Review: Predictable, but fun.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 8, 2014
I am always up for a good witch book, add in some demons, and elite demon hunting... sounded awesome!! Well, though I did enjoy it, it wasn't quite as fabulous as I wanted it to be. It was very predictable and the whole hot and cold thing with Penelope and Carter started to get old. I did like the story though. I just wished it had moved along better. I found myself getting bored of Penelope constantly thinking about wanting to kiss Cater, but being mad at him, or needing to focus on her mission. I mean, it was obvious that she should just get a little hot and heavy with him since it was all she thought about anyways. Moving on though, I thought that her trying to figure out the mystery of everything was pretty fun. I saw things coming from a mile away, but it doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy seeing them figure things out.Penelope tragically lost her magic when her parents died. A demon stole her essence, which should have killed her, but didn't. She can still use magic, but only if she pulls it from a family member. Or from Carter as she learns. She has a very sassy attitude that is really entertaining most of the time. I liked that she was tough and even without magic she mostly can take care of herself. She comes across a bit as a damsel in distress since someone is always coming to her rescue, but she fights like crazy to try to save herself from bad situations until she inevitably has someone who she can pull magic comes to the rescue. Outwardly she seems like she is perfectly happy, but her secret that she has no magic really takes a toll on her. She is different, and that puts her whole family in danger. If anyone else knew she would be taken away. I think she handles it pretty well. Plus, she has some pretty motivated goals to get her magic back.Carter is the type that is both charming and frustrating. He is also a bit of a stalker. I can understand that he wants answers though, so I let it slide. He has his own secrets too, and a mission that is just as dangerous, if not more, than Penelope's. The thing that I loved about him was that he really just wants to be seen for who he is, kind of like Penelope does. They are very similar in that way. He also really cares about her and will do anything to protect her or help her. There is much more to him than just good looks, and superior Enforcer skills.That brings me to the romance. Can you say Insta-love? Yes, it totally is. I knew it was going to be. I pretty much figured that out right from when they met. I think I am getting a bit desensitized to it now though since it seems to occur more often than not. It was a short book, so they had to fall in love quick, right? Anyways, their little romance was a bit annoying with the whole almost get together, then fight, then almost get together, then Penelope wants nothing to do with him. (And everything to do with him at the same time.) It's more circumstance than anything that keeps throwing them together and making them decide that they are in fact going to fall in love. Okay, so maybe that's a bit harsh, but that was how it seemed to me. It wasn't natural or believable in my eyes. I found it to be more lust than anything. And the fact that they need each other for their magical purposes.So now that I have made this sound a little negative without meaning to, I did enjoy it. I thought it was a bit cheesy, but cute. Predictable, but still entertaining. I liked some of the side characters, and I thought the story was interesting even though I knew where it was going. I liked how the demons and the witches were done and how the history of everything came out. I do wish that there had been a little more background in the end, but overall it was a good book and I think that there will be a lot of people who enjoy it.*An advanced copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation.