Reviewer: Andrea
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The Summary:
It’s the trouble you aren’t expecting that gets you. And it’s all around you, Bronwyn, it’s all around you like the air.…
Bronwyn “BitsyWyn” Whalen hasn’t set eyes on the red dirt of Magnolia Creek, Alabama, for fourteen years—not since her mama died. But with her brother, Patrick, imprisoned for the murder of her childhood best friend, and her eccentric father, Jackson, at his wits’ end while her eleven-year-old niece, Byrd, runs wild, Bronwyn finds herself once again surrounded by ancient magnolia trees and the troubled family she left behind. She becomes immersed in a whirlwind of mystery and magic as she tries to figure out what really happened that fateful night her friend died. And as her bond with Byrd deepens, Bronwyn must face the demons of her past in order to unravel her family’s uncertain future.In Suzanne Palmieri’s thrilling new novel, The Witch of Belladonna Bay, readers will learn if love and magic are enough to bring a broken family back together.
The Review:
This is one of the most beautifully written novels I’ve read in a long time. Very quickly, I fell in love with the setting and the characters. I’m from the South, and it’s so refreshing to see a novel that portrays that environment in a positive light. The Faulkneresque aphorisms and slow-moving style were absolutely captivating. Seeing the power in nature and the connection to the land is a huge part of the novel, and anyone who’s spent time in that area knows how true that connection is. The novel shows the value in every living thing, even the trees, and not in a strange hippy way.
Byrd is the most intriguing character. I loved this kid! She’s a twist between Fancy Nancy and that chick from Beetlejuice. She’s described as an “old soul,” a description that truly fits her. Wise beyond her eleven years, she spouts truth at every turn. You genuinely believe this kid is powerful.
I did have a few issues, but they were nitpicky things like Wyn’s name. Each time someone used her full name, I was frustrated trying to figure out how to pronounce it correctly. I also became a little aggravated with the flashbacks. They are essential to the plot, but the timing bothered me some. Sometimes I became a little lost in who knew what as well. I had to go back and reread to see which characters had given which piece of information. Every character has secrets, and all of those secrets had to be unraveled, but again, this was something I loved at the same time.
4.5 Stars
Praise for the Book:
“Suzanne Palmieri has crafted a riveting tale that will keep you up late at night guessing what will happen next. It is a story that will intrigue both male and female readers. Guys, don’t let this one slip past you.”—Jason Mott, New York Times bestselling author of The Returned
“Ms. Palmieri’s authentic dialogue, and ability to paint a family in crisis, is both charming and layered. If you’re a lover of Southern fiction, magic in its many forms, and the kind of storytelling that keeps you turning the pages, you’ve come to the right place, y’all.”—Lesley Kagen, New York Times bestselling author of Whistling in the Dark
“Murder, mystery and magic meld in a novel of absolute enchantment. About the lies we tell, the love we struggle for, and the way we find our way back to our rightful place in the world, Palmieri’s book is a stunner.”—Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You and Is This Tomorrow
“Magic weaves its way through this beguiling southern gothic, swirling from the moss-laden trees around the Big House through the misty and menacing Belladonna Bay, and settling into the hearts of Bronwyn and her niece, Byrd, whose Strange Ways most people just don’t understand. Reminiscent of Sarah Addison Allen’s Garden Spells, this bewitching tale of ghostly mystery, love and family ties will enchant you from the very first page and linger in the air around you long after the last.”— Wendy Webb, bestselling author of The Fate of Mercy Alban
Buy the book
Amazon for Kindle: http://amzn.to/1iVYq8C
Amazon for paperback: http://amzn.to/OOzlF9
About the author:
Suzanne Palmieri Hayes is the author of The Witch of Little Italy and the forthcoming The Witch of Belladonna Bay (May, 2014). She is also the co-author of I’ll Be Seeing You under the name Suzanne Hayes. She lives by the ocean with her husband and three darling witches. She is currently hard at work on her next novel.
Connect with the author:
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1jISJhs
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Thelostwitch
Website: http://suzannepalmieri.com/
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1hSWLQd
