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missprint_'s review against another edition
5.0
The Greene family has always been very talented--magically Talented, that is. Except for Tamsin. Instead of a Talent she had a cryptic prophecy from her grandmother declaring that Tamsin would one day be a beacon for her entire family.
At least, that's what she thought for the first seventeen years of her life.
Now she knows the truth about her Talent and her family's past. Unfortunately so does Alistair Knight and he's gone back to Victorian era New York to share what he knows with his ancestors and possibly destroy the Greene family forever.
With Alistair Traveling to the past, time is running out and Tamsin realizes she has no choice but to follow. Alone in 1895 New York Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the Knight mansion. She still has a crucial role to play in her family's struggle with the Knights even if she isn't sure what that role is yet. All she knows for sure is that it will involve a terrible sacrifice and, in the end, she may not have any choice at all in Always a Witch (2011) by Carolyn MacCullough.
Always a Witch is the sequel to MacCullough's delightful novel Once a Witch.
As some regular readers might already know, Carolyn MacCullough is one of my favorite authors of all time and also an author I was lucky enough to meet a while back which remains one of the high points of . . . my life. All sounds like tangential information unless you got to see a galley of Always a Witch.
On the covers of the advanced reader copies (and in the image attached to this post) part of my review of Once a Witch was quoted. There are a lot of reasons for any reader to love this book but for me a lot of that love is wrapped up in MacCullough being one of my favorite authors and also my excitement at being quoted on the galleys* and being so fond of these characters.
In other words, I'm delighted my words got to endorse this book, however briefly. (The quote didn't make it to the final cover but I'll always have the galleys. I also realize this sounds made up so here is a link to the galley cover as well: http://tinyurl.com/6kqqor8)
Once a Witch was a clever urban fantasy with an original take on magic as well as a fast-paced, funny and entertaining story. It was a delightful introduction to Tamsin and her world. Always a Witch is just as good as the first--maybe even better. Definitely good enough that I finished it in one day.
Family is still a central element of this book, as it should be when the family is as splendid as the Greenes, but there is a lot more to this story with the extended time travel and Tamsin's choice looming throughout the narrative.
As a sequel there is always the risk of summarizing too little or explaining too much. MacCullough strikes a perfect balance of summary and new material here. The inimitable Gabriel also returns along with other favorite characters. Tamsin's same fierce love for her family permeates these pages.
Always a Witch is a great fantasy with a well-realized look at old New York besides. Tamsin is one of my favorite heroines with her strength, resilience and general charm. Like Once a Witch before it, this book is a wonderful story about family and love and, yes, about magic too.
*I've had to sit on this information since December because the pub date was so far away. I also wasn't sure if the cover was finalized yet--I first saw it on a galley when a colleague pointed it out--and it's been absolute torture waiting to share this big news with you, dear readers. The news is slightly less big since the quote isn't on the final cover but I decided to mention it anyway because the quote was such a big part of my experience with this book.
Possible Pairings: White Cat by Holly Black, Heist Society by Ally Carter, Clarity by Kim Harrington, Hourglass by Myra McEntire, The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
At least, that's what she thought for the first seventeen years of her life.
Now she knows the truth about her Talent and her family's past. Unfortunately so does Alistair Knight and he's gone back to Victorian era New York to share what he knows with his ancestors and possibly destroy the Greene family forever.
With Alistair Traveling to the past, time is running out and Tamsin realizes she has no choice but to follow. Alone in 1895 New York Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the Knight mansion. She still has a crucial role to play in her family's struggle with the Knights even if she isn't sure what that role is yet. All she knows for sure is that it will involve a terrible sacrifice and, in the end, she may not have any choice at all in Always a Witch (2011) by Carolyn MacCullough.
Always a Witch is the sequel to MacCullough's delightful novel Once a Witch.
As some regular readers might already know, Carolyn MacCullough is one of my favorite authors of all time and also an author I was lucky enough to meet a while back which remains one of the high points of . . . my life. All sounds like tangential information unless you got to see a galley of Always a Witch.
On the covers of the advanced reader copies (and in the image attached to this post) part of my review of Once a Witch was quoted. There are a lot of reasons for any reader to love this book but for me a lot of that love is wrapped up in MacCullough being one of my favorite authors and also my excitement at being quoted on the galleys* and being so fond of these characters.
In other words, I'm delighted my words got to endorse this book, however briefly. (The quote didn't make it to the final cover but I'll always have the galleys. I also realize this sounds made up so here is a link to the galley cover as well: http://tinyurl.com/6kqqor8)
Once a Witch was a clever urban fantasy with an original take on magic as well as a fast-paced, funny and entertaining story. It was a delightful introduction to Tamsin and her world. Always a Witch is just as good as the first--maybe even better. Definitely good enough that I finished it in one day.
Family is still a central element of this book, as it should be when the family is as splendid as the Greenes, but there is a lot more to this story with the extended time travel and Tamsin's choice looming throughout the narrative.
As a sequel there is always the risk of summarizing too little or explaining too much. MacCullough strikes a perfect balance of summary and new material here. The inimitable Gabriel also returns along with other favorite characters. Tamsin's same fierce love for her family permeates these pages.
Always a Witch is a great fantasy with a well-realized look at old New York besides. Tamsin is one of my favorite heroines with her strength, resilience and general charm. Like Once a Witch before it, this book is a wonderful story about family and love and, yes, about magic too.
