3.5 starsI have not read very many witch books. I thought the premise was pretty interesting. The books takes place in an alternate universe at the end of the 19th century in New England. Something similar to the Salem witch trials took place but the government and culture is very different. I only half liked the main character. I just found her annoying quite often. But, the premise and other characters were interesting enough to keep me going. Other small things bothered me. Witches are supposed to be rare but it seems like they really aren't so not sure why they let themselves be oppressed. There was a lot of foreshadowing presumably because this is a trilogy. Also, the witches occasionally refer to themselves as Daughters of Persephone. I'm sorry, that just makes no sense. The Greek gods are mentioned throughout and seems acceptable but given the oppressive, puritanical government and religion, I don't see why Greek gods would be an acceptable topic. As far as the Daughters of Persephone goes, Persephone was the queen of the underworld and the goddess of spring. What do either of these things have to do with witches? The Daughters of Hecate would make much more sense since she was the goddess of magic and witchcraft! It's just frustrating. Not a huge deal I suppose but frustrating nonetheless. Maybe a 3.5 rather than 3. Interesting world that the story is set it, basically a dystopian New England set in the 1800s where magic is real and so are witchhunts by a misogynistic crew called the Brotherhood. The major crux of the novel is to what ends will the main character go to save her sisters from coming under the notice of the Brotherhood ---attention equals vanishing (death?) or being interned in the local sanitorium and having your mind wiped. But there are only two ways of preservation -- join the Sisterhood or marriage. Much of the novel feels lifted from a Regency romance novel and trimmed to fit.
I want to give it another star, but I feel like the main character was lacking too much.
—Kaio879
3.5 stars. Eager to see what happens next to the Cahill sisters.
—lalo1
I just love the name "Finn."
—intertwined
I HATE MAURA GO DIEEEEEEE
—Brianna021012
Didn't mind it.
—marichui
