White Cat (Curse Workers, #1) in Addicted to YA

May 05, 2020 Brandy {The Review Booth} rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-goodreads-challenge

At only seventeen, Cassel is haunted by the memories that three years ago, he murdered the only girl he ever loved. School seems like an endless nightmare and the status of his life at home really isn't any better. None of his family members are going to forget that he killed his friend just like they won't let him live down the fact that he can't even work magic like the rest of the family.

His family works for one of the five largest crime families in the US. Working magic was made illegal in 1 At only seventeen, Cassel is haunted by the memories that three years ago, he murdered the only girl he ever loved. School seems like an endless nightmare and the status of his life at home really isn't any better. None of his family members are going to forget that he killed his friend just like they won't let him live down the fact that he can't even work magic like the rest of the family.

His family works for one of the five largest crime families in the US. Working magic was made illegal in 1929; since then workers are forced to wear gloves to prevent their magic while simultaneously surviving in back-alley type establishments and being recruited by crime families. Even though magical workers are reviled for what they can do - people still seek them out for luck at special events, hit contracts and transformations they are a portion of the population that have fallen on hard times. Cassel's grandfather has taken to drinking at every opportunity, his brothers despise his very presence and his mother was thrown in jail for a con she ran.

Cassel's life begins to unravel and as it does it reveals a truth regarding his family and it's horrifically true.

The magic within this book is interesting but isn't suffused with a lot of variety of magic types (at least at this point) and the one that lacks more of a description how the abilities work is the physical/strength worker. The blowback is an interesting concept, a lot of magic I've seen in other books lack the "eye for an eye" consequences in White Cat. The proposition two law being debated in the book can be compared with a lot of laws and policies trying to gain footing in the US even now. It reminds me a little of X-Men and mutants - testing for the X-gene and GINA (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act).

Cassel's character is blunt and funny - he is definitely someone I could see myself being friends with. His seems to brush off his magical shortcomings with humor but it still causes friction in his family and he definitely doesn't do the whining teen angst bit which was a huge relief. His grandfather is gruff but you can tell that he cares for his family - especially Cassel, he was my second favorite character even though he's not an overly prominent character. I guessed correctly about halfway through the mystery of the white cat and what was going on with Cassel. Despite that fact it was still an entertaining read, it didn't ruin the story and there were certain aspects that were unexpected - such as his family... I couldn't even imagine. The last portion of the book and it's twists - talk about having your heart wrenched out.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy young adult titles, fantasy/magic, and organized crime families. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 16, 2011 Max rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, audiobook, read-in-2011

This has to be one of my all-time favorite books as far as audiobook narration go. Jesse Eisenberg did a tremendous job. I really enjoyed listening.

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Aug 15, 2015 Desiree Taggard rated it really liked it

Shelves: cals, ya-fiction, paranormal-supernatural, magic

White cat starts off a little slow but picks up and leaves you excited about where it can go. Because it starts slowly you have a chance to get to know the characters and start to enjoy thinking through situations the way they would. I hope the rest of the series is good.

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