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66th out of 810 books
—
1,274 voters
Bewitching Season (Leland Sisters #1)
by
Marissa Doyle (Goodreads Author)
In 1837 London, young daughters of viscounts pined for handsome, titled husbands, not careers. And certainly not careers in magic. At least, most of them didn’t.
Shy, studious Persephone Leland would far rather devote herself to her secret magic studies than enter society and look for a suitable husband. But right as the inevitable season for "coming out" is about to begin,...more
Shy, studious Persephone Leland would far rather devote herself to her secret magic studies than enter society and look for a suitable husband. But right as the inevitable season for "coming out" is about to begin,...more
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published
April 29th 2008
by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
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Nov 09, 2012
Jennifer Wardrip
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
trt-gold-star-award-winner,
trt-posted-reviews
Reviewed by Tasha for TeensReadToo.com
Persephone and Penelope Leeland are the twin daughters of a well-known English viscount and are getting ready to be thrown into their first season. While you couldn't tell the girls apart by looking at them, if you talked to them you would know that they are completely different.
All Penelope can talk about is the upcoming balls that the girls are planning on going to and the numerous gowns that she is going to wear. She loves all thoughts that have to do wi...more
Persephone and Penelope Leeland are the twin daughters of a well-known English viscount and are getting ready to be thrown into their first season. While you couldn't tell the girls apart by looking at them, if you talked to them you would know that they are completely different.
All Penelope can talk about is the upcoming balls that the girls are planning on going to and the numerous gowns that she is going to wear. She loves all thoughts that have to do wi...more
I really enjoyed this book; it wasn't perfect or an all time favorite, but it was still a pretty great read.
Pros:
1. Romantic. So, the romance was predictable, but it was still very fun to read. Lochinvar was suitably noble and passionate. :D
2. The conflict wasn't too unique - someone gets kidnapped, girls try to save kidnapee and uncover larger more serious situation. However, the magic, era, and setting pulled it off successfully and made it interesting.
Cons:
1. Persy would get very annoying wi...more
Pros:
1. Romantic. So, the romance was predictable, but it was still very fun to read. Lochinvar was suitably noble and passionate. :D
2. The conflict wasn't too unique - someone gets kidnapped, girls try to save kidnapee and uncover larger more serious situation. However, the magic, era, and setting pulled it off successfully and made it interesting.
Cons:
1. Persy would get very annoying wi...more
4 likes · like · see review
I *loved* the idea behind the book. I even liked the plot. I HATED Persephone, the twin this book focuses on. Her self-denigrating attitude gets old REAL fast.. within the first 50 pages or so. AND IT DOESN'T STOP. EVER. Most of the storytelling is her self-loathing monologues talking about how ugly she is (compared to her IDENTICAL twin), how lame she is, how she'll never be good enough. I wanted to scream through 90% of this book. I kept reading hoping she would gain her confidence (she didn't...more
4 likes · like · see review
Persephone and Penelope Leland are about to be thrust into their coming out season! These girls may look alike but that is as far as their likeness goes. They couldn’t be more different from each other. While Penelope can’t wait to start her season and longs for dancing at wondrous balls, Persephone would rather be reading a book or studying her magic.
But there is much more than their upcoming season that the girls must worry about. It seems that their governess, Ally is missing. They only clue...more
But there is much more than their upcoming season that the girls must worry about. It seems that their governess, Ally is missing. They only clue...more
Set in Regency England, this book follows twin witches Penelope and Persephone as they embark on their first Season. After their magic instructing governess is kidnapped, the two begin to investigate her disappearance, while also dealing with the social obligations of the ton. They eventually uncover a plot that threatens the royalty, their governess, and their own lives.
First off, I really enjoy Regency romance novels. I love Georgette Heyer. I know most of the words on the Regency Lexicon webs...more
First off, I really enjoy Regency romance novels. I love Georgette Heyer. I know most of the words on the Regency Lexicon webs...more
4 likes · like · see review
Mar 25, 2011
Clare Cannon
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
10-16 years (girls)
Shelves:
13-15yrs
"A good book to pick up for several hours of enjoyable escape".
Inspired by Austen and the Regency writers, this novel is set in England at the time when Victoria was Princess. In addition to the romantic appeal of seasons, balls, beaux and female friends (or competition), a layer of mystery is added by the introduction of magic.
The interesting and relatively original plot (as fairytales go) offers a sweet narrative that has some substance too. Friendship, honesty, honour and courage are all give...more
Inspired by Austen and the Regency writers, this novel is set in England at the time when Victoria was Princess. In addition to the romantic appeal of seasons, balls, beaux and female friends (or competition), a layer of mystery is added by the introduction of magic.
The interesting and relatively original plot (as fairytales go) offers a sweet narrative that has some substance too. Friendship, honesty, honour and courage are all give...more
Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle is a fun YA historical fiction of twins and magic set in pre-Victorian England. The twins, Persy and Pen are about to have their first season, which basically means they go to balls in pretty dresses and try to look for somebody to propose to them. The problem? Their governess who taught them how to use their magic gets kidnapped by this evil Irish dude.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
1 like · like · see review
Read my reviews at A Sakura Between Pages
Interesting story! I remember when I was in the library, I saw the title on the spine and decided that I need a bit of magic instead of all the werewolves, vampires, angels, etc. This book was a good break from all that.
Though I won't say that it was amazing, it was certainly very entertaining. I love the romance in it. (ah, the hopeless romanticist is surfacing again. Beware.) I can't help but grin when Persy and her love were together. It was just...more
Interesting story! I remember when I was in the library, I saw the title on the spine and decided that I need a bit of magic instead of all the werewolves, vampires, angels, etc. This book was a good break from all that.
Though I won't say that it was amazing, it was certainly very entertaining. I love the romance in it. (ah, the hopeless romanticist is surfacing again. Beware.) I can't help but grin when Persy and her love were together. It was just...more
This is a young adult Regency Romance.....with witchcraft! Normally it's the sort of book that I don't like but this debut book by this author was rather good. It has all the usual regency romance things- a season in London with its fancy balls, teas, presentation at court, etc, but it also has a mystery of sorts and then there's the magic. The heroines, twins Persy (Persephone) and Pen (Penelope) have inherited magic on their father's side of the family, which runs through the Leland females. N...more
Genre: Historical fiction, Victorian era, little bit of fantasy, little bit of romance.
Summary: Twins Penelope and Persephone (I don't know what it is about the Victorian Era books and their crazy names) are on the cusp of their first London Season. They are the same age as their idol, Princess Victoria, soon to be Queen. Persephone (Persy for short) is kind of a bookworm and painfully shy. She isn't looking forward to the balls and parties. Both girls are part of a magical heritage and their go...more
Summary: Twins Penelope and Persephone (I don't know what it is about the Victorian Era books and their crazy names) are on the cusp of their first London Season. They are the same age as their idol, Princess Victoria, soon to be Queen. Persephone (Persy for short) is kind of a bookworm and painfully shy. She isn't looking forward to the balls and parties. Both girls are part of a magical heritage and their go...more
I got this book originally before the release date and had planned to read it then, but school got in the way and I wasn't really involved in the novel when I first tried to read it. I got 30 pages in and couldn't really care about the characters or storyline or anything. But I'm glad I gave it a second chance because I ended up absolutely loving it and getting through it much faster. I really enjoyed the magical element thrown in to this historical fiction tale- it made it a lot more interestin...more
Basically I really enjoyed this book, which is very similar in feel to Patricia C. Wrede's Sorcery and Cecilia.
I do have one gripe, though, and that's about a couple of secondary characters who were terrible stereotypes. Persy and Pen are beautiful and noble-born girls who can look as high as they want for husbands. So the reader is just supposed to know that when Persy accidentally charms her first suitor, Fred, there's no way she could be interested in him because he's short, fat, sweaty, bori...more
I do have one gripe, though, and that's about a couple of secondary characters who were terrible stereotypes. Persy and Pen are beautiful and noble-born girls who can look as high as they want for husbands. So the reader is just supposed to know that when Persy accidentally charms her first suitor, Fred, there's no way she could be interested in him because he's short, fat, sweaty, bori...more
I was looking for a light and distracting read after a long week, so this was exactly what I needed. It's a YA historical romance/fantasy: Twins Persephone and Penelope have spent their childhoods being tutored in magic, among other things, by their governess Ally, but it's time to go to London for their first season. Penelope (Pen) is looking forward to it, while Persephone (Persy) wishes she could stay at home and study forever. Meanwhile, Ally has mysteriously disappeared....
