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The Beauchamp Family #2
Serpent's Kiss
Alternate cover edition can be found here.
Just as things have settled down in the off-the-map Long Island town of North Hampton for the magical Beauchamp family, everything gets turned upside down once more when Freya's twin brother Fryr, or "Freddie" as he's called now, returns from Limbo with shocking news - that it was none other than Freya's fiancé, Killian Gardiner, who set up his downfall.
He begs Freya to keep his presence a secret, even from their own family, but somehow the irascible Freddie is still able to conduct many affairs with the town's young lovelies from his self-imposed exile. Until he falls for the wrong girl.
While Freya tries to keep her brother from exacting revenge on the man she loves, Ingrid has her own problems. Her human boyfriend, Matt Noble, becomes entangled in a complicated investigation, and when the magical creatures at the center of it come to Ingrid for help, she has a difficult choice to make.
To top it off, a dead spirit is trying to make contact with Joanna - but does it mean to harm or warn the witches? All hell breaks loose at the family reunion over Thanksgiving, and much mayhem ensues, but when the culprit behind Freddie's imprisonment is finally revealed, it may already be too late to staunch the poison that's been released by the serpent's kiss.
Just as things have settled down in the off-the-map Long Island town of North Hampton for the magical Beauchamp family, everything gets turned upside down once more when Freya's twin brother Fryr, or "Freddie" as he's called now, returns from Limbo with shocking news - that it was none other than Freya's fiancé, Killian Gardiner, who set up his downfall.
He begs Freya to keep his presence a secret, even from their own family, but somehow the irascible Freddie is still able to conduct many affairs with the town's young lovelies from his self-imposed exile. Until he falls for the wrong girl.
While Freya tries to keep her brother from exacting revenge on the man she loves, Ingrid has her own problems. Her human boyfriend, Matt Noble, becomes entangled in a complicated investigation, and when the magical creatures at the center of it come to Ingrid for help, she has a difficult choice to make.
To top it off, a dead spirit is trying to make contact with Joanna - but does it mean to harm or warn the witches? All hell breaks loose at the family reunion over Thanksgiving, and much mayhem ensues, but when the culprit behind Freddie's imprisonment is finally revealed, it may already be too late to staunch the poison that's been released by the serpent's kiss.
384 pages, Paperback
First published June 12, 2012
404 people are currently reading
10.1k people want to read
About the author
Melissa de la Cruz
169Ìýbooks15.6kÌýfollowersMelissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 645 reviews
December 16, 2012
Holy cow! When I gave the first book a scathing review, I really had no intention of continuing further in the series. But then I poke my head into the new releases room at the library...see it sitting there...and because I'm a freak who can't seem to let things go when it comes to books, I think "Hey, it's free! Maybe this one will be better." Well, all I can say is, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Unbelievably, this book was even more insipid and boring than the last. I seriously had to force myself to finish the last third of the book (see above re: freak who can't let things go). It reads like it was written by a 15 year old for people at the education & maturity level of 15 year olds themselves (or less).
If this were her YA series, it would be annoying but acceptable. Unfortunately, this is supposed to be for adults. I don't need a parenthetical description of what a calla lily is (interestingly, on her second reference to a calla lily in the story rather than the first). I don't need a boring, pointless, and overly simplified history lesson on Puritans and the motivations of the Salem Witch Trials. I especially don't need nonsensical, conflicting descriptions of things...can a flower be "delicate but robust"? Should a god who is "one with all that was sun and sea" be amazed at a coral reef and be concerned about checking his dive watch to insure that he wasn't descending too fast? Basically, every character in the series is an idiot, with the possible exception of the dad, Norman, and that's pretty much just because he's not onstage much. Ok, I'm really, really, done this time.
If this were her YA series, it would be annoying but acceptable. Unfortunately, this is supposed to be for adults. I don't need a parenthetical description of what a calla lily is (interestingly, on her second reference to a calla lily in the story rather than the first). I don't need a boring, pointless, and overly simplified history lesson on Puritans and the motivations of the Salem Witch Trials. I especially don't need nonsensical, conflicting descriptions of things...can a flower be "delicate but robust"? Should a god who is "one with all that was sun and sea" be amazed at a coral reef and be concerned about checking his dive watch to insure that he wasn't descending too fast? Basically, every character in the series is an idiot, with the possible exception of the dad, Norman, and that's pretty much just because he's not onstage much. Ok, I'm really, really, done this time.
March 21, 2014
First, let me say that it is indeed a strange occurrence for a screen adaptation to be better than the novel. I cannot WAIT for the television series to return and put some sense back into the world of East End.
de la Cruz is a SAD student of Norse mythology. Valkyries as sorority girls? Really? Pixies mixed with "witches" that are gods? I can't even bear to go on with my list of "WTF".
This was a Spring Break read, cover to cover, just to see if anything would finally make sense. Sophomoric writing, sad plot, over hipster characters. It probably took a few short hours combined to finish this story, and that was a few short hours wasted. I'd have had more fun plucking my eyebrows while listening to polka music.
de la Cruz is a SAD student of Norse mythology. Valkyries as sorority girls? Really? Pixies mixed with "witches" that are gods? I can't even bear to go on with my list of "WTF".
This was a Spring Break read, cover to cover, just to see if anything would finally make sense. Sophomoric writing, sad plot, over hipster characters. It probably took a few short hours combined to finish this story, and that was a few short hours wasted. I'd have had more fun plucking my eyebrows while listening to polka music.
October 24, 2012
This is one of those books you read, and while you are reading it, you enjoy it, but then when its over you don't think about it that much. It was light and fluffy, a welcome break from any stress.
The book started off poorly in my mind - it was all about sex, and the characters sexual relationships. I found myself thinking back to the first book and trying to remember if it was as borderline raunchy. Around the middle of the book, the actual plot began to pick up - but at first I didn't even realize that it was the plot, I guess because the focus in the beginning was off a bit.
We meet up with Joanna, Freya, and Ingrid pretty much where the first book ended. Freya is sleeping with Killian and says she loves him, but yet she doubts him quite a bit. Joanna seems really absentminded and scatty, and Ingrid, my favorite in the first book, was written as frigid. Then we meet their long lost brother Freddie. He had been in limbo jail for the crime of destroying the rainbow bridge. In this book he has escaped from limbo, and is living in a sunken hotel. I really tried to like his character, but he seemed so stupid!! He is supposed to be a Norse god, but he just seems so dumb. And his mother Joanna is creepily obsessed with him. Ingrid is working on her relationship with Matt the whole book, and dealing with pixies, who were really one of the best parts of the story. Freya's storyline was probably the most complex, but the one I cared the least about.
There were parts I liked though. There was a part where Freya went back in time, and I really liked that part, actually. I like Ingrid, although she was written really strangely. I think the central mystery was interesting too - I just think it needed to be more prominent and more developed.
I think this is a set up for her next book, which is called The Winds of Salem, and I think if it focuses on the main plot more than relationships, I will probably like it better. This was a fun easy read, but it is not a book I will revisit.
The book started off poorly in my mind - it was all about sex, and the characters sexual relationships. I found myself thinking back to the first book and trying to remember if it was as borderline raunchy. Around the middle of the book, the actual plot began to pick up - but at first I didn't even realize that it was the plot, I guess because the focus in the beginning was off a bit.
We meet up with Joanna, Freya, and Ingrid pretty much where the first book ended. Freya is sleeping with Killian and says she loves him, but yet she doubts him quite a bit. Joanna seems really absentminded and scatty, and Ingrid, my favorite in the first book, was written as frigid. Then we meet their long lost brother Freddie. He had been in limbo jail for the crime of destroying the rainbow bridge. In this book he has escaped from limbo, and is living in a sunken hotel. I really tried to like his character, but he seemed so stupid!! He is supposed to be a Norse god, but he just seems so dumb. And his mother Joanna is creepily obsessed with him. Ingrid is working on her relationship with Matt the whole book, and dealing with pixies, who were really one of the best parts of the story. Freya's storyline was probably the most complex, but the one I cared the least about.
There were parts I liked though. There was a part where Freya went back in time, and I really liked that part, actually. I like Ingrid, although she was written really strangely. I think the central mystery was interesting too - I just think it needed to be more prominent and more developed.
I think this is a set up for her next book, which is called The Winds of Salem, and I think if it focuses on the main plot more than relationships, I will probably like it better. This was a fun easy read, but it is not a book I will revisit.
July 20, 2017
I didn't quite enjoy this one as much as the first in the series. Oddly enough, I think I am more interested in the romance between the sisters and their men than I am the magical/fantastical elements. There's tons of mythology and witchy stuff, but there was just not enough Ingrid/Matt action going on for my taste!
June 28, 2012
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I feel like I just found out that Santa Claus isn't real and that the Easter Bunny got ran over by a semi.
Yep, that should tell you how disappointed I was with this book. Melissa de la Cruz has published some great books. The Blue Bloods series, for example, just awesome. Grant it, I do understand why people have grown annoyed with them recently, but I do think the last installment was a definite improvement over book five. But this book, this book....
Oh dear lord, it read like one of those House of Night books with some Jar Jar Binks and Charmed thrown in. And okay, I do like Charmed, but this book isn't like when Charmed was good and Phoebe was with Cole not that freaky cupid guy and...okay, I am babbling.
Let's discuss the problems with this book. Probably my biggest problem with this book was the characterization. Let me be honest, in the first book I was really found of one only one of three leads (Ingrid). In this book I don't even like Ingrid anymore. To put it simply, there is some annoying business about Ingrid being a virgin that was used as some weird form of comic relief.
Then there's Freya. A character who I'm suppose to like even though my introduction to her was her cheating on her fiance. But I'm forgetting that she was really suppose to be with her fiance's brother so that's okay too. Besides, Freya there's her mother Joanna who is suppose to be the most mature/mother character out them all. In the first book I found her to be boring. In this book, she was a little bit more interesting, but that doesn't mean I like her. I found a lot of the things she did immature and I honestly wanted to slap her a couple of time. But she was nowhere near as annoying as her son....
Oh, Freddie. You give dumb asses bad names. This is a character that is supposed to be a god. A god who was in limbo for thousands of years and yet is tricked by a weaker god into signing a contract in blood because-hey, that's how contracts are become a legal enforceable document consideration doesn't matter at all.
It's not just his sheer stupidity when it comes to contracts that makes Freddie a virtual idiot. Take the fact that he was obsessing over a girl for most the novel and then he finds out, well, that there are complications. And he just gets over it within the span of five pages-obviosuly, he has not read New Moon.
Pacing in general was a huge issue with the novel. I think it not only negatively effected character development, but the story itself. Things dragged throughout most of the book and when they happened, it honestly felt like the book was on acid. This probably wasn't helped much either since the pixies (who played a relatively major role in this book) reminded me of Jar Jar Binks.
So, with a plot that just dragged and then dramatic things sudden happened and issues were suddenly resolved, it was really hard to just get into the story and explore what sort of things could've been offered in this book.
Best Feature: Norse Mythology: Norse myths are interesting and I don't know a lot about them. Even after reading two of these books. I'm still stating that this is probably the books best feature because it really does make the book unique. But honestly, I probably found out more about Norse mythology from the Thor movie than I did these books. Names and certain aspects of the Norse world are merely skimmed over. Unlike the Blue Bloods series where de la Cruz excels at world building, this series leaves me confused. I just think there were many moments where de la Cruz could've expanded the world building in this book and she just didn't.
Worst Feature: Characterization: Horrible. Just horrible. One of the best things about the Blue Bloods series is it's characters. Although, Schuyler has a tendency to be a little perfect, de la Cruz does make her heroine have faults. And then there's Mimi who I think has to be one of the best and most bitchy characters in YA. The same goes with the romantic leads in these books. But in Witches...the characters don't have any internal logic. Freddie just makes a lot of plain stupid decisions, as does the rest of the cast. Plus, as I said before most of the cast is not likable. This might be in part because some characters who I want to know more about, like Killian, are pushed to the back-burner unless Melissa wants to throw in a raunchy sex scene in a greenhouse.
Appropriateness: This is an adult book and it really should only be read by adults or older teens. There are some pretty raunchy moments. Though the sex scenes aren't explicit, the way they are handled just sort of has me shaking my head. There's some cursing in the book too and some drinking as well.
I feel like I just found out that Santa Claus isn't real and that the Easter Bunny got ran over by a semi.
Yep, that should tell you how disappointed I was with this book. Melissa de la Cruz has published some great books. The Blue Bloods series, for example, just awesome. Grant it, I do understand why people have grown annoyed with them recently, but I do think the last installment was a definite improvement over book five. But this book, this book....
Oh dear lord, it read like one of those House of Night books with some Jar Jar Binks and Charmed thrown in. And okay, I do like Charmed, but this book isn't like when Charmed was good and Phoebe was with Cole not that freaky cupid guy and...okay, I am babbling.
Let's discuss the problems with this book. Probably my biggest problem with this book was the characterization. Let me be honest, in the first book I was really found of one only one of three leads (Ingrid). In this book I don't even like Ingrid anymore. To put it simply, there is some annoying business about Ingrid being a virgin that was used as some weird form of comic relief.
Then there's Freya. A character who I'm suppose to like even though my introduction to her was her cheating on her fiance. But I'm forgetting that she was really suppose to be with her fiance's brother so that's okay too. Besides, Freya there's her mother Joanna who is suppose to be the most mature/mother character out them all. In the first book I found her to be boring. In this book, she was a little bit more interesting, but that doesn't mean I like her. I found a lot of the things she did immature and I honestly wanted to slap her a couple of time. But she was nowhere near as annoying as her son....
Oh, Freddie. You give dumb asses bad names. This is a character that is supposed to be a god. A god who was in limbo for thousands of years and yet is tricked by a weaker god into signing a contract in blood because-hey, that's how contracts are become a legal enforceable document consideration doesn't matter at all.
It's not just his sheer stupidity when it comes to contracts that makes Freddie a virtual idiot. Take the fact that he was obsessing over a girl for most the novel and then he finds out, well, that there are complications. And he just gets over it within the span of five pages-obviosuly, he has not read New Moon.
Pacing in general was a huge issue with the novel. I think it not only negatively effected character development, but the story itself. Things dragged throughout most of the book and when they happened, it honestly felt like the book was on acid. This probably wasn't helped much either since the pixies (who played a relatively major role in this book) reminded me of Jar Jar Binks.
So, with a plot that just dragged and then dramatic things sudden happened and issues were suddenly resolved, it was really hard to just get into the story and explore what sort of things could've been offered in this book.
Best Feature: Norse Mythology: Norse myths are interesting and I don't know a lot about them. Even after reading two of these books. I'm still stating that this is probably the books best feature because it really does make the book unique. But honestly, I probably found out more about Norse mythology from the Thor movie than I did these books. Names and certain aspects of the Norse world are merely skimmed over. Unlike the Blue Bloods series where de la Cruz excels at world building, this series leaves me confused. I just think there were many moments where de la Cruz could've expanded the world building in this book and she just didn't.
Worst Feature: Characterization: Horrible. Just horrible. One of the best things about the Blue Bloods series is it's characters. Although, Schuyler has a tendency to be a little perfect, de la Cruz does make her heroine have faults. And then there's Mimi who I think has to be one of the best and most bitchy characters in YA. The same goes with the romantic leads in these books. But in Witches...the characters don't have any internal logic. Freddie just makes a lot of plain stupid decisions, as does the rest of the cast. Plus, as I said before most of the cast is not likable. This might be in part because some characters who I want to know more about, like Killian, are pushed to the back-burner unless Melissa wants to throw in a raunchy sex scene in a greenhouse.
Appropriateness: This is an adult book and it really should only be read by adults or older teens. There are some pretty raunchy moments. Though the sex scenes aren't explicit, the way they are handled just sort of has me shaking my head. There's some cursing in the book too and some drinking as well.
September 7, 2017
I just don't care. At all
June 19, 2012
Loved this book! The story is progressing and more intense! I love that Freya's brother Fryer (now known as Freddie) as returned. They've vindicated him of wrong-doing so he's now free but he's been badly played by another god! Tricked to recover his trident (he didn't know it was his trident) and give it to said god on the promise of what he thought was Hilly's (Brunhilde) hand in marriage but was actually Gerde her adopted sister's (which by the way was done without Gerd's knowledge or consent!). Luckily for him (as I'm sure her adopted father wasn't aware of the fact or cared enough about her to consider it a possibility) the two of them appear to have been made for each other as there was an instant attraction between them. They both share a love of the sea for one thing! I loved when Hilly became invisible to him when he truly seen Gerd for the first time and she did not seem impressed, wanting him to carry an eternal torch for her when he'd already forgot about her in Gerd's presence! I'm also glad that Gerd hates her adopted father and has at the end given her allegiance to Freddie's family. Joanne's suitor Harold turns out to be a traitor and a minor god himself who has been fooling Joanne while trying to hamper her investigations. On another plus, she seems to have forgiven Norman and they seem to be on the path to reconciliation, which I'm glad of cause it would be nice to see them a family again.
