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rickus90's review against another edition
4.0
A good book. Full review over here https://rickusbookshelf.wordpress.com/2016/04/02/once-a-witch-by-carolyn-maccullough/
papalbina's review
3.0
3.5
not the best thing ever written, but quite entertaining. I've just missed more time between tamsin and gabriel, but well... there's another book... perhaps there :P
not the best thing ever written, but quite entertaining. I've just missed more time between tamsin and gabriel, but well... there's another book... perhaps there :P
blumenstadtkind's review against another edition
4.0
There is not really much I can say about this book.
It was a nice read and the story was interesting and catchy. It didn´t necessarily kept me glued to it´s pages but it hold my interest and was definitely entertaining.
Tamsin was a cute and witty little witch and even though she didn´t always knew what to do she seemed to be a strong female lead. And i liked that.
I loved her family! You had the wonderful lovely grandmother, the confused parents, the bitchy sister, the crazy aunts and uncles (alot of them actually) and they all have these amazing Talents. You nearly wish to be a part of that.
It was a nice read and the story was interesting and catchy. It didn´t necessarily kept me glued to it´s pages but it hold my interest and was definitely entertaining.
Tamsin was a cute and witty little witch and even though she didn´t always knew what to do she seemed to be a strong female lead. And i liked that.
I loved her family! You had the wonderful lovely grandmother, the confused parents, the bitchy sister, the crazy aunts and uncles (alot of them actually) and they all have these amazing Talents. You nearly wish to be a part of that.
kristid's review
3.0
Although Carolyn had a few novels under her belt already, Once a Witch was my first experience with her writing, and I’m looking forward to more.
Tamsin was a very relatable character. Feeling like you don’t quite fit in with your family or that you’ll never live up to their standards is something that I remember struggling with myself. I loved the dynamics of her family and how even though it was so huge everyone was close in their own ways. It was refreshing to read about a “normal” happy and loving family even if they were witches! Characterization was great, even with the secondary characters. I would have liked to seen the relationship between Gabriel and Tamsin a little more developed. I know they were supposed to have a history, but it still felt like there was something missing. Although, I did enjoy the comic relief that Gabriel provided.
The plot was interesting... um I mean, engaging. I don’t think I’ll ever say interesting again after reading this book! Anyway, the plot was engaging! A little mystery, a dash of romance, all rolled up into a ball of intrigue! Delivers one magical novel!
Overall, it was just fun . A feel good, can’t wait for the next one, kind of read.
Tamsin was a very relatable character. Feeling like you don’t quite fit in with your family or that you’ll never live up to their standards is something that I remember struggling with myself. I loved the dynamics of her family and how even though it was so huge everyone was close in their own ways. It was refreshing to read about a “normal” happy and loving family even if they were witches! Characterization was great, even with the secondary characters. I would have liked to seen the relationship between Gabriel and Tamsin a little more developed. I know they were supposed to have a history, but it still felt like there was something missing. Although, I did enjoy the comic relief that Gabriel provided.
The plot was interesting... um I mean, engaging. I don’t think I’ll ever say interesting again after reading this book! Anyway, the plot was engaging! A little mystery, a dash of romance, all rolled up into a ball of intrigue! Delivers one magical novel!
Overall, it was just fun . A feel good, can’t wait for the next one, kind of read.
kaitrosereads's review
5.0
Once A Witch is a fabulous urban fantasy novel and I am now dying to read more books like it. The sequel, Always A Witch, is very high on my wishlist now. =)
Tamsin Greene is the misfit of her family because she is the only witch without a Talent. Without a Talent she isn't really a witch but that doesn't stop her from wanting to be one. She is very easy to relate to because she just wants to fit in and belong. It probably would have helped if she wasn't so snarky and sarcastic though the book would not have been nearly as enjoyable. The rest of the characters are pretty fun but they definitely have their flaws. I loved Gabriel and Agatha. I absolutely hated Tamsin's sister, Rowena. If I was in Tamsin's place I would have slapped her multiple times.
The plot is very fast-paced. There is very little backstory before you are thrown into the story. I actually really liked that in this case because the backstory was interspersed throughout the book. There were also a few romantic scenes thrown in which I loved. They lightened the mood a bit.
