”
“Do you want to live?”
“Go home…”
“You will die in the hollow. This will be your fate.”
I’m torn between liking this book and loving it. I rounded up to 4-stars to give it the benefit of the doubt. (I have to remind myself it is a young YA novel.) I enjoyed the storyline, the way Jordan Mierek weaved in the legend and merged the three main characters story is fascinating. The characters are likable, but could have been more developed. It is definitely plot driven, not character driven. However the plot is enough to keep your pages turing.
If you’re looking for a quick read, with history and local folklore, written with beautiful descriptions - this is a perfect read for you!
I received this book by the Author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity!
[b:Escape from Witchwood Hollow|23351890|Escape from Witchwood Hollow|Jordan Elizabeth Mierek|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1412946970s/23351890.jpg|42785759], by Jordan Elizabeth Mierek is an intriguing story that pulls you in from the beginning. I was captivated by all the twists and turns the story took – it keeps you guessing all the way to the end!
Escape from Witchwood Hallow is about three young women on a journey all their own. The story unfolds through the eyes of these young lady’s; Honoria a 15-yr old girl in present day (2001). Her Aunt, Uncle, and brother just moved from NYC to the small town, Arnn, in Upstate New York. She’s grieving the loss of her parents and intrigued by the local lore about the forest, Witchwood Hallow, near her new house. Lady Clifford is a young lady in 1670 whom just arrived to the New World from England. She’s misunderstood and suffers a great loss to her heart. She grieves the loss of her love and searches for a new family. And lastly, but certainly not least, Albertine is a 17-yr old in 1850 England, hoping to be reunited with her Father that travelled to the New World.
“‘Damsel in distress,’ she muttered, her mother’s favorite cuss. Regular cursing made some people look down on a person, but imaginative cursing made a person feel better and those around smile.”
“Do you want to live?”
“Go home…”
“You will die in the hollow. This will be your fate.”
I’m torn between liking this book and loving it. I rounded up to 4-stars to give it the benefit of the doubt. (I have to remind myself it is a young YA novel.) I enjoyed the storyline, the way Jordan Mierek weaved in the legend and merged the three main characters story is fascinating. The characters are likable, but could have been more developed. It is definitely plot driven, not character driven. However the plot is enough to keep your pages turing.
If you’re looking for a quick read, with history and local folklore, written with beautiful descriptions - this is a perfect read for you!
pizzamyheart's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
When I first read the summary I was wary. Based on that summary this sounded like a typical YA book where a heroine called Honoria enters a magical realm to do something impossible. In this case it'd be to resurrect her parents, who died in the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. This was how I INTERPRETED the summary. It really didn't do the book justice at all.
Before I delve into the summary I need to make an aside. I already mentioned that Honoria lost her parents in the September 11th attacks. I was old enough to remember that day. I remember hearing the news, watching the feed, the sirens, the smoke, the planes, the silence.... It was a moment that shocked the American nation to its core. For that reason, I'm exceedingly wary of anyone who tries to turn the event into fiction. If you have those same fears as me, fear not. This book references the attack but doesn't try to undo it. It doesn't add its own fairy tale mumbo jumbo to the event. For the most part, it doesn't even mention the attacks. Not because it's not an important event, but because it's not the focus of the story.
The real story focuses around three women in three different time periods. Lady Elizabeth (1600s) is on the run from the townsfolk. The author quickly labels her as the witch from Witchwood Hollow. Albertine (1800s) live in England. She is summoned by her father to travel to America. There she will meet her future Husband. The only problem? They live next to Witchwood Hollow. Honoria (2001) moves next to Witchwood Hollow following the death of her parents.
Since the book is fairly short, I don't want to give away too much about each of the characters. I do want to highlight things I did and didn't like.
Highlights:
The story - Wasn't what I expected and felt original.
The length - It was perfect for a lazy summer day.
Descriptions of characters - The author didn't spend much time elaborating on the different character, yet they all showed different personalities in relatively few words.
Descriptions of the lands - This was a real treat. I could picture most of the novel. I always find that a real treat. At times I could even smell the scent of the autumn woods.
Low points:
Grammar - There were a number of typos and overall rough sentences that need to be ironed out.
Timeline - There is no way Honoria's Aunt and Uncle could have taken custody of Honoria and her brother, found a home far away, moved in, and started at a new school only 2 weeks after September 11th. Yes, they wanted to rush away from the city and the memories, but most forms of transportation and communications were shut down. First responders were still pulling bodies from the rubble weeks later. The earliest they could have moved was late October. A more realistic timeline would have been Spring 2002, or fall 2002.
September 11th attacks - Granted, most people would not have talked about the attacks around Honoria, but there was no mention at all about the terrorists, the planes, going to war, etc. This attack changed America. Some minor character should have referenced it.
Honoria's brother - Seemed absolutely indifferent to his parent's deaths. Perhaps this is his way of coping, but a little insight into that emotion would have been nice. maybe it was briefly referenced, but his chipper attitude and indifferent attitude is what stuck out the most in my mind. For someone who just lost his parents in an unthinkable way, he seems to be doing just fine.
The ghost at the inn - Later we get information of who this ghost is and why they might be there, but this chapter/storyline was incredibly underdeveloped. If people could see him, then why not elaborate that more? It felt out of place to begin with, so I'd recommend scrapping that plot line for another story, but it just felt out of place.
Summary - Didn't do the story justice. It completely missed the point of the novel.
The ending - WHY!? I don't want to include spoilers here.... but it was unnecessary. Most of the novel focused on finding a way to survive. Honoria must survive her parent's deaths, Elizabeth must learn to survive on her own, Mary Anne must survive without her sister, Albertine must survive a trip into the unkown and find her way out in an unknown country, Leon must survive something to do with his father and something else. The story claims to be about Witchwood Hollow, but really it's about the Hollow and the surrounding town being the keys to helping the characters survive the troubles the characters face in their lives. Some characters endings were good, but for others... the ending completely undid the point of the story.
Long story short:
I enjoyed this story. It wasn't the best book I've read, but it wasn't the worst either. There were many original ideas which is hard to find these days. I found it to be a quick read and once I started, I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the premise of the woods and the variety of the characters. I was eager to read more about them. There were some hiccups in the storyline, and some rough points, but overall I enjoyed it. I feel the author has potential and I'm interested to read more from her.
When I first read the summary I was wary. Based on that summary this sounded like a typical YA book where a heroine called Honoria enters a magical realm to do something impossible. In this case it'd be to resurrect her parents, who died in the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. This was how I INTERPRETED the summary. It really didn't do the book justice at all.
Before I delve into the summary I need to make an aside. I already mentioned that Honoria lost her parents in the September 11th attacks. I was old enough to remember that day. I remember hearing the news, watching the feed, the sirens, the smoke, the planes, the silence.... It was a moment that shocked the American nation to its core. For that reason, I'm exceedingly wary of anyone who tries to turn the event into fiction. If you have those same fears as me, fear not. This book references the attack but doesn't try to undo it. It doesn't add its own fairy tale mumbo jumbo to the event. For the most part, it doesn't even mention the attacks. Not because it's not an important event, but because it's not the focus of the story.
The real story focuses around three women in three different time periods. Lady Elizabeth (1600s) is on the run from the townsfolk. The author quickly labels her as the witch from Witchwood Hollow. Albertine (1800s) live in England. She is summoned by her father to travel to America. There she will meet her future Husband. The only problem? They live next to Witchwood Hollow. Honoria (2001) moves next to Witchwood Hollow following the death of her parents.
Since the book is fairly short, I don't want to give away too much about each of the characters. I do want to highlight things I did and didn't like.
Highlights:
The story - Wasn't what I expected and felt original.
The length - It was perfect for a lazy summer day.
Descriptions of characters - The author didn't spend much time elaborating on the different character, yet they all showed different personalities in relatively few words.
Descriptions of the lands - This was a real treat. I could picture most of the novel. I always find that a real treat. At times I could even smell the scent of the autumn woods.
Low points:
Grammar - There were a number of typos and overall rough sentences that need to be ironed out.
Timeline - There is no way Honoria's Aunt and Uncle could have taken custody of Honoria and her brother, found a home far away, moved in, and started at a new school only 2 weeks after September 11th. Yes, they wanted to rush away from the city and the memories, but most forms of transportation and communications were shut down. First responders were still pulling bodies from the rubble weeks later. The earliest they could have moved was late October. A more realistic timeline would have been Spring 2002, or fall 2002.
September 11th attacks - Granted, most people would not have talked about the attacks around Honoria, but there was no mention at all about the terrorists, the planes, going to war, etc. This attack changed America. Some minor character should have referenced it.
Honoria's brother - Seemed absolutely indifferent to his parent's deaths. Perhaps this is his way of coping, but a little insight into that emotion would have been nice. maybe it was briefly referenced, but his chipper attitude and indifferent attitude is what stuck out the most in my mind. For someone who just lost his parents in an unthinkable way, he seems to be doing just fine.
