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Crescent
When your beloved witchy grandmother is dead, your best friend is dating the son of one of the meanest women in town, and your dreams have been hijacked by Southern belle spirits trying to kill you, what's a girl to do? Caffeine up and go on a ghost hunt, of course! Crescent is the story of Stella Fortunat, a girl who wears way too much eyeliner, drinks way too much coffee, and has way too many expectations set on her by an unsympathetic mother. Most of her life has been occupied by work at her family's cafe, blending her own eye shadows and sitting at the feet of her Tarot reading, Voodoo practicing "GG". Now, Stella's own prophetic dreams have taken a very dangerous turn and everyone seems to think she's crazy. From mystical visions to masquerade balls, Crescent is a journey that's dark, playful, poignant, and funny. "Teen supernatural fiction at its best." -D. Donovan, Midwest Book Review
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 2015
11 people are currently reading
629 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jane Capps
3 books20 followersMary Jane Capps writes young adult novels about witches, mermaids,
and ghosts-or some combination of the three.
She likes to keep things spooky, magical, and reasonably upbeat.
Mary Jane lives in Fort Mill, South Carolina with her husband and daughter,
down the road from her parents, in a house that is probably haunted.
Connect on Instagram @maryjanecapps
Sign up for book info and fun giveaways at www.maryjanecapps.com
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 14, 2015
Crescent: 3.5/5 Stars
Stella Fortunat is just a regular girl living in New Orleans. And by regular I mean coffee connoisseur, make up obsessed, tarot reading girl with an inherited knack for the supernatural from her beloved witchy grandmother.
But while Stella continues to puzzle over why her grandmother, GG’s, spirit still hasn’t botherd to contact her two years after her death, a sinister unknown spirit is harassing her through her dreams at night, and the images it conjures up are confusing and terrible.
Between Stella and her best friend, Collette, (Stella’s semi-willing accomplice) they’ve got to figure out what the spirit is trying to tell them before someone gets killed.
This one took me a bit to get into, and that was mostly due to writing style. Stella’s voice/thought process took me some getting used to (all that coffee maybe?) and I really had to focus until I got the hang of it.
Once I got the rhythm of this one, I slipped into this story deeply. It was a fun one. I don’t think I’ve ever read a story that delved into New Orleans and Voodoo magic like this and I think half of why I liked it was Stella’s belief in and practice of it. I also loved which things author Mary Jane Capps decided to put extra details into (makes me really curious about what kind of research into Voodoo she had to do)
What I loved most, however, was Stella herself. She likes herself as she is and is comfortable in her own skin. She’s got her points of drama in the story, but I never felt like she was unreasonable or annoying. She’s definitely someone I would want to be friends with. All the characters were believable and interesting.
There were a few points in the storyline that I felt were a bit confusing or I wish were resolved a little better, but it wasn’t much to get upset about.
I really ended up enjoying this read. I liked the laid back romance, I loved the friendships, I loved the Voodoo, and I loved the mystery. If you’re looking for a quick, fun, different read, this one is a great one.
Stella Fortunat is just a regular girl living in New Orleans. And by regular I mean coffee connoisseur, make up obsessed, tarot reading girl with an inherited knack for the supernatural from her beloved witchy grandmother.
But while Stella continues to puzzle over why her grandmother, GG’s, spirit still hasn’t botherd to contact her two years after her death, a sinister unknown spirit is harassing her through her dreams at night, and the images it conjures up are confusing and terrible.
Between Stella and her best friend, Collette, (Stella’s semi-willing accomplice) they’ve got to figure out what the spirit is trying to tell them before someone gets killed.
This one took me a bit to get into, and that was mostly due to writing style. Stella’s voice/thought process took me some getting used to (all that coffee maybe?) and I really had to focus until I got the hang of it.
Once I got the rhythm of this one, I slipped into this story deeply. It was a fun one. I don’t think I’ve ever read a story that delved into New Orleans and Voodoo magic like this and I think half of why I liked it was Stella’s belief in and practice of it. I also loved which things author Mary Jane Capps decided to put extra details into (makes me really curious about what kind of research into Voodoo she had to do)
What I loved most, however, was Stella herself. She likes herself as she is and is comfortable in her own skin. She’s got her points of drama in the story, but I never felt like she was unreasonable or annoying. She’s definitely someone I would want to be friends with. All the characters were believable and interesting.
