NetGalley Buddy Readers discussion

We will be discussing The Orphan Witch by Paige Crutcher. It is expected to publish on September 28th. We are planning to begin discussing on August 22nd. Everyone is welcome to join us.



A deeper magic. A stronger curse. A family lost...and found.

Persephone May has been alone her entire life. Abandoned as an infant and dragged through the foster care system, she wants nothing more than to belong somewhere. To someone. However, Persephone is as strange as she is lonely. Unexplainable things happen when she’s around—changes in weather, inanimate objects taking flight—and those who seek to bring her into their family quickly cast her out. To cope, she never gets attached, never makes friends. And she certainly never dates. Working odd jobs and always keeping her suitcases half-packed, Persephone is used to moving around, leaving one town for another when curiosity over her eccentric behavior inevitably draws unwanted attention.

After an accidental and very public display of power, Persephone knows it’s time to move on once again. It’s lucky, then, when she receives an email from the one friend she’s managed to keep, inviting her to the elusive Wile Isle. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. However, upon arrival, Persephone quickly discovers that Wile is no ordinary island. In fact, it just might hold the very things she’s been searching for her entire life.

Answers. Family. Home.

And some things she did not want. Like 100-year-old curses and an even older family feud. With the clock running out, love might be the magic that saves them all.

I just have to finish reading , 78% through, and then I can start this one. Probably by tomorrow.

I am traveling tomorrow and have a 24-hour challenge to read another book, so I won't be reading this one tomorrow. If I have a chance I'll try to start it today and put it aside for the challenge, but most likely I'll be starting it the day after tomorrow. I'll pop back in and leave a comment if I do start it earlier.

Kristie wrote: "I am traveling tomorrow and have a 24-hour challenge to read another book, so I won't be reading this one tomorrow. If I have a chance I'll try to start it today and put it aside for the challenge,..."

Sounds good!

Elyse - Did you start this one? I did, but I didn't get very far. It didn't grab me right away. I plan to read more tonight and add some more detailed thoughts.

Posted this in the wrong thread. lol. I started it yesterday but I'm only about 5% in. The cover is very attractive!

Yes, I love the cover! It sucked me in. lol

I'm about 10% in. (view spoiler)[Persephone's curse is quite interesting! And now that she's on the island, obviously answers to her magic and powers and curse will come! (hide spoiler)]

Oh! Sorry! I missed your comment. Will check your spoiler tomorrow. :)

Elyse wrote: "I'm about 10% in. [spoilers removed]"

This book has a 'what's going on?' vibe to it. I'm hoping we have some clarity of the story soon.

(view spoiler)[ What is the curse that Hyacinth wants Persephone to break? Who was the woman at the beach? What is the deal with Moira? I still even want to know why her spell put everyone to sleep except that one girl at the coffee shop. Does she maybe have some witch in her bloodline? Will we find out or is that just in the past now and we're supposed to forget about it?

I don't like the feeling of being confused by the storyline and not knowing what is going on. I feel like I have nothing to hold on to. I'm hoping that we are given something more solid soon. I am really curious to see where the story goes.

(hide spoiler)]

I'm now 40% through. It's pretty slow going. Not as interesting as I thought it would be.

(view spoiler)[All of your questions have been answered by this point. Except her coworker not also falling asleep but yes, I assume she has some witch in her as well and doesn't know it. And I feel like she MUST come back into the picture at some point.

I do like the introduction of the love interest and Persephone's abilities as a time walker. But I don't understand the feud between the Way sisters and Hyacinth and Moira. I just feel like it should be more exciting! And it's not. Yet. (hide spoiler)]

I'm at 24% and reading today. I'm trying catch up at least to your 40% spoiler today. This book is taking me forever to get through. I keep putting it down. I guess it just wasn't what I expected. The writing seems dry somehow. I'm not sure if that makes sense. I'm hoping to get absorbed in the story a bit today and make some progress.

31% - man, oh, man... I've started skimming some parts. This one just doesn't seem to be for me. I hate when that happens with ARCs.

Elyse wrote: "I'm now 40% through. It's pretty slow going. Not as interesting as I thought it would be. ..."

Yup... I haven't decided what I think about (view spoiler)[ the love interest with the librarian. I think I am too bothered by the repetitiveness of her thoughts about him. But... it certainly has the potential to be an interesting part of the story. I do like the inclusion of her being a walker and I'm interested to see where the story goes, but I still haven't been fully grabbed by the story yet. I think it's just different than I was expecting. (hide spoiler)]

I'm determined to finish this today. I'm 75% through. It's *finally* getting a little bit interesting. Gah. This book. Not what I expected at all!!

I feel like it started to get a little better around 40%, but it took forever to get there. I expected it to be more emotional and about a kid due to the 'orphan' in the title.

I finished it on Saturday. I gave it 3 stars. It just didn't redeem itself enough. It did get more interesting but I mostly skimmed it. It was just not what I was expecting at all and that pretty cover is so misleading!

I'm planning to finish it today.

I did some skimming too. I ended up giving it 3 stars, though I think that was a bit generous.

my Orphan Witch review

I'm going to let my daughter know it's not all that great since I recommended it to her before you all read it.

Yeah... I thought it was pretty slow. Has she read The Girl Who Drank the Moon? I thought that one was much better.

My review