Star Cursed, by Jessica Spotswood

(4.5 stars/5)

(and another beautiful cover! Like, the person who picks out these covers should get a gold star!)

So remember that one time when I raved like crazy about the first book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles, Born Wicked? Well, I'm going to do it again, y'all! Sometimes, when it comes to trilogies, the second book is left in the dust. Either it's not written as well, or it doesn't move the story along, or it's just plain boring. This is the opposite of that situation. Dare I say, I might have even liked Star Cursed more than the first book in the series? 

What I liked: I'm all about this story, and this book furthered it like no other. I loved being able to see the Sisterhood in action, and throughout the book, I felt as hesitant as Cate did about who to trust. You can feel the tension boiling as sister loyalties are tested and the end of the century creeps near. One of them won't survive it, and though I have my hunch, it really could be anyone. Star Cursed intensified my love for Tess and my distrust of Maura. It also made me feel for Cate every step of the way. She's grown into herself more and she's finally able to make decisions about crucial things by the end. Cate's become more independent, she's becoming a woman, and I couldn't help but to internally (and outwardly) cheer for her. Don't even get me started on the end! Something happens (as if I'm going to tell you!) that transforms Cate in the last three or so pages, and it's so well done I think I got goosebumps! 

What I didn't like: I know I mentioned how I loved the end, but there was a little part of the end that I didn't like. That's mostly because it caused my little shipper heart to break into pieces and cry a little ocean of tears. No big deal. I also really would have liked to see more of Rilla because I think her relationship with Cate could be something beautiful- fingers crossed for more of that in the third book. 

Okay, now, we have a long time before Sister's Fate, the last book in the series, comes out (due date August 14, 2014 according to Amazon- that might have broken my heart a little bit too!). But we must be patient, because it's totally going to be worth the wait, I can feel it! Also, read this book! Read this book, read this book, and feel the feelings!

-Annie

Born Wicked, by Jessica Spotswood

(4.5/5 stars)
(Probably my favorite cover of 2013- look at this beauty!)

Ugh, I need this sequel like I need air! But like really, it was that good. It reminded me a lot of Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle series (one of my all time favorite series) in all the best ways and right now, I find myself making annoying grabby hands towards anything or anyone who can provide me with Star Cursed. I've reached a new low, kiddos. The end made me gasp out loud (ask my roommates and they can attest to that), and I thoroughly appreciate the reason for that. Anyway, I got the opportunity to meet Jessica at the Nimrod Conference for Readers and Writers in October, so that's where I first picked up Born Wicked. Jessica is absolutely awesome and she gave a really great talk on relationships in YA Fiction. In short, she said that writers should aspire to write healthy relationships since so many people are influenced by what they read, and that love triangles aren't necessarily an evil thing because they can be done right and tastefully (more on that later).

What I liked: I loved the story, there was something absolutely captivating about it. The world that Jessica creates is reminiscent to other witch stories but it still manages to be original and stand out. The characters are well done and believable, and I adore Finn (the bookkeeper's son, obviously he was going to win my love). Now, on to the love triangle. Yes, there is a small love triangle in Born Wicked, but it really boils down to what path Cate wants to choose for her future. She's not choosing a boy, necessarily, she's choosing who she wants to be and what life she wants for herself. And the boy she does choose in the end, respects her as a person and loves her for her flaws.

What I didn't like: Okay, so for the first part of the book, I had a really hard time placing everything geographically and into a specific time period. It doesn't take away from the story or anything so I wasn't horribly bothered by it and got over it quickly. I also didn't like how Cate continued to believe the Brother's opinion about women and magic for most of the book (but at the end she realizes what's really going on), but I feel like all of that is going to be super huge in the next two books. There's a revolution coming and I hope the Brothers are taken down!

So now I'm really looking forward to reading the next two books in the series (here's looking at you mom, Keeper of the Christmas List) and I think you should all run out and read this book as soon as humanly possible. You won't be disappointed.

-Annie