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xjinxedx's review against another edition
3.0
For a very cliche Ya supernatural book, this wasn't terrible. Too mushy for my taste but it could be worst.
fyrekatz's review against another edition
3.0
My first Claudia Gray book.
This book has pretty good characters tho the story plot dragged just a bit. It felt like a chore for me to read thru this book. I'll try again with another one of her books before disliking this author :)
This book has pretty good characters tho the story plot dragged just a bit. It felt like a chore for me to read thru this book. I'll try again with another one of her books before disliking this author :)
chocolatequeen's review against another edition
5.0
I picked this book up after hearing the author speak on the #pitchdarkdays tour. The system of magic sounded unique and intriguing, enough to get me to buy a book I hadn't heard of until that night. I started reading when I got home and only stopped because I was literally too tired to keep my eyes open any longer. Then I picked it up today and read straight through to the end.
So, what makes it a great book? First, the magic IS unique and intriguing. Instead of words, the spells are formed by memories--each spell has three ingredients, each on a different kind of memory. Of course, this means that the older you get, the stronger your magic is. You simply have more memories to back it up, more things to draw on to channel your magic.
The heroine is 17. The villain is 400. Take the idea of memories, add it to that fact, and you've got a great set up for plenty of drama.
The characters are all interesting and real. Each one has confronted magic in their own lives in different ways, and Gray didn't shy away from the tension that caused in their relationships. I loved watching them struggle with their pasts, both individually and together as friends.
This is the first book in a trilogy, so the end leaves the good guys thinking they've won a major victory and the villain knowing she has. I have a feeling book two (Steadfast, out 2014) will be darker, the Empire Strikes Back of the series so to speak. I'm looking forward to seeing more of the interaction between Nadia and Mateo, and maybe figuring out what's going on with Verlaine.
So, what makes it a great book? First, the magic IS unique and intriguing. Instead of words, the spells are formed by memories--each spell has three ingredients, each on a different kind of memory. Of course, this means that the older you get, the stronger your magic is. You simply have more memories to back it up, more things to draw on to channel your magic.
The heroine is 17. The villain is 400. Take the idea of memories, add it to that fact, and you've got a great set up for plenty of drama.
The characters are all interesting and real. Each one has confronted magic in their own lives in different ways, and Gray didn't shy away from the tension that caused in their relationships. I loved watching them struggle with their pasts, both individually and together as friends.
This is the first book in a trilogy, so the end leaves the good guys thinking they've won a major victory and the villain knowing she has. I have a feeling book two (Steadfast, out 2014) will be darker, the Empire Strikes Back of the series so to speak. I'm looking forward to seeing more of the interaction between Nadia and Mateo, and maybe figuring out what's going on with Verlaine.
laughlinesandliterature's review against another edition
3.0
I always enjoy books written by Claudia Gray and this is no exception. Spellcaster was fun, but it lacked some of the elements that were in the author's other books. Nadia is an interesting character, but I feel like she went against everything she had ever been taught about witchcraft. Now granted her mom did abandon them, but her reasons for making bad decisions never started with proving her mother wrong. Also I felt like the romance was pretty forced in this book, and I hate that. If it's romance, make it good. If not, leave it out. I liked the book, and I will probably pick up the next few in the series, but I didn't love this as much as her Evernight series or even A Thousand Pieces of You(which currently is my fav. 3 out of 5 stars. Hoping the next couple installments pick up.
katpop's review against another edition
5.0
Super interesting. A different take on witches. Will read the next one.
bookslut007's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. A bit teenagey for me..i am 27, but hard to put down...and i will probably read the other books in the series.
kupo88's review against another edition
4.0
When I first started reading this book, it began without any kind of backstory. I literally walked up to my bookshelf twice and googled the order of the books not believing I was reading book 1, because it felt so much like a book 2.
Once I got past that, I began to appreciate the lack of an origin story. Here is a refreshing way to start a new series, most readers have been reading for long enough that they have a basic foundation of witches and their lore that we don't really need a step by step instruction manual. The author puts you right in the action with our main character Nadia who is neither amateur, or expert. She has enough confidence in her own knowledge that we feel comfortable moving through the story with her, leaving enough room in her training that we can also grow with her.
This story truly is a three book span, with the original plot being intriguing enough around our main villain Elizabeth Pike that it keeps moving and flowing making you want to pick up the second book as if you were turning the page, it just keeps going organically.
Once I got past that, I began to appreciate the lack of an origin story. Here is a refreshing way to start a new series, most readers have been reading for long enough that they have a basic foundation of witches and their lore that we don't really need a step by step instruction manual. The author puts you right in the action with our main character Nadia who is neither amateur, or expert. She has enough confidence in her own knowledge that we feel comfortable moving through the story with her, leaving enough room in her training that we can also grow with her.
This story truly is a three book span, with the original plot being intriguing enough around our main villain Elizabeth Pike that it keeps moving and flowing making you want to pick up the second book as if you were turning the page, it just keeps going organically.
someonetookit's review against another edition
4.0
Its a 4 1/2 to be perfectly honest. Cant give it a 5 because parts of it were honestly just pointless fluff. Otherwise was a fairly good book