Witches of Honeysuckle House, Liz Parker (Review by Abigail Blake)

Ending the cycle of generational trauma, literally, translates into breaking a generational curse for the Caldwell sister-witches of Honeysuckle House. Every 13 years someone beloved by the Caldwell witches in residence dies in their enchanted home, brought to life by the magic imbuing the witches in general. For the most recent 13 years, sisters Evie and Florence have fought to end the curse by their own interpretation of a tarot reading after the death of their mother (the curse’s latest victim). Florence severs herself from their beloved home and withholds from using her magic or daring to love anyone beyond those already in her circle: her sister, niece Clara, and best friend Angela. Evie does the opposite: she nurtures her magic, the house, and strives to connect with the town at large. Their misinterpretation of the same message puts them at odds with each other, just like prior generations of Caldwell witches. The sisters must work together with the help of clever, undaunted Clara and a delightful kitten, as well as their romantic interests. While a little convoluted in its plot and execution, the heart of Witches of Honeysuckle House (and the character of Honeysuckle House) is love; good love, for family, romantic partners, and friends. But control can also be mistaken for love. All the negative themes of the story stem from a desire for control. Caldwell Witches of the past submit to their worst impulses and corrupt themselves in the process. Our present sisters must find a way to heal old wounds in order to move forward in a healthy way. The novel itself bounces between past and present, each discovery slowly driving the plot forward. Finding out how to break the curse entails understanding what the actual curse is. It just takes the story almost 300 pages to fully unravel its secrets. Not quite a page turner, but the Caldwell sisters and their crew (especially Honeysuckle House itself!) are engaging enough to make you want to find out what happens.