Genre: Publication Date: September 14th 2009 Pages: 292 Published By: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Website Carolyn MacCullough Once A Witch on Goodreads My review copy: Received from Evie :]
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Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all. This is a spellbinding display of storytelling that will exhilarate, enthrall, and thoroughly enchant.
(Goodreads)
I was born on the night of Samhain, when the barrier between the worlds is whisper-thin and when magic, old magic, sings its heady and sweet song to anyone who cares to hear it.
“Then one last thought tugs at me, so I turn back."So why did you name me Tamsin?" I ask. "You always promised to tell me later. Even though, technically, it's earlier."My grandmother's smile flickers, deepens."It's how you introduced yourself to me tonight. I just assumed that's what you wanted to be named."
“Okay," I gasp. "I can't really breathe, but other than that, okay.""Breathing's overrated," Gabriel advises me."I'm discovering that right about now with this damn tie."
“You and I are more alike than you think,” Alistair says.“I don't see that at all,” I say.“Besides the fact that we both lied about our names,” I add."
What's so great about this book is the fact that Tamsin is a witch that's not a witch. She was born into this powerful and talented witch family and she is talentless and not powerful. It was awesome connecting with a character that had struggles fitting in with her family because I think a lot of us come into that problem at least once in their lifetime.
I really loved the essence I got from when reading this novel. MacCullough does a wonderful job and giving us a little bit of everything a teenager would go through and weaving in a beautiful essence of magic and time travel. The dialogue I felt was mature enough for young adults and adults to understand and relate to, yet at the same time it wasn't too mature that you didn't think it was coming from a teenager. If that makes any sense at all.
The characters are all great. I mean for the story. Obviously I like others more than some within the book. I just mean that MacCullough does a great job giving the characters depth and personality. I loved Tamsin and Alistair. Gabriel wasn't a big hit for me. At times I just wanted to punch him.
I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel. I've always been a fan of witchcraft and sorcery and I am so happy I have finally read this story! It's a definite interesting and quick read that can easily be done within one sitting if you have the time to. This novel seriously has a little bit of everything and is weaved in with magic and fantasy. I think parts of it could have been edited or rewritten a bit but all-in-all it is a great first book in a series!
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