House
of Ivy and Sorrow
Author: Natalie
Whipple
Series: -
Pages: 352
Genre: Young
Adult
Publisher: Harper
Teen
Release date: 15th April 2014
Synopsis. (Goodreads)
Josephine Hemlock has spent the last 10 years hiding from the Curse that
killed her mother. But when a mysterious man arrives at her ivy-covered,
magic-fortified home, it’s clear her mother’s killer has finally come to
destroy the rest of the Hemlock bloodline. Before Jo can even think about
fighting back, she must figure out who she’s fighting in the first place. The
more truth Jo uncovers, the deeper she falls into witchcraft darker than she
ever imagined. Trapped and running out of time, she begins to wonder if the
very Curse that killed her mother is the only way to save everyone she loves.
Review: 3 out of 5 stars
I really love the premise of this book, everything to do
with witches and magic appeals to me so I literally devoured House of Ivy &
Sorrow as soon as I received it but I have to admit I do feel it would be
suited to the younger YA audience.
Josephine Hemlock is from a family of witches and is
protected by her grandmother from a mysterious curse that killed her mother. Jo
tries to be a normal teen by having fun with her friends and trying to win the
heart of the boy she likes which doesn’t come easily with an interfering
meddling grandmother.
Jo was a interesting character with a realistic yet young
voice, she was witty and protective of those closest to her; when a man comes
to town with darkness following him it’s up to Jo to work out his purpose,
protect her bloodline and find a way to break the family curse. It was a
mysterious and intriguing plot which flowed well; it was a lot more
lighthearted than what I was expecting but enjoyable none the less.
The romance is not at the forefront of the story but I
liked Winn, he made for a nice love interest and I was surprised by the secrets
he too was hiding but I would have liked to have had more page time with him to
get to know more about him.
Natalie Whipple’s writing is simplistic and engaging, the
details she gives allows us to envision what is happening – a magic spell and
the description left me cringing at times. Each of the characters are
interesting enough and although there were a few over the top moments from a
few of them they are each believable in their actions and reactions as teens.
Overall, I enjoyed the characters, the witchy magic and the
way the author showed the strength and love of family and friends interwoven in
to a captivating story of magic and power.
I will definitely read more books written by Natalie
Whipple, I'm not sure if this book is a part of a series but I can definitely
see it becoming one.
Thank-you to Harper Teen for the opportunity to read and
review House of Ivy & Sorrow.
About the author:
Natalie Whipple, sadly, does not have any cool
mutations like her characters. Unless you count the ability to watch anime and
Korean dramas for hours on end. Or her uncanny knack for sushi consumption.
She grew up in the Bay Area and relocated to Utah for high school, which was quite the culture shock for her anime-loving teen self. But the Rocky Mountains eventually won her over, and she stuck around to earn her degree in English linguistics at BYU. Natalie still lives in Utah with her husband and three kids, and keeps the local Asian market in business with all her attempts to cook Thai curry, Pho, and “real” ramen.
She grew up in the Bay Area and relocated to Utah for high school, which was quite the culture shock for her anime-loving teen self. But the Rocky Mountains eventually won her over, and she stuck around to earn her degree in English linguistics at BYU. Natalie still lives in Utah with her husband and three kids, and keeps the local Asian market in business with all her attempts to cook Thai curry, Pho, and “real” ramen.
