21.
Title: [Born Wicked]
Author: Jessica Spotswood
Pages: 272 pages
Genre: Historical Paranormal Fiction
Medium: Kindle
Acquisition:
Date Completed: February 14, 2012
Rating: ***

I had hoped to win a copy of Born Wicked when it was available as part of the Early Reviewers program, so when I came across it as a recommendation on Amazon I hopped on it. The premise is one I find highly appealing: an alternative history focusing on eighteenth-century "America," re-visioning Puritan control as the Brotherhood, whose intention is to suppress and eradicate the original race of settlers, the witches. Against this backdrop, Spotswood introduces the reader to Cate, a witch, who struggles with the need to protect her witch sisters against society, as she promised her dying mother.

Really, it is all very promising. But I found the novel to be rather forgettable. Literally, as it turns out, since I had forgotten I finished a book for a handful of days. While there is an attempt at intrigue and suspense, I found that the major conflicts were not developed to what I would have felt was the full potential. In a sense, I really just wanted more: more character development, more relationship development, and a greater involvement on the part of the antagonistic Brotherhood.

Born Wicked is entertaining, but it's not a series I will be actively pursuing.



I'm currently suffering through a free kindle download right now - Stained - and I'm about ready to turn it over for something more rewarding. Life is too short to read unsatisfying books.

I gave up another free download - Conquering Darkness - just a few pages in because of the terrible writing. While I am still very intrigued by the idea of a memoir written by the wife and daughter of a convicted serial killer (I want that side of the story!), the writing was so atrocious that I couldn't even give it a chance.