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ladytiara's review against another edition
3.0
Always a Witch picks up not too long after the first book, Once a Witch, ends. Teenager Tamsin Greene spent most of her life believing that she was the only person in her family without magical powers, but in Once a Witch, she learned that she may be the most important witch her family has ever produced. Always a Witch did a good job of catching the reader up on what happened in the first book, but if you haven't read the first book, I don't think you'll enjoy this one as much.
The last time we saw her, Tamsin saved her family from the sinister Alistair Knight. Now she learns that Alistair has gone back in time to destroy the Greene family, so Tamsin makes a desperate leap back to 1887 to save her family once again. The time travel elements in the first book were only a small part of the overall story, but this time, most of the book takes place in the past. Tamsin becomes a servant in the Knight household, which has a suitably creepy atmosphere. The Knights are a nasty bunch for the most part, and there are bad things going on in the house. Tamsin has to tread carefully as she tries to locate Alistair and save her family from destruction. She also finds herself sympathizing with the teenage daughter of the house, Jessica, who occupies much the same position in the Knight family that Tamsin formerly occupied in the Greene family.
I enjoyed Tamsin's trip to the past, although I would have liked more details of old New York. She infiltrates the Knight household perhaps a touch too easily to be plausible, but once that part of the story began, I was sucked in, so the implausibility didn't bother me too much. Carolyn MacCullough builds suspense well, and I felt genuinely worried for Tamsin, on her own in the past and in enemy territory. Tamsin's gradual realization of what she needs to do to save her family is handled well, and she's a likable and interesting heroine. I enjoyed her interaction with Jessica, and her relationship with her boyfriend Gabriel is very sweet. I didn't enjoy the earlier generation of the Greenes quite as much as I had hoped, but I think it's because they just don't seem as interesting as the villainous Knights.
Always a Witch is an entertaining read, and if you enjoyed the first book, I think you'll be very happy with the conclusion of the sequel.
I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Vine.
The last time we saw her, Tamsin saved her family from the sinister Alistair Knight. Now she learns that Alistair has gone back in time to destroy the Greene family, so Tamsin makes a desperate leap back to 1887 to save her family once again. The time travel elements in the first book were only a small part of the overall story, but this time, most of the book takes place in the past. Tamsin becomes a servant in the Knight household, which has a suitably creepy atmosphere. The Knights are a nasty bunch for the most part, and there are bad things going on in the house. Tamsin has to tread carefully as she tries to locate Alistair and save her family from destruction. She also finds herself sympathizing with the teenage daughter of the house, Jessica, who occupies much the same position in the Knight family that Tamsin formerly occupied in the Greene family.
I enjoyed Tamsin's trip to the past, although I would have liked more details of old New York. She infiltrates the Knight household perhaps a touch too easily to be plausible, but once that part of the story began, I was sucked in, so the implausibility didn't bother me too much. Carolyn MacCullough builds suspense well, and I felt genuinely worried for Tamsin, on her own in the past and in enemy territory. Tamsin's gradual realization of what she needs to do to save her family is handled well, and she's a likable and interesting heroine. I enjoyed her interaction with Jessica, and her relationship with her boyfriend Gabriel is very sweet. I didn't enjoy the earlier generation of the Greenes quite as much as I had hoped, but I think it's because they just don't seem as interesting as the villainous Knights.
Always a Witch is an entertaining read, and if you enjoyed the first book, I think you'll be very happy with the conclusion of the sequel.
I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Vine.
jesslynh's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, its not me, although good, this book was way too short. Also, by the ending, I don't think this will be a series. Seems like it will remain a duology.
jodeezle's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this book was a good continuation to first book. It picked up right where the first one left off.
reddyrat's review against another edition
4.0
Once A Witch and Always A Witch are two of the best paranormal/fantasy books I've read in quite awhile. Always A Witch begins just where Once A Witch left of. Alistair Knight has traveled back in time to prevent the creation of the Domani and the loss of the Knight family's power. For awhile, it looks like he is going to prevail. The future in the Greene family's book of prophecy is changing, or rather, disappearing. When a strange man travels forward in time to the Greene home and recognizes Tamsin, she knows that she needs to go back to 1887 and stop Alistair from destroying her family's future existence.
Tamsin travels back to 1887 and poses as a maid for the Knight family. I love how the fantasy world expands in this book. We see a whole new range of talents, and also see just how they can be used for evil as opposed to good. We understand why it was necessary for the creation of the Domani. The story is consistently interesting. This isn't one of those books that has you plodding through the first 3/4 and then glued to every page for the last 1/4. Instead, the entire book reads at a steady pace, with new plot twists, character development, and world-building that keeps you fascinated.
I love Tamsin. She was a strong character in Once A Witch, but is even stronger in Always A Witch. I liked seeing how her personality changed once she realized that she is, in many ways, the most Talented member of her entire family. It's given her a lot of self-confidence. But she still has some humility and insecurities that came from thinking she was a failure in a family of successes for most of her life. The mixture of qualities is actually a good thing for Tamsin. I love how courageous and smart she is. She isn't afraid of standing up to anyone - the Knights, her family, or the 1887 Greenes. But instead of just charging at them and losing, she positions herself to approach people at the time when she is most likely to get what she needs from them.
