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Seriously Wicked #1
Seriously Wicked
The only thing worse than being a witch is living with one.
Camellia’s adopted mother wants Cam to grow up to be just like her. Problem is, Mom’s a seriously wicked witch.
Cam’s used to stopping the witch’s crazy schemes for world domination. But when the witch summons a demon, he gets loose—and into Devon, the cute new boy at school.
Now Cam’s suddenly got bigger problems than passing Algebra. Her friends are getting zombiefied. Their dragon is tired of hiding in the RV garage. For being a shy boy-band boy, Devon is sure kissing a bunch of girls. And a phoenix hidden in the school is going to explode on the night of the Halloween Dance.
To stop the demon before he destroys Devon’s soul, Cam might have to try a spell of her own. But if she’s willing to work spells like the witch...will that mean she’s wicked too?
Camellia’s adopted mother wants Cam to grow up to be just like her. Problem is, Mom’s a seriously wicked witch.
Cam’s used to stopping the witch’s crazy schemes for world domination. But when the witch summons a demon, he gets loose—and into Devon, the cute new boy at school.
Now Cam’s suddenly got bigger problems than passing Algebra. Her friends are getting zombiefied. Their dragon is tired of hiding in the RV garage. For being a shy boy-band boy, Devon is sure kissing a bunch of girls. And a phoenix hidden in the school is going to explode on the night of the Halloween Dance.
To stop the demon before he destroys Devon’s soul, Cam might have to try a spell of her own. But if she’s willing to work spells like the witch...will that mean she’s wicked too?
208 pages, Hardcover
First published May 5, 2015
About the author
Tina Connolly
62 books454 followersTina Connolly's books include the Ironskin trilogy (Tor), the Seriously Wicked series (Tor Teen), the collection On the Eyeball Floor (Fairwood Press), and the Choose Your Own Adventure Glitterpony Farm. She has been a finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, Norton, and World Fantasy awards. She co-hosts the science fiction podcast Escape Pod, runs the intermittent flash fiction podcast Toasted Cake, and is at tinaconnolly.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
August 10, 2016
3.5 stars but rounding it up because of the socks.^^
A delightful, quirky little book that reaches out to younger readers (and those young at heart, ahem!). In a charming, humorous voice, 15 year old Camellia or Cam tells the reader the woes of living with a super demanding witch while taking care of a dragon at her basement, trying to learn spells to save mankind (I didn’t know figuring out spells was a lot more difficult than solving algebraic equations!)
“If it is a Monday, use 1 oz of #12 and 18 units of #7. Else not, unless the date of the month adds up to 5 or is divisible 5.”
(There goes my dream of becoming a witch!)
…having to deal with a demon and not to mention, trying to tame her feelings for a cute boy band looking boy and all these things while she tries to be a regular teenager who simply wishes to pass her Algebra test.
It is a fast-paced, entertaining short novel that has the cutest premise and adventurous enough plot, oh and do you see that most adorable cover? I just couldn’t resist those socks and any girl reading upside down wearing those socks wins my heart round the clock!
I genuinely enjoyed this unique, cutesy novel and highly recommend it for a quick, fun and light reading. Thanks to Fatima's fantastic review that convinced me to read the book.^^
January 9, 2016
I was charmed by the cover and by the title of this book,and was captivated by my sister AJ's review as well but I'm sad to say that I was a bit disappointed. Not that I didn't like this book..I sure did 'cause it was a quick and enjoyable read, and there were some twists in the story that I didn't see coming. But I thought the plot wasn't totally great and I feel like something were missing,particularly at the ending..like it was a little out of the meadow(like it shouldn't have yet ended..unless there's a sequel). And then,the first two chapters were kind of slow..good thing it was a fast read.
However, the author obviously had a great sense of humor that molded the main character,CAMELLIA(Cam) into a snarky,clever,funny girl. It's this MC that made me like this book 'cause Cam is such a sweet,kind and very obedient niece to SARMINE(her adoptive wicked aunt). Cam has to do all the awful things her aunt wants her to do,she has to do all the chores and run errands for her aunt while she also goes to school..and she does all these things without complaint,'til one day..when her wicked aunt wanted to summon a demon that involved DEVON,the cute,shy boy-band in her school. Yeah,this is about witches,dragons,demons and magic! But not the paranormal way that I expected..But still,it really was a fun read!^^
However, the author obviously had a great sense of humor that molded the main character,CAMELLIA(Cam) into a snarky,clever,funny girl. It's this MC that made me like this book 'cause Cam is such a sweet,kind and very obedient niece to SARMINE(her adoptive wicked aunt). Cam has to do all the awful things her aunt wants her to do,she has to do all the chores and run errands for her aunt while she also goes to school..and she does all these things without complaint,'til one day..when her wicked aunt wanted to summon a demon that involved DEVON,the cute,shy boy-band in her school. Yeah,this is about witches,dragons,demons and magic! But not the paranormal way that I expected..But still,it really was a fun read!^^
May 16, 2019
Bingo A Thon: New to me author
Unexpected Read A Thon: Pick a book at random
Ok I'll keep this short. I didn't expect to like this and I didn't. I didn't buy it so that's the only thing that saved it from receiving 1 star. A friend had this book, never read it, had no plans to read it and gave it to me. I took because FREE BOOK but I knew I wouldn't like it.
There is nothing wrong with Seriously Wicked but it just wasn't for me. Its YA but it reads more like Middle Grade and I don't tend to like Middle Grade books. I'm sure a 12 year old would probably love it and I plan on donating it to my old Elementary school so others can enjoy it.
Seriously Wicked was just meh.
Unexpected Read A Thon: Pick a book at random
Ok I'll keep this short. I didn't expect to like this and I didn't. I didn't buy it so that's the only thing that saved it from receiving 1 star. A friend had this book, never read it, had no plans to read it and gave it to me. I took because FREE BOOK but I knew I wouldn't like it.
There is nothing wrong with Seriously Wicked but it just wasn't for me. Its YA but it reads more like Middle Grade and I don't tend to like Middle Grade books. I'm sure a 12 year old would probably love it and I plan on donating it to my old Elementary school so others can enjoy it.
Seriously Wicked was just meh.
April 30, 2015
It is so much fun to see an author you already love in a genre switch it up and write in a new genre and do just as well in it.
Connolly has created something quirky, fun, and completely entertaining in her new novel Seriously Wicked. I think I had a smile on my face the whole way through as we are introduced to Camellia and her crazy world full of magic, mayhem, and mischief.
Dragons, demons, werewolves, oh my! I think this fun read had a little bit of it all. Danger, romance, and a setting that entices you keep turning the pages wanting more adventures from Cam and more wickedness from the evil witch she is forced to live with.
This was by far one of the most fun, light hearted, well written reads I have read this year. Fans of Connolly won't want to miss out on read!
Connolly has created something quirky, fun, and completely entertaining in her new novel Seriously Wicked. I think I had a smile on my face the whole way through as we are introduced to Camellia and her crazy world full of magic, mayhem, and mischief.
Dragons, demons, werewolves, oh my! I think this fun read had a little bit of it all. Danger, romance, and a setting that entices you keep turning the pages wanting more adventures from Cam and more wickedness from the evil witch she is forced to live with.
This was by far one of the most fun, light hearted, well written reads I have read this year. Fans of Connolly won't want to miss out on read!
June 1, 2015
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/05/30/y...
I really enjoyed Seriously Wicked, though feel I should also preface my review with the note that I’m probably not the intended demographic for this book. Young Adult and Teen Fiction is a genre I dip into quite frequently, but I was initially thrown off a bit by this novel’s tone and writing style which felt skewed even younger, maybe preteen (back in Grade Five and Six, we were already reading books about high schoolers, so it’s possible). It took some adjusting, but once I was able to get used to the crushes on “boy-band boys” and girls named Sparkle, I felt I could give this one a shot. And really, it was a lot of fun. If it were possible to go back in time, I probably wouldn’t hesitate a second to hand this one off to my 11 or 12-year-old self.
The story begins with an introduction to our 15-year-old protagonist Camellia Anna Stella Hendrix, whose days consist of figuring out ways to foil her adopted witch mother’s plans for world domination, running around town collecting strange and sometimes disgusting ingredients for her magical spells, and all the while trying to pass her algebra test and not get distracted by the cute new boy in town. However, the witch Sarmine’s latest plot to take over the world by harnessing the power of a dying phoenix on the night of the big Halloween dance might complicate matters slightly.
Actually, scratch that. Matters are complicated by A LOT when Sarmine’s failed demon summoning session ends with the demon taking over the body of Devon, the aforementioned cute new boy in town. Now on top of not flunking algebra, Cam has to worry about getting the demon out of Devon and preventing the school getting destroyed. Can things get any worse? Well, yes, yes they can. Hunting down hidden phoenixes and chasing after demon-possessed boys is just the beginning.
As you can probably tell from its description and cover, Seriously Wicked is a fun, quirky book – emphasis on the quirky. Like I said, the story is probably geared more towards preteens or young teens, which might account for some of the silliness. It’s a very lighthearted and upbeat book, which means it’s probably good for providing some cheerful, innocent entertainment for folks of all ages. Its lightness and YA designation notwithstanding, the story actually has a lot of complexity, quite a few not-very-obvious twists and turns, as well as many instances of Cam finding very creative and outside-the-box solutions to her problems. Readers will adore Cam, whose quick thinking and determination can help get her out of any difficult situation, from dealing with high school mean girl cliques to procuring a source of goat’s blood for Sarmine’s spells.
My final verdict is, if you’re an older teen or adult looking for more age-appropriate reading, Seriously Wicked probably will feel too immature for you. However, yours truly did her best to put herself in a middle-grader’s shoes and was still able to find plenty to like about the book. Those curious about Tina Connolly’s work but aren’t into Children’s or YA fiction could probably check out her Ironskin series which is said to be quite good, and having read the second book Copperhead I can attest to that. If you don’t mind a cute, charming read that clocks out at just a tad over 200 pages though (so it’s also very quick), give this one a go.
I really enjoyed Seriously Wicked, though feel I should also preface my review with the note that I’m probably not the intended demographic for this book. Young Adult and Teen Fiction is a genre I dip into quite frequently, but I was initially thrown off a bit by this novel’s tone and writing style which felt skewed even younger, maybe preteen (back in Grade Five and Six, we were already reading books about high schoolers, so it’s possible). It took some adjusting, but once I was able to get used to the crushes on “boy-band boys” and girls named Sparkle, I felt I could give this one a shot. And really, it was a lot of fun. If it were possible to go back in time, I probably wouldn’t hesitate a second to hand this one off to my 11 or 12-year-old self.
The story begins with an introduction to our 15-year-old protagonist Camellia Anna Stella Hendrix, whose days consist of figuring out ways to foil her adopted witch mother’s plans for world domination, running around town collecting strange and sometimes disgusting ingredients for her magical spells, and all the while trying to pass her algebra test and not get distracted by the cute new boy in town. However, the witch Sarmine’s latest plot to take over the world by harnessing the power of a dying phoenix on the night of the big Halloween dance might complicate matters slightly.
Actually, scratch that. Matters are complicated by A LOT when Sarmine’s failed demon summoning session ends with the demon taking over the body of Devon, the aforementioned cute new boy in town. Now on top of not flunking algebra, Cam has to worry about getting the demon out of Devon and preventing the school getting destroyed. Can things get any worse? Well, yes, yes they can. Hunting down hidden phoenixes and chasing after demon-possessed boys is just the beginning.
As you can probably tell from its description and cover, Seriously Wicked is a fun, quirky book – emphasis on the quirky. Like I said, the story is probably geared more towards preteens or young teens, which might account for some of the silliness. It’s a very lighthearted and upbeat book, which means it’s probably good for providing some cheerful, innocent entertainment for folks of all ages. Its lightness and YA designation notwithstanding, the story actually has a lot of complexity, quite a few not-very-obvious twists and turns, as well as many instances of Cam finding very creative and outside-the-box solutions to her problems. Readers will adore Cam, whose quick thinking and determination can help get her out of any difficult situation, from dealing with high school mean girl cliques to procuring a source of goat’s blood for Sarmine’s spells.
My final verdict is, if you’re an older teen or adult looking for more age-appropriate reading, Seriously Wicked probably will feel too immature for you. However, yours truly did her best to put herself in a middle-grader’s shoes and was still able to find plenty to like about the book. Those curious about Tina Connolly’s work but aren’t into Children’s or YA fiction could probably check out her Ironskin series which is said to be quite good, and having read the second book Copperhead I can attest to that. If you don’t mind a cute, charming read that clocks out at just a tad over 200 pages though (so it’s also very quick), give this one a go.
September 12, 2015
3.5 stars
Although it falls somewhere on the line between middle grade and young adult fiction, Seriously Wicked is a very entertaining book for readers of all ages. In it, author Tina Connolly – known first and foremost for her Ironskin trilogy – allowed her imagination and her considerable sense of humor to run wild. The end result is a book that, despite being somewhat naïve and predictable, makes us laugh at every turn.
Camellia is a very reluctant witch’s apprentice, a fifteen-year-old forced to serve the witch but determined to thwart as many of her evil plots as she can. All Camellia wants is a normal life and normal friends, an existence that doesn’t include snakeskins, dragon’s milk and spells. Cam longs for her real parents or at least someone to love and appreciate her when all she gets from the witch are reprimands and more wicked demands.
Like once I refused to hold the neighbor’s cat so she could permanently mute its meow, and she turned me into fifteen hundred worms and made me compost the garden.
Seriously Wicked is a lighthearted read, very predictable in its development but entertaining nevertheless. We follow Camellia as she tries to stop the witch’s plan to overtake the city, save the new boy from demon possession and still keep up appearances with her teachers and friends. Camellia is reluctant to trust anyone despite having a few amazing people around her, but overall, I loved her for staying true to herself despite the witch’s overpowering presence.
The only thing that really missed the mark for me was the romance. I had my eye on a different boy for Camellia, even though she herself never gave him a second’s thought. I wanted someone whose appeal came from more than just his good looks, someone who was there for her, dependable and true. As the new boy, Devon was a bit of a mystery even before the demon possession and I didn’t get a clear picture of him until the end.
Seriously Wicked is appropriate for both middle grade and young adult readers. Although fairly short, it packs a lot of fun.
May 2, 2015
Forget about the vulnerable and righteous heroine of the stage musical Wicked. Think back to your childhood and the malevolent women of The Wizard of Oz, Disney’s Snow White, Baba Yaga, or Hansel and Gretel. Yes, that kind of witch. Now imagine she’s your adoptive mom. That’s the situation of Camellia “Cam” Hendrix, a 15-year-old high-school sophomore, in Tina Connolly’s Seriously Wicked.
Connolly has updated Anna Elizabeth Bennett’s Little Witch into a delightful tale for teen audiences — but with a fabulous twist. When Cam’s adoptive mother, Sarmine Scarabouche, summons the demon Estahoth, the demon ends up taking over the body of the new boy in town, Devon, a young man the smitten Cam describes as having band-boy blond hair and good looks. Her life already includes a werewolf cub, a dragon and spells that involve goat blood, but it suddenly gets even crazier. How can Cam free Devon? And how to send Estahoth back to the earth’s core where he came from?
I loved Connolly’s take on Cam’s life, a life full of extreme variants of every teen’s life: trying to hide any differences, uneasily navigating the whole boy-girl thing; ashamed of parents and determined to never be anything like them; discovering the importance of clever, strong, and reliable friends; finding your own place in a crazy, mixed-up world, realizing that Algebra II and magic have a lot in common (OK, maybe not that one). And maybe learning that, once in a while, your mom might have a decent idea or two. And that ending! So thrilling!
Readers, whether teens or not, will devour this book — well, like the werewolf cub devours those desiccated pet-shop pig’s ears. If you’ll pardon the pun, Cam will cast a real spell on you. I’m hoping Connolly is already working her magic on a sequel.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge in exchange for an honest review.
Connolly has updated Anna Elizabeth Bennett’s Little Witch into a delightful tale for teen audiences — but with a fabulous twist. When Cam’s adoptive mother, Sarmine Scarabouche, summons the demon Estahoth, the demon ends up taking over the body of the new boy in town, Devon, a young man the smitten Cam describes as having band-boy blond hair and good looks. Her life already includes a werewolf cub, a dragon and spells that involve goat blood, but it suddenly gets even crazier. How can Cam free Devon? And how to send Estahoth back to the earth’s core where he came from?
I loved Connolly’s take on Cam’s life, a life full of extreme variants of every teen’s life: trying to hide any differences, uneasily navigating the whole boy-girl thing; ashamed of parents and determined to never be anything like them; discovering the importance of clever, strong, and reliable friends; finding your own place in a crazy, mixed-up world, realizing that Algebra II and magic have a lot in common (OK, maybe not that one). And maybe learning that, once in a while, your mom might have a decent idea or two. And that ending! So thrilling!
Readers, whether teens or not, will devour this book — well, like the werewolf cub devours those desiccated pet-shop pig’s ears. If you’ll pardon the pun, Cam will cast a real spell on you. I’m hoping Connolly is already working her magic on a sequel.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2018
She says the auras help her tune into the universe—sure, whatever. When you’ve got a dragon in your garage, you’re in no position to judge.
This was a funny one. Not perfect and without a doubt not a life-changing experience, but it was entertaining, easy to read and short enough to get through it without the frustration of having to finish a book you don't particularly adore.
Still definitely better than the last two books I've read anyway...
The writing is simple yet hilarious, and so are the characters and the whole plot, but the thing I loved the most was the way magic and witchcraft were approached.
Witchipedia and a pet dragon? Yes, yes, yes. YES.
Also, that cover is impossibly cute.
Like I said, it didn't change my life in the slightest, but I had fun and sometimes that's all that matters :D
December 26, 2015
This review will also be posted on both of my blogs:
https://fafasbookcorner.wordpress.com/
http://fafasbookcorner.blogspot.ca/
Beware spoilers ahead!
Let me start by saying that I really missed reading a hard copy versus and E-ARC. You can imagine my joy when I started reading this one (I bought it)! I'm going to be honest and say that I thought this would be a 3 star. Usually books that are light, fluffy and funny are 3 stars. But I was wrong. Considering the size of this book (it's really small) I was surprised that the author managed to weave in an excellent plot! With that in mind and how much I enjoyed it I gave it a 5 star.
Cam hates living with her adopted mother Sarmine whom she calls 'The Witch'. She wants nothing to do with the witches crazy spells nor does she want to help her getting her ingredients. But alas the witch has some severe punishments (turning her hands into noodles) and therefore she does not have a choice. The only thing she has managed to do which the witch does not approve off is going to human school.
While waiting for at the bus stop in the morning, Cam sees this boy mumbling to himself. When it's time to get into the bus one of the witches burning feathers is still on fire and the boy pours his water bottle on her backside to stop the fire.
The witch wants to summon a demon for the sake of world domination. Cam tries to come up with ways to ruin the spell. It does not work. Every time she thought she wouldn't get the witches ingredients she felt her body go numb due to a spell by the witch.
The boy from the bus incident saved her a seat on the bus in a way of apologizing pouring water on her backside. His name is Devon. The two quickly become friends. Devon agrees to give Cam a pig ear 'for her dog to chew on'. They agree to meet in ten minutes.
When Cam gets in her house she finds that the witch has prepared to summon the demon. She is horrified then points out to the witch the she didn't get the pig ears. To which the witch reveals the pig ear is actually for their dog. In the middle of all this Cam forgets that she promised to meet Devon.
Once the demon is summoned he does not take too nicely to being put in a mannequin. He tries taking Cam's body but the witch stops him. Then Devon shows up pig ears and all. The demon lunges for him and takes over his body instead. Cam and the witch try getting the demon to come out but he runs away. Furious Cam blames the entire thing on the witch and asks what to do. The witch tells her to help the demon get what she has requested that way the demon will be sure to leave faster.
The only thing that I didn't like was how Cam kept on blaming the witch for Devon getting taken over. Even though it was also her fault. I let this slide because I really enjoyed the book.
I could understand why Cam did not like the witch. The way she treated Cam was unacceptable. Although in the end the witch wasn't that bad. She just took it overboard when it came to punishing Cam.
I liked all the characters in this book. Partly because of the size (it was only 208 pages) they all played an important role in the story. Even the mean girl Sparkle as well as Kelvin (he provides Cam goat blood). I especially liked how Cam calmly explained that she was different than the witch and that the witch would just have to live with that. Specifically what I liked was how the witch and Cam's relationship improved. The revelation between the relation of the witch and Cam was actually shocking. I really did not see that coming. Cam's relationship with Moonfire (the dragon) and Jenah (her best friend) were really sweet to read about. I also enjoyed the romance. While the demon was in Devon it was nice to see how he grew as a character. He was more confident and simply grew. I can't really explain it. You'll just have to read it to see for yourself's.
Overall this was a fun read! I would recommend this book to fans of Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
https://fafasbookcorner.wordpress.com/
http://fafasbookcorner.blogspot.ca/
Beware spoilers ahead!
Let me start by saying that I really missed reading a hard copy versus and E-ARC. You can imagine my joy when I started reading this one (I bought it)! I'm going to be honest and say that I thought this would be a 3 star. Usually books that are light, fluffy and funny are 3 stars. But I was wrong. Considering the size of this book (it's really small) I was surprised that the author managed to weave in an excellent plot! With that in mind and how much I enjoyed it I gave it a 5 star.
Cam hates living with her adopted mother Sarmine whom she calls 'The Witch'. She wants nothing to do with the witches crazy spells nor does she want to help her getting her ingredients. But alas the witch has some severe punishments (turning her hands into noodles) and therefore she does not have a choice. The only thing she has managed to do which the witch does not approve off is going to human school.
While waiting for at the bus stop in the morning, Cam sees this boy mumbling to himself. When it's time to get into the bus one of the witches burning feathers is still on fire and the boy pours his water bottle on her backside to stop the fire.
The witch wants to summon a demon for the sake of world domination. Cam tries to come up with ways to ruin the spell. It does not work. Every time she thought she wouldn't get the witches ingredients she felt her body go numb due to a spell by the witch.
The boy from the bus incident saved her a seat on the bus in a way of apologizing pouring water on her backside. His name is Devon. The two quickly become friends. Devon agrees to give Cam a pig ear 'for her dog to chew on'. They agree to meet in ten minutes.
When Cam gets in her house she finds that the witch has prepared to summon the demon. She is horrified then points out to the witch the she didn't get the pig ears. To which the witch reveals the pig ear is actually for their dog. In the middle of all this Cam forgets that she promised to meet Devon.
Once the demon is summoned he does not take too nicely to being put in a mannequin. He tries taking Cam's body but the witch stops him. Then Devon shows up pig ears and all. The demon lunges for him and takes over his body instead. Cam and the witch try getting the demon to come out but he runs away. Furious Cam blames the entire thing on the witch and asks what to do. The witch tells her to help the demon get what she has requested that way the demon will be sure to leave faster.
The only thing that I didn't like was how Cam kept on blaming the witch for Devon getting taken over. Even though it was also her fault. I let this slide because I really enjoyed the book.
I could understand why Cam did not like the witch. The way she treated Cam was unacceptable. Although in the end the witch wasn't that bad. She just took it overboard when it came to punishing Cam.
I liked all the characters in this book. Partly because of the size (it was only 208 pages) they all played an important role in the story. Even the mean girl Sparkle as well as Kelvin (he provides Cam goat blood). I especially liked how Cam calmly explained that she was different than the witch and that the witch would just have to live with that. Specifically what I liked was how the witch and Cam's relationship improved. The revelation between the relation of the witch and Cam was actually shocking. I really did not see that coming. Cam's relationship with Moonfire (the dragon) and Jenah (her best friend) were really sweet to read about. I also enjoyed the romance. While the demon was in Devon it was nice to see how he grew as a character. He was more confident and simply grew. I can't really explain it. You'll just have to read it to see for yourself's.
Overall this was a fun read! I would recommend this book to fans of Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
August 31, 2015
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this novel. I had high hopes for this Middle-Grade magic filled read, but the writing style was not up to par. I've read other books with similar themes that I enjoyed more.
June 15, 2015
Plain and dull characters, the story line was okay... I guess is due to my reading slump :(
April 28, 2015
Seriously Wicked was a light, and quirky young adult book. It wasn't quite five star material but I also can't say anything bad about it because I really enjoyed it a lot.
Although initially the main character Camellia "Cam" is not a witch (or so she thinks), this book reminded me about how much I love reading about witches. And the fact that is was written in such a fun way made it all the more appealing to me.
I really liked Cam. Unlike most YA female characters I have read about, she wasn't whiny and irritating. I was impressed by how she juggled her normal world - school and friends but also the world in which she lived with who she calls "the witch". Being a teenager is hard enough without having to do all those things.
There was a little bit of romance in it but I felt it was more on the side and it was very sweet. I really liked the love interest, Devon. Something that happened to him sure made things interesting. Another character I liked was Cam's best friend Jenah. She was definitely fun to read about.
Other than that this book had some other magical creatures. We're talking about demons, dragons, phoenix and even pixies! I loved that!
So what can I say more than I loved this book? I really enjoy reading fun, quick books like Seriously Wicked and I'm sure it will really speak to the young adult crowd. It was a joy to read and it made me laugh quite a lot. Highly recommended!
Although initially the main character Camellia "Cam" is not a witch (or so she thinks), this book reminded me about how much I love reading about witches. And the fact that is was written in such a fun way made it all the more appealing to me.
I really liked Cam. Unlike most YA female characters I have read about, she wasn't whiny and irritating. I was impressed by how she juggled her normal world - school and friends but also the world in which she lived with who she calls "the witch". Being a teenager is hard enough without having to do all those things.
There was a little bit of romance in it but I felt it was more on the side and it was very sweet. I really liked the love interest, Devon. Something that happened to him sure made things interesting. Another character I liked was Cam's best friend Jenah. She was definitely fun to read about.
Other than that this book had some other magical creatures. We're talking about demons, dragons, phoenix and even pixies! I loved that!
So what can I say more than I loved this book? I really enjoy reading fun, quick books like Seriously Wicked and I'm sure it will really speak to the young adult crowd. It was a joy to read and it made me laugh quite a lot. Highly recommended!
June 15, 2015
3.5/
Mon avis en Français
My English review
I had a great time with Tina Connolly and her adult fantasy books and it’s true that when I saw that she was trying a new genre, which is more young adult, and featuring witches I couldn’t help but be intrigued again. It must be said that witches are always an intriguing theme and I was curious to see how the author would stage them here.
Camellia is a girl who lives with her witch « aunt ». But now, this woman is not really her aunt and our heroine is actually rather the stooge of the lady, constantly trying to find her the ingredients for her spells and assisting her when requested. Moreover, since Cam disappoints her for anything, she has the right to be punished by a sentence worthy of a true wicked witch. You can surely understand that in these conditions, the girl does not want to become like her aunt and instead focuses on her work at school and on her algebra test that she has just failed. But her life will change when the witch decides to summon a demon to find a phoenix and that the demon decides to take up residence in the body of Devon, the new cute boy from school. Therefore, Cam will have to try to find the solution to this problem and to save the young man she likes a lot. Alas, for that, it is possible that she needs to become a real witch too.
I enjoyed the story. It was cute to follow Cam and to understand what she suffered at home. We understand her mixed feelings towards her aunt and yet the author holds many surprises, especially at the end of the novel. Oh yes, because it was not really something I expected but it allows us to understand more some of the events. No I will not reveal the truth, but I thought it was really good found. But Cam is also a resourceful young girl who hopes to excel in school and everywhere ans she especially hopes to become a good person. Her story with Devon is pretty cute, she really cares for the boy and it’s true that the demon seems really good to possess the young man by making him comply with his decisions.
To conclude, it was a very nice little story that I enjoyed discovering. Just know that the novel is not very long in itself, but I had a nice time.
Mon avis en Français
My English review
I had a great time with Tina Connolly and her adult fantasy books and it’s true that when I saw that she was trying a new genre, which is more young adult, and featuring witches I couldn’t help but be intrigued again. It must be said that witches are always an intriguing theme and I was curious to see how the author would stage them here.
Camellia is a girl who lives with her witch « aunt ». But now, this woman is not really her aunt and our heroine is actually rather the stooge of the lady, constantly trying to find her the ingredients for her spells and assisting her when requested. Moreover, since Cam disappoints her for anything, she has the right to be punished by a sentence worthy of a true wicked witch. You can surely understand that in these conditions, the girl does not want to become like her aunt and instead focuses on her work at school and on her algebra test that she has just failed. But her life will change when the witch decides to summon a demon to find a phoenix and that the demon decides to take up residence in the body of Devon, the new cute boy from school. Therefore, Cam will have to try to find the solution to this problem and to save the young man she likes a lot. Alas, for that, it is possible that she needs to become a real witch too.
I enjoyed the story. It was cute to follow Cam and to understand what she suffered at home. We understand her mixed feelings towards her aunt and yet the author holds many surprises, especially at the end of the novel. Oh yes, because it was not really something I expected but it allows us to understand more some of the events. No I will not reveal the truth, but I thought it was really good found. But Cam is also a resourceful young girl who hopes to excel in school and everywhere ans she especially hopes to become a good person. Her story with Devon is pretty cute, she really cares for the boy and it’s true that the demon seems really good to possess the young man by making him comply with his decisions.
To conclude, it was a very nice little story that I enjoyed discovering. Just know that the novel is not very long in itself, but I had a nice time.
January 8, 2018
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This book is just plain cute. It’s one of those books that’s perfect for the younger YA set (I don’t think there are enough of those) but has enough appeal for older YA readers as well. The magic in this book is pure fun—it never takes itself too seriously—and it makes me glad I don’t have to go grocery shopping for potion supplies. If you’re looking for a lighter YA read with a paranormal twist, this is a great series for you!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via BEA16 in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
This book is just plain cute. It’s one of those books that’s perfect for the younger YA set (I don’t think there are enough of those) but has enough appeal for older YA readers as well. The magic in this book is pure fun—it never takes itself too seriously—and it makes me glad I don’t have to go grocery shopping for potion supplies. If you’re looking for a lighter YA read with a paranormal twist, this is a great series for you!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via BEA16 in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
November 16, 2017
This was very entertaining. I liked the main character and how tries to stand for good and stay clear of witchcraft. But I also like that by the end of the story, she comes into her own and understands that she can be a good witch too. A very enjoyable read.
March 17, 2016
was ok, some brilliant pieces but some so really boring and cliche parts, but the dragon, the dragon was brilliant, there were only like 2 paragraphs of it, that made me give the book 3 instead of 2, beautiful. the witch was ok too and the best friend, actually everyone around other than the main character i really liked! the main character not so much, she had some ok parts, but not many. a 4 star story lost in a 2 star, is what i felt.
May 4, 2015
This book was just plain fun. Review to come @ PleaseFeedTheBookworm.com
October 22, 2015
This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Rreviews Review
Seriously Wicked is a very fun and light read—it is very enjoyable.
I was drawn in by the cover and the title. Those two aspects made me want to read the book. While the first 50 pages were slow and kind of dragging, it picked up speed right after that and I was drawn by the story itself. Camellia is a funny character, even sarcastic at times. She lives with her adoptive mom, who turns out to be a witch and she believes Camellia will one day be able to do magic. All the while, Camellia has to deal with dragons, pixies and demons without any magic! Oh and they don't use Wikipedia or the Internet. Nope, the witches use Witchipedia and WitchNet! How cool is it that the author came up with that?!
For the first time in a while, I read about a YA character that doesn't whine! I was pleasantly surprised! Camellia is a very strong and, I would say an independent girl. I would also say she is mature for her age. I mean, she is struggling with school, especially Math, and she is dealing with stopping a demon and the witch. While doing all of that, she doesn't whine or is irritating to read about.
The secondary characters are actually fun. I love Jenah! The way she talks is kind of weird but it's fun at the same time. Then there's Kelvin, Camellia's Math tutor. He is super sweet but gets kind of creepy when he talks in a robotic voice. Still, he is fun. Sarmine, the witch, stresses me out so much!!! But I actually liked her character. It was definitely interesting to read about.
I love books that have romance. Usually, if there is a book that doesn't have romance, I don't read it (I'm picky). But with Seriously Wicked, you know it's there but it is not the focal point, which actually made the story much more interesting. I think this book is perfect for young adult readers, I would even say middle graders because it is very easy to understand and it is fun! I really recommend it for the young crowd.
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Seriously Wicked is a very fun and light read—it is very enjoyable.
I was drawn in by the cover and the title. Those two aspects made me want to read the book. While the first 50 pages were slow and kind of dragging, it picked up speed right after that and I was drawn by the story itself. Camellia is a funny character, even sarcastic at times. She lives with her adoptive mom, who turns out to be a witch and she believes Camellia will one day be able to do magic. All the while, Camellia has to deal with dragons, pixies and demons without any magic! Oh and they don't use Wikipedia or the Internet. Nope, the witches use Witchipedia and WitchNet! How cool is it that the author came up with that?!
For the first time in a while, I read about a YA character that doesn't whine! I was pleasantly surprised! Camellia is a very strong and, I would say an independent girl. I would also say she is mature for her age. I mean, she is struggling with school, especially Math, and she is dealing with stopping a demon and the witch. While doing all of that, she doesn't whine or is irritating to read about.
The secondary characters are actually fun. I love Jenah! The way she talks is kind of weird but it's fun at the same time. Then there's Kelvin, Camellia's Math tutor. He is super sweet but gets kind of creepy when he talks in a robotic voice. Still, he is fun. Sarmine, the witch, stresses me out so much!!! But I actually liked her character. It was definitely interesting to read about.
I love books that have romance. Usually, if there is a book that doesn't have romance, I don't read it (I'm picky). But with Seriously Wicked, you know it's there but it is not the focal point, which actually made the story much more interesting. I think this book is perfect for young adult readers, I would even say middle graders because it is very easy to understand and it is fun! I really recommend it for the young crowd.
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Tour Schedule
Week One:
4/27/2015- Pandora's Books- Interview
4/28/2015- Bookfever- Review
4/29/2015- On Starships and Dragonwings- Guest Post
4/30/2015- Latte Nights Reviews - Review
5/1/2015- Bookhounds ya- Interview
Week Two:
5/4/2015- The Midnight Society- Review
5/5/2015- Alice Marvels - Guest Post
5/6/2015- Book Briefs- Review
5/7/2015- Bittersweet Enchantment- Interview
5/8/2015- Stories & Sweeties- Review
May 6, 2015
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
Seriously Wicked is a young adult paranormal book that is full of spells and witchy fun. It is a on the younger end of young adult, but I think it will appeal to fans of all ages looking for a quick and light read that is all kinds of fun. Cam is not a witch, but she is raised by one. And not the nicest of witches either, she has Cam working as her personal assistant basically- always making her run crazy errands and and fulfill zany requests. I loved the tone of Seriously Wicked. It was funny and irreverent and Cam is great.
She is not overly dramatic like most teenagers her age, and she doesn't fall in any traps that the mean girls lay for her. I just really liked her good attitude. And trust me, living with the witch, I would understand a little bitterness or drama coming from her but it was like a breath of fresh air to not have it. Seriously Wicked is a quick read- at just about 200 pages, you can knock it out in a couple of hours. But I also think the shorter length will attract some younger readers, which is great. This would be a good transition book for tweens looking to step up from middle grade.
I loved how Cam explained the way witches lay out their spells. I thought that was great. Like logic problems. And I liked that the witch actually surprised me. When I started the book I had it pretty ingrained in my head the way that she was going to be, but I think readers will enjoy where Tina Connelly takes us on this tale. There are lots of paranormal creature appearances to keep you flipping the pages with interest, and even a sprinkle of romance throughout. Overall this was a fun read. Somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars, but it was just so cute that I have to round up. For those looking for a lighthearted paranormal book, check out Seriously Wicked. It is seriously fun.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Seriously Wicked is a young adult paranormal book that is full of spells and witchy fun. It is a on the younger end of young adult, but I think it will appeal to fans of all ages looking for a quick and light read that is all kinds of fun. Cam is not a witch, but she is raised by one. And not the nicest of witches either, she has Cam working as her personal assistant basically- always making her run crazy errands and and fulfill zany requests. I loved the tone of Seriously Wicked. It was funny and irreverent and Cam is great.
She is not overly dramatic like most teenagers her age, and she doesn't fall in any traps that the mean girls lay for her. I just really liked her good attitude. And trust me, living with the witch, I would understand a little bitterness or drama coming from her but it was like a breath of fresh air to not have it. Seriously Wicked is a quick read- at just about 200 pages, you can knock it out in a couple of hours. But I also think the shorter length will attract some younger readers, which is great. This would be a good transition book for tweens looking to step up from middle grade.
I loved how Cam explained the way witches lay out their spells. I thought that was great. Like logic problems. And I liked that the witch actually surprised me. When I started the book I had it pretty ingrained in my head the way that she was going to be, but I think readers will enjoy where Tina Connelly takes us on this tale. There are lots of paranormal creature appearances to keep you flipping the pages with interest, and even a sprinkle of romance throughout. Overall this was a fun read. Somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars, but it was just so cute that I have to round up. For those looking for a lighthearted paranormal book, check out Seriously Wicked. It is seriously fun.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
May 22, 2015
This book had me from the first lines:
"I was mucking out the dragon's garage when the witch's text popped up on my phone. BRING ME A BIRD."
Connolly has written a YA book that is genuinely funny, witty, and bright. She captures teenage angst without making it annoying. Cam is easy to relate to. She's being raised by a witch but she doesn't want to have anything to do with magic, except for the chore she loves: tending to the dragon in the garage. When the new boy in the neighborhood ends up possessed by a demon (whoops), Cam does everything she can to save his soul while simultaneously studying for her algebra exam.
Seriously Wicked came out just a few weeks ago. I wanted to be sure to read it before I passed it along to my niece as a birthday gift. I'll do that now, gladly. For all the dark themes it skirts, it's still a joy-filled book, and I hope it can brighten my niece's day, too. If she's like me, it'll take a mere day to zoom through. I didn't want to put the book down!
"I was mucking out the dragon's garage when the witch's text popped up on my phone. BRING ME A BIRD."
Connolly has written a YA book that is genuinely funny, witty, and bright. She captures teenage angst without making it annoying. Cam is easy to relate to. She's being raised by a witch but she doesn't want to have anything to do with magic, except for the chore she loves: tending to the dragon in the garage. When the new boy in the neighborhood ends up possessed by a demon (whoops), Cam does everything she can to save his soul while simultaneously studying for her algebra exam.
Seriously Wicked came out just a few weeks ago. I wanted to be sure to read it before I passed it along to my niece as a birthday gift. I'll do that now, gladly. For all the dark themes it skirts, it's still a joy-filled book, and I hope it can brighten my niece's day, too. If she's like me, it'll take a mere day to zoom through. I didn't want to put the book down!
May 10, 2015
This charming YA fantasy isn't deep--and yet by the end, I felt really connected with the characters (and my inner awkward teenager). It's a fun, fast read.
November 30, 2018
Rating this book is hard. It’s cute, and silly and more then a little stupid. But it was so much fun to read.... but I can’t give it 4 stars. It was just too stupid. So I’m thinking 3.75. Because it was cute and fun to read.
May 28, 2018
A cute book. More suited to a high school girl, since the main character is a teen and the situations are young. I still enjoyed the humor and the witchery.
July 18, 2015
When I first saw the cover and read the synopsis for the book, I knew that what I'd be getting was something quick and fun. And it was, but more than that it was ridiculous. Something that is funny and light-hearted should still have some depth, and maybe even an intricate plot. Seriously Wicked had neither. Almost nothing in the novel was portrayed in a realistic manner, and it was hard to get invested in the story. Before reading, I was excited to know that there would be some otherworldly creatures in the book, but neither the werewolves, dragons, or llama unicorns - I totally just said that - were believably presented. This book turned out to be such a huge disappointment.
While reading, and even when I think back on it, the book felt like a Disney Channel movie. It has cutesy characters that lack any sort of importance or complexity, and it had a very predictable plot with an overused moral. The first few pages of the novel held promise, but after that it devolved into something so childlike I couldn't stand it. Even though the world was in danger, the main character, Cam, was too busy worrying about whether or not Devon, the boy she had a crush on, returned her feelings and being jealous about all the people he kissed even though she knew he had been harboring a demon at the time. Like, hello? Somebody needs to get her priorities straight. Nothing in the book connected with me in any way, and it was hard to believe that these characters were in high school - they sure didn't act like it.
I know that one of the main reasons I first added this book to my TBR was because of the romance. I thought it would be interesting how a teen romance would play out when the love interest had a demon inside of him. While it was fun seeing Devon go from cute band boy to arrogant, confident, hot boy, I felt like there was no real purpose to any of it while I was reading. Besides, the transformation was barely surface deep and stopped interesting me after the first two times I saw him. I was actually surprised the romance didn't end up having more to it since at the beginning it had seemed so much more promising. At the end though, I realized the romance barely made sense. The first time we meet Devon, he barely glances at Cam, but a short while after that they can't stop staring at each other. There are a few less than meaningful moments between her and demon Devon throughout the rest of the book, and suddenly at the end they're basically an official thing. Ummmm, no. Maybe this would have played out better in a tween movie, but it didn't work out at all in the novel.
The most significant thing I found about this book was the one plot twist that took place closer to the end of the novel, and even that I had seen coming from a mile away. There seemed to be little clues throughout the novel scattered here and there, so when the moment comes that the witch's biggest secret is revealed, the reader isn't even surprised. Besides, I found the magic-filled reasoning behind that plot twist rather unbelievable. Everything had too easy an explanation, and some things didn't even have one. I feel that the purpose of the story was to tell Cam's coming-of-age, but I don't feel that she really grew. She stopped being ashamed of who she was and she began to trust her friend more than she ever did before, but underneath, she remained the same exact person. Maybe I'm too old for this book, I don't know, but I just didn't enjoy it.
My biggest problem with the novel as a whole is that the tone of the story and the lack of dimension to the characters made this feel like anything but a Young Adult book. The storyline and other aspects made it feel like more of a Middle Grade read than anything, and even after coming to that conclusion I find it doubtful whether I ever would have been amused by a book such as this one. The immature voice, the simple characters, and the bizarre running around occurring throughout the plot made Seriously Wicked a hard book to take pleasure in, and maybe one that I'd recommend to an elementary schooler.
While reading, and even when I think back on it, the book felt like a Disney Channel movie. It has cutesy characters that lack any sort of importance or complexity, and it had a very predictable plot with an overused moral. The first few pages of the novel held promise, but after that it devolved into something so childlike I couldn't stand it. Even though the world was in danger, the main character, Cam, was too busy worrying about whether or not Devon, the boy she had a crush on, returned her feelings and being jealous about all the people he kissed even though she knew he had been harboring a demon at the time. Like, hello? Somebody needs to get her priorities straight. Nothing in the book connected with me in any way, and it was hard to believe that these characters were in high school - they sure didn't act like it.
I know that one of the main reasons I first added this book to my TBR was because of the romance. I thought it would be interesting how a teen romance would play out when the love interest had a demon inside of him. While it was fun seeing Devon go from cute band boy to arrogant, confident, hot boy, I felt like there was no real purpose to any of it while I was reading. Besides, the transformation was barely surface deep and stopped interesting me after the first two times I saw him. I was actually surprised the romance didn't end up having more to it since at the beginning it had seemed so much more promising. At the end though, I realized the romance barely made sense. The first time we meet Devon, he barely glances at Cam, but a short while after that they can't stop staring at each other. There are a few less than meaningful moments between her and demon Devon throughout the rest of the book, and suddenly at the end they're basically an official thing. Ummmm, no. Maybe this would have played out better in a tween movie, but it didn't work out at all in the novel.
The most significant thing I found about this book was the one plot twist that took place closer to the end of the novel, and even that I had seen coming from a mile away. There seemed to be little clues throughout the novel scattered here and there, so when the moment comes that the witch's biggest secret is revealed, the reader isn't even surprised. Besides, I found the magic-filled reasoning behind that plot twist rather unbelievable. Everything had too easy an explanation, and some things didn't even have one. I feel that the purpose of the story was to tell Cam's coming-of-age, but I don't feel that she really grew. She stopped being ashamed of who she was and she began to trust her friend more than she ever did before, but underneath, she remained the same exact person. Maybe I'm too old for this book, I don't know, but I just didn't enjoy it.
My biggest problem with the novel as a whole is that the tone of the story and the lack of dimension to the characters made this feel like anything but a Young Adult book. The storyline and other aspects made it feel like more of a Middle Grade read than anything, and even after coming to that conclusion I find it doubtful whether I ever would have been amused by a book such as this one. The immature voice, the simple characters, and the bizarre running around occurring throughout the plot made Seriously Wicked a hard book to take pleasure in, and maybe one that I'd recommend to an elementary schooler.
July 21, 2019
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy
Told: First Person (Cam), Past Tense
Content Rating: Teen (kissing, minor innuendo, darker magic rituals, some animal harm)
Format Read: ARC
At just over 200 pages, Seriously Wicked is a quick and seriously fun story about a teen girl raised by a witch to be a witch but who refuses to become one. Forced to help the witch summon a demon so she can rule the town, hilarity ensues involving mannequins, dragons, algebra, unusual ingredients, and a cute boy (naturally).
Despite the more serious elements of wicked witches, darker magic, and soul-devouring demons, the story was upbeat and playful with an energetic pace and thrilling climax. Cam was a girl of conviction and I adored her strength of moral character and the way she cared about everyone, even if they didn't always deserve it, while best friend Jenah added a lighter aura to the colorful story. Devon was a total sweetie (when not possessed by a leering demon), and although his and Cam's romance was only the start of one (see: demon possession) it made satisfying progress in this book and I hope he'll stick around for the rest of the series. I've already ordered the second book, Seriously Shifted, from my local indie and can't wait to continue Cam's magical adventures!
Conclusion: Am I glad I read this? Heck yes! I wish I'd read it in 2015 when it first landed on my shelves. Do I recommend it? Most definitely. If you like your reads quick, fun, and full of magic, I cannot recommend Seriously Wicked highly enough.
For Fans Of: Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy
Told: First Person (Cam), Past Tense
Content Rating: Teen (kissing, minor innuendo, darker magic rituals, some animal harm)
Format Read: ARC
At just over 200 pages, Seriously Wicked is a quick and seriously fun story about a teen girl raised by a witch to be a witch but who refuses to become one. Forced to help the witch summon a demon so she can rule the town, hilarity ensues involving mannequins, dragons, algebra, unusual ingredients, and a cute boy (naturally).
Despite the more serious elements of wicked witches, darker magic, and soul-devouring demons, the story was upbeat and playful with an energetic pace and thrilling climax. Cam was a girl of conviction and I adored her strength of moral character and the way she cared about everyone, even if they didn't always deserve it, while best friend Jenah added a lighter aura to the colorful story. Devon was a total sweetie (when not possessed by a leering demon), and although his and Cam's romance was only the start of one (see: demon possession) it made satisfying progress in this book and I hope he'll stick around for the rest of the series. I've already ordered the second book, Seriously Shifted, from my local indie and can't wait to continue Cam's magical adventures!
Conclusion: Am I glad I read this? Heck yes! I wish I'd read it in 2015 when it first landed on my shelves. Do I recommend it? Most definitely. If you like your reads quick, fun, and full of magic, I cannot recommend Seriously Wicked highly enough.
For Fans Of: Sabrina the Teenage Witch
May 7, 2015
quirky and different
My review can also be found on our blog Paein and Ms4Tune
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
' "Witches are naturally nasty," she said, "It's one of our most prized traits, along with that paranoia thing." ' Loc 2317
Paein has also reviewed Seriously Wicked. Her review can be found HERE.
There's an air of quirky oddness about Seriously Wicked. It's one that I think people are either going to love or hate. Personally, I liked it, but didn't quite love it.
The story follows Camillia, a teenager on a mission to stop a witch (who happens to be her guardian) from taking over her home town and prevent a demon from corrupting and taking over the body of the cute, new, 'boy-band-looking' guy, Devon, who she has a major crush on. Simple right? Wait, throw in Algebra, Spell Lessons and all the house chores (including feeding the werewolf pup, Wulfie, and mucking out the Dragon, yes a dragon...) and life for Camillia is just a little bit complicated.
There was a lot of spells and other magical details that gave a good backdrop to the story, and some of the details were quite funny like the details about Unicorns. The story had a lot of twists and turns that were interesting although sometimes, (especially towards the end) I found it a little hard to follow. The characters themselves didn't really do it for me. I didn't feel connected to any of them, and don't really remember any of them vividly, except for maybe Cam's best friend Jenah, and that was only because there was quite a lot of details about the way she looked, but not a lot about her as a person. The same could be said about the family dynamics and relationships.
I did enjoy the overall storyline and quite liked that Camillia was trying to be good even though she lived with an 'evil witch'. If there had been more character development to balance the amount of magical world details then I would have loved this. In the end it was short and sweet but that's about it. Possibly a little too quirky in the end for me.
My review can also be found on our blog Paein and Ms4Tune
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
' "Witches are naturally nasty," she said, "It's one of our most prized traits, along with that paranoia thing." ' Loc 2317
Paein has also reviewed Seriously Wicked. Her review can be found HERE.
There's an air of quirky oddness about Seriously Wicked. It's one that I think people are either going to love or hate. Personally, I liked it, but didn't quite love it.
The story follows Camillia, a teenager on a mission to stop a witch (who happens to be her guardian) from taking over her home town and prevent a demon from corrupting and taking over the body of the cute, new, 'boy-band-looking' guy, Devon, who she has a major crush on. Simple right? Wait, throw in Algebra, Spell Lessons and all the house chores (including feeding the werewolf pup, Wulfie, and mucking out the Dragon, yes a dragon...) and life for Camillia is just a little bit complicated.
There was a lot of spells and other magical details that gave a good backdrop to the story, and some of the details were quite funny like the details about Unicorns. The story had a lot of twists and turns that were interesting although sometimes, (especially towards the end) I found it a little hard to follow. The characters themselves didn't really do it for me. I didn't feel connected to any of them, and don't really remember any of them vividly, except for maybe Cam's best friend Jenah, and that was only because there was quite a lot of details about the way she looked, but not a lot about her as a person. The same could be said about the family dynamics and relationships.
I did enjoy the overall storyline and quite liked that Camillia was trying to be good even though she lived with an 'evil witch'. If there had been more character development to balance the amount of magical world details then I would have loved this. In the end it was short and sweet but that's about it. Possibly a little too quirky in the end for me.
May 1, 2015
*4.5 stars*
This book was SO much fun! It was the perfect blend of zany, sparky humor and deep-felt emotion - exactly my favorite kind of thing to read.
Teenaged Cam has the worst mother issues ever, because she lives with a wicked witch who's constantly out for world domination and has a nasty habit of casting unpleasant spells on Cam whenever she doesn't do what she's told (and the occult supplies she has to gather can be really gross). Of course, she also keeps on giving Cam self-defense spells and trying to get her to learn & use them - but Cam is absolutely determined that she will NEVER be a witch - and that she and the witch she lives with have absolutely nothing in common. NOTHING. Nada. Zilch! And the witch CANNOT be a real relative of hers, even though everyone who sees them thinks they look awfully similar...
But when one of the witch's spells goes wrong and ends up sticking a demon into the body of the boy Cam likes, she's finally pushed into being so mad, she'll risk all of the wicked witch's wrath to protect him - even if that means having to finally do some magic of her own.
I loved, loved, loved stubborn, snarky Cam. I loved the fast pace and the humor and the fact that I really, really cared about the characters in this book, from her sweet crush Devon (a geeky, shy animal-lover who gets seriously objectified for his looks) to her best friend Jenah, to the awesome dragon who lives in her garage. The whole thing was sooooo much fun. And I can't wait to read the rest of this series!
This book was SO much fun! It was the perfect blend of zany, sparky humor and deep-felt emotion - exactly my favorite kind of thing to read.
Teenaged Cam has the worst mother issues ever, because she lives with a wicked witch who's constantly out for world domination and has a nasty habit of casting unpleasant spells on Cam whenever she doesn't do what she's told (and the occult supplies she has to gather can be really gross). Of course, she also keeps on giving Cam self-defense spells and trying to get her to learn & use them - but Cam is absolutely determined that she will NEVER be a witch - and that she and the witch she lives with have absolutely nothing in common. NOTHING. Nada. Zilch! And the witch CANNOT be a real relative of hers, even though everyone who sees them thinks they look awfully similar...
But when one of the witch's spells goes wrong and ends up sticking a demon into the body of the boy Cam likes, she's finally pushed into being so mad, she'll risk all of the wicked witch's wrath to protect him - even if that means having to finally do some magic of her own.
I loved, loved, loved stubborn, snarky Cam. I loved the fast pace and the humor and the fact that I really, really cared about the characters in this book, from her sweet crush Devon (a geeky, shy animal-lover who gets seriously objectified for his looks) to her best friend Jenah, to the awesome dragon who lives in her garage. The whole thing was sooooo much fun. And I can't wait to read the rest of this series!
December 20, 2015
I'm honestly quite surprised at how this book turned out. Good surprised.
It was such a cute, fast-paced read ...that tbh, reminded me of some of the children-tween shows I used to watch when I was younger. And I still LOVE those shows, so that may say something about me, haha!
Very happy with this read, but I can see other people who don't like those sort of children/tween shows having some serious problems with this.
Otherwise...yeah, good! Nice to read some more witch stories, and this was very amusing, hahaha!
It was such a cute, fast-paced read ...that tbh, reminded me of some of the children-tween shows I used to watch when I was younger. And I still LOVE those shows, so that may say something about me, haha!
Very happy with this read, but I can see other people who don't like those sort of children/tween shows having some serious problems with this.
Otherwise...yeah, good! Nice to read some more witch stories, and this was very amusing, hahaha!
July 5, 2015
Seriously fun. Both the tone and the main character reminded me a lot of Diana Wynne Jones's novels. They seem light and a romp to read yet touch on serious issues. I found this highly entertaining with enough depth to anchor it. Cam reminded me of Sophie in Howl's Moving Castle. And the imaginative touches were delightful--especially the puzzling spells.
August 17, 2015
Even girls adopted by witches grapple with the age-old question, "Who do I want to be?" Filled with teen angst, a boy band and the inevitable Queen Bee of the high school, this is a fun romp through the teen years with a twist of dragons, spells and discovering who you really are. Loved it!
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