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The Springsweet (The Vespertine #2)

3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 · rating details · 450 ratings · 115 reviews

Heartbroken over the tragic death of her fiancé, seventeen-year-old Zora Stewart leaves
Baltimore for the frontier town of West Glory, Oklahoma, to help her young widowed
aunt keep her homestead going. There she discovers that she possesses the astonishing
ability to sense water under the parched earth. When her aunt hires her out as a
“springsweet” to advise other settlers wh...more

Hardcover, 275 pages

Published April 17th 2012 by Harcourt Children's Books

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Jan 29, 2012 Ashleigh Paige rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: unmemorable, the-decent-shelf-of-meh, stupid-love-triangles, arc-via-amazon-vine, arc

Also appears on my blog, The YA Kitten! I received an ARC of this book via Amazon Vine.

After the death of her fiance Thomas and her cousin Amelia, Zora Stewart is ready to get away from Baltimore. All it takes is one unexpected kiss at a party and she's off for the Oklahoma Territory to live with her aunt Birdie and younger cousin Louella until she "comes to her senses." While she is there, she discovers she has the power to sense the location of water, a useful power in such dry lands. In addit...more Also appears on my blog, The YA Kitten! I received an ARC of this book via Amazon Vine.

After the death of her fiance Thomas and her cousin Amelia, Zora Stewart is ready to get away from Baltimore. All it takes is one unexpected kiss at a party and she's off for the Oklahoma Territory to live with her aunt Birdie and younger cousin Louella until she "comes to her senses." While she is there, she discovers she has the power to sense the location of water, a useful power in such dry lands. In addition to her new gift, two men trouble her. Emerson Birch is regarded by West Glory as bad news, but Zora doesn't see what's wrong with him. Meanwhile, Theo de la Croix has made his way out to West Glory to court Zora, but she isn't interested like everyone wants her to be.

I didn't always like the choices Zora made (surely there was another way to convince her mother to let her go elsewhere), but she wasn't bad as far as YA heroines go. At the very least, she didn't make me want to choke her on a regular basis like some other heroines I've encountered did. Zora's easy adaptation to the constant work in the country after growing up in the city of Baltimore was a little strange; she never struck me in this book or its prequel The Vespertine as the type to easily adapt.

The Springsweet is short and sweet at 288 pages (well, it's short for me) and that challenges it to characterize everyone and get the plot moving more quickly than other novels while still making it feel natural. Does this book meet that challenge? It felt a little bit rushed, like it could have used another fifty pages or so to develop everything. Aunt Birdie's quiet characterization was a high point; my inability to understand what Zora sees in Emerson is on the lower end of the spectrum.

Now then, a quick summary of the novel: A girl leaves home, temporarily moving to another city and taking residence with her aunt and cousin. One of her relatives, who isn't much older than herself, causes the heroine to experience some personal growth, but she discovers something: she has a magical power. The people all love her and her gift at first, but they threaten to turn on her when her gift no longer gives them good fortune. Meanwhile, our heroine is trapped in a love triangle. One man is a good, upstanding man proper society is pushing her toward; the other is a bad boy everyone disapproves of, but she can't stay away from him--and he has a power just like she does.

What I just wrote is an adequate summary of both The Vespertine and The Springsweet. It feels like I've read the same book twice with the names and settings changed and I don't like feeling that way. I expected Zora's narrative voice to be unlike Amelia's because they were such different characters, but I can't tell the difference between them.

The writing remains one of my favorite qualities of the novel. There's something about the way it tosses around metaphors and orders its syntax that makes me have an especially nerdy moment. I wish I had more to say there because of how much I like it, but that suffices and I'm not going to drag it out. Two climactic scenes one after another at the end off the novel ended up having two very different effects on me. One of them had me reading like it would have killed me not to. The other garnered this reaction from me: "Oh. Okay then." Considering that second climax involved someone getting murdered, this is not a good reaction for it to bring out of me.

Fans of The Vespertine will enjoy the return of the lyrical prose and the development of Zora's personal story (not to mention where it looks like the next book might take both her and Amelia), but fans of The Vespertine who do not want to read almost the exact same story with new packaging may not love it as much.(less)

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Apr 09, 2012 Jess (Gone with the Words) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, supernatural-aspects, read-2011, historical, female-narrator, arc, alamw12

Read this review on my blog! --> The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell

The Vespertine was one of my favorite books last year, and with that ending, of course I was dying for a sequel! It completely stole my heart...and trampled it. I was incredibly heartbroken! In The Springsweet, Saundra Mitchell has redeemed my heart by mending our Zora’s.

The most stand-out quality I’ve come to love about Saundra Mitchell’s writing is the vividly realized atmospheres. In The Vespertine, I could see myself sit

...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Jessica Harrison rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, reviewed

Full review at Cracking the Cover
“The Springsweet” is a companion novel to “The Vespertine,” and I didn’t realize this until I had begun reading. “The Vespertine” has been on my “to-read” list since it came out, and after reading “The Springsweet” it’s jumped a few notches up on the list. While there are references to “The Vespertine,” it’s not imperative that readers have read it first. Though, the background would have helped make more sense of some things up front.

Author Saundra Mitchell is a...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Rhiannon Ryder rated it 4 of 5 stars

Although Amelia's fire was enjoyable, I have to say, I was elated to find out The Springsweet was entirely about Zora. I adored Zora, and her ending was not one I wanted to leave her with, so it was entirely satisfying to find her in the very first pages, with no preambles.

Mrs. Stewart, sadly, wasn't in this one as much. However, she's in the beginning and continues on just as I expect, in the most satisfying combination of proper mom for the time period, and one who understands the confines of...more Although Amelia's fire was enjoyable, I have to say, I was elated to find out The Springsweet was entirely about Zora. I adored Zora, and her ending was not one I wanted to leave her with, so it was entirely satisfying to find her in the very first pages, with no preambles.