The ghost at the inn - Later we get information of who this ghost is and why they might be there, but this chapter/storyline was incredibly underdeveloped. If people could see him, then why not elaborate that more? It felt out of place to begin with, so I'd recommend scrapping that plot line for another story, but it just felt out of place.
Summary - Didn't do the story justice. It completely missed the point of the novel.
The ending - WHY!? I don't want to include spoilers here.... but it was unnecessary. Most of the novel focused on finding a way to survive. Honoria must survive her parent's deaths, Elizabeth must learn to survive on her own, Mary Anne must survive without her sister, Albertine must survive a trip into the unkown and find her way out in an unknown country, Leon must survive something to do with his father and something else. The story claims to be about Witchwood Hollow, but really it's about the Hollow and the surrounding town being the keys to helping the characters survive the troubles the characters face in their lives. Some characters endings were good, but for others... the ending completely undid the point of the story.
Long story short:
I enjoyed this story. It wasn't the best book I've read, but it wasn't the worst either. There were many original ideas which is hard to find these days. I found it to be a quick read and once I started, I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the premise of the woods and the variety of the characters. I was eager to read more about them. There were some hiccups in the storyline, and some rough points, but overall I enjoyed it. I feel the author has potential and I'm interested to read more from her.
terminalfin's review against another edition
5.0
This is the third Jordan Elizabeth novel I've completed over the past two weeks. Not a bad way to wrap up two very long trips to and from the area of our upcoming new home (15-hour drive each way).
This story came highly recommended by my wife as one of her favorite Jordan Elizabeth stories. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. I love the scene-setting that takes place in this book as the time periods shift between various centuries. The way things were wrapped up near the end with the converging timelines was awesome and is a skill I highly respect in an author. Managing these timelines in an effective and seamless manner is a trait that takes talent to ensure loose ends are cleaned up.
Honoria and the other characters throughout the timelines felt real with emotions, reactions, and attributes I could relate to, or see in others, quite easily. Amanda did a phenomenal job with the narration and had the right amount of emotion, inflection, and tone throughout the entire story.
Very well done and highly recommended. 5/5
This story came highly recommended by my wife as one of her favorite Jordan Elizabeth stories. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. I love the scene-setting that takes place in this book as the time periods shift between various centuries. The way things were wrapped up near the end with the converging timelines was awesome and is a skill I highly respect in an author. Managing these timelines in an effective and seamless manner is a trait that takes talent to ensure loose ends are cleaned up.
Honoria and the other characters throughout the timelines felt real with emotions, reactions, and attributes I could relate to, or see in others, quite easily. Amanda did a phenomenal job with the narration and had the right amount of emotion, inflection, and tone throughout the entire story.
Very well done and highly recommended. 5/5
amethystbookwyrm's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to Jordan Elizabeth Mierek for giving me this book to review.
After losing her parents in the Twin Towers terrorist attacks, Honoria along with her brother, aunt and uncle move from New York City to the small farming of Arnn. But Arnn has a legend about Witchwood Hollow, where if you venture into the mysterious forest the witch will trap your soul there forever. As Honoria discovers more about Witchwood Hollow and the people who have gone missing in it will she be able to discover the truth?
Escape from Witchwood Hollow is a good paranormal book but it is not a happy one which it is not surprising as the story deals with the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It is fast paced, a hint of romance and has three different POV from three different times. It had twists and was a well written and thought through story.
Honoria is obviously depressed and misses her parents and old life, but she is also smart and really relatable. Albertine is protective, resilient and devoted to her family especially her sister. Lady Clifford is lonely and I felt sorry for her and understood her motives, even if I did not agree with her decisions. The one character which seemed really underdeveloped was Honoria’s brother, Geoffrey, as he did not seem to be affected by his parent’s death.
I did not see or expect the ending and I look forward to reading more by this author. I would recommend Escape from Witchwood Hollow to fans of YA paranormal novels.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
After losing her parents in the Twin Towers terrorist attacks, Honoria along with her brother, aunt and uncle move from New York City to the small farming of Arnn. But Arnn has a legend about Witchwood Hollow, where if you venture into the mysterious forest the witch will trap your soul there forever. As Honoria discovers more about Witchwood Hollow and the people who have gone missing in it will she be able to discover the truth?
Escape from Witchwood Hollow is a good paranormal book but it is not a happy one which it is not surprising as the story deals with the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It is fast paced, a hint of romance and has three different POV from three different times. It had twists and was a well written and thought through story.
Honoria is obviously depressed and misses her parents and old life, but she is also smart and really relatable. Albertine is protective, resilient and devoted to her family especially her sister. Lady Clifford is lonely and I felt sorry for her and understood her motives, even if I did not agree with her decisions. The one character which seemed really underdeveloped was Honoria’s brother, Geoffrey, as he did not seem to be affected by his parent’s death.
