Book 42, 2023

[chez_jae]

Witch Trial by Cate Conte

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Earlier today I completed the book Witch Trial, which is the second book in Cate Conte's "Full Moon" mystery series, featuring novice witch Violet Moonstone.

Violet is still coming to terms with being a witch, learning to wield her magic, and adjusting to having not just her mother in her life, but a half sister, Zoe. Because of her family affiliations, Violet is expected to take over her grandmother's seat on the witch council. That would be daunting enough, but there is still the mystery of who attacked Mazzy Diamond in Violet's shop. Violet is more concerned with saving Mazzy than finding out who harmed her, but no one else seems to care. When a young woman comes to Violet for help, Vi senses a darkness surrounding her. Days later, Nicole St James is found murdered in a nearby park. Violet is convinced that Nicole's death is connected to Mazzy's attack and she sets out to ask questions and do some investigating of her own. Everyone tells her to stay out of it, but Violet isn't backing down, even though her own life may be in danger.

I liked some aspects of the book and disliked others. Characters were fully realized, and the plot had good pacing throughout. It was fun to make new 'witchy' discoveries along with Violet. What I didn't like was that most of the book was in Violet's first-person point of view, but the author chose to write a few chapters in third-person pov. I maintain that if you're going to write in first-person, commit to it. I didn't like that some characters weren't forthcoming with Violet, because they felt the need to protect her. Maybe she wouldn't need protecting if you explained things to her? Was not fond of the abrupt ending, either.

Favorite lines:
♦ "She wouldn't want you to fill her shoes. She'd want you to buy your own shoes."
♦ I hated condescending men who thought they were smarter than any woman they met.
♦ I was standing in my shop arguing with a leprechaun about the smell remaining from a witch who'd been slimed weeks ago.
♦ "You don't know what desperate witches are capable of."

An enjoyable story, in spite of the minor drawbacks. Solid four stars.