The Thirteen

Nov 12, 2012 Kater Cheek rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I got this book as a free promo at World Fantasy, and it survived the brutal "I don't want to check my bag" purging at the end of the convention. Alas, I misplaced it and thought I'd left it on the plane, and by that time I was so involved in the story that I actually went to the library and got it for my kindle so I could find out how it ended even though I pretty much already knew.

Which is why I'm giving it 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4) even though I always give practically everything only three...more I got this book as a free promo at World Fantasy, and it survived the brutal "I don't want to check my bag" purging at the end of the convention. Alas, I misplaced it and thought I'd left it on the plane, and by that time I was so involved in the story that I actually went to the library and got it for my kindle so I could find out how it ended even though I pretty much already knew.

Which is why I'm giving it 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4) even though I always give practically everything only three stars because that's my default so that the rare 5 star books look amazing. It only gets four instead of three because I found myself willing to jump through hoops, so there's the whole psychological investment, and it's irrational, so you should never judge a book by its stars, but read the whole review.

Girl and her mom move to her mom's hometown because their grandma is sick. They don't know what she has or why, because there's only ever one other person in the hospital. The other women in town are creepy, and there are a lot of cats, but the warnings they get from grandma are cryptic, and besides, there's a nice guy who mom likes and his nice dog, who girl likes, so they stay until IT'S TOO LATE.

Here's what I liked: witches were evil, but plausibly evil. Yes, it's ironic that I find "evil witches" refreshing and novel. Despite that, I kind of sympathized with how the witches had gotten into their situation. I mean, sure, they get into the coven knowing that people are going to die as sacrifices, but considering their other options, it kind of makes sense. I liked the empty hospital too, and the bit with the cats. The fingers falling off were creepy-fantastic. I liked that they didn't get all religious about the anti-witch thing. It wasn't a good vs. evil thing so much as "I'd like to be rich and successful" vs. "but I don't want my family members to die in horrible accidents."

There were flaws. The epilogue had a meeting with a mysterious woman whose identity baffled me. It was obvious we were supposed to know who she was and why she was there, but I didn't get it. There's a flaw near the climax when everyone in the town is asleep except for one guy, who, by all rights, should have been hit with the spell as well. Also, I kinda wanted to know what was going to happen to all the witches. Were they going to die, or what? What about their families? Still, I shrugged off the flaws because the plotting was tight enough.

I think this book will appeal most to fans of action novels.(less)

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Sep 07, 2012 Monique rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wanksters-one-star-books

I really dont know what to say about this book except I am glad it is over..From the story blurb and the reviews I thought it would be suspenseful, intriguing and clever with the story of a group of witches who live in a surburban neighborhood and work on making everything they ever want become a reality--by any means neccessary. I was all set to fall into this book, I love witches and I thought it would be reminiscent of Anne Rice's Mayfair witches trilogies or some other great supernatural rea...more I really dont know what to say about this book except I am glad it is over..From the story blurb and the reviews I thought it would be suspenseful, intriguing and clever with the story of a group of witches who live in a surburban neighborhood and work on making everything they ever want become a reality--by any means neccessary. I was all set to fall into this book, I love witches and I thought it would be reminiscent of Anne Rice's Mayfair witches trilogies or some other great supernatural read and then when it was compared to a Stephen King read I was hooked, but alas somewhere within it fell flat..The witches are intent on maintaining their way of life and their powers and made ultimate deals with a mysterious evil being to with their only requirement to make sacrifices and keep a coven of thirteen women at all times..The neighborhood thrives under the witches's control and everyone is perfect and happy, churches close, hospitals close and life is eerily calm until one of the witches takes her destiny in her own hands and after losing her husband in a sacrifice she takes her own life and alters the witches' sense of reality and everything that was right in their lives goes wrong with the only way to fix it is to bring one of the witches's daughters back to the fold. It is here that the book starts with the daughter Paula and her daughter Rowan returning back to the neighborhood after finding out her mother is "sick" which was basically an excuse to get Paula and Rowan to town to join the coven..Even as I am writing this review I am drawn into the plot which is why it is so disappointing how the book was written, it was silly with insipid characters you don't like, confusing thought patterns you cant follow, annoying parenthetical phrases in between sentences, repetitive statements that arent needed (God's special thinkers?) I just had problems with the delivery overall, it wasnt like Desperate Housewives to me because the characters were hollow, if this book was maybe longer with backstory one each witch and more detail on the "creator", the elusive evil He..I hate the way I had to rip into this book because the Stepford wives premise was very interesting and I wanted so so much more..(less)

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Jul 24, 2012 Eccentrika rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, paranormal

