Review Detail

San Solano, Texas is not only known for its Southern charm but also gruesome murders that took place fifty years apart. Eighteen-year-old Natalie Colter doesn't believe the rumors, but later finds out the truth. A truth that involved her own grandmother. Now with the next anniversary coming, Nat seeks to try to stop another round of murders from happening. But will it be enough?

What worked: Think Secret Circle meets a Southern paranormal sisterhood. Each of the 'Wardens' are descendants of the original women who one night back in 1921 made an oath for revenge against men that had wronged them. Instead something terribly went wrong and twelve men died. In 1971 the same thing happened, with similar results. Each of the women descendants have some paranormal ability. Nat is the descendant of Malachi, the original woman who cast the spell.

I really liked how the author shows what magical abilities each of the women/teens have. The matriarch, Maggie, is over the covet. By day all the women serve in the community, have church responsibilities, and are nothing like the stereotypical 'witch'. Nat doesn't believe the rumors and brushes them off as just gossip or something that draws tourists into the town.

I did have a hard time with all the different characters in the town. Some of the girls sounded too similar to each other. Nat's personality did stand out with her being inquisitive and wanting to find out the truth. Her and Levi's relationship did feel realistic. She didn't really forgive him for leaving town so suddenly after their quick first kiss. I like how the relationship is shown and how it slowly builds from a friendship to much more.

One thing I wished for was more of the paranormal investigators. They pop in and out of the novel and kind of fizz at the end. Quinn, one of the investigators, states she's more 'sensitive' and can sense the evil in the town. I kind of wished she'd been used more in the storyline, especially with the final battle.

The evil shadows are creepy and gruesome. And what they do to gain access to 'shadow' men in the town is equally creepy.

Engaging paranormal tale where a Texas town's supernatural gruesome history is bound to be repeated and the girl who is willing to do anything to stop it.