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A Secret History of Witches
Title: A Secret History of Witches
Author: Louisa Morgan
Genre: Fiction/Occult Fiction
Published: 2017
Obtained: Barnes & Noble
Spanning five generations, A Secret History of Witches is a tale of witchcraft that is passed down from mother to daughter through the Orchiére family. Beginning in early 19th century in Brittany, the story begins with Grandmére Ursule and her sacrifice for her lineage. Her female descendents continue practicing the craft, with the magic coming to each woman in unique ways. As the world evolves and changes, so changes each generation of witch…and so changes the craft.
I had high hopes for this novel. I selected it as my first fall read, and, quite frankly, the cover is what initially hooked me. Unfortunately, the novel did not live up to my expectations. I found the plot repetitive, a majority of the characters underwhelming and the story itself anti-climatic. Louisa Morgan has a beautiful knack for prose and the seeds of a potentially great story.
Each of the main female characters has their own story within the novel. Therefore, the reader does not experience the entire story within one realm of characters. Each of the women’s stories—Nanette, Ursule, Irene, Morwen and Veronica—seem to follow very similar patterns…at least up until the last daughter, Veronica. It’s a redundant pattern that had me disappointed—for most of these strong, powerful females continually use their magic to hook a man OR use one in order to get pregnant. With such a set up of women where the matriarchy is crucial and capable, they easily bend to the patriarchal ways. Of course, I understand that Morgan is including actual history in regards to how society ran with gender roles, but I was so hoping for something more substantial. I will say that I enjoyed Veronica’s story the most out of all the women, for she uses her craft to help fight the war and to make the world a better place. For me, Veronica is the most astounding female character in the book, for she uses her powers effectively with very little thought for herself. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just the plot that was repetitive, but the themes, as well. Every section reminds the reader that men are oppressive beings who hate what they fear—powerful women.
A majority of the characters were not fulfilling for me as a reader. Immediately, I was drawn to Grandmére Ursele for her strength and mystery. However, as the stories continues, the characters range from dull to frustrating to repulsive (again, with the exception of Veronica). Irene is the worst, in terms of personality. She’s manipulative, selfish and ungrateful. But, I would also argue that it is her story where the book begins to become more tolerable. Irene’s story is unique as she is so vastly different from any of the women in the Orchiére clan up to that point. Due to her repulsive personality, I was able to empathize with her daughter Morwen and the decisions she makes in regards to the craft. However, her story feels cut-short before tumbling into Veronica’s tale. I would like to note that Veronica’s book made me happy that I decided to see the novel to the end.
Morgan’s writing is beautiful in regards to the prose and the turn of phrases. She uses vivid imagery when setting the scene and nailed down personalities to a point. I was hoping for a little more of that descriptive composition when it came to the scenes involving magic…I mean, I was looking for a bewitching, whimsical book here! For me, in the end, it came off a little disenchanting. I truly believe the idea and potential were there for a phenomenal story. In the end, I think the novel’s weakness lies in the redundant cycling of the tales, themes and character choices. I enjoyed the tenderness between various characters, the love and loyalty that flowed through the generations of the women and the ferocity of Veronica’s character. I recommend this book for those that enjoy pretty prose and a hint of fantasy. Overall, I give this book 2/5 stars.
Though I was sick for the second half of the novel and primarily stuck to hot tea, I enjoyed Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon while reading the first half of A Secret History of Witches. This wine has earthy undertones of berries, coffee and toasted oak which, for me, paired well with the earthy, rustic tones of the novel. The characters are typically dabbling in potions or mixing simples that reminded me of the flavors of this wine.
Rating: 2/5
Wine: Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon
Snag your own copy of A Secret History of Witches: Barnes & Noble or Amazon
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Pretty Girls Dancing
Title: Pretty Girls Dancing
Author: Kylie Brant
Genre: Mystery/Psychological Thriller
Published: 2018
Obtained: Amazon
Seven years ago, a young teen, Kelsey, was abducted from her hometown leaving her family nearly destroyed in the aftermath. Affected by her disappearance are her parents, both distant and battling their own struggles, and her younger sister Janie, an intelligent but anxious teen. Now, another girl has gone missing and Kelsey’s family members are all grappling in their own way to deal with the news. Mark Foster, a detective assigned to the new case of the missing girl, begins to link similarities in the cases of the two missing teens. Foster must find an effective way to approach Kelsey’s family and discover any family secrets that may help him find Whitney before it is too late.