Haven Woods è una cittadina inquietante. All'apparenza può sembrare un'ottimo posto in cui vivere, un luogo tranquillo per le famiglie felici e normali che si vedono negli spot pubblicitari. Ma poi, a osservarlo bene è tutto così silenzioso... immacolato... deserto! Sembra quasi che non ci abiti nessuno, o forse sono tutti rinchiusi in casa per la paura?
Paula non vede la madre da dodici anni, è stata allontanata da casa appena sedicenne, quando rimase incinta, e quel giorno successero eventi ta...more Haven Woods è una cittadina inquietante. All'apparenza può sembrare un'ottimo posto in cui vivere, un luogo tranquillo per le famiglie felici e normali che si vedono negli spot pubblicitari. Ma poi, a osservarlo bene è tutto così silenzioso... immacolato... deserto! Sembra quasi che non ci abiti nessuno, o forse sono tutti rinchiusi in casa per la paura?
Paula non vede la madre da dodici anni, è stata allontanata da casa appena sedicenne, quando rimase incinta, e quel giorno successero eventi talmente drammatici che non vuole neanche ricordare. Fino ad allora si era sempre trovata bene ad Haven Woods, era stata felice, e non ha idea del perché sua madre non la vuole più vedere. Lei e sua figlia Rowan, ormai adolescente, vivono in città, un luogo squallido e pericoloso, hanno pochi soldi e il lavoro è sempre precario, così quando un'amica di sua mamma la chiama per dirle di tornare a Haven Woods che sua madre è stata ricoverata in ospedale per un malore, Paula non ci pensa due volte ed accetta subito. Ma sua madre, ospite del singolare ospedale del paese, senza dipendenti né dottori e né altri pazienti, non sembra affatto contenta di vederla, e tenta in tutti i modi dal dissuaderla dal rimanere. Quale segreto nasconde Haven Woods?
Sono rimasta soddisfatta dalla lettura di questo libro, è una storia abbastanza impegnativa, nel senso che la si deve leggere con mente attenta perché ci sono parecchi misteri da scoprire e subito non si riesce a capire quasi nulla di ciò che accade. La narrazione in terza persona cambia spesso punto di vista e inizialmente può sembrare che la trama sia ostica e ingarbugliata, ma poi, se si ha pazienza, tutto si sistema. Come tessere di un puzzle infatti, le nozioni che si riescono a recepire pagina dopo pagina sono prima molto poche e poi si intensificano finché piano piano non si riescono a incastrare le une nelle altre alla perfezione. Personalmente questo espediente narrativo mi è piaciuto molto perché ha fatto sì che la mia curiosità nei confronti del libro rimanesse sempre alta e non ho avuto proprio modo di annoiarmi. In più, le ultime cento pagine sono a dir poco adrenaliniche, da leggere tutte d'un fiato perché il concatenersi degli eventi è molto veloce e i colpi di scena e le sorprese non mancano! L'autrice ha saputo creare una storia adulta, con elementi paranormali e horror, ma vi è anche qualche piccolo accenno di romance che serve a stemperare la tensione e accontenterà le lettrici romantiche. L'unica cosa che non ho apprezzato in questo romanzo, l'unica che mi è sembrata assurda e avrei volentieri cambiato, è il ruolo interpretato dai gatti. Qui sono visti come esseri subdoli e crudeli, e forniscono la classica immagine del gatto come incarnazione del demonio. Amando alla follia i gatti, vivendoci a contatto quotidianamente, mi sono sentita tirata in causa in prima persona e ho trovato questo aspetto davvero ridicolo e improbabile. Se ci sono animali che non mi incutono nessunissimo terrore e che non ho mai visto comportarsi in maniera aggressiva nei confronti delle persone sono proprio i gatti. Ma vabbè, d'altronde è un libro con parecchi elementi di fantasia e non deve per forza rappresentare la verità delle cose.(less)

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Jul 02, 2012 Sara rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

OK, so this books starts off immediately with a fairly gruesome suicide of a seemingly nice, older woman. You think she's grief stricken over the loss of her husband but no. It turns out she is kind of rebelling against the witch coven she belongs to. Basically, every woman had to make a major sacrifice (the death of a husband, child, etc) and in turn, they are rewarded with beauty and success. Sounds kind of messed up, but hey- who am I to judge?
I really liked this book, it sucked me in fast a...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-by-sheila

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A confusing mesh of witchery and deceit.

Opening Sentence: The drunk at table eight was shouting something at the dancer.