On the downside, although Freya has discovered that Killian is innocent of the accusations Freddie made against him and Freddie himself has realised and accepted that Killian is not guilty, Freddie had already approached the Valkeries to accuse Killian and now Killian has been taken to Limbo while he's half-dead from exerting himself transporting Freya through time when she was in trouble. They now have to find a way to prove Killian innocent and rescue him from Limbo, while proving Loki to truly be innocent, not just of destroying the bridge but stealing the power of the other gods! They also have to find a way to stop him from causing the other gods/goddesses' lines to become extinct as their power dwindles further due to the destruction of the bridge and his theft of their power/strength.
Even worse Freya appears to have been stolen out of thin air at the end so they have to rescue her as well. Honestly, I can't wait for the next book in the series and really hope they manage to rescue both Freya and Killian so the two can get married. I'm also hoping for good things for Ingrid and Matt. He seems to have finally accepted the exsistence of Magic so they can be a real couple! Shame he hasn't turned out to be an immortal or the child of an immortal though, it would raise the possiblity of Ingrid not having to lose him when they get older and he passes into the afterlife while she'd reborn again.
I do wonder if this will be a trilogy or more, prehaps the next book they'll get Freya and Killian back but still have Loki to deal with or prehaps it will be resolved, I kinda hope it isn't resolved and we get more books with the Beauchamp family!
On the downside, although Freya has discovered that Killian is innocent of the accusations Freddie made against him and Freddie himself has realised and accepted that Killian is not guilty, Freddie had already approached the Valkeries to accuse Killian and now Killian has been taken to Limbo while he's half-dead from exerting himself transporting Freya through time when she was in trouble. They now have to find a way to prove Killian innocent and rescue him from Limbo, while proving Loki to truly be innocent, not just of destroying the bridge but stealing the power of the other gods! They also have to find a way to stop him from causing the other gods/goddesses' lines to become extinct as their power dwindles further due to the destruction of the bridge and his theft of their power/strength.
Even worse Freya appears to have been stolen out of thin air at the end so they have to rescue her as well. Honestly, I can't wait for the next book in the series and really hope they manage to rescue both Freya and Killian so the two can get married. I'm also hoping for good things for Ingrid and Matt. He seems to have finally accepted the exsistence of Magic so they can be a real couple! Shame he hasn't turned out to be an immortal or the child of an immortal though, it would raise the possiblity of Ingrid not having to lose him when they get older and he passes into the afterlife while she'd reborn again.
I do wonder if this will be a trilogy or more, prehaps the next book they'll get Freya and Killian back but still have Loki to deal with or prehaps it will be resolved, I kinda hope it isn't resolved and we get more books with the Beauchamp family!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2012
This book is stupid .. Why am I reading it? Update: That was a month of my life I can't get back. The writing is bad, the story is stupid, the characters are flat. There is just about nothing right with this book. I love witches, YA and other assorted smut. But this was just poorly done avengers fan fiction.
June 13, 2012
After finding "Witches of East End" completely charming and enjoyable, "The Serpent's Kiss" was a complete let down. Highly predictable, filled with filler nonsense that only hinders the book, and under-developed characters just fall into them moments. Greatly disappointing.
August 15, 2012
The 2nd book in the Witches of East End series took me a little longer to read than normal (compared to my usual pace), and it was primarily because I had a harder time getting into this story like I did the first. I had a lot of distractions that made it easy to put the book down. I did enjoy it once things got going in the story and things finally started moving along and I was able to finish the book!
If you read the first book: Witches of East End, then you know what happened before. If you had not, don't read any further until you get the first book read!
Some things dragged out too long, like Freaya's twin Freddy (who escaped from Limbo) making her doubt her lover Killian, and also making her search his place for an item that was stolen from Freddy that caused him to be accused of making the bridge between Asgard and Midgard fall, weekending all those with magic, and losing the passage between worlds. Then, because of her experience with Loki, she doesn't know who to trust! For me, ths part dragged too long, but in the concept of the story, it makes sense.
I did enjoy Ingrid's blossoming relationship with detective Matt Nobel, but that also wasn't without it's moments, especially dealing with Ingrid's inexperience with relationships with men in any romantic sense. This shouldn't really be a spoiler if you read the first book in this series. I really like this couple though, and I'm pulling for them!
Joann, the girls's mother, has her own suitor in Harold, and the complication that her estranged husband would also like a chance with trying to be with her and the girls. She also has a dead spirit trying to get a hold of her by moving things around her house, disappearances of things she just put away... She's finally led to a spot with a message in runes!
I got a kick out of the events that happened around the Thanksgiving dinner, and that is when the story finally came together for me! At first I thought each book might pertain to each of the 3 Beauchamp women, but all three of their stories actually intertwine, so it makes for a better storyline the way the author has put it together. I will definitely read the 3rd book to find out what happens next. But, as much as I enjoy these books, I hope this series will not go as long as the Blue Bloods books seem to be going.
If you read the first book: Witches of East End, then you know what happened before. If you had not, don't read any further until you get the first book read!
Some things dragged out too long, like Freaya's twin Freddy (who escaped from Limbo) making her doubt her lover Killian, and also making her search his place for an item that was stolen from Freddy that caused him to be accused of making the bridge between Asgard and Midgard fall, weekending all those with magic, and losing the passage between worlds. Then, because of her experience with Loki, she doesn't know who to trust! For me, ths part dragged too long, but in the concept of the story, it makes sense.
I did enjoy Ingrid's blossoming relationship with detective Matt Nobel, but that also wasn't without it's moments, especially dealing with Ingrid's inexperience with relationships with men in any romantic sense. This shouldn't really be a spoiler if you read the first book in this series. I really like this couple though, and I'm pulling for them!
Joann, the girls's mother, has her own suitor in Harold, and the complication that her estranged husband would also like a chance with trying to be with her and the girls. She also has a dead spirit trying to get a hold of her by moving things around her house, disappearances of things she just put away... She's finally led to a spot with a message in runes!
I got a kick out of the events that happened around the Thanksgiving dinner, and that is when the story finally came together for me! At first I thought each book might pertain to each of the 3 Beauchamp women, but all three of their stories actually intertwine, so it makes for a better storyline the way the author has put it together. I will definitely read the 3rd book to find out what happens next. But, as much as I enjoy these books, I hope this series will not go as long as the Blue Bloods books seem to be going.
January 2, 2013
The prose was extremely simplistic, especially for adult fiction. The narrator was odd and clunky. The POV changed from character to character each chapter, but the tone did not really alter. Additionally, the narration was often just obnoxious. It sought to tell rather than show, but then what it told was actually undermined by the action. For instance, I did not believe Freddie had power over much of anything.
The action seemed contrived for convenience, not necessarily plot connection. The pixies were supposed to be a big part of the plot, but they felt forced. Additionally, they weren't really distinguishable. People would conveniently remember things or change their minds with insufficient motivation.The plot jumped around between the 3 POVs again, sometimes 4 with Freddie. Both a lot and absolutely nothing happened, because most of the "action" really served no purpose. Revelations seemed unwarranted and unearned.
The characterization and relationships were kind of horrid. Freya and Killian start out crazy in love despite the fact that Freya's brother has accused Killian of a betrayal at the end of the last book. And before that Freya and Killian were having an affair. Their relationship is not grounded or developed, and using a mythological history they share is an extreme cop-out. Freddie was stupid and annoying. The stakes aimed to be high but were not. The time travel was last minute and underdeveloped (not to mention she implies the time travel works in a linear fashion and then tries to introduce quantum physics for dummies in how time works). I kept reading for the Matt and Ingrid relationship, but even that became totally unrealistic and repetitive. I was hoping the problems with the first installment would be fixed this time around. That was not the case. I may have to remind myself of that when the 3rd installment comes out.
The action seemed contrived for convenience, not necessarily plot connection. The pixies were supposed to be a big part of the plot, but they felt forced. Additionally, they weren't really distinguishable. People would conveniently remember things or change their minds with insufficient motivation.The plot jumped around between the 3 POVs again, sometimes 4 with Freddie. Both a lot and absolutely nothing happened, because most of the "action" really served no purpose. Revelations seemed unwarranted and unearned.
The characterization and relationships were kind of horrid. Freya and Killian start out crazy in love despite the fact that Freya's brother has accused Killian of a betrayal at the end of the last book. And before that Freya and Killian were having an affair. Their relationship is not grounded or developed, and using a mythological history they share is an extreme cop-out. Freddie was stupid and annoying. The stakes aimed to be high but were not. The time travel was last minute and underdeveloped (not to mention she implies the time travel works in a linear fashion and then tries to introduce quantum physics for dummies in how time works). I kept reading for the Matt and Ingrid relationship, but even that became totally unrealistic and repetitive. I was hoping the problems with the first installment would be fixed this time around. That was not the case. I may have to remind myself of that when the 3rd installment comes out.