There were a few points in the storyline that I felt were a bit confusing or I wish were resolved a little better, but it wasn’t much to get upset about.
I really ended up enjoying this read. I liked the laid back romance, I loved the friendships, I loved the Voodoo, and I loved the mystery. If you’re looking for a quick, fun, different read, this one is a great one.
November 23, 2015
Fantastic story! Stella Fortunat, the quirky heroine of Crescent, is somebody I'd love to be friends with. She's real--okay, not really. Capps has done an excellent job capturing this teenager's unique problems from the grief of losing touch with her beloved GG to solving a mystery "hand-delivered" by a ghost. And there are so many feels. The moments between Stella and her mother made me want to hug them both, and Dylan. Well, Dylan is something special. There's also Colleen and Father Brian and Mama Pearline. This cast of characters stands out. The setting of New Orleans is written as a character itself and provides the perfect backdrop. Crescent is a perfect blend of romance, mystery, and Voodoo, making this a page turner. YA readers will enjoy this standalone debut.
December 14, 2015
Such an immensely entertaining story with likeable characters! I found myself staying up too late at night, wanting to read just one more chapter before putting the book down. Sometimes you want a fun read and this is exactly what this book is.
November 27, 2015
Wonderful book! The mystery was intriguing; the characters were easy to connect to and over all I just loved reading it. Thanks Mrs. Capps for a great addition to my bookshelf.
June 4, 2018
First I want to thank Mary for giving me a copy of Crescent to review. I really do appreciate it.
The cover book with card really intrigued me wanting to read the book even more. I love the dark gray color scheme dress. Very simple but not too simple either.
Stella is so relatable to me as a character when comes being normal teenager. Having all the emotions of a teenager was very realistic and authentic. Stella and Collette relationship was amazing! I really enjoyed seeing that relationship and is my favorite in terms of best friend relationships in YA. I loved that Stella is a hard worker with her parents running the cafe with her best friend. Which sounds like a lot fun working with your best friend/ partner in crime. Stella’s GG with having a insight in voodoo and sharing it with Stella was pretty cool.
I loved the details of New Orleans as someone who has never be there. Makes want to take a trip to see it for myself one day. I appreciate that amount of research and effort to make the reader be transported to New Orleans.
Overall the book was pretty good with the mystery, friendship, family, and more! I really enjoyed reading it at the beach.
The cover book with card really intrigued me wanting to read the book even more. I love the dark gray color scheme dress. Very simple but not too simple either.
Stella is so relatable to me as a character when comes being normal teenager. Having all the emotions of a teenager was very realistic and authentic. Stella and Collette relationship was amazing! I really enjoyed seeing that relationship and is my favorite in terms of best friend relationships in YA. I loved that Stella is a hard worker with her parents running the cafe with her best friend. Which sounds like a lot fun working with your best friend/ partner in crime. Stella’s GG with having a insight in voodoo and sharing it with Stella was pretty cool.
I loved the details of New Orleans as someone who has never be there. Makes want to take a trip to see it for myself one day. I appreciate that amount of research and effort to make the reader be transported to New Orleans.
Overall the book was pretty good with the mystery, friendship, family, and more! I really enjoyed reading it at the beach.
January 14, 2016
WOW! Where do I even begin?! There is so much to love. Crescent is such an amazing book! I have been raving about it to anyone that will listen since I finished it!
Let me start by saying that this is definitely a book for all ages. It may be written about a teenager but it was a very a very enjoyable read for me and I'm 26 and a parent! The author did such an AMAZING, believable job capturing and portraying the feelings and emotions of a sixteen year old girl. Sometimes there can be a bit of disconnect when an author tries to capture what it is to be a teenager. But Mary Jane Capps did it beautifully!
