Scan barcode
hyperashley's review against another edition
4.0
The witch being in the title was what drew me to this book in the first place. I am a huge fan of the creepy paranormal, so witches is high on my list of likes in books. This book was pretty good, not the best book I've ever read but certainly not the worse. Jordan Elizabeth is a very talented writer, this isn't the first book that I've read by her and it won't be the last. Though I did enjoy her steampunk series more this wasn't a bad book.
It did start off very slow! It took me way too long to get interested in this book, there was a moment I worried I wouldn't. Thankfully it picked up and I was able to get wrapped up in the story. I'm also not a fan of historical reads and this had that feel when it went deep into the past. It was bearable for me in this concept though so it was actually interesting instead of boring.
I really enjoyed each girls story and ended up loving the stories from the past as well as Honoria- hated her name though. Honoria was a great lead character! She was different but strong. I loved that Honoria used "damsel in distress" as a curse word. That was something I've never thought of before but really, really liked. I thought it was really cool how everyone met up, all the stories collided and it was awesome.
This was one of the most imaginative books that I have ever read. There were so many things that I did not expect when I started it. The witch was pretty scary and it's not easy to scare me. I would highly recommend this book to everyone that likes creepy, witch-y paranormal stuff. I'm really glad Jordan Elizabeth gave me a copy of this book, I am so glad I was able to read this.
For more of my reviews visit: http://www.hyperashley.com/
It did start off very slow! It took me way too long to get interested in this book, there was a moment I worried I wouldn't. Thankfully it picked up and I was able to get wrapped up in the story. I'm also not a fan of historical reads and this had that feel when it went deep into the past. It was bearable for me in this concept though so it was actually interesting instead of boring.
I really enjoyed each girls story and ended up loving the stories from the past as well as Honoria- hated her name though. Honoria was a great lead character! She was different but strong. I loved that Honoria used "damsel in distress" as a curse word. That was something I've never thought of before but really, really liked. I thought it was really cool how everyone met up, all the stories collided and it was awesome.
This was one of the most imaginative books that I have ever read. There were so many things that I did not expect when I started it. The witch was pretty scary and it's not easy to scare me. I would highly recommend this book to everyone that likes creepy, witch-y paranormal stuff. I'm really glad Jordan Elizabeth gave me a copy of this book, I am so glad I was able to read this.
For more of my reviews visit: http://www.hyperashley.com/
emitchellwrites's review against another edition
5.0
I was given this book by Ms. Mierek herself for an honest review, so ladies and gents, that’s what I’ll give.
I’ll start off by saying from the very first description of Honoria drawing on the bleachers, I was intrigued and hooked on Mierek’s word choice. That being said, at first I was thrown by Mierek’s character names. Quite a few of them were strange, even the ones based in 2001. Every time I got over one, another would crop up. It wasn’t off-putting enough that I would have put down the book mind you.
There was also an over use of the word rotting, in the beginning. She found her stride halfway through and the interesting visuals became more beautiful and in depth, but not to the point of wordy or overwrought. I was watching a film via words.
I was worried that I would get frustrated with her time jumps, I often think writers should spend more time on each before they move on. In this case, it was irritating the first two times because I wanted more, but that’s the point isn’t it? By the next few times, and until the conclusion of the book, I loved the story segments that gave us a little taste at a time. An amuse-bouche if you will.
The small plots within the overall story were effortless. Each side comment felt like there was a purpose, even if it was just to round out the character for later moments. It was a very thoughtful book.
I consumed this book in one sitting, angry at my bladder for screaming at my for the last twenty pages - I’m good at ignoring trivial things such as that though. The ending, even if you weren’t sold on the book, the ending... I can’t say those two words enough. The ending brought a little trickle of tears and had my rushing to my laptop, still ignoring my human urges, just to share with you the feelings I have for this book. I hate books with a hundred dots after them, the just in case syndrome. Or worse yet, the wrap up ending that ruined every beautiful thing that just happened. No, this ending was bittersweet, yet perfect.
To be frank, I was worried. What if I hate the book? She sent it to me and I’m reviewing it for her. If I hate it, how would I let her down gently? Well folks, that’s a question for another book.
