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sarahp85's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 more than 4 stars
Okay, so this book... from the start I just KNEW I would like it. Witches, a sort of boarding school, cute mysterious guys... book written just for me so it seems.
I wanted to give it 3 stars because I did think it was a bit predictable (which I didn't mind, still really enjoyed it) but then the ending made me raise it with (half) a star!!!
Like....hello?? Are we getting a second part cause...
Okay, so this book... from the start I just KNEW I would like it. Witches, a sort of boarding school, cute mysterious guys... book written just for me so it seems.
I wanted to give it 3 stars because I did think it was a bit predictable (which I didn't mind, still really enjoyed it) but then the ending made me raise it with (half) a star!!!
Like....hello?? Are we getting a second part cause...
mylenedesbiens's review against another edition
4.0
Rest assured that you'll be in good company at Haxahaven, a school for witches disguised as a tuberculosis sanitarium in 1911, New York City. ✨
4/5✨
Frances Hallowell's been hidden from the magical world her entire life. That is, until her magic unexpectedly manifests one night, killing the shop owner where she works.Before she can be brought in by the law, she is whisked by two “nurses” under the false pretense of having tuberculosis, to a “sanitorium” which is in fact, a boarding school for witches.
This debut novel by Sasha Peyton Smith is definitely a fun read! While there were some parts which lacked momentum, this story was definitely plot-driven. I was also a little disappointed that magic was very secondary (you won’t be learning no Leviosa or Expecto Patronum in this one!). The relationships & murder mystery aspect definitely led the story in this novel. If you are looking for a fun read, with a bit of romance with dark academia vibes, pick this one up!
4/5✨
Frances Hallowell's been hidden from the magical world her entire life. That is, until her magic unexpectedly manifests one night, killing the shop owner where she works.Before she can be brought in by the law, she is whisked by two “nurses” under the false pretense of having tuberculosis, to a “sanitorium” which is in fact, a boarding school for witches.
This debut novel by Sasha Peyton Smith is definitely a fun read! While there were some parts which lacked momentum, this story was definitely plot-driven. I was also a little disappointed that magic was very secondary (you won’t be learning no Leviosa or Expecto Patronum in this one!). The relationships & murder mystery aspect definitely led the story in this novel. If you are looking for a fun read, with a bit of romance with dark academia vibes, pick this one up!
kokechii's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good read, I am satisfied. The historical setting makes it very atmospheric and the female characters sat well with me. I had some troubles reading, non-related to the book itself, just my mind wondering and forgetting parts so I had to re-read certain parts again, but I pushed through and I am glad I did. This was perfect for October reading and for some reason I'm even thinking about what kind of playlist would fit perfectly for this, although I don't prefer listening to music while I read.
It's about grief and finding yourself in an almost unexpected ways. The mystery parts - some of them I could see coming from a mile away, but the final one managed to surprise me, which is always a plus for me.
It's about grief and finding yourself in an almost unexpected ways. The mystery parts - some of them I could see coming from a mile away, but the final one managed to surprise me, which is always a plus for me.
thelostb00kmark's review against another edition
5.0
Obsessed.
Give me an Irish mans and a school for witches, and I’m putty.
This book was a tad predictable, and I often yelled at the author that she was absolutely blind not to see what was happening, but man was I hooked.
Give me an Irish mans and a school for witches, and I’m putty.
This book was a tad predictable, and I often yelled at the author that she was absolutely blind not to see what was happening, but man was I hooked.
agxxo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
lbarsk's review
5.0
So let me just say that I’m a tad biased because I’m friendly with Sasha, but SHE KNOCKED THIS OUT OF THE PARK. The intrigue, the female friendships, the critiques of people in power — it was balanced really well with a love triangle (Finn sucks text it) and a coming-of-age story, and it touched on grief and loss in a heartfelt way too. I’m hype to read the sequel and I’m sorry it took me like two years to read this Sasha you legend!
ofbeansandbooksp's review against another edition
DNF at 55%
I feel so bad for this, but I honestly couldn’t continue this book. I felt like I had to make myself pick it up and read although I couldn’t get into it at all.
