Returned (Pendle
Hill Series #1)
by Keeley
Smith
About the Book
17 year old Cora Hunt has one wish, to
live the life of a normal teenager. Her wish never comes true.
After her reluctant move to a sleepy
village in the middle of Lancashire Cora's life is turned upside down when she
discovers she is a witch. Cora is not just any old witch, she is the daughter
of Alizon Device who was one of the most powerful witches of her time.
Dealing with her new found powers is
quite a challenge, but when the past she didn't know about unearths new
complications in the form of Jack Thomas, her life becomes increasingly
dangerous with each waking minute. Jack also has a secret past, a past that
clashes with Cora's.
A confrontation between the two results
in a life or death situation. The brutal events of 1612 happened hundreds of
years ago, but what Jack and Cora face is a definite déjà vu.
The only question is, will their fate be
the same as those who perished in 1612?
Review: Returned is the first book in the Pendle Hill series about a
girl named Cora who has lived many lives and has no idea. She awakens to her
memories in a small strange town and learns that herself and her ancestors are
witches, and powerful ones at that.
Book one follows Cora through learning about her history,
how she came to be in this place and time, and about how she must learn about
her powers. Cora is a bit whiny in the beginning of the book, looking to be a
normal teen, but obviously she never gets that. Instead she is thrust into a
new town, with new people, and now she has to learn to be a witch. To make
matters worse her mother was the most powerful witch ever, so she has a lot to
live up to.
Throughout the story, Cora takes most of this news very
well, all things considered, and is a strong female character. Tabitha her
keeper of sorts is strong too but very mysterious, even in the novella is a bit
of a mystery.
I enjoyed this book well enough but it did take some time to
read. I felt like there were some lulls in the story that kept the momentum
low, especially around the halfway point. The climaxes in the plot that I
wanted to see where a little lacking but just interesting enough to hold me not
clenching my attention totally. (I felt like I was reading a book versus becoming
part of the story and maybe that was just me)
I am interested to see where the book series goes with these
characters and the modern world of witches in the coming books.
Before (A Pendle
Hill Novella) by Keeley
Smith
About the Book
Cora and Jack are childhood friends who
have always lived next door to each other in a beautiful, idyllic part of
Lancashire. What binds them as lifelong friends are their powers.
As young witches, life is hard. If the
commoners find out their secret, they will be killed. But Cora is lucky, she
has her best friend Jack by her side.
Having grown up together they know each
other, they trust each other, they love each other. However their blossoming
relationship is cut short by the events of one day. A date that will bring
their perfect worlds crashing down around them.
20th August 1612
Cora and Jack are forced to face the
reality of being a witch during these turbulent times, however they don’t know
that their lives will become part of one of the most famous witch trials to
have ever hit England.
The Pendle Hill witch trials of 1612.
Review:
Before is a Pendle Hill series novella, which chronicles the
time before Cora re-awakens in modern time in the first book in the Pendle Hill
series. Cora and Jack are destined to be together and their families are fro
the same coven, the only problem is, they are living in a time when witch-hunts
are normal and it may ruin everything.
I read this novella while in the middle of the first book of
the series, and I think it was a good time to do so. I had just learned about
Cora and who she is versus who she thought she was and I wanted the backstory.
This novella gives you that and so much more. Cora is strong, stubborn and
resilient. Tabitha, also a recurring character, is determined, thoughtful, and
her plotting goes a long way for the good of Cora. Then there is Jack, I had
met him in Returned, and thought he was a butt, and then I read this and it
seems his personality issues go way deeper. There is a strong history between Cora
and Jack and this novella not only shows the readers of the series, but is full
of panic, mayhem, and scheming. I cannot wait to finish book one in the series
to see how these elements play out further in the series overall.
At only about 100 pages, this novella is a quick and easy read, especially those interested in witches, and the witch-hunts.
I've always loved reading, it is a common
known fact that I pretty much demolish a book a day. Expensive hobby, but a
great one! I've dabbled with writing since the day I could actually write. So,
it was only fitting that I had my first book published when I was 15.
If I'm not writing you would generally
find me reading, creating jewellery, trawling social networking sites and
listening to music. I will pretty much listen to any kind of music but I have
two favourites, country music which has been with me since I was a little
toddler and I also love to listen to movie scores, especially when I'm writing!
I currently live in Yorkshire with my
husband.
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