And I hope there are more authors that find me to do this, because I had never heard of her work and that would have been my loss.
Read. This. Book.
I’ll start off by saying from the very first description of Honoria drawing on the bleachers, I was intrigued and hooked on Mierek’s word choice. That being said, at first I was thrown by Mierek’s character names. Quite a few of them were strange, even the ones based in 2001. Every time I got over one, another would crop up. It wasn’t off-putting enough that I would have put down the book mind you.
There was also an over use of the word rotting, in the beginning. She found her stride halfway through and the interesting visuals became more beautiful and in depth, but not to the point of wordy or overwrought. I was watching a film via words.
I was worried that I would get frustrated with her time jumps, I often think writers should spend more time on each before they move on. In this case, it was irritating the first two times because I wanted more, but that’s the point isn’t it? By the next few times, and until the conclusion of the book, I loved the story segments that gave us a little taste at a time. An amuse-bouche if you will.
The small plots within the overall story were effortless. Each side comment felt like there was a purpose, even if it was just to round out the character for later moments. It was a very thoughtful book.
I consumed this book in one sitting, angry at my bladder for screaming at my for the last twenty pages - I’m good at ignoring trivial things such as that though. The ending, even if you weren’t sold on the book, the ending... I can’t say those two words enough. The ending brought a little trickle of tears and had my rushing to my laptop, still ignoring my human urges, just to share with you the feelings I have for this book. I hate books with a hundred dots after them, the just in case syndrome. Or worse yet, the wrap up ending that ruined every beautiful thing that just happened. No, this ending was bittersweet, yet perfect.
To be frank, I was worried. What if I hate the book? She sent it to me and I’m reviewing it for her. If I hate it, how would I let her down gently? Well folks, that’s a question for another book.
And I hope there are more authors that find me to do this, because I had never heard of her work and that would have been my loss.
Read. This. Book.
aly36's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed this book very much. I could see it as a great movie. Honoria is a great character. Witchwood Hollow is a very creepy place but I love that too. It was a quick short read for me but I was thrilled by how creeping the book was. I can't get enough! * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
bitibuddha's review against another edition
3.0
** I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review**
It's definitely not in my typical genre but I figure, why not venture out. I had difficulty letting this one keep my attention, I'm not sure if it was the mix in the time periods, the mix of real events with fantasy or if it was the general attention span of the characters that allowed me to put it down several times. The writing was great, no complaints there...maybe just the subject matter that threw me for a loop. I'd love to see what else is to come. Maybe I'll have to read it again and revise.
It's definitely not in my typical genre but I figure, why not venture out. I had difficulty letting this one keep my attention, I'm not sure if it was the mix in the time periods, the mix of real events with fantasy or if it was the general attention span of the characters that allowed me to put it down several times. The writing was great, no complaints there...maybe just the subject matter that threw me for a loop. I'd love to see what else is to come. Maybe I'll have to read it again and revise.
krakentamer's review against another edition
4.0
Note: I was given a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. Overall, I liked this book. As a 47 y/o man, I am probably not a good representative of the target demographic. I actually read quite a bit of YA, but that's usually IN SPITE of the romance angle. The author seemed to want to try to take this into the teen romance direction a few times, but luckily, that part never really got off the ground.
This was a fun book, a little predictable, but that's not always a negative. I thought that the ending seemed to come out of left field (so, therefore, I didn't predict it :D ) - almost seemed to be a rushed job to end the book.
One other thing that I can't help but point out - this book could really use a good copyeditor to look it over. There were multiple instances of the wrong word in place (e.g. "as lease" instead of "at least"), showing that a spell check incorrectly fixed something. Other instances where a word was missing (little ones, like "of" or "to"), which, while not affecting the meaning of a phrase, did distract from the readability.
I think that this book shows that the author has real talent in coming up with an interesting plot, and I look forward to more from her.
This was a fun book, a little predictable, but that's not always a negative. I thought that the ending seemed to come out of left field (so, therefore, I didn't predict it :D ) - almost seemed to be a rushed job to end the book.
