#BookReview: The Bitterwine Oath by Hannah West

Synopsis: Every fifty years, a cult claims twelve men to murder in a small Texas town. Can one girl end the cycle of violence - and save the boy who broke her heart?

San Solano, Texas, is a quaint town known for its charm, hospitality, and history of murder. Twice now, twelve men have been brutally killed, and no one knows who did it. A shadowy witch? A copycat killer? Or a man-hating murderess?

Eighteen-year-old Natalie Colter is sure that the rumors about her great-great-grandmother's cult of wronged women are just gossip, but that doesn't stop the true-crime writers and dark tourism bloggers from capitalizing on the town's reputation. It's an urban legend that's hard to ignore, and it gets harder when Nat learns that the sisterhood is real. And magical. And they want her to join.

The more Nat learns of the Wardens' supernatural history, the more she wonders about the real culprits behind the town's ritualistic murders. Are the Wardens protecting San Solano from even darker forces? There are shadows in the woods, bones on the outskirts of town, and questions Nat needs answered.

But everything becomes more urgent when people start getting marked as new victims--including Levi Langford, the boy whose kiss haunted Nat for a year. With Levi in danger, doing nothing would be harder than fighting back.

Nat knows that no one is safe. Can she and the sisterhood stop the true evil from claiming their town? 



Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: 2 Stars
My Review: This one was not for me.  I did want to see what happened so I skimmed and them skipped a lot of the ending. I was just so bored with it all. This witchy young adult cozy mystery just was not my cup of tea. 

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—This tale takes place on the 100th anniversary of a curse created by a group of witches who tried to take revenge on the men who wronged them. Set in San Solano, TX, the novel tells the twisted story of murder in a small town. Natalie Colter's great-great-grandmother's past as the local "cult" leader seems to haunt her when strange events start occurring—hinting that the ritualistic murders of the past might begin again. This book has a little bit of magic, a little bit of thriller, and a little bit of romance. And amid all of this there is an overarching theme of female empowerment and standing together while fighting for what is right. The plot is dark and contains mature themes of animal and human violence, supernatural possession, and cults. While the story is paced slowly throughout, there is a constant sense of urgency, making the slower moments feel all the more pressing. The writing is descriptive and flows throughout the passages, adding to the thriller aspect of the story, though the romance is underdeveloped. The main characters come from multiple ethnicities and backgrounds. VERDICT A solid magical thriller perfect for fans of witchcraft and slightly darker YA books.—Zoe Leonarczyk, Florida State Univ., Tallahassee

Review

"This action-packed story of sisterhood will suck readers in from the first page. . . . West's propulsive supernatural tale keeps the story grounded in female friendships, the struggle to process change, and a second-chance romance."—Booklist  

"This book has a little bit of magic, a little bit of thriller, and a little bit of romance. And amid all of this there is an overarching theme of female empowerment and standing together while fighting for what is right. . . . A solid magical thriller perfect for fans of witchcraft and slightly darker YA books."—School Library Journal 


"West (the Nissera Chronicles) packs the thrills of the Vampire Diaries series and Buffy into a smart, wry supernatural novel set in East Texas. . . . This fun, chilling, and sincere gothic novel keeps its head—and its heart."—Publishers Weekly 

"A richly woven tale of magic and murder and vengeance. This book kept me up all night! One of the best stories I've read all year."—Shea Ernshaw, New York Times bestselling author of The Wicked Deep

"Evocative writing enhances the horror with a chilling atmosphere. . . . Female empowerment at its fiercest."—Kirkus

"Witches and spells blend with everyday anxieties in this supernatural murder mystery centering on a powerful group of women who claim their strength."—Foreword Magazine 

"the horror hits hard"—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

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Posted in: 2 Stars, Peachtree Teen, Review, Young Adult