The Memory Witch

The Memory Witch #1

by Heather Topham Wood

Ten years ago, Quinn Jacobs’ mother made a bargain with a local witch—steal away Quinn’s memories from the first eight years of her life and in return, Quinn would spend a year in servitude to the witch.

On Quinn’s eighteenth birthday, she’s forced to leave her home and friends behind. For the next year, she’ll live at the Chadwick House, learning everything she needs to know about being a spellcaster. As her powers grow, Quinn begins to unravel the secrets of the past and the reason her mother was so desperate to conceal the horrifying truth.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Witches, Romance, Young Adult, Novels

230 pages, Paperback

First published December 13, 2013

About the author

Heather Topham Wood’s obsession with novels began in childhood while growing up in a shore town in New Jersey. Writing since her teens, she recently returned to penning novels after a successful career as a freelance writer. She loves creating imaginary worlds where people behave exactly how she wants them to.

Heather graduated from the College of New Jersey in 2005 and holds a bachelor's degree in English. Her freelance work has appeared in publications such as USA Today, Livestrong.com, Outlook by the Bay and Step in Style magazine. She resides in Trenton, New Jersey with her husband and two sons. Besides writing, Heather is a pop culture fanatic and has an obsession with supernatural novels and TV shows.

Follow Heather on Facebook, Twitter and her blog to keep posted on her upcoming works:
https://twitter.com/woodtop255
http://authorheather.com
https://www.facebook.com/HeatherTopha...

Reviews

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witchcraft and more! - mature YA

Novels about witches always grab my attention. The cover art is gorgeous and enticed me to dive right in.

Quinn is a hard working, dedicated eighteen year old, ready to go off to college and begin her life out of high school. Everything she thought she wanted for her future gets taken away from her in an instant by an elderly witch who she owes a debt to. Only Quinn is the last to know. Her mother sacrificed a year of Quinn’s life to the witch, Stella, for a spell cast ten years earlier. The spell erased all of Quinn’s childhood memories. Now she is being forced to learn everything about witchcraft in one year.

As Quinn studies the craft from Stella, she also learns that trying to avoid Mason, the extremely hot caretaker, and Stella’s nephew, may cause a larger distraction than she bargained for. As Quinn attempts to survive her year of studying magic, she also finds that she may not be able to move forward until she has resolutions to her past. She decides that she will do anything to get her memories back.

Family obligations. Secrets hidden in amnesia. Magic and spell casting. Teen angst and betrayal. Crazy, dysfunctional family members, and falling in love for the first time. The Memory Witch is a cauldron bubbling over with great characters and an imaginative, (and sometimes heart-wrenching) story that will appeal to a large audience.

This is a quick entertaining paranormal read. It kept me up late into the night because I couldn’t sleep until I knew how it was going to end. This book also sets you up for a 2nd in the series and I hope I won’t have to wait too long.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first paragraph to the last this book had me. The characters are well written and you can feel Quinn's confusion and pain at having to give up her friends and her dreams of college when she finds out that she will have to go live with the witch Stella for a year and learn the craft of a spellcaster. Then there is the question of why her memories for the first eight years of her life erased. What could have happened that her mother did not want her to remember. I pretty much guessed what happened but not the who. I also loved how Quinn did not stay a sulky teenager who is forced to do something she doesn't want to do but instead comes to embrace what she is. Stella is such a great character you can't help but like her. The ending answers all the questions and still leaves room for book 2 which I will be anxiously waiting for. I always love to find a new series to read and this one is certainly worth it. I received this book from LibraryThing Member Giveaway for an honest review.

[Lolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Memory Witch is a tale of dark and twisted magic! I was attracted to the book because I thought the plot sounded very unique. It's labeled YA but as an adult I still liked all the drama with Quinn, Stella and Mason. Mason was a great h and him and Quinn had fab chemistry. Will be looking out for the next one.

I won this book in a giveaway and was asked to provide a review.

[Fred · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not sure what I expected out of this book, but I didn't get what I wanted. I'm hardly the target audience for this book. Too much romance and too little magic, for my taste.

[Sherlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on Mermaid with a Book.

Wood weaves a dark tale with a touch of magic in The Memory Witch – the first in a series. I have always loved tales with witches in them and was drawn to Quinn's story.

Quinn was a character that I quickly grew to like. Wood brilliantly set up the plot and characters, making it very believable that Quinn had no choice but to leave with Stella, the witch. There was also a significant build-up of events before Quinn left for Stella's place, which I greatly appreciated because the pacing would have been off if Wood had jumped straight into Quinn's tutelage with Stella.

Throughout her stay with Stella, Quinn echoed similar thoughts I had and I really liked how she smart and mature she was:

If I was going to be here for a year, I had to encourage a level of civility with my instructor. If I had to venture a guess, it would be that staying on the witch's good side was vital to my survival.

Simply put, I'm a little sick of hot-headed heroines who don't put a bit more thought into their next plan of action. Quinn was a hardworking student and strove to follow Stella's instructions. She was also determined about not being involved with Mason and followed through with it albeit having warring emotions(yay!).

