Incantation in Crazy Challenge Connection

Apr 06, 2013 Chris rated it liked it

Shelves: 300, youth, europe, fiction, middle-grades, scifi-fantasy-paranormal, religion, young-adult

Leave it to Alive Hoffman to come up with a story that mixes a bit of the supernatural with the Spanish Inquisition. Estrella is a teenager who has lived a good life in a Spanish town in the early 16th century. She has never questioned why her family follows certain religious practices like lighting candles at sundown on Fridays. They go to a catholic church and cross themselves, although not in the same way as her best friend Catalina's family, and they don't eat pork. When the inquisition arri ...more

Like · see review

Oct 13, 2011 Jojobean rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: non-owned-books, standalones, paperback, 3-star-ratings, witches-magic, historical-fiction-ya, 2006-publication, set-in-other-countries

Incantation is a quick read about the Spanish Inquisition in Spain.

I enjoy and dislike reading books like this. I enjoy the history that is told in the book, the characters and how they overcome such horrible times. I dislike the evil of the people in charge. When I read about how they tortured and killed the Jews I want to jump into the book and kill all of the soldiers, judges and leaders. The cruel ways they killed people appalled me and its unthinkable that these things actually happened hu Incantation is a quick read about the Spanish Inquisition in Spain.

I enjoy and dislike reading books like this. I enjoy the history that is told in the book, the characters and how they overcome such horrible times. I dislike the evil of the people in charge. When I read about how they tortured and killed the Jews I want to jump into the book and kill all of the soldiers, judges and leaders. The cruel ways they killed people appalled me and its unthinkable that these things actually happened hundreds of years ago. These methods of torture and killing were not something the author invented. These things really happened and the author researched about them, finding them factual. Its really sick to think that evil people like this existed and still exist today.

The books basic plot line is that Estrella is living in Spain during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. The Spanish Inquisition then comes into her small town. This is not really a spoiler because it is so obvious from the get go~ Estrella is secretly a Jew but she has no idea because her family hid that fact from her. Over the course of the book she realizes that her family is Jewish and she goes to her grandmother to confirm it. Once she finds out about her family, the true horror begins. Before Estrella was just witnessing the Inquisition happen to other people. That changes now because her family is thrust in the middle of it. And what ensues is horrible, heartbreaking and hopeful.

I like Estrella. She is a good person and an all around nice person. She is best friends with Catalina and falls in love with Andres. She is brave and a survivor. When she loses everything she remains hopeful. She takes her hardships and survives them. She is very intelligent and quick thinking.

Catalina is a true bitch. She is supremely jealous of Estrella and her good looks. She throws away their friendship over nothing. She turns on Estrella in the blink of an eye. All because of jealousy. I wanted to throttle her and I would of loved to see her die for her actions.

There is a bit of romance that happens but it is in no way the focal point of the book. The main focus of the book is Estrella and her family, with their hardships. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

This review is also posted on The Book Owl Extraordinaire ...more

Like · see review

Nov 22, 2013 Vickie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-ficton, 2013, ya-lit, jewish-fiction, 5-star

It always begins with a book burning! This is a story of betrayal and the horrors of the Inquisition. Estrella lives during the Spanish Inquisition, a time when Jews were executed, forced to convert to Christianity, or expelled from Spain and Portugal. Estrella's family is part of a group of Jews called Marranos who went underground to practice their beliefs in peace. What happens is betrayal, horrific consequences, and eventually hope.

Yes, this is YA literature and is a very short novel. I read ...more

Like · see review

Aug 07, 2021 Kim rated it it was amazing

Shelves: authors-i-ve-read-5-or-more-books, historical-fiction, religion-featured, europe, magical-realism, libby, 5-star

5.0/5.0 - Another powerful, beautiful book by Alice Hoffman. This takes place in 15th century Spain, where Muslims, Christians and Jews share a tenuous co-existence. Evil is unleashed, and suddenly neighbors report neighbors to the Inquisition, and people are rounded up, and stoned or burned. Estrella's best friend Catalina, jealous of her cousin Andre's love for Estrella, turns her family in, and she and her grandmother are forced to flee to Amsterdam.
Book 210 of 2021 ...more

Like · see review

Jun 10, 2013 Mary Bronson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own, young-adult, women-fiction, paranormal, romance, magical-realism, favorites

I thought this was a really good book. I enjoyed reading it. I loved the story and the characters and plot were very well written. It was very heartwarming and gripping. A real page turner.

Like · see review