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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated Conjure (The Hoodoo Apprentice, #1) in Books

Jun 7, 2018

(Review can also be found on my blog <a href="http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.co.uk">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a>).

First off, I must say, what a fantastic read!! I absolutely loved this book. It was such a refreshing read!

Emma and her twin brother Jack along with their friend Cooper think they are in for a lazy summer. They couldn't be more wrong!! First, there's a mysterious note that they find buried beneath the sand. Then there's the treasure box they find. However, when Jack tries opening the treasure box, he contracts "The Creep." A curse that makes all your skin slowly fall off until just bone is left. After all that, a mysterious girl called Maggie shows up, and takes them to "a grannie", Miss Delia, who is a hoodoo practitioner. Maggie says Miss Delia can help Emma find a cure for Jack. However, there's also a curse that will steal Cooper's soul on his sixteenth birthday. Will Emma break both curses before time runs out?

I loved every character in Conjure! I loved the lengths Emma was willing to go to to save her brother. I loved how sweet and helpful Cooper came across as. Jack brought the humour into the book. I stayed suspicious of Maggie throughout the book. I couldn't tell if she was bad or good. (I won't say more as I don't want to spoil the book). My most favourite character was Miss Delia though. She came across as a warm, grandmotherly type character. I wanted to actually know her. She was amazing!

I loved the setting which takes place on a beach and near a beach. It definitely fit in with the story perfectly. The world building was equally great! I felt like I was actually there with all the characters.

I felt that the title definitely suits the book as Emma must conjure up spells in order to try to save Jack's and Cooper's life as well as conjuring up other spells to do other things in the mean time.

The cover is gorgeous, but I don't really feel like it suits the book. I take it the girl on the front is supposed to be Emma, but I don't understand why she's walking in what looks to be a forest. Yes, there is a forest by Miss Delia's house, but no one ever goes into it.

The pacing was spot on for this book! I found myself losing all sense of time whilst reading this amazing book. It reads brilliantly, and it will keep you enthralled throughout.

The dialogue was easy to understand for the most part. However, the author uses the medical names for bones which I felt was a bit too much as this is a book for young adults. I'm 28, and I don't know what most of the bones in my body are called!! I tried to use context clues to help me with this. Other than that, the dialogue was well suited to the book.

I felt so enchanted whilst reading this book. It felt as if I was transported to be apart of the actual story. It was just that amazing!

I'd definitely recommend this book for ages 12 and older...teens and adults included!