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smittyluvs2reed58's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5
lilylanie's review against another edition
4.0
It’s been a long time since I read the first book, so I had to re-read it before beginning this one. As with the Physick Book, I enjoyed the story very much, particularly the history and the magical elements, but if I was hoping that this follow-up novel would redeem Connie‘s character, I was sadly disappointed. She remained the least curious, most exasperatingly uninformed historian I’ve ever come across. And while I won’t spoil it, I’ll just say that the way she spent the decade since discovering her powers is not the way I - or any respectable heroine IMO - would have done it.
I don’t regret reading Howe’s novels, but books like these make me sad at their waste of potential - they were only good, when they could have been amazing.
I don’t regret reading Howe’s novels, but books like these make me sad at their waste of potential - they were only good, when they could have been amazing.
jrmarr's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
iamsatan666's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kristenlovesbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
twisty's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
allivenger's review against another edition
4.0
I did not realize when I picked this up that there was an entire book prior to this one. But you don't really need the previous book to understand what's happening here. The author gives enough details of the previous book that carries over into this one seamlessly. It gave A Discovery of Witches vibes in both it's storytelling and it's integration into American History involving witchcraft. Though this is not as wordy as A Discovery of Witches.
We pick up with Connie struggling to finish her book, trying to achieve tenure, and keeping her relationship afloat. But when she finds herself pregnant her mother gives her a dire warning. Break up with Sam, or lose the baby, because no woman in the family has had both. Or have they? Connie is in a race against the clock to break this ancient curse and figure out if she really believes in magic and if she can truly have both. Or break her heart in the process.
The deep dive into the past with some of the chapters interwoven with the present was a wonderful addition to the story. It gave you a background to the curse itself and why the curse came about in the first place. Figuring out how to fix the curse was it's own mystery and Connie struggled throughout with the choices she was making. It was a wonderful story overall.
We pick up with Connie struggling to finish her book, trying to achieve tenure, and keeping her relationship afloat. But when she finds herself pregnant her mother gives her a dire warning. Break up with Sam, or lose the baby, because no woman in the family has had both. Or have they? Connie is in a race against the clock to break this ancient curse and figure out if she really believes in magic and if she can truly have both. Or break her heart in the process.
The deep dive into the past with some of the chapters interwoven with the present was a wonderful addition to the story. It gave you a background to the curse itself and why the curse came about in the first place. Figuring out how to fix the curse was it's own mystery and Connie struggled throughout with the choices she was making. It was a wonderful story overall.
njbrit's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Story interesting but not enough Detail on why she was searching