The Review:

When it comes to horror movies or books, I usually decline. I no longer like being scared to death by creepy serial killers that eat the bodies of their victims or demonic children taking over. I have seen too many bad things in real life to appreciate them for the entertainment they are meant to be. That being s...more

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Apr 25, 2012 Debbie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really dislike giving books this low a rating especially since for the most part I am pretty good about pre-screening books so I am choosing books that I am likely to enjoy at least to some extent. Sadly, it took several tries to even finish this book and I never came to really enjoy it.
None of the characters really grabbed me other than the dog, Old Tex. Truly, he was the only character that I felt for and wanted to shed a tear for at the unfairness of the life he lives. I found Paula to be a...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Cheryl rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Paula Wittmore left Haven Woods when she was a teenager. She did not look back. She has now returned. If it was not for the failing health of her mother, she probably would not set foot in Haven Woods. Paula is bringing her daughter, Rowan with her.

The book cover is menacing and draws you in. This is what I noticed first about this book, than I read the summary for this book and I thought it sounded intriguing. Sadly, I was not feeling this book. It did not put a spell over me. I did give this...more

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Mar 20, 2012 Nancy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dress it up in a paranormal cover, add chick lit elements, include mysterious deaths and in the end it's still a book about an all female suburban satanic cult and I'm feeling yucky all over. That's my honest opinion and feeling. Just didn't like it. It earns one star for my finishing it. The second star is earned for the author's originality. Even though I didn't like it.

The basis is that the cult requires thirteen members. If there are thirteen and appropriate sacrifices (and those sacrifices...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Sue rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a book about a coven of witches who are nasty women! Paula and her young daughter Rowan find themselves returning to Haven Woods when Paula's mother is taken ill with mysterious symptoms (you won't believe what's going on with her). Haven Woods is no ordinary little suburb: it has a coven of modern day witches who make regular blood sacrifices to the big guy himself--the Devil. With these sacrifices, they live lovely lives, getting everything they want. Without them--and without 13 in th...more

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Mar 08, 2012 Amy Lignor rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dear Readers:

Perhaps it is because I am a Stephen King fan, but I have to disagree with the three-star reviews on this one. There are a great many paranormals out there in the world of fiction right now (especially of the ‘fanged’ variety, as we all know). But I almost fell off my chair when I began reading this new offering from Susie Moloney - an author who has already proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that she has an incredible gift when it comes to telling a story. This review, however, is g...more Dear Readers:

Perhaps it is because I am a Stephen King fan, but I have to disagree with the three-star reviews on this one. There are a great many paranormals out there in the world of fiction right now (especially of the ‘fanged’ variety, as we all know). But I almost fell off my chair when I began reading this new offering from Susie Moloney - an author who has already proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that she has an incredible gift when it comes to telling a story. This review, however, is going to feel like you’re back in English class having your first experience with iambic pentameter…because I can only go so far.

From the very first moment when I met Chick, I was intrigued. Chick is a woman in her 60’s who has had enough. She has just buried her husband - a man she truly loved - and she feels incredibly guilty about something that the reader simply doesn’t know until further on in the book. But as I watched Chick and listened to her thoughts, I was amazed and chilled to the bone at the same time as she pulled out the Valium and a Zippo lighter. (No, I can’t tell you more than that).

Then I met up with a woman named, Audra. Audra is also a mature woman who has also buried her husband. She is basically in a huge mess, wondering when the proverbial crap will hit the fan. As her heart begins to race, one of her ‘frenemies’ - a woman by the name of Izzy Riley - arrives, and stands above her with a smile. Izzy is the one who knows exactly what’s happening to the women of Haven Woods, and how only THEY can find a way to solve the problems before it’s too late and they end up losing the rest of what they have.

Paula is Audra’s daughter. She is a single mom of a girl named, Rowan, who is a bit hard to handle. When Paula gets a call from Mrs. Riley telling her that he mother has had a heart attack and she must come home immediately, Paula and Rowan get into a car that will, quite possibly, take them into hell.

Marla is Izzy’s daughter, and she not only knows why the creepy things are happening to the women she knows, but she also seems to despise her mother. The oldest and dearest friend of Paula, Marla is excited when she learns that Paula is coming home. You see, Paula left Haven Woods when she was only sixteen and pregnant with Rowan. This was when her mother basically threw her out of the town and told her never to return. Why is that, you wonder? I can’t tell you, but BOY do you WANT to know!

As the intricate world of Haven Woods unfolds, readers will learn all about the secrets and lies that are held there. They will learn about murder, deception, the dark arts, evil personified, and all kinds of ‘tasty’ morsels that will have them up all night reading to the very end to see how everyone ends up when this author calls it a day.