One other thing that I can't help but point out - this book could really use a good copyeditor to look it over. There were multiple instances of the wrong word in place (e.g. "as lease" instead of "at least"), showing that a spell check incorrectly fixed something. Other instances where a word was missing (little ones, like "of" or "to"), which, while not affecting the meaning of a phrase, did distract from the readability.
I think that this book shows that the author has real talent in coming up with an interesting plot, and I look forward to more from her.
supera710's review against another edition
3.0
I received a copy of Escape from Witchwood Hollow from the author in exchange for a review.
Honoria and her brother had parents that died in the towers on 9/11, so they went to live with their Aunt, moving to Arnn, NY. The folklore in Arnn is surrounding the woods known as Witchwood Hollow, where people have been known to disappear because of a witch that resides within. The story goes between the 1700's, 1800's and 2001, which added a fun back story for some of the "missing" people that happened upon the hollow. The story itself kept me interested, while a couple parts felt a little rushed or maybe had too much edited out, but it was worth the read, especially around Halloween!
Honoria and her brother had parents that died in the towers on 9/11, so they went to live with their Aunt, moving to Arnn, NY. The folklore in Arnn is surrounding the woods known as Witchwood Hollow, where people have been known to disappear because of a witch that resides within. The story goes between the 1700's, 1800's and 2001, which added a fun back story for some of the "missing" people that happened upon the hollow. The story itself kept me interested, while a couple parts felt a little rushed or maybe had too much edited out, but it was worth the read, especially around Halloween!
alexlcriddle's review against another edition
3.0
I received a free ebook copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Overall, I liked the book, and the different points of view from various time periods made the story interesting; however, I felt that the characters fell flat. More depth and exploration of many of the characters (their backgrounds, personalities, thoughts, feelings, etc.) would have made this story more enjoyable for me. I guess I just felt like a lot of the character interactions were told rather than shown. I love young adult literature, but maybe the paranormal genre isn't my cup of tea. I do believe that fans of young adult literature would enjoy this novel, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction with a paranormal twist.
storieswithsoul's review against another edition
5.0
A well written story. It is full of mystery and intrigue. Arevolves around place called Witchwood Hollow and three women from three different times. Well-developed characters and engaging circumstances makes it a good read. I enjoyed it a lot and it kept me on my toes until the very end.
Local legends state that it is haunted by a witch who doesn't let anyone leave once they entered these woods. Honoria, who has come from a big city, starts to believe in the legend. She wants to uncover the mystery behind this place and she does but not how she expected. Leon is a friend who shares her passion to learn the truth about Witchwood Hollow. Together they uncover intriguing things about the place.
I loved how the story takes us back and forth through different centuries. A lot of lives are inter-connected through one place. Acts of few people that initiated Witch's fixation of keeping people leads to ruin many life. On the other hand it connects many others. In many ways it was a tragic tale. I couldn't put it down once I started reading. There are so many twists and turn through out the book. And ending was quite unexpected, yet epic! It is a must read for fantasy lovers, a story about magic, love, hatred and revenge. Sometimes the lines are blured and it is difficult to understand which side of the story is dominating and that makes it even more interesting to read.
Local legends state that it is haunted by a witch who doesn't let anyone leave once they entered these woods. Honoria, who has come from a big city, starts to believe in the legend. She wants to uncover the mystery behind this place and she does but not how she expected. Leon is a friend who shares her passion to learn the truth about Witchwood Hollow. Together they uncover intriguing things about the place.
I loved how the story takes us back and forth through different centuries. A lot of lives are inter-connected through one place. Acts of few people that initiated Witch's fixation of keeping people leads to ruin many life. On the other hand it connects many others. In many ways it was a tragic tale. I couldn't put it down once I started reading. There are so many twists and turn through out the book. And ending was quite unexpected, yet epic! It is a must read for fantasy lovers, a story about magic, love, hatred and revenge. Sometimes the lines are blured and it is difficult to understand which side of the story is dominating and that makes it even more interesting to read.
