Reviews

Born Wicked, by Jessica Spotswood

randijeanreads's review against another edition

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5.0

This is my new favorite book! I loved it!

erinicorn's review against another edition

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5.0

I absolutely loved this book! I loved the characters and I loved how well developed they were. The setting was really interesting to read about, and it was terrible how women were treated. The way the magic was told about was wonderful, and all the things they could do was amazing. I loved the style of writing and how a lot was explained, even though it was told entirely in Cate's point-of-view. I read a measly 3½ books over my 8-day vacation, and this one only took me 1 day to read, which is impressive considering it took me just over 2 days to read The Hunger Games.

essie13's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5
Llevaba mucho tiempo queriendo leerlo pero cuando por fin lo abrí no era lo que esperaba. Un inicio muy introductorio, lento y pesado en el que introducen poco a poco a los personajes, a las protagonistas y su situación.
El libro nos presenta una sociedad alternativa en New England, en el siglo XIX en el que una sociedad de hombres controla todo y censura cualquier comportamiento que se salga de lo que ellos digan, como la brujería. Cate, Maura y Tess son tres brujas que deben mantener su secreto a toda costa porque si les descubren pueden acabar encerradas de por vida, pero mantener ese secreto es cada vez más difícil para ellas por las diversas situaciones que se crean. Cate prometió a su madre, antes de morir, que cuidaría a sus hermanas pero ha llegado el momento en que decisiones difíciles hay que tomar para cumplir esa promesa.

La historia es original, con una sociedad muy machista y reprimida, unos personajes muy diversos y situaciones estrambóticas.
De los personajes destacaría las tres hermanas, muy diferentes entre ellas y muy bien desarrolladas. Paul lo destacaría como personaje plano, es previsible y no se ve en él ningún cambio en todo el libro.
El machismo que aparece en el libro es remarcable porque muestra una clara lucha contra el y la opresión que este lleva consigo. Hay comentarios muy duros pero la autora sabe disuadirlos con pensamientos opuestos o acciones contrarias.
Las relaciones amorosas son tópicos muy bien llevados porque podrían cansar pero me mantuvieron atada al libro con ganas de saber más.

Spoiler La relación entre Maura y Elena fue sorprendente. No esperaba encontrar una relación así en una novela juvenil ambientada en el siglo XIX. Sin duda, una aportación maravillosa. Pero el desengaño amoroso hace que se pierda la chispa de la relación.
La relación de Finn, Cate y Paul es un tópico de la literatura juvenil pero la autora ha sabido dejar poco a poco a Paul atrás convirtiéndolo en un romance entre Finn y Cate. Me agradó mucho que ella no le diera vueltas -no demasiadas- a la cabeza sobre los dos hombres.
Maura es un personaje que al principio me hacía gracia, me gustaba mucho pero que poco a poco se fue haciendo más insoportable y al final ya cansaba. No era necesario que discutieran Cate y ella por todo.
Y Cate, que sin duda podría haber resuelto más de una situación sin tanto lío. Sobre el tema de la profecía y la magia, creo que le daba demasiadas vueltas a la cabeza.


Del libro destaco su ambientación y la historia en sí y lo que menos destaco son los personajes.

aheartenflamed's review against another edition

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4.0



Where to begin... I enjoyed this book much, much more than I was originally expecting to when I first started it. It took me a couple of days (in between work and starting a fresh semester at university) to actually get deep enough into the story that all I wanted to do was sit and read it because when I wasn't reading it, all I could do was think about it. Although this story follows it's typical YA predecessors (girl thinks she'll never fall in love, girl meets not one but two boys and both proceed to vie for her attention, with one undoubtably winning over the readers heart right along with that of his heroine) I couldn't help but enjoy the character of Cate Cahill. She's strong minded, stubborn, witty and wants nothing more than to protect the secret that she and her sisters Maura and Tess hold - they're witches.

This isn't your typical YA paranormal romance, I'd go so far as to argue it almost not paranormal at all simply by the setting of which it takes place. When we meet Cate and her two sisters it's the early 1800's just outside New London. Witches are not burned at the stake but they are hunted and those believed of witchery are locked away in mental institutions and jails under the watchful eye of The Brothers, men who rule the town and it's surrounding area under the word of the Lord. Cate and her sisters were born from that of a witch, but their Mother died of sickness a few years prior to the start of this story leaving Cate and her absentee father (although a professor and considered prominent within the town, he's not home much to tend to the needs of his growing daughters) to raise the two younger Cahill girls. Cate has taken on the roll of Mother to her younger siblings and wants to make sure none of them are ever accused of witch craft as they watch girls from their town wrongly accused of the act and dragged off screaming and crying, often never to be heard from again.

It isn't until Cate finds her mothers diary that she learns of the prophecy she must come to terms with. In the meantime, her best friend Paul returns from his adventures in New London with a clear desire to ask for Cate's hand in marriage, which would be all well and fine if it weren't for the bookseller's son Finn...

This book left me wanting more, it drives me crazy that I have to wait until next year to find out what happens to Cate, her sisters and both the men in her life (particularly Finn). The twist at the end was not something I saw coming and left me feeling a little "oh no she ~didn't" when I finished on the train ride into school today.

If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend it! Jessica Spotswood gives us a fantastic debut novel that will leave you feeling, just a little bit, wicked.

catherine_dalton08's review against another edition

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dark sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

gabbyreadswithtea's review against another edition

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2.0

I don't really like books in this era, so i guess that is why i didn't really like this one. i really don't like how she gave up everything for her sister. it wasn't her fault! and the same this would happen, anyway, if she just went and married Finn. Sooooooo, disappointed.

I reccommend this book for people who like Witches, Old era kind of books (Where girls would be caught dead in a pair of trousers :) and people who like YA Fantasy Fiction.

nykare's review against another edition

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5.0

Very good.

I am not very fond of witches and their stories, but I liked it.

The characters are well developed and the story isn't really predictable.

andervic000's review against another edition

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5.0

You should read this book if you are looking for a fun novel with witchcraft, sisterhood, and romance. I loved the tension that was created between magic and society. I also loved each of the sisters and their personalities. This novel is a slower pace, but I liked the characters enough to make it worth it. I am excited to see how the magic and prophecy play out in the next book.


Full review: https://andervic000.wixsite.com/taanderson/post/born-wicked-by-jessica-spotswood

shiiddytiiddy's review against another edition

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5.0

I’ve read this twice now and both times absolutely loves it ... highly underrated series for sure

luciemtss's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25