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lamb4678's review against another edition
5.0
It took a little while to catch my attention...but once it did I was hooked!! I cannot wait to find out what happens next!
rusticreadingal's review
5.0
This book blew me away. It is beautifully written with intriguing storylines and wonderful, fully developed characters. I didn't want it to end and I can't wait for the next one! I highly recommend!
christajls's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted at Hooked on Books
This book is one of the best books I've read about witches in a looooonnnnnggg time.
Honestly, the last few witch books I've read have been cheesy, and overdone. They all felt the same. Born Wicked goes in a completely different direction. First of all, it had an amazing and beautiful setting. Jessica Spotswood creates a magical world. This world looks very much like Victorian England but Jessica takes it one step further and builds an entire brand new world. This world is haunting (the Brotherhood gave me chills), its mysterious. It's well thought out and incredibly detailed. I felt myself getting entirely wrapped up in the world and I can't wait to read the rest of this series so I can fall back in.
Another reason you'll fall in love with this book is Finn Belastra. The well read, funny charming gardener?! Was I not supposed to fall (and fall hard) for him? The romance in Born Wicked was beautiful and heart wrenching. I will definitely be rooting for Finn no matter what!
Now speaking of romance...I just have to comment of the presence of lesbian witches. I have to admit this one surprised me a little bit. They seemed to come out of no where, and it wasn't what I expected but for Born Wicked is was kind of a neat idea.
I loved this book. It enchanted me and it wrapped me up in its historical setting. The characters are well formed and easy to connect to. It's definitely the start of an amazing series and after an incredible surprise ending I need the next one now!
This book is one of the best books I've read about witches in a looooonnnnnggg time.
Honestly, the last few witch books I've read have been cheesy, and overdone. They all felt the same. Born Wicked goes in a completely different direction. First of all, it had an amazing and beautiful setting. Jessica Spotswood creates a magical world. This world looks very much like Victorian England but Jessica takes it one step further and builds an entire brand new world. This world is haunting (the Brotherhood gave me chills), its mysterious. It's well thought out and incredibly detailed. I felt myself getting entirely wrapped up in the world and I can't wait to read the rest of this series so I can fall back in.
Another reason you'll fall in love with this book is Finn Belastra. The well read, funny charming gardener?! Was I not supposed to fall (and fall hard) for him? The romance in Born Wicked was beautiful and heart wrenching. I will definitely be rooting for Finn no matter what!
Now speaking of romance...I just have to comment of the presence of lesbian witches. I have to admit this one surprised me a little bit. They seemed to come out of no where, and it wasn't what I expected but for Born Wicked is was kind of a neat idea.
I loved this book. It enchanted me and it wrapped me up in its historical setting. The characters are well formed and easy to connect to. It's definitely the start of an amazing series and after an incredible surprise ending I need the next one now!
leahka89's review against another edition
5.0
Full review and others posted at Bunblebee Book blog!
I fell in love immediately with Cate and her sisters. Cats is the oldest and the responsible one who has had to give up her own dreams in order to protect her sisters. Maura, the middle child, is wild as her red hair. She loves to lose herself in romance novels and wants nothing more than to get out of their stifling little town. Tess is the youngest and the scholar. She loves cooking and is fluent in three languages. All three sisters are witches and must hide their powers from the Brotherhood who runs the town. The girls’ mother died when they were young and her dying wish was for Cate to protect the younger two and to keep their magic a secret. Not even their father knows they are witches.
This is my absolute favorite era to read about (late 1800s) because of the fascinating societal rules and the interesting dresses. Witches are also one of my favorite subjects, so this book was written for me.
All of the characters are wonderful. We mostly get to know Cate, but I have a feeling in the other books in the series we will have a chance to learn more about the other two. I really felt so bad for Cate and how she has had to give up so much to protect her sisters. They resent her for mothering them, but she has done everything in her power (literally and figuratively) to protect them. Now that Cate is coming of age, she has to make a decision to either get married or join the Sisterhood. Her choice seems somewhat clear at first, but as the book goes on and we learn more about each character and all of their secrets, it isn’t as easy as Cate anticipated.
The love triangle in the book is sweet. Cate loves her childhood best friend, Paul, but can she see herself moving away with him and leaving her sisters? Then there is Finn, her unexpected ally who gives her everything she didn’t know she needed. I’m very much Team Finn. He is so sweet and charming. Paul seems like an all right guy, but I feel like their relationship has no spark or desire.
I was captivated and finished the book quickly. The ending broke my heart! Here I was being silly and thinking that Cate had come to a good resolution and BAM things get thrown for a loop. Now here I am desperately trying to find the second book at a local store because I CANNOT wait two business days for it to ship here. Luckily my library has it in stock. I will be there when the doors open to check it out.
I can’t say enough good things about this book. If you are a fan of witches and books about magic, you need to check this out. I’m so excited to see where to series goes.
I fell in love immediately with Cate and her sisters. Cats is the oldest and the responsible one who has had to give up her own dreams in order to protect her sisters. Maura, the middle child, is wild as her red hair. She loves to lose herself in romance novels and wants nothing more than to get out of their stifling little town. Tess is the youngest and the scholar. She loves cooking and is fluent in three languages. All three sisters are witches and must hide their powers from the Brotherhood who runs the town. The girls’ mother died when they were young and her dying wish was for Cate to protect the younger two and to keep their magic a secret. Not even their father knows they are witches.
This is my absolute favorite era to read about (late 1800s) because of the fascinating societal rules and the interesting dresses. Witches are also one of my favorite subjects, so this book was written for me.
All of the characters are wonderful. We mostly get to know Cate, but I have a feeling in the other books in the series we will have a chance to learn more about the other two. I really felt so bad for Cate and how she has had to give up so much to protect her sisters. They resent her for mothering them, but she has done everything in her power (literally and figuratively) to protect them. Now that Cate is coming of age, she has to make a decision to either get married or join the Sisterhood. Her choice seems somewhat clear at first, but as the book goes on and we learn more about each character and all of their secrets, it isn’t as easy as Cate anticipated.
The love triangle in the book is sweet. Cate loves her childhood best friend, Paul, but can she see herself moving away with him and leaving her sisters? Then there is Finn, her unexpected ally who gives her everything she didn’t know she needed. I’m very much Team Finn. He is so sweet and charming. Paul seems like an all right guy, but I feel like their relationship has no spark or desire.
I was captivated and finished the book quickly. The ending broke my heart! Here I was being silly and thinking that Cate had come to a good resolution and BAM things get thrown for a loop. Now here I am desperately trying to find the second book at a local store because I CANNOT wait two business days for it to ship here. Luckily my library has it in stock. I will be there when the doors open to check it out.
I can’t say enough good things about this book. If you are a fan of witches and books about magic, you need to check this out. I’m so excited to see where to series goes.
postitsandpens's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 of 5 stars.
Born Wicked tells the story of an alternative nineteenth-century US where witches once ruled but were overthrown by the Brotherhood, who believe that witches are wicked and should be punished and eradicated. Cate Cahill is the eldest of three sisters, all of whom are witches. This makes them the focus of a prophecy which states that one of the three will be the most powerful witch in the world, who will either bring the witches back to power or drop them into another dark age.
With a story and setting like that, I was hard-pressed to resist this book, and immediately suggested it as a purchase for my local library, so I could read it. I was expecting danger and magic and witchery and exciting happenings. But that's not exactly what this book provided. The truth is that this book focuses on Cate, who is determined to keep her sisters safe, per a promise she made her dying mother (who failed to prepare Cate for anything to do with the prophecy). Cate is a bit of a difficult character to like at first: she believes the Brotherhood that witchery is wicked, and that therefore she, too, is wicked. Her constant "but wicked girls don't deserve x" or "but I'm wicked, so deserve whatever I'm getting" mindset at the start of this story was maddening, and I wanted to reach through the pages and shake her. But she grew on me as the story progressed, particularly once she falls in love with Finn. I also absolutely loved her relationship with her sisters, particularly the youngest sister, Tess.
Knowing that this book is the first in a planned trilogy, I wasn't expecting things to be fully resolved. But I was not expecting very little to actually happen. Cate and her sisters get a new governess, Elena, and Cate spends most of the book from that point on being distrustful of her, jealous of her sister Maura's friendship with her, and generally being disagreeable where Elena is concerned. These feelings are not entirely unwarranted, mind you, but when the majority of this book - which I'd thought would be dealing with magic and witches - is instead taken up with feelings of distrust and the back and forth of "can I trust her", it starts to get really tedious. There is also absolutely NO forward movement with the actual prophecy; we are just as in the dark about this at the end of the book as we were at the start.
