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shuller's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the generational history of this family that was told. I want to like this book more than I did but it took me a while to get though and felt like a slog.
fireye's review
Small vignettes of a family history through the views of the witch of the family is an interesting premise that is only successful to a point. These women seem to be naturals at using herbs and roots for natural remedies and sometimes a little bit more. But for generations these women rarely use their "power" and when they do, they only use this "power" for their own personal needs but Read this if you like small micro-histories of fictional matriarch families or the idea of witches but go in knowing the beginning is more successful than the end.
Spoiler
then all of a sudden they are powerful enough to influence the allies during WWII leading to victory in Europe?! Oh and Queen Elizabeth is a witch?! Oh and they were able to prevent bombs from exploding?! I don't buy it - not that I'm not willing to suspend my disbelief in witchcraft (I love Deborah Harkness' "A Discovery of Witches", for example) but that all of a sudden we're influencing history and using the "power" to help humanity as a whole?!chelseamayohmy's review
3.0
I wish this book had been split up by generations. A series would have been better. The timeline was so swift was hard to really feel for the characters. The story was shallow and really lacked depth. The idea was amazing, but it was very anticlimactic.
sarahmallette's review against another edition
3.0
I did like this book but I grew tired of the same story lines, spells, etc. I also wanted someone to fully come into their magic which never really happened.
viccore's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 -- not because it was particularly bad but because I feel it was just a bit lacking.
I've always loved generation-spanning novels and being able to regard a character in different stages of life. I love that it followed a maternal line and I loved seeing history repeat and reflect on itself. I did like most of the characters though I do agree with the criticism that it doesn't feel like much changes from generation to generation. Each daughter was either a direct foil to their mother or repeated the same narrative structure as before. My other gripe was that I wanted the timeline to push into more modern times as well, so as it currently ends it feels premature or just a bit like a wasted opportunity. Still, it's a decent read and fast as well so if you pick up a copy at a library it would be a fun three days.
I've always loved generation-spanning novels and being able to regard a character in different stages of life. I love that it followed a maternal line and I loved seeing history repeat and reflect on itself. I did like most of the characters though I do agree with the criticism that it doesn't feel like much changes from generation to generation. Each daughter was either a direct foil to their mother or repeated the same narrative structure as before. My other gripe was that I wanted the timeline to push into more modern times as well, so as it currently ends it feels premature or just a bit like a wasted opportunity. Still, it's a decent read and fast as well so if you pick up a copy at a library it would be a fun three days.
manderjean75886's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Extremely repetitive plot. Follows five generations and only one out of the five has a unique plot.
naddice's review against another edition
4.0
This book took me a very long time to finish. It was incredibly well-written with a lot of tiny details so it wasn’t a “breeze through it” kind of book. I actually think I need to go back and reread it because I’m sure there are pieces that I missed. I love how not all of them are “good witches”. I had to take a step back and remind myself that sometimes people are just despicable humans. It made me even happier to be able to imagine a happy ending after so much heartbreak. This book will absolutely not be headed to the secondhand store! It will be a permanent fixture in my library. 4.5 stars