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T*Witches #3
Seeing Is Deceiving
Twins Camryn and Alex face a new and unexpected challenge when Cam's best friend Beth is threatened by Thantos, their mortal enemy. The mighty warlock wants to control the twins--take their amazing powers for himself--and schemes to use Beth, an innocent friend who knows nothing about Cam and Alex's double life. If the twins are to rescue Beth, they may have to sacrifice their powers--or worse. But what choice do they have?
Seeing Is Deceiving is the exciting third book in the mesmerizing T*Witches series.
Seeing Is Deceiving is the exciting third book in the mesmerizing T*Witches series.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2001
12 people are currently reading
463 people want to read
About the author
H.B. Gilmour
66 books54 followersH. B. Gilmour was a bestselling author of children's books. She grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with her mother and the extended family and fondly remembered writing her very first poem for Arbor Day when she was just eight years old. As a teenager, she moved to Florida to live with her father. She attended college there and then moved back to New York City.
Gilmour’s first publishing job was at E.P. Dutton. In 1964 she joined Bantam Books where she worked as copywriter, editor, and copy chief and as an associate director of marketing. She was married to Bruce Gilmour in 1968. She had a child, Jessica, with him in 1970. They were divorced in 1972. Her first novel "The Trade", a trashy paperback about the publishing business, was published in 1969.
She wrote novelizations (including Saturday Night Fever) and children's books (including Muppets books) while working full-time at Bantam and raising a child on her own. She published her second original novel "So Long, Daddy" in 1985. The artwork for the dust jacket of the hardcover release includes a photo of her daughter, Jessica. Her third novel was "Ask Me If I Care", a book about a teenage girl who gets in with the wrong crowd.
In 1992 she joined the book division at Scholastic, leaving in 1995 to pursue writing full-time. She focused her energy on books for "tweens" and children which is what gave her the most joy.
She met John Johann, whom she would later marry, in 1992. They later moved to Cornwallville in upstate New York where she happily tended to the garden she never had in the city until her death. She died on June 21, 2009 of pneumonia due to complications from lung cancer. She is survived by her husband John, daughter Jessica, stepchildren Wendy and John, Jr. and step-grandchildren Reef, Riley, John Jr. and Jasmine.
Gilmour’s first publishing job was at E.P. Dutton. In 1964 she joined Bantam Books where she worked as copywriter, editor, and copy chief and as an associate director of marketing. She was married to Bruce Gilmour in 1968. She had a child, Jessica, with him in 1970. They were divorced in 1972. Her first novel "The Trade", a trashy paperback about the publishing business, was published in 1969.
She wrote novelizations (including Saturday Night Fever) and children's books (including Muppets books) while working full-time at Bantam and raising a child on her own. She published her second original novel "So Long, Daddy" in 1985. The artwork for the dust jacket of the hardcover release includes a photo of her daughter, Jessica. Her third novel was "Ask Me If I Care", a book about a teenage girl who gets in with the wrong crowd.
In 1992 she joined the book division at Scholastic, leaving in 1995 to pursue writing full-time. She focused her energy on books for "tweens" and children which is what gave her the most joy.
She met John Johann, whom she would later marry, in 1992. They later moved to Cornwallville in upstate New York where she happily tended to the garden she never had in the city until her death. She died on June 21, 2009 of pneumonia due to complications from lung cancer. She is survived by her husband John, daughter Jessica, stepchildren Wendy and John, Jr. and step-grandchildren Reef, Riley, John Jr. and Jasmine.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 2, 2020
Book three in the T-Witches series and they are still just okay. I know I loved them in middle school but being thirty now it's hard to feel that same love when I can see all the glaring plot messiness and how none of this makes sense.
But it is a good read for nostalgia and I def think tweens of today may like this series even if outdated phrases and references exist.
Also I am still very much an Alex at heart.
But it is a good read for nostalgia and I def think tweens of today may like this series even if outdated phrases and references exist.
Also I am still very much an Alex at heart.
March 31, 2020
I think three books in, and I’m finally becoming somewhat numb to the ever-present teen-speak lingo. At the very least, I’m able to ignore it much better in favor of the story.
As Beth and Cam’s friendship slowly erodes, Alex is slowly integrating better with the Barnes family, especially adoptive brother Dylan. When Beth joins the volunteer group Helping Hands, it pushes her even farther from Cam and the rest of their Six Pack of friends. But is Helping Hands really what it seems? Or is it somehow connected to the jewelry store robbery Cam and Alex prevented at the start of the story? Meanwhile, Thantos has kidnapped Karsh to lure Ileana away from the twins just when they need help again. Who needs the T*Witches help more, Karsh or Beth? And what will happen if Cam and Alex choose wrong?
If I had to pin down why this series continues to feel like light, teen fluff to me, I think it’s because the characters end up more pushed by the plot than by their own characterization – it is plot-driven, not character-driven. In this book, it starts when Cam and Alex decide they are “in danger” from whatever plot is happening with the fundraising organization Helping Hands (which actually feels more like two kids realizing something is above their heads and instead of just saying they need an adult’s guidance, making it out to be that they personally are in danger) and seek out aid (which does not come) from Karsh and Ileana, thus leaving them to their own devices. It felt contrived and forced. That feeling is only confirmed when Ileana does finally meet them (because of their deception) and tells the twins some surprising information about their biological family as well as about Karsh’s situation. The twins immediately do an about-face in what they want out of this meeting with Ileana:
“We’ll find him,” Alex blurted. “We’ll help you find him.”
“There’s nothing more important than that!” Cam knew she sounded over-the-top. She felt like her blood was boiling, veins and arteries pulsing hard against her skin.
[…] Ileana thought, So earnest! And fierce! She’d just divulged a family secret that shook them to the core. And yet, finding Karsh was uppermost in their minds. When it came to helping someone else, Apolla and Artemis had no fear and knew no bounds. – page 145
While Cam and Alex have already shown a proclivity for helping others, and we’re told that is the basic nature of any good witch or warlock, scenes and events such as this clearly put the mold and plot of the story in a position of higher importance than natural evolution of the twins. And the authors are not shy about presenting other, often antagonistic characters in clearly 2D manners: Thantos is just “evil” in his hunger for power and wealth and because he killed his brother; Fredo is a simple-minded slimy lackey; Shane starts as a foil and the questioning he starts to go through at the end comes across too simply, and forced. Even the good guys are mostly 2D, with very select elements added to them to attempt to flesh them out, like what is driving Beth to seek out a way to help others at the expense of everything else (friends, school, soccer, etc.), and pushing Ileana to show more compassion and care than her arrogance and “Call me goddess” would allow, surprising even Karsh who knows her best. Not to mention the side characters, like Jason who is crushing on Cam – I mentioned in an early status update, in book 1 Cam couldn’t even remember his name, in book 2 she barely did any better, and all of a sudden in book 3 she’s not sure if she likes likes him or just likes his attributes (page 65). Dylan gets the best arc of side characters, and that is largely due to how he and Alex bounce off each other, how they both argue and bond. There are also seeds planted in this book for the plot of the 4th book, namely, that Alex’s dead-beat deserter debtor adoptive father Ike Fielding is trying to get custody of her.
This series remains a light fluff read, and three books in, I’m not sure it will manage more than that, even if my extremely vague faded memories of it 18 years ago hint that they might get a bit more serious. Of course, that could just be vague vibe I get from the cover images. Oh, bonus: there are a couple references/comparisons to Harry Potter which garner a smile (page 53, and towards the end of the book too), one of the few pop-culture references which does not totally date the book. Unlike how they present e-mails working and ease of not only guessing at someone’s email address, but hacking into it and more, as fifteen-year-olds. All in all, though, I can’t take this series too seriously if I want to enjoy it. And I really wish I remembered what I thought of it when I first read it, when it came out 18 years ago…
Favorite quote:
[Karsh said,] "Guilt is not a productive emotion, my child. Use it only to learn a lesson, then discard it." - page 179
Typos:
Twin beds, a shared night table between then, twin desks. - pg 103 – This is just a strangely structured sentence. I think “then” should be “them, and”,or either remove the comma after “then” or move it to after “between” instead
The good-natured ever steady friend been emotionally off-balance, freaked about her parents. - page 181 - The good-natured ever steady friend had been emotionally off-balance, freaked about her parents.