Stella was a character that grew on me from the very beginning. I have a feeling the opposite might have been intended for readers, but Stella came across as a stricter Professor McGonagall from Harry Potter with a capacity to care more than she should. She was an awesome mentor to Quinn and was a little disturbing at times, but I still really, REALLY like her!

Mason and Quinn were so hot. So hot. *fans self* Mason is that complicated boy with the complicated past, and though they always say you should NEVER go for a bad boy, I'm just glad that he stepped into Quinn's life. Mason's backstory was heart-wrenching and the way these two fell for each other was just – *searches for appropriate gif*



One thing that irked me was how Wood's writing seemed to tell more than show. I'm sure we're all familiar with how we should show, not tell with writing. I felt that there was so much more between Quinn and Stella's relationship that could've been fleshed out if Wood had shown more instead of just telling us what happened between the two of them, such as this:

A few incidences after snapping at Stella, I had ended up getting stuck doing deep cleaning in the bathrooms.

This happened many, many times. Not of Quinn cleaning the bathrooms, but of how incidents that could've been used to further show the relationship between characters were not put to good use. I couldn't see the "cruelty and disdain" Quinn spoke of Stella at one point. I also didn't get how Stella and Quinn's mother ended up in a screamfest – my guess is that there should've been a build-up of show, not tell because I completely missed the signals prior to that. Additionally, Quinn frequently commented how Mason didn't want to get near her at the beginning, that he was hot-and-cold. Often I found myself questioning, really? I guess it would have been more evident if Wood had fleshed out their relationship more at the start.

Nevertheless, the story held my attention for a good whole day. The ending made The Memory Witch so much darker than I thought it would be, too, and it didn't help that I was finishing it up close to midnight. I just can't help but wonder if Wood had experienced an element of Quinn's past – be it personal, or having been exposed to something similar like that in her life so far. It was... very disturbing, not to mention heartbreaking. I felt like someone had used my body as a gong after finishing this book – my feelings were all over the place, reverberating inside of me.

The Memory Witch has been planned for a trilogy, and I'm definitely looking forward to more Quinn and Mason, as well as a whole new bunch of characters!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good paranormal story will not only whisk you away from you real life and allow you to immerse yourself completely in the characters lives, but will let you believe that all the magical and extraordinary things could be real and happening to someone you know, where you live. "The Memory Witch" by Heather Topham Wood does all of this easily. The story captivated me from the start, made me lose all concept of time and space and experience things alongside Quinn.

Quinn is a young girl who is haunted by her past. Or to be more exact, lack thereof. She has no memories at all of the first eight years of her life, always being told the amnesia is due to the trauma of losing her father. Little did she know that her memories have been wiped out by the witch Stella. Not the thing you want to find out before your 18th birthday. But this is exactly that happens to Quinn. Not only does she realize that her mother had been lying to her but she also learns that the deal her mother struck with the witch included a year of Quinn's life spent at Stella's and learning the craft. So instead of going off to college and enjoying her life and her boyfriend Tanner, she ends up in the middle of nowhere, with an old woman that is demanding, strict and unapologetic.
I really didn't envy Quinn, but she takes all that's dropped on her in stride. She's strong and ambitious, wanting to learn as much as she can from Stella, despite her initial reservations and doubts. She's willing to sacrifice her dreams to protect her mother and despite knowing her mother lied, she finds it in her to forgive and not let it ruin their relationship. I liked how outspoken Quinn was and that she didn't throw herself a pity party, but instead just moved on - making the best of the situation.
That is both helped and complicated by the presence of Stella's nephew, Mason. A broody young man, with looks to make panties melt, he confuses Quinn on a regular basis, always going back and forth between being charming, sweet and helpful and being distanced, broody and dismissive. Yet, neither of them can fully stay away from each other, feeling a pull they can't resist. And she'd be crazy if she tried to resist him. He is sexy - body and heart. He is the perfect mix of sweet and bad, of caring and romantic, possessive and alpha. Absolutely swoon-worthy. But he also has a secret that has made him fear love and its consequences.
As Quinn's year of training progresses, she not only learns that she has powers she never would have dreamt of, but also learns about who she can trust and who is bound to disappoint her. She manages to worm her way into Mason's heart, despite his initial objections. And she realizes that this year might be her chance to lift the spell and find out what her mother isn't telling her. Hell-bent on learning the truth, she is willing to face whatever horrible events might have occurred in her early life. But some truths can be ugly, straight from nightmares. So bad, I was a sobbing mess.

Is it worth knowing them or is better to forget? And what do you do when you remember?

Quinn has to figure out how to continue her life after the ugly truth is revealed. And it's up to her what path she'll choose - darkness or light.

I loved everything about the book. The writing, the atmosphere it created. I loved how much depth the characters had and how multidimensional they were. Heather Topham Wood's characters are always absolutely breath-taking. Yes, they are flawed, they have edges, they make mistakes and are human. But they are also strong individuals that learn from their mistakes and grow from their experiences. It's not different with "The Memory Witch". The story was so beautiful, so meaningful, so captivating that it made my heart ache.


5+ extraordinarily-beautiful stars.

[Tia Bach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quinn doesn't remember the first eight years of her life thanks to her mom's deal with Stella, a witch. The deal: Quinn's memories were erased. But magic always comes with a price, and Quinn must now spend a year as Stella's apprentice.

As the days pass, Quinn learns more about her abilities and the costs of witchcraft. What she doesn't learn is anything about her past, until she takes matters into her own hands. But there's a reason her mom fought so hard to wipe Quinn's memories. Will the truth be too much for Quinn?

Heather Topham Wood crafts excellent characters. I loved Quinn's strength and determination. No matter how many hurdles she faced, she wanted to know about her past and fear wasn't going to stop her. Along the way, she confronts horrific truths. But nothing cripples her for long.

While serving her yearlong term, she meets Mason. Thanks to his own troubled past, he doesn't want to be involved with a witch. In addition, Stella forbids it. Yet, the two are drawn to each other. There's a sweetness and maturity to their growing relationship. I'm sure readers will have varied opinions of Quinn's mother's actions, but she had to make some difficult choices. I hope future installments shed more light on her character.

The story takes quite a few twists and turns, and the reveal of what happened to Quinn when she was eight is a highly emotional tearjerker. Although it took me a few chapters to feel invested in the story (and there were some editing errors), the build up and ending was quite the ride. I was left breathless and eager for book two.

My greatest hope for this series is that Quinn's heart can override her hurt.

Something I want to commend Heather on... writing a New Adult book which is not focused on overdone, and too often raunchy, sex scenes. However, it's definitely not for young adult readers thanks to mature content.

Some of my favorite passages:

"The deal was one year. Yes, magic is fascinating," I acknowledged, "but I also don't need to be in service to people's wants and desires for the rest of my life. I see what magic can do to people. Sometimes it can bring temporary happiness, but most of the time it only brings misery." (p176)

Years and years worth of memories jumped around in my brain and begged to replace the painful ones. They fluttered in my mind and I tried to hold onto the happy feelings associated with each snapshot of my past. It helped block out the blood and the fear and the sorrow. (p 216)

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

[Marni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d like to thank the author for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Doing so does not sway my judgment in any way.

The Prologue pulled me into the story right away; lost memories, murdered father, mother’s attitude about everything and a change. BAM! I was sold on this book. Not many books do that within the first couple pages, and when they do it’s an amazing feeling. The title itself let me know it had to do with memories, but I wasn’t so sure how the witch part fit in, but the title along with the prologue made me want to know what one had to do with the other.

Stella, the witch that had wiped her memories years ago, takes Quinn in for restitution of what was asked to be done by Quinn’s mother. There is no malice here, just a woman who knows she doesn’t have much time left on this earth and wants to have an apprentice to teach her magic to so that it will live on. Quinn takes on the roll, after being steamrolled into it by Stella, leaving a life of the normal young adult. Her mom and her had struggled financially, Quinn had secured a college scholarship, she had a boyfriend that seemed to love her even with her quirks and a new chapter was about to start in her life. I had expected Quinn to go kicking and screaming a bit more but she overall understood the consequences of her actions if she had.

An enjoyable read, the author provides details that allow you to follow the story with ease, details that paint the scenery before you and characters that interact well with one another, even in time of conflict. The was the characters are feeling or the way they are saying it come across so well through small details as the raising of eyebrows or the tone in the voice. The author comes across as a true storyteller which is a must, especially in a story like this with the paranormal side of it all. The author provides a distraction for Quinn in Mason, Stella’s nephew, estate caretaker, etc. Just a couple years older than Quinn he’s the companion that keeps her sanity while she’s learning the trade.

Quinn works hard to get her answers. There’s no sparing of emotions by the author. An author who’s not afraid to put her beloved characters through the wringer is again the way of a storyteller. A little more emotion put into her characters and the author will soar with the best of them. This story is recommended to the YA reader ages 16+. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Kimber Wheaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

The Memory Witch has a beautiful cover. That along with the premise drew me in. I love books about witches, find spellcasting fascinating. It was intriguing to see the sacrifices or offerings people had to use to make a spell work. Magic can't be worked without cost, and sometimes that cost is dear. Quinn learns this little fact first hand the summer after she graduates from high school.

Quinn is an interesting character. She tried to be happy in life, but something always felt off. To find out her mother had her memories erased in return to her spending a year serving a witch, it would be beyond difficult. While a strong girl, she carried an air of tragedy around her. Nightmares plague her sleep, images she doesn't begin to understand. All she wants is to have her memories restored so she can move forward with life.