Mrs. Stewart, sadly, wasn't in this one as much. However, she's in the beginning and continues on just as I expect, in the most satisfying combination of proper mom for the time period, and one who understands the confines of their society and is willing to work around them. In a word, she's delightful, and I'm relieved we get a bit more of her before Zora leaves for Oklahoma.

Growing up in the prairies, I read a great many stories about homesteaders both in Canada and the States. Wonderful books like The Doll, by Cora Taylor, filled my imagination with the struggles, the heat and the hardships of those plucky people. I'm not sure if it's my Saskatchewan roots, or something else that appeals to me about the whole thing, but I find I'm still drawn to these stories. The Springsweet is an excellent YA entry into the category. Mitchell describes the hardships, the community and the struggles but she balances them nicely by paying tribute to good moments too. I loved the Barn raising scene, it so beautifully showed how people came together, and it's a sense of group spirit that exists still today in the prairies. I've always thought of that feeling of community, as a defining characteristic of being a prairie person. I was charmed she caught, and expressed the feeling in so many ways.

Unlike The Vespertine, The Springsweet has a small love triangle. This one is about the proper gentleman versus the improper, and I liked how Mitchell rolled it out, how very un-prepared for Zora Theo is and how very capable of handling her Emerson is. Their play against each other shows so many of the strange rules of the time to good advantage, and it highlights so many of the limitations in place for people to do the "proper" thing. Of course Zora's modern notions expressed this well too.
Theo relaxed a bit, washed over with vindication. " I believe in chivalry." "oh, I don't," I replied. "A knight always gets to have his cake and eat it too, doesn't he? 'Hello, my lady, I love you- but I must run off to find the Holy Grail now. Wait for me!" Cross, Theo considered me from the corner of his eye. "That's not chivalry at all. And finding the Grail would be an honorable quest." "Says the man who would get to ride after it and savor all sorts of adventure in the search," I shrugged; I had hardly designed the way of the world. I was simply subject to it. "I assure you, there are absolutely no epic ways to make a sampler or roast a lamb shank." "So you're a suffragette," Theo declared. I stopped and turned to him. "What if I were?" And amazingly, Theo quailed. He honestly lost a shade of color from his handsome face, and his brows tented ever so slightly in horror, as if I had pulled open my coat to reveal a clockwork heart, or perhaps a second head growing just beneath my breast. It lasted just a minute, but the impression lingered, even as he recovered. "I don't see why women shouldn't have the vote." "That's very generous of you," I said..."But I don't believe we were talking about the vote."
Like The Vespertine, The Springsweet is both a lovely character piece and a fascinating look at a time period and place in history. It was witty and engrossing, and although it doesn't have the mystery of The Vespertine I was completely swept away by the adventure of it. I will be awaiting the final part of this series, The Elementals, with baited breath.
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Aug 04, 2012 Angela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3-stars, arc, dreaded-love-triangle, historical, magic, pn-romance, read-in-2012, swoon-inducing, vine, young-adult

Charming historical-supernatural romance that's slow to start

In Saundra Mitchell's The Springsweet, seventeen-year-old Zora finds herself stuck in Baltimore - both emotionally and physically - as she grieves the tragic loss of her fiancé. When a rash choice provides a way out, she takes it and finds her way to the wind-swept prairies of Oklahoma to live with her aunt. Once there, Zora discovers that she has the power to sense water under the ground and that her skill is in much demand in a drou...more
Charming historical-supernatural romance that's slow to start

In Saundra Mitchell's The Springsweet, seventeen-year-old Zora finds herself stuck in Baltimore - both emotionally and physically - as she grieves the tragic loss of her fiancé. When a rash choice provides a way out, she takes it and finds her way to the wind-swept prairies of Oklahoma to live with her aunt. Once there, Zora discovers that she has the power to sense water under the ground and that her skill is in much demand in a drought-ridden land. While burdened with the responsibility of locating water (and hope) for others, Zora finds that her own heart may be awakening again.

Overall, The Springsweet was a charming historical romance with a light dash of the supernatural. The novel was short and succinct, and it was easy to sit down and devour it in one sitting. Zora, though a bit selfish, was a sympathetic character given her experiences and loss, and side characters like aunt Birdie and her young daughter helped flesh out the story. One of the love interests was also very likeable, and the romance, though quick and not entirely explainable, had some swoony moments. The greatest strength of the novel, however, lay in its detailed and beautiful descriptions of prairie and frontier life; these vivid mental images provided the story with an excellent sense of place and time.

Despite these positives, the novel was slow to start, and the writing felt a bit awkward in a few places. This novel is also not a good choice as someone's first foray into a historical/period novel, as there were words or descriptions, such as Zora lifting up the "combination" under her dress, that didn't mean anything to me and left me confused. Some of the supernatural elements weren't clearly explained either. The romance also developed too quickly and without much substance. This was one of the few times that I wanted a book to be longer, instead of shorter. It seemed like a lot of my concerns about the romance and the supernatural elements could have been cleared up with a few more pages about each topic. Though it's advertised as a companion novel, not a sequel, there were also times I wished I had read Mitchell's first book, The Vespertine, before this. The story does a good job of filling in the gaps, but I still felt like I was missing something.

Even though I found things I didn't like in The Springsweet, I found a lot that I did, and those strengths are enough to make me want to catch up on the first book The Vespertine and read the next (Aetherborne) when it comes out. In the coming book, I hope Mitchell continues to create a memorable sense of time and place while also providing readers with more insight into the supernatural ways and romances of her characters.

