Born Wicked

December 19, 2011
Spotswood’s debut, first in the Cahill Witch Chronicles, is set in an alternate New England circa 1896. The Brotherhood has established a Christian dictatorship by overthrowing a governing caste of witches, and any hint of the arcane is now reason enough to sentence a woman to an asylum or hard labor. Girls must marry or go into the convent by their 17th birthday, and Cate Cahill’s moment of truth is fast approaching. Cate, like her two sisters, is a secret witch, the legacy of a mother who died young trying to produce a male heir. Cate is responsible for protecting her family, a responsibility that does not square with marrying the tempting and handsome Paul McLeod. Her dilemma worsens when an eagle-eyed governess takes up residence, and a mysterious note arrives, urging Cate to seek her mother’s diary. Spotswood falls prey to occasional pedantic exposition, and casting Christians as fascistic chauvinists is nothing new. The pace doesn’t lag, however, and the fate of the Cahill sisters inspires genuine dread by the time the cliffhanger ending arrives. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

January 1, 2012
Ever since their mother died, Cate has been responsible not just for raising her sisters, but for making sure that they stay safe and undiscovered by the Brotherhood priests as witches. Protecting her sisters, who chafe under her too-watchful eye, was the last request that Cate's mother, a fellow witch, asked of her before dying. Unfortunately, her mother neglected to leave much guidance. A discovered witch is subject to terrifying penalties, and the Brotherhood has been intensifying its witch-finding efforts. Cate is pulled between family obligations and societal pressures—she has only a few short months to find a husband lest the Brotherhood assign one, but marriage will take her away from her sisters. The lukewarm love triangle between her and two generic suitors is just formulaic, especially when compared to the more compelling relationship with society. By keeping the sisters away from their town's social scene, Cate meant to keep their secrets safe, but their absence has attracted attention. The two plots tie together through the arrival of governess Sister Elena, tasked with smoothing the girls' rough edges and matchmaking. Searching for answers while hiding under everyone's noses, Cate discovers pieces of a prophecy revealing an immediate danger and that she isn't the only one keeping secrets. An imperfect heroine, strong female supporting cast and measured tension counter underdeveloped male characters. (Fantasy. 12-17)

(COPYRIGHT (2012) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

April 1, 2012

Gr 7 Up-New England in the 1890s is a perilous place to be female in this tale of witchcraft and romance. The three Cahill sisters-Cate, Maura, and Tess-have inherited their powers from their deceased mother, but if their abilities are discovered, the girls will be in deadly danger from the ruling Brotherhood. A trio of sisters is key to a prophecy predicting the downfall of the Brotherhood, and the crushing misogyny of the Brothers is terrifying. Cate, the eldest, is desperate to protect her siblings, but the Sisterhood (a female community subsumed under the Brotherhood) has its own agenda, and the Cahill girls are trapped within it. Spotswood is spot-on not only in her vision of this nightmarish alternate society, but also in her smooth melding of historical and (slightly) gothic romance with the strong spice of suspense. Natural dialogue, perceptive primary and secondary characterizations, and a palpable sense of place contribute to an involving plot and move the action rapidly forward. Whiffs of humor and a sly wit reminiscent of the best Regency romances accompany a potent love triangle that will charm readers. When handsome Finn Belastra reveals his heroic side, Cate thinks: "If he was handsome before, now he's doubly so. Still, I can't go falling in love with the gardener." While three witch sisters and a prophecy may echo television's Charmed Ones, there the similarity ends in this original, smoothly written adventure. This first title in the series is more than promising; readers will be swooning for the next one.-Janice M. Del Negro, GSLIS Dominican University, River Forest, IL

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2012
Grades 8-12 The prophecy written in Mother's diary is clear: A trio of sisters will come of age, all witches. One of the sisters, who will be gifted with mind-magic, will be the most powerful witch born in centuries. Her daughtersCate, Maura, and Tesscompose the trio, and Cate is the one who possesses mind-magic. But Mother is dead, Father is oblivious, and the Brotherhood is intent on stamping out all witches in New England in an effort to squelch female independence and initiative. How can Cate protect herself and her sisters from the Brotherhood's terrifying scrutiny? Spotswood has melded historical fiction with the paranormal into an intriguing story of witchcraft, family responsibility, and unrequited love. A constant undercurrent of uneasiness permeates the novel; readers will find themselves tantalized by Cate's two suitors and their marriage proposals, terrified by the Brotherhood's hatred and disgust of girls and women, and frustrated at the necessity to wait for the second book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles to learn what becomes of the sisters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)