I did not see or expect the ending and I look forward to reading more by this author. I would recommend Escape from Witchwood Hollow to fans of YA paranormal novels.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
scearceka's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It's a great little story from beginning to end, and it was really fun seeing how everything went from time period to time period. I liked having all the different characters as that really kept me invested in the story.
I received an e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I received an e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
nickmasters's review against another edition
3.0
First with the good, I must admit I enjoyed the intricate timeline, how the timelines started off independently, progressed at different paces, and merged together at the end, with the inclusion of some clever little additional connections. To be honest I have never enjoyed the classic ghost centric stories, but their involvement in this book were very enjoyable. All in all it was a great story.
Some negatives though. There were some really simple editing oversights (grammar, spelling, continuity) that should not be there. Additionally the writing style seemed a bit closer to the Y end of YA. To be fair I had just read Game of Thrones and a few Psychological Thrillers and so the timing was probably not the greatest. I also couldn't gauge the age of any of the characters, they all seemed a little too childish to be honest. Albertine was definitely the most convincing character to take in.
Some negatives though. There were some really simple editing oversights (grammar, spelling, continuity) that should not be there. Additionally the writing style seemed a bit closer to the Y end of YA. To be fair I had just read Game of Thrones and a few Psychological Thrillers and so the timing was probably not the greatest. I also couldn't gauge the age of any of the characters, they all seemed a little too childish to be honest. Albertine was definitely the most convincing character to take in.
carladionisio's review against another edition
3.0
Opinião em português no blog Pepita Mágica: http://pepitamagica.blogspot.pt/2016/05/livro-escape-from-witchwood-hollow-de.html
I received this eARC directly from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Escape from Witchwood Hollow was sent to me not by the author, but by someone in her behalf so I would read it and write an honest review. And thank goodness, because otherwise I would not know the existence of this book.
This book has an interesting composition, because we follow the story of three different girls from different periods in time (1600’s, 1800’s and 2000’s), and they are all connected. It’s well written and well organized, we are never lost in the plot, but I felt it could be better. At the end of the book, it didn’t hook me to its words; I didn’t feel anything. And to be honest, I would love to read more about the witch, to know her better, because I think we never fully understand her and we don’t know much about her past and life story besides a few details.
I didn’t like Honoria. Well, I didn’t dislike her either, but I couldn’t connect to her. I can’t say why, but just didn’t; it was something that I felt, or didn’t feel to be more accurate. We have a bunch of characters, but I think none them is more than just a few details we read about them. They are not deep. And that’s pretty much what I felt about the book. I finished it at the beginning of the month and I can’t say much about it, because it didn’t stay with me.
I enjoyed it while reading, it was pleasant and well written, but it’s not a book that stays with us.
I received this eARC directly from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Escape from Witchwood Hollow was sent to me not by the author, but by someone in her behalf so I would read it and write an honest review. And thank goodness, because otherwise I would not know the existence of this book.
This book has an interesting composition, because we follow the story of three different girls from different periods in time (1600’s, 1800’s and 2000’s), and they are all connected. It’s well written and well organized, we are never lost in the plot, but I felt it could be better. At the end of the book, it didn’t hook me to its words; I didn’t feel anything. And to be honest, I would love to read more about the witch, to know her better, because I think we never fully understand her and we don’t know much about her past and life story besides a few details.
I didn’t like Honoria. Well, I didn’t dislike her either, but I couldn’t connect to her. I can’t say why, but just didn’t; it was something that I felt, or didn’t feel to be more accurate. We have a bunch of characters, but I think none them is more than just a few details we read about them. They are not deep. And that’s pretty much what I felt about the book. I finished it at the beginning of the month and I can’t say much about it, because it didn’t stay with me.
I enjoyed it while reading, it was pleasant and well written, but it’s not a book that stays with us.
100pagesaday's review against another edition
4.0
Lady Elizabeth Clifford is on the run in the newly settled area of Arnn, New York in 1670. She is accused of murder and has taken off into the thick woods. Her attackers have lost her, and are calling her a witch. So, Lady Clifford decides to settle into her patch of woods and become exactly what they called her. As time passes and Arnn becomes more settled, several people wonder into Witchwood and never return making Witchwood Hollow fully steeped in folklore. In 2001 15 year old Honoria, her brother and aunt and uncle move to Arnn in order to escape the City and the tragedy of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that killed her parents. Honoria is drawn into the woods by some friends at her school; she makes it through and is continually drawn back by a feeling in the woods- something in Witchwood Hollow might be able to bring her parents back and Honoria would be willing to do it.
