Cassel comes from a family of curse workers — people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch o...
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reviews
Feb 11, 2012
Maja
rated it: 
4.5 stars
Holly Black, where have you been my whole life?
We are, largely, who we remember ourselves to be. That’s why habits are so hard to break. If we know ourselves to be liars, we expect not to tell the truth. If we think of ourselves as honest, we try harder.
But what happens when you are forced to doubt every single memory that makes you who you are?!
This book has definitely made it to my ‘top ten young adult books’ list. It came at the right time a More...
Holly Black, where have you been my whole life?
We are, largely, who we remember ourselves to be. That’s why habits are so hard to break. If we know ourselves to be liars, we expect not to tell the truth. If we think of ourselves as honest, we try harder.
But what happens when you are forced to doubt every single memory that makes you who you are?!
This book has definitely made it to my ‘top ten young adult books’ list. It came at the right time a More...
42 comments
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(38 people liked it)
Feb 09, 2012
Tatiana
rated it:
As seen on The Readventurer
Well, well, well. Color me surprised. Just when I decided never to read another Holly Black work again (due to our seemingly conflicting ideas about what good writing is), Emily's review of White Cat convinced me to give the author one final try. And, who knew, I really, really liked it. Actually, this book is one of the strongest YA UF novels I've ever read. I am not exactly sure what made Black change her writing style so drastically, but I won't be complai More...
Well, well, well. Color me surprised. Just when I decided never to read another Holly Black work again (due to our seemingly conflicting ideas about what good writing is), Emily's review of White Cat convinced me to give the author one final try. And, who knew, I really, really liked it. Actually, this book is one of the strongest YA UF novels I've ever read. I am not exactly sure what made Black change her writing style so drastically, but I won't be complai More...
26 comments
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(37 people liked it)
Dec 01, 2011
Cara
rated it:
If any of you are like me you are/were put off by the cover. It looks creepy, right? A guy with leather gloves holding a cat? How unappealing is that? Well after reading the book I know this cover fits the book completely, and the creepiness is probably part of the point. And the cover gives it a mafia feel, which is central to the whole order of the curse workers.
Anyways onto what's beyond the cover. Cassel at the moment is attending a private school, trying to forget some horrendou More...
Anyways onto what's beyond the cover. Cassel at the moment is attending a private school, trying to forget some horrendou More...
4 comments
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(8 people liked it)
Sep 19, 2011
Giselle
rated it:
It's safe to say that it's not the cover that attracted me to this book. I was actually quite surprised to see its many great reviews. Yes, I'm a book judger. Oh well. I picked this up as an audiobook and actually liked it a lot.
Some people are born as workers in Cassel's world. Workers can "work" people with their hands. By touching someone, they can alter their memory, kill, give good luck, bad luck. You name it. Cassel is the only one in his family who is not a worker. He' More...
Some people are born as workers in Cassel's world. Workers can "work" people with their hands. By touching someone, they can alter their memory, kill, give good luck, bad luck. You name it. Cassel is the only one in his family who is not a worker. He' More...
2 comments
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(13 people liked it)
Jun 30, 2011
Emilie
rated it:
white cat has a really fun film noir feel to it. reminiscent of many film noir protagonists, cassel is wandering around missing pieces of his own memory and trying to figure out who he is, what is real, and who he can trust as he works to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
white cat is a dark urban fantasy with mystery and adventure which takes place in an alternate contemporary united states in which magic is a part of the accepted and shared reality. and magic workers, or curse More...
white cat is a dark urban fantasy with mystery and adventure which takes place in an alternate contemporary united states in which magic is a part of the accepted and shared reality. and magic workers, or curse More...
6 comments
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(8 people liked it)
Aug 06, 2010
Jillian -always aspiring-
rated it:
Now, I'm going to be honest. I've never seen the appeal behind shows such as The Sopranos or even movies like The Godfather. They're just not my cup of tea. Thus, if you had tried to sell me White Cat by comparing it to The Sopranos, I would have told you, "No, thanks."
Enter Holly Black, imaginative writer behind books like Tithe (and its companion and sequel) and co-author of The Spiderwick Chronicles. Now, I liked her Faerie books, but they didn't 'wow' me as much as More...
Enter Holly Black, imaginative writer behind books like Tithe (and its companion and sequel) and co-author of The Spiderwick Chronicles. Now, I liked her Faerie books, but they didn't 'wow' me as much as More...
3 comments
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(28 people liked it)
May 31, 2011
Catie
rated it:
3 1/2 stars
I don’t know why I expected this book to be bad. Maybe I’ve read enough paranormal YA’s to have overload trauma flashbacks whenever the genre comes up. But guess what? This one is actually good! Chalk this one up as another triumph for goodreads recommendations.
