Welcome to the Just Commonly stop of the Illusion tour.
Today, on my stop, I'm going to talk about the beginning, the start of this series, Compulsion.
Title: CompulsionSeries: Heirs of Watson Island, Book 1
Author: Martina Boone
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse.
All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lived with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt's South Carolina plantation instead--a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.
Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn't what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead.
Book Trailer
"...you can't lose love...it stays locked inside of you, ready for whenever you are strong enough to find it again." (430) I think the quote goes for a love for the mystery behind a novel, or better yet, reading. I'm a huge fan of the Beautiful Creatures series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl with its mysterious generational secrets and Southern Gothic romance. And Compulsion by Martina Boone reminds me just that, yet different.
There's more to Barrie Watson's secluded life than what she had thought. As readers, we get to experience and find out what her family's story is, and begin the journey to uncover the secrets. I enjoyed the introduction to the Heirs of Watson Island series with Compulsion, which in truth seems very much like a standalone novel. There are no cliffhangers, nor are there multitude of unanswered questions, and as readers, we will be (at least I am) satisfied with its ending. So why the series? Personally, I would like to see where the author will take us, filling the holes we see in Compulsion, and what kind of development to the natural and supernatural aspect we encountered in this book. It's undeniable what the romance will be focused on, which by the way was an interesting read. The constant bickering of Barrie and Eight, despite the irrefutable attraction right off the bat was entertaining, even though at times you want to give them both a little head slap. Barrie gets on my nerves a bit with her poor decisions, but she's just finding out things in her life for the first time. So, to some its understandable, to me, it's a so-so. Yet it makes for a story to talk about.
A good start for a series that I hope will give the full scope of Watson Island, its inhabitants, the age old curse and the feud that lasted decades. The suspense or more like the mystery behind the families of Watson Island keeps your turning the page, and enjoying the pull of what's to come. Plus, the lovely quotes throughout makes for great sharing.
Check out what's in store for Book 2, Persuasion and Book 3, Illusion below, and don't forget to enter the giveaway to win all three books!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
TO PURCHASE A COPY OF COMPULSION
(affiliate links except Goodreads)
Title: Persuasion
Title: Illusion
Title: Persuasion
Series: Heirs of Watson Island, Book 2
Author: Martina Boone
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: October 27, 2015
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Beautiful Creatures meets The Raven Boys in the spellbinding second novel in the Heirs of Watson Island trilogy that “skillfully blends rich magic and folklore with adventure, sweeping romance, and hidden treasure” (Publishers Weekly, on Compulsion).
Grieving the death of her godfather and haunted by her cousin Cassie’s betrayal, Barrie returns from a trip to San Francisco to find the Watson plantation under siege. Ghost-hunters hope to glimpse the ancient spirit who sets the river on fire each night, and reporters chase rumors of a stolen shipment of Civil War gold that may be hidden at Colesworth Place. The chaos turns dangerous as Cassie hires a team of archeologists to excavate beneath the mansion ruins. Because more is buried there than treasure.
A stranger filled with magic arrives at Watson’s Landing claiming that the key to the Watson and Beaufort gifts—and the Colesworth curse—also lies beneath the mansion. With a mix of threats and promises, the man convinces Barrie and Cassie to cast a spell there at midnight. But what he conjures may have deadly consequences.
While Barrie struggles to make sense of the escalating peril and her growing and forbidden feelings for Eight Beaufort, it’s impossible to know whom to trust and what to fight for—Eight or herself. Millions of dollars and the fate of the founding families is at stake. Now Barrie must choose between what she feels deep in her heart and what will keep Watson’s Landing safe in this stunning addition to a series filled with “decadent settings, mysterious magic, and family histories rife with debauchery” (Kirkus Reviews, on Compulsion).
TO PURCHASE A COPY OF PERSUASION
(affiliate links except Goodreads)
Title: Illusion
Series: Heirs of Watson Island, Book 3
Author: Martina Boone
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: October 25, 2015
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Barrie must rescue her beloved and her family from evil spirits in the masterful conclusion to the Heirs of Watson Island trilogy.
Caged by secrets all around her and haunted by mistakes that have estranged her from Eight Beaufort, Barrie Watson is desperate to break the curse that puts her family in danger—without breaking the beautiful magic that protects Watson’s Landing. To do that, she must heal the rifts that have split the families of the island apart for three hundred years, unravel the mystery of the Fire Carrier and the spirits he guards, and take control of forces so deadly and awe-inspiring they threaten to overwhelm her.
With the spirits that cursed Watson Island centuries ago awake and more dangerous than ever, she finds an unlikely ally in the haunting and enigmatic Obadiah, whose motivations and power she still can’t read—or trust. His help comes at a price, however, plunging Barrie into a deadly maze of magic and wonder, mystery and intrigue that leads through history to places she never imagined she could go.
TO PURCHASE A COPY OF ILLUSION
(affiliate links except Goodreads)
Martina Boone was born in Prague
and spoke several languages before learning English. She fell in love with
words and never stopped delighting in them. She’s the author of SIBA Book Award
nominated Compulsion, book one in the romantic Southern Gothic trilogy, the
Heirs of Watson Island, which was an Okra Pick by the Southern Independent
Bookstores Alliance, a Kansas State Reading Circle selection, a Goodreads Best
Book of the Month and YA Best Book of the Month, and an RT Magazine Best of
2014 Editor’s Pick. The second book in the trilogy, Persuasion, will be
published in October 2015.
She’s also the founder of AdventuresInYAPublishing.com, a three-time Writer’s Digest 101 Best
Websites for Writers site, the CompulsionForReading.com book drive campaign for underfunded schools and libraries,
and YASeriesInsiders.com, a site
devoted to the discovery and celebration of young adult literature and
encouraging literacy through YA series. She is also a founder and permanent
mentor at 1st5PagesWritingWorkshop.com, helping to shepherd aspiring writers into the
publication process and help them find the right starting point for their
novels in progress, Locally in her home state of Virginia, she is on the board
of the
Literacy Council of Northern
Virginia, helping to promote literacy and
adult education initiatives.
She lives with her husband,
children, and a lopsided cat, she enjoys writing contemporary fantasy set in
the kinds of magical places she’d love to visit. When she isn’t writing, she’s
addicted to travel, horses, skiing, chocolate flavored tea, and anything with
Nutella on it.
CONNECT WITH MARTINA: Website| Tumblr | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter | Google+ | YouTube | Goodreads
2 winners will receive hardcover sets of COMPULSION, PERSUASION, & ILLUSION, US Only.
I've heard nothing but great things about the series. I never started it, because I hadn't realized it was complete, though. Thanks for the amazing chance!
ReplyDeleteReally like the description of "Compulsion". Definitely adding to my TBR list. Book sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteI am such a fan of this series, and was so tempted to steal the copy Martina Boone had on her table at BookItCon. I am very excited to read the final installment.
ReplyDeleteI've been waiting until they were all out to read them. Can't wait. :)
ReplyDeleteKRISTY, DIANNE, SAM, CHRISTINA! Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteMartina, thanks for a great series. I look forward to the rest of them!
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds great! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI have been dying to read this series for a long time! Cheers, Kara S
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize this series was finished, that's so exciting! It looks really addicting!
ReplyDelete