Review Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Title: Born Wicked 
Author: Jessica Spotswood

Published: February 7th, 2012 (Penguin)

Pages: 352

Source: for review
Series: The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1

Rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads: Everybody thinks Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship--or an early grave. Then Cate finds her mother's diary, and uncovers a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra. But if what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe--not even from each other.

I can't remember the last time I had such mixed feelings about a book. I had trouble getting into the story. I was struggling for almost half the book, but I wanted to read it so badly I wanted it to be good. After the story took off I loved it more with every page. The ending was so good I immediately wanted to read book two!

Born Wicked tells the story of Cate and her two sisters, Maura and Tess. They're witches, but they're living in a society where that's not accepted and they need to keep it a secret whatever the costs. Their mother past away a few years back and Cate is determined to keep her sisters safe, like she promised her mother. But is that even possible?

It's a historical paranormal story and I liked this combination very much. Although it did take some getting used to. I don't read that many historical fiction and in the beginning it was weird that Cate and Maura are almost coming of age and need to go looking for a husband. Or join the sisterhood. Cate wants neither, until she meets Finn, my new book boyfriend! He's so hot! I would marry him immediately!

I liked Cate, but I couldn't understand why she doesn't want to be a witch! I can't imagine anything cooler! Although given the time she's living in and the dangers that's called The Brotherhood, I do understand why it would be a lot easier to just be a normal girl. I did admire Cate's love for her sisters and her determination to protect them!

Jessica Spotswood's writing style is very nice and when the story picked up it was hard to put down. And that ending! She got me there! I want to know how it continues!