I enjoyed the interactions with the old witch, Stella, and Quinn. Following Quinn on her journey to learn witchcraft was interesting. Stella's nephew, Mason, also presents as a rather tragic figure. The hot and cold relationship between Quinn and Mason is enough to give the reader whiplash. Quinn doesn't approve of the way Stella uses witchcraft, crafting spells and potions for people in need (mostly self-absorbed need). I really hope she somehow manages to hold onto this notion in the next book because she's really going to need it.

The plot moves quickly, especially with Quinn's mysterious memories drawing the reader forward. I can't say I was surprised once the big secret is revealed. Frankly, I hated Quinn's mother from the beginning. After the secret is revealed I despised her. Though, I can' t imagine being in her position, she did Quinn a major disservice with the spell. While I enjoyed the story and characters, I noticed there were more errors than I'm used to seeing in a published book. Enough to draw me from the story, since they tended to occur in the dialogue. I will say that since my copy came from the author, perhaps they've been fixed in the meantime.

I am intrigued to find out how Quinn moves forward with her life after the big reveal. If you like YA paranormal stories about witches, consider adding The Memory Witch to your TBR list. It's book one, so don't expect an ending. We'll have to wait for the next book for Quinn to continue her journey.

[Heidi Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Memory Witch is an interesting story, very different than a lot of paranormal stories I've read. I kind of like how the whole book innocently leads you into the woods, then explodes in the end with the dark revelation. On some level, the revelation is predictable, but on another level, it's not. Because it's really brutal. The first sentence in the prologue: "I don't have a single remembrance before the age of eight," sets the stage for what is to come. However, the interesting thing about the story is the lack of melodrama in the build up. Emotionally frozen, the main character, Quinn, narrates her tale in a matter-of-fact voice that's sometimes breezy and disconnected, and at other times, angry and grim.

Should traumatic memories be eradicated?

The question lingers.

The Memory Witch does a wonderful job of showing us the potential effects of following such a course. Perhaps, peace of mind paid for with ignorance of Self and life experience isn't such a great deal.

The story ends with Quinn preparing to confront her newly remembered past.

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes:

"We're celebrating Quinn's first cast tonight."
Mason took a seat beside me. "You did? What was the spell?"
"Your aunt decided to practically dismember her left hand and I healed it." I didn't conceal the pride in my voice. Honestly, I was feeling pretty badass about the whole thing.


Mason snorted. "My aunt lives for theatrics."
"You're not kidding." I laughed. "You should see the getup she has me put on to meet with the clients."
"Don't pretend that you're not loving the adoration from the clients. Girls your age love their ego petted," Stella argued.
"I have to see it now," Mason insisted. "Will you try it on for me?"
"No way," I retorted.
"Go put it on. We'll see then if he can resist a witch," Stella urged.
"What does she mean?" Mason inquired.
"It's an enchanted headdress. Apparently. I'm such a troll that your aunt has to use magic to make me pretty enough for the visitors," I griped.

[Amanda Shelley-Masters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't get enough of Heather Topham Wood's tale! this story broke my heart time and time again. I felt so bad for poor Quinn and the things that she had to suffer. Heather is a amazing author for I felt every single heartfelt word of this book right down to my very soul. The Memory Witch is a book that will stay with me for a long time to come.

Quinn Jacobs has everything she could ever want, the perfect boyfriend, the best of friends and she is going to be going to the collage of her dreams. The only problem in her existence is an 8 year memory gap in her brain from her childhood that no one will explain.

That is until the night she comes home to find a witch sitting in her living room, and Quinn's whole world comes crashing down. now she is being shipped off for a year to apprentice to a witch. A witch who stole her memories because her mother made a deal, well Quinn isn't going to stop until she finds all the answers she seeks and until she recovers the memories they took from her.

If she has to become a witch to do it then that's just what she will do. She didn't count on the witch having a nephew living with her, especially one as cute as Mason. Quinn is Secure in her relationship and Mason's ever revolving door of girlfriends will keep them apart, but a year is a long time and anything can happen.

I so loved this book!Heather is a incredible author and could feel the characters leap off the page they were so real. My favourite character was Mason, he was just too amazing for words.

I highly recommend this book! TBR it today!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize that I could enjoy books about witches until I read the book "Discovery of Witches" by Deborah Harkness. After reading it and then "Shadow of Night", I was hooked!! Then I couldn't stop! I began reading book after book I could find about witches! So when I realized this book was about witches, I knew without a doubt I was going to love it!

When I immersed myself, which I do more often than not, into Woods' world, I couldn't stop. The characters were so likeable and identifiable that it made the reading of this book so much better! I loved Quinn and how she dealt with the many situations in this book. I don't envy her memory loss though LOL.

There wasn't a moment when I was kicking myself for trying to read ahead. I so badly wanted to find out what was going to happen that I kept trying to skip chapters! The story is so real. I truly felt like I was there. The author did a fantastic job of setting up the scenes and making me feel like I was there!

I was truly taken back at the end. There was so much going on through this story that I couldn't wait to have my questions answered. But I wasn't expecting this. Wood is one of the very few authors that will make her characters suffer and it ripped my heart out of my chest. 4 out of 5 stars! Hats off!!!!