Note: This review refers to an advance review copy.(less)

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Jul 20, 2012 Jeanbooknerd rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews

Saundra Mitchell’s The Springsweet is the sequel to the beautifully haunting The Vespertine. After the events of The Vespertine, Zora Stewart moves in with an aunt in Oklahoma. She soon learns that she has the ability of a springsweet, someone that can locate water, and ends up in a love triangle between two men. The story is highly engrossing with a rich historical background.

The story of Zora is truly touching, yet heartening and entirely inspiring. Saundra’s writing approach delivered a very...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Ashlie rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Vespertine was a very unsuspecting book, I read it with no expectation and I was as mesmerized by the story as Amelia was by her visions. The ending was so sad, but never rushed or desperate. So I was thrilled to know that it was part of a serious; It could have been fine, great even as a standalone book, it just would have been sad (and maybe a bit depressing, but I would have recommended it!). Knowing that it would be part of a series, I was excited, but a bit nervous, because Amelia didn’...more The Vespertine was a very unsuspecting book, I read it with no expectation and I was as mesmerized by the story as Amelia was by her visions. The ending was so sad, but never rushed or desperate. So I was thrilled to know that it was part of a serious; It could have been fine, great even as a standalone book, it just would have been sad (and maybe a bit depressing, but I would have recommended it!). Knowing that it would be part of a series, I was excited, but a bit nervous, because Amelia didn’t have the happiest of fates, so how could it be a series? I thought each succeeding book would focus on a character introduced by the previous book, and I trusted Saundra Mitchell’s writing, so I knew I would read it. When I realized The Springsweet would focus on Zora and her life following that fateful summer of burning Vespers, I felt confident that it would be wonderful, and as I read it, that was confirmed. But as I neared the end of the book, I loved it more than I realized I would. I mean, seriously, I adore this story-to the point where I want to sleep with my Kindle to make sure it's there when I wake up.

Zora’s determination is a force to reckon with, and her callers seem almost as stubborn. But her heart is in the right place, and she’s not without couth. She knows how to turn the attention in the direction she thinks would best benefit everyone involved. She helps everyone get what they deserve, all while gently shaking off and creating new connections that leave the feelings and egos of all parties involved intact, and better off. She is a great MC and she is so much fun to read about.

The Springsweet is so natural. I have to compare it to waiting for your first child (even though it’s the 2nd in the series). During your pregnancy, you wait for your child’s life to really begin, anxiously (waiting for the book). You prepare a home for it (you dust your bookshelves or clean out your Kindle), you nurture it the way you should by eating the right foods and exercising (researching and writing draft after draft). Then you stress yourself out making those last minute preparations, nervously, because, *GASP,* the baby will be here anytime now (revisions, revisions, revisions!!!) Then your baby is born and your child is more perfect than you could imagine them being, and you love, love, love, LOVE them, more than life itself, and you know that really, you didn’t have to do anything, the miracle is bigger than you and it just is. That’s how the Springsweet was for me. Although I know it’s the product of hard work and lots of time on Saundra Mitchell part (and also the part of the many publishing hands a book sees), it seemed like it came out whole and perfect, like it was born a miracle. It was so delightful, yet moving and it had so much substance! It was full of life, not sad like The Vespertine was (although that book was MARVELOUS!) It is a fitting companion and it really sets up amazingness for book 3.

I’m rating The Springsweet 5 STARS and cannot WAIT for Aetherborne!

The Springsweet was beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! It was indulgent and tantalizing; it turned over all the right stones and lead us down a sweet, gritty path. I feel refreshed, curious and invigorated by the story and its beautiful telling. Saundra Mitchell is an artist! This book, and the series so far, are well done in every aspect.
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May 25, 2012 Whatchyareading added it

Shelves: historical, kate, series, young-adult

Last year, I bought Saundra Mitchell’s The Vespertine because I thought it had a pretty cover and I’m shallow like that. Of course, as I said in my review at the time, I ended up really liking it, in large part because of the characters. When I found out we’d get sequels/companion novels with more of these characters, I was pretty excited and so when I got an ARC of The Springsweet, I was even more stoked. As I’ve said a million times on tis blog, I’m a sucker for historical fiction, and anythin...more Last year, I bought Saundra Mitchell’s The Vespertine because I thought it had a pretty cover and I’m shallow like that. Of course, as I said in my review at the time, I ended up really liking it, in large part because of the characters. When I found out we’d get sequels/companion novels with more of these characters, I was pretty excited and so when I got an ARC of The Springsweet, I was even more stoked. As I’ve said a million times on tis blog, I’m a sucker for historical fiction, and anything to do with homesteading/ranching/wilderness is right at the top of my list, second only to Victoriana. And here? I pretty much get both! I’m going to try to talk about The Springsweet without spoilers, but some from the Vespertine will inevitably sneak in here so be warned!

I was nervous when I realized this book was about Zora. Zora kind of broke my heart in the last book, and I was afraid it was maybe too soon for me to be ready to see her again – that she wasn’t ready to face life yet. But I was wrong. I think one of the things that made me like The Springsweet so much was Zora’s strength. From the get go, she knows what she doesn’t want. She knows what she will refuse to allow to happen to her, and she takes her fate into her own hands. She may not always make smart decisions or even well thought out ones, but she also refuses to be a passive participant in her own life. Watching her grow from the spoiled socialite she was in the first book to the woman she is at the end of The Springsweet was a satisfying progression. She learned from her mistakes and she carried her knowledge forward so that each and every thing that happened to her was an experience she drew from.

Zora’s growth is incredibly important in this book because it is, in a lot of ways, the whole plot. At its essence, The Springsweet is about a city-girl who needs a new life and finds it on the frontier. And she finds it with a gift she never knew she had. I actually love d the “springsweet” aspect of this story because it was supernatural in a way that didn’t feel hokey (not that Amelia’s powers felt at all hokey in The Vespertine). It fit with both the setting and with Zora. More importantly, it was written in a way that made a strong visual impression, for both the reader and Zora.