I loved loved loved Stella so so much! She very quickly became one of my favorite female characters! Her personality just jumped right off the page. She's so quirky and funny. And confident! She isn't ashamed to be herself and I loved that! You care about what happens when you love a character so much. It gets you invested in the story more than any other factor. The author has created some amazing characters! They are so real. So much more than three-dimensional. I can picture these characters as real people. All of them. Even the most minor of characters in this book are so extremely well-developed! I especially loved Stella's grandmother, GG! She's dead but she's brought to life in the story through Stella's memories and flashbacks. I found it amazing that the dead character in this book was more well-developed than a lot of main characters that I've read about. The dynamic between Stella and her parents was very realistic. It didn't feel forced at any point. I really liked her parents. The setting of the of bakery was another aspect of the book that I loved. Stella's best friend, Colette, was just as lovable as Stella. They made the perfect pair of detectives and I enjoyed being taken along for the ride! Jack Corteau was likable but I found Stella's reactions to his courtesy and manners. Mrs. Couteau was a character I loved to hate and laugh about along with Stella. Mama Pearline, or Mama P, was a great addition to an already stellar cast of characters. She was hilarious. I loved the scenes with her and the memories with her and Evie(GG). I loved Dylan as well! He's my idea of the perfect guy and he was so three-dimensional which is rare in a YA love interest! The relationship between Stella and Dylan was, by far, one of the best I've read in YA or any genre for that matter! I love that it wasn't a major focus of the story. Their relationship developed at a natural pace and I found that refreshing. Especially since they are in high school! It was such a cute relationship but also had depth and feeling. I loved Stella's feelings toward it though- that it didn't consume her. That there was so much more to her and her life. Her love of makeup was another thing that endeared her to me as well as her spiritual journey. She was trying to find where she fit in spiritually. And all of that reminds me so much of myself at that age. Girls abd women of all ages will love Stella and be able to identify with her. She's an amazing character for young girls to read about. She's quirky and confident and funny. Her personality and emotions felt so real. Tangible. She was real to me while I was reading her story.
The setting is another wonderful thing about Crescent. New Orleans, or the Crescent City. My family is from New Orleans and I live a few minutes away. It made me so happy that the author put so much of New Orleans and it's history and magic into Crescent! I enjoyed getting to read a story that takes you through all the seasons and holidays in New Orleans. The culmination of the story around a Mardi Gras ball was just the icing on the King Cake! I've been to a Mardi Gras ball and the author did an exceptional job of capturing the atmosphere and and portraying how a sixteen year old girl would feel going to one for the first time.
Another thing I was very impressed with was the amount of research and effort the author put in to researching every detail and aspect of New Orleans and it's history as well as Voodoo. It added to the book immensely! The magical/voodoo aspect of the story through Stella and her GG(as well as Mama P) was done very well. It never felt fake or corny. I've never read anything like Crescent. It is truly in a league of it's own! Not a gem of a book but a diamond!
The mystery throughout the story was very well done. You are given clues at the perfect pace- not too much too soon or so little that you lose interest or get confused. It was never blatantly obvious what was going to happen next. The story was paced just right to keep you invested and on the edge of your seat, reading until you're finished and desperate for more! I couldn't put the book down. It played out like a movie in my head thanks to the author's amazing writing and storytelling. Her descriptions brought everything to life around me. Crescent was a book that brought me through the gamut of emotions. It made me feel everything that the characters were feeling. This wasn't just a great read- it was an amazing experience! A masterpiece! I would definitely recommend this book to EVERYONE! I would give it 6 stars if I could!
*I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*
Let me start by saying that this is definitely a book for all ages. It may be written about a teenager but it was a very a very enjoyable read for me and I'm 26 and a parent! The author did such an AMAZING, believable job capturing and portraying the feelings and emotions of a sixteen year old girl. Sometimes there can be a bit of disconnect when an author tries to capture what it is to be a teenager. But Mary Jane Capps did it beautifully!
