Jessica Spotswood

‘’Scorn the witch. Fear the witch. Burn the witch.’’

If we substitute the word ‘’witch’’ with the word ‘’woman’’, we will be able to understand the reasons and motives behind the terrible witch-hunts that left another bloody mark in History. The complexity of women’s psyche, the direct, unbreakable contact, and bonding with Nature, the innate strength to survive, the resilience, the passion, the intelligence. Witches or not, men have always gazed upon women as a show more possession. If she cannot be ‘’obtained’’, if she resists then she has a mind of her own. How dare she? She must be dancing with demons and lying with Satan. Fundamentalism and society have long found a way to justify the wrongs committed by men.

This beautiful collection contains stories of young witches from different eras and nationalities. Focusing on the themes of revenge and injustice, these tales are told through the eyes of young women who try to cope with their gift, their heritage and their feelings in communities that are unable to understand and to accept. Naturally, not every story is a gem and there are some that are too YA influenced for my taste but this is a collection that has a lot to offer to the reader regardless of age or gender.

Starsong by Tehlor Kay Mejia: A teenage astrologer who uses social media to draw charts and chase her demons away. Beautiful writing, interesting debate between science and magic.

Afterbirth by Andrea Cremer: A story of a birth going horribly wrong for a woman who was a midwife and a healer, set during the era of the Witch Trials. One of the finest stories in the collection.

The Heart In Her Hands by Tess Sharpe: A young witch goes against the will of the Elders in order to remain with her true soulmate. I can’t say I enjoyed this story. It seemed too naive and copy-pasted from teenage films.

Death In The Sawtooths by Lindsay Smith: In a city echoing New Orleans, in a community of witches and warlocks, a young woman serving the Lady of Death accepts the confessions of the dead in a macabre role of the Last Messenger. This was a story that started exceptionally well but lost focus and quality along the way. Still, it was very atmospheric and memorable if you overlook the naive, mundane, unnecessary use of certain supernatural creatures that seem to be fashionable because of that atrocious ‘’Walking Dead’’ (or whatever it’s called…) thing.

The Truth About Queenie by Brandy Colbert: Teenage sentimental problems mixed with racial issues may sound interesting to many readers but not to me. Add cliche dialogue and a predictable, cringe-worthy plot and this easily becomes an ugly piece of writing judged by my personal standards.

The Moonapple Menagerie by Shveta Thakrar: Moonlight and Indian culture is a beautiful combination but the dialogue in this one was jarringly irritating.

The Legend of Stone Mary by Robin Talley: A story whose roots go back to the Civil War era. A tale of witches, witch-hunters and a frightening statue. But for the silly love plot, it would have been marvelous.

The One Who Stayed by Nova Ren Suma: This story read like a predictable, ridiculous horror film about cruel teenagers with a little bit of ghost revenge to add another cliche in the mixture. No…

Divine Are The Stars by Zenaida Córdova: A story of family, loyalty, magic, and faith mixed with elements of the Mexican culture. Extremely well-written and atmospheric.

‘’I just want to bite a hole in the world. I wish I could stop smiling at things I hate. Sometimes I wish I never learned.’’

Daughters of Baba Yaga by Brenna Yovanoff: A story of a powerful witch-girl of Russian heritage. A haunting setting and one of the finest moments in the collection.
P.S. I adored the references on Nikola Tesla.

‘’The moon is full, and even the stars are scared of me.’’

The Well Witch by Kate Hart: ‘’But she would leave a light on like she’d promised. If she had to burn the whole thing down.’’
This story is so perfect it deserves its own novel. Elsa is a one-of-a-kind character in a tale of ruthless men during the Reconstruction era. A water witch, love, bravery and Comanche traditions. My favourite story in the collection.

Beware of Girls With Crooked Mouths by Jessica Spotswood: A witch family from Scotland, each girl dedicated to an element. But the daughters don’t live long except for one. Only one will survive. The witches go mad. They murder their sisters as the Book commands. And they have obeyed for hundreds of years. Now a young witch has decided they must defy the tradition. A brilliant story possibly set in the Regency era.

