Review: Once a Witch (Witch #1) by Carolyn MacCullough

Title: Once A Witch

Author: Carolyn MacCullough

Series: 1st in Witch series

Pages: 262

Published: Available now from Clarion

ISBN: 9780547223995

Source: Purchased Copy 

Description: 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. 

I Give This ...

 

I've had this sitting in my to read pile for awhile now.  I knew I need to read it before I picked up the sequel.    Now, I'm really looking forward to the next one because this one was excellent.

I liked that Tasmin is the outcast in her family.  Growing up in a family with Talents (as they call them) and being the only one without would be hard.  Since she doesn't fit in at home, she convinced her parents to let her go to boarding school in NYC.  There she feels normal and I think she likes her time away from her family.  But, no matter what, I think she still longs to fit in with her family.  Why else would she go back there so much to work in the family bookstore.  I think it's also the reason she accepted the task to find the lost family heirloom.  I wonder how she planned on doing that before Gabriel showed up?

Aww... Gabriel.  I think he might have been my favorite character.  Gabriel moved away when they were young and Tasmin stopped writing to him when she didn't develop her Talent.  When he moves back, you can bet she wasn't expecting to be so attracted to him.   Turns out he feels the same, and has the Talent for finding lost objects and time travel.  Together they must journey through time to find the object that the professor wants without giving him the power he also craves.  

Along the way Tasmin discovers that her family has been keeping secrets.  Tasmin is more than what she thinks she is.  But, the professor is tired of playing games and puts Tasmin's sister under a powerful love spell.  It was interesting to watch the character match whits and powers against each other.  This is no ordinary family and they have the power to stop you in your tracks.  They also possess the power that could possibly destroy the future by changing the past.

I really enjoyed this story even though I think the ending got a little muddled.  Sometimes, I think to many things have to happen at once and it's hard to comprehend what really happened.  I'm hoping the next book clears that up a little.  But, overall I really recommend this book!