Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles Series #1)

Loved this!

Was given this book as a gift, as it is not one I would have typically chosen myself - and I'm so glad I read it!
Excellent storyline and expertly written. I grew to love the characters and I never wanted to put this book down.
This is book 1 of a trilogy and I'm bummed I have to wait to start the next book.
Never heard of this author before but she sure has my attention now.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Character Driven Great Start to a New Series

I was so looking forward to reading Born Wicked from the moment I heard about it and it did not disappoint. The more I think about the story, the more I like it. The story opens right away with magic, no holding back here. And anyone that reads my reviews know how I love my characters and the characters drive this story. The addition of the Brotherhood and the Sisterhood adds some scare and dread factor for the girls. There are a few mysteries to the story that were easy to guess and it was logical for things to go in that direction, I just wish that it would have been more surprising in those aspects. Even with that I still loved the storyline and the idea behind it all. I was left wondering where the story would go from the ending and how it will affect each of the sisters and the other characters that were featured more prominently. Yes, I will absolutely, definitely be reading the next book in the series.

Reviewed by Jessica for Book Sake.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

AMAZING! soomething unexpectecd. it was the first time that i re

AMAZING! soomething unexpectecd. it was the first time that i read a book where the story line was in the olden days. i love the whoe concept of the book. i cant wait to read whats next!!!!!
BUY IT(:

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Fantastic Read!

I decided to read Born Wicked at the insistence of a fellow blogger. I am SO glad I let her talk me into reading the book. I love novels about witches, and this one was just fantastic.

The story centers around a young girl named Cate, and her two sisters, who are witches. Witches are absolutely forbidden by the Brotherhood. When caught, most are either put to death, sentenced to a prison ship, or put into an institution. Because of this, Cate must keep herself and her sister’s safe at all cost, and from everyone.

Poor Cate; she had so many responsibilities and at such a young age. I definitely sympathized with the choices that she was forced to make, and with such heavy burdens heaped on her shoulders. But I found her to be a very strong character, and I really enjoyed reading about her. I found the sisters, Maura and Tess to be quite likeable as well, although Maura not quite as much as Tess. Tess was awesome!

Cate has two love interests in the story; Paul and Finn. I adore the relationship between Finn and Cate. Finn was such a very interesting character; I thought that he and Cate made such a great pair. I loved that he was willing to do whatever he had to do to keep Cate safe. I love Finn! Paul on the other hand, seemed a bit sneaky to me. I know he had to be up to something, but I couldn’t put my finger on what.

The Brotherhood sounds like an absolutely horrible association. Just reading about them gave me the creeps, and I held my breath hoping that they wouldn’t catch on to the girl’s secrets. The Sisterhood, which is an affiliation with the Brotherhood, didn’t sound much better either.

The storyline for the book was highly addictive, and the pacing was absolutely perfect. My attention was held throughout the book, and I finished most of it in a few hours time. I absolutely loved the historical setting for the story. The world building was wonderful, I could clearly imagine myself having tea parties and hanging out in Cate’s special garden.

Overall, this book is definitely worth the read. I am SO glad that my awesome blogger friend, Kathy, insisted that I read the book as soon as possible. I am officially hooked on this series, and cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.

Happy Reading!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Awesome new witch series on the horizon!

What an amazing plot with great characters and smooth writing! Never a dull moment, full of life, love, magic, sadness and disappointment. Beautiful setting and such an interesting story! You will not want to put this book down once you get to know the witch sisters. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Amazing book!

I picked up this book anticipating it. I was so excited to read something fresh and new. It gave me exactly what I wanted .The feel of history flowing through my fingers as I turned each page.

What I loved most about this book is the plot line. I love historical books. Falling into the shoes of Cate and seeing everything she is, is wonderful. I loved the description of the town, the minor characters and the history that is going on at the moment. The plot pacing is perfect as the reader follows along with the sisters, discovering dark secrets hidden from them.

