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Things are changing in the tiny town of North Hampton -- a town that always, always stays the same. After decades apart, the Beauchamp women have finally reunited. For years, the witches were forced to abandon their magic (after things went horribly, horribly wrong in a village called Salem nearly four centuries ago). Now, however, something dark is preying upon their beloved town, and the women don't see the harm in a little white magic to protect the people they love. But when their spells start to go awry, and the accusations fly, the well-meaning witches discover that not everything is what it appears in North Hampton -- and they may be dealing with forces the mortal realm was never meant to know.

In Witches of East End, Melissa de la Cruz builds a world that will envelop readers in its small town charm. Though everyone knows everyone in the tiny, insular community of North Hampton, the population is surprisingly diverse -- from the unfathomably rich but awkward Bran Gardiner, to the mayoral power couple Todd and Corky Hutchinson, to the eccentric, magical Beauchamps: Freya, Ingrid and Joanna. The characterization of the Beauchamp women is spot on, with their dysfunctional family dynamic and individual quirks, charms and flaws. Each of the women couldn't be more different, but they're all appealing in their own way: Freya with her utter lack of inhibition. Ingrid with her bookish wisdom, and Joanna with her Mary Poppins' charm.

Unfortuately, readers are given the sense that they've dropped in on the middle of a story, with only cryptic allusions to a vague past to guide their way. It's unclear exactly what the Beauchamp women are, or why they've been forbidden to use magic, or even by whom. Their family was torn apart centuries ago, with repercussions to this day, and no explanation is given as to the how or why. The first two-thirds of the novel moves slowly, as readers try to get their bearings. When things finally do pick up in the last 50 pages, the revelations are made so quickly and randomly that readers' heads will spin. The resolution seems much too forced and easy to be believable, and even though the Beauchamps' mysterious past is finally explained, anyone unfamiliar with certain mythologies will be more confused than ever. There is definitely a fascinating mythology at work here, and it's a shame that it isn't built coherently enough to support the world de la Cruz creates.

Rating: 

Disclosure: I received an advance copy of this novel at BEA. This did not affect my review in any way.

This novel is available now. Click here to purchase Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz.

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Publisher: Disney-Hyperion (June 21, 2011)
ARC: 320 Pages
Series: The Beauchamp Family #1
Genre: Adult Fantasy (witches)
Book from Publisher*
Melissa de la Cruz's Website | Twitter

From Goodreads. The three Beauchamp women--Joanna and her daughters Freya and Ingrid--live in North Hampton, out on the tip of Long Island. Their beautiful, mist-shrouded town seems almost stuck in time, and all three women lead seemingly quiet, uneventful existences. But they are harboring a mighty secret--they are powerful witches banned from using their magic. Joanna can resurrect people from the dead and heal the most serious of injuries. Ingrid, her bookish daughter, has the ability to predict the future and weave knots that can solve anything from infertility to infidelity. And finally, there's Freya, the wild child, who has a charm or a potion that can cure most any heartache.

For centuries, all three women have been forced to suppress their abilities. But then Freya, who is about to get married to the wealthy and mysterious Bran Gardiner, finds that her increasingly complicated romantic life makes it more difficult than ever to hide her secret. Soon Ingrid and Joanna confront similar dilemmas, and the Beauchamp women realize they can no longer conceal their true selves. They unearth their wands from the attic, dust off their broomsticks, and begin casting spells on the townspeople. It all seems like a bit of good-natured, innocent magic, but then mysterious, violent attacks begin to plague the town. When a young girl disappears over the Fourth of July weekend, they realize it's time to uncover who and what dark forces are working against them.

Review by Kate
WITCHES OF EAST END, by Melissa de la Cruz, is the first in an adult series about a family of witches. We briefly met Freya in de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series so I was very excited to learn more about this mysterious girl and where she came from.

I liked the witch lore that de la Cruz created for this series. The three women were immortal but due to what powers they possessed, they always looked a certain age. Ever since their powers were restricted, these women had to deal with their pent up magic in different ways. Imagine not being able to use gifts you were born with? Tough break. But in the effort of helping those in need in their small town, these women slowly and carefully use their magic that lead to disasterous consequences for their secluded lives.

I really enjoyed the witch characters in this book. Freya is a free spirit who is engaged to a rich and very kind man, Bran, but to her dismay she finds herself dreaming about her fiance's brother, Killian. Freya's sister, Ingrid, is a shy librarian who keeps to herself normally, but fights for what she believes in. Joanna is the mother of these two girls, who carries many burdens for her girls and guilt about her husband and missing son. I liked getting to know these women's relationships with people in the town, those characters brought a lot of life to the book too. Also, a cameo from Oliver and Mimi from the Blue Bloods series was very exciting to read, I'm hoping for more overlapping in the future.

There is a bit of Norse mythology in this book as well. I am not too familiar with a lot of the myths but it was definitely interesting to read about.

As much as I wanted to LOVE thi

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