May 9, 2022
Questo secondo capitolo della serie l’ho trovato decisamente migliore al precedente, in quanto in questa seconda parte della storia si iniziano a scoprire di più le carte in tavola ma soprattutto le varie sfaccettature dei vari personaggi; questi ultimi devo dire che li ho trovati molto interessanti sia caratterialmente che emotivamente ed ognuno di loro con pregi e difetti che te li fanno piacere ancora di più.
Nel complesso ho trovato la storia molto scorrevole e piacevole per nulla noiosa ma molto interessante in quanto, amante della mitologia, mi è piaciuto scoprire le usanze ai tempi degli dei sotto ogni punto di vista.
L’unica pecca però di questa serie è che purtroppo dopo questo libro la casa editrice ha smesso di pubblicarla lasciando così il finale in sospeso, cosa che trovo triste ma spero vivamente che prima o poi la riprendano.
Nel complesso ho trovato la storia molto scorrevole e piacevole per nulla noiosa ma molto interessante in quanto, amante della mitologia, mi è piaciuto scoprire le usanze ai tempi degli dei sotto ogni punto di vista.
L’unica pecca però di questa serie è che purtroppo dopo questo libro la casa editrice ha smesso di pubblicarla lasciando così il finale in sospeso, cosa che trovo triste ma spero vivamente che prima o poi la riprendano.
September 2, 2012
A true witch will never give up and the Beauchamp women prove that in Serpent’s Kiss by Melissa De La Cruz. Joanna and her daughters Freya and Ingrid are enjoying the peace in North Hampton. But peace never lasts long in their world especially when Freddie Frey’s twin brother returns in secret.However Freya’s joy is overshadowed by who Freddie accuses of a serious crime. Freddie says that Killian Freya’s sexy boyfriend is the one who destroyed the bridge. Freya is forced to investigate Killian to see what he has been hiding. Ingrid (who is my favorite character) is finally experiencing love and lust. However her love Matt Noble does not believe in magic and Ingrid does not want to tell him her not so naughty secret. Joanna is left wondering what her daughters are up to and she is puzzled by why a spirit is seeking her help or to hurt her. The witches soon discover they must combine their collective talents to save this world and the next one. They also need to discover who is trying to destroy all the worlds. Serpent’s Kiss is a romantic book filled interesting takes on Norse mythology. I believe that the main characters in this series are relatable to many different types of people. I loved learning more about the witch hunts and how many innocent people were killed. I would recommend Serpent’s Kiss to readers who enjoy romance and mythology.
August 18, 2012
Fryr or Freddie, Freya's twin brother is back. He was locked up in Limbo by the Valkyries because they thought he was responsible for the destruction of the Bofrir bridge but it isn't Freddie who destroyed the bridge. He believes Killian did it and he wants Freya to help him get his revenge. Problem is, Killian is Freya's fiancé. She loves her twin brother as much as she loves Killian. Who will she choose? Brother or lover?
Serpent's Kiss is the second book to the Witches of East End novel. With Freddie, the story of the Beauchamp family is getting more interesting. I also liked the fact that Joanna's sort-of :) husband, Norman is back. After thousands of years, he's still in love with Joanna! I loved it when they were together. The book has some funny moments and my favorite part is when they were celebrating the Thanksgiving Day.
The story has a lot of interesting twists to make me read this until the wee hours of the morning, finished it in three days and during weekdays! I loved Killian and Freya's love story but not much when it comes to Ingrid and Matt's. I found their relationship dull and it wasn't like how I felt when they were just friends.
The book did not disappoint. I loved it and if you're into witches, I'm sure your money is well-spent on this one.
Serpent's Kiss is the second book to the Witches of East End novel. With Freddie, the story of the Beauchamp family is getting more interesting. I also liked the fact that Joanna's sort-of :) husband, Norman is back. After thousands of years, he's still in love with Joanna! I loved it when they were together. The book has some funny moments and my favorite part is when they were celebrating the Thanksgiving Day.
The story has a lot of interesting twists to make me read this until the wee hours of the morning, finished it in three days and during weekdays! I loved Killian and Freya's love story but not much when it comes to Ingrid and Matt's. I found their relationship dull and it wasn't like how I felt when they were just friends.
The book did not disappoint. I loved it and if you're into witches, I'm sure your money is well-spent on this one.
May 30, 2013
I have a series of problems with this book, best enumerated in list form:
1. The structure of the plot seems to encourage telling rather than showing. De la Cruz continually has major events happen off-page, seemingly for the sole purpose of telling us about them in paragraphs of exposition a few chapters later. I had to go back and re-read the first few chapters to figure out where the damn pixies came from. Turns out, at the end of one of the first chapters, when Ingrid sees a strange figure in the park...that’s the pixies. But suddenly, about a dozen chapters later, they’re in the house, and she’s taking care of them. And then we have to backtrack to explain how and why they came to be houseguests. Why not just show the actual event?? It happens multiple times.
2. There are no limits on power. Thanks to some asinine plot point at the end of the first book, the witches are no longer banned from practicing magic, and thus have the full use of their powers. Which means they can pretty much do anything, up to and including time travel. Pour a circle (or pentagram) of salt and you can get away with pretty much anything.
3. Incomplete mythology. In spite of the fact that De la Cruz clearly wants to show off the amount of research she did, I still have no grasp on how this world works. The primary witches we’ve seen are actually the reincarnated spirits of Norse gods (there’s some sort of Tree of Life that contains all of the different worlds, but these gods have been banished? To earth? Or something?). So are there actual witches who are “just� witches? Or are all witches/warlocks reincarnated gods/goddesses (like the vampires in Blue Bloods are all fallen angels). Again, I don’t understand De la Cruz’s obsession with making her mythical creatures combinations of different beings. Why can’t they just be immortal witches? Why throw in all of the weird mythology, especially if you aren’t going to explain it?
4. Remember that episode of Friends, when Joey wanted to sound smart in his letter to the adoption agency, and Ross taught him how to use the thesaurus on Word, so Joey replaced literally every word with some ridiculous synonym and the letter he wrote didn’t make sense? That’s what this read like. I didn’t notice it as much in the first book, so it seems like a conscious effort on De la Cruz’s part to use as many big words as possible, perhaps to prove that this is “adult� fiction. But big words, even used properly, are useless when just thrown in at random. The sentences themselves are so simple, and the style so straightforward that any sort of elevated vocabulary just screams “trying too hard.� Especially given that the dialogue itself sounds like something a teenager would write -- even between characters who are far past their teenage years (I mean, ALL of these people are ostensibly not just adults, but immortal gods/goddesses, so it seems like they should be able to converse as grownups, not 13 year olds).
5. It reads like fan fiction. Norse God fan fiction. As someone who has read a great deal of fan fiction in her day, I feel qualified to make this judgment. When you’re working with a pre-established world and characters, you can let little things like, say, character development slide, to a certain extent. In Harry Potter fan fic, for instance, you don’t need to spend time developing Harry and Ron’s friendship, or showing that Hermoine is a know-it-all, because thanks to the books, it’s been done for you. The same principle is at work here -- we see very little development in any of the relationships. They’re just together because they’re the reincarnated spirits of Norse Gods (just go with it, that’s the least of my problems right now!), and they’re “supposed� to be together. I have no idea why Killian and Freya are together, other than it’s what’s “supposed� to happen. Same thing with long-lost twin Freddie and BOTH of the girls he falls in insta-love with. It’s like the weird twin marriage crap in Blue Bloods. Also the whole thing at the end with Anne the spirit, who’s been trying to leave messages for Joanna, and they automaticallytrust each other because they’re connected? Joanna is Anne’s spirit guide for all time? Just because?
6. There is poorly explained time-travel (which seems like it will be the plot of the 3rd book). Ever since reading , I’m kind of obsessed with time travel. As I’ve said before, I had SO many problems with that book, but I did really enjoy King’s explanation of the rules of time travel. , on the other hand, made my brain hurt, as did (though not to the same extent -- Vortex, bless its heart, was really trying to explain rules, Shadow of Night just decided that time travel was like actual travel until you wanted to leave a clue behind for people in the present). I feel like the time travel here falls more into the Shadow of Night vein. They’re on their way back to Salem to stop the witch trials (of course they are), and I have a feeling they’ll be able to magically blend in, and unlike poor Jake, they won’t rip a literal hole in the fabric of the universe by altering the past so drastically. Because the past is obdurate. Obdurate.
1. The structure of the plot seems to encourage telling rather than showing. De la Cruz continually has major events happen off-page, seemingly for the sole purpose of telling us about them in paragraphs of exposition a few chapters later. I had to go back and re-read the first few chapters to figure out where the damn pixies came from. Turns out, at the end of one of the first chapters, when Ingrid sees a strange figure in the park...that’s the pixies. But suddenly, about a dozen chapters later, they’re in the house, and she’s taking care of them. And then we have to backtrack to explain how and why they came to be houseguests. Why not just show the actual event?? It happens multiple times.