I also really liked Emerson. I especially liked that we got to see all of his best qualities in a roundabout way. Zora finds out so much about him from local gossip, which gave the small town setting a lot of charm. It was also interesting because most of the people talking to Zora are trying to convince her he’s no good, so we get to see not only Emerson’s awesome but also the problems that come with the time period. Emerson, though, was great because he was such a compliment to Zora (and you’ll see what I mean when you read the book). He was steady and patient, but also funny and charming. You could see why Zora was drawn to him and appreciate that he let it come to her so slowly.

If I had a real complaint about this book it would have to be that The Springsweet is too short. The Springsweet is only forty pages shorter than The Vespertine, but I kind of missed those forty pages. The book was well paced, but I don’t think more detail would have changed that. There were details I’d have liked to see more of, especially as it concerned background characters like Theo and Aunt Birdie. I think there were a few plots with these characters that, though fun, could have been something more (both less predictable and less surprising, if such a thing is possible) with a little more backstory. Even the town itself that I think could have benefitted from a little more page space, because scenes like the barn raising were charming and cute, but I wanted more from them. I think, in the end, The Springsweet was a story about Zora and Emerson and I had everything I needed for that story, but I also felt like Saundra Mitchell wanted to tell me more and it just didn’t make it to the page.

The Springsweet comes out on April 17, and I’m reviewing it now so that if you haven’t read The Vespertine yet you can get on it and catch up before release day. The Springsweet is one of those period pieces that leaves you happy when you’re done reading it, and I can’t wait for more from Zora and Amelia and their friends.

Reviewed at WhatchYAreading on April 2nd, 2012.(less)

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May 20, 2012 Carla rated it 5 of 5 stars

There is something unique and beautiful the way Ms. Mitchell writes, the descriptions, the prose, I almost believe it to be poetry - a what a beautiful poetic story of The Springsweet (the follow up of The Vespertine). Her writing style left no disappointments as the saga continues, but this time with Zora Stewart as the main character.

From Baltimore, to the territories, Zora finds that her special gift is that of water. - I love that through the Vespertine and this the elements play a strong ro...more

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May 02, 2012 Maureen E rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical, simply-superb, young-adult

Originally published here

I was going to talk about Siobhan Vivian's The List today, and I still will because I have Thoughts, but then I read The Springsweet and I can't talk about anything else, so that's what you're getting.

Because this book is fantastic. I was a bit worried, in that sequel-to-a-good-book way. Will it live up to the first book? Will I wish the story had gone in another direction? Answer: yes, and no.

After the events of The Vespertine, Zora Stewart has to get away from Baltimo...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Vikki VanSickle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

It is no secret that I love Saundra Mitchell.Her prose is beautiful but rather spare (much like the landscape she is writing about) but her skill is such that it doesn’t take a lot of words to conjure a rich story. She is rather like Zora, a ‘word’ sweet summoning a story that is clear and simple with no frippery. The characters use period language and sentence construction which added to the authenticity of the book, but contemporary readers won’t balk at this at times formal or unfamiliar man...more It is no secret that I love Saundra Mitchell.Her prose is beautiful but rather spare (much like the landscape she is writing about) but her skill is such that it doesn’t take a lot of words to conjure a rich story. She is rather like Zora, a ‘word’ sweet summoning a story that is clear and simple with no frippery. The characters use period language and sentence construction which added to the authenticity of the book, but contemporary readers won’t balk at this at times formal or unfamiliar manner of speech.

I was in desperate need of something fresh and this book did not disappoint. I was more than happy to try something other than dystopian, paranormal, or speculative fiction.To be fair, there is obviously an element of magic in The Springsweet, but amazingly Mitchell so completely naturalizes the magic that it just feels like a highly specialized skill, like athleticism or musical ability. Plus the book isn’t about magic, it’s about the thrill and freedom of frontier life.

Lovers of historical fiction like facts and details. There is plenty of that here. I also appreciated how Mitchell did not glorify the grueling pioneer lifestyle. There is nothing romantic about having to do hard labour on an empty stomach. Living in a soddy (literally a house made of sod) is dirty. Carrying a yoke and buckets of water to and from the well is exhausting and painful. All of this is well-represented, but so are the moments of satisfaction, relief and joy that Zora and Birdie have in their hard-won lifestyle.

Even in grief, you get a sense of how feisty Zora is at the beginning of the book and she continues to come into her own as she discovers her skill as a springsweet, learns to fend for herself in the prairie and care for Louella, and comes to terms with her feelings for Emerson. Emerson is the ‘bad boy’ corner of a love triangle that also includes the aristocratic and more formal wannabe poet from Baltimore, Theo de la Croix, who follows Zora to West Glory in order to win her hand. I generally dislike love triangles but this one worked for me. Emerson and Theo are both worthy- though very different men- representing changing attitudes in America at the time. When Zora makes her choice, she is also making a statement about who she wants to be, and I liked this.

Obviously lovers of historical fiction will eat this up and clamor for more, but The Springsweet will also appeal to readers who like a strong female heroine or have a taste for fine writing. At times I was reminded of Bones of Faerie, partially because the writing is so great, but also because the magic is naturalized in a similar manner. Teens who hate magic will probably still love this book. While not totally wholesome, it isn’t racy, so younger readers can enjoy it, too. There is awesome witty repartee, plenty of sexual tension and a few good kisses to swoon over. (less)

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Mar 29, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-macie

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: City girl Zora Stewart moves out west to search for who she is and what she wants to do with her life after the tragedies she experienced in this companion novel to The Vespertine.

Opening Sentence: That I went a little mad, I could not deny.

