Scan barcode
murderbydeath's review against another edition
4.0
Fast fun read. The plot felt like it should be more complicated, but the author managed to tie up most of the loose ends by the end of the story, while still leaving it wide open for a follow up book. I liked almost all the characters and the setting was very vivid. Overall, it was a fun read and I'll gladly read another if another follows.
reader_fictions's review against another edition
4.0
I just devoured this novel from the first page, which is set in a bookstore by the way (what's not to love?). The Talents are similar to some other stories I have read, most recently those in the Alcatraz Smedry series by Brandon Sanderson, although he did something quite different with them. It reminded me too, for reasons I cannot divulge, of Shanna Swendson's Enchanted, Inc. books, which are also completely fabulous. The writing is good, the characters are interesting and the plot draws you in and keeps you there.
Tamsin was easy to relate to from the get-go. Most everyone has felt like an outsider at some point or had sibling issues (although not me, as I'm an only child) or wished desperately for some special talent. She has a bit of an edge to her, which I appreciate for the most part. She sneaks out to bars to drink beer and watch bands with her roommate Agatha. She's sarcastic with her family. In addition, she adapts well to all crisis situations, trying desperately to make things work out; even though she doesn't always succeed, it's awesome that she tries, rather than sitting idly by waiting for a savior.
My one big complaint about Tamsin is the scene where she smokes a cigarette in her room. Blah blah rebellion blah blah badass. I really hate smoking, because, well, it's awful. However, what really bugs me about this scene is that it has so little bearing on the rest of the book. It seems so out of place. Tamsin never smokes again, nor does anyone else mention her doing so. I can't help wondering if she was a smoker originally and most of it got edited out. Either way, it struck me as clunky and gross.
Gabriel was totally awesome. His talent (finding things) rocks. I seriously want one of him for my own, so he can keep me from having to turn my house upside down trying to locate my missing remote. (This happened this evening and the remote was, of course, in the first place I looked. Why I didn't see it, I don't know, but that's always how it goes.
Once a Witch was such a fun read and I am eagerly anticipating starting the sequel. If you're looking for an awesome summer read, definitely pick this up at your local library or book store!
Tamsin was easy to relate to from the get-go. Most everyone has felt like an outsider at some point or had sibling issues (although not me, as I'm an only child) or wished desperately for some special talent. She has a bit of an edge to her, which I appreciate for the most part. She sneaks out to bars to drink beer and watch bands with her roommate Agatha. She's sarcastic with her family. In addition, she adapts well to all crisis situations, trying desperately to make things work out; even though she doesn't always succeed, it's awesome that she tries, rather than sitting idly by waiting for a savior.
My one big complaint about Tamsin is the scene where she smokes a cigarette in her room. Blah blah rebellion blah blah badass. I really hate smoking, because, well, it's awful. However, what really bugs me about this scene is that it has so little bearing on the rest of the book. It seems so out of place. Tamsin never smokes again, nor does anyone else mention her doing so. I can't help wondering if she was a smoker originally and most of it got edited out. Either way, it struck me as clunky and gross.
Gabriel was totally awesome. His talent (finding things) rocks. I seriously want one of him for my own, so he can keep me from having to turn my house upside down trying to locate my missing remote. (This happened this evening and the remote was, of course, in the first place I looked. Why I didn't see it, I don't know, but that's always how it goes.
Once a Witch was such a fun read and I am eagerly anticipating starting the sequel. If you're looking for an awesome summer read, definitely pick this up at your local library or book store!
blackinbooks's review against another edition
3.0
It surprised me that I liked this book. It told about Tamsin who didn’t have a Talent, but turned out she had. Only her family knew and hided it from her.
I couldn’t tell much about the writing, since I read the translation. But I was very disappointed about the translation. I had to read one line once more before finally understanding what it meant.
And you thought that “a young handsome professor” would be Tamsin’s love interest? Wrong. (Besides, that’d be very creepy if Tamsin—who was my age—had crush on that professor who was thirty-something.)
It was slow at first, but in the middle of the book, it was very rush. Like, very.
But if you love reading books about witch (not like Harry Potter, though) I’d just hand it over to you, if you don’t mind.
3/5
I couldn’t tell much about the writing, since I read the translation. But I was very disappointed about the translation. I had to read one line once more before finally understanding what it meant.
And you thought that “a young handsome professor” would be Tamsin’s love interest? Wrong. (Besides, that’d be very creepy if Tamsin—who was my age—had crush on that professor who was thirty-something.)
It was slow at first, but in the middle of the book, it was very rush. Like, very.
But if you love reading books about witch (not like Harry Potter, though) I’d just hand it over to you, if you don’t mind.
3/5
ashesandhoney's review against another edition
3.0
Book candy! Enjoyable read. Did not suck as much as I feared that it would.
draumwitch's review against another edition
4.0
Nothing groundbreaking or spectacularly original, but a very enjoyable read. Finished reading it in one sitting and had a lot of fun seeing where the plot was going.
chameli's review against another edition
4.0
Whenever I go to the library, I always look for books with pretty covers and/or interesting titles. I picked up Once a Witch and read the plot, which I liked.
The story was interesting as were all the characters. I liked how the main character, Tamsin, unraveled the history of her family and ultimately saved them from destruction in the end while sacrificing her Talent. It had magic, time travel, and some romance (but not to the point where it got overwhelming). Thankfully there were no boring (read: beige) characters.
Tamsin and Gabriel (her boyfriend) were realistic and I liked that. As a reader, I could connect to them, which I believe is an important quality.
The story was interesting as were all the characters. I liked how the main character, Tamsin, unraveled the history of her family and ultimately saved them from destruction in the end while sacrificing her Talent. It had magic, time travel, and some romance (but not to the point where it got overwhelming). Thankfully there were no boring (read: beige) characters.
Tamsin and Gabriel (her boyfriend) were realistic and I liked that. As a reader, I could connect to them, which I believe is an important quality.
daylafm's review against another edition
5.0
I actually really enjoyed this! From the beginning, I had this weird feeling that I would really like this story. It’s not perfect, but it was entertaining. I’m a huge fan of books that have big “I told you so” moments and this one did. It was very satisfying!
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
simsbrarian's review against another edition
3.0
Overall okay. Tamsin is the youngest daughter in a huge family of witches. Only, her 8th birthday comes and goes without her Talent revealing itself. So, she becomes a bit of the misfit in her own family: avoided and talked about. When we flash to her at 17, she is still eager to prove herself and decides to take on a chance patron's request to find along-lost item herself when he mistakes her for her Talented older sister.
The story was intriguing enough to read through to the end though there was more than one plot hole and the characters weren't really fleshed out well. Might be worth picking up the 2nd to determine if the characters grow at all!
The story was intriguing enough to read through to the end though there was more than one plot hole and the characters weren't really fleshed out well. Might be worth picking up the 2nd to determine if the characters grow at all!
kcrosswriting's review against another edition
DNF.
I just couldn't get into the main character, personally.
I just couldn't get into the main character, personally.