Published by: HarperTeen, April 15th 2014
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 432
Format: Ebook
Source: HarperTeen via Edelweiss
Josephine Hemlock has spent the last 10 years hiding from the Curse that killed her mother. But when a mysterious man arrives at her ivy-covered, magic-fortified home, it’s clear her mother’s killer has finally come to destroy the rest of the Hemlock bloodline. Before Jo can even think about fighting back, she must figure out who she’s fighting in the first place. The more truth Jo uncovers, the deeper she falls into witchcraft darker than she ever imagined. Trapped and running out of time, she begins to wonder if the very Curse that killed her mother is the only way to save everyone she loves.
REVIEW
A unique tale of family, love, and witchcraft.
Josephine is a modern witch. She lives with her grandmother in a magic-fortified, ivy-covered house, hiding from the curse that killed her mother. But when the curse comes for her, in the form of her father, everything in her life changes.
House of Ivy and Sorrow was a quick, enjoyable read. I liked the different elements of the plot - the Curse, the Shadows, the mystery of Jo's mother - but it fell flat at times and I felt like I was just reading to get to the good parts. But then the second half kicked in and I finally got the excitement and high-stakes danger the first half lacked.
Levi was the turning point of this book; he brought the book to life for me. I liked how you couldn't work him out, how he was ambiguously good and bad, and it was impossible to tell if his 'help' was genuine or a trap. I was dying for Jo and him to get together - Winn and I just didn't click; he was a little too nice for me personally - and the end just broke my heart.
The way teenage life was weaved with witch life was another thing I liked - school, crushes, friendship drama, evil magic users trying to kill you. Just the normal girly stuff. But what I enjoyed most about House of Ivy and Sorrow was the relationship between Jo and her grandmother and they way they were both stubborn and fierce in their desire to protect each other. Often books force the bond between family and it ends up feeling stale and false. That wasn't the case with this book.
Characters ★★★☆☆
Setting/world building ★★★☆☆
Writing Style ★★★☆☆
★★★☆☆
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