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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.)
apetite's review against another edition
3.0
Such a disappointing ending for such a good book, but it's great fanfiction material.
papalbina's review against another edition
3.0
I think I didn't truly understand the time paradox that happens in this book and that kept me puzzled until the end and prevented me for enjoying the book. And besides, there are too many happy coincidences in the plot ¬¬ I like Tamsin more in the second book, but I don't know, something didn't click right. Pity!
blumenstadtkind's review against another edition
4.0
Yay! I loved it! :)
This series is getting better and better.
Timetraveling, super-bad and super-goodlooking guys, mystery, magic and action. And I love reading from the 18th/19th century and this book had it all. The first book was great but this one is even better.
This little series started out so cute but turned into this exciting story that you can´t stop reading.
I simply adore every character in here. Tamsin and Gabriel most of course. But Tamsin has such a great and lovely family and even the bad guys, the Knights, are characters you can´t get tired to read about.
Always a Witch is such a magical book and Carolyn makes reading it so simple and easy. The chapters just fly by and it´s a good companion to spend a sleepless night with.
This series is getting better and better.
Timetraveling, super-bad and super-goodlooking guys, mystery, magic and action. And I love reading from the 18th/19th century and this book had it all. The first book was great but this one is even better.
This little series started out so cute but turned into this exciting story that you can´t stop reading.
I simply adore every character in here. Tamsin and Gabriel most of course. But Tamsin has such a great and lovely family and even the bad guys, the Knights, are characters you can´t get tired to read about.
Always a Witch is such a magical book and Carolyn makes reading it so simple and easy. The chapters just fly by and it´s a good companion to spend a sleepless night with.
enelya's review against another edition
4.0
Warning: Spoilers for book one - Once a Witch in this review!
The final installment of the Witch duology brings a new flavor to Tamsin’s life. Starting with the first impression – this cover is darker, lacking the touches of colour of the Once a Witch, and bring a girl in full view. The cover is modeled (and art) by Brazilian Fernanda Brussi, the same model/artist of the Fallen series cover art, and the resemblance will not be missed by the target audience, likely to be familiar with both works. My biggest issue is the straight hair of the female. Tamsin in depicted with curly, difficult to tame, hair, which sometimes frustrates her, and I deeply empathize with her, having been genetically endowed with such locks myself. Despite that missed detail, the colours and sense of longing that the cover inspired me, are very much in tune with the book and the path it leads us on.
Book one left us with the near escape of Tamsin, Rowena – her sister, and Gabriel – her boyfriend, from Alistair from the enemy family Knight and his blood spells, with the help of the Domani – an artifact long made by the Greene family to contain the Knights’ power, not long after the discovery of her powerful Talent. But Alistair escaped as well and it doesn’t take long for us to find out he Travelled in Time to alert his ancestors, putting in danger various generations of the Greenes.
Book two leads us on as Tamsin tries to stop him and the actions of her family, on a quest to save her own. I really can’t say more with fear of spoiling the unraveling of the story, but I assure you it’s worth it. Fast paced, fresh and full of emotion, I couldn’t put in down until the very final tears. Recommended to everyone with a deep sense of family union.
The final installment of the Witch duology brings a new flavor to Tamsin’s life. Starting with the first impression – this cover is darker, lacking the touches of colour of the Once a Witch, and bring a girl in full view. The cover is modeled (and art) by Brazilian Fernanda Brussi, the same model/artist of the Fallen series cover art, and the resemblance will not be missed by the target audience, likely to be familiar with both works. My biggest issue is the straight hair of the female. Tamsin in depicted with curly, difficult to tame, hair, which sometimes frustrates her, and I deeply empathize with her, having been genetically endowed with such locks myself. Despite that missed detail, the colours and sense of longing that the cover inspired me, are very much in tune with the book and the path it leads us on.
Book one left us with the near escape of Tamsin, Rowena – her sister, and Gabriel – her boyfriend, from Alistair from the enemy family Knight and his blood spells, with the help of the Domani – an artifact long made by the Greene family to contain the Knights’ power, not long after the discovery of her powerful Talent. But Alistair escaped as well and it doesn’t take long for us to find out he Travelled in Time to alert his ancestors, putting in danger various generations of the Greenes.
Book two leads us on as Tamsin tries to stop him and the actions of her family, on a quest to save her own. I really can’t say more with fear of spoiling the unraveling of the story, but I assure you it’s worth it. Fast paced, fresh and full of emotion, I couldn’t put in down until the very final tears. Recommended to everyone with a deep sense of family union.
amber04's review against another edition
4.0
I'm going to start off by saying that I am so so lucky not to have a sister like Rowena...aka Bridezilla!!