I really adored the love interest. It was sweet and pure. With this love, the reader gets to see it form right before your eyes. I love watching two people fall in love. And with the obstacles facing both of them it just makes me want to root them on!

Now, the ending! UGH!!! Such a good and shocking ending. I mean wow! I did not see that coming since she had already made up her mind, but WOW! Yeah, my mouth dropped open on that tidbit.

Overall, Born Wicked is an entertaining, magical, surprising novel. Born Wicked tantalize it's readers with well written dialogue. A worthy novel from start to finish, Born Wicked is impressive.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Reminiscent of Salem, Get lost in the Hunt!

It’s 1896 in a world reminiscent of Salem, a world where witches are hunted, imprisoned, enslaved—or they just disappear. And right in the middle of it all—the Cahill sisters, Cate, Maura, and Tess.

The fate of the world rests on these three Witches and one clandestine prophecy.

This is the first paranormal romance I’ve read that is set in the past, and at first, I didn’t know if I would enjoy it or not. The first few chapters were very slow, and while it was interesting to see how life was during this time (the petticoats, tea time, misogynistic attitudes toward women), I didn’t know if it was going to keep me interested enough to finish; however, once I passed the first four chapters, I was hooked. The mystery reeled me in, and I rushed through because I absolutely had to see how it was going to end.

I loved the idea that there is a trio of sister witches. I mean, I grew up with 2 sisters, who, like me, wished they had magical powers. I won’t give anything away, either, but I found that the sister’s personalities echoed our own. Cate, like Amy, is the bossy one—sorry Amy. Maura, like me, is the troublesome one. And Tess, like Britt, is the know-it-all. This made their relationships seems very real to me.

I really enjoyed getting to know Cate, the oldest of the three sisters and the pov from which the book is written. As her mother was dying, she pleaded to Cate to watch over her sisters, to protect them. As a result, Cate had to push back her desire to just be a teenager and become the woman of the house. All is well until Cate turns 17, when she has to announce who she will marry or join the Sisterhood convent. With this date looming very near in the future, Cate starts to panic not only about which to choose, but how to keep her sisters safe. This is the part of Cate I loved—seeing her struggle made me connect with her, and I found myself wishing I was a witch in her world so I could help!

But, of course, my favorite part was the boys. There are two again, and I adore me a good love triangle! If there are two hot guys in a book, I break out into my happy dance.

First, there’s Paul—the childhood friend turned gentlemen who comes home from New London to court Cate. He’s charming, rugged, and rich. Cate has adored Paul since she was a child, and she knows that he would be the perfect man for her to marry. Only, she struggles to choose because there is another man who has also caught her attention.

Finn. Oh, Finn, I absolutely love him. He’s the gardener (who knows nothing about gardening) and he and his mother own the bookshop in town (which is the subject of scrutiny from the Brotherhood—the religious sect hunting witches). Cate feels connected to Finn on a deep level, and you will love to see how the romance unfolds!

I loved the romance and the mystery in Born Wicked. There are many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, and the prophecy is a doozy! I keep going over and over again in my mind how I think the prophecy will play out—especially after the cliffhanger ending! In fact, I’m troubled (more than troubled, let’s say outright in turmoil) that I have to wait a full year for book 2 to come out!

With the history of The Crucible, the magic of Harry Potter, and the love story of The Mortal Instruments, this is a must read for fans of paranormal romance!!!! And it’s so original because there aren’t that many books out there that focus completely on witches!
So—go buy this book, and let me know wh

WICKED is Wonderful!

I seriously loved this book! First, I had the pleasure of listing to the audio version and I have to say that it was incredibly well cast. Second, BORN WICKED is a cliff hanger done right. I galloped to the end of this book to find myself simultaneously satisfied and anxious with anticipation. I have no idea how Spotwood pulled that off. I'm convinced that she is an extraordinary plotter. I am counting down the days until the next book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles is available.

Hold on--I have more. I adored Cate. She was just the right amount of everything--strong and soft, wise and naive, brave and fearful. Her complexities made her believable and very likable. And then there is Finn. My best compliment is to say that he is worthy of Cate. *sigh* And the rest of Spotwood's characters are rich and complex--which I require in a great book. And this--my friends--is a great book. I'm off to work on my spells, because even though it's dangerous--I'm taking up witchery--because Spotwood makes being Wicked--wonderful!

Wupzzz

I guess i didnt do my research,, apparently its book 1 of 3.disregard my last reveiw.....im sooooo happy there is gunna more!!!!yay!!!!!!i though that was the only book and it made me very mad.i can't wait for the next one i love this story!!

So excited

Ok i read the preview and sm so stoked. I saw the cover in the grocery store, the civer art grabbed my attention. Thanks for the reviews cant wait to dive in....

It's set in the late 1800's America, but not our 1800's America;

It's set in the late 1800's America, but not our 1800's America; it's an alternate history where witchcraft was real and welcomed - until it was suppressed by The Brotherhood. A time when teen girls think longingly of the freedom other women have in places like Dubai (I know, right?), and risk being executed for displaying any signs of witchcraft.

The lead character, Cate, is a 16 year old witch, and so are her two younger sisters. Because her mother is dead, and her father is too often absent (and has no clue, apparently, that his late wife and his daughters are witches), it falls upon Cate to protect herself and her sisters. There's a love triangle, and a pressure in the patriarchal society to commit to a husband by one's 17th birthday, but that's not the main focus.

It starts a bit slow, but is really, really well written, and although this is Not My Usual Thing, it sucked me in. There's a dynamic of love/competitiveness/overprotection between Cate and her next oldest sister Maura, that rang quite true. I will be eagerly looking to read the others in the Cahill Witch Chronicles.

I liked Born Wicked. It was quite interesting and different than

I liked Born Wicked. It was quite interesting and different than any other book I have read.

Not much really happened in Born Wicked. That's not to say it's boring though, just different. There was no running away to escape those that were chasing you, nothing that really jumped out at you, nor was there much humor. Like the time period in which it takes place, this book is secretive, proper, deceptive, and serious. We followed the main character through her life as she awaits her ceremony where whe much choose between joining the Sisterhood and marrying. As a Character, Cate is pretty great. She's Strong and Independent and Responsible. The love she feels toward her sisters she cares for is amazing and honest. I loved it. It was easy to connect with her. There is a hint of a love story here, but it doesnt overpower the book. The focus is more on Cate's witchery and family.

Unlike many other books, there seems to be no "bad guy vs. good guy" here. Everyone seems to be some varying shade of gray, even Cate herself. I liked that. What I didnt like was some of Cate's inner monologue. She thinks she's wicked and I understand that, but there's no reason for me to be reminded of it over and over and over again. That was my biggest annoyance.

This was a great simple read. I enjoyed it but it just didn't put me over the edge so I probably wouldnt read it again. For that reason, I give it 3 Stars.

It's all good!!!

The only problem I had with this book, and it is more my fault than anything, is that in the description it doesn't mention that it is in an alternate universe. I like to have things laid out EXTREMELY clearly. With that said, it is a GREAT book. This is one I had to read in one night because I couldn't get enough!!! Can't wait for what's next

One of the best new stories I have read in awhile

As an avid reader it is hard to impress me anymore. I read at least 3 books a month sometimes closer to 6, and this is the first book that I have felt the need to praise in awhile. I can honestly say the only down side to this book is the fact that the second is not yet out. The setting is the 1900's but the characters are all relatable, having the same feelings and attitudes of modern day teens. The book is one of the few that you don't immediately guess the end to from the start middle or end!

Awesome!

This book is great. It was hard to put down until i finished I can't wait until next February when the next one comes out.

Born Wicked was a novel that I was sure I was going to love sinc

Born Wicked was a novel that I was sure I was going to love since it has a historical setting, witches, and romance. While all three of those things are done extremely well, I felt the novel's slow pace and lack of intensity really hurt the story.

One of my biggest issues with the story begins with the protagonist Cate. Although I liked Cate, I didn't love her. She's actually quite judgmental and overbearing. She thinks very little of the other girls in town, despite the fact that she doesn't really know them and never once in the entire novel does she allow her sisters (Maura & Tess) to make decisions for themselves. I mean its very clear how much Cate loves her sisters, but at what cost? I felt a lot of the conflict in the novel could have been completely avoided if Cate had just trusted her sisters enough with what she learns about their mother.

Though I may not have loved Cate, I did love every minute she spent with Finn. He's smart, kind, values his family and isn't afraid to protect the people he loves. Their connection is undeniable and they're absolutely perfect for each other. Finn helps Cate be more self confident and she helps him relax. I love how their courtship was right for the time period too, its completely enthralling. It was their chemistry and relationship that keep me turning pages even when I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to finish the book.

I really enjoyed the historical setting as well, though its set against an alternative timeline where the Brotherhood persecuted all the witches and now very few remain in existence. Any witch that is discovered is immediately arrested and sent off to an asylum. Author Jessica Spotswood really makes the town and citizens feel isolated from the rest of the country adding to the atmospheric and historical quality of the story.

I found the novel's pacing incredibly slow, painfully so and I'm not usually the type of reader that has problems with things like that. Part of the pacing problem was that I never felt like the sisters were in any real danger. You hear the past stories about the witches that were arrested, imprisoned or murdered, but you rarely see it. When you do, it seems more like something that's just happening than any real threat to Cate or her sisters. I found that very disappointing.

Also for a novel about witches I didn't think there was enough magic in it. Though it flows beautifully when its written, taking on an intoxicating quality, I felt a lot of the sisters magic was explained instead of shown.

The ending of the novel left me a bit confused since a lot of things happen very quickly and I wanted more of a resolution as to why Cate choice to do what she did. Lets just say I wasn't happy with her choice. I was also unhappy with the lack of resolve involving Maura and Tess, as some big things happen to them right before the novel closes. While I realize its the first book in a planned series and we aren't going to get all the answers, I guess I felt there was just to much set up and not enough revealed. The biggest being; who's out to help the witches and who's out to harm them.

Overall I just wanted a lot more from Born Wicked. Perhaps my biggest disappointments lie in the fact that I didn't like Cate as much as I wanted and the slow pacing of the plot. While it didn't quite work for me, I still think a lot of readers will enjoy the mix of magic, romance and sisterhood.

I am always drawn to stories with strong characters and Born Wic

I am always drawn to stories with strong characters and Born Wicked is just this kind of story. I am so looking forward to the continuing story of Cate and her sisters. You know it's a good one when you can't wait for the next one!

this is a awesome book ...............i was all nervous about wh

this is a awesome book ...............i was all nervous about what is going to happen next,
if you are the type of person who likes to read about romance and expect something big i high recommend this book

Great book and great new series!!!

I really ejoyed the first book in this series. Looking for to the rest.

Cate is protective of her little sister, but now they aren't so

Cate is protective of her little sister, but now they aren't so little anymore and she must decide on her own future. Cate is a strong character, many people depend on her and she is very young herself. She has a sweet personality, though she can be unyielding at times. Cate's sisters the reader will have varying reactions to. The youngest sister is easier to like while the middle one seems to only cause trouble needlessly. The other secondary characters were interesting, many will stick out and factor importantly into the book's plot.



The events moved along at a fast clip, the reader will be hard pressed to be bored throughout the novel. Cate and her sisters quickly go from a quiet life to trouble within a few chapters. The author describes the rich history and environment beautifully, the reader will easily be able to immerse him/herself within the novel. The author handles multiple issues such as feminism and religion and manages to weave magic into the two.



The slight love triangle is a tad annoying, but the author handles that issue well too. There really isn't a question as to who the main character is going to choose, if there was more emphasis on the love triangle it would've been nice if it was less predictive. The love interests are both hard to choose between, the reader will likely be happy with both! This book is recommended to young adult/teen/adult readers.