It started out promising, and the premise of the story is something really interesting that I was very excited to start. But it was just that. The only good thing about the book is its premise.
The characters felt flat, and the FMC was insufferable! I couldn’t like her! In the beginning of the book, her brother dies, and she makes that part her whole entire personality.
It is a very slow paced story with a whole lot of plot holes.
I wish it were edited properly before being published.
I don’t think I’m going to be picking it up again.
I feel so bad for this, but I honestly couldn’t continue this book. I felt like I had to make myself pick it up and read although I couldn’t get into it at all.
It started out promising, and the premise of the story is something really interesting that I was very excited to start. But it was just that. The only good thing about the book is its premise.
The characters felt flat, and the FMC was insufferable! I couldn’t like her! In the beginning of the book, her brother dies, and she makes that part her whole entire personality.
It is a very slow paced story with a whole lot of plot holes.
I wish it were edited properly before being published.
I don’t think I’m going to be picking it up again.
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a mood reader. It doesn't happen very rarely that I discover a book that I "NEED TO HAVE RIGHT NOW" and between me ordering the book and me getting the book that need disappears. The book ends up on the pile with unread books and it can take years before I'm finally back in the mood for said book. That also happened with this book that I got years ago. Last week I stumbled upon it and got curious about it. Time to finally start reading!
The beginning of this book was amazing. I was sucked in right away and I liked the mix of magic and history. The middle of this book however felt a little chaotic. It was hard to understand where the story was going, it was hard to understand what our heroine actually wanted and at times it was hard to follow what everyone was doing. The finale was once more epic though and especially the last page really makes me curious about the sequel.
I think my issue with the middle of the book, and all the chaos, is mostly the heroine. It's clear that our heroine is emotional, filled with fire. Fire both fueled by passion, rage and the need to do something. It makes her reckless and impulsive and more than once I got a little frustrated that she got herself in trouble because she refuses to be smart about whatever she wants. However, I think she does learn her lesson by the end of the book.
The other issue is probably that our heroine is in a situation where nothing is explained to her, and therefore nothing is explained to us either. The magic system feels a little vague. There's clearly a lot going on in the city, but we have no idea what exactly. We also have no idea about the politics behind the magic and the power. The finale comes with loads of answers though and I do hope that with all this knowledge the next book might be a totally different read.
The beginning of this book was amazing. I was sucked in right away and I liked the mix of magic and history. The middle of this book however felt a little chaotic. It was hard to understand where the story was going, it was hard to understand what our heroine actually wanted and at times it was hard to follow what everyone was doing. The finale was once more epic though and especially the last page really makes me curious about the sequel.
I think my issue with the middle of the book, and all the chaos, is mostly the heroine. It's clear that our heroine is emotional, filled with fire. Fire both fueled by passion, rage and the need to do something. It makes her reckless and impulsive and more than once I got a little frustrated that she got herself in trouble because she refuses to be smart about whatever she wants. However, I think she does learn her lesson by the end of the book.
The other issue is probably that our heroine is in a situation where nothing is explained to her, and therefore nothing is explained to us either. The magic system feels a little vague. There's clearly a lot going on in the city, but we have no idea what exactly. We also have no idea about the politics behind the magic and the power. The finale comes with loads of answers though and I do hope that with all this knowledge the next book might be a totally different read.
kaelaceleste's review against another edition
4.0
What fun this was :) I really enjoyed this jaunt into a witch-school-for-girls-disguised-as-a-sanitarium with some feminist touches. I appreciated the language used a lot about the girls at the school and the setup/worldbuilding of the setting was really well done. I was a bit bored once the love interest came in and I thought it was going to lose me for a moment there, but I was really happy with how things turned around. I did see the twist coming, but in a way that I was almost rooting for it to happen before it did to keep things interesting. I even thought to myself "if [x] happens this book is gonna be so lit" so I was very happy when it did! I loved Frances and all her friends and my girlfriend Maxine and the underlying feeling of girl power throughout. This is the kind of thing I would have loved as a teenager, and it's just really a nice little read.
fairiesdust's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0