Title: Salt & Storm
Author: Kendall Kulper
Publisher: HBG Canada
Publication date: September 23, 2014
Publisher: HBG Canada
Publication date: September 23, 2014
Genre(s): Young Adult (Paranormal/Magic)
Source: Publisher
Format: ARC
Pages: 416
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Sixteen-year-old Avery Roe wants only to take her rightful place as the witch of Prince Island, making the charms that keep the island's whalers safe at sea, but her mother has forced her into a magic-free world of proper manners and respectability. When Avery dreams she's to be murdered, she knows time is running out to unlock her magic and save herself.
Avery finds an unexpected ally in a tattooed harpoon boy named Tane--a sailor with magic of his own, who moves Avery in ways she never expected. Becoming a witch might stop her murder and save her island from ruin, but Avery discovers her magic requires a sacrifice she never prepared for.
I had high hopes for Salt & Storm. Avery, the main protagonist, believes her destiny is to become the next monro witch. However her estranged mother comes one day to where she lives with her grandmother and takes her away. Several years later, Avery is stuck with her mom and stepfather. Her mother put a binding spell on her that forbids her from looking and going to her grandmother. Avery also has another skill and that is interpreting dreams. One night, she has a dream that seals her very soon future with death. The first part of this book is Avery trying to break the spell, something she tries by seeking the help of Tane, mysterious tattooed sailor who knows a lot about magic.
I personally felt the plot went nowhere. I expected actual magic involved but got nothing. It is four hundred pages that could have been written in two hundred pages. The romance is insta-love of course so I will not even bother mentioning it. However I need to point out that there’s a difference between insta-crush and insta-love. Insta-crush is something I’m totally for if it’s written right and doesn’t immediately jump to insta-love.. However insta-love from the get go is a big no for me. That is one sure thing that will definitely turn me off a book.
I didn’t like the direction the author took with the plot and felt it really was a shame because so much could have been done with it. There is no way to redeem itself plot wise because this is a standalone. At some point I kept on reading just for the sake of reading. The whole book was her searching.. searching to break the spell, searching for her grandmother, searching for 100 other things. I’m just disappointed. If a book is being pitched as a witch/magic book.. it should contain that. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this book and I was overall disappointed in everything about it, from the plot, character development, to the romance.
Aw this is sad. I was hoping this one had a great romance mixed with magic since most YA authors stay away from witches because of HP. Now I'm already disappointed and I didn't even read the book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review though.
Sobs. I'm still sad that you didn't like this one, hih. But I love your review. <3 Thank you for sharing and being honest Juhina :) You are awesome. I did end up pre-ordering this hardcover, and it is getting ready to be shipped now :p Have yet to get my print ARC :( it was missing from the package I got from them... it had been lost in the mail. Damn. But they are sending me a new one :) ANYWAY. I'm hoping I might enjoy this one more than you. <3 But I doubt it. Hah. Will try, though :)
ReplyDeleteBuhh, such a disappointment. I've heard this from so many other reviews. Insta-love and hardly no magic, that was not what I was expecting from this book.
ReplyDelete