New England Witch Chronicles by Chelsea Bellingeri★★★★★
Release Date: June 29, 2011
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Drama & Suspense, Witches, Mystery
Format: Paperback
Source: Author
Source: Author
The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 were an embarrassing stain on America’s revered past. Innocent people were persecuted at the hands of a few over-zealous puritans. But what if there were real witches during those colonial hunts? What if there are witches in present day New England? That is what Alexandria Ramsey’s crazy grandmother believes. Grandma Claudia claims Alex descends from a long line of New England witches. Modern day witches in Hazel Cove, Massachusetts? Unlikely, but strange things are occurring in the weeks preceding Alex’s seventeenth birthday, which also coincides with her family’s annual Halloween party. Alex is haunted by bizarre reoccurring nightmares of a man chasing her through the Hazel Cove Cemetery. On a few occasions, when her emotions have spiraled out of control, inanimate objects have shattered around her. But that’s just a coincidence, right? Alex isn’t so sure, especially after a local girl, who supposedly dabbled in witchcraft, was killed in the nearby forest. Alex knows something strange is happening to her. With the arrival of a new boy in town, the mischievous James Van Curen, who is making her life difficult and causing problems between Alex and her best friend, Peter, Alex feels like her entire world is on the verge of chaos. Could Alex really be a witch? Is it possible Hazel Cove will become a battleground for modern day witches and witch hunters?
Fan-freaking-tastic story! I haven't read very many books about witches and I must say that this one makes me want to read some more (mainly book 2, which I'll have to wait a little while for). New England Witch Chronicles (NEWC) is awesome, extremely fast paced, exciting, very dramatic at times, and I will say that I cried a little, maybe a lot (yes, it was that amazing). While the scary elements I didn't find to be anywhere near the fear factor found in horror books (which is good because I'm not really a horror fan), they were very well written and I was trapped in the pages with the characters, it was incredibly intense at times. I would describe Chelsea Bellingeri's writing as intoxicating, I didn't and couldn't put this book down.
The main character Alex faces so many obstacles from her awful parents to her ability to almost constantly injure herself and from her mixed feelings for certain boys to her anger management issues that may have more to do with her genealogy than stress. Even jumping through these hoops she's seriously a trooper, she comes out on the other side stronger than anything. This book took my breath away, literally in some parts, and I'm not even going into the love triangle. My heart was racing reading along with the seemingly constant suspense that flows perfectly. We follow Alex on this crazy journey she takes in her life as she learns the truth about many different things she never thought to question before and her life starts to spin radically out of control.
This one is definitely not lacking in the secondary character department. There are so many fascinating people in Alex's world. James, our new guy and all of Alex's friends, her Grandma Claudia, her awful parents, and Bradley and Mya the lovely chauffeur and maid. Every character stands on their own, all very life like and some more like-able than others. My favorite character is Peter, he may be my number one best friend character of any book I've ever read. He was perfect. Think Jay from Kimberly Derting's Body Finder Series, only better, unbelievable right? Speaking of The Body Finder, the New England Witch Chronicles story has a similar feel. The murder mystery in NEWC reminded me of The Body Finder in some ways.
This book took me by surprise, I am so thankful to the author for the chance to read and review this remarkable work of fiction. I could go on for days about all of the aspects of this one that hooked me in. I keep thinking about the story and where Chelsea Bellingeri might take it in the next 3 books and I'm so excited for book 2! It's one of those emotional rides that are hard to forget about even after you've finished reading it.
I loved it a lot, incase that's not clear, and I'm having trouble giving away my copy. But, since I really want someone else to enjoy in the awesomeness that is Chelsea Bellingeri's writing, I will sacrifice what I want for the greater good.
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Great review! I love witch stories. :) I'm definitely going to have to check this one out! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI read a book about the witch trials called Heretic's Daughter with my book group, and it was HEAVY. It was honest, but remarkably depressing. Such a dark place in our country's history... This book sounds like it would be fun though, and maybe not so heavy. Am I right?
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely an intense and emotional book but I wouldn't say heavy or depressing. Since it's YA it's lighter and a pretty fun read at times.
ReplyDeleteCertainly sounds a good book. YA is a great vehicle for this sort of novel.
ReplyDeletelove the review and hope to win it :)
ReplyDeleteand the cover is awesome
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