The Review:

The Springsweet is Saundra Mitchell’s second novel featuring the character of Zora Stewart. Zora has been mourning for a year, and can’t find the will to move on with her life in Baltimore. She...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell is a sequel to The Vespertine. This book follows Zora who moves in with an aunt in Oklahoma shortly after the landrun following the death of her fiancee. Zora finds that this new frontier dangerous and difficult but filled with interesting people. Zora soon finds that she has the ability of a springsweet, one who can locate water, and finds herself in a love triangle between the man who is right socially and the man that is right for her heart.

I loved this boo...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Krystal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

The second in The Vespertine series, The Springsweet focuses on Zora. Depressed after the events of the past year, Zora is desperate to get away from her home and all reminders of her departed friends and deceased love. When an opportunity to escape presents itself, Zora takes it. The eventful ride to her aunt’s home in West Glory, Oklahoma, leads to Zora discovering her rare talent. After finding underground water for Emerson, a man she wishes she was not so attracted to, Zora realizes she is a...more The second in The Vespertine series, The Springsweet focuses on Zora. Depressed after the events of the past year, Zora is desperate to get away from her home and all reminders of her departed friends and deceased love. When an opportunity to escape presents itself, Zora takes it. The eventful ride to her aunt’s home in West Glory, Oklahoma, leads to Zora discovering her rare talent. After finding underground water for Emerson, a man she wishes she was not so attracted to, Zora realizes she is a springsweet. Being springsweet is having the ability to sense underground water.

Zora tells Birdie, her aunt, about her talent and soon Birdie begins hiring Zora out to help others find water. Thomas, a boy in love with Zora from her hometown, accompanies her on these trips and Zora’s aunt is hopes Zora will marry him. The prairie is parched and farms are failing. Zora could be the answer to everyone’s hopes, but what if someone’s land does not have any water?

The Springsweet is exciting and draws the reader into Zora’s story. The main character, Zora, is kindhearted and impulsive. She often does not think about consequences and acts without thinking. Zora is kind though, and wants to help others with her talent. Aunt Birdie is young, but experienced much throughout her life. Trying to run a farm with only her very young daughter Louella for company is tough, but Birdie survives and is a good person. Sending Zora to find water for her neighbors earns her money and helps Zora’s customers survive the drought. Emerson is strong, good-looking, humorous, and possesses a magic talent as well. He has the ability to make plants grow. Zora is attracted to him and wonders if her feelings for Emerson are a betrayal to her lost love. The man Aunt Birdie wants for Zora is Thomas. Chivalrous, wealthy, and good, Thomas would be a good husband for any woman. Zora cannot return Thomas’s feelings though, and hopes she will not ruin his kind heart.

Saundra Mitchell is a talented author whose books appeal to teen female readers. The author did a great job using the language of the time period and Mitchell’s descriptions are excellent. Mitchell is able to create a mood and feeling in the reader through her words. This book receives five out of five stars. It is an excellent novel.
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Apr 09, 2012 Justin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Let me just start by saying that I enjoyed The Springsweet a lot more than I did The Vespertine. It was much easier to follow, and I actually enjoyed the setting more. It doesn't take place very long at all after The Vespertine ended, but it's completely different. Saundra really has a talent for making her writing fit the period, and areas she is trying to write about. As you can probably gather, The Springsweet is the companion novel to The Vespertine in which you follow along with Zora on her...more Let me just start by saying that I enjoyed The Springsweet a lot more than I did The Vespertine. It was much easier to follow, and I actually enjoyed the setting more. It doesn't take place very long at all after The Vespertine ended, but it's completely different. Saundra really has a talent for making her writing fit the period, and areas she is trying to write about. As you can probably gather, The Springsweet is the companion novel to The Vespertine in which you follow along with Zora on her journey west.

The setting in The Springsweet takes place in Oklahoma. Which I really feel like Saundra did a great job of portraying this setting. I don't know a large amount of how things were then, just what I have learned. But I can easily say I was convinced by her descriptions. It really seemed like it was a huge change for Zora to, considering she was from Baltimore. So it was interesting seeing how she adjusted to it all as the story went on.

As with The Vespertine, I really enjoyed the characters in The Springsweet. I really like Zora, I was really happy that she was going to be the main focus in this book. Birdie (Zora's Aunt) and Louella were also really enjoyable characters. Louella is really young, so she really isn't a major character or anything but I feel like she added some really cute context to the story. And of course you have that romance between characters. This time it's between Zora and Emerson. I felt as though it was a pretty subtle romance though, it was nice seeing it blossom throughout the book. And then to if it actually went anywhere. But all in all, there is a great cast of characters. They are all believable, and really seem to go together nicely. Good and bad alike.

The story in The Springsweet was much more enjoyable for me. It was much easier to understand the ability Zora had, and it just seemed a lot lighter on the paranormal side which was nice in my opinion. It allowed you to digest a lot of the other aspects of the story, without being so overwhelmed with the Paranormal side of it. I feel like that was what made this book much more enjoyable in the end. The last page really through me for a loop though, it has me really curious to see if this series will continue or not. I am assuming it will based on what happened in the Epilogue. I guess we will just have to wait and see though. It was an extremely enjoyable story though, I couldn't find anything wrong with it. It was great getting to know Zora more and being able to follow her journey.

Just as I had mentioned with The Vespertine, this series is really different. It's enjoyable, but it takes a little while to get use to. One you get use to the writing, and wrap your head around some of the concepts it really turns out to be quite enjoyable. I would still highly recommend this series, it might not appeal to everyone. But if you truly do enjoy a great Historical Fiction series, this is one you got to check out. I have openly admitted I find the paranormal aspects a little weird, but it doesn't really take to much away from the story as a whole. You still have the beautiful and well written settings, and the awesome characters. So if you haven't read The Vespertine, I would make sure to do that before The Springsweet comes out. It's really worth something if you're looking for something different, that still has amazing and rich details.

