Title: Wayward {The Witch Wars Saga # 1}
Author: Ashley Girardi
Published: March 2011
Synopsis: Born without magic, seventeen-year-old Helena “Hex” Wayward is an embarrassment to her power-hungry relatives. As the weakest member of the world’s most deadly magical family, Hex learns early how to avoid confrontation. There’s no defending herself against an errant curse or the pit-demon that her cousins like to summon during family reunions. When the dark magic inside of her — magic that she never dreamt even existed — erupts in a violent display, it kills a member of a rival family. Now, Hex’s family hopes to use her magic for their own sinister purposes and their enemies just want her dead. Abandoning her magic will leave Hex defenseless but she’s seen how quickly power corrupts even the best intentions. Caught between the seductive sorcerer who wants her power for his own and the forbidden love of a human boy, Hex has to make a choice: Save her life or save her soul.
Status: Read from August 20 to 22, 2011 – I own a copy {Courtesy the author}
My Thoughts:
Wayward is the first in a young adult paranormal series self published by Ashley Girardi. I’m hesitant to accept YA for review usually but my interest was piqued by the synopsis and excerpt and fortunately I found Wayward an easy read with an engaging story.
Helena ‘Hex’ Wayward is an outcast amongst her powerful family. As the seventh child of parents who themselves were the seventh children, she was expected to wield great magic and was treated badly when it seemed she would not live up to her potential. When her ability finally reveals itself she is seduced by it’s strength but eventually recognises the danger it presents and flee’s the corrupting influence of her lover and her family. Eventually she is found and forced to return home, coerced into a deal that compromises her spirit, and threatens her life.
I liked the bones of the premise and there are some really interesting concepts at play yet the story has the appropriate simplicity for a mature young adult audience. There are some dark undertones but also some positive messages and Hex faces issues teenagers can easily relate to. Hex’s world is well imagined, the witches exist hidden within human society with a distinct hierarchy that Girardi develops well though some background detail is lacking. I hope the author exploits the potential of this network in further installments.
Hex is likeable, with an admirable determination and inner strength. Despite the intense pressure and bullying she has experienced she is determined to hold onto her own core values. She defends her friends even at great risk to herself.
Hex’s human friends, Sam and Zach, are fairly standard constructs but amiable enough. Her relationship with both evolves quite naturally and Zach provides the touch of forbidden romance that is de riguer in a YA novel. Cynthie is the mean girl whose hatred of Hex is twisted by unacknowledged jealousy and I thought she she was probably the best actualised character with the strongest motivation for her actions. I would have liked Hex’s relationship with Valentine to be a little more defined – he serves as a catalyst for the plot but remains fairly one dimensional.
Wayward has some weaknesses but overall it is a promising first effort from a young writer and I believe the series has the potential to improve as the author gains experience in the craft. If you are a fan of paranormal YA then Wayward, available at the bargain price of 99c, is a risk worth taking.
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About the Author
Ashley Girardi is 26 years old and plans to stay that way for the better part of the next decade. She’s dabbled in a number of professions, from the service industry to military intelligence. While her current goals include publication, that’s really just a circuitous route to world domination. Ashley’s influences include Friedrich Nietzsche, Kurt Vonnegut and Lady Gaga. Her favorite color is fluorescent beige and her favorite quote is from Robert A. Heinlein: “Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards.”
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Available to Purchase
@ Smashwords {Excerpt available}
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1 electronic edition of
Wayward
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Good Luck!
Thank you for this giveaway!
chelle2006 @ aol .com
-Michelle (US)
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Great giveaway.
msuck27@hotmail.co.uk
michelle from uk
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Nice
valerie(at)stuckinbooks.com
US
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Awesome!
Meredith DeVoe, blackbirchwoods -at- gmail dot com
USA
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The book sounds like it is right up my alley!
jlane (at) raigroup (dot) com
Jackie – USA
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Thanks for the giveaway!
Canada
chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com
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Please enter me in the draw, and thanks for the giveaway! I’m in Canada.
darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com
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+1 for tweeting:
http://twitter.com/#!/DarleneBookNook/status/108695909944143873
darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com
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+1 added Wayward to my To-Read Wishlist on Goodreads
darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com
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sounds like an interesting read, thanks for the giveaway..I live in michigan, united states
Johanna naylor
jwnaylor68@yahoo.com
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+1 for facebook post
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1587735908
Johni Naylor
enter to win people
Review & Giveaway: Wayward {The Witch Wars Saga # 1} by Ashley Girardi
bookdout.wordpress.com
Title: Wayward {The Witch Wars Saga # 1} Author: Ashley Girardi Published: March 2011 Synopsis: Born without magic, seventeen-year-old Helena “Hex” Wayward is an embarrassment to her p…
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ooops, here’s my e-mail
jwnaylor68@yahoo.com
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+1 for putting on my TBR @ goodreads
Dragonflydreamer68 marked as to-read:
Wayward: The Witch Wars Saga (Volume 1)
by Ashley Girardi (Goodreads Author)
bookshelves: to-read, giveaways-entered, paranormal-ghost, series, ya
My rating:
edit my review
shelf: to-read ( 565th )
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12 minutes ago · comment
jwnaylor68@yahoo.com
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Thanks for this giveaway. The books sounds interesting!
+1 for tweeting: http://twitter.com/#!/Bookish_Nimue/status/108890949102469120
Nimue
bookobsessions (at) gmail.com
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Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me.
+1 I added Wayward to my Goodreads to read list.
juliecookies(at)gmail.com
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Hey. I would love to win this sounds like a great book!
Giselle Cormier
cormier.giselle at gmail dot com
Canada
Added Wayword to my goodreads TBR: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4800103-giselle
http://twitter.com/#!/Giselleco/status/108899235537235968
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Name: Anghel Gabriela
Email: gabytz95@yahoo.com
Country: Romania
Added Wayward to my Goodreads to read list – (username: gabytz95@yahoo.com – Gaby)
Twitted: http://twitter.com/#!/Gabytzzaa/status/108974327118041089
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Wow, this sounds like a great beginning to an awesome series! Thanks for a great giveaway:)
Julie Witt, jwitt33 at live dot com, USA
I added the book to my Goodreads wishlist.
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/jwitt33/status/109015553275990016
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Sounds interesting, I’d like to read it!
Renee (US)
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