I loved loved loved Stella so so much! She very quickly became one of my favorite female characters! Her personality just jumped right off the page. She's so quirky and funny. And confident! She isn't ashamed to be herself and I loved that! You care about what happens when you love a character so much. It gets you invested in the story more than any other factor. The author has created some amazing characters! They are so real. So much more than three-dimensional. I can picture these characters as real people. All of them. Even the most minor of characters in this book are so extremely well-developed! I especially loved Stella's grandmother, GG! She's dead but she's brought to life in the story through Stella's memories and flashbacks. I found it amazing that the dead character in this book was more well-developed than a lot of main characters that I've read about. The dynamic between Stella and her parents was very realistic. It didn't feel forced at any point. I really liked her parents. The setting of the of bakery was another aspect of the book that I loved. Stella's best friend, Colette, was just as lovable as Stella. They made the perfect pair of detectives and I enjoyed being taken along for the ride! Jack Corteau was likable but I found Stella's reactions to his courtesy and manners. Mrs. Couteau was a character I loved to hate and laugh about along with Stella. Mama Pearline, or Mama P, was a great addition to an already stellar cast of characters. She was hilarious. I loved the scenes with her and the memories with her and Evie(GG). I loved Dylan as well! He's my idea of the perfect guy and he was so three-dimensional which is rare in a YA love interest! The relationship between Stella and Dylan was, by far, one of the best I've read in YA or any genre for that matter! I love that it wasn't a major focus of the story. Their relationship developed at a natural pace and I found that refreshing. Especially since they are in high school! It was such a cute relationship but also had depth and feeling. I loved Stella's feelings toward it though- that it didn't consume her. That there was so much more to her and her life. Her love of makeup was another thing that endeared her to me as well as her spiritual journey. She was trying to find where she fit in spiritually. And all of that reminds me so much of myself at that age. Girls abd women of all ages will love Stella and be able to identify with her. She's an amazing character for young girls to read about. She's quirky and confident and funny. Her personality and emotions felt so real. Tangible. She was real to me while I was reading her story.
The setting is another wonderful thing about Crescent. New Orleans, or the Crescent City. My family is from New Orleans and I live a few minutes away. It made me so happy that the author put so much of New Orleans and it's history and magic into Crescent! I enjoyed getting to read a story that takes you through all the seasons and holidays in New Orleans. The culmination of the story around a Mardi Gras ball was just the icing on the King Cake! I've been to a Mardi Gras ball and the author did an exceptional job of capturing the atmosphere and and portraying how a sixteen year old girl would feel going to one for the first time.
Another thing I was very impressed with was the amount of research and effort the author put in to researching every detail and aspect of New Orleans and it's history as well as Voodoo. It added to the book immensely! The magical/voodoo aspect of the story through Stella and her GG(as well as Mama P) was done very well. It never felt fake or corny. I've never read anything like Crescent. It is truly in a league of it's own! Not a gem of a book but a diamond!
The mystery throughout the story was very well done. You are given clues at the perfect pace- not too much too soon or so little that you lose interest or get confused. It was never blatantly obvious what was going to happen next. The story was paced just right to keep you invested and on the edge of your seat, reading until you're finished and desperate for more! I couldn't put the book down. It played out like a movie in my head thanks to the author's amazing writing and storytelling. Her descriptions brought everything to life around me. Crescent was a book that brought me through the gamut of emotions. It made me feel everything that the characters were feeling. This wasn't just a great read- it was an amazing experience! A masterpiece! I would definitely recommend this book to EVERYONE! I would give it 6 stars if I could!
*I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*
February 28, 2018
Intriguing
This was a little hard for me to just get into, however it started to pick up the intrigue when the dreaming began.. great read for rainy day
This was a little hard for me to just get into, however it started to pick up the intrigue when the dreaming began.. great read for rainy day
March 15, 2018
Wonderful magical fun
This book was such a great find. I loved the setting, the magic, the intermingling of beliefs- all of it was fantastic.
This book was such a great find. I loved the setting, the magic, the intermingling of beliefs- all of it was fantastic.
May 28, 2016
4/5 stars.
I was given a kindle copy for an honest review.
Alright, first things first. I was first hesitant to read this book because of the cover but I am so glad that I gave it a chance and read it. This is one of those books that you'd judge because of the cover but don't let that cover fool you! The characters felt real and the plot line was great. It was also easy for me to get into the narrator's head.
