The Witch Of Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper Review!

   

Title : The Witch Of Salt & Storm
Author : Kendall Kulper
Pages : 384
Published : September 4th 2014
Publisher : Orchard Books
Source : Netgalley

Sixteen-year-old Avery Roe wants only to take her rightful place as the sea witch of Prince Island, making the charms that keep the island's whalers safe and prosperous at sea. But before she could learn how to control her power, her mother - the first Roe woman in centuries to turn her back on magic - steals Avery away from her grandmother. Avery must escape before her grandmother dies, taking with her the secrets of the Roe's power. 

The one magical remnant left to Avery is the ability to read dreams, and one night she foresees her own murder. Time is running short, both for her and for the people of her island who need the witches' help to thrive.

Avery has never read a dream that hasn't come true, but a tattooed harpoon boy named Tane tells her he can help her change her fate. Becoming a witch may prevent her murder and save her island from ruin, but Avery discovers it will also require a sacrifice she never expected. And as she falls in love with Tane, she learns it is his life and hers that hang in the balance.

A sweeping romance with a spellbinding twist - from a talented new voice in YA fiction.

My Thoughts : 

All Avery knows is that she will be the next Roe witch of Prince Island. She has been preparing for it her entire life by helping her grandmother keep the whalers and sailors safe. She is waiting for the day her powers come into effect but before she learns the secret of unlocking her powers her mother turns up and takes her away. Her mother is the first Roe woman in centuries to turn her back on being the witch but she hasn't fully turned her back on magic because she has spelled Avery to make it so that Avery cant leave the village they now live in. 

Every time she tries she collapses and losses consciousness. She has even tried to get a message to her grandmother but nothing works. Now though Avery has no choice but to do everything in her power to get free because she has forseen her own murder. She is confused because a Roe witch cant be murdered!! It can only mean one thing and Avery is willing to try anything to stop that from happening.

To break her mothers curse she needs to place her trust and her life into the hands of a tattooed Harpoon boy named Tane. She has seen that he is the only one who can help her but is she willing to trust his strange magic? 

Well this was quite a surprise! I don't really know what I was expecting when I started this but it wasn't this captivating read. Its a beautifully written, heartbreaking story. 

Avery was such a strong character. All she has known is being a witch and then when her mother takes her away and basically locks her up, Avery fights with everything she is worth to get back to her Grandmother. She knows its her duty and her destiny to be the next witch and she hates to let the island down. She was brave, strong but also sad and lonely. 

I absolutely loved Tane!! He is the mysterious handsome stranger that you cant help but love. He has suffered an horrendous loss and wants his dreams told by Avery so he can find the murderers and get revenge. He was told that Avery is the only one who can help him so he sees her out. Little does he now what he is getting himself in to!! 

My favourite thing about the book was the lore. The author has managed to create her own very unique world. I loved how the magic is passed from mother to daughter but not in the normal way. The Roe women only come into their full power when a certain something happens and their power causes pain so some of them see it as a curse while others see it as their gift. The Roe women are respected on their island but they are also feared. The men know not to cross a Roe or someone will get hurt. The Roe women are fierce!! 

Overall the author has written a unique and captivating tale. Its a breathtakingly stunning story and one I wont forget. The author doesn't just tell the story, she weaves it around the reader with her magnificent writing. The story starts quite slow but you find that you don't mind that because it sneaks its way under your skin until you fall in love with this heartbreaking, wonderful story.