[Shawna Romkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not often that I'm drawn into a story that I can't put down. I'm a slow reader and take my time, maybe normally just reading a chapter a night. Not with The Memory Witch, though. I was immediately immersed in Wood's rich world and didn't want to leave it.

Her lead character, Quinn, is quite likeable and identifiable. She seems like a typical teen at the onset with the exception of her bizarre memory loss and the deal her mother has made with a powerful witch. She's relate-able and real. I wanted to find out what her full story was.

Her life with the witch was also interesting and kept me wanting to read more and more to find out the truth. There are layers upon layers that I couldn't wait to have revealed to me. What was the deal with Mason? Would they get together? Would she learn how to cast spells? And would she ever get her memory back?

All was revealed by the end, but it is definitely a dark end, not for the faint of heart. Make no mistake, Wood isn't afraid to make her characters suffer.

Lovely characters, world and story. Looking forward to read more in this series!

[Sabrina Olteanu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Itching for Books and Heather Topham Wood for the opportunity to read The Memory Witch.

It has always been fascinating to enter a new world of magic. It relaxes me and it makes me live new life. So, thank you for an amazing story. It was a great read!

Imagine thinking you have an amazing life, even you had problems and then, all of a sudden you find out everything was a lie. That's Quinn story. She thought she was a normal girl, happy even if something in her heart screamed there was a big secret. Quinn finally found out her mother tricked her, she erased her memory to not know she was indeed a witch, not just working for one. She has to get her life back, her memories back. But, how can Quinn do that?

I can't wait to read more about Quinn, to see what it's going to happen next! Great read and I highly recommend it!

[Amanda Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Heather and all of her books! She has nailed it again with The Memory Witch and I cannot wait for the rest of the series! She is go great at weaving in touchy topics and keeping it real and appropriate.
Quinn finds out on her 18th birthday that her mother made a deal with a witch to take away Quinn's memories when she was 8. What Quinn didn't know was that her mother agreed to "trade" a year of Quinn's life when she was 18 to go be an apprentice to the witch. While training with Stella, the witch, Quinn decides she will go to any length necessary to uncover her past and figure out what really happened to her when she was 8.... Well you can only imagine if her mom went to so much trouble to have her memories taken away it must have been pretty bad!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is one thing that strikes me about The Memory Witch, and that is the way it echos V.C. Andrews My Sweet Audrina. The tragicness of Quinn's life will break your heart on one hand, cheer for her the next, then fear for what is to become of her.

Wood does a great job making Quinn believable with her normal hopes and fears that all teenagers feel. I felt like Quinn would be a great friend.

Stella, the witch, seems like equal parts love and hate. She isn't evil, but she isn't good either. At times, she reminded me of a prickly pear.

Mason, while mysterious, is just what Quinn needs.

I can't wait to read the next in this series. Great read.

[Mary E. Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this from First Reads Giveaways, but I didn't win it for me. I gave it to my great niece because she loves this type of story. She's not very good at writing reviews, but she did tell me to give it five stars and to say that she loved it SO MUCH (she wanted me to make sure I used capital letters for that one) that it was now her new favorite book. She said she loved it even more than Twilight AND Vampire Diaries, and that she thinks that witches are much cooler than vampires now.

[Gardavson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It was a solid 4 till the end. It was rather anti climatic. I was expecting something much more sinister. Not that it wasn't a bad thing, but it wasn't what I was expecting. She made a huge leap in her emotions, completely skipping grief and going straight to, well, something else (no spoilers). I don't really feel any compulsion to go to the next in the series. I liked the book up until the end.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like to read teen books from time to time and I prefer novels that have more mature themes than the everyday high school drama stuff. The Memory Witch was a paranormal read that surprised me and held my interest throughout. Although Quinn is 18, I identified with her and I was invested in her romance with Mason.

[Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love young adult books about witches and this is another great one to add to my collection. I LOVED the romance, Mason was mysterious and brooding. The book was different from the author's other works, yet still a great novel.

[Liana · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot of the book sounded promising but the conflict of the book was lacking. I also felt no emotions for any of the characters. The romance interest was boring and their relationship felt forced to me.

[Anna Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

First thoughts: Not at ALL surprised by the big revelation. Also, some major repetitive word choices. "Giggle", in particular, was getting on my nerves. Full review later.

[Ellen Wookey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The flow of the timeline is one year and it is easy to follow with the Heather’s writing style

Heather Topham Wood touches on a hard subject and brings a story to life within its words. The Memory Witch is both an emotional and magical journey that will leave you wanting to know more.
The Memory Witch was a quick and enjoyable read. It never strayed from the main point. You are continuously reminded about the loss of memory that Quinn has experienced. The flow of the timeline is one year and it is easy to follow with the Heather’s writing style.
Quinn is a likable character. You don’t really know a whole lot of her personality when you first read the book but knowing her insecurities is something you catch on to quick. As her character grows in a year’s time span you get know more of who she is becoming. I found it sad that her mother had a hard time accepting the small changes due to her insecurities about the situation that Quinn ended up in. I often pictured her mother as someone that was weak and stayed home in bed. But she was a hard working mom trying to make the best of life.
Stella is another main character I liked. She was both direct and secretive. I was expecting humour from her character but didn’t get any . Stella is determined in making sure there is someone that can learn spell casting from her. You don’t get much else from Stella. On the odd time as she surprises Quinn, I as a reader was also taken back.
I liked the fact that Heather didn’t have a large amount of unnecessary descriptions to make the book longer. Thought I would have liked to have read more in the character development section. I personally love reading about magick (magic), wicca and paganism. That was may take on the word spellcaster even though it doesn’t directly use those words/terms.