Let's discuss our heroine first, Stella. She's a 16 year old girl who is still grieving the loss of her grandmother about two years ago. Her grandmother was like her best friend so Stella felt the loss greatly. As a character, I loved Stella. She seemed real and not overdone. Some authors tend to "overdo" teenagers to the point that they do not seem real nor relatable. With Stella, I felt like I could be friends with her. She's naturally a humorous character, which is something I love. I love books that make me laugh and there were a handful of moments in this book that made me laugh and/or smile.
It really surprised me that I enjoyed this book because I often tended to stay away from books that involved "witch-y" things, if that makes sense. I actually wonder if the author researched those things because I have no idea what comes with Voodoo stuff. Another thing I really loved in this book was that Catholicism was highlighted in this book. Stella is quite torn between being a Catholic and witchcraft, you could say. This appealed to me because I'm a Catholic and it's rare for me to find books that involve my religion. In fact, I think this is the first fictional book that I read that had it.
A quote that stood out to me concerning this was, "her ultimate rebellion was to become a Catholic after a friend introduced her to the Church." This quote concerned her mom and I found it quite ironic that this was a rebellion. I probably laughed for a good 5 minutes upon reading this sentence.
This book contains great friendship, family, and mystery. I liked how the romance aspect of the book did not dominate the plot line -that was quite refreshing for me since I haven't read a laid-back romance in a while.
If you're looking for a different and easy read, this books is for you. Like I said, I don't usually read these types of books, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I was given a kindle copy for an honest review.
Alright, first things first. I was first hesitant to read this book because of the cover but I am so glad that I gave it a chance and read it. This is one of those books that you'd judge because of the cover but don't let that cover fool you! The characters felt real and the plot line was great. It was also easy for me to get into the narrator's head.
Let's discuss our heroine first, Stella. She's a 16 year old girl who is still grieving the loss of her grandmother about two years ago. Her grandmother was like her best friend so Stella felt the loss greatly. As a character, I loved Stella. She seemed real and not overdone. Some authors tend to "overdo" teenagers to the point that they do not seem real nor relatable. With Stella, I felt like I could be friends with her. She's naturally a humorous character, which is something I love. I love books that make me laugh and there were a handful of moments in this book that made me laugh and/or smile.
It really surprised me that I enjoyed this book because I often tended to stay away from books that involved "witch-y" things, if that makes sense. I actually wonder if the author researched those things because I have no idea what comes with Voodoo stuff. Another thing I really loved in this book was that Catholicism was highlighted in this book. Stella is quite torn between being a Catholic and witchcraft, you could say. This appealed to me because I'm a Catholic and it's rare for me to find books that involve my religion. In fact, I think this is the first fictional book that I read that had it.
A quote that stood out to me concerning this was, "her ultimate rebellion was to become a Catholic after a friend introduced her to the Church." This quote concerned her mom and I found it quite ironic that this was a rebellion. I probably laughed for a good 5 minutes upon reading this sentence.
This book contains great friendship, family, and mystery. I liked how the romance aspect of the book did not dominate the plot line -that was quite refreshing for me since I haven't read a laid-back romance in a while.
If you're looking for a different and easy read, this books is for you. Like I said, I don't usually read these types of books, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 30, 2015
I was initially put off by this cover, but I found this book remarkably well-written and the storyline ran parallel to what I believe, which is a tactic I find usually works well. I like reading fiction that is believable because it is uncanny.
Our two heroines, Stella and Colette, take on the weighty prospect of uncovering and treading through new and old relationships. It’s a beautiful coming of age story with a twist: traditional magic is involved. You’ve got it, these two bring us back to the old ouija board, tarot cards, and handmade potions in their quest to uncover the truth about their families. I think it really worked well for Capps, as usually magic runs rampant in YA novels, but there was just enough supernatural-ness for intrigue without it being overbearing and disconcerting.