The protaganist in Always A Witch, (aka Tamsin Greene) is faced with many challenges and finally pieces together the path she was chosen for. I admire the courage throughout the story she exudes and the selflessness that leads her on her journey back in time to when it all began.
I really enjoyed Always A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough. At times I felt it was a little slow but when it started to regain my interest it didn't back down. I was very pleased with how well the story flowed and the little pieces that weren't left unfinished such as making the promise to "Cook" to change back "Mary". Don't want to give it away, but more importantly the author took the time for small details.
I think the story really started to evolve once Gabriel entered the scene. There's something about him, but it's totally something good ;) and once again that connection between Tamsin and Gabriel was fresh and exciting once again. I love that you can feel the love between them. I would really like to see more of those two together in the future.
Overall, a very clean and enjoyable read.
Thank You Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt!
heather4994's review against another edition
5.0
*****This review may contain spoilers if you didn't do what I told you to previously and read Once a Witch. Continue at your own risk.****
Now, whereas I did not like Tamsin in Once a Witch, I'm loving her in this one. Not only is she looking out for herself, her family and their fate, but she's looking out for the servants in the Knight household and the poor urchins they experiment on. While Once a Witch went back and forth between light and dark, Always a Witch reads like a horror story. The Knight family, is bent on practicing the darker magics. And they don't care about spilling human blood to do it. Humans are considered beneath them and therefore if they kill one or two dozen for the cause, so be it. What do they want? Immortality.
Tamsin travels back in time without Gabriel, time affects those without her powers and he could die if he gets trapped back in time. She has to beat Alistair Knight back in time before he can warn the Knights of what the Greene family did to their powers. Now here, she did go off a little half assed if you ask me because once again, she didn't know where the Greene family lived before she went back in time. That would have been my first place to visit. And I would have known the names of my ancestors so they would believe me. Had some piece of information or heirloom so they could identify me. But there's a big reason she can't ask where they lived or find out names and again in a round about way it has to do with Alistair Knight. So she basically hits the late 1800's blind. Dressed in a working girl's uniform and that's about it. She was smart enough to look in the attic at home for a uniform or dress so she'd look the part and found some money as well.
Tamsin of course, snoops and gets caught, but now with her awesome powers, she thinks she's invincible. Not! Once again, Gabriel comes to her rescue. And her great, great grandfather.
There are lots of mysteries and betrayals in this book and just when you think you've got it figured out, the loophole closes and there's no way out. Gabriel is just as admirable in this book as in the last one and still, my favorite character, but as I said, Tamsin is a lot less whiney and more take charge in this one.
At the end, as things turn around, Tamsin suffers a terrible loss and becomes the ultimate heroine to me! She totally makes up for her mistakes in Once a Witch, and who knows, maybe it was fated for this to all happen this way anyway.
I really enjoyed this novel. I love time travel novels and most of this one takes place in the past. There is a lot of sleuthing and sneaking around, second guessing, a lot of surprising defeats and some very realistic hopelessness. As to whether there is a happy ending, you'll need to read it, but I happily and highly recommend this book and the series.
Now, whereas I did not like Tamsin in Once a Witch, I'm loving her in this one. Not only is she looking out for herself, her family and their fate, but she's looking out for the servants in the Knight household and the poor urchins they experiment on. While Once a Witch went back and forth between light and dark, Always a Witch reads like a horror story. The Knight family, is bent on practicing the darker magics. And they don't care about spilling human blood to do it. Humans are considered beneath them and therefore if they kill one or two dozen for the cause, so be it. What do they want? Immortality.
Tamsin travels back in time without Gabriel, time affects those without her powers and he could die if he gets trapped back in time. She has to beat Alistair Knight back in time before he can warn the Knights of what the Greene family did to their powers. Now here, she did go off a little half assed if you ask me because once again, she didn't know where the Greene family lived before she went back in time. That would have been my first place to visit. And I would have known the names of my ancestors so they would believe me. Had some piece of information or heirloom so they could identify me. But there's a big reason she can't ask where they lived or find out names and again in a round about way it has to do with Alistair Knight. So she basically hits the late 1800's blind. Dressed in a working girl's uniform and that's about it. She was smart enough to look in the attic at home for a uniform or dress so she'd look the part and found some money as well.
Tamsin of course, snoops and gets caught, but now with her awesome powers, she thinks she's invincible. Not! Once again, Gabriel comes to her rescue. And her great, great grandfather.
There are lots of mysteries and betrayals in this book and just when you think you've got it figured out, the loophole closes and there's no way out. Gabriel is just as admirable in this book as in the last one and still, my favorite character, but as I said, Tamsin is a lot less whiney and more take charge in this one.
At the end, as things turn around, Tamsin suffers a terrible loss and becomes the ultimate heroine to me! She totally makes up for her mistakes in Once a Witch, and who knows, maybe it was fated for this to all happen this way anyway.
I really enjoyed this novel. I love time travel novels and most of this one takes place in the past. There is a lot of sleuthing and sneaking around, second guessing, a lot of surprising defeats and some very realistic hopelessness. As to whether there is a happy ending, you'll need to read it, but I happily and highly recommend this book and the series.
msglam's review against another edition
4.0
I was fortunate to receive an ARC of Always a Witch through Netgalley. I read the first book Once a Witch before I knew there would be a sequel and was saddened with the ending cause I wanted more and now having read Always a Witch I am now satisfied in knowing what happened on the rest of Tamsin’s journey of self discovery.
Always a Witch picks up right where Once a Witch leaves off with Tasmin and the Greene family still under the threat of Alistair Callum (Knight) and with Tamsin the only person who can save her family’s future. I loved the growth of Tasmin’s character in this book she no longer has anything to prove she is more sure of herself and you can really see the integrity and selflessness of her character. She has accepted who she is and is just doing what she can to protect her family. The returning characters were true to the first book and the new characters were just as enchanting as those introduced in the first. Carolyn MacCullough out did herself with the new villain in Liam as I disliked him way more than I did Alistair. The romance between Tasmin and Gabriel is touched on it is still refreshing and honest but it does not overshadow the main plot of the book that of Tasmin’s destiny.
I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4/5 stars. Always a Witch was a fun read that I couldn’t put
down. The characters are well-developed and storyline keeps you wanting more. While the story does resolve itself I hope to see more of Tasmin and her world in future books.
Always a Witch picks up right where Once a Witch leaves off with Tasmin and the Greene family still under the threat of Alistair Callum (Knight) and with Tamsin the only person who can save her family’s future. I loved the growth of Tasmin’s character in this book she no longer has anything to prove she is more sure of herself and you can really see the integrity and selflessness of her character. She has accepted who she is and is just doing what she can to protect her family. The returning characters were true to the first book and the new characters were just as enchanting as those introduced in the first. Carolyn MacCullough out did herself with the new villain in Liam as I disliked him way more than I did Alistair. The romance between Tasmin and Gabriel is touched on it is still refreshing and honest but it does not overshadow the main plot of the book that of Tasmin’s destiny.
I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4/5 stars. Always a Witch was a fun read that I couldn’t put
down. The characters are well-developed and storyline keeps you wanting more. While the story does resolve itself I hope to see more of Tasmin and her world in future books.
missprint_'s review against another edition
5.0
The Greene family has always been very talented--magically Talented, that is. Except for Tamsin. Instead of a Talent she had a cryptic prophecy from her grandmother declaring that Tamsin would one day be a beacon for her entire family.
At least, that's what she thought for the first seventeen years of her life.
Now she knows the truth about her Talent and her family's past. Unfortunately so does Alistair Knight and he's gone back to Victorian era New York to share what he knows with his ancestors and possibly destroy the Greene family forever.
With Alistair Traveling to the past, time is running out and Tamsin realizes she has no choice but to follow. Alone in 1895 New York Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the Knight mansion. She still has a crucial role to play in her family's struggle with the Knights even if she isn't sure what that role is yet. All she knows for sure is that it will involve a terrible sacrifice and, in the end, she may not have any choice at all in Always a Witch (2011) by Carolyn MacCullough.
Always a Witch is the sequel to MacCullough's delightful novel Once a Witch.
As some regular readers might already know, Carolyn MacCullough is one of my favorite authors of all time and also an author I was lucky enough to meet a while back which remains one of the high points of . . . my life. All sounds like tangential information unless you got to see a galley of Always a Witch.
On the covers of the advanced reader copies (and in the image attached to this post) part of my review of Once a Witch was quoted. There are a lot of reasons for any reader to love this book but for me a lot of that love is wrapped up in MacCullough being one of my favorite authors and also my excitement at being quoted on the galleys* and being so fond of these characters.
