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lindseygray11's review
4.0
4.5 Stars!
Welcome to Edgehill! The cat-themed town has many things to offer. A junior fashion show? Check! Shops with cat-related names, ie The Quirky Whisker, Purrcolated, The Catty Melt? Check! A descendant from a line of cursed witches out for vengeance and a spell that could change history? Check!
Only weeks since her best friend was murdered and the local police chief caught her doing magic, Amber Blackwood’s life is set spinning once again. This time one of the Penhallows, a curse line of witches, is out for her blood. The problem with cursed magic is it works opposite of a normal spell and leaves a sticky trail once used. Also, a Penhallow can mimic the appearance and voice of anyone they choose. When another murder occurs with what Amber assumes is a Penhallow signature, living in Edgehill becomes deadly.
Jackson’s journey into the world of Edgehill is slightly different than in the first installment of the series, Pawsitively Poisonous. While the first story was a who done it, this story is about imminent danger. While Amber, along with her sister, Willow, and aunt, Gretchen, try to stay alive and fight a force that can come in any form, they also have to deal with each other and the past misdeeds of the family.
I love how Jackson grows Amber, not only as an adult, but as a witch as well. We see a different side of her in this novel. While she is still grieving her best friend, she does step out to have some fun and a budding romance. Love and friendship can’t save the Blackwood sisters, only a look into the past of their parents shows them the way to save their future. After the tremendous leaps Amber makes with her powers in this story, I can’t wait to see what she will do next in the third installment of this fascinating series, Pawsitively Secretive!
I received Pawsitively Cursed for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Welcome to Edgehill! The cat-themed town has many things to offer. A junior fashion show? Check! Shops with cat-related names, ie The Quirky Whisker, Purrcolated, The Catty Melt? Check! A descendant from a line of cursed witches out for vengeance and a spell that could change history? Check!
Only weeks since her best friend was murdered and the local police chief caught her doing magic, Amber Blackwood’s life is set spinning once again. This time one of the Penhallows, a curse line of witches, is out for her blood. The problem with cursed magic is it works opposite of a normal spell and leaves a sticky trail once used. Also, a Penhallow can mimic the appearance and voice of anyone they choose. When another murder occurs with what Amber assumes is a Penhallow signature, living in Edgehill becomes deadly.
Jackson’s journey into the world of Edgehill is slightly different than in the first installment of the series, Pawsitively Poisonous. While the first story was a who done it, this story is about imminent danger. While Amber, along with her sister, Willow, and aunt, Gretchen, try to stay alive and fight a force that can come in any form, they also have to deal with each other and the past misdeeds of the family.
I love how Jackson grows Amber, not only as an adult, but as a witch as well. We see a different side of her in this novel. While she is still grieving her best friend, she does step out to have some fun and a budding romance. Love and friendship can’t save the Blackwood sisters, only a look into the past of their parents shows them the way to save their future. After the tremendous leaps Amber makes with her powers in this story, I can’t wait to see what she will do next in the third installment of this fascinating series, Pawsitively Secretive!
I received Pawsitively Cursed for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
prichand's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
byssi's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kindredspirit7's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lynguy1's review
5.0
PAWSITIVELY CURSED by Melissa Erin Jackson is a well-written supernatural cozy mystery. While this is the second book in the Witch of Edgehill series, it worked well as a standalone novel.
The story takes place in the fictional town of Edgehill, Oregon where witch Amber Blackwood has resided all of her life. She is considered reclusive and a bit odd by the townspeople and runs a shop called the Quirky Whisker that has her small studio apartment above it. She makes and sells magically infused toys that people believe are mechanical.
Fourteen years ago her parents were killed in a fire and Amber believes they were killed by a witch from the cursed Penhallow clan. Amber’s aunt Gretchen and sister Willow show up unexpectedly early for a town event. With this scenario the story is off and running.
The book had a protagonist that was appealing, supporting characters that were delightful or antagonistic and scenes that were bittersweet, suspenseful, engaging and/or heartbreaking.
While this novel has some quirky characters and a murder that you might expect to read in a cozy mystery, it also has some underlying themes that are explored. They include secrets, family dynamics, isolation due to being different and the inability of so many to accept those that are not quite like them. These extra themes are what pushed the rating to a 5 star rating for me.
While this is the first book I have read by Melissa Erin Jackson, I look forward to reading more of her suspenseful, thought-provoking and enjoyable novels. Overall, I was immediately drawn into the story and highly entertained.
Many thanks to Ringtail Press / Xpresso Book Tours, Melissa Erin Jackson and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
The story takes place in the fictional town of Edgehill, Oregon where witch Amber Blackwood has resided all of her life. She is considered reclusive and a bit odd by the townspeople and runs a shop called the Quirky Whisker that has her small studio apartment above it. She makes and sells magically infused toys that people believe are mechanical.
Fourteen years ago her parents were killed in a fire and Amber believes they were killed by a witch from the cursed Penhallow clan. Amber’s aunt Gretchen and sister Willow show up unexpectedly early for a town event. With this scenario the story is off and running.
The book had a protagonist that was appealing, supporting characters that were delightful or antagonistic and scenes that were bittersweet, suspenseful, engaging and/or heartbreaking.
While this novel has some quirky characters and a murder that you might expect to read in a cozy mystery, it also has some underlying themes that are explored. They include secrets, family dynamics, isolation due to being different and the inability of so many to accept those that are not quite like them. These extra themes are what pushed the rating to a 5 star rating for me.
While this is the first book I have read by Melissa Erin Jackson, I look forward to reading more of her suspenseful, thought-provoking and enjoyable novels. Overall, I was immediately drawn into the story and highly entertained.
Many thanks to Ringtail Press / Xpresso Book Tours, Melissa Erin Jackson and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
the_lyon_reads_tonight's review
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
modernwysewoman's review
4.0
This was a really great witchy read. Amber was a fantastic protagonist and I really felt for her and all the heartache she has faced. I really enjoyed the cosy mystery element to this book to.
captainlyx's review
3.0
3.5 stars - umm...tone shift, anyone? The plot seems more detailed and darker, and we get a lot more information about family histories. There are more twists and surprises. Honestly, it is almost like the books are from two different series or written by two different authors. I still don't have a firm grip on the characters - I would like to see a little more depth there. and the love triangle, but not love triangle weirdness was distracting. Overall, I liked it, but still feel a little confused over the tone shift - am I going to get something completely different if I pick up the third book?