‘’As I thought of these things, I caught la Virgen in the corner of my vision. Beneath Her blue veil, She cast her eyes to the church floor. But Her lips held a small smile, as though She will always see the love we carry in our hearts long before we understand it to be there.’’

Love Spell by Anna-Marie McLemore: A story rich in Mexican traditions. A tale of a strange love between two seemingly opposing worlds. Beautiful and moving.

The Gherin Girls by Emery Lord: A story of sisterly love, abuse, and isolation set during the fall equinox. The problem is that the writing was so naive, so dull that I just didn’t care.

Why They Watch Us Burn by Elizabeth May: An alternative USA where rape victims become outcasts, looked upon as temptresses who provoked ‘’honest’’ men. They have to be taken away, otherwise, they will contaminate the ‘’purity’’ of the society. Although atmospheric and haunting at parts, I felt that this context has been overused to death and I don’t believe that its remarks on religion added anything innovative. A story clearly inspired by Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and the awful, ridiculously Hollywood-esque TV series that tried (in vain) to bring an excellent book to life. A mediocre story, in my opinion.

It was lovely to read each writer’s favourite literary witch and I was excited to see that Morgan Le Fay was the most popular choice.

My two complaints are the occasional teenage writing that echoed TV series, films and possibly books devoid of quality and substance, and the emphasis on sex as a form of emancipation. I don’t agree with the ones who view this as an exploration of sexual identity. This isn’t how it’s done. In my opinion, sex and sexual preferences do not make us rebels or emancipated, feisty and independent. Our personality, intelligence, and intellectuality do that. Sex has nothing to do with who we are as people. However, I definitely appreciated the diversity and honesty of the themes in the stories. I wish certain tales had made better use of such strong elements.

Apart from these issues, this is a collection to be read by all. And if I ever have a daughter, I will definitely include this book in my recommended reading list to her.

‘’My witch is furious and ferocious. She doesn’t grant wishes. But if you do what she says and treat her right, she just might help you. In the stories, there’s always a catch, though, right? The catch is this - her way of helping is HER way. Sometimes the way she helps you is by raining fire on all your enemies.’’

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com show less

Read more at The Flyleaf Review

Opening Line:

My mother was a witch, too, but she hid it better.

My Take On It

Oh, how I love a good witch story friends! And frankly, it's been a long while since I read one that really nailed it. Then along came Born Wicked. It's got the things I like best in a witchy story but also has a few elements that make it completely unique and all it's own.

It would probably be best to start with that "unique" element: the setting and time frame. Born Wicked is show more written as an alternate history, taking place in Maine, around the year 1890. Many of the customs of the Victorian Age are present in Spotswood's story, loads of repressed sexuality, chaperones, calling cards and formal teas. But in this world, the New England community where the Cahill sisters reside is under the control of a group of religious leaders known as The Brotherhood. At some point in the past, the Brotherhood began systematically exterminating and imprisoning witches. Afterwards, the Brotherhood set up up a strict code of ethics and mandated laws that all members of society must follow, or else risk being persecuted themselves. The Brotherhood reminds me of the Puritans who are, of course, well known for their own persecution of witchcraft in New England during the 1600 and 1700's. In addition to their views on witchcraft, the Brothers advocate the complete repression of women, they are not allowed to go to college, or hold professions, and they are to remain pure, chaste and virtuous. Anything less arouses their suspicion and it is obvious how much the townspeople fear them and the power they hold.

At the center of the tale is Cate Cahill, the eldest sister. Cate is practical, sensible and fiercely protective of her other sister's who are, like Cate and their mother before them, witches. Cate made a deathbed promise to her mother that she would look out for her sisters and keep them safe from those who would do them harm. At the age of sixteen, Cate has shouldered this responsibility and kept their family secret from everyone, even their own father (who remains largely absent throughout most of the book.) To make matters even more complicated, Cate is coming to the age where she must decide if she will marry or join the Sisterhood, a religious sect that is sort of the female equivalent of the Brotherhood. At the story's start, Cate's old childhood friend Paul has returned from the city, after being gone the last three years. Rumor has it Paul has come home to ask for Cate's hand in marriage. Though Cate should be thrilled about this prospect, a new gardener, Finn, has started working for the family, and Cate finds herself growing closer to him at the same time.