2. There are no limits on power. Thanks to some asinine plot point at the end of the first book, the witches are no longer banned from practicing magic, and thus have the full use of their powers. Which means they can pretty much do anything, up to and including time travel. Pour a circle (or pentagram) of salt and you can get away with pretty much anything.
3. Incomplete mythology. In spite of the fact that De la Cruz clearly wants to show off the amount of research she did, I still have no grasp on how this world works. The primary witches we’ve seen are actually the reincarnated spirits of Norse gods (there’s some sort of Tree of Life that contains all of the different worlds, but these gods have been banished? To earth? Or something?). So are there actual witches who are “just� witches? Or are all witches/warlocks reincarnated gods/goddesses (like the vampires in Blue Bloods are all fallen angels). Again, I don’t understand De la Cruz’s obsession with making her mythical creatures combinations of different beings. Why can’t they just be immortal witches? Why throw in all of the weird mythology, especially if you aren’t going to explain it?
4. Remember that episode of Friends, when Joey wanted to sound smart in his letter to the adoption agency, and Ross taught him how to use the thesaurus on Word, so Joey replaced literally every word with some ridiculous synonym and the letter he wrote didn’t make sense? That’s what this read like. I didn’t notice it as much in the first book, so it seems like a conscious effort on De la Cruz’s part to use as many big words as possible, perhaps to prove that this is “adult� fiction. But big words, even used properly, are useless when just thrown in at random. The sentences themselves are so simple, and the style so straightforward that any sort of elevated vocabulary just screams “trying too hard.� Especially given that the dialogue itself sounds like something a teenager would write -- even between characters who are far past their teenage years (I mean, ALL of these people are ostensibly not just adults, but immortal gods/goddesses, so it seems like they should be able to converse as grownups, not 13 year olds).
5. It reads like fan fiction. Norse God fan fiction. As someone who has read a great deal of fan fiction in her day, I feel qualified to make this judgment. When you’re working with a pre-established world and characters, you can let little things like, say, character development slide, to a certain extent. In Harry Potter fan fic, for instance, you don’t need to spend time developing Harry and Ron’s friendship, or showing that Hermoine is a know-it-all, because thanks to the books, it’s been done for you. The same principle is at work here -- we see very little development in any of the relationships. They’re just together because they’re the reincarnated spirits of Norse Gods (just go with it, that’s the least of my problems right now!), and they’re “supposed� to be together. I have no idea why Killian and Freya are together, other than it’s what’s “supposed� to happen. Same thing with long-lost twin Freddie and BOTH of the girls he falls in insta-love with. It’s like the weird twin marriage crap in Blue Bloods. Also the whole thing at the end with Anne the spirit, who’s been trying to leave messages for Joanna, and they automaticallytrust each other because they’re connected? Joanna is Anne’s spirit guide for all time? Just because?
6. There is poorly explained time-travel (which seems like it will be the plot of the 3rd book). Ever since reading , I’m kind of obsessed with time travel. As I’ve said before, I had SO many problems with that book, but I did really enjoy King’s explanation of the rules of time travel. , on the other hand, made my brain hurt, as did (though not to the same extent -- Vortex, bless its heart, was really trying to explain rules, Shadow of Night just decided that time travel was like actual travel until you wanted to leave a clue behind for people in the present). I feel like the time travel here falls more into the Shadow of Night vein. They’re on their way back to Salem to stop the witch trials (of course they are), and I have a feeling they’ll be able to magically blend in, and unlike poor Jake, they won’t rip a literal hole in the fabric of the universe by altering the past so drastically. Because the past is obdurate. Obdurate.
Oh, the plot? The hell if I can figure it out, because what passes for actual plot doesn’t deign to show up until about the last 80 pages (not unlike the majority of the Blue Bloods books). The witches are being witches, spirits are menacing Joanna, pixies are living in the attic, and Ingrid and Freya have boyfriends. And even if you are an immortal witch/powerful goddess, there’s really nothing in the world more important (or more worth living for) than being in a relationship. Duh. Also there’s some crap with a trident (is Freddie like Poseidon only Norse?) and the destruction of some sort of bridge...between worlds? Is that why they’re stuck on Earth? Can’t Ingrid just use that portal she found in the bathroom of the motel to get back to the tree? (I swear I am not making this up...there’s a fucking yellow brick road back to pixie-world, apparently!)
I am so very glad that this is a library book and I did not pay for it. Part of me wants to emphatically say I’m done with this series, but I’m a sucker for Salem stories (even really poorly done ones), so if I happen to spot the 3rd one on the library shelves after it comes out, I make no promises that I won't� be writing a very similar review in a few months!
December 31, 2018
I really enjoyed the second installment of The Beauchamp Family Series by Melissa de la Cruz. We got to see more of Freya, Ingrid, and Joanna, as they are now able to practice magic, and are now embracing their love lives as well.
In Serpent’s Kiss, we get to see Freddie, Freya’s twin brother return after being gone forever, and the mystery that surrounds him, as well as get to see more mythological creatures, and get more backstory of the whole family. I started this book last night and was unable to put it down. I was so intrigued by all the plot twists and turns, and everything that was happening that I needed to know what was going to happen next.
I loved watching Matt and Ingrid’s love story play out, even if I did get really annoyed with both of them. Watching Killian and Freya continue to fall more and more in love with one another was amazing, even with everything that was thrown at them in this book was beautiful. I really want them to get their HEA in the third and final book!
This book definitely had a lot of plot twists and turns, and there wasn’t much of page fillers that made the story drag on, like most second installments in a series. I truly adore Freya, Ingrid and Joanna and after how this book ended I am definitely diving into the third and final book ASAP to see how everything plays out for this family.
If you love paranormal with a side of mythology romance, I highly suggest picking up this series today. The writing is beautiful and the characters amazingly written and unique in their own way!
February 27, 2020
I actually finished this four days ago but it was so mind-numbingly bad that I haven't been able to convince myself to review it.
There was no plot. There was no point. The characters were all over the place. The romantic relationships were broken up and made up again EVERY CHAPTER.
The entire book just meandered around a thousand pointless subplots that didn't go anywhere and the mythology was STILL NOT EXPLAINED. Am I just supposed to know all the Norse myths?!?!
My review probably makes it seem like I have strong feelings about how bad this book is. Don't be fooled. I do not give a crap about this book. I'm torn at the moment between my inherent need to finish a book series and valuing my free time. I have book three and I am a teeny-TEENY-tiny bit curious. But do I want to WASTE ANOTHER THREE HOURS OF MY LIFE?!?!
Next time I read a book about witches I want badass, smash-the-patriarchy, dancing with the devil at midnight, motherfucking WITCHES please. Not these silly little girls WHO ARE THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD BUT STILL GO STUPID FOR PRETTY BOYS.
THEY ARE SO DUMB.
There was no plot. There was no point. The characters were all over the place. The romantic relationships were broken up and made up again EVERY CHAPTER.
The entire book just meandered around a thousand pointless subplots that didn't go anywhere and the mythology was STILL NOT EXPLAINED. Am I just supposed to know all the Norse myths?!?!
My review probably makes it seem like I have strong feelings about how bad this book is. Don't be fooled. I do not give a crap about this book. I'm torn at the moment between my inherent need to finish a book series and valuing my free time. I have book three and I am a teeny-TEENY-tiny bit curious. But do I want to WASTE ANOTHER THREE HOURS OF MY LIFE?!?!
Next time I read a book about witches I want badass, smash-the-patriarchy, dancing with the devil at midnight, motherfucking WITCHES please. Not these silly little girls WHO ARE THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD BUT STILL GO STUPID FOR PRETTY BOYS.
THEY ARE SO DUMB.
March 14, 2025
This is certainly light and fluffy. The first half of the book focuses heavily on the characters relationships and we don't start to get any real plot until over halfway in. Over the last year or so I'm being proved time and time again that the tv show/movie is sometimes truly better than the book. Don't get me wrong I still enjoyed this, but I don't believe I'd go out of my way to read it again. I think it's a lot of set up for the next book entitled Winds of Salem. And i think that should be much more entertaining. If you wanna pick this up please do, just know that it's not really anything like the show, the only similarities are the characters.
July 9, 2024
I seriously could not put this book down. So many plot twists and shocking things happened! I loved all of the Norse mythology that was included in this. Ingrid has grown on me. I still love Freya and Killian though. I love the vivid details of memories the author uses. The author really knows how to transport the reader into the story. You feel like you're there when you read it! Oh my gods that cliffhanger!
April 10, 2019
Similar to the first one in the series, this is one of those books that get better toward the end. I also really appreciate the Norse mythology. There are some annoying/shallow aspects of the book but if you gloss over those parts, it’s pretty good.
June 25, 2019
Honestly, it took a long time for this book to get to the action and in the end it resolved nothing so now I am forced to read the next one. I loved the characters of the sisters and the brother and their significant others but I felt no collection to the mother's. Honestly Joana should be a supporting role and not have taken so much of our time. I love Melissa de la Cruz she is one of my favorite writes, I didn't hate the book but its not my favorite either. Just know that if you are investing in this book, you might as well buy the next one.
January 29, 2021
4.5/5 Stars! RtC!
May 17, 2017
EXPECTATIONS: Here we go again with the second book in the witchy series. I am still to watch the TV Show, I like the books but the cast of the TV Show...well ain't exactly my thing.
THE WORLD: We are back to the small town where our main characters have been living for a really long time. Why? Because they are witches and witches are sorta immortal, not in the never day way but in always reborn way. And yeah the fact that they are witches...well we are in our times, like basically the world is really like we know it except for a few people that can do witchcraft. Actually in the first book we learned that after Salem trials witchcraft was banned but eventually over the period of the first book our main characters starts using it again. Of course nobody really believes it's witchcraft they do, more like we look at people who say they practice witchcraft...slightly amused and slightly hoping...
CHARACTERS: So you might remember from my previous review that I had a strong opinion formed about both sisters: Freya and Ingrid. I purely disliked first one and really loved the second. However in this book my opinion changed a lot towards one sister and that was Ingrid. Unfortunately, the author decided to spend many pages discussing Ingrid's virginity and her in general inexperience in romance. Tbh I don't buy it, you can be 30 and still a virgin sure, there are many religions that dictate such state of woman. But if you are not religious and been in the world for let's say more than a few hundred years..you have to be either super unattractive or have a horrible character to not have any experience what so ever. And I am not talking about just sex here, first base kissing is all Ingrid knew. So what? You never liked anybody in those many hundred years? Sure if you are a loner or asexual okay but when you are trying to sell Ingrid as super nice and social person...I just really don't buy it. Even this whole thirty and a virgin thing is weird for such person, especially when of course Ingrid is actually really beautiful and all. So if she is attractive, social and really nice...plus also smart...I just really don't get it. And especially why it was so important to write so much about it and how she tries sexy lingerie for the first time and all that...just plain weird. It's when it's 20 something character but it's really sad when it's a non religious 30 years old woman who has actually lived for more than a few hundred years. No intimate contact with anymore is just really really sad, be it sex or simple cuddling. Not being loved ever by people that are not related to you is probably worst thing ever. Anyways, so yea Ingrid became opposite to what she was in the first book and Freya yeah...she is just this dump girl, a gold digger even in today's terms. And in this book we also meet more of their brother...who is a lot like Freya...but hey he is after all her twin.
ROMANCE: So Ingrid and Matt are kinda getting close but the whole relationship felt really forced and awkward for me. And of course Freya has her sex moments. Like really i endured it in first book but now...I just really don't care how many orgasms she had, like come on.
GOOD: Witches and magic, I guess. It was my least favorite book so obviously I didn't find a lot of good in it.
BAD: Ingrid virginity, the way brother was dealing with his problem. Or should I say fucking his problems away. Yeah...talking about women rights...in many cases women are described as such tools that I am shocked this book is written by a female author.
OVERALL: It was okay. Not as good as first one, actually much much worse but it is short so I will go on to the last book.
June 24, 2012
I don't know what exactly it is about Melissa de la Cruz that I love so much, but I suppose it goes hand in hand with my love of creative YA books. I read her Au Pairs series a while ago followed by 'Angels on Sunset Boulevard' (which I thought was very inventive and wish she would have explored a little more) and like them well enough but it wasn't until last summer that I randomly picked up the 'Blue Bloods' series and became obsessed. Okay, so yes, I'm way to old for this stuff but with her penchant for layering mythology on top of mythology I really can't help myself. The Witches of East End series is a sort of spin off from Blue Bloods. That is to say, they exist in the same universe and while witch Freya Beauchamp made an appearance in a Blue Bloods story, Blue Bloods characters Oliver Hazard-Perry and Mimi Force made their way into the first novel, 'Witches of East End'. And while the Blue Bloods series is about fallen angels living out their immortal lives as vampires in this world, the Witches of East End series is about Norse gods living out their immortal lives trapped in Midgard after the destruction of the bofrir (which is really the Bifröst, I have never heard the term bofrir before and apparently neither has google), the bridge between Midgard (earth) and Asgard. We don't find this out until nearly the end of the first book though. Perhaps their were clues I didn't really pick up one (I mean, the name Freya for one...) but I doubt I was the only one. I would have been much more apt to pick it up if I'd known they were more than just... witches.
After the events of the first book have calmed it looks like things are on even keel for witches Joanna, Ingrid, and Freya. But with the return of Freya's twin brother who'd been lost to Limbo, framed for the bofrir's destruction, a group of amnesiac pixies, two suitors for mother Joanna, and an over anxious spirit trying to get into contact things are all set to get complicated again. And boy do they. While reading several people asked me to plot and I found I really couldn't get into it without going on and on and on. Which is obviously ridiculous so we'll leave any summery at that.
De la Cruz is, if anything, very clever. She's clearly done a lot of research into Norse mythology for this series but I have to sort of wonder sometimes which sources she's using. A lot of times her plot points don't match up to the mythology I'm aware of. Now, of course, she's an author and she needs to license, but sometimes I have to wonder why.
The writing is top notch for this sort of thing. She wont be winning any awards in masterful word play but she trusts her audience enough not to insult them. This isn't great literature, it's great fun and, thankfully, de la Cruz is aware of that.
The Witches series is supposed to be geared to a more adult audience than Blue Bloods and at points you can see that. There's some profanities and scenes of a sexual nature, but I honestly don't think this isn't something most readers of Blue Bloods have seen before. And perhaps it's best for de la Cruz to stick to what she knows best, the Young Adult market. But either way this book was very entertaining, I couldn't wait to find out what happens next. Unfortunately I have to wait a year. Or... half a year for the Blue Bloods conclusion. I guess I should be please she doesn't crank them out as fast as others, her imagination and writing are good enough to wait for.
After the events of the first book have calmed it looks like things are on even keel for witches Joanna, Ingrid, and Freya. But with the return of Freya's twin brother who'd been lost to Limbo, framed for the bofrir's destruction, a group of amnesiac pixies, two suitors for mother Joanna, and an over anxious spirit trying to get into contact things are all set to get complicated again. And boy do they. While reading several people asked me to plot and I found I really couldn't get into it without going on and on and on. Which is obviously ridiculous so we'll leave any summery at that.
De la Cruz is, if anything, very clever. She's clearly done a lot of research into Norse mythology for this series but I have to sort of wonder sometimes which sources she's using. A lot of times her plot points don't match up to the mythology I'm aware of. Now, of course, she's an author and she needs to license, but sometimes I have to wonder why.
The writing is top notch for this sort of thing. She wont be winning any awards in masterful word play but she trusts her audience enough not to insult them. This isn't great literature, it's great fun and, thankfully, de la Cruz is aware of that.
The Witches series is supposed to be geared to a more adult audience than Blue Bloods and at points you can see that. There's some profanities and scenes of a sexual nature, but I honestly don't think this isn't something most readers of Blue Bloods have seen before. And perhaps it's best for de la Cruz to stick to what she knows best, the Young Adult market. But either way this book was very entertaining, I couldn't wait to find out what happens next. Unfortunately I have to wait a year. Or... half a year for the Blue Bloods conclusion. I guess I should be please she doesn't crank them out as fast as others, her imagination and writing are good enough to wait for.
September 2, 2012
Copy received from Sphere through Book Geeks
North Hampton is a town in New York state, but it is off the map, not completely part of the rest of the world, although by no means separate from it either. In North Hampton the three Beauchamp witches are trying to live their lives in a quiet way, using their magic to help those around them without interfering too much or being too open about it. But although life appears peaceful and good, stormy times are ahead for the witches. Joanne Beauchamp, the matriarch is receiving signs from an unsettled spirit. This spirit has an important message for Joanne but in order to retrieve it Joanne has to decipher a code and try to link up with the past. Her youngest daughter Freya should be completely happy, dividing her time between her job in a bar and the love of her life, Killian except that her twin Freddie has escaped from limbo and is convinced that Killian is the one who betrayed him and the one who should be imprisoned. Torn between her brother and her lover, Freya has to uncover the truth in order to save both men. Ingrid is a quiet girl, working as a librarian she has fallen in love for the very first time, despite having lived for centuries. That the object of her affection is the local, mortal, policeman who doesn’t believe in magic complicates matters almost as much as the fact that she is still a virgin does. And really, this description only scratches at the service of the problems the Beauchamp women will have to deal with.
