I came across this book upon its release through my free audiobooks for bookstore owners. I loved the cover and downloaded it without knowing what it was even about. Later, I finally read the description, liked the witchy vibes, and made it a vote option for my traditional book club. It came in second place, so we eventually did read it—and I’m so glad we did!

What you need to know.

Plot & Premise

The main plot of the story is a family mystery that suggests that Blackthorn women are witches who have cursed and are cursed. When one of the estranged women of the family starts asking too many questions, she quickly finds she and her daughter in danger.

But, as the story goes on, the forbidden romance between the Blackthorns and their enemy family takes a more dominant role. It comes to light that the relationship between the teens is the direct reason for the fate of the woman and her child that will also change the trajectory of their families’ legacies by the end.

We’re Blackthorns. We antagonize people merely by existing. We’re different, and we always will be, no matter how we might try to pretend we’re not.

My thoughts on the story.

Objectively…

I found most people loved this book. However, there were common sentiments as I went over it in two book clubs.

While few of the characters are interesting on their own, the intricate relationships between them and their interactions with others is what makes you invest in their actions throughout the story. Even more so, when the relationships further complicate because more is revealed about each of the main characters, you’re gripped by questions and tension that propels you through the book. Nevertheless, the side characters carry so much intrigue but are frequently abandoned as background noise or convenient breadcrumbs, which is quite disappointing at times.

Regardless, it is a character driven story, though there are other conflicts that intertwine in the plot. Mainly a mystery within the family, it quickly expands into a conspiracy within the town that dates back centuries. But the mystery surrounding the family is still only secondary to the complicated relationships that result from the complex nature of the family histories that have forbade certain interactions that seem inevitable down the line. While the intrigue carries us through the book, the answers we eventually receive aren’t proportionally satisfactory considering the tension for 75% of the book.

He’s always been the snake with the apple, and I’ve always been Eve. There isn’t a happy ending to our story. There can’t be. Our fate was written in the stars long before we were ever born.

But, I can say that the writing stays true to the gothic, witchy vibes throughout, and delivers on creating an atmospheric read the entire way through. The spice is well distributed not to feel excessive, though it is introduced in an unnecessary way in the beginning and escalates to extreme kinks by the end.

And, while I can say I had no trouble tracing the realistic and likely elements of the world set in a contemporary timeframe, there were times I felt like there were small gaps in the characterizations and conflicts that left the reader having to make assumptions in the end in order to tie up all the questions. Questions that were all conveniently answered in the last 10-15% of the book.

So, objectively, I would say this is a solid 4 star read.

Despite its faults, it does still get us to question: how do family legacies come to affect its descendants, and is it possible to escape a family shadow?

Personally…

I loved this book. The romance was fun, the vibe was pique atmosphere, the family histories were fascinating, and the twists and turns in the mystery kept me on my toes. I thoroughly enjoyed the aunts and the tension between the families, not to mention the interactions and rumors with the townspeople. Overall, the whole set up and intricate web of everyone’s complicity was great.

Hell is empty and all the devils are here.

I had recommended this book to everyone in my book clubs despite one major gripe I had with the book: the ending. But, I won’t spoil it for you. Let’s just say there is still so much potential for this book to continue, even after she checked off all the answers, put them in a box, and wrapped it up pretty. I would personally love this to be a duology!

Nevertheless, I feel like this is a solid 4 stars for me.

The missed opportunity with the aunties and the ending really does get to me. I’m ready for the fanfictions now!

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Is this book for me?

I recommend this book if you like:

• Witchy history vibes
• Mysteries with twists and turns
• Billionaire love interests

If you’re interested in buying a copy, you can order a new one and support my small bookshop (Fulfillity Books & More) by purchasing it here.

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Do you like witchy and gothic books? How do you feel about plot twists?

Let us know in the comments below.

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