Originally posted on my blog, just follow the link: http://www.justinsbookblog.com/2012/0...(less)

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Apr 21, 2012 Amanda Kelley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books, ya, series, own-finished-copy

Also reviewed on my blog, The Vintage Bookworm. (www.vintagebookworm.blogspot.com)

I was really excited to spring back into this world after reading The Vespertine, even though I didn't absolutely love the first book. Also, with the ending, I was kind of upset when I found out that Amelia wouldn't be the narrator in this book, but also a bit intrigued. I really liked Zora in the first book.

After a while, I got sucked in. Zora changed a lot since the first book, due to her loss, but I really like...more Also reviewed on my blog, The Vintage Bookworm. (www.vintagebookworm.blogspot.com)

I was really excited to spring back into this world after reading The Vespertine, even though I didn't absolutely love the first book. Also, with the ending, I was kind of upset when I found out that Amelia wouldn't be the narrator in this book, but also a bit intrigued. I really liked Zora in the first book.

After a while, I got sucked in. Zora changed a lot since the first book, due to her loss, but I really like the change in her. I was really sad for her in the beginning of the book, but after a while she met two guys who could potentially be the one after Thomas.

When I wasn't reading this book, I was thinking about it. Historical Romance is definitely one of my favorite genres now. I've liked what I've read of Historical Romance, but I haven't read that much of it, but I definitely will be now! I love the late 1800s, with all the courting and seasons. It's so romantic! Imagine if we were back in that time period and a kiss was either a ruin or a way of marking someone as your own. Sealing your fate with a kiss! It's so romantic! Gah!

The writing and descriptions were so beautiful. They painted a vivid picture in my mind and I was so sucked in that I didn't even see anything in the world around me! The chapters are so long it seems, but so much happens and the book seems longer than 275 pages, which isn't a bad thing. It as really good with this book!

I want more! I want more Zora and Emerson, and I'm so happy with the last line on the book! But at the same time I was like, "IT CAN'T END LIKE THIS!!". I'm really looking forward to what is going to happen in the third book. There isn't a summary or anything yet on it, so I'll definitely be looking out for that, but I really hope it's with Amelia and Zora! If it's another narrator, I think I may cry and be very upset.

Zora is definitely my favorite of the two! And gah, I'm so intrigued by these random magics that are in these books. In the first book, Amelia has a gift of seeing into the future at sunset, and in this book Zora finds an infinity for water, which is AWESOME. And another special someone, I'm not saying who, has an infinity for the earth and can make flowers, and gardens grow!

Overall, this was a really great book. I really enjoyed it and I'm very eager to find out about the third book. I wish it was out. I don't have the luxury of finishing one and starting on the next anymore. If you like historical romance, this is definitely the series for you! =)(less)

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Jan 26, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Melynie

Shelves: clean-romances, clean-romances-western, favorites, girl-adventure-magic, western-romance, ya-romance

I really enjoyed this book my only problem was it was too short! I could have kept reading a lot longer. This book is a sequel but I didn't know that before I picked it up. The beginning was a little like starting a story all ready in progress, but I picked up very quickly on what was going on. But I will say after reading this I will go back and read the first book, I liked the writing so much. This book has three big pluses for me love, magic and the old west. 3 things I love to read about and...more

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Mar 22, 2012 Charlie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, amazon-vine-reviews, teen-ya

3.5 Stars
In an attempt to escape a wounded heart, Zora Stewart packs a bag and heads West. Robbery, rescue and the occasional tumbleweed follow. Being a fan of the Vespertine inspired me to pick up the companion novel, The Springsweet. The setting shifts from Balitmore to the hardships of prairie life along the great frontier. Because of the setting, the book has a western country feel and for those readers who enjoy American settler stories, The Springsweet will be a pleasurable and clean read....more

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Nov 05, 2011 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs

I have to admit that in "The Vespertine," I had little to no understanding for Zora's character due to her incessant nagging in respect to Amelia's power. (If you haven't read "The Vespertine," then I'm not going to ruin what that is...or the ending.)

So the story begins with a journey, which is a common device used in Young Adult literature. However, Zora's journey is two-fold. The story opens in Baltimore, not long after the end of "The Vespertine," and Zora has made the decision to get out of...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Julia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wow. I don't know what I was expecting, but thank you Saundra Mitchell for The Springsweet! It is an incredibly lovely, satisfying read. The world she creates is extremely vivid and beautifully written.

Zora is a brilliant character. She is selfish and everything about her character felt right. I really felt like I knew her, and her actions/reactions weren't shocking, but stayed true to her character. She isn't the only brilliant character either, I really enjoyed Emerson and some of the other se...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Soarin Soraya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Though I haven’t had the joy of reading The Vespertine I was instantly grabbed by the story of The SpringSweet. The narrative style was simple in an elegant way that didn’t hold anything back, revealing truths and moments with an unflinching clarity and endearing honesty. Zora’s character, though at first a little… out of touch with the consequences of her decisions, goes through a stunning transition from a young woman lost to herself to a strong character who is willing to step out of the rol...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Marta Stahlfeld added it

The Springsweet was a short but interesting read that somehow combined the popular supernaturalism with the old west. Zora is a young woman who recently lost the man she loves; her mother sends her to live with her aunt in Oklahoma. While there, Zora discovers she is a Springsweet, which means she can sense water under the praire. However, trouble comes in the form of two men - one a farmer in Oklahoma, the other a man who followed Zora from Boston.