Overall, Once AWitch is an awesome book that I definitely recommend. I will be reading the sequel very soon.
Tamsin Greene is the misfit of her family because she is the only witch without a Talent. Without a Talent she isn't really a witch but that doesn't stop her from wanting to be one. She is very easy to relate to because she just wants to fit in and belong. It probably would have helped if she wasn't so snarky and sarcastic though the book would not have been nearly as enjoyable. The rest of the characters are pretty fun but they definitely have their flaws. I loved Gabriel and Agatha. I absolutely hated Tamsin's sister, Rowena. If I was in Tamsin's place I would have slapped her multiple times.
The plot is very fast-paced. There is very little backstory before you are thrown into the story. I actually really liked that in this case because the backstory was interspersed throughout the book. There were also a few romantic scenes thrown in which I loved. They lightened the mood a bit.
Overall, Once AWitch is an awesome book that I definitely recommend. I will be reading the sequel very soon.
snarkywench's review
3.0
The premise of this novel grabbed me a few months back when it started popping up on everyone’s Waiting on Wednesday posts. The idea of coming from a successful witch family and not being bequeathed a Talent is a fact of life we can relate to whether is looking different, lacking a family ability or just being different. Of course this witch, Tamsin, who is initially established as a thoroughly “ordinary” (aka wears jeans and has a clumsy streak) isn’t powerless for long and it’s this development that disappointed me no end. A study of a family where one child is without the generational power could have been a complex and thought provoking read. Instead, we are handed the all too common power struggle between two warring supernatural families where our protagonist has the power to affect who wins.
More concerning is Tamsin’s power once it manifests or should I say re-surfaces. It’s remarkably like Bella’s “shield” in the Twilight series, with elements of Peter’s power acquisitions (Heroes). It’s simply been done before, and recently. The areas of the plot that are more involving, that of the family interactions and the notion of the Keeper, aren’t explored in enough to outweigh the two dimensional aspects. Any element of the novel that involved the family was stronger for it. Although anytime time travel is brought into a story there are numerous issues – time travel quite often is an author or screenwriter’s worst enemy. Clarity is lost and while meeting one’s relatives is excited there are questions that are bond to arise.
The romance is one of those where the guy (Gabriel) has loved her since they were children. He’s come back after a decade away and immediately starts with some pouting, innuendo and then finally romancing Tamsin. The development of this relationship was far too automatic to allow the reader to have a stake in it other than knowing that Gabriel is aesthetically pleasing. It’s fun filler.
No doubt the critical nature of this review implies that this novel isn’t good. It’s not the case, it was a fun read with good use of conflict and family melodrama. You can’t help but wonder if another hundred pages would have allowed the author to flesh out all the characters so that the reader’s attachment could be more than superficial. MacCullough has a great voice for YA and some great snappy dialogue; it’s just that Once A Witch could have been so much more.
More concerning is Tamsin’s power once it manifests or should I say re-surfaces. It’s remarkably like Bella’s “shield” in the Twilight series, with elements of Peter’s power acquisitions (Heroes). It’s simply been done before, and recently. The areas of the plot that are more involving, that of the family interactions and the notion of the Keeper, aren’t explored in enough to outweigh the two dimensional aspects. Any element of the novel that involved the family was stronger for it. Although anytime time travel is brought into a story there are numerous issues – time travel quite often is an author or screenwriter’s worst enemy. Clarity is lost and while meeting one’s relatives is excited there are questions that are bond to arise.
The romance is one of those where the guy (Gabriel) has loved her since they were children. He’s come back after a decade away and immediately starts with some pouting, innuendo and then finally romancing Tamsin. The development of this relationship was far too automatic to allow the reader to have a stake in it other than knowing that Gabriel is aesthetically pleasing. It’s fun filler.
No doubt the critical nature of this review implies that this novel isn’t good. It’s not the case, it was a fun read with good use of conflict and family melodrama. You can’t help but wonder if another hundred pages would have allowed the author to flesh out all the characters so that the reader’s attachment could be more than superficial. MacCullough has a great voice for YA and some great snappy dialogue; it’s just that Once A Witch could have been so much more.