The romance between Gabriel and Tamsin is still here. I love Gabriel. He is handsome and loves teasing Tamsin by turning anything she says into a double entendre. He has a very useful Talent, but his family problems have kept him humble. The two of them are made for one another. I love how Gabriel wants to help Tamsin and Tamsin wants to protect Gabriel - rather than the other way around as most boy-girl stories go. I also like that the romance is not the most important thing to this story. It adds to it rather than defines it.
Always A Witch is a satisfactory conclusion to Once A Witch. The ending ties up the series nice - I loved how the book ended, even if it was bittersweet. The only thing that disappoints me is that there will not be another book.
Rating: 4 / 5
Tamsin travels back to 1887 and poses as a maid for the Knight family. I love how the fantasy world expands in this book. We see a whole new range of talents, and also see just how they can be used for evil as opposed to good. We understand why it was necessary for the creation of the Domani. The story is consistently interesting. This isn't one of those books that has you plodding through the first 3/4 and then glued to every page for the last 1/4. Instead, the entire book reads at a steady pace, with new plot twists, character development, and world-building that keeps you fascinated.
I love Tamsin. She was a strong character in Once A Witch, but is even stronger in Always A Witch. I liked seeing how her personality changed once she realized that she is, in many ways, the most Talented member of her entire family. It's given her a lot of self-confidence. But she still has some humility and insecurities that came from thinking she was a failure in a family of successes for most of her life. The mixture of qualities is actually a good thing for Tamsin. I love how courageous and smart she is. She isn't afraid of standing up to anyone - the Knights, her family, or the 1887 Greenes. But instead of just charging at them and losing, she positions herself to approach people at the time when she is most likely to get what she needs from them.
The romance between Gabriel and Tamsin is still here. I love Gabriel. He is handsome and loves teasing Tamsin by turning anything she says into a double entendre. He has a very useful Talent, but his family problems have kept him humble. The two of them are made for one another. I love how Gabriel wants to help Tamsin and Tamsin wants to protect Gabriel - rather than the other way around as most boy-girl stories go. I also like that the romance is not the most important thing to this story. It adds to it rather than defines it.
Always A Witch is a satisfactory conclusion to Once A Witch. The ending ties up the series nice - I loved how the book ended, even if it was bittersweet. The only thing that disappoints me is that there will not be another book.
Rating: 4 / 5
flowersofquiethappiness's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cute and quick read. Good for mindless entertainment for an evening. Which was exactly what I was looking for! After the first book, I wasn't certain where MacCullough was going to take the story. But it was well done!
katetj's review against another edition
5.0
More reviews can be found at my blog Nomalicious Reads
Always A Witch was a thrilling, sigh worthy read; a fantastic conclusion to Once a Witch.
Carolyn MacCullough tied all the ends off very nicely, and I'm sad that Tamsin's journey is now over :( But it ended so well that I can't complain.
Tamsin dealing with the social norms and bad guy,s in the nineteenth century definitely had its amusing moments as well as its heartwarming and shocking ones.
The bad guys, La Spider and Liam were amazingly, chillingly evil; Carolyn did an amazing job with them. At some moments, she had me on the edge of my seat anticipating what would happen next, hoping that Tamsin would survive working in their lair.
Gabriel.. is just so yummy! I would have loved to have seen even more of him and Tamsin, but really that's just me fangirling.
And Tamsin? She's just an amazing, down to earth, kick-ass heroine.
I'm really sad to see this book come to an end, but I'll be eagerly awaiting Carolyn's other books, she's won me over as a fan for life.
I give Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough 5 noms.
Always A Witch was a thrilling, sigh worthy read; a fantastic conclusion to Once a Witch.
Carolyn MacCullough tied all the ends off very nicely, and I'm sad that Tamsin's journey is now over :( But it ended so well that I can't complain.
Tamsin dealing with the social norms and bad guy,s in the nineteenth century definitely had its amusing moments as well as its heartwarming and shocking ones.
The bad guys, La Spider and Liam were amazingly, chillingly evil; Carolyn did an amazing job with them. At some moments, she had me on the edge of my seat anticipating what would happen next, hoping that Tamsin would survive working in their lair.
Gabriel.. is just so yummy! I would have loved to have seen even more of him and Tamsin, but really that's just me fangirling.
And Tamsin? She's just an amazing, down to earth, kick-ass heroine.
I'm really sad to see this book come to an end, but I'll be eagerly awaiting Carolyn's other books, she's won me over as a fan for life.
I give Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough 5 noms.
ladynightwolf's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this was a great follow up to Once a Witch. I personaly love historical fantasy fiction (hisfanfic? haha) and Carolyn MacCullough did a really great job bringing the time period to life. It was much different from the first and was a bit reminiscent of Old Magic by Marianne Curley.
amibunk's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't love this book as much as I did the first one, but the writing is solid and the plot is intriguing. (Still, I really want to punch Rowena, hard.)