This is the second book in a series of which I didn’t read the first book. And, considering the numerous references to earlier events, I assume that it would be smart to read the first book before starting this one. Having said that, this book can be read as a stand-alone novel. While I did at times find myself wondering about certain events that were referenced in the story, I never had a problem keeping up with what was going on in this book even though there is an awful lot happening on these pages and a lot of information to absorb.
I enjoyed the story but liked the way in which it was told less. The story is told in fragments and doesn’t really flow. It is almost as if each chapter is a separate short story. I felt I was being thrown from scene to scene with none of them being properly concluded or connected to each other. With the start of each new chapter I felt as if I had landed in the middle of the next scene with no idea how the previous one had ended. I also felt the writing was a bit too descriptive. The surroundings and everything the characters do or feel is described in detail but as if from a distance. While I was told what people were thinking or feeling, there was no emotion attached to those bits of information. I read what was happening but I never experienced it. And this is a shame since I feel this is a story that could have truly captivated me had it been told in a different way. I really liked the idea of the witches and the Gods. I love that the author has them living in our world while using their magic to help those around them. And I was intrigued by the rivalries and politics in the magical world. I just never felt truly involved in the story.
Overall I would call this an interesting story that would have been more captivating if had been written in a more flowing style.
North Hampton is a town in New York state, but it is off the map, not completely part of the rest of the world, although by no means separate from it either. In North Hampton the three Beauchamp witches are trying to live their lives in a quiet way, using their magic to help those around them without interfering too much or being too open about it. But although life appears peaceful and good, stormy times are ahead for the witches. Joanne Beauchamp, the matriarch is receiving signs from an unsettled spirit. This spirit has an important message for Joanne but in order to retrieve it Joanne has to decipher a code and try to link up with the past. Her youngest daughter Freya should be completely happy, dividing her time between her job in a bar and the love of her life, Killian except that her twin Freddie has escaped from limbo and is convinced that Killian is the one who betrayed him and the one who should be imprisoned. Torn between her brother and her lover, Freya has to uncover the truth in order to save both men. Ingrid is a quiet girl, working as a librarian she has fallen in love for the very first time, despite having lived for centuries. That the object of her affection is the local, mortal, policeman who doesn’t believe in magic complicates matters almost as much as the fact that she is still a virgin does. And really, this description only scratches at the service of the problems the Beauchamp women will have to deal with.
This is the second book in a series of which I didn’t read the first book. And, considering the numerous references to earlier events, I assume that it would be smart to read the first book before starting this one. Having said that, this book can be read as a stand-alone novel. While I did at times find myself wondering about certain events that were referenced in the story, I never had a problem keeping up with what was going on in this book even though there is an awful lot happening on these pages and a lot of information to absorb.
I enjoyed the story but liked the way in which it was told less. The story is told in fragments and doesn’t really flow. It is almost as if each chapter is a separate short story. I felt I was being thrown from scene to scene with none of them being properly concluded or connected to each other. With the start of each new chapter I felt as if I had landed in the middle of the next scene with no idea how the previous one had ended. I also felt the writing was a bit too descriptive. The surroundings and everything the characters do or feel is described in detail but as if from a distance. While I was told what people were thinking or feeling, there was no emotion attached to those bits of information. I read what was happening but I never experienced it. And this is a shame since I feel this is a story that could have truly captivated me had it been told in a different way. I really liked the idea of the witches and the Gods. I love that the author has them living in our world while using their magic to help those around them. And I was intrigued by the rivalries and politics in the magical world. I just never felt truly involved in the story.
Overall I would call this an interesting story that would have been more captivating if had been written in a more flowing style.
December 3, 2015
Personal Response:
I loved this book. The Serpent´s Kiss was the kind of book that kept you turning pages. It was a mix of romance and action. The romance part was a big part of the book. There was the love story going on between Ingrid and Matt; Freya and Killian; Freddie and Hilly; and the love triangle with Joanna, Harold, and Norman. The action parts happened with all of the magic spells and the Valkyries coming to take Killian to Limbo. The very end of the book left you with a big cliffhanger. I wish it would have told you what happens to Freya, but I guess that is what the next book is for.
Plot Summary:
Freddie finally came home from Limbo, but he wants to stay hidden for a while. Only Freya knows he is back because he came to her hoping for her help. Freddie was sent to Limbo because his trident is the one who broke the bridge that connected the nine worlds. He was able to break free and now he wants to kill the one who stole his trident and broke the bridge. Freddie is convinced that Killian was the one to do it. Killian is Freya's fiance. Freya is trying to prove that it was not Killian who took Freddie's trident. Freya told Killian what was going on, and Killian could not fully remember that day. He could only remember parts of it. He think she is innocent, but he is not really sure. One day, Killian showed Freya the mark of the trident on his back. Freya is exploring every way that Killian could be innocent.
While Freya is trying to prove Killian is innocent Ingrid is falling in love for the first time in a long time. Ingrid is falling in love with a mortal police detective. She is having some problems because he does not believe in magic and she is a witch. She wants to tell Matt the truth when pixies come to town and start to steal things around town, but is forced to lie to him because he would not believe her. Ingrid and Matt start fighting about her lying to him. They are both are miserable without each other and Matt comes to terms that Ingrid is a witch.
The pixies came to Ingrid for help because they were lost. The way to their home was destroyed and they did not know what to do. They had lost some of their memory. With the help of Freya and Ingrid they started to get some of their memories back. The memories proved that Killian was innocent. Now, they had to figure out who told the pixies to steal the trident. They were too late. They did not find out who ordered the pixies to steal the trident, so Killian still looked guilty. The Valkyries came and took Killian to eternal punishment in Limbo. Freya was in shock and she was taken back i time to Salem. She got a noose around her neck then dissaperared. The whole family will now have to find a way to save both of them.
Recommendation:
I think this book should be read at the high school to young adult levels. I think this because it has some more adult content. I think more girls would like this than boys because it is mostly a love story. This is an amazing book.
I loved this book. The Serpent´s Kiss was the kind of book that kept you turning pages. It was a mix of romance and action. The romance part was a big part of the book. There was the love story going on between Ingrid and Matt; Freya and Killian; Freddie and Hilly; and the love triangle with Joanna, Harold, and Norman. The action parts happened with all of the magic spells and the Valkyries coming to take Killian to Limbo. The very end of the book left you with a big cliffhanger. I wish it would have told you what happens to Freya, but I guess that is what the next book is for.
Plot Summary:
Freddie finally came home from Limbo, but he wants to stay hidden for a while. Only Freya knows he is back because he came to her hoping for her help. Freddie was sent to Limbo because his trident is the one who broke the bridge that connected the nine worlds. He was able to break free and now he wants to kill the one who stole his trident and broke the bridge. Freddie is convinced that Killian was the one to do it. Killian is Freya's fiance. Freya is trying to prove that it was not Killian who took Freddie's trident. Freya told Killian what was going on, and Killian could not fully remember that day. He could only remember parts of it. He think she is innocent, but he is not really sure. One day, Killian showed Freya the mark of the trident on his back. Freya is exploring every way that Killian could be innocent.
While Freya is trying to prove Killian is innocent Ingrid is falling in love for the first time in a long time. Ingrid is falling in love with a mortal police detective. She is having some problems because he does not believe in magic and she is a witch. She wants to tell Matt the truth when pixies come to town and start to steal things around town, but is forced to lie to him because he would not believe her. Ingrid and Matt start fighting about her lying to him. They are both are miserable without each other and Matt comes to terms that Ingrid is a witch.
The pixies came to Ingrid for help because they were lost. The way to their home was destroyed and they did not know what to do. They had lost some of their memory. With the help of Freya and Ingrid they started to get some of their memories back. The memories proved that Killian was innocent. Now, they had to figure out who told the pixies to steal the trident. They were too late. They did not find out who ordered the pixies to steal the trident, so Killian still looked guilty. The Valkyries came and took Killian to eternal punishment in Limbo. Freya was in shock and she was taken back i time to Salem. She got a noose around her neck then dissaperared. The whole family will now have to find a way to save both of them.
Recommendation:
I think this book should be read at the high school to young adult levels. I think this because it has some more adult content. I think more girls would like this than boys because it is mostly a love story. This is an amazing book.
September 4, 2012
Strange things are still happening in North Hampton, Long Island and the Beauchamp family is right in the middle of it. Although the centuries-old restriction on practicing magic is gone, that doesn't mean everyone is comfortable with it or even believes in it. The Beauchamp family, made of goddesses/witches, is determined to use their magic to help those around them but fate always seems to interrupt their plans.
