The Thirteen by Susie Moloney

The Thirteen by Susie Moloney

2012, William Morrow Paperbacks

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Rating

Synopsis: "Desperate Housewives" meets "The Witches of Eastwick" in this novel about a woman who returns with her teenage daughter to her childhood home, not knowing that she's stepped back into a community run by a group of witches.

Why read: Won from LibraryThing Early Reviewers

What impressed me: While the book's synopsis of "Desperate Housewives" meets "The Witches of Eastwick" proved to be pretty far off from the actual story in The Thirteen, I found I really enjoyed the book. The witches were presented in an interesting way - evil, but that wasn't really their original purpose. It was a great way to show how far woman are willing to go to make life better for themselves and their families. Paula and her daughter, Rowan, both serve as interesting protagonists you really root for as they try to survive the witches.

What disappointed me: With a coven of twelve plus their families and all the other characters, it gets hard to keep all the names straight. Paula was conveniently oblivious at crucial times, especially anything to go with her mother's illness and the hospital. When a character seeks redemption late in the novel, it feels more like an easy solution to a plot problem the author couldn't get out of rather than a sincere change of heart.

Recommended: Yes. The Thirteen is a quick, enjoyable read that fans of witchy stories should like.