The time it was about Sisters’ Fate

Posted July 23, 2014 by Stacee in Giveaways | 26 Comments

I’ve been a fan of Jessica Spotswood from the very beginning.  I mean, she had me at witches.  But, it’s not just witches because Cate is a fantastic main character and Finn is about as swoony as they come.  Plus magic.  It’s totally win win.

I did have the chance to meet Jessica once and even though it was at The Bookstore Which Shall Not Be Named, it was still awesome.  Since then, I’ve devoured the Cahill Witch Chronicles series like crazy.  Thankfully, I’ve always been able to get my hands on an arc and Jessica has been so nice in letting me email her with all of my flails when I was done with them.

It goes without saying that when I got the email from Jessica inviting me to be part of her mini-blog tour, complete with an excerpt, I jumped all over the chance.  Before we get to the awesomeness, let’s check out the book, shall we?

17620113A fever ravages New London, but with the Brotherhood sending suspected witches straight to the gallows, the Sisters are powerless against the disease. They can’t help without revealing their powers—as Cate learns when a potent display of magic turns her into the most wanted witch in all of New England.

To make matters worse, Cate has been erased from the memory of her beloved Finn. While she’s torn between protecting him from further attacks and encouraging him to fall for her all over again, she’s certain she can never forgive Maura’s betrayal. And now that Tess’s visions have taken a deadly turn, the prophecy that one Cahill sister will murder another looms ever closer to its fulfillment.

Sounds good, right? {It’s amazing}

right

If you haven’t read Star Cursed yet, do not continue.  There are serious spoilers below.

This excerpt comes from chapter 5, where Cate encounters Finn for the first time since Maura erased his memories of her. They’re at the Christmas bazaar in Richmond Gardens, and Cate is working at the Sisters’ booth, and it’s all a bit heartbreaking.

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“Sister Cate?” The words are unfamiliar, but the voice isn’t.

I drop the clockwork dragon onto the pile of scarves as I turn.

Finn’s ears are flushing red, the way they do when he’s embarrassed. His brow is furrowed, the space between his eyebrows pulled into the upside-down V that my fingers itch to smooth. His coppery hair is messy as ever, as though he’s run his hands through it a dozen times since it last saw a comb.

But behind his wire-rimmed spectacles, his eyes are different. Not full of love or want. He doesn’t look at me like I’m his anymore.

My heart breaks all over again.

“Brother Belastra.” I choke out the words. They feel foreign, too formal on my tongue. “How are you?”

He gives me a smile that reveals the tiny gap between his front teeth, but it’s only polite. The smile he’d give a stranger, a customer at the bookshop. “Very well, and you?”

“Fine.” I’m not fine. I pull my elbows in tight, folding my arms across my chest. “Are you enjoying the bazaar?”

“Yes. I’ve been hunting down a gift for my sister.” He examines the wares. “Are any of these yours?”

I laugh, short and staccato, before I realize he won’t know his question is ridiculous. “Er, no. I’m a terrible seamstress. I prefer to spend my time in the gardens with my hands in the dirt—or now that it’s winter, in the conservatory.”

It’s futile, testing him like this. He won’t know. Won’t remember the way he snuck out and met me there and kissed me senseless. But—

“I remember,” he says, and hope blooms through me, bright and lovely as an April tulip.

“You do?” My voice is too sharp, too desperate.

“Your father told me. We were—I don’t quite remember.” Finn frowns, the V in his forehead deepening. “He said you weren’t the scholarly sort, that you preferred gardening to books. Funny that you’ve ended up in the Sisterhood.”

Funny? An ache cuts through me, bitterer than the December wind. “I could say the same for you.”

Finn glances over his shoulder. There are no Brothers in the vicinity. He gives me another bland smile, but now his eyes are curious. “I’ve always liked books.”

What is the point in this? What am I trying to prove? I know I’m being foolish, and yet—

“But you’ve never been the Brotherly sort.” My voice is so low, he has to lean over the booth to hear it.

He stares at the ground, shifting his feet. “I confess, of late, I’m not entirely certain what sort of man I am.” His tone is rich with disgust. What must he be feeling, having found himself a member of the Brotherhood, with no notion of why?

“What do you mean?” I ask, then flush. In his mind, we barely know each other; I’ve been an occasional customer at his mother’s bookshop, nothing more. Nothing to invite confidences. But I can’t bear the notion that he’s confused and alone and—damn Maura for doing this to him.

“Nothing.” Finn straightens, running both hands through his hair. “I’m sorry to have bothered you.” His voice has gone starched and his shoulders stiff as he remembers the proprieties.

I reach out, fingertips just brushing his wool cloak. “You’re no bother. If I can do anything to help—”

“That’s very kind of you. Very—neighborly.” He barely glances at me as he pulls his hood up and steps away. “Thank you, Miss Cahill.”

Neighborly? I watch him blend back into the crowd, my eyes blurring with tears.

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Jess1blog-200I heart books, yoga, tea, cardamom cookies, the color pink, board games, theatre, twirly dresses, and bells chiming the hour. I’m frighteningly enthusiastic.

I grew up in a tiny one-stoplight town in Pennsylvania, where I could be found swimming, playing clarinet, memorizing lines for the school play, or—most often—with my nose in a book. I’ve been writing since I was little but studied theatre in college and grad school. Now I live in Washington, DC with my brilliant playwright husband and a cuddly cat named Monkey.

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Huge thanks to Jessica for the invite! Make sure you’re subscribing to her blog, following her on Twitter, liking her Facebook page and adding all of her books to your Goodreads TBR shelf.

Now.  Want to get your greedy hands on an arc before it comes out? Jessica has so nicely offered up a signed copy.  Contest is US/Canada only, additional giveaway rules are here.

**Good Luck!!**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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26 responses to “The time it was about Sisters’ Fate

  1. Caroline

    I am so excited for this book! I love the series and it feels like I’ve been waiting forever for this one!!

  2. Jacklin Updegraft

    Oh man I would be a Witch hands down!!!! Being able to do magic would be so FREAKING awesome!

  3. HollyB

    A witch, a witch, most definitely a witch! Of course, there are some who’d say that’s what I am already..ha!

    Thanks for the giveaway, lovely…. I’ve got my fingers crossed!! Here’s hoping this’ll be two out of three in the series I get from you! Really, I’d especially love to have JSS’s sig ;-)

  4. Kara

    I’d love to be a witch. I feel everyone would have to protect me If I were a muggle. . . I wouldn’t like that at all!

  5. Sherry

    Since I am already a muggle,(I think), I’ll take a walk on the magic side and be a witch. Although, some might say I am a witch already :p ;) Thank you for the chance at the giveaway!

  6. Christine

    I would love to be a witch, even with all the danger that comes with it, just to be able to experience magic :)

  7. Erin E.

    Definitely a witch! It would be safer to be a muggle, but a witch has more control over her destiny.

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