Review: Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
September 14, 2009

From Goodreads:
Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all. This is a spellbinding display of storytelling that will exhilarate, enthrall, and thoroughly enchant.

My Review:
Once a Witch was a fun and fast-paced book that I delighted in! The plot was unique and refreshing and the characters were all lovable. Well, except for Tamsin's sister Rowena, but she was meant to be annoying. I will definitely be buying the sequel, Always a Witch, when it releases!

Tamsin was an enjoyable character who I could really relate to. She is always in the shadow of her perfect sister, Rowena, and wishes that her family would notice her for once. Tamsin also has the misfortune of being the only one in her family of witches without a Talent. When a handsome man comes into her grandmother's shop, mistaking her for her sister and asking her for help finding something that was lost in his family, Tamsin jumps at the chance to show her family that she is capable. She is aided in her search by Gabriel, her childhood friend whose Talent is finding lost items. What Tamsin doesn't realize, though, is that finding this lost clock will have dire consequences for her family. Throughout Once a Witch, Tamsin unravels a mystery, fixes her mistakes, finds out more about herself, and best of all, she falls in love.

Gabriel was someone who I would easily fall for! He loves joking around with Tamsin and has a soft side to him. I thought that his Talent was interesting and I would love to have the ability to be able to find anything I lost! The romance between him and Tamsin was sweet. It was so obvious that he was in love with her, but it took awhile for her to see it. Tamsin wants to take a chance on a relationship with Gabriel but fears that her relationship will get her stuck in her hometown where all the "family" lives. The novel puts Gabriel and Tamsin in situations where they able to open up to one another and explore their feelings for each other.

Once a Witch was a light-hearted and fun read that took me on an enjoyable journey. There are a lot of YA witch themed books out there but Once a Witch stands out. I will defnitely be picking up the sequel when it releases! You should definitely go pick this book up if you haven't already! You won't be disappointed!

My Rating: