Book Review: Born Wicked
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood is the first installment in the new Cahill Witch Chronicles. Set in an alternate 19th century, the novel takes place 120 years after witches have been run out of New England (or forced into hiding) by the Brotherhood, a patriarchal religious order whose mission is to maintain control by preventing witches from rising to power again. Young girls are often accused of practicing magic and sent to labor camps or Harwood, an institution.
Cate Cahill and her two younger sisters, Maura and Tess, are witches capable of powerful magic. With a deceased mother and largely absentee father, the primary responsibility of caring for the family and protecting the sisters’ secret falls to Cate, a headstrong but cautious young woman.
In this alternate history, girls must declare their intentions at 16 to either marry or join the Sisterhood, a religious order for women. With a deadline fast approaching, Cate must decide what to do with her future. All of this is complicated by a marriage proposal from a family friend, unexpected feelings for the town bookseller’s son and secrets revealed by a cryptic note from the godmother Cate never knew she had.
When Elena, a governess from the Sisterhood, arrives to help the Cahill sisters with their education and better enter society, Cate is wary. Her suspicions are confirmed as Elena’s presence seems to drive a further wedge between the sisters – particularly Maura and Cate.
Born Wicked is a fun and intriguing read. It took awhile for me to get into the book, primarily because so much information is needed to set up the world of witches as well as its rules and regulations. However, the last 150 pages of the story move at an incredible pace. The plots twists and reveals offer everything one could want, and I ended the book anxious to see what would happen in Book Two.
This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.