Pretty Girls Dancing is a page-turner! I finished this book almost as fast as I can down a good glass of rosé. Told from the varying points of view of multiple characters, the mystery unfolds at a fairly decent pace. I didn’t have an inkling that the killer was a known character until the chapter before the big reveal—and there was another twist after that!
What I enjoyed about the book was that the first chapter had me hooked. I love a good opening chapter with some kind of action that pulls me right into the story; this did not fail to disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed the idea of the story being told from the viewpoints of different characters. Unfortunately, I really only enjoyed two of these characters: Whitney and Janie. Several of the characters felt undeveloped, which inevitably led to me being uninvested in them. Whitney and Janie, however, were rich in layers of personality and their chapters really pushed the story forward whereas Janie’s parents’ chapters felt stagnant.
The plot of Pretty Girls Dancing was intriguing. Serial Killer stories are ones that I find engrossing—they often offer the right amount of mystery and thriller that keeps me turning the pages. After a while, I began to wonder if the killer in this book was just some mystery person we weren’t supposed to know at all, given that there were no real clues to decipher the identity of the villian. However, right before the big reveal, I did have that, “Aha!” moment—but I will confess it was built on a pure guess, not context clues from the novel. I still have some confusion and questions regarding the wild goose chase the detectives embark upon in the final chapters of the book; there were no solutions or answers to what the suspected villains had to hide. This aspect of the story left me unsettled and unfulfilled.
I was surprised to discover that much of the narrative reveals less of the mystery and more of the grief and devastation that can come from a family member (particularly a child) being abducted. While I did not always enjoy reading from the viewpoints of certain characters, these pages did make me think about all the emotions and aftermath of something so traumatic happening to a family. Furthermore, for as gripping as the opening chapter was, I was surprised by how long it took for the story to really pick up at a suspenseful pace.
I recommend this book for a quick, fun read. I finished it in two days and had to keep plundering on until I could identify the bad guy and discover what kind of endings the author would write for Whitney and Janie. If you’re looking for a complex, perfectly-constructed thriller/mystery–then this is not it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good book (and an enjoyable read), but it had so much more potential than what Brant delivers. I recommend a strong, dry rosé to pair with it; I prefer to save my more expensive wines for more complex and riveting books. Therefore, I suggest something like Dark Horse Rosé; this wine is sweet and crisp to pair with the innocence of the girls who have been affected by the serial killer, but also dry and strong (12.5% alcohol content) to get you through both the thrilling and not-so-thrilling parts of this book.
*I could not find this wine in a bottle when I went to purchase, but it tastes just as good!*
Rating: 3.5/5
Wine: Dark Horse Rosé
Snag your own copy of Pretty Girls Dancing: Target or Barnes & Noble
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The Woman in the Window
*Photograph is a screenshot from my Audible app*
Title: The Woman in the Window
Author: A.J. Finn
Genre: Mystery/Psychological Thriller
Published: 2018
Obtained: Audible/Amazon
Anna Fox was once a child psychologist, but is now a recluse with a drinking problem and Agoraphobia. Anna passes her lonely time by spying on her neighbors with her camera while mixing her medications with red wine. One day, Anna sees a dangerous incident in her neighbor’s house and her life begins to spiral out of control. The story whittles down to what did Anna really see and why doesn’t anyone believe her?