I find the fantasy world that she builds here to be very compelling and intricate, and since the main character starts out the book very much out of the loop, the details are allowed to assemble and More...
I don’t know why I expected this book to be bad. Maybe I’ve read enough paranormal YA’s to have overload trauma flashbacks whenever the genre comes up. But guess what? This one is actually good! Chalk this one up as another triumph for goodreads recommendations.
I find the fantasy world that she builds here to be very compelling and intricate, and since the main character starts out the book very much out of the loop, the details are allowed to assemble and More...
10 comments
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(8 people liked it)
Dec 09, 2011
Janina
rated it:
Okay. This book has the word “cat“ in its title. How could I ever hesitate to read it?
Simply put, I was rather less enamoured of Holly Black's Modern Faerie Tales series and actually couldn't see myself picking up another one of her books. I had given her two chances, and she hadn't convinced me. Don't get me wrong, Tithe and Ironside certainly weren't bad, but I'm normally looking for something better than not bad. Positive reviews abound made me look closer into White Cat, though. More...
Simply put, I was rather less enamoured of Holly Black's Modern Faerie Tales series and actually couldn't see myself picking up another one of her books. I had given her two chances, and she hadn't convinced me. Don't get me wrong, Tithe and Ironside certainly weren't bad, but I'm normally looking for something better than not bad. Positive reviews abound made me look closer into White Cat, though. More...
7 comments
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(19 people liked it)
Feb 07, 2012
Heather
rated it: 
Meh. Time has been kind to my opinion of White Cat, but I’m still not over the moon for it as so many other readers/reviewers seem to be. I can’t really put my finger on what’s missing, there’s just this general hum of something lacking. Given that, I suppose I can only provide my pros and cons list and let you readers decide for yourself.
Strong points:
1. The concept. It’s unique, interesting, and really, never before seen in YA UF, which makes it fun and fresh.
2. Cassel More...
Strong points:
1. The concept. It’s unique, interesting, and really, never before seen in YA UF, which makes it fun and fresh.
2. Cassel More...
3 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 04, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Aug 29, 2010
David
rated it: 
Here is the link to my review on YA Book Reads -
http://yabookreads.com/blog/2010/08/21/w...
Enjoy =]
http://yabookreads.com/blog/2010/08/21/w...
Enjoy =]
3 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Oct 26, 2011
Emily
rated it:
4.5 stars
I really, really enjoyed pretty much everything about this book. An exciting mystery, memorable characters and a touch of magic... I can't express how excited I am about reading Red Glove as soon as possible.
Holly Black is an author that never really did anything for me before. I gave up on Tithe after reading just one chapter, and her Spiderwick Chronicles weren't bad children's books but they didn't really stand out from the masses either. White Cat was completely More...
I really, really enjoyed pretty much everything about this book. An exciting mystery, memorable characters and a touch of magic... I can't express how excited I am about reading Red Glove as soon as possible.
Holly Black is an author that never really did anything for me before. I gave up on Tithe after reading just one chapter, and her Spiderwick Chronicles weren't bad children's books but they didn't really stand out from the masses either. White Cat was completely More...
10 comments
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(15 people liked it)
Jan 22, 2012
Natalie (Mindful Musings)
rated it:
The first thing I have to say is that I'm surprised by just how much I enjoyed White Cat. I'd previously read (and reviewed) Holly Black's Modern Faerie Tale series, and while they were entertaining, I felt like they ranked pretty close to the average level when compared to all of the YA books I read.
White Cat provides a little something more. It's deeper and deals with darker themes. Black's writing style is good, but I've always thought that. What stood out to me in White Cat was t More...
White Cat provides a little something more. It's deeper and deals with darker themes. Black's writing style is good, but I've always thought that. What stood out to me in White Cat was t More...
2 comments
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(2 people liked it)
May 30, 2010
DarkHeart "Vehngeance"
rated it:
Holly Black's writing isn't for everyone, but I adore her ability to wrap the darker aspects of real life into her world of make believe. I love that things aren't easy for her characters, that life is complicated and the choices they make have repercussions.
I loved the idea of curse workers and a world where you're only safe from them by the virtue of gloves they wear. Additionally, I like that the book's protagonist, Cassell, is a male - as I only have a handful of male POVs in m More...
I loved the idea of curse workers and a world where you're only safe from them by the virtue of gloves they wear. Additionally, I like that the book's protagonist, Cassell, is a male - as I only have a handful of male POVs in m More...
0 comments
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(5 people liked it)
Jul 21, 2011
This book is lovely, I loved it. Some would say that this is a step down from the Tithe series, but I disagree. I adored this far more than Tithe and I only had one problem with this book.
THE BEGINNING WAS SO FREAKIN BORING.
Oh yes, it was very, very, very boring in the beginning. It seemed to drag and eventually, I became so uninterested that I put it aside for a while and read many other books. But then, the Library receipt glared at me. Reminding me of the horrors and torturo More...
