Published by Simon Pulse (3.6.2018)
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Hardcover, 308 pages
Source: I own it
Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…
Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.
Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.
Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.
Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.
But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.
My thoughts
Okay, I didn’t expect to enjoy this one so much! I don’t know why I put it off for so long. Mostly, the hype scared me. But it was so well deserved!
I am IN LOVE with the premise of this book. I loved the idea that three women, who were drowned in the sea for being accused of witches, come back every year to seek revenge on the town that killed them. So awesome!!
This book was so beautiful and tragic! I don’t want to say much because I don’t want to ruin anything. I didn’t know much going in, and the discovery was a wonderful journey. View Spoiler »
The writing style was very engaging and kept me interested. I also really enjoyed the little snippets of backstory sprinkled throughout the book! It was brilliant, really. I definitely recommend this one!
Okay, so I didn’t expect this one to be scary so it’s kind of unfair to give it a horror rating at all. It was witchy, though, which is Halloween related. And it was kind of gruesome in the fact that so many boys were drowned by the sisters!
Overall Assessment
Plot: 4/5
Premise: 5/5
Writing style: 4/5
Originality: 5/5
Characters: 3.5/5
World-building: 4/5
Pace: 4.5/5
Feels: 4/5
Cover: 5/5
Overall rating: 4.5/5
I haven’t read this book yet, but your review makes me want to read it now. I love the premise too and if the writing is so awesome, then I know this is a book I’ll love too. The horror level rating is perfect for me (weak stomach here).