... of five. Perfectly. - page 225 - missing closing quotation marks
As Beth and Cam’s friendship slowly erodes, Alex is slowly integrating better with the Barnes family, especially adoptive brother Dylan. When Beth joins the volunteer group Helping Hands, it pushes her even farther from Cam and the rest of their Six Pack of friends. But is Helping Hands really what it seems? Or is it somehow connected to the jewelry store robbery Cam and Alex prevented at the start of the story? Meanwhile, Thantos has kidnapped Karsh to lure Ileana away from the twins just when they need help again. Who needs the T*Witches help more, Karsh or Beth? And what will happen if Cam and Alex choose wrong?
If I had to pin down why this series continues to feel like light, teen fluff to me, I think it’s because the characters end up more pushed by the plot than by their own characterization – it is plot-driven, not character-driven. In this book, it starts when Cam and Alex decide they are “in danger” from whatever plot is happening with the fundraising organization Helping Hands (which actually feels more like two kids realizing something is above their heads and instead of just saying they need an adult’s guidance, making it out to be that they personally are in danger) and seek out aid (which does not come) from Karsh and Ileana, thus leaving them to their own devices. It felt contrived and forced. That feeling is only confirmed when Ileana does finally meet them (because of their deception) and tells the twins some surprising information about their biological family as well as about Karsh’s situation. The twins immediately do an about-face in what they want out of this meeting with Ileana:
“We’ll find him,” Alex blurted. “We’ll help you find him.”
“There’s nothing more important than that!” Cam knew she sounded over-the-top. She felt like her blood was boiling, veins and arteries pulsing hard against her skin.
[…] Ileana thought, So earnest! And fierce! She’d just divulged a family secret that shook them to the core. And yet, finding Karsh was uppermost in their minds. When it came to helping someone else, Apolla and Artemis had no fear and knew no bounds. – page 145
While Cam and Alex have already shown a proclivity for helping others, and we’re told that is the basic nature of any good witch or warlock, scenes and events such as this clearly put the mold and plot of the story in a position of higher importance than natural evolution of the twins. And the authors are not shy about presenting other, often antagonistic characters in clearly 2D manners: Thantos is just “evil” in his hunger for power and wealth and because he killed his brother; Fredo is a simple-minded slimy lackey; Shane starts as a foil and the questioning he starts to go through at the end comes across too simply, and forced. Even the good guys are mostly 2D, with very select elements added to them to attempt to flesh them out, like what is driving Beth to seek out a way to help others at the expense of everything else (friends, school, soccer, etc.), and pushing Ileana to show more compassion and care than her arrogance and “Call me goddess” would allow, surprising even Karsh who knows her best. Not to mention the side characters, like Jason who is crushing on Cam – I mentioned in an early status update, in book 1 Cam couldn’t even remember his name, in book 2 she barely did any better, and all of a sudden in book 3 she’s not sure if she likes likes him or just likes his attributes (page 65). Dylan gets the best arc of side characters, and that is largely due to how he and Alex bounce off each other, how they both argue and bond. There are also seeds planted in this book for the plot of the 4th book, namely, that Alex’s dead-beat deserter debtor adoptive father Ike Fielding is trying to get custody of her.
This series remains a light fluff read, and three books in, I’m not sure it will manage more than that, even if my extremely vague faded memories of it 18 years ago hint that they might get a bit more serious. Of course, that could just be vague vibe I get from the cover images. Oh, bonus: there are a couple references/comparisons to Harry Potter which garner a smile (page 53, and towards the end of the book too), one of the few pop-culture references which does not totally date the book. Unlike how they present e-mails working and ease of not only guessing at someone’s email address, but hacking into it and more, as fifteen-year-olds. All in all, though, I can’t take this series too seriously if I want to enjoy it. And I really wish I remembered what I thought of it when I first read it, when it came out 18 years ago…
Favorite quote:
[Karsh said,] "Guilt is not a productive emotion, my child. Use it only to learn a lesson, then discard it." - page 179
Typos:
Twin beds, a shared night table between then, twin desks. - pg 103 – This is just a strangely structured sentence. I think “then” should be “them, and”,or either remove the comma after “then” or move it to after “between” instead
The good-natured ever steady friend been emotionally off-balance, freaked about her parents. - page 181 - The good-natured ever steady friend had been emotionally off-balance, freaked about her parents.
... of five. Perfectly. - page 225 - missing closing quotation marks
December 19, 2024
This was a really good book i feel they are connected better and the different plots were interesting i do wish we were told exactly how ileana saved karsh and herself
July 12, 2017
With Karsh kidnapped, and Ileana trying to rescue him and currently out of commission, the twins are on their own – and coming face to face with their evil, manipulative Uncle Thantos.
This one for me just worked out a lot better than the second one. Still has all the silliness and teen lingo of that particular time, but overall, more enjoyable and easier to get with. I’m still having a hard time figuring out all that’s happening with the bigger action scenes – like when Cam and Alex confront Thantos and Fredo at the rave, then things happen and then they’re magically “safe.” It is a younger book but I’m still thrown by the convenience of it all.
Also, you know it’s a kid’s book when THE FREAKING BAD GUY IS INVITED INTO THEIR BEDROOM FOR SNACKS AND “CHAT.” My goodness, these girls are super naive. How do the parents NOT wake up is what I want to know. Whether Shane redeemed himself or not, I’d still probably not let the former Thantos lackey anywhere near me.
I do like that the teens are still trying to figure out their place in the world. Cam, who has found a true partner in twin sister Alex, is neglecting former BFF Beth a little. Then she only makes it worse by trying to help and protect her. Cam desperately wants to meet her real mother, Miranda,
Alex on the other hand, is still struggling with where she fits in with the Barnes family, especially since Emily isn’t necessarily fond of her presence. And now her skeevy dad is filing for custody of her.
All in all, I’m still fond of these characters. I like the silly, I like the serious. Throw in a bit of magic and you’ve got me. Four stars altogether.
This one for me just worked out a lot better than the second one. Still has all the silliness and teen lingo of that particular time, but overall, more enjoyable and easier to get with. I’m still having a hard time figuring out all that’s happening with the bigger action scenes – like when Cam and Alex confront Thantos and Fredo at the rave, then things happen and then they’re magically “safe.” It is a younger book but I’m still thrown by the convenience of it all.
Also, you know it’s a kid’s book when THE FREAKING BAD GUY IS INVITED INTO THEIR BEDROOM FOR SNACKS AND “CHAT.” My goodness, these girls are super naive. How do the parents NOT wake up is what I want to know. Whether Shane redeemed himself or not, I’d still probably not let the former Thantos lackey anywhere near me.
I do like that the teens are still trying to figure out their place in the world. Cam, who has found a true partner in twin sister Alex, is neglecting former BFF Beth a little. Then she only makes it worse by trying to help and protect her. Cam desperately wants to meet her real mother, Miranda,
Alex on the other hand, is still struggling with where she fits in with the Barnes family, especially since Emily isn’t necessarily fond of her presence. And now her skeevy dad is filing for custody of her.
All in all, I’m still fond of these characters. I like the silly, I like the serious. Throw in a bit of magic and you’ve got me. Four stars altogether.
June 9, 2020
This was definitely an enjoyable read. The plot moved at a good pace and sped up nicely around the climax, and I am enjoying the character development. I look forward to reading the next book in this witchy series.
October 11, 2021
Well….it’s still not as good as I want/remember it to be. One of the better opening chapters for sure (I remember repeatedly picking this one up just to reread it) but the action and mystery still don’t measure up to the emotional side of things.
July 20, 2025
This is the last one in the series that I was able to get my hands on as a child. From here on I’ll be flying blind and honestly, I’m excited.
July 30, 2025
Another enjoyable entry in the series, if a bit on the kiddy side sometimes. There's the usual typos and missing words, and sometimes it's unclear who is speaking/thinking.
July 3, 2017
Kat Mandu says...
With Karsh kidnapped, and Ileana trying to rescue him and currently out of commission, the twins are on their own – and coming face to face with their evil, manipulative Uncle Thantos.
This one for me just worked out a lot better than the second one. Still has all the silliness and teen lingo of that particular time, but overall, more enjoyable and easier to get with. I’m still having a hard time figuring out all that’s happening with the bigger action scenes – like when Cam and Alex confront Thantos and Fredo at the rave, then things happen and then they’re magically “safe.” It is a younger book but I’m still thrown by the convenience of it all.
Also, you know it’s a kid’s book when THE FREAKING BAD GUY IS INVITED INTO THEIR BEDROOM FOR SNACKS AND “CHAT.” My goodness, these girls are super naive. How do the parents NOT wake up is what I want to know. Whether Shane redeemed himself or not, I’d still probably not let the former Thantos lackey anywhere near me.
I do like that the teens are still trying to figure out their place in the world. Cam, who has found a true partner in twin sister Alex, is neglecting former BFF Beth a little. Then she only makes it worse by trying to help and protect her. Cam desperately wants to meet her real mother, Miranda,
Alex on the other hand, is still struggling with where she fits in with the Barnes family, especially since Emily isn’t necessarily fond of her presence. And now her skeevy dad is filing for custody of her.
All in all, I’m still fond of these characters. I like the silly, I like the serious. Throw in a bit of magic and you’ve got me. Four stars altogether.
With Karsh kidnapped, and Ileana trying to rescue him and currently out of commission, the twins are on their own – and coming face to face with their evil, manipulative Uncle Thantos.
This one for me just worked out a lot better than the second one. Still has all the silliness and teen lingo of that particular time, but overall, more enjoyable and easier to get with. I’m still having a hard time figuring out all that’s happening with the bigger action scenes – like when Cam and Alex confront Thantos and Fredo at the rave, then things happen and then they’re magically “safe.” It is a younger book but I’m still thrown by the convenience of it all.
Also, you know it’s a kid’s book when THE FREAKING BAD GUY IS INVITED INTO THEIR BEDROOM FOR SNACKS AND “CHAT.” My goodness, these girls are super naive. How do the parents NOT wake up is what I want to know. Whether Shane redeemed himself or not, I’d still probably not let the former Thantos lackey anywhere near me.
I do like that the teens are still trying to figure out their place in the world. Cam, who has found a true partner in twin sister Alex, is neglecting former BFF Beth a little. Then she only makes it worse by trying to help and protect her. Cam desperately wants to meet her real mother, Miranda,
Alex on the other hand, is still struggling with where she fits in with the Barnes family, especially since Emily isn’t necessarily fond of her presence. And now her skeevy dad is filing for custody of her.
All in all, I’m still fond of these characters. I like the silly, I like the serious. Throw in a bit of magic and you’ve got me. Four stars altogether.
May 18, 2018
Seeing Is Deceiving
PLOT: Newly reunited twin sisters Camryn and Alex (also witches) use their new powers to stop a robbery in progress that takes place in a jewelry store in the mall. But then the same older lady over the heist shows up at their school Belinda Rogers (aka Cecelia Webb). Who we find out is over an organization called "Helping Hands", which she uses to rope naïve kids into to make money for her (illegally) under the guise that the money will go to helping homeless and abandoned kids. Beth (Camryn's) besties gets roped in because she's vulnerable and probably looking for somewhere to belong since she obviously is feeling misplaced because of Alex and her parent's threats of getting a divorce. Meanwhile, back in the magical land of Coventry (where Alex and Camryn were born), their Uncle (Thantos) and (Fredo) have kidnapped Alex's guardian (Karsh) as a way of distracting Illeana while Thantos goes after the twins. Then there's the question of whether the twin's mother (Miranda) is still alive. Also speaking of parent's Alex's foster day (Issac Fielding) suddenly shows up to challenge the Barn's adoption procedure. Then there's another wizard thrown in the mix (Shane) who works for Thantos and is also involved with Helping Hands that wins the heart of Beth but whose motives in all this is unclear.
MY THOUGHTS:
*Belinda Rogers (Cecilia Webb): As far as this plot goes tell me how a scam artist get hired to work as a substitute teacher in a school? Weren't there background checks? Camryn and Alex didn't have *any* problems finding this lady out and they're not even 16. I guess it didn't hurt they'd already caught her in a deception, but if this is a representative of what the school system is like. Background checks these days can tell you EVERYTHING and you can get them for under 20.00. All the school had to do was run one. They would have gotten her full name, location, birthdate, places she's lived, relatives etc. Sloppy, bad, job of the school. But as a villain of the piece (and they always mess up eventually anyway), I think that she did a good job. She was slick. It seemed like she covered herself well. No one until the twins questioned Helping Hands. And even in the jewelry heist, she was smart enough to replace the stolen jewelry with fakes. I kind of liked that she thought of that little detail. I don't think most crooks would have taken the time to do that. Then she preyed on victims she knew who mentally didn't have the courage to rat her out. So she was a smart villain. And I wasn't sure if she was doing this for the boyfriend or lying to him and then ghosting with the money for herself.
*(Shane): Had me completely fooled. There was nothing to suspect him for initially. But then those are the ones you *should* suspect. He kept you guessing about his motives as a character. Overall he came off to me as confused. Shane is a follower. (I think he is throughout the story). And he's a little short of sight. You want to feel a hint of sympathy for him and see him as "the hero", but in later books, he's still confused about whose side he's actually on. You leave this book thinking ok now that he's seen who Thantos is maybe he'll have a change of heart. (SPOILER) He doesn't. So he's a character you groan at when you see him in this series. Because he's wishy-washy.
*(The Karsh plot): It just made me sad to see Thantos practically kill Karsh. It would have more merciful just to do so than tease him the way he did. In the television movie, Karsh was not as old as he's portrayed in the books so we feel a stab of pain. It's like watching a grandparent's illness take over and now that in a short amount of time there will be nothing we can do. And so knowing that I don't know why Thantos is even attempting to off Karsh because he's already so close to not being here long. If Thantos is so great a wizard why even use Karsh? Shouldn't he have single-handedly been able to lure Illena to him? It just seemed heartless to involve an old man. Even for Thantos.
*(Isaac Fielding vs the Barnes): A shame! Where the hell has this man been all Alex's life and he shows up NOW to collect a check? I would have said he was dead too.
*(Emily/Alex): At first I was mad at Alex because I thought she was being too hard on Emily. But then I changed that up when I saw that Alex's intuition was correct and Emily really was making her out to be the bad guy. I got the tv Emily and the book Emily fused. So I was thinking how could anyone ever have a grudge against Emily. I'd love Emily to be my mom. But I was glad to see them all come together and work it out. Same for the (Beth/Camryn) plot. But again I don't get why the rules are so strict against magicals telling their real identity. I think they'd throw me out of the magical community because there is NO WAY I wouldn't share that with my best friend OR family.
*(Miranda): I think it's pretty obvious by the next book they'll find Miranda. But it was a good ending.
RATING: 7
PLOT: Newly reunited twin sisters Camryn and Alex (also witches) use their new powers to stop a robbery in progress that takes place in a jewelry store in the mall. But then the same older lady over the heist shows up at their school Belinda Rogers (aka Cecelia Webb). Who we find out is over an organization called "Helping Hands", which she uses to rope naïve kids into to make money for her (illegally) under the guise that the money will go to helping homeless and abandoned kids. Beth (Camryn's) besties gets roped in because she's vulnerable and probably looking for somewhere to belong since she obviously is feeling misplaced because of Alex and her parent's threats of getting a divorce. Meanwhile, back in the magical land of Coventry (where Alex and Camryn were born), their Uncle (Thantos) and (Fredo) have kidnapped Alex's guardian (Karsh) as a way of distracting Illeana while Thantos goes after the twins. Then there's the question of whether the twin's mother (Miranda) is still alive. Also speaking of parent's Alex's foster day (Issac Fielding) suddenly shows up to challenge the Barn's adoption procedure. Then there's another wizard thrown in the mix (Shane) who works for Thantos and is also involved with Helping Hands that wins the heart of Beth but whose motives in all this is unclear.
MY THOUGHTS:
*Belinda Rogers (Cecilia Webb): As far as this plot goes tell me how a scam artist get hired to work as a substitute teacher in a school? Weren't there background checks? Camryn and Alex didn't have *any* problems finding this lady out and they're not even 16. I guess it didn't hurt they'd already caught her in a deception, but if this is a representative of what the school system is like. Background checks these days can tell you EVERYTHING and you can get them for under 20.00. All the school had to do was run one. They would have gotten her full name, location, birthdate, places she's lived, relatives etc. Sloppy, bad, job of the school. But as a villain of the piece (and they always mess up eventually anyway), I think that she did a good job. She was slick. It seemed like she covered herself well. No one until the twins questioned Helping Hands. And even in the jewelry heist, she was smart enough to replace the stolen jewelry with fakes. I kind of liked that she thought of that little detail. I don't think most crooks would have taken the time to do that. Then she preyed on victims she knew who mentally didn't have the courage to rat her out. So she was a smart villain. And I wasn't sure if she was doing this for the boyfriend or lying to him and then ghosting with the money for herself.
*(Shane): Had me completely fooled. There was nothing to suspect him for initially. But then those are the ones you *should* suspect. He kept you guessing about his motives as a character. Overall he came off to me as confused. Shane is a follower. (I think he is throughout the story). And he's a little short of sight. You want to feel a hint of sympathy for him and see him as "the hero", but in later books, he's still confused about whose side he's actually on. You leave this book thinking ok now that he's seen who Thantos is maybe he'll have a change of heart. (SPOILER) He doesn't. So he's a character you groan at when you see him in this series. Because he's wishy-washy.
*(The Karsh plot): It just made me sad to see Thantos practically kill Karsh. It would have more merciful just to do so than tease him the way he did. In the television movie, Karsh was not as old as he's portrayed in the books so we feel a stab of pain. It's like watching a grandparent's illness take over and now that in a short amount of time there will be nothing we can do. And so knowing that I don't know why Thantos is even attempting to off Karsh because he's already so close to not being here long. If Thantos is so great a wizard why even use Karsh? Shouldn't he have single-handedly been able to lure Illena to him? It just seemed heartless to involve an old man. Even for Thantos.
*(Isaac Fielding vs the Barnes): A shame! Where the hell has this man been all Alex's life and he shows up NOW to collect a check? I would have said he was dead too.
*(Emily/Alex): At first I was mad at Alex because I thought she was being too hard on Emily. But then I changed that up when I saw that Alex's intuition was correct and Emily really was making her out to be the bad guy. I got the tv Emily and the book Emily fused. So I was thinking how could anyone ever have a grudge against Emily. I'd love Emily to be my mom. But I was glad to see them all come together and work it out. Same for the (Beth/Camryn) plot. But again I don't get why the rules are so strict against magicals telling their real identity. I think they'd throw me out of the magical community because there is NO WAY I wouldn't share that with my best friend OR family.
*(Miranda): I think it's pretty obvious by the next book they'll find Miranda. But it was a good ending.
RATING: 7
August 18, 2013
1.5 stars
Book 3 in the T*Witches series. This was barely OK.
First off, these girls live in Massachusetts; nothing wrong with that; but in the last book it was Halloween (their birthday) and now it's a few weeks later and this book covers a few weeks too. Hello, where's Thanksgiving?
Secondly, they go to the first winter dance of the season in this book but yet they're still running around and going on 2-mile bike rides in t-shirts and sweaters!
Thirdly, when do they play these soccer games that they are having mandatory practice for since back in September?
Forth, at the winter dance the band plays "Still Like That Old Time Rock N Roll". Really? I was in high school when that song was current and it wasn't played at school dances even then!
Fifth, ah forget it.
I don't like these books, I don't recommend them even for lovers of anything paranormal.
Book 3 in the T*Witches series. This was barely OK.
First off, these girls live in Massachusetts; nothing wrong with that; but in the last book it was Halloween (their birthday) and now it's a few weeks later and this book covers a few weeks too. Hello, where's Thanksgiving?
Secondly, they go to the first winter dance of the season in this book but yet they're still running around and going on 2-mile bike rides in t-shirts and sweaters!
Thirdly, when do they play these soccer games that they are having mandatory practice for since back in September?
Forth, at the winter dance the band plays "Still Like That Old Time Rock N Roll". Really? I was in high school when that song was current and it wasn't played at school dances even then!
Fifth, ah forget it.
I don't like these books, I don't recommend them even for lovers of anything paranormal.
February 10, 2016
This is the third book in the Twitches series.
Cam sees someone steal a jewelry bracelet in a store. Alex is there also and they manage to foil the robbery attempt.
Cam meets her friend Beth at the mall, and Beth is really mad at her.
On Coventry Island, Karsh is missing. Meanwhile, Cam has a sub in class, and it was the adult woman who was shoplifting. This sets a whole process in action through the rest of the book where she tries to expose the woman and get her arrested, and prevent a friend of hers from becoming trapped by the woman's evil plans.
There's also another messenger from Thantos that threatens the twins, and the sisters end up having a run-in with Thantos himself, and his helper. They also find out something about their real mother.
Quit a few things going on in this third book in the series, and it remains interesting.
Cam sees someone steal a jewelry bracelet in a store. Alex is there also and they manage to foil the robbery attempt.
Cam meets her friend Beth at the mall, and Beth is really mad at her.
On Coventry Island, Karsh is missing. Meanwhile, Cam has a sub in class, and it was the adult woman who was shoplifting. This sets a whole process in action through the rest of the book where she tries to expose the woman and get her arrested, and prevent a friend of hers from becoming trapped by the woman's evil plans.
There's also another messenger from Thantos that threatens the twins, and the sisters end up having a run-in with Thantos himself, and his helper. They also find out something about their real mother.
Quit a few things going on in this third book in the series, and it remains interesting.
August 30, 2017
Teen me: 5 stars
Adult me: 5 stars
*For the first book in a "child/teen/middlegrade/nostalgic" book, I am going with the rating younger me would have gone with, then if I read on in the series, I will rate the books what adult me believes it should be rated. If the book is a stand alone, I will go with whatever rating I feel most comfortable giving the book. Please note, I do not really think books should have an age limit. People should read what they want to regardless of the intended age group, except for kids reading erotica or something, of course.*
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I really liked this as a teen and I have not read it as an adult yet, but I would like to believe that my feelings and rating would be the same. I will see upon a reread.
Adult me: 5 stars
*For the first book in a "child/teen/middlegrade/nostalgic" book, I am going with the rating younger me would have gone with, then if I read on in the series, I will rate the books what adult me believes it should be rated. If the book is a stand alone, I will go with whatever rating I feel most comfortable giving the book. Please note, I do not really think books should have an age limit. People should read what they want to regardless of the intended age group, except for kids reading erotica or something, of course.*
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I really liked this as a teen and I have not read it as an adult yet, but I would like to believe that my feelings and rating would be the same. I will see upon a reread.
did-not-finish
December 16, 2013I remember reading the first two books of this series when I was quite young, and I loved them. When I suddenly remembered this series the other week I thought I would continue the series and love it still.
I guess I never realised just how juvenile the writing was, considering I was juvenile myself that's not really surprising. I was pretty disappointed to realise this, I wished I had been able to finish reading this series when I was 12 because I'm sure I would have loved it back then. Now however? Wow, it was incredibly hard to get through the first chapters let alone read the whole book. All of the characters are annoying, the scenario's they find themselves in were unbelievable, the writing made me constantly roll my eyes and cringe, and I had no interest in anything. Ah well.
I guess I never realised just how juvenile the writing was, considering I was juvenile myself that's not really surprising. I was pretty disappointed to realise this, I wished I had been able to finish reading this series when I was 12 because I'm sure I would have loved it back then. Now however? Wow, it was incredibly hard to get through the first chapters let alone read the whole book. All of the characters are annoying, the scenario's they find themselves in were unbelievable, the writing made me constantly roll my eyes and cringe, and I had no interest in anything. Ah well.
October 12, 2011
This book does a good job of advancing Alex and Cam's relationship with, not only each other, but with the other people in their lives. Having said that, it falls flat in other areas. Thantos comes off melodramatic and the Coventry island council comes off as weak. They're the ruling body of witches and warlocks and they can't assert their power? The inter-connecting plot threads worked well together, but I think the authors dropped the ball on the plot
January 6, 2009
loved. was fun and exhilerating. the magic was captivating, and a mystery behind it. definite pleasure.
August 31, 2013
it is getting harder to find these books but i still love them and can't wait to get my hands on the next one
May 24, 2021
Official Rating:
5/5 stars 🌟
5/5 stars 🌟
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