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fiona_majury's review against another edition
4.0
Read this book in one day (housework will still be there tomorrow) didn't want to put it down
paulabrandon's review against another edition
3.0
I generally don't read YA fiction unless it's from the 80s and 90s (when I grew up with it), or if it's a reboot of 90s books. However, with so many Fear Street reboots happening lately, I thought I'd try a few current YA offerings. How To Hang A Witch involves Samantha Mather returning to Salem with her stepmother Vivian after her grandmother's death and because her father is in a coma and they had to sell their apartment.
Samantha is a descendant of Cotton Mather, who was instrumental in the instigation of the Salem Witch Trials, and this doesn't make her popular in town. There is a clique at school called the descendants, who are all related to women hanged during the trials. A couple of them set out to make Samantha's life an utter misery, with the whole school seemingly complicit in the bullying. When weird things start happening, and people start dying, it looks like Samantha's arrival has coincided with all of this. Samantha slowly realises that a curse is at work, and she must break it.
I was actually quite charmed by the romance here. Samantha is in a bit of a love triangle, involving her neighbour Jaxon, and a ghost by the name of Elijah who resides in her new house. I read a lot of romance (Harlequin), and this was actually better than many of those books in demonstrating the genuine connection Samantha has with both boys. It gave the book a decent emotional resonance.
Outside of Samantha, Elijah, Jaxon, his mother and Samantha's stepmother Vivian, the characterisation was less successful. With a possible couple of exceptions, I just couldn't stand the wannabe posers comprising the descendants (I refuse to capitalise their group name). Lizzie and John in particular are so odious and insufferable that it's sometimes difficult to continue. There is no way that their behaviour, and the school's complicity in it, wouldn't lead to serious lawsuits. That sort of stuff just takes me out of the story. I had no idea why a group of such self-involved snots would somehow generate reverence from fellow school students.
Ultimately, it took too long for the book to show where it was headed. There was a lot of sociopathic bullying to wade through before the plot began to establish itself. I spent too long hoping for a red-hot fire poker to be shoved between Lizzie or John's eyes, rather than being invested in the mystery that was developing. I understand that the author was trying to establish links between witch hysteria at the trials and modern-day bullying, but it went too far. Lizzie was utterly deplorable as a character and
Once the story finally kicked into gear, it was fun and interesting. This was neatly plotted and it all came together quite well. There was an exciting climax. I enjoyed reading this. But I think the fact I have no real burning desire to read the next book is a good indication of my award of 3 stars. I would actually be quite interested in seeing this adapted for a TV series or a movie.
Samantha is a descendant of Cotton Mather, who was instrumental in the instigation of the Salem Witch Trials, and this doesn't make her popular in town. There is a clique at school called the descendants, who are all related to women hanged during the trials. A couple of them set out to make Samantha's life an utter misery, with the whole school seemingly complicit in the bullying. When weird things start happening, and people start dying, it looks like Samantha's arrival has coincided with all of this. Samantha slowly realises that a curse is at work, and she must break it.
I was actually quite charmed by the romance here. Samantha is in a bit of a love triangle, involving her neighbour Jaxon, and a ghost by the name of Elijah who resides in her new house. I read a lot of romance (Harlequin), and this was actually better than many of those books in demonstrating the genuine connection Samantha has with both boys. It gave the book a decent emotional resonance.
Outside of Samantha, Elijah, Jaxon, his mother and Samantha's stepmother Vivian, the characterisation was less successful. With a possible couple of exceptions, I just couldn't stand the wannabe posers comprising the descendants (I refuse to capitalise their group name). Lizzie and John in particular are so odious and insufferable that it's sometimes difficult to continue. There is no way that their behaviour, and the school's complicity in it, wouldn't lead to serious lawsuits. That sort of stuff just takes me out of the story. I had no idea why a group of such self-involved snots would somehow generate reverence from fellow school students.
Ultimately, it took too long for the book to show where it was headed. There was a lot of sociopathic bullying to wade through before the plot began to establish itself. I spent too long hoping for a red-hot fire poker to be shoved between Lizzie or John's eyes, rather than being invested in the mystery that was developing. I understand that the author was trying to establish links between witch hysteria at the trials and modern-day bullying, but it went too far. Lizzie was utterly deplorable as a character and
Spoiler
I was dismayed she made it though to the end with barely any sort of comeuppance for her disgusting behaviour. At least John got his head smashed in.Once the story finally kicked into gear, it was fun and interesting. This was neatly plotted and it all came together quite well. There was an exciting climax. I enjoyed reading this. But I think the fact I have no real burning desire to read the next book is a good indication of my award of 3 stars.
Spoiler
Plus, I have absolutely no desire to read another book with Lizzie in it. God, I hated her!sare1125's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Bullying
ash_reads14's review against another edition
4.0
Loved Salem' s history!
I loved this book! I enjoyed reading about Salems history ,especially the witch trials. I would defiantly recommend and will be getting her other works!
I loved this book! I enjoyed reading about Salems history ,especially the witch trials. I would defiantly recommend and will be getting her other works!
honeybeeg's review against another edition
5.0
Such an exciting mystery novel that follows Sams misadventures. I couldn’t set this book down and read it almost too quickly. Adriana Mather does an excellent job of creating dynamic characters that the reader truly is invested in.
joyceontheroad's review against another edition
3.0
Great if you’re a YA. And into those books that use magic and gossiping teenagers in modern times. Otherwise, there are plenty of more interesting books out there.
thejejo's review against another edition
4.0
Don’t usually like YA books but this felt like a breezy guilty pleasure. Love witch shit always.
jnjackson's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book! I've been to Salem, so I could imagine the settings that the author was describing, but after reading this, I want to go back and look around more. The story combined history of the witch trials and real-life people with more magical elements (and some high-school drama) that I quite enjoyed. As I was reading, I kept thinking the "bad guy" could have been a few different people, so it kept me guessing.