In other words, I'm delighted my words got to endorse this book, however briefly. (The quote didn't make it to the final cover but I'll always have the galleys. I also realize this sounds made up so here is a link to the galley cover as well: http://tinyurl.com/6kqqor8)
Once a Witch was a clever urban fantasy with an original take on magic as well as a fast-paced, funny and entertaining story. It was a delightful introduction to Tamsin and her world. Always a Witch is just as good as the first--maybe even better. Definitely good enough that I finished it in one day.
Family is still a central element of this book, as it should be when the family is as splendid as the Greenes, but there is a lot more to this story with the extended time travel and Tamsin's choice looming throughout the narrative.
As a sequel there is always the risk of summarizing too little or explaining too much. MacCullough strikes a perfect balance of summary and new material here. The inimitable Gabriel also returns along with other favorite characters. Tamsin's same fierce love for her family permeates these pages.
Always a Witch is a great fantasy with a well-realized look at old New York besides. Tamsin is one of my favorite heroines with her strength, resilience and general charm. Like Once a Witch before it, this book is a wonderful story about family and love and, yes, about magic too.
*I've had to sit on this information since December because the pub date was so far away. I also wasn't sure if the cover was finalized yet--I first saw it on a galley when a colleague pointed it out--and it's been absolute torture waiting to share this big news with you, dear readers. The news is slightly less big since the quote isn't on the final cover but I decided to mention it anyway because the quote was such a big part of my experience with this book.
Possible Pairings: White Cat by Holly Black, Heist Society by Ally Carter, Clarity by Kim Harrington, Hourglass by Myra McEntire, The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
At least, that's what she thought for the first seventeen years of her life.
Now she knows the truth about her Talent and her family's past. Unfortunately so does Alistair Knight and he's gone back to Victorian era New York to share what he knows with his ancestors and possibly destroy the Greene family forever.
With Alistair Traveling to the past, time is running out and Tamsin realizes she has no choice but to follow. Alone in 1895 New York Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the Knight mansion. She still has a crucial role to play in her family's struggle with the Knights even if she isn't sure what that role is yet. All she knows for sure is that it will involve a terrible sacrifice and, in the end, she may not have any choice at all in Always a Witch (2011) by Carolyn MacCullough.
Always a Witch is the sequel to MacCullough's delightful novel Once a Witch.
As some regular readers might already know, Carolyn MacCullough is one of my favorite authors of all time and also an author I was lucky enough to meet a while back which remains one of the high points of . . . my life. All sounds like tangential information unless you got to see a galley of Always a Witch.
On the covers of the advanced reader copies (and in the image attached to this post) part of my review of Once a Witch was quoted. There are a lot of reasons for any reader to love this book but for me a lot of that love is wrapped up in MacCullough being one of my favorite authors and also my excitement at being quoted on the galleys* and being so fond of these characters.
In other words, I'm delighted my words got to endorse this book, however briefly. (The quote didn't make it to the final cover but I'll always have the galleys. I also realize this sounds made up so here is a link to the galley cover as well: http://tinyurl.com/6kqqor8)
Once a Witch was a clever urban fantasy with an original take on magic as well as a fast-paced, funny and entertaining story. It was a delightful introduction to Tamsin and her world. Always a Witch is just as good as the first--maybe even better. Definitely good enough that I finished it in one day.
Family is still a central element of this book, as it should be when the family is as splendid as the Greenes, but there is a lot more to this story with the extended time travel and Tamsin's choice looming throughout the narrative.
As a sequel there is always the risk of summarizing too little or explaining too much. MacCullough strikes a perfect balance of summary and new material here. The inimitable Gabriel also returns along with other favorite characters. Tamsin's same fierce love for her family permeates these pages.
Always a Witch is a great fantasy with a well-realized look at old New York besides. Tamsin is one of my favorite heroines with her strength, resilience and general charm. Like Once a Witch before it, this book is a wonderful story about family and love and, yes, about magic too.
*I've had to sit on this information since December because the pub date was so far away. I also wasn't sure if the cover was finalized yet--I first saw it on a galley when a colleague pointed it out--and it's been absolute torture waiting to share this big news with you, dear readers. The news is slightly less big since the quote isn't on the final cover but I decided to mention it anyway because the quote was such a big part of my experience with this book.
Possible Pairings: White Cat by Holly Black, Heist Society by Ally Carter, Clarity by Kim Harrington, Hourglass by Myra McEntire, The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan