sunsetxcocktail

I received a copy from Netgalley.

I requested this one on a bit of a whim, the plot sounded a little meh, I figured if I got approved great, and if not no big deal. I wasn't sure what I would make of it. I did get approval, and turned out to be a fantastically written surprising book. 

Though the main character, Avery, is one of the most self obsessed, whiny, annoying obnoxious heroines I have come across in a while. That being said, the story is absolutely gripping. I think it must be a mark of remarkably good story telling if the main character is annoying as hell, but you can't put stop reading. 

The novel is a historical set on an Island where the Roe Women, a long long line of powerful witches have done magic for their island and helped the sailors and townspeople with their problems. Each Roe women has a special talent for their magic, and Avery's is telling dreams. She herself has a terrible dream which leads to the Roe family curse. The novel centres around Avery desperate to unlock her magic and defeat the curse. 

The story is very dark and angsty in tone, and quite hard to read in certain places. Avery comes across as quite selfish and obsessive in her desperation. Even with the boy she gets involved to help her. The islanders play a big part in the world building, everyone knows of the Roe witches and are waiting for Avery to take over. But she's extremely frustrated in trying to beat her curse. Raised for the most part by her Grandmother, whom she has watched perform magic for the Islanders, Avery wants to follow on the line. Her mother turned her back on the tradition of Roe witches. 

Its explained in the story why Avery is with her mother and understandably beyond pissed when the mother comes back to claim her daughter. She has a terrible rocky relationship with her mother who wants to keep her away from the family magic but Avery just won't listen. I did feel the constant arguments with the mother got rather repetitive as its the same argument over and over. Avery will not see reason, she has her own goals and wants nothing more to succeed about them. When things don't go her way, she bitches and has hissy fits.

As annoying as that is, the story is so compelling, so gripping and so well told in its narrative...its makes it easy to overlook Avery's personality. Even the romance weaved into the story is full of angst and difficult heartache. Its not tear enduing (at least wasn't to me) but quite painful to see the raw emotion spilling out. 

The novel had quite a few twists and turns in the plot and a rather unexpected ending. Definitely worth reading for a YA witch story with something different. A very good book. I will be looking forward to more from this author. 

Thank you Netgalley and Hatchette UK Childern's for approving my request to view the title.

Also Crosses off a square for my Summer Bingo reading challenge - Set on an Island