This young adult paranormal/ historical crossover drew me in from the beginning with the legend of Witchwood Hollow. The historical aspect and being able to learn about Lady Elizabeth Clifford and her motivations made this very interesting for me, although I am also a huge sucker for dual-time stories. Honoria's character was intriguing to watch as she learned about the Witchwood,, I was unsure if she was going to fall victim or be healed by it. From the historical end, the mystery of the Witchwood expanded as lost characters came together. This was a shorter read that I devoured in a shorter setting, but I think it would have still kept my interest if the lives of each of the lost characters was expanded upon. While the ending was very shocking, it was a little too serendipitous in some aspects . Although, I do appreciate the parallels between Honoria and Elizabeth. I do wish that I would have learned how the Witchwood reacted after everything.
This young adult paranormal/ historical crossover drew me in from the beginning with the legend of Witchwood Hollow. The historical aspect and being able to learn about Lady Elizabeth Clifford and her motivations made this very interesting for me, although I am also a huge sucker for dual-time stories. Honoria's character was intriguing to watch as she learned about the Witchwood,, I was unsure if she was going to fall victim or be healed by it. From the historical end, the mystery of the Witchwood expanded as lost characters came together. This was a shorter read that I devoured in a shorter setting, but I think it would have still kept my interest if the lives of each of the lost characters was expanded upon. While the ending was very shocking, it was a little too serendipitous in some aspects . Although, I do appreciate the parallels between Honoria and Elizabeth. I do wish that I would have learned how the Witchwood reacted after everything.
lauraew333's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to the author, Jordan Elizabeth Mierek, for gifting me with a copy of Escape From Witchwood Hollow in exchange for an honest review!
1. The plot. I really liked the idea of this story. It's so different in the fact that there isn't much focus on the actual witchcraft, it's more of what happens to the people that disappear and if it's real or not. I think the author did a splendid job of fitting that idea into a plotline. While it isn't really a rollercoaster ride, it has the mystery feel that kept me wanting more.
2. The characters and POV. The characters were adequate. While they weren't fully developed and complex, they certainly held down the plot and kept everything moving. I especially loved the different POV's from the different time periods so it was a little easier to understand what had happened over the years and how it impacted Honoria in the present day.
3. The ending. I have semi-mixed feelings about the ending. On one hand, I loved it so, so much because it brought together all of the threads perfectly. Elizabeth, Shane, Allison, Lynn, and Honoria's stories were brought together perfectly and there's such an amazing 'ah-hah' moment near the end that I so cherish in mystery books. However, I do think it was brought together a bit quickly and could have been infused with a bit more emotion.
4. The history/idea. I mentioned this a bit in the plot section but I wanted to emphasize how much I loved this idea. The history of the hollow is so intriguing and getting to put the pieces together was really fun for me. Just the idea of a mysterious place where people have disappeared and don't age is so cool and I loved how the author kept dropping little pieces of the puzzle.
The Final Verdict:
This book has such an intriguing concept and the execution is wonderful. However, the characters could have used a bit more emotional-attachment and the ending was slightly rushed.
4.5 stars
1. The plot. I really liked the idea of this story. It's so different in the fact that there isn't much focus on the actual witchcraft, it's more of what happens to the people that disappear and if it's real or not. I think the author did a splendid job of fitting that idea into a plotline. While it isn't really a rollercoaster ride, it has the mystery feel that kept me wanting more.
2. The characters and POV. The characters were adequate. While they weren't fully developed and complex, they certainly held down the plot and kept everything moving. I especially loved the different POV's from the different time periods so it was a little easier to understand what had happened over the years and how it impacted Honoria in the present day.
3. The ending. I have semi-mixed feelings about the ending. On one hand, I loved it so, so much because it brought together all of the threads perfectly. Elizabeth, Shane, Allison, Lynn, and Honoria's stories were brought together perfectly and there's such an amazing 'ah-hah' moment near the end that I so cherish in mystery books. However, I do think it was brought together a bit quickly and could have been infused with a bit more emotion.
4. The history/idea. I mentioned this a bit in the plot section but I wanted to emphasize how much I loved this idea. The history of the hollow is so intriguing and getting to put the pieces together was really fun for me. Just the idea of a mysterious place where people have disappeared and don't age is so cool and I loved how the author kept dropping little pieces of the puzzle.
The Final Verdict:
This book has such an intriguing concept and the execution is wonderful. However, the characters could have used a bit more emotional-attachment and the ending was slightly rushed.
4.5 stars