What saved this book for me - and accounts for much of this rating - is the romance between Cate and Finn. I found Finn to be utterly charming, and absolutely loved watching their relationship progress. I do want to mention that there is a second guy in this book, Paul, who is Cate's childhood friend (and the guy everyone thinks she'll marry), and there are some love-triangle-ish things happening, but it's pretty clear whom Cate has the deeper feelings for and which way she's going to go in that respect. That being said, the ending kind of broke my heart. I get why it happened; as I said, it's the first book in a trilogy and there's so much to do with the prophecy left to sort out, so it's too soon for happily-ever-afters. But I still wasn't quite expecting that particular ending, and am worried about how things are going to be resolved to my satisfaction (as if I'm the only one who matters, of course).
This book is definitely not what I'd call "action-packed": there's a lot of going to teas, visiting bookshops, and weeding in gardens, but not so much in the way of magic. This had a very "historical fiction" feel to it with just little dabs of paranormal. But the romance, for me, was good enough to pull me through the book, and make me eager for the second installment. All in all, Born Wicked is a decent start to a new series, and I look forward to seeing what's going to happen next.
Born Wicked tells the story of an alternative nineteenth-century US where witches once ruled but were overthrown by the Brotherhood, who believe that witches are wicked and should be punished and eradicated. Cate Cahill is the eldest of three sisters, all of whom are witches. This makes them the focus of a prophecy which states that one of the three will be the most powerful witch in the world, who will either bring the witches back to power or drop them into another dark age.
With a story and setting like that, I was hard-pressed to resist this book, and immediately suggested it as a purchase for my local library, so I could read it. I was expecting danger and magic and witchery and exciting happenings. But that's not exactly what this book provided. The truth is that this book focuses on Cate, who is determined to keep her sisters safe, per a promise she made her dying mother (who failed to prepare Cate for anything to do with the prophecy). Cate is a bit of a difficult character to like at first: she believes the Brotherhood that witchery is wicked, and that therefore she, too, is wicked. Her constant "but wicked girls don't deserve x" or "but I'm wicked, so deserve whatever I'm getting" mindset at the start of this story was maddening, and I wanted to reach through the pages and shake her. But she grew on me as the story progressed, particularly once she falls in love with Finn. I also absolutely loved her relationship with her sisters, particularly the youngest sister, Tess.
Knowing that this book is the first in a planned trilogy, I wasn't expecting things to be fully resolved. But I was not expecting very little to actually happen. Cate and her sisters get a new governess, Elena, and Cate spends most of the book from that point on being distrustful of her, jealous of her sister Maura's friendship with her, and generally being disagreeable where Elena is concerned. These feelings are not entirely unwarranted, mind you, but when the majority of this book - which I'd thought would be dealing with magic and witches - is instead taken up with feelings of distrust and the back and forth of "can I trust her", it starts to get really tedious. There is also absolutely NO forward movement with the actual prophecy; we are just as in the dark about this at the end of the book as we were at the start.
What saved this book for me - and accounts for much of this rating - is the romance between Cate and Finn. I found Finn to be utterly charming, and absolutely loved watching their relationship progress. I do want to mention that there is a second guy in this book, Paul, who is Cate's childhood friend (and the guy everyone thinks she'll marry), and there are some love-triangle-ish things happening, but it's pretty clear whom Cate has the deeper feelings for and which way she's going to go in that respect. That being said, the ending kind of broke my heart. I get why it happened; as I said, it's the first book in a trilogy and there's so much to do with the prophecy left to sort out, so it's too soon for happily-ever-afters. But I still wasn't quite expecting that particular ending, and am worried about how things are going to be resolved to my satisfaction (as if I'm the only one who matters, of course).
This book is definitely not what I'd call "action-packed": there's a lot of going to teas, visiting bookshops, and weeding in gardens, but not so much in the way of magic. This had a very "historical fiction" feel to it with just little dabs of paranormal. But the romance, for me, was good enough to pull me through the book, and make me eager for the second installment. All in all, Born Wicked is a decent start to a new series, and I look forward to seeing what's going to happen next.
situationnormal's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
My feelings were mostly mehhhh. I want to know what happens next, but I guessed most of the twists and turns along the way. Also the love triangle was annoying and unnecessary.
