Catherine Wittmack

3.5 out of 5

Cover Talk: I really like the simplicity of this cover. It took me until almost the end of the book to realize the significance of the red water lily on the cover, but once I made the connection, I loved the cover even more.

First Impressions: I had not actually read any reviews of this book until Catherine asked me to review it. The synopsis and the fact that it’s witchy, is what drew me in. I have a soft spot for magical books.

First Few Chapters: I was definitely drawn in from just the first chapter. I quickly became emotionally invested in Eliza and hoped that she would find all of the answers to her questions. I did have a hard time adjusting to the time difference between chapter one and two, but I was able to figure it out eventually.

Characters: Eliza is a smart girl. I really wish that she would have been older. because her characterization makes her seem so much older than she is, mainly because of the 1st person POV. There are some things that she says that I feel should come out of the mouth of someone older than her. But then there are parts of her that definitely scream ‘teenager.’ One trait of hers that made my roll my eyes was her need to protect her aunt. Her older aunt. I get that she’s supposed to be the heroine, but keeping your family in the dark about magical worlds is a bad idea.

Ren is an interesting character. I feel like he has a very old soul and for that I like him a lot. But I also find his pairing with Eliza just a wee bit odd. I understand that guide and the novice witch, but since he’s a guide, I feel like he should have been older than her. A lot older.

As for the romance between the two, I really didn’t care for it. I felt like it either needed to be amped up or left out entirely. It was just kind of ‘meh’, throughout the whole book. And Eliza’s insta-love/repulsion really irritated me. I don’t like when characters are drawn to other characters and repulsed at the same time. If you’re going to go for the love, go for it.

Plot: This book is really quite fun and interesting. It was easy to get into, easy to keep up with, but at times it did lack in the action. Overall though, I really enjoyed learning about all of the magic and the different beings that Eliza and Ren encounter/learn about. I’m definitely interested to read more.

I did have a few problems with this book. First, I really felt that the characters belong in a New Adult novel versus a Young Adult. Eliza and Ren both just talked as if they were older than they were supposed to be and I feel like this entire plot would have been better suited in a post high school world. In my opinion.

Also, and this is just me being picky, there is a scene on mind manipulation. Now I have read a lot of books that deal with witches, magic, and mind manipulation. And to sum it up, mind manipulation is bad. There is no such thing as good intentions when it comes to mind manipulation. I think this particular gift was handled a little too lightly and that really bothered me.

Aside from those small issues, I really enjoyed the book. The action was well done, the magic was nicely explained, and while the ending did leave me with a bit of a cliffhanger, it’s not too terrible.

Final Thoughts: I can’t wait to read more of Eliza’s story. While there are a few things that turned me off a bit, I still can’t help but really like this book. Catherine’s descriptions are beautiful, her writing is wonderful and the story was just really fun. I look forward to reading more of Catherine’s works.… (mere)

In an instant I was drawn into the story without knowing what to expect, and despite some pacing issues and character incongruities, this book did not disappoint. Eliza is a cleverly drawn, quiet, rather somber 16 year old girl, living with her aunt after her mother’s disappearance with no trace some six years earlier. Rather used to being on her own, or quietly passing time with her two friends, she is intelligent and rather sharp witted despite the great loss.

A new boy arrives in school, and instantly, dreams or nightmares long forgotten are suddenly creating chaos in her life, and this new arrival to town isn’t helping matters any. Inexplicably drawn to Ren, while simultaneously repulsed by the nightmares that appear with his proximity, the story then takes a huge leap into the paranormal ride that is part roller coaster, part hesitant flirtation and wholly entertaining.

Eliza is a witch of great potential, none of which she understood until Ren is able to explain some of the story to her. From that point forward, her abilities are slowly revealed in a series of high-tension events, where Eliza must rely on wits, intuition and some basic training to survive.

Where I found some difficulties with the story was in the pacing. With only one exception, there is not a single instance where Eliza is faced with her fears or needs to use her powers that could not be wholly catastrophic for herself, or those around her. This wasn’t an immersion into witchcraft by dipping your toes in, it was tossing a non-swimmer into the deep end and expecting their wits and instinct to carry them through. With the concerted emphasis from all the senior level witches in the story extolling the virtues of ‘practice’, there wasn’t a huge emphasis spent on it. Additionally, while one of Eliza’s specific talents is the ability to erase memories, her reaction of guilt, horror and even regret felt far more appropriate than Ren’s continued insistence that it was ‘intention’ that made the difference between right and wrong in adjusting memories. Yes, the ability to bend wills did provide Eliza with a specific upside in the climactic confrontation, but as it was one of only two skills she knew well, it rather left her without choice. This constant moments of breathe in between moments of heart-stopping action and danger were jarring, and made the slower moments even more so in contrast.

This is, after all, a story that combines the reality of a teen’s life, with one of those tentative romance against convention and rules, school friends who are unknowing, and some truly unique approaches to magic, it’s history, lore and infighting that I can see many readers finding it both interesting and entertaining. Add in the specific sense and feel of the outer banks and the Gullah people, and Eliza’s ties to both; the promise of a stronger romance and more challenges and learning to come leave me curious and excited about the next book.

I received an eBook copy for the author for purpose of honest review for Full Moon Bites tours. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
… (mere)