taylorfennerwrites's review against another edition
4.0
There's no escaping this hollow... not that you'd want to
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review. This book tells an interesting story in multiple perspectives over a great length of time. It begins when Honoria moves to Arnn (I'm assuming this is upstate New York) with her brother and aunt and uncle after her parents die in the twin towers on 9/11. At school she meets two girls, Harley and Amanda, who dare her to go into "Witchwood Hollow", a forest guarded by a witch who refuses to let anyone leave once inside. Inside the forest Honoria feels a sense of peace and doesn't want to leave, but she runs home after seeing a terrifying vision. The story then shifts to Lady Elizabeth Clifford, living in the 1600s and Albertine, from 1850. Together their stories intertwined, Lady Clifford - the witch who only wants her lover back, Albertine - who only wants to escape Witchwood Hollow and return to her family, and Honoria - who with the help of a boy she develops a crush on, Leon, attempts to unravel the mysterious disappearances of Witchwood Hollow. It isn't until the last few chapters that everything clicks and you see how everything fits together. The ending was completely unexpected and for some reason made me cry (and I never cry!). This book keeps you reading it and it was hard to tear myself away from. I really enjoyed it. The only thing I disliked was how materialistic the description of people's clothing was. I understand the main character is from New York City but describing a denim jacket is all you really need to say instead of a Victoria's Secret jacket, Nike shoes, a Limited shirt, a Fredrick's of Hollywood whatever. That's the only thing that got a little old. Overall a good read.
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review. This book tells an interesting story in multiple perspectives over a great length of time. It begins when Honoria moves to Arnn (I'm assuming this is upstate New York) with her brother and aunt and uncle after her parents die in the twin towers on 9/11. At school she meets two girls, Harley and Amanda, who dare her to go into "Witchwood Hollow", a forest guarded by a witch who refuses to let anyone leave once inside. Inside the forest Honoria feels a sense of peace and doesn't want to leave, but she runs home after seeing a terrifying vision. The story then shifts to Lady Elizabeth Clifford, living in the 1600s and Albertine, from 1850. Together their stories intertwined, Lady Clifford - the witch who only wants her lover back, Albertine - who only wants to escape Witchwood Hollow and return to her family, and Honoria - who with the help of a boy she develops a crush on, Leon, attempts to unravel the mysterious disappearances of Witchwood Hollow. It isn't until the last few chapters that everything clicks and you see how everything fits together. The ending was completely unexpected and for some reason made me cry (and I never cry!). This book keeps you reading it and it was hard to tear myself away from. I really enjoyed it. The only thing I disliked was how materialistic the description of people's clothing was. I understand the main character is from New York City but describing a denim jacket is all you really need to say instead of a Victoria's Secret jacket, Nike shoes, a Limited shirt, a Fredrick's of Hollywood whatever. That's the only thing that got a little old. Overall a good read.
bibliovino's review against another edition
1.0
I was sent a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
So, I'll be honest. This book was seriously hard to get through. The story and setting were interesting. I'm not normally much of a fantasy reader, but the concept of an eternal land and a story spanning generations was solid.
But it's all in the execution. The time jumps were clunky and, overall, sophomoric. The best-drawn character was unfortunately not fleshed out in her "older" iteration so that I not only didn't make the connection of her timeline, I was actually still confused once it was explained. The main character, whose name is simply terrible, was the most fashion-obsessed "humble" person who ever fake-existed. (At one point I swore if she dropped one more brand name into the narrative I would quit reading-then she proceeded to use it as a device at least 10 times more.)
I definitely would have liked to have met some real people in this narrative, but they were all flat and uninspired. The events were too easily bookended and I was left wanting those minutes of my life back.
So, I'll be honest. This book was seriously hard to get through. The story and setting were interesting. I'm not normally much of a fantasy reader, but the concept of an eternal land and a story spanning generations was solid.
But it's all in the execution. The time jumps were clunky and, overall, sophomoric. The best-drawn character was unfortunately not fleshed out in her "older" iteration so that I not only didn't make the connection of her timeline, I was actually still confused once it was explained. The main character, whose name is simply terrible, was the most fashion-obsessed "humble" person who ever fake-existed. (At one point I swore if she dropped one more brand name into the narrative I would quit reading-then she proceeded to use it as a device at least 10 times more.)
I definitely would have liked to have met some real people in this narrative, but they were all flat and uninspired. The events were too easily bookended and I was left wanting those minutes of my life back.