[Gypsy Madden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly, I didn’t read any of the reviews for this book before purchasing. I probably should have because I really would have appreciated some warning before reaching all of the hot-button topics in this book. I know I shouldn’t spoil, but I really think it should be said that this book has brutal child rape in it and violent suicide (there’s also mentions of child abuse and even a suggestion of molestation). And while that does make for good drama, I don’t appreciate it in my paranormals, which I read for escapist, feel-good, fun adventure. Another quibble I had with this is that this is a single book and there are no further books in the series, but it ends on a cliffhanger with things not looking good for the herione. I did like all of the characters, especially Tanner (I loved how Quinn idealized him, and then was surprised when he turned out to be a selfish teenage boy, though I really wished she had gone back to confront him and her friend). I also loved all of the relationships in this, as in Quinn and Mason, Quinn and her mom, and Stella was always fascinating. It felt like Quinn spent far too much time obsessing on sex, not wanting it, yet still wanting it, and agonizing over the fact that she was still a virgin (I kept hoping she’s move on to other topics since there is so much more in the world besides sex). Though the lessons, meeting with clients, and day to day felt tedious after awhile and the fantasy felt like merely frosting over the drama rather than I prefer the fantasy completely saturating a story and less of the mundane. So, in all, it was an interesting read, I liked most of it, but the weighty issues were a bit too disturbing for me to want to continue reading more books in the series, had there been more books in the series.

[Sesana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the writing is a bit clumsy, and I couldn't quite get attached to the characters. But there's some decent ideas in here, and while it's easy enough to guess the basic category of the main character's missing memories, I was kind of pleasantly surprised to see how angry she was after the fact.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

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Quinn is about to turn 18 and can’t wait to go to college and have a life with her boyfriend Tanner. Life has other plans for her though. It turns out her mother made a deal with a witch to take away Quinn’s memories for a year in the witch’s service. Now she is staying worth people she barely knows and learning magic. At first she is skeptical but when she realizes she does have powers, she wants one thing. She wants her memories back and she will do anything to get them back.

An offering must be made, but is Quinn willing to pay the price?


The Memory Witch was not what I was expecting. I thought it was going to be spells being thrown everywhere and just POWER. It wasn’t like that though. I still loved the story though. In order for a witch to cast a spell, you have to give something in return. Say you want a love spell, you have to give up something you love, if not the spell will not work or it will decide for you. That is the scary part. You must ALWAYS make an offering!!!! And Quinn being so smart is so dumb. After everything she learned she forgets the most important one. UGH I totally understand her wanting her memories back, but you need to do it right. After I learned about her past, I wish I didn’t. This book gets dark and don’t expect romance. Yes, there are some moments and I have quotes below, but this book isn’t about that. It’s about Quinn coming into her abilities as a witch and coming to terms with it. Stella wants her to be the best she can be and I don’t know where Quinn is heading….well I do but like the path she will take.

Overall: I really liked the concept of this book and I can’t wait to see what Mrs. Wood has in store. If like witches with a hint of mystery, this book is for you.

Quinn: I could see how difficult it was for her with missing 8 years of your life. That is crucial and Quinn wants to know what happens. It’s like her life’s mission and nobody else cares. Ok that’s not entirely true. She ends up caring deeply for Stella and Mason, but her memories were always holding her back. Did she grow on this book? I’m not quite sure. I see her reasoning at the end, but it very not thought out. She IGNORES everything she has been told. I mean how many times do you have to tell a person before they finally get it? I liked her for the most part and can’t wait to see what she does.

Stella: At first I really didn’t like her. I thought she was a mean old lady that was going to boss Quinn around. She does keep Quinn busy, but that’s because she is worried that she is going to die. By the end I really cared for her and I could tell she was a sweet heart all along.

Mason: The mysterious Nephew. He has been living with Stella since he was 14 and keeps to himself. He doesn’t let anyone in and when you do get close, he will hurt you. He has baggage just like Quinn and it takes him awhile to let it out, but once he does oh the raw emotion. I love him and quite frankly I think he is too good for Quinn. Yeah he was a womanizer, but Quinn is playing hot and cold. Stop stringing him along. Ok I’m being to harsh, they both went through something terrible and I shouldn’t pass judgment. The things they went through changes a person and I can’t even begin to imagine….just…yeah…no, not thinking about it. Anyways I really liked him and I will be extremely upset if Quinn lets something happen to him.

This story is a one of a kind and I recommend that you give it a chance. I see great things ahead.Oh and before I stop, Look at that cover. I love it and she looks just like I imagined her. The woods, the cloak, PERFECT!

3.5 Stars


Quotes:

"It's just sort of geeky. You come across as the mystery man of the manor and you're actually probably just sitting home and saying things to yourself like......I paused and said in a deep rattle, "Filthy little hobbites. They stole it...my precious."

He's not a bad person, but he's....damaged. You'll end up getting hurt if you get close to him."

I had been lured here and now I belonged to the darkness.

"This is wrong on so many levels."
"Completly wrong."
"But I can't stop."
"Then don't," I whispered.

"When someone makes a deal with a witch, there must be a payment of some sort. It has to be something of great value-otherwise the spell upsets the balance of nature.

[Cyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

GENRE: Young Adult
THEME: Mature, Paranormal, Witches
RECEIVED: Review for Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:
I was not prepared for the gripping, intense and magical story that Woods created in the first installment of The Memory Witch series. There is a mix of darker dramatic twists that weaved in a bit of romance and beautiful mysterious magic.

The Memory Witch follows Quinn Jacobs, her life has taken a major turn and not in her favor. She is being sent off to live a year with a woman who bargained with her mother, as in now going to train her to be a witch. Quinn learns a lot from the mysterious witch Stella, she is at first angry with her, but as time goes on she becomes intrigued with the magic. She even becomes close with Stella’s nephew Mason, who is the one person she confides in. But magic has a price and when Quinn wants to open the doors to her missing childhood memories, she may not be prepared to see what has been hidden from her for all these years.

Quinn is a young teen with a boyfriend and a future in a good university to look forward too. But her life takes a halt when her mothers past bargain changes her path into becoming a powerful witch. Quinn never understood why the first eight years of her life were missing from her memories, but Stella her new teacher holds the answers. It was interesting to watch Quinn’s development, she is a carefree type of girl in the beginning, but as time moves on she becomes powerful and determined, almost in a scary way. I knew something terrible must of happened to her as a kid for her memories to of been blocked, but was so sad to read what really happened. Luckily she has the help and comfort Mason, who knows about her magic and slowly starts to open up to her.

Mason is a bit of a mystery at first; Stella wants Quinn to steer clear of her nephew. But Quinn feels and sees something in Mason that connects them together and the chemistry is irresistible. Mason has a dark past, broken in a way like Quinn. He becomes protective over her and both start to fall for each other despite many reasons to stay away from each other. I loved every scene with Mason and Quinn, the chemistry is off the charts and they complemented each other so well, that it made the story push through at a great pace.

Overall this was an emotional plotline that will break the hearts of the reader, but also root for the characters to seek revenge or at least find happiness among the darkness. I enjoyed the character development of both Quinn and Mason, and hope to dig a little deeper into his past as well. The ending was intense and I have no idea what Quinn will do now that she has her answers.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel with some beautiful magic and a darker more mature plot twist. Fans of Alyxandra Harvey’s The Lovegrove Legacy and Rachel Hawkins Hex Hall will enjoy The Memory Witch by Heather Topham Wood.

[Jo Michaels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grabbed this title during my 12 Days of Christmas party, that special time of year when I stock my Kindle with books I intend to review over the next twelve months. Heather is an author whose work I love reading and she showed up with a pitch for The Memory Witch I couldn't say no to (I've also been sitting on pins and needles waiting for this title to hit the shelves). So, I popped on over to Amazon and ponied up the dough. I have to say, I'm glad I did. While Amazon has this categorized as Teen and Young Adult, I don't think it's appropriate for those under the age of sixteen/seventeen because of some graphic scenes. But, enough rambling, let's get to the review.

From a Reader's Perspective:
I loved the main character, Quinn. Wood has such a unique way of painting her characters so the reader can identify with them, I really enjoy delving into the mind of a new one she comes up with. That being said, Quinn seemed a bit prudish to me. According to the book, she's eighteen and a member of the dying breed known as virgins. That doesn't bother me so much, but her actions during the story threw me for a loop a time or two. I was left scratching my head and asking, "Why?" But the premise of the story and the pacing (which was wonderful and fast) made me care less about the questionable morals of a teen and more about what secrets would be unraveled during the course of the tale. I was hooked. Magic, a father Quinn can't remember, and an unanswered mystery about the past kept my eyeballs riveted to the pages. You'll cringe a number of times when the author gets to some very graphic scenes, but she wrote them well. Details were horrifying. Either way, I adored the story and stayed up late to finish it. Can't wait for the second installment! Let's move on to talk about the writing.

From an Editor's Perspective:
I waited on this novel for so stinking long, I thought I'd get the best of the best of the best (Sir! With honors!) as far as writing goes. Well, not so much. As anyone who reads my reviews knows, I mark errors as I go (it's an editor/proofreader thing). I found over seventy errors. Not misplaced pronouns or comma drops, but errors like: "I hadn't stay up hours each night..." and "...dating back almost thousand years." or "A startled sound broke into..." Needless to say, my head landed in my hand a lot. This isn't the norm for Ms. Wood. These errors didn't fudge with the story, but they were noticeable and did make my mind stutter over the words.

Rating:
+ 1 Star for a great reveal
+ 1 Star for pacing (fast)
+ 1 Star for the well written magic and horror scenes
+ 1 Star for hooking me with a world I felt could exist
- 1 Star for editing
Overall, 4 out of 5 stars. A highly recommended read if you love fantasy, magic, and curses.

[Kathryn Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received as part of the IFB Book Tour, I anticipated getting my hands on a copy of this book. It was intriguing, and to be honest, I was more than a bit curious to see whether or not it'd be worth my time. The wait for the e-book copy was making me grow anxious, I knew I'm a bit limited on time for reading right now with some personal upheavals, but I was determined to get the book read and a review queued up.

The Memory Witch follows the story of Quinn, a young woman who has spent the last ten years of her life with an amazing case of amnesia that her mother seems unwilling to treat. Still, Quinn reasons her life isn't all that bad beyond her lack of memory considering she's dating the most popular boy of her high school experience and she's well on her way to a scholarship at a nearby college. That is until she comes home the day before her eighteenth birthday to find her mother entertaining Stella.

Stella, a witch whom Quinn's mother employed to save her daughter ten years ago, has come to gain the debt that has to be paid for the spell. The price? A year of Quinn's life. Enraged, Quinn seeks a way to escape this year long servitude, but the magic requires payment and it's already been put off for ten years. Over the course of a year, Quinn manages to unlock the secret to her amnesia and discover the truth about her past, one that's overshadowed by the real reason behind her father's death and a path that if she takes, she won't survive.

Wood's writing skills are superb, bring forth a sense of empathy towards Quinn. I'll admit, in the earliest parts of the book, I found myself disgusted with Tanner and Quinn. It wasn't overly hard to see that he was a spoiled child who'd had everything handed to him except for Quinn's virginity. And some of Quinn's erratic behavior was slightly hard to grasp at first. Wood does do a good job at keeping the reader wanting more however. The hints and tendrils of Quinn's past that echo throughout the book as her nightmares gives a fleeting glimpse at the hard truth waiting to come.

There was almost a feeling of dread that settled over me when I reached the last 30 pages, realizing that there wasn't enough time for everything to be resolved. I will confess, I did feel the regaining of Quinn's memories felt a bit rushed. An influx of eight years worth of memories at one shot seems a bit difficult to handle, and while I realize that the point of the series is to follow what Quinn will do with the knowledge of the events, it felt a bit far-fetched to believe she'd be remotely able to function normally after that amount of memories flooding back.

All in all, I'm filled with anticipation of the second book, eager to see where Quinn's path will lead her down.

[Jennifer]

What if your mom told you that this creepy old lady was going to take you to her house for a year to train you as a witch. That you have no choice in the matter because your mother made a deal that erased your horrible past and a price must be paid. Oh and you actually have magic blood in your veins as a descent of witches. A little crazy right? Well that’s exactly what happens to Quinn. She’s expected to leave her boyfriend, her scholarship and her life behind.

I thought this book was well executed. I really enjoyed the plot and the pacing fit well. I was slightly disappointed in the ending. Not because it was bad but just because of Quinn’s decision. So i was disappointed in Quinn I guess. It’s funny though immediately I did that thing in my head where I analyze how she could get out of the situation. Take them to the police department and then use a truth spell to spill their guts.

I love when witches are involved in a story their magic comes from nature because that is how I perceive witches. Obviously I’m not a witch authority but the idea of casting a spell cost a price completely makes sense to me. Everything has to have a balance and when you mess with nature you need to keep the balance in tact. I really really loved that about this book. We might not have seen a ton of crazy spell casting but I thought the amount trickled in was perfect and fit with the rest of the story.

I liked the romance in the story as well. Quinn has a boyfriend at the beginning of the book and even though he is not perfect he isn’t a low life (well….). It’s a normal relationship that gets strained when Quinn moves to Stella’s house. When it ends it’s believable and when Quinn and Mason start finding themselves attracted to each other it also feels natural. I felt like there was a big chunk of the book that was more focused on Quinn herself and her relationship with Stella then with the boys. Always a plus for me. It had a good balance (I laughed when I wrote this because it made me think of the casting)

I liked the characters of Quinn, Stella and Masson. They made no apologies for the people they are and that’s always a plus. I understood why Quinn was desperate to get back her stolen memories even though I had a feeling what happened to her. How can you move forward when you can’t let go. How can you let go when you don’t know what you are letting go. When her memories return it was difficult to read. Poor Quinn, I was a little disappointed in her reaction because she didn’t listen to Stella’s warning. Oh Quinn.

Overall I really like this book. I thought it was well executed story about witches and an interesting take. I would recommend reading it.