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Isobel Key #1
The Secret of Isobel Key
Lou is in the middle of a quarter-life crisis. Fresh out of college, she's unemployed and unsure of herself. But when she gets the chance to escape to Scotland with her best friend, it could be the answer to her quest for self-discovery. The trip is not at all what she expected, especially when her tour guide turns out to be the dreamy historian Brian, and together they embark on a hunt for information about Isobel Key, a woman accused of witchcraft in the seventeenth century. They set out to learn the truth of the condemned witch, but Lou isn't prepared for the knowledge that awaits her. She must face her own demons if she has any hope of righting the wrongs of the past. Flashing between the seventeenth century and modern day Scotland, THE SECRET OF ISOBEL KEY is a mystery that will please readers of all ages.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 14, 2012
19 people are currently reading
1463 people want to read
About the author
Jen McConnel
26 books270 followersJen McConnel is an award winning author. She writes Young Adult and New Adult fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. When she isn’t writing, she can be found on her yoga mat, teaching, or wandering off on another adventure.
Follow Jen on Twitter @Jen_McConnel, and visit www.jenmcconnel.com to learn more.
Follow Jen on Twitter @Jen_McConnel, and visit www.jenmcconnel.com to learn more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
January 20, 2014
Louisa Ann had recently graduated from Leslie University in Boston and was still working retail at a local bookstore as she took the time to figure out her next steps. When she finally had enough and suddenly quit her job, she found herself at a crossroads of what to do next. Luckily, she was offered the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Scotland with her friend Tammy, where she was inexplicably driven to research the witch hunt trials from the 1700’s. As she digs deeper into the case of Isobel Key, she uncovers more than she ever bargained for.
Overall, I felt that The Secret of Isobel Key was an interesting tale on a subject I’ve always been drawn to. However, I felt the heart of the story existed in those brief chapters that took us back to the 1700’s where we got to experience firsthand what the women who were persecuted as witches went through during the time of King James.
Jen McConnel weaved history and fiction so flawlessly that I would have easily been completely consumed by this book if it was entirely about Isobel Key. The back-story and evident research McConnel put into this novel was evident and powerful. Every time she shifted the story back to Isobel, I truly felt transported back in time.
I felt the weakness in the story lied with Louisa and Tammy. I had a sense that these two characters simply didn’t blend well. I was never convinced of the friendship that supposedly existed there, and it gave a constant superficial feel to the story. I feel Louisa would have made better progress and been a more interesting character if she carried the story on her own.
I did enjoy her time with Brian as they researched the witch hunts in Scotland, but their ending left me conflicted and confused.
The Secret of Isobel Key was an interesting tale that held some hidden gems within the ePages, but unfortunately it wasn’t quite what I had bargained for. However, I will continue to keep my eye out for Jen McConnel in the event she decides to publish a historical fiction because I feel she has a talent for transporting her readers into a different time and place by captivating them with her magic.
Overall, I felt that The Secret of Isobel Key was an interesting tale on a subject I’ve always been drawn to. However, I felt the heart of the story existed in those brief chapters that took us back to the 1700’s where we got to experience firsthand what the women who were persecuted as witches went through during the time of King James.
Jen McConnel weaved history and fiction so flawlessly that I would have easily been completely consumed by this book if it was entirely about Isobel Key. The back-story and evident research McConnel put into this novel was evident and powerful. Every time she shifted the story back to Isobel, I truly felt transported back in time.
I felt the weakness in the story lied with Louisa and Tammy. I had a sense that these two characters simply didn’t blend well. I was never convinced of the friendship that supposedly existed there, and it gave a constant superficial feel to the story. I feel Louisa would have made better progress and been a more interesting character if she carried the story on her own.
I did enjoy her time with Brian as they researched the witch hunts in Scotland, but their ending left me conflicted and confused.
The Secret of Isobel Key was an interesting tale that held some hidden gems within the ePages, but unfortunately it wasn’t quite what I had bargained for. However, I will continue to keep my eye out for Jen McConnel in the event she decides to publish a historical fiction because I feel she has a talent for transporting her readers into a different time and place by captivating them with her magic.
April 7, 2013
I received this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
I really wanted to like this book. Scotland- yes! Witches- yes! A twenty-six year old girl looking for love- sure, seems like I could related to that...but I didn't. The main character,Lou, is a twenty-six year old college grad who works in a bookstore, lives with her childhood best friend/roommate in Boston, and has over-bearing wealthy parents in Connecticut that pay her bills for her. The book begins with Lou in a "dark place" or "quarter-life crisis" because she quits her job in a sudden whiny fit of "I can't take this store anymore!" Lou being unemployed without a clue of what she wants to do (except go home, for some reason going back to her rich parents is a HORRIBLE idea to Lou), is supposed to trigger sympathy from readers but instead I only wanted to punch Lou in the face. At least you have the option to go home to mommy and daddy, so suck it up and move on with your life!
Then, her successful roommate Tammy gets a promotion at work and the two are off to Scotland. Lou and Tammy's relationship is a very strange one to me. Tammy is definitely a leader, and Lou is a follower, who silently loathes that her own submission to Tammy. Again, instead of relating to Lou, I was only annoyed by her. I actually, found myself sympathizing with Tammy that she got stuck with such a stuck-up friend on vacation. And, come on, "Tammy leaned against the door, key in hand, and it took all of Lou's willpower not to throttle her friend and leave the alcohol sodden body there on the wet street." Tammy definitely should have brought a better friend with her.
The story improves greatly in the second half, once Lou becomes dedicated to her ridiculous search for clues regarding the life and trial of the "witch" Isobel Key- a search triggered and led on by Lou's dreams and unexplained feelings that this is more important than looking for a job or what she's going to do with her life when she gets home...
All in all, the story was entertaining, especially if you're interested in the historical witch hunts. I found the writing style and plot structure very immature, with all of the just perfect "coincidences," filler dialogue, and even random and unnecessary characters. Though this book isn't particularly long, it could have been much shorter and to the point if the author had cut out all of the irrelevant details. For example, there's an entire paragraph about how embarrassed Lou is that she hasn't seen the movie The Wizard of Oz when Brian refers to it, and the reasons why she hasn't seen it, and now maybe she should see it since Brian has. Yeah...no one cares. There were some other lines that just made me laugh at the author's exaggerated attempts to be creative, like "she felt a pang of worry deep in her spleen." I may only currently be a student in the medical field, but I'm pretty sure that your spleen is not where you feel pangs of worry lol.
I may recommend this book to young readers who won't be too irritated by the writing, but probably not since it is not really a young adult book.
I really wanted to like this book. Scotland- yes! Witches- yes! A twenty-six year old girl looking for love- sure, seems like I could related to that...but I didn't. The main character,Lou, is a twenty-six year old college grad who works in a bookstore, lives with her childhood best friend/roommate in Boston, and has over-bearing wealthy parents in Connecticut that pay her bills for her. The book begins with Lou in a "dark place" or "quarter-life crisis" because she quits her job in a sudden whiny fit of "I can't take this store anymore!" Lou being unemployed without a clue of what she wants to do (except go home, for some reason going back to her rich parents is a HORRIBLE idea to Lou), is supposed to trigger sympathy from readers but instead I only wanted to punch Lou in the face. At least you have the option to go home to mommy and daddy, so suck it up and move on with your life!
Then, her successful roommate Tammy gets a promotion at work and the two are off to Scotland. Lou and Tammy's relationship is a very strange one to me. Tammy is definitely a leader, and Lou is a follower, who silently loathes that her own submission to Tammy. Again, instead of relating to Lou, I was only annoyed by her. I actually, found myself sympathizing with Tammy that she got stuck with such a stuck-up friend on vacation. And, come on, "Tammy leaned against the door, key in hand, and it took all of Lou's willpower not to throttle her friend and leave the alcohol sodden body there on the wet street." Tammy definitely should have brought a better friend with her.
The story improves greatly in the second half, once Lou becomes dedicated to her ridiculous search for clues regarding the life and trial of the "witch" Isobel Key- a search triggered and led on by Lou's dreams and unexplained feelings that this is more important than looking for a job or what she's going to do with her life when she gets home...
All in all, the story was entertaining, especially if you're interested in the historical witch hunts. I found the writing style and plot structure very immature, with all of the just perfect "coincidences," filler dialogue, and even random and unnecessary characters. Though this book isn't particularly long, it could have been much shorter and to the point if the author had cut out all of the irrelevant details. For example, there's an entire paragraph about how embarrassed Lou is that she hasn't seen the movie The Wizard of Oz when Brian refers to it, and the reasons why she hasn't seen it, and now maybe she should see it since Brian has. Yeah...no one cares. There were some other lines that just made me laugh at the author's exaggerated attempts to be creative, like "she felt a pang of worry deep in her spleen." I may only currently be a student in the medical field, but I'm pretty sure that your spleen is not where you feel pangs of worry lol.
I may recommend this book to young readers who won't be too irritated by the writing, but probably not since it is not really a young adult book.
October 5, 2012
In a moment of clarity gone awry, Lou walks out on her job preparing for the nervous breakdown she more than likely will have once it all sinks in. When her best friend announces that they are going to Scotland for the Holidays, the timing couldn’t be better. A perfect diversion and an exciting adventure are just what she needs at the moment. Lou finds herself immersed in a mystery about the history behind the innocents who were accused of witchcraft in the seventeenth century. Upon her discoveries she finds an important link to her own history and the life of condemned witch Isobel Key, that could change her life forever.
Fascinating story, you are taken from modern Scotland to the seventeenth century where an innocent Isobel is coming of age to adulthood where life takes an unexpected turn and begins to unravel. Beautifully described, you felt like you were transported into both eras taking a journey with the characters with the lush background of Scotland. A memorable read.
Full review on
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Fascinating story, you are taken from modern Scotland to the seventeenth century where an innocent Isobel is coming of age to adulthood where life takes an unexpected turn and begins to unravel. Beautifully described, you felt like you were transported into both eras taking a journey with the characters with the lush background of Scotland. A memorable read.
Full review on
http://musingsfromanaddictedreader.bl...
January 12, 2014
I loved this book! witch trials and accent accusations of witchcraft have always been an interest of mine and with the Scottish back drop, this book delivered the goods!
January 26, 2014
Just not my type of read
October 1, 2012
*Disclaimer: I did receive a free ARC copy of the book to review. However this did not influence my review in any way*
In her debut novel, The Burning of Isobel Key, Jen McConnel transports readers to the beautiful land of Scotland where she shows us the lives of two different women with so much in common, yet separated by centuries. Louisa begins to feel like a complete failure when she quits her dead-end job right before the holidays. She has no idea what she wants to do with the rest of her life, and as her mother keeps reminding her, at 27 she isn’t getting any younger. To make matters worse, her best friend Tammy seems to have her life completely together, to include an amazing job that even sends her to Scotland on business. When Lou tags along she begins a spiritual and emotional journey that will change her life forever. Isobel Key was a healer who was accused of witchcraft in the 1600s and was burned at the stake for her crimes. Can Lou solve the mystery of what really happened all those years ago and allow Isobel’s soul to finally rest in peace?
This book has a little bit of everything all rolled into one. There is mystery, romance, a touch of paranormal/occult, as well as a bit of history thrown in for good measure. I loved that it was set in Scotland because it was an angle on witch trials that I hadn’t viewed before. I love doing research on the Salem trials (as wells as other American witch hunts) and never thought to check out any of the trials in Europe, so it was a nice change for me. The folklore and stories peppered throughout the novel were a great touch as well.
I found I also related to Louisa very well. A lot of her insecurities are the same ones I’ve faced for decades. The spiritual questions she faced are those I’ve often asked myself. But above all I can definitely relate to being close to 30 and still having no idea where you are headed or what you really want for yourself. And who hasn’t had a close friend that seemed to have it all figured out, the one we held a touch of envy because they seemed so perfect? The characters are very well written and have multiple layers to them.
Overall I loved the book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read, no matter the genre preference.
In her debut novel, The Burning of Isobel Key, Jen McConnel transports readers to the beautiful land of Scotland where she shows us the lives of two different women with so much in common, yet separated by centuries. Louisa begins to feel like a complete failure when she quits her dead-end job right before the holidays. She has no idea what she wants to do with the rest of her life, and as her mother keeps reminding her, at 27 she isn’t getting any younger. To make matters worse, her best friend Tammy seems to have her life completely together, to include an amazing job that even sends her to Scotland on business. When Lou tags along she begins a spiritual and emotional journey that will change her life forever. Isobel Key was a healer who was accused of witchcraft in the 1600s and was burned at the stake for her crimes. Can Lou solve the mystery of what really happened all those years ago and allow Isobel’s soul to finally rest in peace?
This book has a little bit of everything all rolled into one. There is mystery, romance, a touch of paranormal/occult, as well as a bit of history thrown in for good measure. I loved that it was set in Scotland because it was an angle on witch trials that I hadn’t viewed before. I love doing research on the Salem trials (as wells as other American witch hunts) and never thought to check out any of the trials in Europe, so it was a nice change for me. The folklore and stories peppered throughout the novel were a great touch as well.
I found I also related to Louisa very well. A lot of her insecurities are the same ones I’ve faced for decades. The spiritual questions she faced are those I’ve often asked myself. But above all I can definitely relate to being close to 30 and still having no idea where you are headed or what you really want for yourself. And who hasn’t had a close friend that seemed to have it all figured out, the one we held a touch of envy because they seemed so perfect? The characters are very well written and have multiple layers to them.
Overall I loved the book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read, no matter the genre preference.
February 9, 2017
With Outlander coming to our T.V. screens, I got the hankering for some more tales from Scotland. There's just something about Scotland. Maybe it's the starkly beautiful landscape, the tumultuous history or the kilt clad men but Scotland has an undeniable pull for me. So I decided to check out The Secret of Isobel Key by Jen McConnel. This is a book out of the relatively new Bloomsbury Spark digital imprint and if Isobel Key is anything to go by then we can look forward to some good stuff coming out of them.
Reasons why I particularly enjoyed Isobel Key:
1. It seems like a lot of new adult books are about sex and while I love a sexy story, those pivotal new adult years are about far more than just sexual exploration and that's what you get with Isobel Key. You have a main character, Lou, who is struggling to find herself. She's graduated college yet she essentially doesn't know who she wants to be when she grows up. At times Lou is mopey, at times she's adventurous, at times she's thoughtfully introspective. In other words, she's real. She experiences a bevy of emotions and remembering back to when I was that age, that really struck home for me and rang true. I was all over the map and Lou is too.
2. Isobel Key is about witches but not your typical paranormal witches. Instead, the novel looks at the Wiccan religion as well as those healers of bygone eras who were accused of witchcraft and burned for it. While I love a good paranormal witch tale, there's nothing wrong with a little realism now and again.
3. The novel has a strong historical side to it without getting bogged down in boring details. Jen McConnel adds just enough to make the novel feel authentic and to give it atmosphere without making it dry.
4. I liked that the novel had romantic elements but it wasn't a true romance. The novel was about a girl finding herself: her history, her purpose, her beliefs, her family. Adding a full on epic romance into the mix would have been overkill and I'm glad the author didn't feel the need to tackle that. The novel felt more true because of that omission.
Reasons why I particularly enjoyed Isobel Key:
1. It seems like a lot of new adult books are about sex and while I love a sexy story, those pivotal new adult years are about far more than just sexual exploration and that's what you get with Isobel Key. You have a main character, Lou, who is struggling to find herself. She's graduated college yet she essentially doesn't know who she wants to be when she grows up. At times Lou is mopey, at times she's adventurous, at times she's thoughtfully introspective. In other words, she's real. She experiences a bevy of emotions and remembering back to when I was that age, that really struck home for me and rang true. I was all over the map and Lou is too.
2. Isobel Key is about witches but not your typical paranormal witches. Instead, the novel looks at the Wiccan religion as well as those healers of bygone eras who were accused of witchcraft and burned for it. While I love a good paranormal witch tale, there's nothing wrong with a little realism now and again.
3. The novel has a strong historical side to it without getting bogged down in boring details. Jen McConnel adds just enough to make the novel feel authentic and to give it atmosphere without making it dry.
4. I liked that the novel had romantic elements but it wasn't a true romance. The novel was about a girl finding herself: her history, her purpose, her beliefs, her family. Adding a full on epic romance into the mix would have been overkill and I'm glad the author didn't feel the need to tackle that. The novel felt more true because of that omission.
September 25, 2012
McConnel interweaves Lou’s modern day narrative of frustration as she deals with her own stalled life into Isobel’s story as she battles fear, ignorance and bigotry in the 1600′s. The alternating chapters echo one another brilliantly as the story unfolds in all it’s complexity. These are real characters, with real faults and real needs. The sections pertaining to Isobel were undoubtedly my favorite, rich in context and detail. Truly engrossing historical novels are not always easy to pull off and McConnel gracefully takes you from the modern day Scottish Highlands with engaging descriptions to the all too real horrors of the 17th century with ease.
But for all its history and romance and mystery, the best thing about this book is that the plot itself is a genuine surprise. In this day and age of paranormal everything I guessed different possible endings, made assumptions about how Isobel and Lou were connected and what “startling discovery” she would make about her “own heritage” and I was wrong each time. I won’t ruin it for anyone and it is indeed startling but also, touching, beautiful and completely unexpected. I left the book feeling moved and while satisfied, wishing that I could join Lou on the next leg of her journey of discovery.
But for all its history and romance and mystery, the best thing about this book is that the plot itself is a genuine surprise. In this day and age of paranormal everything I guessed different possible endings, made assumptions about how Isobel and Lou were connected and what “startling discovery” she would make about her “own heritage” and I was wrong each time. I won’t ruin it for anyone and it is indeed startling but also, touching, beautiful and completely unexpected. I left the book feeling moved and while satisfied, wishing that I could join Lou on the next leg of her journey of discovery.
September 3, 2014
The contemporary new adult genre is not what I usually tend to read. I normally lean towards the paranormal and fantasy, however, there are times when I step out of my vampire/werewolf comfort zone and try something new. It is rare for me to find contemporary fiction that I truly enjoy, and The Burning of Isobel Key by Jen McConnel is one of those rarities.
Author Jen McConnel takes you on Lou’s journey as she travels to Scotland on a vacation. There amongst the castle ruins Lou learns about the seventeenth century witch trials. One story in particular holds her interest, that of a young woman named Isobel Key. Lou decides to delve deeper into Isobel’s story and unravel the mystery behind her trial and her death, which in turn helps her to face her own inner demons.
What I loved most about the story was reading about Lou’s journey along with Isobel’s. Jen McConnel intertwines the two stories perfectly giving you an insight into both women’s lives. This aspect kept the story entertaining and left me wanting to read more about each character.
I truly enjoy this story and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book The Key Inheritance which is set to release January 15th (my birthday!). I highly recommend The Burning of Isobel Key and give it 4 out of 5 stars!
Author Jen McConnel takes you on Lou’s journey as she travels to Scotland on a vacation. There amongst the castle ruins Lou learns about the seventeenth century witch trials. One story in particular holds her interest, that of a young woman named Isobel Key. Lou decides to delve deeper into Isobel’s story and unravel the mystery behind her trial and her death, which in turn helps her to face her own inner demons.
What I loved most about the story was reading about Lou’s journey along with Isobel’s. Jen McConnel intertwines the two stories perfectly giving you an insight into both women’s lives. This aspect kept the story entertaining and left me wanting to read more about each character.
I truly enjoy this story and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book The Key Inheritance which is set to release January 15th (my birthday!). I highly recommend The Burning of Isobel Key and give it 4 out of 5 stars!
December 13, 2012
3.5 stars
Doesn't that cover look amazing? As is the book.
I think this is my introduction to the genre of New Adult and I liked it very much.
Wow! What a book. Enthralling, scintillating and just beyond words.
As my habit of not reading a book blurb goes, I thought this would be one of those books about going to a new city and finding the love of your life but the title did confuse me. Not for long though when I came to know that this one was not one of 'those' books.
I like how the book shifts between the past and the present effortlessly, giving us a peek into what went and what is now.
I really liked the innovative plot and the setting of Scotland does spell 'wow' for me (What is it with me and the countries that end in 'land'? Ireland...Scotland...). The characters are nice though Tammy did irritate me quite a bit.
This book has a bit of romance, mystery and thrill all rolled in one and makes for a great one-sitting book like it did for me.
Doesn't that cover look amazing? As is the book.
I think this is my introduction to the genre of New Adult and I liked it very much.
Wow! What a book. Enthralling, scintillating and just beyond words.
As my habit of not reading a book blurb goes, I thought this would be one of those books about going to a new city and finding the love of your life but the title did confuse me. Not for long though when I came to know that this one was not one of 'those' books.
I like how the book shifts between the past and the present effortlessly, giving us a peek into what went and what is now.
I really liked the innovative plot and the setting of Scotland does spell 'wow' for me (What is it with me and the countries that end in 'land'? Ireland...Scotland...). The characters are nice though Tammy did irritate me quite a bit.
This book has a bit of romance, mystery and thrill all rolled in one and makes for a great one-sitting book like it did for me.
October 24, 2012
First, I have to say the opening scene really grabs you. It leave you with a feeling of discomfort but you want to know more. Isobel's entire story really tugged at my heart.
I was really able to connect with Lou. I too have struggled to find my place in the world. And that's what this book is about. You get to journey with Lou as she finds herself and comes to terms with her religion.Of course I would be remiss to mention, but this is a book with a Wiccan main character. We need more of these!
I loved learning more about the Scottish witch hunts. I have always had an interest in the witch hunts, but never explored what happened in Scotland at the time.
Speaking of Scotland, McConnel painted a vivid picture of the Highlands. It made me want to visit!
You should definitely pick this book up. It has a bit of everything: history, paranormal, even a bit of romance.
I was really able to connect with Lou. I too have struggled to find my place in the world. And that's what this book is about. You get to journey with Lou as she finds herself and comes to terms with her religion.Of course I would be remiss to mention, but this is a book with a Wiccan main character. We need more of these!
I loved learning more about the Scottish witch hunts. I have always had an interest in the witch hunts, but never explored what happened in Scotland at the time.
Speaking of Scotland, McConnel painted a vivid picture of the Highlands. It made me want to visit!
You should definitely pick this book up. It has a bit of everything: history, paranormal, even a bit of romance.
December 14, 2014
I feel like the odd girl out here by saying how much I reaaaaallly didn't like this book. I should have, as witches, Scotland, dudes with accents, and magic are basically the makings of a book that I would love to read.
But somewhere between having to sympathize with a 26-year-old graduate quitting her glamorous minimum-wage life as a bookstore cashier (I mean, there are so many things wrong with that statement I can't even) as she tries to figure out the history to her own past, which is of course tied in with the title character, Isobel Key, and navigates her glaring unequalness to her best friend Tammy who she somewhat loathes and likes in equal turns, which basically undermines being best friends in the first place, I feel like this story was a great idea that lacked great execution.
Sorry, dudes, but The Secret of Isobel Key just wasn't for me.
But somewhere between having to sympathize with a 26-year-old graduate quitting her glamorous minimum-wage life as a bookstore cashier (I mean, there are so many things wrong with that statement I can't even) as she tries to figure out the history to her own past, which is of course tied in with the title character, Isobel Key, and navigates her glaring unequalness to her best friend Tammy who she somewhat loathes and likes in equal turns, which basically undermines being best friends in the first place, I feel like this story was a great idea that lacked great execution.
Sorry, dudes, but The Secret of Isobel Key just wasn't for me.
January 31, 2013
Overall, I have to say that I enjoyed reading this novel. The plot was interesting, and I liked the mix of historical and modern scenes. Witch hunts are compelling reading from an anthropological point of view, and the ending to this novel offers a satisfactory explanation of how Isobel became accused of being a witch, although we can't really understand today how something as unfair and primitive as witch burnings could ever have happened. However, I wasn't particularly fond of the main character or her best friend. The main character tends to be whiny and weak. Her relationship with her best friend comes off as competitive and unsupportive. They don't actually seem to like each other. Great plot, but not so great character development.
March 29, 2017
No. No. I will not subject myself to something so facetious and factually wrong. (If you're going to see Eileen Doonan Castle, you'd be better off staying on Skye than traveling back to Inverness only to travel back to Skye the next day. Grr. Not to mention, Christmas time... most attractions and tours would be closed. Double grr). Clearly some authors don't bother with a wonderful thing called 'research'. We do have the internet nowadays, amazing tool that it is.
The characters are beyond shallow, cartoonish stereotypes are not even an accurate description.
And all the talk about the weather? You've set a novel in Scotland in winter. Honestly.
This is a DNF.
I would advise not to bother.
The characters are beyond shallow, cartoonish stereotypes are not even an accurate description.
And all the talk about the weather? You've set a novel in Scotland in winter. Honestly.
This is a DNF.
I would advise not to bother.
December 10, 2012
Jen pens "The Burning of Isobel Key" in a well developed plot where you thought at times you are right there with them. I found the characters to be well developed, believable, relateable and realistic. I enjoyed this book so much that I didn't want it to end. A must read paranormal romance filled with history and mystery that you really don't want to miss.
This review is based on a complimentary copy which was provided for an honest review.
This review is based on a complimentary copy which was provided for an honest review.
November 21, 2012
Absolutely adored this book - review to come on Friday - oh and did you know, this fabulous book is FREE as part of Black Friday? You really should grab a copy!
November 29, 2012
I have to admit, I started reading this, getting into the characters not thinking a thing about the title, and then it hit me! This girl you’re getting to know is the girl that is going to be burned! I wanted to put the book down straight away!!! But it was so compelling, her story drove me on, hoping against hope for a better outcome. But the interesting part of it all was that although you’re getting to know Isobel who lived back in 1667, you’re also getting to know Louisa, who lives in the present day and how their lives collide.
Most of the story is about Louisa with some peppered in chapters on Isobel. It’s never difficult to understand who you are reading about. You know immediately firstly because of the chapter titles but also because each girl is totally different. I loved the yin/yang portion of this although I wanted more and more about each and Jen McConnel just gives you enough and then switches! It was maddening but brilliant!
Isobel is a lovely person who cares about people but sadly something happens early in her life, or late if you’re back in the 1600′s, that makes her sort of swear off men. Now imagine, a twenty five year old living alone in a cottage, five miles outside of town. People are going to talk. It may not be straight away but I knew it was coming sooner or later, I just didn’t know how. What I didn’t like about this portion of the story was what happens between the sisters. It doesn’t make sense to me that they are so close but Margaret would choose to hurt Isobel. It just doesn’t completely mesh for me.
Louisa is also a bit of an introvert. She hasn’t dated in years, since her last relationship, and doesn’t plan to but her friend Tammy keeps pushing her to do just that. Tammy as you can probably imagine, is quite the opposite of Louisa which didn’t bother me until Tammy starts pushing religion onto Lou. It’s VERY frustrating to say the least. Again, it didn’t totally mesh. Why would someone be so unwilling to believe in the occult (tarot readings, scrying, etc) because she’s a Christian and yet she’s totally willing to sleep with guys. A little bit of an annoyance for me, but something that didn’t totally distract from the story. I just wanted Lou to tell her to shove it! But being a good friend Lou keeps her feelings to herself and keeps quiet, most of the time.
Although Tammy distracted me a little, the rest of the story was amazing. Louisa finding out about Isobel was interesting and from there on the story just got better and better. Both Louisa and Isobel are strong women and they are wonderful to read about. The ending was exactly what I was looking for. Honestly I was quite worried about how this was going to end and there was something missing until, quite literally, the last sentence but Jen McConnel brings everything together wonderfully!
This was a book I could not put down and although I am a huge fan of the paranormal and historical fiction, this was something a bit different from the normal read. It was intriguing and keeps you wondering what is going to happen, even after you put together that one of the main characters is definitely going to be burned to death. It’s the story of how Isobel got there that kept me wanting to continue, and the story about how Louisa decided to finally start making decisions for herself! Fabulous read!
More exciting is the news that the sequel to this, The Key Inheritance, is scheduled to be published January 15th!!! Nearly in time for my birthday! I can’t wait to see what Louisa has gotten herself up to!
Most of the story is about Louisa with some peppered in chapters on Isobel. It’s never difficult to understand who you are reading about. You know immediately firstly because of the chapter titles but also because each girl is totally different. I loved the yin/yang portion of this although I wanted more and more about each and Jen McConnel just gives you enough and then switches! It was maddening but brilliant!
Isobel is a lovely person who cares about people but sadly something happens early in her life, or late if you’re back in the 1600′s, that makes her sort of swear off men. Now imagine, a twenty five year old living alone in a cottage, five miles outside of town. People are going to talk. It may not be straight away but I knew it was coming sooner or later, I just didn’t know how. What I didn’t like about this portion of the story was what happens between the sisters. It doesn’t make sense to me that they are so close but Margaret would choose to hurt Isobel. It just doesn’t completely mesh for me.
Louisa is also a bit of an introvert. She hasn’t dated in years, since her last relationship, and doesn’t plan to but her friend Tammy keeps pushing her to do just that. Tammy as you can probably imagine, is quite the opposite of Louisa which didn’t bother me until Tammy starts pushing religion onto Lou. It’s VERY frustrating to say the least. Again, it didn’t totally mesh. Why would someone be so unwilling to believe in the occult (tarot readings, scrying, etc) because she’s a Christian and yet she’s totally willing to sleep with guys. A little bit of an annoyance for me, but something that didn’t totally distract from the story. I just wanted Lou to tell her to shove it! But being a good friend Lou keeps her feelings to herself and keeps quiet, most of the time.
Although Tammy distracted me a little, the rest of the story was amazing. Louisa finding out about Isobel was interesting and from there on the story just got better and better. Both Louisa and Isobel are strong women and they are wonderful to read about. The ending was exactly what I was looking for. Honestly I was quite worried about how this was going to end and there was something missing until, quite literally, the last sentence but Jen McConnel brings everything together wonderfully!
This was a book I could not put down and although I am a huge fan of the paranormal and historical fiction, this was something a bit different from the normal read. It was intriguing and keeps you wondering what is going to happen, even after you put together that one of the main characters is definitely going to be burned to death. It’s the story of how Isobel got there that kept me wanting to continue, and the story about how Louisa decided to finally start making decisions for herself! Fabulous read!
More exciting is the news that the sequel to this, The Key Inheritance, is scheduled to be published January 15th!!! Nearly in time for my birthday! I can’t wait to see what Louisa has gotten herself up to!
October 13, 2012
After finishing The Burning of Isobel Key, I am hoping that I can explain how I feel about this book in a way that you can understand because honestly it was simply amazing. It is hard to find the right words because there are so many emotions flowing through me right now. This book has made me angry, laugh, and cry and even made my heart flutter in anticipation.
The Burning of Isobel Key is about a young woman named Louisa and her quest to find the truth about the witch trials that happened in Scotland. The beginning of the book however starts with her quitting her job and then joining her friend Tammy, which has gotten a promotion at her job, on a business trip to Scotland. On their trip, Tammy and Lou learn about the witch trials and Lou wants to find out more about what happened and to try to clear the witch’s name, if she can. While on a tour, they meet the handsome Brian, which is their tour guide. He helps Lou and Tammy learn more about the trials and the history of St. Andrews. Lou finds papers about a woman named Isobel Key and she starts to feel some type of connection with her. She starts learning more and more about the trials and the witch Isobel Key which begins Lou on the journey to self discovery, love and learning about her rich heritage that she didn't even know she had.
The one thing that I really loved about this book is the amount of knowledge the author used when writing about the different things to do with Wicca. Weather the author herself is Wiccan I have no idea but to read a book that talks about Wicca and it being correct is a thing with me. I hate to read books that seem like the author took no time to do any research on the subject and just use stereotype information that really has nothing to do with true Wicca or Witchcraft. I have much respect for Jen McConnel for this one thing alone.
When it comes to the book overall, seriously it was, for lack of a better word, amazing. It broke my heart with what happened to Isobel and what lead up to her death. I feel so connected to Lou and can understand her struggles throughout this book. McConnel is able to write characters that a person can relate too and understand in ways that you could not possibly imagine. Reading this book, I felt what the characters felt and for me, that is a hard feat to accomplish but McConnel knows what she is doing. Another thing that made this book really great for me is the changing from Lou to Isobel to Lou and then back. You would think it would complicate things but honestly it flowed together so seamlessly that it all tied together.
The only really bad thing about this book is that I finished reading it and there isn't any more to read. I want more! I would love to see this story continue and see what happens with the characters in the story. I am sure that is how most everyone feels after reading a book that they loved but it would be awesome if this story did continue into a series.
This is one book that I am so grateful that I had the pleasure of reading and honestly, it is worth every penny. I expect much more great books from this author and can't wait to read them.
Disclosure Notice
I received a free copy in exchange for my personal and honest review. I was not compensated in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.
The Burning of Isobel Key is about a young woman named Louisa and her quest to find the truth about the witch trials that happened in Scotland. The beginning of the book however starts with her quitting her job and then joining her friend Tammy, which has gotten a promotion at her job, on a business trip to Scotland. On their trip, Tammy and Lou learn about the witch trials and Lou wants to find out more about what happened and to try to clear the witch’s name, if she can. While on a tour, they meet the handsome Brian, which is their tour guide. He helps Lou and Tammy learn more about the trials and the history of St. Andrews. Lou finds papers about a woman named Isobel Key and she starts to feel some type of connection with her. She starts learning more and more about the trials and the witch Isobel Key which begins Lou on the journey to self discovery, love and learning about her rich heritage that she didn't even know she had.
The one thing that I really loved about this book is the amount of knowledge the author used when writing about the different things to do with Wicca. Weather the author herself is Wiccan I have no idea but to read a book that talks about Wicca and it being correct is a thing with me. I hate to read books that seem like the author took no time to do any research on the subject and just use stereotype information that really has nothing to do with true Wicca or Witchcraft. I have much respect for Jen McConnel for this one thing alone.
When it comes to the book overall, seriously it was, for lack of a better word, amazing. It broke my heart with what happened to Isobel and what lead up to her death. I feel so connected to Lou and can understand her struggles throughout this book. McConnel is able to write characters that a person can relate too and understand in ways that you could not possibly imagine. Reading this book, I felt what the characters felt and for me, that is a hard feat to accomplish but McConnel knows what she is doing. Another thing that made this book really great for me is the changing from Lou to Isobel to Lou and then back. You would think it would complicate things but honestly it flowed together so seamlessly that it all tied together.
The only really bad thing about this book is that I finished reading it and there isn't any more to read. I want more! I would love to see this story continue and see what happens with the characters in the story. I am sure that is how most everyone feels after reading a book that they loved but it would be awesome if this story did continue into a series.
This is one book that I am so grateful that I had the pleasure of reading and honestly, it is worth every penny. I expect much more great books from this author and can't wait to read them.
Disclosure Notice
I received a free copy in exchange for my personal and honest review. I was not compensated in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.
October 21, 2012
Note: I received a free PDF copy of this book for a blog tour. However, it did not influence my review in any way.
So, as I have said above, I didn't really think of the Blog Tour as I was reading this book. Honestly, it was pretty good! It passed by pretty quickly for 259 pages( Been reading big books lately). I didn't even skim and scan, either. (Which I pretty much do for most ebooks I receive if I lose interest in them.)
So, the narrating is a bit interesting. It alternates between Modern Day, with Lou, a young adult in her 20s, struggling with her romance life and finding a good job/occupation, and with Isobel, a healer/doctor/midwife from the 1600s. I really liked the Isobel parts better, I tell you. Maybe it's just me liking the old-ish medieval-ish books. Not to mention all the Isobel chapters ended dramatically and made me want to skim through all the Lou parts. I'm not saying that the Lou parts were skimmed over! I actually read them all up because there were mentions of Isobel and stuff. Also, just to mention, this book is definitely not concentrated on romance. There IS romance at the end-ish, and it's so cute! I was so thankful that there was slow romance in this book so they could concentrate on their research, which is way more important, btw. And then they got in bed and I realized I spoke too soon about being thankful. Tsk.
Between Tammy, Lou's best friend, and Lou herself, I think that there's a great friendship between them. Even if Tammy was a bit impatient at times and sometimes irritated at Lou's doggedness, Tammy would always stay calm and consider her friend's feelings. Lou is always caring for Tammy as well. It's going to be really difficult to get them to fight.
The book summary is just such a spoiler. "Lou finds out about her past" blah blah blah. It's SO obvious that she's related to Isobel in some way if not in blood. Which is why my expressions throughout the whole book were..
As you notice, I only widened my eyes at one point. That was it. If you've seen my blog before, http://bookaholicness.com, and read at least one of my reviews, you see that I TOTALLY LOVE to do Quotes and Commentary. Unfortunately, I only have about 5 quotes for this book. I just couldn't really find anything to say about it. It just left me speechless. That's the one thing that made it a 4 stars instead of a 5. No shockers. As a reader, I love to run across shockers, and, only one of them in this whole book made me just widen my eyes. The title is self explanatory too.
Despite that, this is actually a REALLY good book! I loved the writing and everything. So, readers! You see that rating? Yeah? This book deserved every single star it received. So go read it!
I also had a little Twitter convo with the author, and she said that the cover girl is Lou. Woot! Mystery solved. (;
Click here to read my full review!
So, as I have said above, I didn't really think of the Blog Tour as I was reading this book. Honestly, it was pretty good! It passed by pretty quickly for 259 pages( Been reading big books lately). I didn't even skim and scan, either. (Which I pretty much do for most ebooks I receive if I lose interest in them.)
So, the narrating is a bit interesting. It alternates between Modern Day, with Lou, a young adult in her 20s, struggling with her romance life and finding a good job/occupation, and with Isobel, a healer/doctor/midwife from the 1600s. I really liked the Isobel parts better, I tell you. Maybe it's just me liking the old-ish medieval-ish books. Not to mention all the Isobel chapters ended dramatically and made me want to skim through all the Lou parts. I'm not saying that the Lou parts were skimmed over! I actually read them all up because there were mentions of Isobel and stuff. Also, just to mention, this book is definitely not concentrated on romance. There IS romance at the end-ish, and it's so cute! I was so thankful that there was slow romance in this book so they could concentrate on their research, which is way more important, btw. And then they got in bed and I realized I spoke too soon about being thankful. Tsk.
Between Tammy, Lou's best friend, and Lou herself, I think that there's a great friendship between them. Even if Tammy was a bit impatient at times and sometimes irritated at Lou's doggedness, Tammy would always stay calm and consider her friend's feelings. Lou is always caring for Tammy as well. It's going to be really difficult to get them to fight.
The book summary is just such a spoiler. "Lou finds out about her past" blah blah blah. It's SO obvious that she's related to Isobel in some way if not in blood. Which is why my expressions throughout the whole book were..
As you notice, I only widened my eyes at one point. That was it. If you've seen my blog before, http://bookaholicness.com, and read at least one of my reviews, you see that I TOTALLY LOVE to do Quotes and Commentary. Unfortunately, I only have about 5 quotes for this book. I just couldn't really find anything to say about it. It just left me speechless. That's the one thing that made it a 4 stars instead of a 5. No shockers. As a reader, I love to run across shockers, and, only one of them in this whole book made me just widen my eyes. The title is self explanatory too.
Despite that, this is actually a REALLY good book! I loved the writing and everything. So, readers! You see that rating? Yeah? This book deserved every single star it received. So go read it!
I also had a little Twitter convo with the author, and she said that the cover girl is Lou. Woot! Mystery solved. (;
Click here to read my full review!
March 20, 2014
You can read this and many other reviews on my YA book blog The White Unicorn!
An Open Letter To The Secret of Isobel Key,
You were actually a lot cooler then I was expecting, which is a good thing. I liked that you were a quick read that came together rather nicely, and that you still kept me guessing a bit. I also enjoyed the fact that I've been to most of the places that you talked about in Scotland, it made reading you more personal. It also gave me a mad case of wanderlust, so my wallet thanks you for that. Also I'd like to thank you for some snarky characters. You can never go wrong there. On top of that, thanks for not having crazy, explicit sex in your pages and keeping the romance sweet! Overall, you were a pleasant reading experience, so that's something to be proud about.
-The White Unicorn
So, going into TSOIK, I didn't know what to expect, but I'm happy with what I got. McConnel did her work and it shows in the details. The book itself flips back and forth between a modern setting and a time when people actually burned witches (aka the seventeenth century) She manages to give us folklore, history and an overall feeling of a genuine Scotland feel. It makes reading the book feel like you're on this grand adventure with Lou and Tammy, not just watching it happen.
The story seems simple at first. Lou quits her job and next thing she knows she's on a plane with her best friend headed to Scotland for the holidays. But then we see flashes of a woman, a long dead woman known as Isobel Key. The chapters swap between Lou and Isobel, bringing the full picture together in the end of the novel. McConnel does a good job of keeping the puzzle pieces separated enough so that you can't guess everything about the mystery. Sure, some things aren't that surprising when they come to light, but the story telling keeps some pretty big things under wraps till the right time.
Lou was a fun main character. She's snarky, she's unsure of her life and she's pretty darn lost. All in all, she was just really honest. Yes, there were times that I just wanted to tell her to get her stuff together, but I think we have either all been where she's at or we will get there at some point. Let's just say that she's a quirky one and that she's into some pretty strange stuff that ends up propelling the story.
Tammy was an odd ball. The fact that these two are best pals seems off at first, but as the story progresses it all starts to make sense. She's a little more crass and confident and their dynamic works. I also liked that even though TSOIK had a romance arc, McConnel also focused on the gal pal aspect of the novel. Tammy and Lou's friendship was just as important as Lou's romance with Brian. Speaking of Brian, he was delightful leading man and added just the right dash of dashing. He's a foxy, sweet, red headed hunk. What more could you want?
There isn't much more I can say about the book without giving away plot points. And who wants to read a review that spoils all the things? I know I wouldn't want that. So, this is where my review ends. Just know that if you give this NA novel a try you'll most likely enjoy it and all of it's world traveling, witch burning and self finding!
An Open Letter To The Secret of Isobel Key,
You were actually a lot cooler then I was expecting, which is a good thing. I liked that you were a quick read that came together rather nicely, and that you still kept me guessing a bit. I also enjoyed the fact that I've been to most of the places that you talked about in Scotland, it made reading you more personal. It also gave me a mad case of wanderlust, so my wallet thanks you for that. Also I'd like to thank you for some snarky characters. You can never go wrong there. On top of that, thanks for not having crazy, explicit sex in your pages and keeping the romance sweet! Overall, you were a pleasant reading experience, so that's something to be proud about.
-The White Unicorn
So, going into TSOIK, I didn't know what to expect, but I'm happy with what I got. McConnel did her work and it shows in the details. The book itself flips back and forth between a modern setting and a time when people actually burned witches (aka the seventeenth century) She manages to give us folklore, history and an overall feeling of a genuine Scotland feel. It makes reading the book feel like you're on this grand adventure with Lou and Tammy, not just watching it happen.
The story seems simple at first. Lou quits her job and next thing she knows she's on a plane with her best friend headed to Scotland for the holidays. But then we see flashes of a woman, a long dead woman known as Isobel Key. The chapters swap between Lou and Isobel, bringing the full picture together in the end of the novel. McConnel does a good job of keeping the puzzle pieces separated enough so that you can't guess everything about the mystery. Sure, some things aren't that surprising when they come to light, but the story telling keeps some pretty big things under wraps till the right time.
Lou was a fun main character. She's snarky, she's unsure of her life and she's pretty darn lost. All in all, she was just really honest. Yes, there were times that I just wanted to tell her to get her stuff together, but I think we have either all been where she's at or we will get there at some point. Let's just say that she's a quirky one and that she's into some pretty strange stuff that ends up propelling the story.
Tammy was an odd ball. The fact that these two are best pals seems off at first, but as the story progresses it all starts to make sense. She's a little more crass and confident and their dynamic works. I also liked that even though TSOIK had a romance arc, McConnel also focused on the gal pal aspect of the novel. Tammy and Lou's friendship was just as important as Lou's romance with Brian. Speaking of Brian, he was delightful leading man and added just the right dash of dashing. He's a foxy, sweet, red headed hunk. What more could you want?
There isn't much more I can say about the book without giving away plot points. And who wants to read a review that spoils all the things? I know I wouldn't want that. So, this is where my review ends. Just know that if you give this NA novel a try you'll most likely enjoy it and all of it's world traveling, witch burning and self finding!
January 24, 2013
This was a great book that hit just about every emotion on the scale! Historical fiction isn't generally one of my preferred genres, but this was really a blend of both historical and contemporary times. Lou and Tammy head to Scotland for the holidays on what was a working trip for Tammy. Lou is a bit of a mess, floundering in her life and unsure of where she is going. On a tour, Lou and Tammy meet a gorgeous Highlander named Brian, who inadvertently changes Lou's life. It is by chance that she learns about Isobel and researches her story during the time of the Scottish witch trials. It is then that her life truly changes.
Things to love about Isobel Key...
The cast. The cast is rather small, but it allows you to really get to know the characters. Lou is more than a little unsure of herself, both in life and in love. I really liked her, easily able to empathize with her. Tammy (the BFF) is the epitome of a young, successful woman, completely confident in ways Lou is not. She annoyed me with her judgments throughout the book, although she began to change towards the middle to end of the book. Brian is the sexy Highlander that Lou falls for, although she assumes she has no chance with Tammy nearby. I really liked Brian's character, sweet and kind and no misogyny in sight! Isobel was a character that, for much of the book, was hard to get a handle on. There were parts that made her seem like the victim, others when you had to wonder if she truly was evil. Great suspense! The other characters, though minor, were equally realistic and added a lot to the story.
The storytelling. The way that the author used the back and forth between times essentially told two stories, both Isobel's and Lou's. Although the two wove together to help create Lou's story, Isobel's story was also complete, telling us more of Isobel than just those parts that applied to Lou. It was great to be able to have Isobel as a whole person, with her own complete story.
The witchiness. I love that the portrayal of witchcraft was accurate. Too many times, witchy fiction gets the details wrong or stereotypes it and it changes the feel of the story in a negative way.
The angst. I like how the tension was handled between Tammy and Lou in regards to Lou's Wiccan faith. It was a major conflict point throughout the book and I like that it was used as such and not as a platform that could have taken away from an amazing story.
I like a book that makes me feel, and Isobel Key definitely made me feel. I loved Lou, although her sometimes "wishy washy" demeanor made me want to scream. Tammy frequently annoyed me, as she was supposed to. She reminded me so much of people I have known with her somewhat "holier than thou" attitude. Lou's adopted parents drove me insane, and reminded me a lot of Paige's parents in The Vow, overbearing and controlling. The point is whether you loved them or hated them, these characters drew you into the story. This book really told the story of the witch trials in an interesting way and I enjoyed it from cover to cover!
This review was originally posted at http://thecaffeinateddivareads.multif....
Things to love about Isobel Key...
The cast. The cast is rather small, but it allows you to really get to know the characters. Lou is more than a little unsure of herself, both in life and in love. I really liked her, easily able to empathize with her. Tammy (the BFF) is the epitome of a young, successful woman, completely confident in ways Lou is not. She annoyed me with her judgments throughout the book, although she began to change towards the middle to end of the book. Brian is the sexy Highlander that Lou falls for, although she assumes she has no chance with Tammy nearby. I really liked Brian's character, sweet and kind and no misogyny in sight! Isobel was a character that, for much of the book, was hard to get a handle on. There were parts that made her seem like the victim, others when you had to wonder if she truly was evil. Great suspense! The other characters, though minor, were equally realistic and added a lot to the story.
The storytelling. The way that the author used the back and forth between times essentially told two stories, both Isobel's and Lou's. Although the two wove together to help create Lou's story, Isobel's story was also complete, telling us more of Isobel than just those parts that applied to Lou. It was great to be able to have Isobel as a whole person, with her own complete story.
The witchiness. I love that the portrayal of witchcraft was accurate. Too many times, witchy fiction gets the details wrong or stereotypes it and it changes the feel of the story in a negative way.
The angst. I like how the tension was handled between Tammy and Lou in regards to Lou's Wiccan faith. It was a major conflict point throughout the book and I like that it was used as such and not as a platform that could have taken away from an amazing story.
I like a book that makes me feel, and Isobel Key definitely made me feel. I loved Lou, although her sometimes "wishy washy" demeanor made me want to scream. Tammy frequently annoyed me, as she was supposed to. She reminded me so much of people I have known with her somewhat "holier than thou" attitude. Lou's adopted parents drove me insane, and reminded me a lot of Paige's parents in The Vow, overbearing and controlling. The point is whether you loved them or hated them, these characters drew you into the story. This book really told the story of the witch trials in an interesting way and I enjoyed it from cover to cover!
This review was originally posted at http://thecaffeinateddivareads.multif....
December 2, 2012
“When Lou travels to Scotland, she’s a mess. She’s twenty-six, unemployed, and unsure of herself. It doesn’t help that she’s traveling with Tammy, her best friend, who is everything Lou is not.
At first, the trip pushes Lou towards the brink of depression, but then she meets Brian, a handsome local tour guide. When Brian tells the tourists about the countless witches burned in Scotland, Lou starts to listen. And when she discovers information about Isobel Key, one of the victims of the seventeenth century, Lou finds renewed purpose.
She sets out to learn the truth of the condemned witch, but she isn’t prepared for the knowledge that waits for her. Lou must face her demons if she has any hope of righting the wrongs of the past.”
I've always been a character kind of girl.
In other words, the characters in a book make the whole story a fly or a fail for me. So, I would have rated this book four stars for the story and for the side characters--who were believable enough--as well as the prose (I learned so many new words!:D).
A few things made this a three-star review instead of a four-star review:
There were a few typos in the book. This wouldn't have bothered me other than the fact that I am almost obsessive about correct grammar (which this book had for the most part) and punctuation. With attentional eyes, these mistakes could have been corrected.
A few scenes could have been cut from the book and not altered the story in any way. A trivial issue, but still.
The main problem in The Burning of Isobel Key, for me, was Lou(isa). For most of the book, she seemed pouty and sour, and several times she referred to her “best friend” Tammy as “prattling” or almost any other verb that means “talk incessantly.” I'm sorry, but if you're going to think of a person in that way, you'd better not refer to them as your “best friend,” because then you'd be lying.
Also, the trope “My Best Friend Is So Much Prettier Than I Am” makes its appearance several times; we are constantly reminded how Tammy is the prettier, better, more popular of the pair. One example:
“Not only did she sound perky, Lou considered, but she looked perky: perky and perfect.” (page 28 in my ebook)
Okay, this is starting to sound like I hated the book, but I didn't (not completely—I just didn't love it). Brian was fun to read about and believable. I sympathized with Isobel [spoilers removed]. Tammy was probably my favorite character; she reminds me of myself in so many ways.
Disclaimer: I obtained a free ebook copy of this on Amazon. However, that did not influence my review or alter my view of the book in any way.
December 1, 2012
The lives of Isobel from the early age and Lou come to a cross road in the most unexpected circumstances..
Isobel is a caring and a kind midwife/healer who lived in the late 17th century..Brought up in a family filled with love and warmth...She is only too glad when she has a baby sister but by twist of fate and horrible choice she spends the rest of her life all alone in a cottage away from the town on her natural talent of healing and being a midwife...With her sister's second pregnancy(both she was not allowed to assist) and her subsequent death ,everything seemed to blur away.. This eventually coincides with the witchcraft being banished by the royal family..But Isobel has nothing to worry about or that's what she thinks...But what if none believe in her innocence..
The other part of the novel is about Lou who has no plans in her life..Quitting her job as a cashier in a bookstore her life looks bleak with nothing around her to push her forward.That is until her best friend takes her to Scotland for New Year..There she meets Brian a handsome guide and the flame ignite and they live happily ever after..Haha no no !!!! I just just kidding the happily ever tale after has to wait until our Lou who has developed an interest in the life after death and her fascination for orbs take her to the story of burning of Isobel Key.. Lou finally finds a purpose in her life a renewed reason to her otherwise dull life...
The book swings from Isobel's life to the present day,though Lou's part had Brian and the picturesque highlands , I loved Isobel's era and her part more..I didn't mean that I skipped Lou's but I rushed through to know what happened to Isobel..
I just loved each and every character of the novel, what appealed to me was the other characters were just as memorable as the main character..Tammy was ever vivacious loving friend who complemented the otherwise shy Lou..When time strikes to take someone with her for an official trip to Scotland,Tammy didn't have to think twice on her choice...Brian the charming and handsome Scottish came along as a soft breeze gentle yet strong..Lou's mother a bossing character who plays a cameo also came as an amusing character...McConel had created a perfect set to stage the lives that gets intertwined after sometime ..The character developed slowly in front of the reader's eye that created a bond between them..Romance too slowly developed and I was thankfull to the author for not overdoing it...I loved it and finished it in a single row..I am already looking out for the sequel..I would definitely recommend to the people who are deep into New adult genre..
Isobel is a caring and a kind midwife/healer who lived in the late 17th century..Brought up in a family filled with love and warmth...She is only too glad when she has a baby sister but by twist of fate and horrible choice she spends the rest of her life all alone in a cottage away from the town on her natural talent of healing and being a midwife...With her sister's second pregnancy(both she was not allowed to assist) and her subsequent death ,everything seemed to blur away.. This eventually coincides with the witchcraft being banished by the royal family..But Isobel has nothing to worry about or that's what she thinks...But what if none believe in her innocence..
The other part of the novel is about Lou who has no plans in her life..Quitting her job as a cashier in a bookstore her life looks bleak with nothing around her to push her forward.That is until her best friend takes her to Scotland for New Year..There she meets Brian a handsome guide and the flame ignite and they live happily ever after..Haha no no !!!! I just just kidding the happily ever tale after has to wait until our Lou who has developed an interest in the life after death and her fascination for orbs take her to the story of burning of Isobel Key.. Lou finally finds a purpose in her life a renewed reason to her otherwise dull life...
The book swings from Isobel's life to the present day,though Lou's part had Brian and the picturesque highlands , I loved Isobel's era and her part more..I didn't mean that I skipped Lou's but I rushed through to know what happened to Isobel..
I just loved each and every character of the novel, what appealed to me was the other characters were just as memorable as the main character..Tammy was ever vivacious loving friend who complemented the otherwise shy Lou..When time strikes to take someone with her for an official trip to Scotland,Tammy didn't have to think twice on her choice...Brian the charming and handsome Scottish came along as a soft breeze gentle yet strong..Lou's mother a bossing character who plays a cameo also came as an amusing character...McConel had created a perfect set to stage the lives that gets intertwined after sometime ..The character developed slowly in front of the reader's eye that created a bond between them..Romance too slowly developed and I was thankfull to the author for not overdoing it...I loved it and finished it in a single row..I am already looking out for the sequel..I would definitely recommend to the people who are deep into New adult genre..
February 18, 2013
Enter the world of the past and bring on the memories to the present.
It's almost the holidays, and Louisa found herself jobless after she decided to quit her job in a bookstore. Her bestfriend, Tammy, however, seemed to have gotten all the luck in the world. Soon, when Tammy asked Louisa to go with her on a business trip to Scotland, she was happy to accompany her without telling her bestfriend her predicaments. And soon her quest for her spiritual self unfolded.
The beautiful and enticing country of Scotland served as a backdrop to this enchanting tale of two equally brave women who might be related to each other even though they are centuries apart.
In the 1600s, Isobel Key was accused of witchcraft after her sister mysteriously died of childbirth in the hands of a physician. Incidentally, her brother-in-law was also killed that night by the attending physician but it was Isabel who was blamed. Following this, she was burned at the stake and her bones were laid on a railroad crossing, preventing her to rest in peace.
Present time, Louisa is having a hard time seeking peace of mind. During her trip in Scotland, she met a handsome tour guide who seemed to like her bestfriend, Tammy. Afraid that she might just be on the road to nowhere, she devoted her time searching for answers about witches and burning rituals that happened many centuries past. Soon her interest was peaked when she learned about Isobel Key. The burning desire to discover what really happened that fateful night was what drove Louisa to go to castles and libraries, in the hopes of finding the answers to her questions.
This book is definitely one of the best I've read which involved witchcraft /Wiccans which have always intrigued me. Honestly, the first time I heard about this, it instantly reminded me of this one episode on Smallville where Lana Lang was possessed by the witch Isobel Thoreaux who died when the village people burned her on a pole. I thought the book has something to do with that episode. But after reading the first few chapters, it was a completely different story and I like this book much better.
Cheers to author Jen McConnel for a successful debut. She delivered her characters very well and she has crafted a story that was very engaging and in-depth. I can declare that I am now one of her fans. I look forward to reading the Key Inheritance soon.
It's almost the holidays, and Louisa found herself jobless after she decided to quit her job in a bookstore. Her bestfriend, Tammy, however, seemed to have gotten all the luck in the world. Soon, when Tammy asked Louisa to go with her on a business trip to Scotland, she was happy to accompany her without telling her bestfriend her predicaments. And soon her quest for her spiritual self unfolded.
The beautiful and enticing country of Scotland served as a backdrop to this enchanting tale of two equally brave women who might be related to each other even though they are centuries apart.
In the 1600s, Isobel Key was accused of witchcraft after her sister mysteriously died of childbirth in the hands of a physician. Incidentally, her brother-in-law was also killed that night by the attending physician but it was Isabel who was blamed. Following this, she was burned at the stake and her bones were laid on a railroad crossing, preventing her to rest in peace.
Present time, Louisa is having a hard time seeking peace of mind. During her trip in Scotland, she met a handsome tour guide who seemed to like her bestfriend, Tammy. Afraid that she might just be on the road to nowhere, she devoted her time searching for answers about witches and burning rituals that happened many centuries past. Soon her interest was peaked when she learned about Isobel Key. The burning desire to discover what really happened that fateful night was what drove Louisa to go to castles and libraries, in the hopes of finding the answers to her questions.
This book is definitely one of the best I've read which involved witchcraft /Wiccans which have always intrigued me. Honestly, the first time I heard about this, it instantly reminded me of this one episode on Smallville where Lana Lang was possessed by the witch Isobel Thoreaux who died when the village people burned her on a pole. I thought the book has something to do with that episode. But after reading the first few chapters, it was a completely different story and I like this book much better.
Cheers to author Jen McConnel for a successful debut. She delivered her characters very well and she has crafted a story that was very engaging and in-depth. I can declare that I am now one of her fans. I look forward to reading the Key Inheritance soon.
October 12, 2012
The following review is my opinion and not a paid review. I was given a copy of The Burning of Isobel Key from the author for a review via Bewitching Book Tours.
Lou was almost 27 years old when she quit her job at the bookstore. She was just fed up with the customers. They was always asking some question or another that didn't make much sense. The day that she walked out was no different from any other day. Lou had a degree from Duke University and didn't know what she wanted to do with her life.
Lou's best friend and roommate Tammy calls her one day on her way home and tells her that she got an account. That her job was sending her to Scotland the very next week. The week before Christmas. Tammy takes Lou with her to Scotland. While in Scotland Lou meets a guy, Brian that she falls in love with.
Lou finds out about a woman by the name of Isobel Key that was accused of being a witch in the 17th century. Lou her new friend Brian and Tammy do research to find out what really happened to Isobel. Jen McConnel does a real good job going from the present time of Lou's life to the past of Isobel's life. You knew and could understand what time period you were reading unlike some books that I have read in the past.
When you were reading about Isobel the writing was so descriptive that you could picture what you were reading in your mind. The same goes for when you were reading about Lou's life as well. It's like Stephen King said in his book On Writing. The writer and the Constant Reader both have esp. When he is writing about a red table cloth you the Constant Reader sees a red table cloth in your mind.
If you like reading about the Salem Witch Trials then you would definitely enjoy reading The Burning Of Isobel Key.
Lou was almost 27 years old when she quit her job at the bookstore. She was just fed up with the customers. They was always asking some question or another that didn't make much sense. The day that she walked out was no different from any other day. Lou had a degree from Duke University and didn't know what she wanted to do with her life.
Lou's best friend and roommate Tammy calls her one day on her way home and tells her that she got an account. That her job was sending her to Scotland the very next week. The week before Christmas. Tammy takes Lou with her to Scotland. While in Scotland Lou meets a guy, Brian that she falls in love with.
Lou finds out about a woman by the name of Isobel Key that was accused of being a witch in the 17th century. Lou her new friend Brian and Tammy do research to find out what really happened to Isobel. Jen McConnel does a real good job going from the present time of Lou's life to the past of Isobel's life. You knew and could understand what time period you were reading unlike some books that I have read in the past.
When you were reading about Isobel the writing was so descriptive that you could picture what you were reading in your mind. The same goes for when you were reading about Lou's life as well. It's like Stephen King said in his book On Writing. The writer and the Constant Reader both have esp. When he is writing about a red table cloth you the Constant Reader sees a red table cloth in your mind.
If you like reading about the Salem Witch Trials then you would definitely enjoy reading The Burning Of Isobel Key.
December 28, 2012
3.5 While this book is not my usual book I have to say that the story definitely had me intrigued. I love stories that involve witches but the witches in this story were not the typical supernatural witches we have come to know and love. Instead we are transported to a time when normal people are accused of being a witch because they are just a little bit different. Much like the Salem witch trials in the United States this book focuses on the witch trials of Scotland.
I really enjoyed following Lou as the story of both her and Isobel Key were unraveled piece by piece throughout the book. The whole book I was wondering how are these two connected? Because I just knew that deep down they had to be. It was my desire to answer that question that kept me turning pages. This story had great depth and provided a rich knowledge of both where the tale takes place and the witches within the story. As I was reading it I found myself thinking that this book felt real, and that I could really imagine the things that happened within the book.
This book piqued my interest in the history of one of my favorite topics, witches, gave me a little love and a taste of adventure.
What I didn't like about the book: Despite my love for witches this book really wasn't what I usually look for in a witch story; at times the alternating chapters and the interludes seemed tedious and I found myself wanting to read a solid block of one story or the other instead of every other chapter, at times I found the story to move a little slow, not sure if this is connected to the alternating chapters or another issue; and of course I really wanted there to be some supernatural, but it was still a story about witches!!
*Author provided book in exchange for an honest review
I really enjoyed following Lou as the story of both her and Isobel Key were unraveled piece by piece throughout the book. The whole book I was wondering how are these two connected? Because I just knew that deep down they had to be. It was my desire to answer that question that kept me turning pages. This story had great depth and provided a rich knowledge of both where the tale takes place and the witches within the story. As I was reading it I found myself thinking that this book felt real, and that I could really imagine the things that happened within the book.
This book piqued my interest in the history of one of my favorite topics, witches, gave me a little love and a taste of adventure.
What I didn't like about the book: Despite my love for witches this book really wasn't what I usually look for in a witch story; at times the alternating chapters and the interludes seemed tedious and I found myself wanting to read a solid block of one story or the other instead of every other chapter, at times I found the story to move a little slow, not sure if this is connected to the alternating chapters or another issue; and of course I really wanted there to be some supernatural, but it was still a story about witches!!
*Author provided book in exchange for an honest review
October 2, 2012
The Burning of Isobel Key is the first "New Adult" book I've read (that was actually labeled so). And as such I was very excited and at the same time putting on my "critical glasses" to see if books in the new genre would live up to all the praise they've received. A few hours later with no recollection of any bathroom or food breaks, I had finished the book and...I LOVED IT!!!
The book follow's, Lou, who is in a quarter life crisis: at age 27 she has no job and has no idea what she wants to do with her life. From the first few pages, I immediately connected with Lou. She much like myself attended a prestigious university and although I am still in college and she is four years out of it, I identify completely with the problems she's facing (especially the domineering mother :))
One of my favorite parts of the book was the flashbacks. Transitioning smoothly between the past and present is often something most books with flashbacks fail at doing, however McConnel excels at it. The scenes from Isobel's life intertwines with Lou's made for a book that was not only thrilling in regards to the characters but the historical interludes as well. Parts of the book reminded me of the First Blue Bloods book by Melissa de la Cruz,one of my favorite books and I am glad to add this book to that shelf.
Lastly the book was filled with mystery and suspense, from the moment Lou arrives in Scotland McConnel gets you guessing and hopefully you're better at it than I am because almost all of my plot guesses were wrong.
The book follow's, Lou, who is in a quarter life crisis: at age 27 she has no job and has no idea what she wants to do with her life. From the first few pages, I immediately connected with Lou. She much like myself attended a prestigious university and although I am still in college and she is four years out of it, I identify completely with the problems she's facing (especially the domineering mother :))
One of my favorite parts of the book was the flashbacks. Transitioning smoothly between the past and present is often something most books with flashbacks fail at doing, however McConnel excels at it. The scenes from Isobel's life intertwines with Lou's made for a book that was not only thrilling in regards to the characters but the historical interludes as well. Parts of the book reminded me of the First Blue Bloods book by Melissa de la Cruz,one of my favorite books and I am glad to add this book to that shelf.
Lastly the book was filled with mystery and suspense, from the moment Lou arrives in Scotland McConnel gets you guessing and hopefully you're better at it than I am because almost all of my plot guesses were wrong.
September 30, 2012
“The Burning of Isobel Key,” the debut novel by Jen McConnel, is a well-crafted piece of fiction. It bounces between the present and the distant past, telling the stories of two women—both of whom are searching for purpose, understanding, and love.
Lou is a directionless, somewhat unmotivated, bookstore clerk who embarks on a trip to Scotland—a holiday/vacation/soul-searching sojourn—immediately after quitting her job. Of course, little does she know how much that trip will change the course of her life. She has a strained relationship with her mother (who readers dislike the moment she opens her mouth), a lackluster relationship with her father, and a best friend who’s a bit of a …
Isobel is an innocent, open woman who’s both too progressive, and too trusting, for her own good. Before long, we learn that the accusations of witchcraft that are her eventual undoing are but the latest in a long line of betrayals and heartbreaks in her tragic story. She has loving parents, a loving sister, and a beau who’s quite a …
I found Isobel’s story to be far more compelling than Lou’s—which is, by no means, a knock against the latter; it’s simply a matter of preference. The treatment of so-called witches is one of the darkest, yet most intriguing, periods of our history, and McConnel shares enough about it to support and enrich the story without becoming preachy or sanctimonious.
Overall, the story is artfully done. I’d highly recommend the “The Burning of Isobel Key” to YA, NA, paranormal and even light fantasy fans.
Lou is a directionless, somewhat unmotivated, bookstore clerk who embarks on a trip to Scotland—a holiday/vacation/soul-searching sojourn—immediately after quitting her job. Of course, little does she know how much that trip will change the course of her life. She has a strained relationship with her mother (who readers dislike the moment she opens her mouth), a lackluster relationship with her father, and a best friend who’s a bit of a …
Isobel is an innocent, open woman who’s both too progressive, and too trusting, for her own good. Before long, we learn that the accusations of witchcraft that are her eventual undoing are but the latest in a long line of betrayals and heartbreaks in her tragic story. She has loving parents, a loving sister, and a beau who’s quite a …
I found Isobel’s story to be far more compelling than Lou’s—which is, by no means, a knock against the latter; it’s simply a matter of preference. The treatment of so-called witches is one of the darkest, yet most intriguing, periods of our history, and McConnel shares enough about it to support and enrich the story without becoming preachy or sanctimonious.
Overall, the story is artfully done. I’d highly recommend the “The Burning of Isobel Key” to YA, NA, paranormal and even light fantasy fans.
November 26, 2012
I enjoyed this book immensely as there has always been a lure for me to the Salem witch trials. I enjoyed the characters and could relate to Lou and Tammy's best friend relationship. And I loved Brian the tour guide.
I liked how chapters about the modern day vacation in Scotland was interspersed with interludes reverting back to the 17th century and the life and times of Isobel Key.
And it seemed like modern day folk of St Andrews had some insight into Lou's bloodline, even if she knew nothing about it. The writing was fluid and was character driven making this a most enjoyable read.
One conversation between Brian and Lou regarding the social times of ancient days revealed that times have not changed that much:
“I mean, people were killed for things they believed, or didn’t believe, things that other people were afraid of, and isn’t that the same as now, when people are killed for being different?” Her words rushed out of her mouth, tumbling faster now that she had an audience. “In the States, hate crimes still happen, and even though there isn’t a trial or a stake, isn’t it the same as what happened to all those witches?” She finished in a rush and held her breath.
There was a lot of history, and a lot of suffering resulting from the fears of the day. I thought it was a very thoughtfully written story.
I liked how chapters about the modern day vacation in Scotland was interspersed with interludes reverting back to the 17th century and the life and times of Isobel Key.
And it seemed like modern day folk of St Andrews had some insight into Lou's bloodline, even if she knew nothing about it. The writing was fluid and was character driven making this a most enjoyable read.
One conversation between Brian and Lou regarding the social times of ancient days revealed that times have not changed that much:
“I mean, people were killed for things they believed, or didn’t believe, things that other people were afraid of, and isn’t that the same as now, when people are killed for being different?” Her words rushed out of her mouth, tumbling faster now that she had an audience. “In the States, hate crimes still happen, and even though there isn’t a trial or a stake, isn’t it the same as what happened to all those witches?” She finished in a rush and held her breath.
There was a lot of history, and a lot of suffering resulting from the fears of the day. I thought it was a very thoughtfully written story.
October 21, 2012
The story begins with Lou quitting her job at the store she’s been working at for a number of years. She knows she can find better with her college degree. Her best friend, and roommate, Tammy was just given a promotion and assignment in Scotland. This is the perfect time for a vacation for Lou. Plans have been made and they reach Scotland.
Tammy has a few meetings to attend when they first arrive, but they schedule a guided tour of the Highlands. During their tour, both women take a liking to a particular tour guide and his rugged Scottish charm, Brian.
I love how this story incorporates the current day adventure with the 1600′s legend of the accused witch burning of Isobel Key. Normally, I don’t like for a story to jump back and forth, but this was essential for the unfolding of the complete story. From it’s beginnings to the ultimate revelation in the end, it’s an overall great read. The story is smooth and flowing. I give the an A++ and recommend it for anyone!
Tammy has a few meetings to attend when they first arrive, but they schedule a guided tour of the Highlands. During their tour, both women take a liking to a particular tour guide and his rugged Scottish charm, Brian.
I love how this story incorporates the current day adventure with the 1600′s legend of the accused witch burning of Isobel Key. Normally, I don’t like for a story to jump back and forth, but this was essential for the unfolding of the complete story. From it’s beginnings to the ultimate revelation in the end, it’s an overall great read. The story is smooth and flowing. I give the an A++ and recommend it for anyone!
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