Title: The Magnolia LeaguePublished by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 368
Source: NetGalley/Publisher
Format: ARC
Rating: ★★★★
Summary from Goodreads: After the death of her free-spirited mother, sixteen-year-old Alex Lee must leave her home in northern California to live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. By birth, Alex is a rightful, if unwilling, member of the Magnolia League, Savannah's long-standing debutante society. She quickly discovers that the Magnolias have made a pact with a legendary hoodoo family, the Buzzards. The Magnolias enjoy youth, beauty and power. But at what price?
There is something about novels set in the south that hook me. Maybe it's the southern charm, the slow drawl, the heat, the history, or the drinking but I'm magically drawn to it like a fly to honey. So not only did this novel have the perfect setting but there was also Hoodoo. What is Hoodoo you ask (don't worry I had to look it up too)?
According to Merriam-Webster it is "a body of practices of sympathetic magic traditional especially among blacks in the southern United States." I apparently thought this was Voodoo/Vodou, but I guess Voodoo/Vodou is a religion. It's great when novels teach you something new.
As much as I love the south, I also love novels that revolve around any sort of magic. Hoodoo was the perfect magical element to create an exciting and illicit practice to these Stepford-type southern ladies. Just when you think they are too good to be true you learn the real truth behind their beauty, money, youth, and attraction.
Alex was a wonderful main character who was spunky and easy to love. She came from a hippy commune and was tossed in this high class society (gotta love those "rags-to-riches" story lines). She's tough and sticks to her unconventional ways as best as she can.
The one thing I didn't care for about this novel was the cliffhanger ending. Don't get me wrong, I love cliffhangers but lately it seems that the whole story builds up to a crucial part and then guess what...that crucial part is not in this novel it's in the next one. I understand the purpose of cliffhangers but I enjoyed the old stories where the current issue was solved but the big overall issue carried on throughout the series.
Am I the only one who feels this way? What's your opinion on Cliffhangers?
Absolutely abhor cliff hangers. You can read my rant in my review of Wolfsbane. I am interested in this book, though. I love the southern setting. I may just wait until the next one comes out, though!
ReplyDeleteI agree, the cliffhanger was awful. This was a pretty good read for me but at times I thought it was a little slow. But the setting was awesome!
ReplyDeleteBook sounds intriguing. Will have to check it out. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteC.K. Volnek
I am happy to hear this one is good, but that is going to drive me mad! I don't mind cliffhangers, BUT I hate when current issues aren't tied up before them.
ReplyDeleteYou love cliffhangers?
ReplyDeleteAgh. I can't stand them. I honestly believe that story, even if it is part of a series, must be strong enough to stand on it's own. To me, chiffies are a ploy and I don't appreciate that at all.
Great review. I'm interested, but I think I'll wait until book 2 comes out. Thanks for the warning.
Oh, I so too love books set in the South. But I cannot stand cliffhangers, especially in projected series. I just get spiteful and stop reading. If the book's interesting enough, I'll read the next in the series - no need to wrangle me with a cliffhanger!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog yesterday. :)
Argh I hate cliffhanger endings too. I think that there should be a nice balance between everything wrapped up and wanting more answers. Great review. I definitely want to give this a read :)
ReplyDelete