"Your daughter will be one of the most powerful we have ever seen in this family"... or not. Tamsin has lived most of her life feeling like a disappointment to her family. Predicted at birth to be one of the most powerful amongst them, she is the only one in a family without a Talent. When her Talent fails to manifest itself by age 8, the absolute latest anyone in the family has ever shown, she begins to feel like an outsider. To make matters worse, she has a perfect older sister in Rowena. So, when she is 17 and a mysterious stranger mistakes her for Rowena, she fails to correct him and determines that she will find a way to help the stranger despite her lack of Talent. Her long-lost childhood friend Gabriel is brought back into her life at just the right time to help Tamsin help the stranger. Unfortunately, the stranger is not who he appears to be and the story of an ancient feud between families comes to light. The stranger needs the real Rowena to help him change the past & only Tamsin can stop him.
I really like Tamsin. She is not a helpless female character and while she is without Talent, she is not without wit and resources. She is funny and smart, while still being a vulnerable, insecure teenaged girl. She is a pretty good role model for other girls, despite the smoking. She really begins to come into her self during this story and I am interested to see how she develops as a young woman in the stories to come. I am also interested in how her role in the family will change in the future, as well as her relationship with Gabriel.
I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading the next installment.
I really like Tamsin. She is not a helpless female character and while she is without Talent, she is not without wit and resources. She is funny and smart, while still being a vulnerable, insecure teenaged girl. She is a pretty good role model for other girls, despite the smoking. She really begins to come into her self during this story and I am interested to see how she develops as a young woman in the stories to come. I am also interested in how her role in the family will change in the future, as well as her relationship with Gabriel.
I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading the next installment.
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Tamsin's family all have Talent - it manifests at the age of eight. However, Tamsin never fully developed; she's the only one with no Talent. She's spent her whole life on the outside wishing she fit in with her family.
She's clumsy and awkward but has the perfect older sister who will one day take over the family business of finding lost items through their bookstore. One day, a man comes into the bookstore looking for Tamsin's sister. Tamsin is the only one there and allows him to believe she can help him.
She's determined to find the clock he's looking for, an old family heirloom. Without understanding the consequences, she enlists an old friend to help her recover the item. Together, they've unleashed a danger far greater than they ever imagined - a danger that could lead to their clan's ruin. Can they do damage control or is it too late?
I adore books about witches and the cover of ONCE A WITCH definitely caught my eye. I really enjoyed reading and uncovering the mystery behind layers of family drama, romantic suspense, and danger.
Tamsin's family all have Talent - it manifests at the age of eight. However, Tamsin never fully developed; she's the only one with no Talent. She's spent her whole life on the outside wishing she fit in with her family.
She's clumsy and awkward but has the perfect older sister who will one day take over the family business of finding lost items through their bookstore. One day, a man comes into the bookstore looking for Tamsin's sister. Tamsin is the only one there and allows him to believe she can help him.
She's determined to find the clock he's looking for, an old family heirloom. Without understanding the consequences, she enlists an old friend to help her recover the item. Together, they've unleashed a danger far greater than they ever imagined - a danger that could lead to their clan's ruin. Can they do damage control or is it too late?
I adore books about witches and the cover of ONCE A WITCH definitely caught my eye. I really enjoyed reading and uncovering the mystery behind layers of family drama, romantic suspense, and danger.
I had no expectations coming into this book, which I find usually makes me enjoy a book quite a bit. It took some adjusting for me to get accustomed to the idea of Talent in this story this isnt a typical witch tale with nothing but spells and healing. It was a little difficult for me to get used to the idea that the members of this family can do all kinds of wondrous things.
We get a lot of background info during most of the book, which I enjoyed because once I got past my initial frustrations, this was a pretty fascinating story. Its a witch story, romance, and mystery all wrapped into one!
To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog.
We get a lot of background info during most of the book, which I enjoyed because once I got past my initial frustrations, this was a pretty fascinating story. Its a witch story, romance, and mystery all wrapped into one!
To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog.
Reviewed by http://bibliophile-bestiary.blogspot.com
This book was incredibly well written! I cannot believe it took me so long to read it. The characters are great and the story flows nicely. You get a feel for Tamsin and why she feels the way she does. While going through her story, you are hurt, angry and every other emotion, right along with her. While I do wish the author went more into the magic skills they have, it was still a great book. Tamsin's adventure is suspenseful in the way that you don't want to put the book down until you find out what is happening next! And of course, there is romance involved! A must read for fans of magic type books. 5 out of 5 stars. The sequel, Always a Witch comes out August 2011.
This book was incredibly well written! I cannot believe it took me so long to read it. The characters are great and the story flows nicely. You get a feel for Tamsin and why she feels the way she does. While going through her story, you are hurt, angry and every other emotion, right along with her. While I do wish the author went more into the magic skills they have, it was still a great book. Tamsin's adventure is suspenseful in the way that you don't want to put the book down until you find out what is happening next! And of course, there is romance involved! A must read for fans of magic type books. 5 out of 5 stars. The sequel, Always a Witch comes out August 2011.
