Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
Publisher: Clarion Books
Released: September 14, 2009
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 304
Source: Library
Series: Book 1 of Witch



While most teens struggle to be normal, Tamsin seems to be cursed by it. In a family full of Talent, Tamsin is the only one without a magical gift, even though it was prophesied that she would be the most powerful of them all. At seventeen she goes off to boarding school in an attempt to distance herself from her family and the constant reminder of being different. One day she is approached by a young professor in search of a family heirloom and is mistaken for her gifted sister. Instead of correcting the professor, Tamsin plays along determined to succeed and rub it in her family's faces. Tamsin enlists the help of Gabriel, an old family friend, and begins a journey through time in search of the missing object and her family's fate.

You know the saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover?" Well, sometimes you can. Once a Witch was featured on a display shelf at my local library and caught my eye. I mean, have you seen that cover? It's gorgeous. Knowing nothing except that it was apparently about witches and had great cover art, I started reading without any real expectations. Yay for good surprises! Tamsin was a very likable character; she was easy to relate to, and her voice definitely kept me entertained. There was also an element of mystery held throughout the novel. Although the "who" was revealed early on, the "whys" kept the reader guessing up until the very end.

Overall I was captivated from the first few chapters. Tamsin and Gabriel's constant banter and the details about Tamsin's extended family made for some light hearted moments amidst the dark, looming threats. I really enjoyed Tamsin's journey into the past and the discoveries she made. While the ending was a bit of a cliff-hanger, it was still a satisfying end to the first book in a series. Book two, Always a Witch, is scheduled for release early next year. I'm definitely looking forward to it.