THE BEGINNING WAS SO FREAKIN BORING.
Oh yes, it was very, very, very boring in the beginning. It seemed to drag and eventually, I became so uninterested that I put it aside for a while and read many other books. But then, the Library receipt glared at me. Reminding me of the horrors and torturo More...
4 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Aug 14, 2011
Kim
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jan 30, 2012
İlkim
rated it:
Kesinlikle çok orijinal bir kurgu. İşlenmesi de güzel. Ama sonunda Cassel'e bir hayli acıdım, acaba ikinci kitapta ne olacak çok merak ediyorum..
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Oct 06, 2011
Shannon
rated it:
Read #1
Started on April 8, 2011
Finished on April 12, 2011
Well played, Holly Black, well played.
Started on April 8, 2011
Finished on April 12, 2011
Well played, Holly Black, well played.
7 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Feb 11, 2012
Lucia
rated it:
Read the review at iLive, iLaugh, iLove Books.
Cassel Sharpe is the only non-worker in a family of notorious curse workers. Curse workers, once the most powerful, are now one of the lowest classes and must work for crime families to survive. Trying to remain "normal" by going to boarding school, things start turning strange when Cassel begins to sleepwalk and have confusing dreams. His brothers seem to be keeping something from him, and Cassel can't get over the guilt of havin More...
Cassel Sharpe is the only non-worker in a family of notorious curse workers. Curse workers, once the most powerful, are now one of the lowest classes and must work for crime families to survive. Trying to remain "normal" by going to boarding school, things start turning strange when Cassel begins to sleepwalk and have confusing dreams. His brothers seem to be keeping something from him, and Cassel can't get over the guilt of havin More...
16 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Sep 11, 2011
Brandy
rated it: 
SINOPSIS TRADUCIDA:
Cassel proviene de una familia de trabajadores "malditos" -personas que tienen el poder de cambiar sus emociones, sus recuerdos, su suerte, al mínimo contacto de sus manos. Y puesto que todo eso es ilegal, son mafiosos o estafadores. A excepción de Cassel. Él no tiene el "toque" mágico, así que es un extraño, un chico normal en una familia extraña. Sólo tienes que pasar por alto un pequeño detalle - que mató a su mejor amiga, Lila, hace tres años.
More...
Cassel proviene de una familia de trabajadores "malditos" -personas que tienen el poder de cambiar sus emociones, sus recuerdos, su suerte, al mínimo contacto de sus manos. Y puesto que todo eso es ilegal, son mafiosos o estafadores. A excepción de Cassel. Él no tiene el "toque" mágico, así que es un extraño, un chico normal en una familia extraña. Sólo tienes que pasar por alto un pequeño detalle - que mató a su mejor amiga, Lila, hace tres años.
More...
Aug 11, 2011
Maureen
rated it:
by Holly Black
Opening line--"I wake up barefoot, standing on cold slate tiles."
Okay, I really loved this book. It wasn't one of the pivotal reading experiences of my life, but it was smart, fun, and since I finished I've been thinking about it a lot, drawing comparisons to other books and generally marvelling at its awesomeness.
So here's the premise: In a world where working curses, or any sort of magic (but that seems synonymous with curses) is il More...
Opening line--"I wake up barefoot, standing on cold slate tiles."
Okay, I really loved this book. It wasn't one of the pivotal reading experiences of my life, but it was smart, fun, and since I finished I've been thinking about it a lot, drawing comparisons to other books and generally marvelling at its awesomeness.
So here's the premise: In a world where working curses, or any sort of magic (but that seems synonymous with curses) is il More...
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Oct 11, 2011
Heather
rated it:
WOW! This was such a great book! I haven't read any of Holly Black's other books. They are waiting patiently in my TBR stack. They'll be moving to the top. But the ideas in this book are totally original and mind blowing.
The first page of the book, first paragraph hooks you. "I wake up barefoot, standing on cold slate tiles. Looking dizzily down. I suck in a breath of icy air. Above me are stars. Below me, the bronze statue of Colonel Wallingford makes me realize I'm see More...
The first page of the book, first paragraph hooks you. "I wake up barefoot, standing on cold slate tiles. Looking dizzily down. I suck in a breath of icy air. Above me are stars. Below me, the bronze statue of Colonel Wallingford makes me realize I'm see More...
2 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Jan 12, 2012
Lindsay
rated it:
I can think of one word that sums up my feelings for this book: Delicious. Addictive. Strange. Evil. Twisted. Amazing. Okay, so that's more than one word but come on! Holly Black captured my heart with her Tithe series and I'm so mad at myself for waiting so long to read this book because she made me fall in love again.
Its been a long time since I've read a book that's impossible to put down. Everything was exciting and emotional and I not only love that in books, but I miss it too. More...
Its been a long time since I've read a book that's impossible to put down. Everything was exciting and emotional and I not only love that in books, but I miss it too. More...
4 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Aug 05, 2011
Seesen9
rated it:
More like 3.5 ★.
I struggled with this one. The beginning was promising, but is slowly became boring and unrealistic. I just couldn´t relate to Cassel or anyone else. It seemed to me that he just acts like he does (lying, stealing, deceiving) because he´s from a worker family and he wants to resemble them, although he isn’t worker himself. There were some brilliant ideas, they were just buried under layers of dull and unnecessary cons, sometimes even predictable. I almost ended up on 2★ More...
I struggled with this one. The beginning was promising, but is slowly became boring and unrealistic. I just couldn´t relate to Cassel or anyone else. It seemed to me that he just acts like he does (lying, stealing, deceiving) because he´s from a worker family and he wants to resemble them, although he isn’t worker himself. There were some brilliant ideas, they were just buried under layers of dull and unnecessary cons, sometimes even predictable. I almost ended up on 2★ More...
Apr 15, 2011
Emma
rated it:
Hands can become dangerous weapons with the right training. But what if the lightest touch was enough? What if a finger placed on bare skin could change a person's luck? What if it could make a person fall in love? What if it could transform them? What if it could steal a memory? What if a single, slight touch was enough to kill?
In a world where curse magic is real a bare hand is more dangerous than any weapon.
Working is illegal, of course, but that doesn't make it go awa More...
In a world where curse magic is real a bare hand is more dangerous than any weapon.
Working is illegal, of course, but that doesn't make it go awa More...
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
May 23, 2011
Krys
rated it:
This is my first time reading Holly Black... well, her young adult books anyway. I picked up White Cat yesterday and read it in two quick sittings. It was really absorbing.
The premise is pretty good. In the world Black creates magic was outlawed with prohibition years back and is now controlled by the mafia. In the hands of skilled con-artists Curse Working can be a real asset to the job. Cassel comes from such a family. He is the only one who is not able to work curses and, as a re More...
The premise is pretty good. In the world Black creates magic was outlawed with prohibition years back and is now controlled by the mafia. In the hands of skilled con-artists Curse Working can be a real asset to the job. Cassel comes from such a family. He is the only one who is not able to work curses and, as a re More...
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Jul 02, 2011
Stacia ~ platonic
rated it:
4.5 stars. What a fun surprise this book turned out to be. I was expecting a standard formula PNR, written in the gritty style that Holly Black seems to possess. White Cat was about as far removed from the typical angsty YA formula PNR as any other genre would be.
I loved the curse worker world that Ms. Black built. I loved that the main character was a male, which isn't as common in the PNR genre. I especially loved the mafia family vibe that this book was putting out. Nothing abo More...
I loved the curse worker world that Ms. Black built. I loved that the main character was a male, which isn't as common in the PNR genre. I especially loved the mafia family vibe that this book was putting out. Nothing abo More...
9 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Oct 25, 2011
"Cassel Sharpe tiene diecisiete años y asiste al colegio Wallingford. No tiene muchos amigos, pero se las apaña. Además, siempre saca algo de dinero como corredor de apuestas entre los estudiantes. En definitiva, es un chico… normal. El problema es precisamente ese: que no es un trabajador de maldiciones como el resto de su familia. Su madre, ahora encarcelada, es capaz de alterar las emociones con el leve roce del dedo en la piel de alguien. Su hermano Barron puede modificar la suerte
More...
Feb 19, 2012
Maggie
rated it:
I requested an ARC of this book awhile back, but since the publisher never sent me a confirmation email (which of course I was naïve enough to expect), I wasn’t exactly watching my mailbox for it. In fact, I was toying with the idea of pre-ordering a copy since it got such great reviews. Imagine my surprise and delight when my very own ARC came in the mail! Suffice to say it was devoured in a few sittings.
My favorite thing about this book was its world-building. From page one, Holl More...
My favorite thing about this book was its world-building. From page one, Holl More...
Feb 05, 2012
ǝnígmǝ
rated it:
I really like this book, I do. The characters were pretty cool and their abilities were awesome. It wasn’t too much power for too many people – I especially adore the whole concept of ‘blowback.’
And here comes the horrible ‘but’. It was great and all BUT – there, I said it – the world itself. I mean, I’m just thrown into Cassel’s world where, what? People use magic? It’s illegal in the States, or something? It’s not in Australia? People in South Korea are shot because they’re a Curs More...
And here comes the horrible ‘but’. It was great and all BUT – there, I said it – the world itself. I mean, I’m just thrown into Cassel’s world where, what? People use magic? It’s illegal in the States, or something? It’s not in Australia? People in South Korea are shot because they’re a Curs More...
