Review: The Witch Haven

 

I chose this book by spinning a wheel. For real, I am not even remotely joking. And if Imma be honest with you guys, I wouldn't have even touched this book if it wasn't on my December reads.

Following the story of Frances Hallowell, The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith, tells us about the awakening of her abilities after a fateful incident. Following the incident come two woman who tell her that she is deathly ill and that she must be taken to Haxahaven Sanatorium. But Haxahaven is apparently not what it seems.

QUICK THOUGHTS AND REVIEW: 3.7/10, an enjoyable book but slump ruined it.

PROS:

1. Narration: one of the things I really enjoyed of the story was narration. It immediately hooked me in and I was kind of glad it did. Barely anything holds my interest anymore, so it did feel good after being hooked in. And it was easy flowing which didn't make it boring for me. So I liked it a lot.

2. Plot: Really engaging plotline. A point that I have mentioned numerous amount of times. If your plot drags, that book is gonna end up in the DNF zone. So I was sort of happy that the plot didn't drag and it was really engaging.

3. Maxine is a raging lesbian. 

4. Depiction of society: particularly women. Painful as it is, the fact that women were considered inferior to men is a fact that happened in the 19th century. Women were supposed to be quiet, reserved and calm, and reserved for household jobs. The outside world was a world of man, and once a woman was powerful, she was considered as a witch and burnt on stakes.

5. Feminism: I always LOVE the idea of strong women in the story. Seriously strong women should be there in every story, like Nobara and Maki and Mai where my fellow Jujutsu Kaisen friens at. Not only Frances, but also Lena, Maxine and other girls of Haxahaven academy show a certain amount of strength that tbh, just makes me happy and giddy.

6. The plot twist: I might be a dumbass BUT I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. Like BRUH GOD DAYUM, why you gotta hurt me like that? Why you gotta make me feel like that.

CONS:

1. Lack of backstory: I think Frances's mother and brother should have deserved a backstory too. I mean, they do say Frances's mother attended Haxahaven academy, and William was part of the sons, so I think they deserved something that explained the existence of magic in them? Or perhaps a day in their life where they used magic.

2. Lack of empathy: I don't know why, but I felt like that the feelings were very robotic (for lack of a better term), and perhaps I would have liked to see more of Maxine and Lena? They did seem to have a new angle to them but I wanted to know more of them.

OVERALL, A NICE READ. Frances, Maxine and Lena are badass yo.