Book of Shadows (Sweep, #1), by Cate Tiernan on Goodreads
Release Date: March 22nd, 2007
Publisher: Puffin
Age Group: Young Adult
Categories: Paranormal, Witchcraft, Religions, Wicca, Family Issues,
Source:Web
Overall: 5 Monkeys
Read on January 2011
Summary from Goodreads:
Morgan thinks witchcraft is laughable when her best friend Bree drags her to a meeting of the Cirrus Coven. But during a cermony led by Cal, Morgan's long-time crush, Morgan feels a shock. Suddenly everything looks brighter, clearer. Morgan doesn't want to get involved with witchcraft-but she feels like witchcraft is choosing her.
My Opinion:
This is an old book, that was first released back in 2001, but it's like reading about today or last year. Nothing much has changed since then, "high-school-wise", in terms of cliques and such.
BoS is like reading a diary of a girl who makes the transition from Catholic (or Protestant, it didn't say or I don't remember) to Wicca, the witches' religion. And by Witchcraft, I don't mean devil-worshipping or pinning needles into a voodoo doll. I mean, a completely tolerant and nature-focused religion. I know about it because I've been reading about Wicca for a year now. So when you hear the words Wicca, Witchcraft and witch all in one conversation, don't jump to the conclusion, "Oh, so she/he's gone dark and from now on will be wearing black and listening to satanist rock bands," because that couldn't be more off the point.
But this isn't a lesson on Wicca or Paganism, or History, for that matter.
Morgan (conveniently named that, since Morgana was a powerful witch in the Arturian era) is a sixteen year old girl. Simple, the my-best-friend-is-prettier-than-me type, who knows nothing about witches... until Cal comes along.
Cal is your typical hot new boy in school, but there's something else about him. He's a witch (not a wizard -that's in Harry Potter only, people!- nor a warlock -that's in Charmed!-, but a witch. In Wicca, there's no distinction between male and female when speaking of witches.)
Cal gets along with everyone in school, he's very sociable and likeable, and that's how he invites a group of people to celebrate Mabon with him (Mabon is the Autumnal Equinox). Morgan and her BFF, Bree, apart from other people, go to the Circle (think about it like Mass for Witches).
Immediately, Morgan starts to feel different, elated. Until she passes out. Cal will later explain to her and the others that she fainted because she's a very strong energy conduit.
Morgan starts to feel something for Cal, something she's never felt before for a boy. But, so is Bree. Bree claims she's in love with Cal, and Morgan will step aside to leave room for her to go after him.
You can see what's going to happen there, can't you? Boy drama.
A major revelation takes place in the end. The pace is fast, but not rushed, and you hardly notice you're done with the book (at least, that happened to me. The book was done before I realised it!).
The Sweep Series consists of fifteen books, I'm already reading the second, and it's just as great as this one. It's also getting re-published, and with a facelift! They're now out in bind-ups of three titles each (you should be able to find the first three books, meaning nine titles -three in each book- in bookstores now).
I laughed so hard when this was on! It was amazing, the best part of the ceremony. The other "songs" were brilliant too, but I couldn't find them on You Tube.
And the winner is... Colleen Turner!