*I've had to sit on this information since December because the pub date was so far away. I also wasn't sure if the cover was finalized yet--I first saw it on a galley when a colleague pointed it out--and it's been absolute torture waiting to share this big news with you, dear readers. The news is slightly less big since the quote isn't on the final cover but I decided to mention it anyway because the quote was such a big part of my experience with this book.
Possible Pairings: White Cat by Holly Black, Heist Society by Ally Carter, Clarity by Kim Harrington, Hourglass by Myra McEntire, The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
chllybrd's review
4.0
This book continues with Tamsin realizing that the King Family is still trying to make trouble for the Greene's. She has to travel back in time to try and stop them.
I enjoyed reading about the sacrifice's that had to be made and the solution that Tamsin has to come up with. I never expected the ending but it put the book in the right place. The only thing I would have liked better is seeing more of Tamsin and Gabriel at the end of the book and to find out what happens with them.
I enjoyed reading about the sacrifice's that had to be made and the solution that Tamsin has to come up with. I never expected the ending but it put the book in the right place. The only thing I would have liked better is seeing more of Tamsin and Gabriel at the end of the book and to find out what happens with them.
pogonotomy's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't read the first book but this story can stand alone. I found this book really slow at first, but once the main character Tamsin goes back in time I couldn't put the book down!! Good, solid plot and I like the authors attention to detail. Good book :)
bibliophile_booklover's review against another edition
5.0
soo good made me sad for tamsin but that is real sacrifice ^-^
exhaleartist's review against another edition
4.0
I read Once a Witch, the prequel to this book, quite a while ago, but I remembered it as being a good read. When I saw this galley available, I was quite excited. Witches have always interested me the most of any supernatural/paranormal beings, but for some reason I have the hardest time finding books, with a witch as a main character, that I actually like. Fortunately, I stumbled across this series.
I will admit that I was a bit foggy on some of the things that had happened during Once a Witch, but as I read this book I found myself remembering it more and more. The characters of this story are brilliant, especially Tamsin. From the ordinary girl at the beginning of her journey to the unexpectedly gifted witch in this book, it was interesting to see how she chose to move forward. Her choice to go back in time alone was a brave one, and it led to quite an interesting story. The ways of nineteenth century culture are presented very well, and blend nicely into the background. Alistair is much more of a minor character in this book versus the previous one, but he still plays a significant part in the overall story. Many of the characters, actually, do not appear as much as they did before, however, several new characters are introduced. I really liked the new additions to the story, especially the Greenes of the past.
The story is fittingly a race against time, and, as such, it keeps you from ever wanting to put the book down. I have always been fascinated by the ideas of time travel and of how the past and present could be intertwined, so I loved how the story incorporated these things. In the end, my favorite part of the book is how Tamsin’s grandmother’s prophecy plays out. The choice Tamsin makes, in the end, shocked me and made me love the writer for not giving the book a perfect happily-ever-after.
This is a book that I would definitely pass on and recommend to other readers. It is entertaining, intriguing, and just all together a very good read.
I will admit that I was a bit foggy on some of the things that had happened during Once a Witch, but as I read this book I found myself remembering it more and more. The characters of this story are brilliant, especially Tamsin. From the ordinary girl at the beginning of her journey to the unexpectedly gifted witch in this book, it was interesting to see how she chose to move forward. Her choice to go back in time alone was a brave one, and it led to quite an interesting story. The ways of nineteenth century culture are presented very well, and blend nicely into the background. Alistair is much more of a minor character in this book versus the previous one, but he still plays a significant part in the overall story. Many of the characters, actually, do not appear as much as they did before, however, several new characters are introduced. I really liked the new additions to the story, especially the Greenes of the past.
The story is fittingly a race against time, and, as such, it keeps you from ever wanting to put the book down. I have always been fascinated by the ideas of time travel and of how the past and present could be intertwined, so I loved how the story incorporated these things. In the end, my favorite part of the book is how Tamsin’s grandmother’s prophecy plays out. The choice Tamsin makes, in the end, shocked me and made me love the writer for not giving the book a perfect happily-ever-after.
This is a book that I would definitely pass on and recommend to other readers. It is entertaining, intriguing, and just all together a very good read.
misdawnty's review against another edition
3.0
A literal extension of book 1. It didn't feel so much like a sequel as it just felt like I was still reading the same book. I felt the same about this as the first one.
books_plan_create's review against another edition
4.0
I liked that this book picked up right where Once a Witch leaves off. It had many many twists and turns and jaw-dropping moments. Some expected, but most were not!
Tamsin is a wonderful character, and I would love to read more with her, but at this point, I'm not sure if we will.
Tamsin is a wonderful character, and I would love to read more with her, but at this point, I'm not sure if we will.
inkedstoryteller's review against another edition
5.0
This fun dramatic sequel to “Once a Witch” is actually better than its predecessor. There is more time travel, and the origins of the family dynamics that exist in the first book are showcased. Tamsin grows as a character, and with that maturity becomes more interesting. Also, the villainess Knight family becomes more truly scary as Tam experiences their evil firsthand. This entertaining duology are a fun distraction. I only wish there were mire books in the series.
delaneybull's review against another edition
3.0
This was a lot slower and meandering in plot, whereas the last one had a purpose. I feel like the author got lost in explaining the time period and Knight family characters and less time on developing a continuous plot that connected everything, so it was a little boring. It was also a very unsatisfying ending, So it was unfortunate that the author just didn't have a hold on how she wanted to end it/explaining her decisions.