It is easy to sympathize with Cate and her situation, and one of the ways that Spotswood helps the reader do this is by the first person narration. With every exchange Cate has with her sisters, Paul and Finn, and the other characters in the book, her thoughts are subsequently laid bare for the reader to interpret. Because of this, Cate's outward bossiness and coldness is is actually counterbalanced with her inner doubts, insecurities and fears which she always tries to hide in an effort to appear in control. I really liked this duality in her character and it made me appreciate even more the times when she did open up and allow someone closer to her.

While Cate is realistic and rational in her role as caretaker to her younger sisters, Maura, nearly three years her junior, is a flurry of emotions and recklessness. Cate's every thought about her future is entwined with the welfare of her sisters, but Maura just wants out. She's tired of having to control and tamp down her magic, and she longs for new experiences and new places away from the Brotherhood. She often appears to be selfish and concerned only with her own desires, but she does share a closeness with her sisters in spite of their differences.

Tess is the youngest sister, but somehow has a maturity that makes her seem much older. Her role isn't as large as Cate and Maura's but she seems wise for her years, and is very observant. I think (and hope) that her presence in future books will grow to be much more important.

Adding to the tension in the family, their father has been talked into hiring a governess from the Sisterhood for the girls in an effort to prepare them for their adult roles in society and help curb the rumors that have begun in town that they are "bluestockings," too educated and outspoken for their own good. The introduction of governess Elena to the house only makes things worse between Cate and Maura, who is awestruck by Elena.

There are a TON of twists and turns in the plot, and as the story progresses it becomes very clear that all is not as it seems. I can say that there were parts of the story that genuinely took me by surprise and by the end of the book I wasn't sure who could be trusted anymore. It also becomes clear that nothing is black or white, and that the things Cate believed to be benevolent may in fact be as dangerous as those she she thought to be bad. Because this is the first book in a planned trilogy, there are lots of unanswered questions and loose threads EVERYWHERE, but I have faith that Jessica Spotswood will reveal all before it's said and done.

Now, if the topsy turvy alternate world (here Middle Eastern women, instead of Western women, have the most freedoms and liberties AND are at the height of fashion!) or all the intricate plot twists weren't enough, how about a pretty hot and steamy romance? Because Born Wicked has that too, IN SPADES. So there is a bit of a love triangle going on, mostly due to the fact that Cate can't decide whether to follow her head or follow her heart. It becomes clear pretty quickly on which path she will decide, and wow, can Jessica Spotswood write a love scene! Here is just a small tidbit for you:

" It's only when I taste salt that I realize tears are running in a silent river down my face, dripping off my chin, and onto the cold stone floor.
He's still clasping my hand and he reaches out and wipes a tear away with the soft pad of his thumb.
How did he know I was crying? He can't see in the dark, and I never cry.
His thumb slips down over my cheek and rests softly, sweetly, on the curve of my bottom lip.
"It's all right," he says. He's so close that his warm breath tickles my neck.
I turn and nestle my hot face into the soft cotton of his shirt. He smells of rainy spring days and old books. His hands move to my back and hover there, tentative, as if he expects me to push him away.
I have never been this close to a man before.
Something stirs deep, pulsing through my body, and its quite like the tug of magic, but it's not the magic; this is something entirely different, just between he and I and this moment."

I substituted "him" and "he" above so as not to give anything away, and let me just say that it gets even better (and hotter) but you will have read it for yourself:)

The above passage also makes references to magic, and though this is a book about witches, there are no spells, or chanting or circles to be found, other than a few words of command in Latin (think Harry Potter: Expelliarmus! or Expecto Patronum!) I rather like this about the book, it set a different tone to their magical abilities, making it feel more as if the magic is a part of who they are, not a skill that they have acquired.