Susie Moloney has, once again, done the impossible. Not only is her tale flawless and her characters beyond memorable, but she has the ability to take The Stepford Wives, mix them with a little Witches of Eastwick, and throw in some horror that only ‘King’ - the master of the genre - has had the ability to produce. This is a straight ‘A,’ readers! You will look at your neighbors in a whole new light after you finish this one. Enjoy!

Until Next Time, Everybody,
Amy(less)

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Dec 08, 2011 Sonia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Non sono solita addentrarmi in trame dalle tinte fosche, o peggio in storie concepite per mettere paura ai lettori. L’istinto mi invita a non prenderle minimamente in considerazione, saltandole a piè pari nella scelta dei romanzi da leggere. I miei occhi si sono avvicinati a King una volta sola, e non hanno intenzione di ripetere l’esperienza (so che con questa frase attirerò il disprezzo della maggior parte di voi lettori… ma perdonatemi se preferisco fare sogni tranquilli la notte!).
Quando mi...more Non sono solita addentrarmi in trame dalle tinte fosche, o peggio in storie concepite per mettere paura ai lettori. L’istinto mi invita a non prenderle minimamente in considerazione, saltandole a piè pari nella scelta dei romanzi da leggere. I miei occhi si sono avvicinati a King una volta sola, e non hanno intenzione di ripetere l’esperienza (so che con questa frase attirerò il disprezzo della maggior parte di voi lettori… ma perdonatemi se preferisco fare sogni tranquilli la notte!).
Quando mi sono imbattuta in questo titolo, Le Tredici, dopo aver dato uno sguardo alla trama, ho provato qualcosa come attrazione-repulsione: una parte del cervello mi avvertiva di stare lontana, se volevo mantenermi tranquilla e serena, un’altra parte mi diceva “ma dai, e che mai sarà? Qualsiasi cosa accada in quel libro, sarà pur sempre confinato ad esso!” (beata ingenuità…).
A fine lettura mi sono resa conto che una bella dose di strizza e ansia, unite ad un pizzico d’horror non può far che bene a un lettore, per quanto fifone egli sia – o creda di essere. Sì, perché quella paura non fa altro che rendere la nostra normalità più tranquilla, piacevole… più apprezzata. Anche se quella “normalità” è la prima vittima dei mostri del romanzo.
Ma andiamo con ordine.
A Havens Wood, un tranquillo paesino che a molti ricorderà il quartiere residenziale di Wisteria Lane, teatro di scena delle famosissime Desperate Housewives, vivono poche famiglie, ognuna con la propria villetta e il giardino antistante. Si conoscono tutti tra di loro e i loro rapporti sono ovviamente dettati dalle regole del buon vicinato. Quando una delle abitanti di Havens Wood decide di uccidersi, le cose iniziano a cambiare. Un’altra donna viene ricoverata in ospedale e la figlia, che vive lontano dalla madre da anni, è costretta a ritornare a casa, con la figlia piccola al seguito, per accudire la madre malata. Il suo ritorno è necessario, indispensabile per ricostituire l’ordine andato distrutto con la morte di Chick, l’anziana donna che si è suicidata a inizio romanzo.
Quello che potrebbe sembrare un romanzo di pettegolezzi, intrighi ispirati alla nota serie televisiva, litigi fra vicini con conseguenti dispetti, in realtà nasconde molto ma molto di più. Nasconde un terribile potere, un potere che apparentemente è solo femminile: sono solo donne quelle coinvolte in qualcosa di misterioso e inizialmente incomprensibile, sono tutte donne quelle che hanno raggiunto il vertice del successo in diversi campi, sono sempre donne quelle che prendono le decisioni, in famiglia e fuori. Eppure, per far sì che la situazione non muti, è necessario che queste donne siano 13. Se il numero diminuirà, allora tutto andrà perduto, le dodici rimanenti dovranno rassegnarsi non solo a vivere la quotidianità di una vita normale, ma ad affrontare situazioni disperate, difficili, estreme alle quali non sempre c'è rimedio. C’è sempre bisogno di una tredicesima, e se la sua presenza comporterà un enorme sacrificio, sarà sempre meglio che accettare il ritorno della normalità.
Ho detto troppo? Forse ho detto troppo poco.
Questo è un romanzo che non può essere raccontato, per trasmettere i brividi che affiorano nei momenti di tensione: è un romanzo che va vissuto, va temuto, va chiuso con un sospiro di sollievo e di soddisfazione per essere arrivati al finale, insieme alla bella Paula. (non vi ho detto chi è Paula? Meglio così!).
Un romanzo che inquieta, che non vi fa star comodi in poltrona ma vi mantiene in un'allerta costante, vi fa guardare alle spalle sperando non ci sia nessuno appostato dietro.
Un romanzo da leggere con la luce accesa.

qui:
http://cuoredinchiostro.blogspot.com/...(less)

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Sep 29, 2011 Madeline Ashby rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was convinced on this book after hearing Ms. Maloney read from the opening at a party in Toronto. It was a fabulous read, infused with character but still carefully controlled. For the most part, the book maintains a similar sense of control. It's obvious what's going on from the beginning, because Maloney's book is dancing with tropes we've all seen trotted out before: a woman with a past returns to where it all started, deals with the traumas that have been holding her back in life, and emer...more I was convinced on this book after hearing Ms. Maloney read from the opening at a party in Toronto. It was a fabulous read, infused with character but still carefully controlled. For the most part, the book maintains a similar sense of control. It's obvious what's going on from the beginning, because Maloney's book is dancing with tropes we've all seen trotted out before: a woman with a past returns to where it all started, deals with the traumas that have been holding her back in life, and emerges triumphant. Also, there are witches.

The witches are easily the most enjoyable part of The Thirteen. They're the most completely realized of the characters. Their evil is mundane and real and totally believable, and the consequences of their actions rebound on them in horrible ways that instantly elicit sympathy from the reader. By contrast, protagonist Paula just doesn't quite measure up. She's been dealt a bad hand, for sure, but she spends a bit too much time wondering what's going on while her barely-pubescent daughter Rowan twigs immediately. From her introduction, we learn that Paula is supposed to be tough. She's a fighter who sticks up for herself and others. But once she returns to Haven Woods, she regresses to a younger self who lets far too many things slide by. Not without comment, of course, but often without action. It's a bit disappointing when you compare the strength and agency and confidence of the other women around her, including her daughter.

On the other hand, this story is borrowing heavily from Salem's Lot, and much of the same dynamic exists between Ben Mears and Mark Petrie. In fact, Mark is about the same age as Rowan. Both characters instantly understand that the threat facing them is a supernatural one that must be terminated with extreme prejudice, and they act accordingly. Meanwhile, the adults wonder what could possibly be causing all these bizarre coincidences. This is another well-worn trope, and it has its place, but as I read I found myself wishing that Paula had included herself a bit more in the plot so that she could have a more direct impact on it. The whole thing really hinges on everyone *but* Paula, and I'm not so sure that's a great place for a main character to be.

With that said, the book is lovely when it's not focused on Paula. Her enemies are glorious in their malevolence, and their selfishness and un-earned privilege leaps off the page. They pack the banality of evil in their Suburbans with the soccer cleats and Capri Sun. If you want a primer on what the consequences of a Faustian bargain might look like to "real America," this is it. (less)

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Sep 09, 2011 Christine rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reads

Two catch phrases ascribed to this book are “The Witches of Eastwick meets Desperate Housewives” and “A circle of friends will support you through bad times. A circle of witches can drag you through hell.” With that kind of advertising this book seemed right up my alley … reading wise. The reality of it all … not so much!

Haven Woods seems like the perfect, picturesque little town. Perfect houses, perfect lives, almost perfect everything. We meet the town “clique”, thirteen women who seem to have...more

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Aug 16, 2011 Luanne Ollivier rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5/5
I first discovered Canadian author Susie Moloney when I read her novel A Dry Spell way back in 1997. She followed that up with The Dwelling in 2003. Both seemed to fall under the horror genre - a la Stephen King - with everyday occurrences and things becoming sinister, such as a lack of rain and a house that just won't sell. But Moloney also does a fine job of exploring reactions and behaviour as a result of those occurrences.

Moloney's latest novel - The Thirteen - centres on the perfect li...more 3.5/5
I first discovered Canadian author Susie Moloney when I read her novel A Dry Spell way back in 1997. She followed that up with The Dwelling in 2003. Both seemed to fall under the horror genre - a la Stephen King - with everyday occurrences and things becoming sinister, such as a lack of rain and a house that just won't sell. But Moloney also does a fine job of exploring reactions and behaviour as a result of those occurrences.

Moloney's latest novel - The Thirteen - centres on the perfect little town of Haven Woods. Things are, well, just as they should be, according to the thirteen women who seem to have a grip on the town. Until one of their own breaks rank and upsets everything. What to do? The leader Izzy calls Paula -daughter of one of their group (coven) and convinces her to come home - with her daughter Rowan. After all thirteen is the magic number and a sacrifice is needed...

Moloney has crafted another entertaining tale, drawing upon today's fascination with all things paranormal. But it just didn't grab me as much as her past books. Paula is unable to contact the doctor tending to her mother in the Haven Woods Hospital. Or even a nurse (other than one of the thirteen posing as one). No cleaners, no other patients, nothing. Really, after the fourth or fifth visit and she is still acquiescing, it stretched credibility. It reminded me of a slasher film where you want to yell at the lead character to "open your eyes and look around!"

Desperate Housewives sprang to mind and indeed this is one comparison that the publisher uses as well - "The Witches of Eastwick meets Desperate Housewives in Susie Moloney's The Thirteen, her new and long-awaited novel."

Once I got past being annoyed at the hospital situation, I did enjoy the book. Moloney has a wry sense of humour that is fun to catch. She again explores the human dynamic with lots of back stories of many of the characters and emotion drives some of the plot line. I was never really 'horrified', but did appreciate Moloney's take on urban witches and the desire of many to 'have it all.' The action in the last few chapters had me quickly turning pages and the ending employed a great hook.

(less)

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Jun 12, 2011 Douglas Wright added it · review of another edition

I first met Susie online a number of years ago, after reading her best-selling breakout book ‘A Dry Spell’ around 1997. I followed up with ‘Bastion Falls’ and ‘The Dwelling’ (362 Belisle St. in the UK) as they came out.

Now, I’ve read ‘The Thirteen.’ And with delight. Though, I’ve never watched The Witches of Eastwick or Desperate Housewives, I’ve certainly gotten the idea of what these shows must be talking about just by reading this novel.

I’m a slow reader. Very slow, actually. I read pretty mu...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Zoë (In The Next Room) added it · review of another edition

Shelves: witches, review-copy, mystery, paranormal, canadian-literature

The Thirteen was one of those delicious novels that sucked me in right away. Moloney also managed an awesome POV, that was third person but switched between what character the reader got insight into, which made everyone (especially Paula and Rowan, but also many of the more sinister characters) intriguing and relateable in some way. I found every character in the novel– and there were a lot of them– unique, even if there were a few that made me uncomfortable... mostly one lady who had her finge...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Rachael Preston rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A creepily fun page-turner! The narrator's asides keep the tone light, which I appreciated, as witches are one thing, but the devil is quite another. (I blame those unsettling illustrations in my childhood Bible, and The Exorcist, the first and last devil book I ever read--until now.) Congrats to the author for getting under my skin enough that I hated a couple of characters--detested one, the main character's best friend, truly. Wasn't able to forgive her in the end--but I'm not convinced I was...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Jennifer Rayment rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Good Stuff

Absolutely loved the dogs in this one, they had so much personality
Very dark and suspenseful
Fabulous character development for Marla, a character that could easily have been a caricature
Quite a few on the edge of your seat moments
Some nice humour added in just the right spots, made me want to pick up other books by the author for this alone
Fabulous cover - that chick really gives you the creeps!
Satisfying ending
Rowan and Paula were likeable characters, would have rather had...more

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Jan 16, 2012 Marie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In The Thirteen, Paula Wittmore returns home to Haven Woods with her young daughter, Rowan. Paula's mother, Audra, has recently become ill and the two want to visit her. What they doesn't know is that Audra's friends need Paula to return with Rowan to complete their little group and to appease their dark side.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I should state up front that this is not my preferred genre. I've only read a handful of paranormal books in the past and I don't think I loved any o...more

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May 03, 2012 Kristen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read about this book first in the Book Page that the library gets. I thought it sounded interesting so I put it on hold. The cover art was beautiful. The story was weird. It was written in such a way that I wasn't 100% sure what exactly was going on until almost half the book was read. It was also written in a way I didn't care for. It was almost like little thought bubbles should have popped up on certain pages so you knew you were reading something that was solely in the characters head.

The...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Candace Mountain rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had high expectations going into this novel because my first exposure to Susie Moloney was with one of her previous novel’s Dry Spell which I absolutely loved. The Thirteen did not disappoint me. The story had very well fleshed out central characters that drew you into the plot as it slowly unfolded. It did not take you long to get immersed in Paula and Rowan’s world and genuinely care about what happened or was going to happen to them.

There comes a point in good novels where the option to pu...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Thirteen is a Novel by Susie Moloney from William Morrow.

Blurb:

Haven Woods is a suburban heaven, a great place to raise a family. It’s close to the city, quiet, with terrific schools and its own hospital right up the road. Property values are climbing, and the crime rate is practically nonexistent.

Paula Wittmore hasn’t been back to Haven Woods since she left as a disgraced teenager. Now she’s returning to care for her suddenly ailing mother, and she’s bringing her daughter and a pile of emot...more

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Mar 16, 2012 William Bentrim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Thirteen by Susie Moloney

Thirteen are needed to maintain power and control. Izzy will get her thirteen whatever the consequences. This is a novel in the tradition of Thomas Tryon or V.C. Andrews.

Women are often scary with out including witchcraft. Hmm, perhaps scary isn’t the right word. If women fought the wars there would be one and done. No holds barred when someone threatens a mother’s child. This book is about controlling women or the women who control.

Chick might be someone you know....more

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Dec 21, 2011 Jackie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I just wasn't really compelled by any of the characters here, it was a bit of a trek to finish the book when I didn't much care who lived or died. Also, I get the desire not to lay out all of the characters' history and detail all the supernatural stuff in a big expository block, but given that we get internal narratives from a number of characters on the "inside" of the witches' circle, it would have been nice to have someone think a little bit more explicitly about what was going on before, sa...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Ashley (The Bibliophile's Corner) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Originally posted on my blog: The Bibliophile's Corner

Cover Talk: Look at those eyes! And those cheek bones. This woman is freaking beautiful. Seriously, I picked up the book because of the cover and then bought it because it was about witches. And it’s called The Thirteen. I am a wee obsessed with the number 13.

First Impressions: “A circle of friends can get you through anything. A circle of witches can drag you through hell.” ‘nough said.

First Few Chapters: The very first chapter is a suicide....more

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Apr 04, 2012 She-Wolf Reads rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was described as “The Witches of Eastwick” meets “Desperate Housewives.” The minute I read that description I was interested in discovering what kind of world I would find in The Thirteen. Unfortunately, while I think Moloney was able to hit some good notes in this book, overall, it was a bit disappointing.

What I really liked about The Thirteen, and what worked for me in the novel as a whole, was its utter creepiness. There were some really unsettling scenes and sinister imagery – fing...more This book was described as “The Witches of Eastwick” meets “Desperate Housewives.” The minute I read that description I was interested in discovering what kind of world I would find in The Thirteen. Unfortunately, while I think Moloney was able to hit some good notes in this book, overall, it was a bit disappointing.

What I really liked about The Thirteen, and what worked for me in the novel as a whole, was its utter creepiness. There were some really unsettling scenes and sinister imagery – fingers falling off, a woman slowly turning into goat, a house full of blood, whispers, ghosts and demons. Actually, now that I write that it sounds a bit ridiculous but believe me when I say that these scenes are well done and hit the perfect note of horror, leaving you a little unsettled yet curious to see what happens next to these characters.

Unfortunately, you have to read more than half the book to get to that point. Moloney takes her time developing this story. We spend most of it with Paula and her tortured thoughts of the past, her fears for the future, and her ruminations on the summer that changed her life forever. I felt like I had to push through more than 50% of the book (read it on a Kindle) before I felt like the pace started to pick up and we started to learn more about the sinister plans in store for Paula and her daughter Rowan. I think this book could have been much more effective had it been edited down so that the pace felt a little faster.

Paula’s obliviousness to the weirdness around her also bothered me. There are several scenes with weird exchanges with her mother’s friends that scream, “Something is not right here!” But Paula seems totally unaware of it. And Rowan, who is more tuned into the psycho flags being waved around, does not really push her mom to recognize the utter strangeness of Haven Woods and its inhabitants. Wouldn’t you notice an empty hospital while visiting a patient? And wouldn’t that make you question what’s going on around you? I simply could not suspend my disbelief on this point.

Finally, the ending. There is a bit of a twist there that I won’t reveal but I would love to speak to someone who has read this and get his/her take on it. I might be a bit dense but I did not fully understand the implications of it. It felt like it came out of nowhere yet it was a twist that I think could only be believable had there been some clues laid out through the story.

All in all, The Thirteen had a creepiness that was effectively unsettling but was too slow paced to really sustain an overall interest.

Please stop by www.shewolfreads.com for more reviews!(less)

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Mar 28, 2012 Jennifer rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2012

They had me at 'Desperate Housewives meets The Witches of Eastwick'. They lost me at animal sacrifices. I persevered because this was a promised review, but this book is just not for me.

For me, there wasn't a single likable character in this book... except the dogs, and perhaps Sanderson. I cannot understand why any of those mothers would do the things they did. I can understand wanting more out of life and wanting to help your child, but there are just some boundaries you don't cross. Plus ther...more

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Mar 23, 2012 J.N. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

This is a book I won from the giveaways (thank you!). The Thirteen is a very unique book. I haven't ever read anything like it. It's about a group of witches who live in this small town. There's only one problem--they've just lost one of their members and must have thirteen in their group to keep their powers. Without a thirteenth, they also start to have awful things happen to them (severe aging, fingers falling off, etc). When one of the witches becomes ill, her daughter and granddaughter come...more This is a book I won from the giveaways (thank you!). The Thirteen is a very unique book. I haven't ever read anything like it. It's about a group of witches who live in this small town. There's only one problem--they've just lost one of their members and must have thirteen in their group to keep their powers. Without a thirteenth, they also start to have awful things happen to them (severe aging, fingers falling off, etc). When one of the witches becomes ill, her daughter and granddaughter come to stay until she recuperates. The mother is a perfect candidate for the thirteenth, and the daughter is also important. The group of witches use everything in their power to keep the mother and daughter in town, ready to have things return back to normal.

Pros:

The beginning scene really grabbed my attention, as did meeting Paula and Rowan (the mother and daughter), but after that, I admit the book began to drag. It got better once you began to see more of what these witches were going through, and the last section of the book was especially gripping. Overall, the characters are good. I enjoyed Chick, Paula, Sanderson, Rowan, and Audra. I even ended up liking Marla. I also adored Old Tex and Gusto. They were nice additions to the story. Most of the witch characters aren't very nice though, especially Izzy. They make great villains, though they are so complex that they aren't truly evil.

Cons:

I enjoyed this book, but it took me a while to read because it was hard to get into at times (I tend to be a fast reader so this is a problem). I didn't really enjoy the writing style. I'm mostly talking about parts like this:

They were still gabbing, dark heads bent together like crows
(pecking at something interesting and dead)
She went from the window to the closet, found her school blazer with the St. Mary's crest
(Semper Vigilans)
and put it on.

I was also annoyed at how many unanswered questions I had at the end. You never hear what happens to most of the characters, and I had hoped it would be wrapped up in the epilogue.

Overall:

However, the characters and overall story was pretty entertaining. This book definitely shows the lengths some people will go to keep themselves happy. 3 stars.(less)

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Mar 27, 2012 Audra (Unabridged Chick) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: heroine-unlikable, mood-dark-and-twisted, place-suburbia, secret-identities, skeletons-in-the-closet, teenage-heroine-but-not-ya, supernatural

This is the pour-and-bake brownie of books: easy, junky, tasty, fast, and fun. And like those insta-brownies, this book was kind of a weekend lifesaver for me.

My mother went to the hospital on Thursday and this book spent the weekend with me, alleviating two long nights sleeping in a hospital chair and two chaotic and stressful days. It was the diverting, engrossing, easy to dip in and out of distraction I needed. (This review might not convey my grateful relief as I'm still a bit sleep-deprived...more This is the pour-and-bake brownie of books: easy, junky, tasty, fast, and fun. And like those insta-brownies, this book was kind of a weekend lifesaver for me.

My mother went to the hospital on Thursday and this book spent the weekend with me, alleviating two long nights sleeping in a hospital chair and two chaotic and stressful days. It was the diverting, engrossing, easy to dip in and out of distraction I needed. (This review might not convey my grateful relief as I'm still a bit sleep-deprived.)

Set in pretty, bucolic, suburban Haven Woods (in my head I made it a town in Connecticut, but I think it's sort of ambigu-East Coast), the story follows, loosely, two families: Audra, Paula, and Rowan Wittmore and Izzy and Marla Riley. Pretty quickly, we learn something is seriously wrong with the suburban royalty, the matrons and their families, but it's not until we're about 100 pages in does the action really pick up. (Perhaps my only complaint.) Paula's mother, Audra, is hospitalized with a vague, unspecified illness that makes Paula very suspicious; her daughter Rowan is even more put off by the odd way her grandmother's friends pry in to her life. The town's history is littered with horrible tragedies -- grotesque murders and shocking accidents -- that no one seems to find shocking until Paula and Rowan find themselves the focus of the women's murderous interest.

The writing style reminded me a bit of Stephen King -- parenthetical asides and vaguely stream-of-consciousness-y threads interspersing the narrative -- as well as the themes of the story -- the things we're willing to trade for our heart's desires, the secrets a town will keep even to its detriment, and I really enjoyed Moloney's exploration of mother-daughter relationships and parental sacrifices (in some cases, literally).

A perfect summer beach read, this is also a fun book to consider for October: creepy, over-the-top, a little bit gross (but not over-the-top), with a tiny bit of romance to add sweetness to the story. (less)

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Sep 27, 2011 Jessica Strider rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, horror

Pros: psychological horror, good set-up for a creepy climax

Cons: more swearing than I like

Paula Wittmore's mother falls ill after the death of a friend in the close knit community of Haven Woods. Another friend, Izzy, notifies the young woman and suggests that she and her daughter, Rowan, return to visit. But a special sisterhood there needs both Paula and Rowan in order to regain their number. And be their sacrifice.

This is my kind of horror novel, where you're given hints of what's really goin...more

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