This was a super fun read! Initially, I was slightly creeped out by the main character, Anna Fox, who spends her days spying on the neighbors through her window. But, as the story unfolds, I began to warm up to her. Anna is a child psychologist who suffers from severe Agoraphobia mixed with a drinking problem. She is separated from her husband, who is the primary caregiver for their daughter; their daily phone calls help Anna get through her house-bound, merlot-fueled days. One day, Anna sees an appalling scene unfold across the park in her neighbor’s home. Not only does Anna struggle to find a way to help, being unable to leave her house, but she also struggles to determine if what she saw was real…given that she often mixes her medications with copious amounts of alcohol. The story barrells on in a psychological whirlwind. What really happened? Who’s to blame? It’s a page-turning thriller right up to the very end.
The Woman in the Window was the best psychological thriller I have read in some time. I will say, however, that I am tired of reading female protagonists who are unreliable due to drinking habits; it feels overdone. Anna is a character full of interest—her past is a story that unfolds slowly over the pages and keeps the reader hooked in order to discover her truth. The trauma in her past with the Agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) along with her pill popping, obsession with old thriller flicks and background in professional psychology would have been enough, I think, to convince the reader that she may be a questionable witness. On the other hand, her steady flow of red wine had me uncorking my own bottles as I read.
If you’ve read enough psychological thrillers, one of the plot elements will probably seem fairly obvious. Luckily, this element of the story is not the big twist that will keep you turning those pages faster than Anna gulps down that Merlot. Truthfully, even if I had guessed the final twist and the ending of this novel, I would have continued to read it. Finn writes beautiful prose. This was a pleasant surprise for me as a reader. I was not anticipating the poetic-like passages in The Woman in the Window. Not only is the novel suspenseful, but the sequence of words is alluring and elegant. Once I learned that the main character was a recluse, I shuddered with claustrophobia—I was afraid that the house would be too confining and could, potentially, dull the story down. I was pleasantly surprised by this too. It created an uncomfortable, suspenseful feel to the story that clung to me even when I put the book down for the evening.
The other characters in the story were well developed and memorable. I enjoy those characters that have that love-to-hate feel to them (like Dolores Umbridge); I felt that with a few of these characters. As Anna grew more paranoid throughout the story, I could feel myself analyzing the other characters—trying to pick them apart. They were each distinct—from the members of the Russell family to the detectives working the case. Each character had memorable aspects to them and I retained those details in case they were needed as the mystery unfolded.
Lastly, I loved the way Finn intertwines the story with Anna’s love for old thriller films. The films she watches alone often correlate, in some form, with the actual plot of the novel. As a reader, and someone who thoroughly enjoys and is familiar most of these old films, I found myself equating the film plots with Anna’s story and trying to figure what clues the author was dropping along the way. Despite a reminiscent feel of Rear Window, the tidbits of plot and dialogue from various other classic movies created a refreshing spin on this type of book.
While I can argue that this novel may not be a revolutionary or new storyline, I can argue that it is strikingly unique to others in the same genre. Finn manages to breath new life into a classic plot. I was enthralled while reading and ate up each page in desperation for answers. Finn works with a limited setting, confined primarily to Anna’s house, and with a handful of characters. Yet, he creates a spine-tingling story that evokes the reader to stick with Anna until the very end. I give this book a 4.5/5 for Finn’s prose, character development and creativity with the plot. It was a fun, electrifying read that I thoroughly enjoyed from cover to cover. Of course, I have to suggest a Merlot to pair with it, as it is the main character’s drink of choice; I wanted to pour myself a glass of red each time Anna did—if only to let her know she wasn’t drinking alone. My wine of choice for this book is the Merlot by Josh Cellars. This is a smooth and soft red that balances the bumpy, more thrilling parts of this book.
Rating: 4.5/5
Wine: Merlot, Josh Cellars (Vintage 2016)
Snag your own copy of The Woman in the Window: Audible or Amazon
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The Woman in Cabin 10
Title: The Woman in Cabin 10
Author: Ruth Ware
Genre: Thriller
Published: 2016
Obtained: Target
After a traumatizing event, Lauren Blacklock, or Lo, embarks on a potential career-changing opportunity aboard a new luxury liner called the Aurora. She boards this lavish, but cramped, ship with the intention to network and craft a stellar piece for her magazine, Velocity. Things do not go as planned when Lo hears a loud splash and what appears to be a woman’s body sinking below the surface of the Black Sea. Lo begins to investigate and interrogate those around her while questioning her own memory of the events. There are only so many people aboard the small yacht and Lo knows for certain that one of them is a murderer…but who?