All in all I really enjoyed Born Wicked. I thought the family dynamic between the sisters was well written; I thought the author did a great job transporting the reader to this alternate world, I was totally rankled by the Brotherhood and oppressive society they advocated. I fell for the guy right alongside Cate, and cheered on their blossoming romance. And I was caught off guard more than a few times throughout the course of the book, many times catching myself exclaiming "Not her too!" A word of warning however, it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and it looks like book two in the series won't be released until spring of 2013. So I'll be waiting anxiously Ms. Spotswood, waiting to see what else you have in store for Cate and the rest of the Cahill clan.

4/5 Stars show less

I don’t mind a triangle if I feel genuinely torn between the two options, but in this book, as in so many other books, it seemed obvious who Cate most clicked with so the other love interest appeared somewhat unnecessary, and the story kind of treated him that way as well, offering little closure on that relationship despite his importance in Cate’s life.

I would have preferred ditching that other love interest altogether and instead give his pages to youngest sister, Tess. The brief show more glimpses I got of her, hearing about her love of baking, seeing how measured and thoughtful she is, she came across as genuinely likeable and interesting even though she didn’t feature prominently here, so hopefully going forward in the trilogy, she’s a bigger part of it.

I enjoyed how the sisters’ magic is sometimes tied in to emotions, but I did have an issue with the most powerful magic in the story, situations where the sisters either waited longer than made sense to wield that magic or they didn’t use that magic at all which made even less sense when they were the more powerful entity and using that magic would have solved the problem. I realize that solving problems that early on in a trilogy leaves little need for books 2 and 3, so if this was meant to be a longer story then maybe don’t give them that level of power in the first book, wait until later in the trilogy for them to develop it or something, because it just seemed so, so questionable that someone wouldn’t use the one big weapon at their disposal when their freedom is on the line. It’s annoying to watch a character sacrfice themselves as if there were no other option when there quite clearly was a far more proactive option via that magic.

I also didn’t really understand why Cate needed to keep so many secrets from her sisters, like my issue with the magic, it seemed like it was more about prolonging the story rather than happening for a legit reason. Cate’s mantra the whole way through the story is to protect her sisters, yet she holds back information that could shape their choices and therefore protect them?

I’ve done more complaining than praising in this review, which isn’t entirely fair, I did like the romance even if it was a little rushed, I also liked that the relationship between the sisters is sometimes contentious and I liked the 1900’s setting and The Crucible-like situation these women and witches are struggling against, it does make for high stakes conflict. I was never bored, always entertained, I liked most of the characters, and was pleased by an unexpected friendship Cate forms, too. I absolutely intend to continue on with this trilogy, there’s a lot of potential here, it’s just that there were some aspects of this first book that didn’t entirely add up. show less

A satisfying, well-written end to this trilogy.

This picks up where the second book left off, it’s near Christmas, Finn’s memory is erased, sisters Maura and Cate are intensely feuding, there’s infighting among the witches, and all women are increasingly under fire, their lives endangered by the brotherhood. It’s filled with escalating tension and high-stakes action, and when the story takes a turn or a character does, it’s believable, not forced.

Romance isn’t hugely prominent in show more this novel, which I was good with, given everything that’s going on in the story, it would have seemed odd if characters were overly focused on their love lives, I think the balance was pretty much just right, the complication in Cate’s relationship is well-paced, and the couple other pairings that materialize here, although not delved into that much, were hinted at enough to feel the chemistry and hope they’d work out.

Tess and Maura’s personalities and arcs were as interesting to me as POV sister Cate’s, so part of me will always wish this trilogy had been told through all three sisters (even if Maura is tough to like a lot of the time), still I did think in this third book the author excelled at conveying what everyone experienced emotionally even though we were limited to seeing the other characters through Cate’s eyes. I’m going to be vague here for fear of spoilers, but the moments that were supposed to really hit the reader, genuinely do. show less