The plot of this...more
The plot of this...more
I really wanted to love this book, but it fell flat about half way through. The beginning was brilliant, the lead up of the girl's introduction into fashionable society, the practice of magic with Ally and her resulting kidnapping, and the mystery about it all. Too bad that Persy decided to cast a spell on her love interest... that was one ridiculous plot arc... let's cast a spell on Lochinvar to make him fall in love with me when I'm drinking, feel bad once I sober up and distance myself from h...more
Persephone and Penelope Leland are excited to start their first season as eligible women in London. At least Penelope is. Persephone is nervous and besides, she'd much rather continue her studies in magic with their governess Ally.
The twin girls are witches as is their governess and in addition to their book and finishing training, Ally helps them to learn magic and how to use it responsibly. Things go horribly wrong however when Ally comes up missing a few short days before their coming out. Wh...more
The twin girls are witches as is their governess and in addition to their book and finishing training, Ally helps them to learn magic and how to use it responsibly. Things go horribly wrong however when Ally comes up missing a few short days before their coming out. Wh...more
The book Bewitching season is a historical fiction /fantasy based in 1837 the year queen Victoria took the thrown. I think the protagonists of the book are two girls named Persephone and Penelope Leland but everyone calls them Persy and Pen. The two girls are faced with their governess strangely disappearing and them having to attend society balls and events becuase they have become of age and have to be presented to society so they can find husbands.I think Pen and Persy have two totally differ...more
Seventeen-year-old identical twins Persephone "Persy" and Penelope "Pen" Leland are not quite like most upper-class young ladies in Victorian England. The girls were born with the gift of magic, and their governess, Miss Allardyce, or Ally as the girls call her, has educated them in the magical arts along with reading, writing, and history. Now the time has come for the girls' debut in London and their first season, where they will hopefully attract suitable husbands. Pen is eager to make her de...more
May 16, 2011
Jenna
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
lovers of Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot
This book is about two girls who are 'coming out' in the the British society. A difficult task in and of itself, but to tack on the all the gowns and gloves, the twin girls are witches, a feared art punishable by death. While dodging suitors and magical enemies, the girls, Persy and Pen struggle to establish themselves successfully in society while simultaneously uncovering a plot to take over the crown.
I thought this book was extremely refreshing after all the trash I have been reading. It was...more
I thought this book was extremely refreshing after all the trash I have been reading. It was...more
1 like · like · see review
If Jane Austen and J.K. Rowling coauthored a book, they would write something like Bewitching Seasons . In this novel, seventeen-year-old twins Persephone (Persy) and Penelope (Pen) Leland are about to begin their first London season when their beloved and magical governess, Miss Allardyce, is kidnapped. The Lelands receive a note from Miss Allardyce (Ally) explaining that she must tend to a family illness. The twins sense that the note is a cover story and start investigating her mysterious dis...more
Dec 02, 2012
Jori Richardson
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
teenage girls who adore fluffy historical chick-lit
Shelves:
fluffy-ridiculousness
A book that combines fantasy with historical fiction - the Harry Potter meets Jane Austen type of story that is no longer original and is now a genre within itself.
This book is average in every way - or less. The characters are okay. The historical setting was never a major part of the story, and quite obviously the author did not bother with all that much research, or focus on historical detail.
The plot was what I found the most aggravating about the book. For a children's/teen book, this one i...more
This book is average in every way - or less. The characters are okay. The historical setting was never a major part of the story, and quite obviously the author did not bother with all that much research, or focus on historical detail.
The plot was what I found the most aggravating about the book. For a children's/teen book, this one i...more
I really liked this book. There were enough descriptions of balls and dresses and such to give it a kind of... frilly (?) feel, but not so much that that was the entire main storyline. The actual plot was kinda weak; it was really secondary, in comparison to the romance.
Ah, the romance. It let the kinda scattered plot be acceptible. It was... well, it wasn't exactly unpredictable; I knew Persy and Lochinvar'd end up together. But the steps they went through, and the twists and turns... I was g...more
Ah, the romance. It let the kinda scattered plot be acceptible. It was... well, it wasn't exactly unpredictable; I knew Persy and Lochinvar'd end up together. But the steps they went through, and the twists and turns... I was g...more
Hmmm...what can I say about this book? Jane Austen meets J. K. Rowling? I plodded through the first part pretty much convinced I really didn't like it. Then yesterday evening I pulled it out to force myself to read a chapter or two and ended up finishing the entire book. It turned out to be an enjoyable if not very deep read. I think middle school romance readers (okay, girls) will like it. I give it 3.5 stars.
I thought it was interesting that the author's advice about writing was:
"Two things: D...more
I thought it was interesting that the author's advice about writing was:
"Two things: D...more
If you are looking for a good historical fantasy involving early 19th century England and magic I would recommend Sorcery and Cecelia, or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot or Kat, Incorrigible. This is not anywhere near as good. The heroine is about as full of life as a wet dead leaf. She is so utterly uninspiring I found myself actively hoping things would not go her way. I also found neither the magical storyline or the romance-in-high-society storyline to be done particularly well. It was a disappo...more
Set at the beginning of the Victorian era, Bewitching Season finds identical twins Persy (Persephone) and Pen (Penelope) Leland entering their first London season. The girls are beautiful, from a good family, and have impressive dowries, which should make it easy for them to find suitable husbands. However, they also share a big secret: women in the Leland family are known for being born with strong magical ability, and the twins are no exception.
When their governess - and magic teacher - Ally...more
When their governess - and magic teacher - Ally...more
Well, one can't help but compare this book to Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot, as it is very, very similar. The difference being Victorian England vs. Regency. However, it still had promise to be an amusing novel if not a unique one. The main downfall of the book was that the author relied on the main protagonist being extremely dim-witted to further the rather poorly developed plot line. This lessened the enjoyment of the book because in addition to rolling my eyes at various...more
I bought this because it seemed kind of like Harry Potter and was set during the 1800s in London. It's a little juvenile, but I think I'll stick with it, because so was the first Harry Potter. (First couple, really.)
It's about twin sisters Persephone and Penelope (okay, seriously, is it now be a rule that every historical fiction YA book have a character named Penelope--The Luxe series, this and The Season?), who have the ability to do magic. (Their governess gives them magic lessons on the down...more
It's about twin sisters Persephone and Penelope (okay, seriously, is it now be a rule that every historical fiction YA book have a character named Penelope--The Luxe series, this and The Season?), who have the ability to do magic. (Their governess gives them magic lessons on the down...more
Oct 03, 2009
Catherine
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
reviewed,
own-print-copy
With NaNo coming up I have been on a Victorian Era (and faerie) kick and been doing my best to read as much of these two types of (YA) fiction as I can. And in my search for Victorian Era young adult novels I came across a pair of novels called Bewitching Season and Betraying Season about a pair of twins about to embark into Victorian society while doing their best to hide that they are witches. I decided, "Well, why not?" and ordered it.
My decision paid off, as Bewitching Season turned out to b...more
My decision paid off, as Bewitching Season turned out to b...more
A nice addition to Regency romance and magic a la Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot Being the Correspondence of Two Young Ladies of Quality Regarding Various Magical Scandals in London and the Country. This is just a little later in time, involving the young Victoria mostly prior to her 18th birthday. Twins Persy and Pen, during their come out, cope with the kidnapping of their beloved governess AND foil a dastardly plot against Victoria. 4 1/2 stars for a fun first novel.
Read f...more
Read f...more
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Among the major disappointments in Marissa Doyle's first novel is her characters. Twins, Persephone (Persy) and Penelope (Pen), are up and coming witches preparing for their seasons in 1830s England. They are terribly annoying, careless, and pretty much oblivious to everything around them. The story revolves around the disappearance/kidnapping of their governess (who is also a witch), yet the two never seem to actually care about rescuing her until the end. A lead male, and love interest, is the...more
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I was born and raised in a family of readers (big surprise there) not far from the ocean. Okay, in Massachusetts it’s hard to not be far from the ocean. But on or near the water is where I’m happiest. It took me a long time as a toddler to figure out that I couldn’t breathe water as well as I do air. I did, mostly, and still live in Massachusetts, still spend a lot of time in and on the waters of...more
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“Charles stepped forward, looking outraged. 'Him?' he cried. 'But I clobbered him! You can't marry him, Ally.”
—
10 people liked it
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Jun 13, 2009 11:31am