First, let me say that I struggled to put this book down each night! The structure of the novel was a steady build of suspense and tension. I picked this up after I heard it had compared to the style of Agatha Christie and I definitely understand the comparison. The Woman in Cabin 10 has a classic claustrophobic who-dunnit feel. As the conflict builds, I began to question the reliability of the protagonist–had she really witnessed something violent or was she simply psychologically spiraling out of control due to paranoia? The tension and the mystery continue to build with each scene and I kept turning the page because I wanted to learn the truth.
The character development was the weak point of the novel, for me. I had a hard time keeping track of the characters aboard the Aurora. They all seemed to blend slightly together and my visualization of them (based upon the descriptions) were blurry and unfocused. Even Lo, the main character, seemed lacking at first. She was borderline unlikable, but I had a twinge of sympathy for her that kept me attached as I read. I could relate to Lo’s anxiety and her honesty regarding the fact that there wasn’t a traumatic event in her childhood that caused her to feel anxious. I have anxiety and I often find that I have feelings of guilt because I convince myself that I have no good reason to feel the way I do. I can even relate to her unnecessary coldness towards her boyfriend prior to her departure; my anxiety can lead to irritability on occasion. But I often had to fight the urge to yell at her through the pages as she ran her big mouth to everyone on the ship. I wanted more from some of the characters–I wanted more depth. Character development is the glue for me as a reader and writer; if I’m not super invested in the characters then I have a difficult time engaging in the story. I felt like Lo developed slowly over the pages and by the end I was invested in her character’s future.
Ruth Ware did a phenomenal job with keeping the story concise and flowing. There wasn’t a lot of unnecessary descriptions or backstories. The story may have started out a bit slow, but it picks up aboard the Aurora and that’s when I found myself unable to put it down. Ware included a couple of twists that built more conflict and suspense. I also really appreciate her ability to show the final twist rather than tell it to the reader. As a writer, I find that my natural tendency is to do all the work and tell the reader what I want them to know rather than showing it; The Woman in Cabin 10 really had some excellent moments of this. Normally, I would love to share the examples, but as I don’t want to spoil anything, I will leave it at that!
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. There were spots where I felt like it was lacking in terms of character development. I was excited to pick this book up after hearing so many positive reviews…but, somehow, I felt a little underwhelmed in the end and I think it was due to a lack of connection to the characters. While it didn’t have a moment at the end where all the ends are neatly tied together, it was well written, well-crafted and didn’t leave me with too many unanswered questions. I just felt like it was missing a little of the magic that should be present in a thriller. I would give it 4/5 stars. The setting truly sucked me in to the point where I had to glance up and remind myself that I wasn’t stuck on that confined yacht. Ware really built the suspense nicely through the last two thirds of the novel. If you are looking for a fun, suspenseful story then I highly recommend The Woman in Cabin 10.
Wine Pairing: So, I have been on a rosé kick lately, but it just didn’t cut it with this book. Quite frankly, there were several times I had the urge to reach for the hard liquor (especially with the main character going to town on the mini-bar). I recommend a red zinfandel–they are usually quite strong with bold and oaky flavors (an “oaky-afterbirth” as Michael Scott would say). If you’re feeling fancy, try 1000 Stories Bourbon Barrel Aged Zinfandel (2016). It has just over a 15% alcohol content, but it matches well with the murkiness and mystery of The Woman in Cabin 10 with its smoky and full-flavors–not to mention it will keep your heart rate up as you follow the twists and turns with the story. I found the wine for about $16; if you’re on a bit of a budget or just not into spending that much on wine then try Apothic Red Blend. It goes for around $12.99 and it’s another red zin option that will hit the spot with a good thriller!
Overall Book Rating: ⅘ stars
Wine Pairing: Red Zinfandel (1000 Stories Bourban Barrel Aged Zinfandel and Apothic Red Blend)
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