nomadreader

The backstory: Young adult paranormal is not usually by thing, but lesbian witches in contemporary Salem, Massachusetts most definitely are. I picked this as a Book of the Month add-on last year, but I finally got around to reading it this month. The basics: The first in a duology (series of two--how refreshing to not have a trilogy!), this novel introduces Hannah, "Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans." (publisher)...

The backstory:  I bought this audiobook in 2014 when it was a Daily Deal, but like so many of the Daily Deals I buy, it never rose to the top of my audiobook TBR. On Litsy, CareBear hosted a low stakes read-a-long: read the book in February and discuss it at the end of the month. I'm so glad that I read this book but also that I had people to discuss it with because there is SO MUCH to discuss. The basics: This novel is set in a country house West Hall, Vermont in 1908 and the present day. The town has had quite a few strange disappearances and deaths over the years. In 1908, Sarah Harrison Shea, who is struggling with the death of her daughter, Gertie, and writing in a diary. Her husband and doctor confuse her grief with psychosis. In present day, 19-year-old Ruthie and her little sister Fawn live in Sarah's house, and their mother is missing. When looking for clues, they find Sarah's diary. My thoughts: If I'm being honest, if I knew I was reading a paranormal gho...

It's no secret that paranormal is somewhat hit or miss for me. It's not a genre I seek out, but I often enjoy paranormal books. I do seem to enjoy paranormal books that veer more towards the normal side. Part of the intrigue and joy of paranormal is questioning where exactly the line between reality and fantasy is, and Deception  straddles that line beautifully. Deception begins with Emma's parents leaving on a business trip. She's a normal high school girl with normal annoyances. There's mystery from the beginning, as Emma refers to secrets in her past. As the book moves forward, Emma's thoughts open up to the reader more, as though she were really getting to know you as you get to know her. I won't spoil the plot of this book because part of the joy is figuring out what normal, what's real, who is honest and how much anyone knows. It works as much as a mystery as a paranormal novel, but it will appeal to readers who aren't terribly keen on p...