A Witch in Love [Winter Trilogy #2] by Ruth Warburton **Review**

A Witch in Love

Series: Winter Trilogy #2
Pages: 416
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Release date: 5th July 2012
Buy: Book Depository | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Waterstones

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Thanks to the publisher for my review copy of the book.

Goodreads synopsis:

This is the second book in the Winter Trilogy. If you have not read the first book, A Witch in Winter, this synopsis and review may contain spoilers.


Anna still finds it hard to believe that Seth loves her and has vowed to suppress her powers, no matter what.

But magic – like love – is uncontrollable. It spills out with terrible consequences, and soon, Anna is being hunted.

It had been well over a year since I read A Witch in Winter, the first book in this trilogy, but I managed to drop back into the story with complete ease. I did, at first, find it a little difficult to remember everything that had happened, but as I read more, I was reminded of the story in the first book, and everything fell back into place really quickly. And the story in this second instalment drew me in straight away!

I can remember quite enjoying A Witch in Winter, but not being absolutely blown away by it - there were elements of the story that I didn't find as exciting as others - but the plot to A Witch in Love was much more intriguing and exciting, and I couldn't wait to read more and find out what was going on.
After a trip to London with Emmaline, the girls end up walking past Anna's old home, that she shared with her father, and where her mother had previously lived (though she doesn't remember her). There is strong magic surrounding the house, so the witches investigate, discovering a magical charm concealed beneath the steps to the house. This leads Anna on an adventure to find out more about her mother, and what might have happened to her. And why she might have planted a magical charm in the steps to their home, a charm that suppressed Anna's own magic for as long as she was living there.
I loved where Anna's discoveries took her, and it was also good to learn more about the world of the witches. The lore in this trilogy is really interesting, and totally unlike any other witch books I've read in the past! There are still a load of questions that these discoveries posed that are left unanswered, so I'm desperate to read the final book and find the rest of the pieces to Anna's puzzle.
Then there's the danger of what is happening to Anna personally. It seems that someone (other than Seth) knows her secret, and is determined to frighten her, and then worse. This was a really interesting plot in the story, and I didn't expect what happened at all, which made the story even more exciting than before.

The first two thirds of the book had me intrigued, interested, and captivated, but the final third had me on the edge of my seat and reading faster than I ever have before! I had to find out what was going on, and what would happen next. I didn't imagine for a second, that things would get anywhere near as exciting and as dangerous as they did, but it was a welcome surprise. The end of the book, as well as being exciting, was seriously shocking, and I know I'm going to have to read the final book in the trilogy straight away, to find out how everything will be resolved. Without giving anything away, something happened close to the end that has left me very upset, and I'm seriously hoping that it will be made right by the end of book three - it can't be left like this!

After reading A Witch in Love, I can definitely say that I'm enjoying this trilogy more and more, and it's definitely something I would recommend to fans of YA fantasy, especially if you love your fantasy to feature strong magic, but in a world that feels real. Ruth Warburton seems to get better with each book she does, so I have high hopes for the final book in this trilogy.