As stated above, The Springsweet was interesti...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Afton Nelson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

The first thing about Springsweet is that it's a companion book to The Vespertine. I didn't know this before reading it, which, as it turned out, was not a deal breaker (as it usually is). The second thing about Springsweet is that you may be tempted to compare it to Hattie Big Sky, which you shouldn't do or you may be left feeling let down. The characters are not as deep; their motivations and hopes and dreams barely touched upon. The stakes are not nearly as high, the drama not nearly as gripp...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Erica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Just finished The Springsweet tonight and The Vespertine a few days ago. It was nice to have the continuation of Zora's story, as her ending in V was so sad. I'm still waiting to learn more about what will happen with both Zora & Amelia, but that will have to wait a few more months. Sigh.

Saundra does a wonderful job of painting a picture, so you feel like you're actually there. Zora is a strong character, who suffers horrendous heartbreak and eventually moves forward with her life. Like Amel...more

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Feb 29, 2012 Bluerose's Heart rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: clean, young-adult-12-and-up

The Springsweet is the second book in the Vespertine Series. If you plan on reading The Vespertine, this review will contain spoilers from that book, even though I haven't read it yet. I was never lost, but events from The Vespertine was mentioned several times throughout the book.

Zora is still mourning the loss of her fiance, and just can't seem to let go. She debates simply picking a widower to marry as a way to somewhat force herself to move on, but she finally decides to move west to help he...more The Springsweet is the second book in the Vespertine Series. If you plan on reading The Vespertine, this review will contain spoilers from that book, even though I haven't read it yet. I was never lost, but events from The Vespertine was mentioned several times throughout the book.

Zora is still mourning the loss of her fiance, and just can't seem to let go. She debates simply picking a widower to marry as a way to somewhat force herself to move on, but she finally decides to move west to help her newly widowed aunt(Birdy) and baby cousin(Louella). She learns that she can find water underground, so she helps the struggling community find the best place for wells. Of course, there's a love triangle, too!

It was heartbreaking for me to read how much some of these people struggled! More than anything, The Springsweet gives you a glimpse of just how hard life could be in the west during those times.

There's just so many categories that this book could be put into, though. (YA, historical, romance, western). There's really only a VERY slight paranormal element, which is the ability to know where the water is underground. The whole story is surrounded by sadness, and a bit of darkness.

There's one scene that is very quickly added in the story at the end that I wish had been left out. I just think it added a bad note to an otherwise beautiful, albeit sad story.

I really liked The Springsweet! It's not one that I would re-read, I don't think, but I'm definitely glad I read it. I'm very curious to go back and read The Vespertine, so I know all the events that led up to this book.

Clean Factor:
It was pretty clean. "D***" was used a few times in different ways, but that was it as far as profanity. God's name is used in vain(Thank G**, or something similar). There was some kissing. There was also a scene that I honestly don't know if it is implying premarital sex happens or not. I guess the reader is left to decide, and I'll go with the more conservative.

*I was provided an ARC through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for my honest opinion.(less)

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Nov 13, 2012 Dani rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-star-books, all-about-love, anything-to-do-with-death, normal-characters-life-and-problems, paranormal, back-in-the-day

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

I like how Theo ended up with Birdie in the end too, that was a good thing. He was too kind to just leave in the dust. But I will admit that I would be more like Zora and be attracted more towards Emerson. I like that name.

I just love this whole story. I am a softy for books of young love from 'back in the day' as I call it. It's so innocent and sweet. Even with a headache I couldn't put this book down!

Royal Wakes was the the little suspense that kept appearing in the book a...more

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Apr 01, 2012 Chibineko rated it 3 of 5 stars

After having read and liked the previous book in the series, The Vespertine, I was pretty happy to be able to get my hands on this book. Many of you coming into this book will be familiar with Mitchell's style, but for those of you who aren't I do have to warn you that the magic in this story will not be as heavily played up as it usually is in some of the other YA books out there. It's more of a secondary plot element than a major one, although it does feature heavily in the story.

First let me...more After having read and liked the previous book in the series, The Vespertine, I was pretty happy to be able to get my hands on this book. Many of you coming into this book will be familiar with Mitchell's style, but for those of you who aren't I do have to warn you that the magic in this story will not be as heavily played up as it usually is in some of the other YA books out there. It's more of a secondary plot element than a major one, although it does feature heavily in the story.

First let me talk about what I liked about this book. I liked that Mitchell seems to have done her research about what life in the wilds of Oklahoma would be like during this time period, complete with sod houses and all. It's a touch of realism that serves the story well. I have to say that my favorite character in all of this had to have been Birdy. She's a tough, no-nonsense woman and at times I couldn't help but wish that the story had been centered around her more than Zora. Zora isn't an unlikable character, but she just seemed a little underdeveloped at times.

Now for what I felt was a bit lacking. I can't help but feel that the story and characters should have been a little more fleshed out. Everything happens so quickly that I didn't think that many of the romantic developments felt like they unfolded as naturally as they should have and I think that if there'd been more fleshing out of the characters, the story's fast pace wouldn't have been as bad otherwise. I liked Zora for the most part, but I just couldn't entirely buy her chemistry with a certain male character. There was definitely enough there to make it interesting, but not enough to give the whiz-bang feeling that I crave from romance in my stories. I would be more ambivalent about this, but since this is the second book in the series I couldn't help but want more from a second entry.

Overall though, this is still a nice book and fans of the first entry will be sure to enjoy it. If you haven't read the first book then you absolutely should, but it's not a necessity since most of Springsweet can be understood without it.

