Book Info:
The Bitterwine Oath by Hannah West
Genre: Young Adult Mystery
Publishing Date: December 1, 2020
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 copy-cat 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? As the anniversary of the murders draws near, the town grows restless. Residents start getting “claimed” as this year’s planned victims, including Levi Langford, the boy whose kiss haunted Nat for a year.
Nat knows that no one is safe. Can she and the sisterhood stop the true evil from claiming their town?
Review:
Why didn’t I read this book in October!! This was the perfect spooky story. I laid in bed with the lights on for a while after I finished before I could finally shut them off. It was entertaining, scary, and all together wonderful! The main character I adored ... she didn’t make mistake after dumb mistake like most mc’s in scary tales. She was headstrong, smart, and caring. There was a sweet romance in the story but in no way did that dominate the storyline. overall I highly recommend this book and look forward to more stories from this author.
Book Links:
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bitterwine-oath-hannah-west/1136585496?ean=9780823445479
IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780823445479
About the Author:
Hannah West is the author of young adult books including The Nissera Chronicles series and The Bitterwine Oath. She’s been writing fantasy since kindergarten, when she penned her first tale about a princess who ran away and lived at the top of a flagpole with two loaves of bread. But it wasn’t until she studied abroad in Orléans, France during college that the premise for her first novel materialized. The fairy tale castles, the snowy winter days, and a Disney princess pencil that arrived in a care package from her parents provided the inspiration that allowed her to wrangle all her untold and unfinished stories into a novel.
Hannah currently lives in the Dallas area with her husband and their two rambunctious rescue dogs.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.hannahwestauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hannahwestya
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahwestya/
Tour Schedule:
https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/2020/10/30/tour-schedule-the-bitterwine-oath-by-hannah-west/
These songs gave me all the witchy vibes!
Black Magic Woman - Santana
Got a black magic woman Got a black magic woman I've got a black magic woman
Got me so blind I can't see That she's a black magic woman She's trying to make a devil out of me
Don't turn your back on me baby Don't turn your back on me baby Yes don't turn your back on me baby
Stop messing 'round with your tricks Don't turn your back on me baby You just might pick up my magic sticks
Got your spell on me baby Got your spell on me baby Yes you got your spell on me baby
Turning my heart into stone
I need you so bad, magic woman
I can't leave you alone
Witchy Woman - The Beatles
Raven hair and ruby lips
Sparks fly from her finger tips
Echoed voices in the night
She's a restless spirit on an endless flight
Woo hoo witchy woman
See how high she flies
Woo hoo witchy woman
She got the moon in her eye...
She held me spellbound in the night
(Ooh woo hoo...) Dancing shadows and firelight
Crazy laughter in another room
(Ooh woo hoo...) And she drove herself to madness with a silver spoon
Woo hoo witchy woman see how high she flies
Woo hoo witchy woman she got the moon in her eye...
(Ah... ah-ah) Ah-ah...
(Ah-ah...) Ah-ah...
(Ah-ah-ah-ah...)
(Ah... ah-ah) Ah-ah...
(Ah-ah...) Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah...
Well I know you want a lover
Let me tell your brother she's been sleeping in the Devil's bed
And there's some rumors going round
Someone's underground
She can rock you in the night time 'til your skin turns red
Woo hoo witchy woman
See how high she flies...
Woo hoo witchy woman
She got the moon in her eye...