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colleens_conclusions's review against another edition
5.0
Summary: "Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…
Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.
Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.
Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.
Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.
But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself."
Now onto the review!
I bought this book about a month ago on my Kindle and I pretty much knew when I read the beginning that this would be epic. I had several books to read before I could get back to this book though and I finally finished all of my books I needed to finish last week.
But then this weekend I spent all weekend sighing because I was starting to be in a book rut again. I just couldn't find another book to start. I didn't know WHAT book to choose. I forgot about this lovely book until 8:00 Sunday night. I finished the WHOLE book in one day (between 8 p.m. Sunday and 8 p.m. Monday night when I finished it. It totally counts as reading in one day since it was a 24 hour period, especially since I worked and slept in between reading periods.)
I had no idea I would get sucked into this book, but maaaaaaaan. I got sucked in. I loved the praise comments that were in the beginning, especially the one that talked about reading this on a rainy night. Because I STARTED the book when it was dark, and rainy. And there was smoke swirling around in the rain too. (Ok, that was just from another building nearby.) Basically I couldn't have timed the reading setting for me perfectly. I think I even had a dream about the book the first night I tried falling asleep because I couldn't stop thinking about it. (The gif's in this post are from the Giphy site.)
This whole book is practically a reference to Hocus Pocus. There were definitely similarities/elements to that movie. But if you go into it knowing that it is different from it, you might be able to appreciate it more. That was how I went into it, and I definitely got into it. I could pretty much imagine the Swan sisters being portrayed as The Sanderson sisters almost perfectly. Aurora is definitely the blonde sister I think. (Sorry, the names are hazy with me today.)
The plot from the beginning was enchanting. I actually wanted more than just the romance and that is surprising for me because I usually don't mind romance at all. I didn't hate it at all, but I just wanted more chapters about the sisters instead of the romance part. I still liked Bo and Penny. (Not really a spoiler since it is pretty predictable right away where the story is going with them.)
I liked how the chapters were about the sisters every other chapter. The present chapters were good too. It was dark at times, but I knew it was suspenseful more than scary but that made it be fun.
Did anybody else see Bo as Max?
Poor Bo! His beliefs were like his and he got caught up in it a little as well.
During the middle of the book when they did THE MAJOR PLOT TWIST, I had to go back a chapter to realize what had happened. I feel like that part was just kind of stumbled into and I feel like there could have been a chapter or two between those. I still had a feeling that something like that was going to happen, but I thought that major plot twist was going to happen to a friend.
That ending was very interesting too. I didn't have any complaints since I did like Bo and Penny by that point.
I like how the ending was kind of like this:
And we also had another moment that was KIND OF like Hocus Pocus, but different at the same time.
This book was similar to Hocus Pocus, but I think it did a good job at making it stand out on it's own. I think it had it's own twists and turns that would make anybody appreciate a good story about witches. The line below pretty much explains that. (Highlighted from the Kindle ebook.)
I obviously loved this book because of the plot, the characters, the sisters, the Hocus Pocus similarities, and for a little bit of the romance but that was more of a secondary thing for me this time instead of the main thing. The history of the town was just eerie and perfect. It's a good read if you want something fun, something about sirens, etc. It really is a perfect book for Halloween time and I might read it again around then. It definitely is a five star read. Now I gotta go find the hardback book so I can add it to my shelves!
View all my reviews
Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.
Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.
Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.
Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.
But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself."
Now onto the review!
I bought this book about a month ago on my Kindle and I pretty much knew when I read the beginning that this would be epic. I had several books to read before I could get back to this book though and I finally finished all of my books I needed to finish last week.
But then this weekend I spent all weekend sighing because I was starting to be in a book rut again. I just couldn't find another book to start. I didn't know WHAT book to choose. I forgot about this lovely book until 8:00 Sunday night. I finished the WHOLE book in one day (between 8 p.m. Sunday and 8 p.m. Monday night when I finished it. It totally counts as reading in one day since it was a 24 hour period, especially since I worked and slept in between reading periods.)
I had no idea I would get sucked into this book, but maaaaaaaan. I got sucked in. I loved the praise comments that were in the beginning, especially the one that talked about reading this on a rainy night. Because I STARTED the book when it was dark, and rainy. And there was smoke swirling around in the rain too. (Ok, that was just from another building nearby.) Basically I couldn't have timed the reading setting for me perfectly. I think I even had a dream about the book the first night I tried falling asleep because I couldn't stop thinking about it. (The gif's in this post are from the Giphy site.)
This whole book is practically a reference to Hocus Pocus. There were definitely similarities/elements to that movie. But if you go into it knowing that it is different from it, you might be able to appreciate it more. That was how I went into it, and I definitely got into it. I could pretty much imagine the Swan sisters being portrayed as The Sanderson sisters almost perfectly. Aurora is definitely the blonde sister I think. (Sorry, the names are hazy with me today.)
The plot from the beginning was enchanting. I actually wanted more than just the romance and that is surprising for me because I usually don't mind romance at all. I didn't hate it at all, but I just wanted more chapters about the sisters instead of the romance part. I still liked Bo and Penny. (Not really a spoiler since it is pretty predictable right away where the story is going with them.)
I liked how the chapters were about the sisters every other chapter. The present chapters were good too. It was dark at times, but I knew it was suspenseful more than scary but that made it be fun.
Did anybody else see Bo as Max?
Poor Bo! His beliefs were like his and he got caught up in it a little as well.
During the middle of the book when they did THE MAJOR PLOT TWIST, I had to go back a chapter to realize what had happened. I feel like that part was just kind of stumbled into and I feel like there could have been a chapter or two between those. I still had a feeling that something like that was going to happen, but I thought that major plot twist was going to happen to a friend.
That ending was very interesting too. I didn't have any complaints since I did like Bo and Penny by that point.
I like how the ending was kind of like this:
And we also had another moment that was KIND OF like Hocus Pocus, but different at the same time.
This book was similar to Hocus Pocus, but I think it did a good job at making it stand out on it's own. I think it had it's own twists and turns that would make anybody appreciate a good story about witches. The line below pretty much explains that. (Highlighted from the Kindle ebook.)
I obviously loved this book because of the plot, the characters, the sisters, the Hocus Pocus similarities, and for a little bit of the romance but that was more of a secondary thing for me this time instead of the main thing. The history of the town was just eerie and perfect. It's a good read if you want something fun, something about sirens, etc. It really is a perfect book for Halloween time and I might read it again around then. It definitely is a five star read. Now I gotta go find the hardback book so I can add it to my shelves!
View all my reviews
cleoharper's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this so much! The plot twist came out of nowhere (literally) and it took me a couple chapters to figure out what was actually happening. I liked that it was a relatively simple story that Ernshaw added details to elaborate it into something magical. I liked the characters and found them easy to read and relate to, even after the twist. I cannot wait for this to be released so I can read it again!
ihateprozac's review against another edition
5.0
This book came to me at the exact right moment and ripped my damn heart out.
My heart really broke for the Swan sisters and every woman who has been persecuted for witchcraft throughout history. I went into this expecting spook and atmosphere, but it ended up being a surprisingly complex look at how women are blamed for the actions of men.
Don't get me wrong - it absolutely delivers on the spook and atmosphere too! This book takes place during the Summer but you feel like you've been swallowed up in the October mist pouring in off the ocean. I could practically smell the salty air, feel the sense of foreboding, and hear the Swan sisters' call. Sparrow feels like a very real place and the Swan sisters feel like a very real curse.
Ugh, this book was my exact brand of witchy perfection.
My heart really broke for the Swan sisters and every woman who has been persecuted for witchcraft throughout history. I went into this expecting spook and atmosphere, but it ended up being a surprisingly complex look at how women are blamed for the actions of men.
Don't get me wrong - it absolutely delivers on the spook and atmosphere too! This book takes place during the Summer but you feel like you've been swallowed up in the October mist pouring in off the ocean. I could practically smell the salty air, feel the sense of foreboding, and hear the Swan sisters' call. Sparrow feels like a very real place and the Swan sisters feel like a very real curse.
Ugh, this book was my exact brand of witchy perfection.
denlia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
markake123's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
christinabooktreasures's review against another edition
3.0
This was a very good story about how it is NEVER to late to change. I didn't realize that it was YA until about halfway through. Also I had thought it was about mermaids, but it is not. It is more about ghosts. Great story though.
mschrokosch's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It's a nice witchy slow-read. It's a supernatural murder mystery, but I wouldn't call it a thriller. I would call it a cozy read... except for all the murder. But i would say it's a nice fall/halloween read.