Witchstruck (The Tudor Witch Trilogy, # 1)
By: Victoria Lamb
Published: September 24th 2013 by Harlequin Teen
320 pages
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Witches
Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!!)
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Goodreads description--If she sink, she be no witch and shall be drowned. If she float, she be a witch and must be hanged.Meg Lytton has always known she is different;that she bears a dark and powerful gift. But in 1554 England, in service at Woodstock Palace to the banished Tudor princess Elizabeth, it has never been more dangerous to practice witchcraft. Meg knows she must guard her secret carefully from the many suspicious eyes watching over the princess and her companions. One wrong move could mean her life, and the life of Elizabeth, rightful heir to the English throne. With witchfinder Marcus Dent determined to have Meg's hand in marriage, and Meg's own family conspiring against the English queen, there isn't a single person Meg can trust. Certainly not the enigmatic young Spanish priest Alejandro de Castillo, despite her undeniable feelings. But when all the world turns against her, Meg must open her heart to a dangerous choice. The Secret Circle meets The Other Boleyn Girl in Witchstruck ,the first book of the magical Tudor Witch trilogy.
Witchstruck had a slightly slow start for me. And by that I mean I wasn't pulled in immediately, but truthfully I wasn't long into the book before I felt compelled to keep reading.
I've always been fascinated by Tudor history and to include that with my Witches and Witchcraft challenge for this year, Witchstruck felt like the perfect read for me. Plus I just loved the pretty cover.
In reading Witchstruck, I found myself equal parts frustrated with and enjoying Meg. She's a strong character, willing to put herself at risk for the betterment of others--Lady Elizabeth, her aunt Jane, Alejandro, etc. But I found myself also annoyed with her. She makes some rash decisions that once thought through weren't at all wise and for which she has to put herself into danger in order to rectify. She's both aware of her power and not at the same time. Plus her determination to show no feelings toward Alejandro left me irritated.
Alejandro...I'm also torn by his character. Alejandro is essentially a catholic priest in training. He's sent to both minister to Lady Elizabeth and probably spy on her as well. Alejandro learns of Meg's secret, and while he doesn't agree with her path, he doesn't condemn her either. This would probably be the part where I discuss how he doesn't condemn Meg based off an experience he had as a boy in his past, but said experience felt forced to me--perhaps a little too convenient. Overall I liked Alejandro. He follows his heart from moment to moment, acting as his morals allow, yet bending to what each moment needs of him.
I felt that Meg's secrets were discovered too quickly and too publicly for the first book in the series, but having not read the other books, I can't really say that for sure.
Witchstruck was a fast read for me, and I kept coming back for more. While I did enjoy this first installment to the series, the potential conflicts that lie ahead for these characters indicate a bumpy and frustrating ride ahead. I do plan to check out the next book in the series, and I would recommend Witchstruck to others--especially fans of the witches and witchcraft area of the paranormal genre.
Witchstruck gets 3.5 Stars from me. Have you read Witchstruck? What did you think? Let me know!
This review is part of my "All Things Halloween" event.