The family matriarch is Joanna, who can give life back when needed and travel to Limbo. Ingrid is the town librarian and cool and reserved. Freya is the wild child, made for all things sensual and has found the perfect job as a bartender where she can throw in love potions. All they want is a calm life, but fate intervenes.
First, Freddie, who is Freya's twin brother and is the sun god, has escaped from limbo where he has been languishing for five thousand years. The guardians of limbo are searching for him to serve the rest of his punishment for destroying the bridge that separates Earth from the other worlds. Freddie insists he is innocent, and worse, that Freya's lover, Killian, is the true culprit. Who will she believe?
Ingrid has fallen in love for the first time with an unlikely man. Matt Noble and Ingrid met when he was investigating her family as he is a detective on the police force. Ingrid doesn't know anything about this love stuff, and can't seem to work it out.
Joanna has her own issues. Her long-long husband whom she hasn't seen in centuries, has reappeared and seems interested in reestablishing their marriage. But, she has just started a relationship with an interesting local man. Then there is the spirit from the other world that insists she has a message Joanna needs to hear, but can't quite make the connection.
Fans of De La Cruz's Witches of East End will be delighted to read this sequel and follow the further adventures of the Beauchamp family. Those who missed the first book in the series can pick up here with no problem. The characters are interesting and the problems intriguing. This book is recommended for readers of paranormal romance.
The family matriarch is Joanna, who can give life back when needed and travel to Limbo. Ingrid is the town librarian and cool and reserved. Freya is the wild child, made for all things sensual and has found the perfect job as a bartender where she can throw in love potions. All they want is a calm life, but fate intervenes.
First, Freddie, who is Freya's twin brother and is the sun god, has escaped from limbo where he has been languishing for five thousand years. The guardians of limbo are searching for him to serve the rest of his punishment for destroying the bridge that separates Earth from the other worlds. Freddie insists he is innocent, and worse, that Freya's lover, Killian, is the true culprit. Who will she believe?
Ingrid has fallen in love for the first time with an unlikely man. Matt Noble and Ingrid met when he was investigating her family as he is a detective on the police force. Ingrid doesn't know anything about this love stuff, and can't seem to work it out.
Joanna has her own issues. Her long-long husband whom she hasn't seen in centuries, has reappeared and seems interested in reestablishing their marriage. But, she has just started a relationship with an interesting local man. Then there is the spirit from the other world that insists she has a message Joanna needs to hear, but can't quite make the connection.
Fans of De La Cruz's Witches of East End will be delighted to read this sequel and follow the further adventures of the Beauchamp family. Those who missed the first book in the series can pick up here with no problem. The characters are interesting and the problems intriguing. This book is recommended for readers of paranormal romance.
June 28, 2012
Read FULL review at
This book may have taken me a bit longer to read, but it wasn't due to the lack of interest (exams can be blamed for that one). From the very beginning, Melissa de la Cruz sucks you right back into the plot and then teases you so you'll be begging for more. The pace of the story was tasteful and kept you entertained without any moments of boredom while also hitting the climax at just the right time. I stayed up pretty late last night just so I could see how it would end.
What I love about Cruz's writing is her creation of multiple narrators (something she has also done in the Blue Blood series). Serpent's Kiss ultimately has three main characters in which we get to experience each chapter from one of their perspectives (with Freya's twin, Freddie, also getting a few chapters of his own). This change in perspectives allows you to really see how these individuals' problems and joys effect one another. Questions one character has can be answered by another....almost as if you are watching a play in which the audience knows for than the characters on stage. It's a thrill to read :)
Ingrid's perspective was personally my favourite of the three to read. Although I loved reading about Freya's sexy life and Joanna's struggles, Ingrid's personal problems really kept me the most entertained. Her issues with her love interest Matt were funny, joyful, and heartbreaking. There were more than a few times were I just wanted to give Ingrid a big bear hug!With that being said, I'm sure most of you will take pleasure in reading Freya's scolding hot scenes with her boyfriend Killian- maybe we'll be able to see Mrs.Cruz use this writing style for another, particular couple in Blue Bloods...ahem...Jack and Schuyler....wink-wink, nudgy-nudge-nudge?!
This book may have taken me a bit longer to read, but it wasn't due to the lack of interest (exams can be blamed for that one). From the very beginning, Melissa de la Cruz sucks you right back into the plot and then teases you so you'll be begging for more. The pace of the story was tasteful and kept you entertained without any moments of boredom while also hitting the climax at just the right time. I stayed up pretty late last night just so I could see how it would end.
What I love about Cruz's writing is her creation of multiple narrators (something she has also done in the Blue Blood series). Serpent's Kiss ultimately has three main characters in which we get to experience each chapter from one of their perspectives (with Freya's twin, Freddie, also getting a few chapters of his own). This change in perspectives allows you to really see how these individuals' problems and joys effect one another. Questions one character has can be answered by another....almost as if you are watching a play in which the audience knows for than the characters on stage. It's a thrill to read :)
Ingrid's perspective was personally my favourite of the three to read. Although I loved reading about Freya's sexy life and Joanna's struggles, Ingrid's personal problems really kept me the most entertained. Her issues with her love interest Matt were funny, joyful, and heartbreaking. There were more than a few times were I just wanted to give Ingrid a big bear hug!With that being said, I'm sure most of you will take pleasure in reading Freya's scolding hot scenes with her boyfriend Killian- maybe we'll be able to see Mrs.Cruz use this writing style for another, particular couple in Blue Bloods...ahem...Jack and Schuyler....wink-wink, nudgy-nudge-nudge?!
October 28, 2012
More magic!
I enjoyed SERPENT’S KISS so much I can hardly wait for the follow up to this one, WINDS OF SALEM, which is definitely at the top of my next summer’s reading list.
But as for this book - SERPENT’S KISS - it’s very exciting, really well paced and chock full of the fantasy, romance, rivalries and the paranormal and fascinating forays into (Norse) mythology we’ve come to expect from Melissa de la Cruz. I found myself reading it more than once and each time I read it I couldn’t put it down.
Our beloved family of witches, the Beauchamps, are back in North Hampton NY and their lives are anything but dull. Joanna, Freya and Ingrid are all falling in love - (yes, there are very sexy men involved here) but as you might expect there are complications galore for each of them - and not only in matters of the heart. Freya is torn apart when her brother Freddie ‘comes back�, proclaiming his innocence to a crime he says he didn’t commit - but hints that Freya’s fiancé Killian may be guilty of! This is quite a dilemma as you can imagine.
Ingrid falls in love (for the first time really) and her innocence is very well drawn...Even Joanna falls for someone at the same time her husband makes a return! And as usual she is counted on to come through to save the day. As you can see life continues to present challenges for all three of them!
Throw in a lot of deftly ‘conjured up� mystery and suspense - AND some fascinating history about the persecution of witches - then balance it with the delightful, endearing pixies - (you’re going to love them) - and in SERPENT’S KISS you truly have something for every reader. Oh, and by the way, the writing itself is wonderful and full of magical imagery. So, not to worry, the writing, different plots and our trusty characters all come to life in SERPENT’S KISS. I highly recommend it.
I enjoyed SERPENT’S KISS so much I can hardly wait for the follow up to this one, WINDS OF SALEM, which is definitely at the top of my next summer’s reading list.
But as for this book - SERPENT’S KISS - it’s very exciting, really well paced and chock full of the fantasy, romance, rivalries and the paranormal and fascinating forays into (Norse) mythology we’ve come to expect from Melissa de la Cruz. I found myself reading it more than once and each time I read it I couldn’t put it down.
Our beloved family of witches, the Beauchamps, are back in North Hampton NY and their lives are anything but dull. Joanna, Freya and Ingrid are all falling in love - (yes, there are very sexy men involved here) but as you might expect there are complications galore for each of them - and not only in matters of the heart. Freya is torn apart when her brother Freddie ‘comes back�, proclaiming his innocence to a crime he says he didn’t commit - but hints that Freya’s fiancé Killian may be guilty of! This is quite a dilemma as you can imagine.
Ingrid falls in love (for the first time really) and her innocence is very well drawn...Even Joanna falls for someone at the same time her husband makes a return! And as usual she is counted on to come through to save the day. As you can see life continues to present challenges for all three of them!
Throw in a lot of deftly ‘conjured up� mystery and suspense - AND some fascinating history about the persecution of witches - then balance it with the delightful, endearing pixies - (you’re going to love them) - and in SERPENT’S KISS you truly have something for every reader. Oh, and by the way, the writing itself is wonderful and full of magical imagery. So, not to worry, the writing, different plots and our trusty characters all come to life in SERPENT’S KISS. I highly recommend it.
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