3.4 out of 5 stars

(ARC provided by Amazon Vine)(less)

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May 25, 2012 Miss rated it 4 of 5 stars

Excellent. It's tricky to write good voice in historical fiction: too modern and it sounds off, too accurate and it can impede understanding. Mitchell's really good at it, Zora's voice is clear and distinct and she feels like she belongs in her setting (from Baltimore to the prairies; a frontier story!). I'm also impressed by the length: it's difficult to write a proper story with fleshed out characters in under 300 pages and this is the third time Mitchell's done it. Looking forward to the sequ...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Monica rated it 3 of 5 stars

In The Springsweet, Saundra Mitchell takes readers from the exciting city life of Baltimore to the wide open spaces of the Oklahoma Territory. While many might consider this novel to be more of a companion to its predecessor The Vespertine, I'd disagree. Zora, the protagonist of this story, is a secondary character in the previous book and without having read that, I would not have understood what exactly drove her west in this novel. Therefore, if you haven't read The Vespertine, stop reading t...more In The Springsweet, Saundra Mitchell takes readers from the exciting city life of Baltimore to the wide open spaces of the Oklahoma Territory. While many might consider this novel to be more of a companion to its predecessor The Vespertine, I'd disagree. Zora, the protagonist of this story, is a secondary character in the previous book and without having read that, I would not have understood what exactly drove her west in this novel. Therefore, if you haven't read The Vespertine, stop reading this post now because some spoilers are about to happen.

Zora is seventeen and has suffered more loss in the last year than she has in her entire life. First her beloved Thomas, her fiance, dies and shortly afterward she gets word that so has her best friend and cousin, Amelia. Miserable in Baltimore, she moves to the tiny frontier town of West Glory to help her young widowed aunt. But leaving the past behind isn't so simple, especially when handsome Theo de la Croix has followed her west with the hopes of finally courting her after longing for her from afar. He'd be a proper match, but there's also Emerson Birch, a young farmer who may be a bit rougher around the edges with deep secrets, but has completely captivated Zora. As her suspicions and feelings for Emerson grow, she discovers a unique talent of her own: the ability to sense water underground, an incredible talent especially in these unforgiving lands.

Mitchell does a great job weaving together a well feeling story that's interesting to follow in this series that's a great blending of historical and slightly paranormal fiction. I must admit that I had a harder time getting into the first book in this series, understanding these people with elemental abilities and how exactly they worked. However, since I already came into this book with an understanding, I felt like the story got off to a better start. My biggest criticism, though, is that the ending felt a bit rushed. Mitchell has a beautiful build up to the characters and their environment, and while I know not all loose ends can be tied up because the sequel is due out next year, the ending was very abrupt in my eyes. This was a very fast read, finishing it in only a few days, and I wish I'd gotten around to reading it sooner.

If you're looking for historical fiction with a dash of the supernatural that's also a quick read, check out The Vespertine series. (less)

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Nov 25, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: forpleasure, historicalfiction

I enjoyed this story more than I'd anticipated. It was achingly sweet when it came to engaging my heart. This author knows how to make readers identify with characters and yearn for their happiness. The writing was astonishingly beautiful and the historical setting quite rich in detail. The words the author chose to describe situations and things were often poetic and lyrical in style. I liked the first person point of view that the book was written in and the YA coming-of-age mindset. The magic...more

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About Saundra Mitchell

Saundra Mitchell is a longtime screenwriter and author. Random House's Delacorte Press published her debut novel, Shadowed Summer, on February 10th, 2009. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's will publish her next novel, The Vespertine in Spring 2011, with its companion novel, The Springsweet, following in Spring 2012.

For almost ten years, she was the sole screenwriter for the Book of Stories, On...more Saundra Mitchell is a longtime screenwriter and author. Random House's Delacorte Press published her debut novel, Shadowed Summer, on February 10th, 2009. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's will publish her next novel, The Vespertine in Spring 2011, with its companion novel, The Springsweet, following in Spring 2012.

For almost ten years, she was the sole screenwriter for the Book of Stories, On the Road, Fresh Films and Girls in the Director's Chair short film series. In 2008, she headed and instructed the first Fresh Films Emerging Screenwriters program, and became the Head Writer and an Executive Producer for the film series.

Shadowed Summer is the 2010 winner of The Society of Midland Authors Book Award for Children's Fiction, and a 2010 Edgar® Award Nominee. It was chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection, and an ALAN Pick in 2009. Her short story "Ready to Wear" was nominated for a 2007 Pushcart Prize after appearing in Vestal Review Issue 27. In July, 2007, her essay, "Rapid Cycling," appeared in Common Ties.

Her short story, "Management" appeared in Zen Film's anthology "Love & Sacrifice" in February, 2007, and another short, "Kissing the Dog-Faced Boy" appeared in The Summerset Review's Spring Issue, 2007. She has also published in SmokeLong Quarterly, Edgar Literary Magazine, and The Parnassus.

Other screenwriting accomplishments include scripting Scholastic's "Get Active with Widget" webisode "Treasure Hunt" and the 2006 Girls in the Director's Chair image campaign (the foundation for a national PSA in association with Women in Film.) In 2005, she concept-designed and scripted the Metro Chicago United Way's Leadership Campaign. Her first feature film, Revenge Ends, will debut on the festival circuit in 2008.

Her films have been selected for competition at many national and international film festivals, including the juried Rhode Island International Film Festival and the Chicago International Children's Film Festival. In 2006, "Goodbye, Howard" and "Last Time We Met" were selected as part of the inaugural Chicago International New Filmmakers Festival. "Goodbye, Howard" was also selected as one of the Top 4 Best of Fest at the Gen Art Film Festival in 2006.

"No. 72" and "The Super Dupers" were selected to premiere at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival. These festivals are recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as Academy AwardTM qualifying events. Also in 2006, the 10th annual Webby Awards named Fresh Films an official honoree.

In other arenas, Ms. Mitchell was interviewed by the New York Times and the BBC for her part in exposing the Kaycee Nicole hoax, and she's been tapped by morning radio shows all over the United States as a guest expert on Urban Legends & Folklore. (less)

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The Springsweet (The Vespertine #2)

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