My feelings were mostly mehhhh. I want to know what happens next, but I guessed most of the twists and turns along the way. Also the love triangle was annoying and unnecessary.
samanthamiecz's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked where the plot was going and the setting and the authors take on witches , but I kinda felt that this book was more setting up for the other books in the series at times though. The love triangle got to be a bit annoying at times too. Despite all of that the rest of the book was absolutely fantastic and the characters are so great ohmygod
harridansstew's review against another edition
3.0
Very YAish, but good tale. Wanted more back story...
bookishvice's review
4.0
Once, a long time ago, witches ruled, but those days are long gone. The Brothers' eradicated the witches and now keep a tight leash on all the women. If a woman is accused to witchery she is arrested, and shipped off to Harwood, an institution meant to cure them of their deviant ways. This is Cate's world, and when her mother died she had to grow up fast so she could take care of her sisters, Maura and Tess. She needed to teach them and protect them from the Brothers, because the Cahill women are all witches.
Paul McLeod is Cate's oldest friend. He's been away for a while, and now that he's come back all grown up and handsome, he intends to marry Cate. She has no problem with this, what could be better than marry someone she's known all her life? But he wants them to live in the city, and she can't afford to leave her sisters now. Not only that, but now that she's gotten to know Finn Belastra, the bookseller turned gardener, Cate can't stop thinking about him and his freckles!
Born Wicked is a delightful tale of knowing what you really want, going for it, and making sacrifices for the sake of others. Cate was a wonderful character to read. She's a bit of a control freak, but with good reason since she's trying to keep her sisters safe from the Brothers. She has no choice but to be the parent, the "bad guy," the one who "doesn't have fun." And I think that's why Finn is so perfect for her. He just lets her be free, be who she really is. The girl who likes to climb trees, and get dirty while gardening. I don't know if Paul would have let her be that free, though he seems to like her well enough and they've been friends forever.
I can't get into the story without giving away some major things, but I will tell you this…it will keep you reading all night long! As the story unfolds there are more and more twists and surprises on every chapter. Born Wicked ends with a rather disagreeable ending where Cate has given up her freedom, her happiness to save everyone she loves, and there is no hope on the horizon. But this is just the first book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles, and boy is it a great start! I can't wait what's next in store for Cate and her sisters!
Paul McLeod is Cate's oldest friend. He's been away for a while, and now that he's come back all grown up and handsome, he intends to marry Cate. She has no problem with this, what could be better than marry someone she's known all her life? But he wants them to live in the city, and she can't afford to leave her sisters now. Not only that, but now that she's gotten to know Finn Belastra, the bookseller turned gardener, Cate can't stop thinking about him and his freckles!
Born Wicked is a delightful tale of knowing what you really want, going for it, and making sacrifices for the sake of others. Cate was a wonderful character to read. She's a bit of a control freak, but with good reason since she's trying to keep her sisters safe from the Brothers. She has no choice but to be the parent, the "bad guy," the one who "doesn't have fun." And I think that's why Finn is so perfect for her. He just lets her be free, be who she really is. The girl who likes to climb trees, and get dirty while gardening. I don't know if Paul would have let her be that free, though he seems to like her well enough and they've been friends forever.
I can't get into the story without giving away some major things, but I will tell you this…it will keep you reading all night long! As the story unfolds there are more and more twists and surprises on every chapter. Born Wicked ends with a rather disagreeable ending where Cate has given up her freedom, her happiness to save everyone she loves, and there is no hope on the horizon. But this is just the first book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles, and boy is it a great start! I can't wait what's next in store for Cate and her sisters!
katharinem's review against another edition
2.0
This was a pretty good read. I'm intrigued and interested to know what happens moving forward, but not like dying to find out. If my current reading list wasn't already so long, I'd probably pick up the next 2. I spent a good portion of the book just wishing Cate would put on her big girl panties and deal with things. I know the author had to set everything up, but I felt that could have been done in fewer chapters. Again, I liked it! Just not as much as I had hoped I might...