Review: Once a Witch

Title: Once a Witch

Author: Carolyn MacCullough

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Synopsis: Tamsin comes from a long line of witches, and on the day she was born her grandmother claimed that she would be the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now Tamsin spends her time in a NYC boarding school where she pretend she is normal. One day during her summer vacation when she was back home working in her family's bookstore/magic shop, a handsome young professor from NYC arrives and mistakes Tamsin for her more talented older sister. She agrees to find an heirloom for the professor, but as she searches she finds that not everything and everyone her life is as it appears. Tamsin's hunt unlocks the secret of her true identity, the past sins of her family and a power that could destroy them all.

Overall Review GOOD BAD UGLY

One word to describe this book--ENCHANTING! I freaking loved this book. I started reading it before bed (never a good idea) and ended up staying up all night to finish it. It was a glorious break from the vampires and werewolves that normally shape urban fantasy. MacCullough gives an original take on witches and witchcraft, but leaves enough tradition so that feel like they know what is going on. The beautiful imagery throughout the book takes the reader on an adventure through time with the feeling of sitting through the latest blockbuster action movie. This book made me wish I was born a witch in the Greene family. Their vast array of powers or Talent as it they are called in the book, are some of the coolest abilities.

Characters: The characters were interesting and well developed. I loved that even though they were witches and had powers, they could have been the person sitting next to you on the bus. Each character had their own quirk...Tamsin's smoking, (which is the only I really didn't like about the book) Gabriel's blue crescent moon tattoo on his neck, Rowena's beauty that we all have seen on the most beautiful of all girls, the spunkiness of Grandmother despite her age.

Plot: The plot was thought out and original. While the plot of this book was resolved, it left a enough unresolved to anticipate a sequel.

I highly recommend this book for any lover of the Urban Fantasy genre who are looking for a different and thrilling experience.