White Witch by Trish Milburn
YA Paranormal
March 1, 2012
Bell Bridge Books
Reviewed by Tori
Jax Pherson is a sixteen year old witch. Born into a powerful dark magic coven led by her father, Jax watched her mother die when she tried to leave. From that day on, she saved and plotted until she was able to escape the coven. Now hiding in North Carolina, Jax is going to school under an assumed name and making friends. All she has to do is deny the calling of the dark power inside of her and use no magic. When she meets Keller, Jax figures her life can’t get much better. Until she finds out what Keller is. When evil threatens the town and her new friends, Jax has to find a way to convince Keller to forget everything he has been taught, and to believe in her. If she doesn’t, she’ll never live to see seventeen.
White Witch is a pragmatic YA with a first bloom romance. Ms. Milburn captures a nice tone for her teenage characters without miring it down with the oft present emo angst and ‘woe is me’ that is sometimes present in this type of storyline. Smooth writing and a steady pace made this very easy to follow. The plot is pretty straight forward. Supernatural girl in hiding meets boy of her dreams only to find out he is sworn to kill her kind. Add in snarky friends, love at first sight, a few villains, and we have our story. The characters and the sub pots that are intertwined with the main conflict. Love, loss, and growing up are a huge part of this story.
Set in the mountains of North Carolina, we follow our heroine, Jax Phersen, as she attempts to change her destiny. She was born a witch and told all her life that she will eventually succumb to her dark powers and take her place in her father’s coven. But Jax doesn’t feel dark. She wants a normal life and flees the coven in search of it. Using extreme caution, Jax manages to find a home, car, and enroll herself in school. Unfortunately, she has to use some magic to procure all this which almost guarantees the coven will eventually find her and punish her for her defection.
Jax doesn’t care though because for the first time she is making friends who won’t try to kill her. Or so she thought. When she first spots high school hottie Keller, the connection is instantaneous. Until she realizes what he is. Keller comes from a long line of hunters sworn to hunt and kill supernatural beings. As she and Keller deal with their attraction to one another and try to over come a serious romance killer, she is also researching ways to stay alive.
Jax is a heroine whose intelligence and fortitude made the story interesting. She understands the danger she is in and doesn’t downplay it. She has a refreshing attitude and takes no crap from anyone-teenager or adult. I like seeing a teen heroine who is steadfast and quick on her feet. Keller is a steady love interest who’s back story adds credence to his “side job”. Secondary characters add depth and humor to the story with Jax’s new BFF, the wacky t-shirt loving Toni or Jax’s uber sexy cousin Egan who has come to “join the rebellion.”
The main conflicts are wrapped up in an action packed finale that adds a little mystery to the storyline. We learn more about the town and the coven which leaves us a solid lead into the second book.
A problem I had with the story is I would have loved more fleshing out. As I stated earlier, it’s pretty straight forward and lacks emotional and physical depth. It’s almost as if we are reading a well edited first or second draft. We only get the bare bones of the story. There isn’t much intrigue or mystery. Another problem I had was the similarities in the character make ups and storyline to Sophia Jordan’s Firelight. Both heroines are remarkably alike. Below you will find some of the similarities I found.
Similarities
● Heroines are wanted for their powers and have to flee their respective clan/coven.
● Heroines names start with J.
● Heroines start a new school, both were home schooled.
● Heroines meet and fall instantly in love with a hunter of their kind.
● Heroines meet a wacky non dating girl who becomes their bff
● Heroes can "scent" their prey.
● Heroes lost their mothers.
● Heroes have fathers who ignore them.
● Heroes have ignored all girls in the school until heroine arrives.
● Heroines tells hero entire life story almost right off the bat.
● Heroines lost a parent who tried to break away from their families.
● Heroines are subjected to a mean girl who wants love interest for themselves.
● Heroines have a sister who allies with the enemy.
● Heroines out themselves to save the heroes life.
● Both stories bring a sexy male in that is tied to the heroine.
● Both heroines are forced to leave their new homes and the ones they love in a cliffhanger
I found the story a pleasant read; but the underlying problems caused some issues for me. Hopefully in book two of the series, we will see more growth and development and less Firelight.
Overall Rating: C-
Recent Reviews:
The Bookaholic Cat – 3.5/5
Goodreads
Depreciation of value after limousine wrecks, is very . We shall fight with growing confidence and growing strengthWhen it is alleged.The English know how to make the best of things.
Wow, that is a strange comment, the one above mine.
I like your review, and as I really enjoy reading about witches, I’d like to give this one a try. And as I have not read the other book, perhaps I won’t have an issue with the similarities.