Set in New Orleans, Stella and Colette not only dabble in magic as they discover meaning in their relationships, but they explore the complexities that come with living in the South, such as backgrounds of racial tension that date to the beginning of the U.S. Varying religious and spiritual beliefs was a theme as well, as Stella in particular struggled through what felt right for her. She even found herself in several deep conversations with a priest that resulted in profound statements such as, “When you give people permission to be human, Stella, they will amaze you with their divinity.” All of the characters were working through their own flaws and beliefs, and it gives readers permission to be different and have different struggles. I appreciate that in a book. It feels real. Capps did a wonderful job of incorporating foreshadowing as well, just enough hints without giving everything away.
I received a copy of this book via a mutual friend for an honest review.
You can read more of my reviews at https://showthisbooksomelovewordpress...
Our two heroines, Stella and Colette, take on the weighty prospect of uncovering and treading through new and old relationships. It’s a beautiful coming of age story with a twist: traditional magic is involved. You’ve got it, these two bring us back to the old ouija board, tarot cards, and handmade potions in their quest to uncover the truth about their families. I think it really worked well for Capps, as usually magic runs rampant in YA novels, but there was just enough supernatural-ness for intrigue without it being overbearing and disconcerting.
Set in New Orleans, Stella and Colette not only dabble in magic as they discover meaning in their relationships, but they explore the complexities that come with living in the South, such as backgrounds of racial tension that date to the beginning of the U.S. Varying religious and spiritual beliefs was a theme as well, as Stella in particular struggled through what felt right for her. She even found herself in several deep conversations with a priest that resulted in profound statements such as, “When you give people permission to be human, Stella, they will amaze you with their divinity.” All of the characters were working through their own flaws and beliefs, and it gives readers permission to be different and have different struggles. I appreciate that in a book. It feels real. Capps did a wonderful job of incorporating foreshadowing as well, just enough hints without giving everything away.
I received a copy of this book via a mutual friend for an honest review.
You can read more of my reviews at https://showthisbooksomelovewordpress...
February 23, 2016
A strong female friendship at last! Stella and Collette are best friends and it actually shows in this book. Stella's grandmother "GG" was a voodoo witch and past a lot of her knowledge onto Stella. Stella is the main character (the book is from her point of view at least), she's a sophomore in New Orleans and her Mom and Dad run a cafe were she works most afternoons. I really liked that Stella felt so much like real person, she was sometimes a little childish, she gets jealous and can actually forget more pressing this when she's caught up in the excitement of make-up (a great deal of which she makes herself) and sometimes a little more adult, which she even mentions in passing as a result of living/working in a family run business. She has the occasional prophetic dream, until recently when they have become very, very pointed and focused. And real...
Collete is also a waitress at the cafe and in the same grade/school as Stella, she and her Mom moved to New Orleans after her Dad left them yet again. She's a little more down to earth than Stella, but except for some teasing about Stella's tarot cards, she likes Stella for who she is. In most YA novels, Collete would be the main character, she's the one who lands the super rich/ good looking boyfriend, and gets to be his date to the Mardi Gras ball...she might also be a witch too...
The ending was a bit quick and not quite explained enough (for me) but all in all a really enjoyable read.
Collete is also a waitress at the cafe and in the same grade/school as Stella, she and her Mom moved to New Orleans after her Dad left them yet again. She's a little more down to earth than Stella, but except for some teasing about Stella's tarot cards, she likes Stella for who she is. In most YA novels, Collete would be the main character, she's the one who lands the super rich/ good looking boyfriend, and gets to be his date to the Mardi Gras ball...she might also be a witch too...
The ending was a bit quick and not quite explained enough (for me) but all in all a really enjoyable read.
February 16, 2016
i really enjoyed this book. It has a lot of twists and turns. when I got towards the end of the book I couldn't wait to see what would happen next
May 31, 2018
I absolutely love stories about the super natural. I’ve always been fascinated by tales of magic and witches and tarot cards and such. This story has that and so much more! I love how it takes place in New Orleans! The atmosphere is just awesome! And the spirits were great too! The main character Stella is my favorite! I love how she isn’t afraid to be her own person, that she doesn’t care what others think of the way she looks. I won’t deny that parts of the story had me teary eyed and feeling all the emotions! I loved the secrets and surprises and the sweet little romance happening as well! I would love to see more of this story if there was to be anymore to it. I highly recommend this as a must read!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews