Alyssa PalomboRezensionen

Anyone who has been in an art museum has seen Venus's face from Botticelli's famous The Birth of Venus painting. What a lot of people don't know is who the identity of Venus is. Most say it's Simonetta Vespucci, and so Alyssa Palombo has turned her into our guide to Renaissance Florence. Through her, we meet Botticelli, Lucrezia Donati, and most of the Medicis, who only allow the brightest and best minds into their midsts. Those minds must read. Anything. And they must have an opinion on art. Or philosophy. Actually, anything goes, but the way the characters heap praise on Simonetta for having a mind, you'd think everyone else just stared straight ahead. So, while Palombo promises an enchanting story about the intrigues of Renaissance Florence, what the reader gets is a shallow, YA-style telling of a rather complicated time period.

The first 180 pages are quite slow because Palombo has created "good" characters and "bad" characters based on their relation to the protagonist. Lucrezia Donati is "bad". Sandro Botticelli is "good". There isn't any nuance to the supporting cast, particularly the women. Clarice, Lorenzo's wife, only appears whenever Simonetta wants to have lunch with someone and talk about fashion while all of the interesting thoughts are reserved for Simonetta alone. In fact, the protagonist is portrayed as pretty much the only woman in Florence who reads or likes art. Every other woman is depicted as shallow, in comparison, because they gossip or just care about their families. Meanwhile, Simonetta is considered a paragon among women. I'm not saying that, in order to be beautiful, Simonetta had to be dumb. It's just unrealistic to me to think that she is the only one thinking these thoughts. Everyone else felt so flat because they weren't allowed to overshadow Simonetta's brilliance, and it made for dull reading.

The reason I said this was like a YA novel is because it really shows Simonetta growing up from a bride at 16 to her premature death at 22. The novel starts with Simonetta idealistically thinking she'll be the exception to life's rules. She thinks she'll finally be accepted as a three-dimensional person, once she moves to Florence. (Sorry but reading isn't a personality trait, and I say this as an avid reader.) Eventually, she learns that not all that glistens is gold. Even then, the lessons she learns show that she's a maligned woman and completely powerless instead of someone wealthy with the most powerful friends in the city. Her visits to Botticelli's studio to pose for him are basically a teenager's rebellious act against authority.

Still, it's finally interesting. Not sure what that says about me that I only like novels when they get tragic! Anyway. As her marriage falls apart and her fame increases, Simonetta falls head over heels in love with Botticelli, as the only man who really "sees" her. We're told he has this great insight, but most of the time, they rarely talk, and when they do, it's not particularly insightful. Botticelli never shares any of his own thoughts or his past with Simonetta. They never argue, and he thinks she should have rights. He's less a person and more like a golden trophy she gets for winning the genetic lottery. Congrats! You're pretty and smart! Here's a man who actually respects you!

Even with these drawbacks, the story isn't poorly written, just a bit simple. There's not a lot of description except around famous landmarks and artwork, so I often had to do the legwork to set the scene. It's a good book to introduce readers to this time period, but it isn't for the Renaissance aficionado. I also applaud Palombo for tackling a historical figure who is both so famous but also incredibly unknown, who's story is both romantic and tragic. This could be an enjoyable read if you don't look too hard. Otherwise, you'll notice the cardboard backdrop.

Historical fiction about a woman’s life in Venice society in the 1700s. It is Adriana d’Amato’s story, despite the titular mention of Vivaldi, covering her life as she navigates her way through youthful mistakes, an arranged marriage, becoming a mother, and eventually discovering happiness in unexpected places. The touchstone of this novel is her affair with Vivaldi, and how the repercussions follow her through life. It is a fictional imagining of what Vivaldi’s life could have been like if he were to have sired an illegitimate child, though Vivaldi rarely appears after the initial scenes.

My primary issue with this book is the appropriation of Vivaldi’s life. He was a priest, and the gossip of the times, in my opinion, should not have been used to mar his memory. After all, he is not around to set the record straight. This book could easily have been written about a fictional brilliant musician, though I’m sure the use of Vivaldi’s name helped book sales. On the upside, it contains beautiful descriptions of Vivaldi’s music as well as the city of Venice during the baroque period, so it was a bit of a mixed bag for me. If you like romances based around classical music, you may enjoy this book.

The gorgeous cover of THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN FLORANCE caught my eyes a couple of months ago and the book's description about the muse of Botticelli who inspired him to paint The Birth of Venus sounded very intriguing. I love reading historical fiction about real people and I was very happy when I got the chance to read this book. The Birth of Venus is a very famous painting, but I have to admit that Sandro Botticelli's life is not something that I had any knowledge about. However, that made the book even more intriguing to read since through this book did I get a fictional glimpse into the painter's life which made me yearn to learn more about him.

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I have never read THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW by Washington Irving. I have seen Tim Burton's movie Sleepy Hollow and parts of the TV series Sleepy Hollow. So, my knowledge of the story of Sleepy Hollow is based on that. Which made this story feel pretty different and slightly less paranormal from what I expected. Not that the story lacks a supernatural angle, for which I'm grateful since I love some magic in a story.

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!

I enjoyed reading this book as light diversion. Palombo's description's of characters, Venice, and especially the music of Vivaldi are wonderful ad well researched. The book reads effortlessly. However, the plot is more that of a romance novel. There are too may convenient coincidences (like unwanted spouses dying at the right moment) and happy endings the make it credible. Another problem is that in the second part of the book the story looses steam, and becomes more a hasty tying up of loose ends. This is Palombo's debut novel; she can still learn from her mistakes.

The main title of this book is very misleading - there isn't really a "spellbook" at all, and any witchcraft is faint at best. The vast majority of the novel focuses alternately on the love story between Katrina Van Tassel and Ichabod Crane, and later on the mystery of Ichabod's disappearance.

There are some spooky elements and I can see how this would be fun to read in autumn, with the wind moaning through the windows. However, if bodice-ripper romances aren't your thing, you probably won't care much for this book.

Historical fiction as its best covering characters and a time of great interest to me. I loved it even when it became a bit ridiculous.½

I have a weakness for re-tellings. This one had me completely sucked into the story from the first line:

Washington Irving got it wrong.

Katrina Van Tassel tells her story. All the characters are there.....Ichabod Crane, Brom Van Brunt, the Headless Horseman. Only the tale doesn't unfold as Washington Irving told it. Katrina meets Ichabod, immediately forming a friendship with the new schoolmaster, which soon turns to romance. They begin sneaking off into the woods to meet. But the schoolmaster really has nothing to offer....he's poor and has no social standing. Katrina's father prefers his daughter choose Brom Van Brunt. But, Katrina wants nothing to do with him. Then Icabod disappears. With the help of her friend Charlotte, Katrina searches to find out what happened to Icabod....all the while worrying that the ghostly headless horseman might not be just a legend.

I loved getting the story from Katrina's point of view. She enjoys Icabod's company because they have similar interests, but she is afraid she will be forced into a marriage with Brom because of money. In a time where women were controlled by their families, Katrina wants a life with someone she can love. When Icabod disappears, she is determined to find out what happened to him, even if she has to call on the witchy talents of her best friend to accomplish it.

The Legend of Spooky Hollow is one of my favorite spooky reads for fall. This story puts a brand new spin on a favorite classic tale! I loved it! I feel the author stayed true to the feel of the classic, while giving it a completely new direction. Definitely a great book to read in October!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Do you know the Legend of Sleepy Hollow (a real place, by the way), and the story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman? Alyssa Palombo weaves her well-researched tale, along with several others, through the pages of The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassal: A Story of Sleepy Hollow, in a fun romp through the local area, complete with secrets, romance, and strong, well-drawn female characters. Perfect for this time of year, the haunting story doesn’t fall short of raising a few goosebumps along the way. It culminates in a satisfying ending that leaves the reader feeling the air of mystery Sleepy Hollow is known for and that still captures the imagination these 200 plus years later.

A good book to read at the beach. I liked the story a lot, and the writing was adequate. The musical descriptions were pretty good, but I used to play the violin, so I had mixed reactions to how those part were written. I almost wished that it was less of a "period romance" and more of a "historical fiction." (But again, I'm at the beach, and that's what you read on vacations!) So I give the author a lot of credit for creating the story, the characters, the layers of intrigue (including one plot twist that I admit I did not see coming. Not a spoiler - there are twists and turns aplenty).

I actually think this would make a better movie than book. There wasn't very much scenic description, and Venice (and the other parts of Italy that served as settings) would be an amazing visual backdrop. The costuming would also be an opportunity for presenting spectacular visuals from the author's descriptions.

Are the Borgias ever not fun? This novel, told from the perspective of Cesare Borgia and a maid in the Vatican Palace, Maddalena, offers two viewpoints on the papacy of Alexander VI. While pope, Alexander VI had affairs, promoted his illegitimate children, played politics, and waged war across much of Italy. And, of course, there's plenty of murder too. This novel ends a few years before the Borgia papacy does (there's definitely more to this story!), but it does provide a highly readable novel of this notorious family and hints at what is to come for the historical characters.

A well-written novel from the point of view of Cesare Borgia and his sister's maid Maddalena who became his mistress. From the time Cesare becomes a cardinal, his father continues plotting to keep his family on top and increase their influence as he is now Pope. The thinking that goes into each action made by Rodrigo with Cesare's help or disappointment of the decisions is shown as is the softer side of Cesare when Maddalena becomes his mistress.

I truly enjoyed this historical novel. The writing was phenomenal. I loved the two points-of-view. Seeing how each one saw what was happening and how they interpreted it was fascinating. Cesare did not always do right but I liked how he would say what he felt needed said to his father. Sometimes it came from a place of jealousy but other times he was right especially about his brother Juan. I liked the connection between the Borgia family and how they helped and protected and promoted each other except for Juan.

I loved Maddalena. I liked that she was on the outside and could see the truth about them but could also admire the family on certain things. I liked that she could question her actions and Cesare's also. I felt the honesty between them although they, especially Maddalena, could not always speak it to each other but at times their roles reversed on absolution.

I did not like the abrupt ending. I wanted to see where Cesare would go in his ambition and how he would justify it while I wanted to see what happened to Maddalena. I hope Ms. Palombo will do a sequel and finish her story of Cesare and Maddalena.

Anyone that reads a fair amount of historical fiction (ah-hem) has more than likely bumped into a tale about the Borgias. History has not been kind to them and as per usual the truth is most likely somewhere between the extremes of the rumors and the glowing tales the Borgias told. In this new novel from Alyssa Palombo the lives of the Borgias are explored in a well researched and very well written tale.

Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia) has been elected Pope and he feels he is now at the pinicle of power. Now he sets about securing his legacy through his children for this esteemed priest didn’t exactly follow the rules regarding celibacy. He has arranged for his son Cesare to follow him into the church, his other son Juan will cement relationships with Spain and his precious daught Lucrezia will marry to settle a debt from his election. For what good are children if not to be useful to their father. But while Juan and Lucrezia bow to their father’s will Cesare feels he is wasted in the Church. He longs to lead an army.

While the book deals with all four Borgias it’s really Cesare’s story. He was a man of power and charisma. There is some indication that Machiavelli’s The Prince was modelled on his life.

This book is the kind of detailed, engrossing tale that I love to get lost in. It grabbed me and I found myself immersed in Vatican politics and the lives of the people surrounding the schemers living in Rome. It was a turbulant time as Italy was not a united country but rather a series of city states. Cesare wanted to unite them so as to have a stronger defense against her enemies but without a strong leader it was not going to happen and he was stuck in the church. He feels his father is wasting his talents. The Pope has plans for Cesare to follow after him as Pope and continue the Borgia rule but Cesare feels contrained in his role.

I devoured this book over the course of two days. It is a book of substance so it isn’t really one that I could read in one day. It was full of great characters – both those based in real life and the fictional ones added for effect. The little details that come from all of the research really bring you into time and place. This is a great book for any one who loves history, strong characters and a really good story. Ms. Palombo takes you on a thoroughly exciting trip to Renaissance Italy.½

It is 1492 and we meet Rodrigo Borgia - Pope Alexander VI who has four children and a mistress.

The children must do what their father says so the Borgia family can become more powerful.

His son, Cesare, must become a cardinal when he really wants to be in the military.

His son, Juan, must go to the military when he really isn't suited for it.

His daughter, Lucrezia, is thirteen and must marry a man 20 years older than she is so two powerful families can advance together.

The fourth child, Jofre, was too young to even consider for anything to help his powerful reign increase until he decided it would be in the family's best interest to find a marriage partner for him at the age of 12.

It seems as if marrying into another powerful family would make your family more powerful, and that seemed to be the Pope’s main concern.

Ms. Palombo did extensive, amazing research for THE BORGIA CONFESSIONS and gave us a detailed account of the activities at this time. What a wonderful history lesson with information that was new to me.

Learning how life in the Vatican was in the 1400’s was quite interesting especially how they married off their children at such a young age and did everything for gaining status and power.

I enjoyed the family interaction, but the military planning and political undertakings were not of much interest even though these facts were the gist of the story line and marvelously told.

Also be aware that there are some graphic romantic scenes.

Did the public really know what went on in the castles with these holy men?

What a time to live, and what a family.

It seems that there was a lot of greed, scheming, murders at their whim, and other sins to confess. :) 4/5

This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres to read because I get a history lesson with some drama and romance thrown in. Before reading this story, I knew very little about the Borgias and their role in Italian and Papal history. Being a Catholic I was aware of the less than ideal behaviors of some of the popes and higher church officials. I was not surprised by the interworkings, collusion, and lies that I read about. However, it was very interesting to see all of the events in the eyes of the powerful and wealthy Cesar Borgia, and the run of the mill servant girl Maddalena. Maddalena's perspective gave the reader a look into how the lower classes felt about the people in power, something we don't get very often from historical works. I really enjoyed getting to see how Maddalena grew into a stronger woman throughout the book. I also enjoyed how the book leaves you with the question of whether the power the Borgias gained was worth all that they lost because of it.

The Borgia Confessions by Alyssa Palombo
Series: No
Format: Paperback
2 Star
Recommend: No
Would Reread: No

“The Borgia Confessions, is a story of passion, politics, and class, set against the rise and fall of one of Italy's most infamous families--the Borgias.”

This book started out good but quickly fell flat. Starting around page 150 to 200 I started to loss interest and by 230 I was done. I had no emotional attachment to any of the characters and there was not much of a story plot. But I made myself finish it anyway.

I really wanted to love this book it was so beautifully written but it was just boring.

I received an ARC from a goodreads giveaway.

I give honest reviews and all my opinions are my own.

For more of my reviews go to Heavenly High Seas Books
https://heavenlyhighseasbooks.blogspot.com/

I will admit, if someone told me a week ago that I would like this book more than I liked A Blade So Black, I wouldn't have believed them. But, here we are! I saw this book pop up on a friend's Goodreads feed and was intrigued (shout out to Kate, who has the best spooky book recommendations of anyone I know!). A retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow that gives Katrina Von Tassel more agency and adds more badass female characters to a spooky story I love? YES, PLEASE!

Story- Katrina Von Tassel is the only child of a wealthy farmer living in Sleepy Hollow. Her father wants her to marry Brom Van Brunt, her former childhood friend who she now hates because of how he treats her best friend Charlotte. When the new school teacher Icabod Crane shows up in town, he and Katrina hit it off right away. Soon, a flirtatious friendship turns into a passionate forbidden romance. They sneak away for some sexy alone times and try to work out a plan to get married, despite differing social statuses. On Halloween night, Icabod disappears. It's rumored the Headless Horseman took him away. Devastated at the loss of her love, Katrina makes some difficult decisions to protect her reputation. She and Charlotte work together, using witchcraft and visions, to figure out what exactly happened to Icabod Crane.

I loved Katrina in this book. No offense to Christina Ricci, who did what she could with the role, but it needed MORE. This is the more the character needed. Spunk, realism, intellect, determination and ambition are all characteristics this version of Katrina has. Seeing her have some agency in her life and what happened was refreshing, especially compared to her character in the original version, which was just "pretty girl with a big inheritance."

The author, Alyssa Palombo also adds two other fantastic ladies to Katrina's inner circle. Charlotte, Katrina's best friend, works with her mother as an doctor and apothecary, mixing up herbs for medicines. Her and Katrina's friendship is wonderful and refreshing and was my favorite thing about this book. Other books with female friendships, take note. This book is a great example of how to write a female friendship.

Nancy, her nursemaid, is also a wonderful addition. She's a great ally and second mother to Katrina. Her backstory made my heart ache and she truly cares for Katrina.

Katrina's romance with Icabod is also more rewarding here than it is in the original story. He's not just a guy after her father's money. He loves her for her character, too. The story does follow the original story with Icabod's disappearance, which is heartbreaking here instead of just a creepy conclusion in the original.

Even the golden boy of the town, Brom Bones, gets some complexity added to his character, which was refreshing. He still sucks, as he does in pretty much every version he's in, but it was great to read more about what makes him tick. His character is also an interesting send up of toxic masculinity.

Let's not forget about that spooky Headless Horseman, who is worked into the plot of this story very well. No spoilers for how he plays into the narrative, but it works for the story being told here. I adore both the Disney and Burton Headless Horsemen, so this one had a lot to live up to.

Palombo's research into 1700's New York is also fantastic. When reading this book (and I highly recommend you do, if you're looking for a great Sleepy Hollow adaptation or for something spooky), make sure you find one with Author's notes. I had a blast reading this book, an adaptation done right.

I was drawn to this book because of the subject matter being the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Written from from a woman's perspective. It was very well written and the characters were very well developed. It was a tale that many women could relate to on some level or other. I look forward to reading more of this author's books.

This is the retelling of Washington Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow, told from the point of view of Katrina Van Tassel. This is a sweeping tale of forbidden romance and devastating loss. This story is set in America soon after the American Revolution. There is a little bit of history mixed in with fantasy, magic and legend. Katrina is a head-strong, intelligent, avid reader who is not afraid of expressing her opinion. She is a devoted friend, talented musician and singer, and an excellent storyteller. Being from a wealthy and prominent family she is expected to marry Brom who is the son of a wealthy farmer but when she begins to receive music lessons she immediately falls head over heels in love with the handsome new schoolteacher and the trouble begins. Interwoven in this forbidden love story are the spooky legends of the surrounding area. There is love and loss, murder and deception but there is also friendship, joy and kindness. I liked this retelling of this story, it is a much more tender and beautiful experience as told from a strong female point of view. If you are looking for supernatural horror this is probably not the book for you but if you like a good romance mixed with tragedy then this will fill the bill. The only complaint I have is with the title. I wouldn't really call Katrina's book a spellbook, it is more like a journal. Thank you NetGalley and author Alyssa Palombo for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Like many people, I was introduced to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving at a young age, mostly thanks to Disney. I had read this Gothic classic before, but I couldn't really recall my initial impression of the story. I remember being terrified of the Headless Horseman. I remember thinking Ichabod was kinda ridiculous. I remember Katrina was the prize to be won. So I reread The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to refresh my memory of this classic, and now reading this story as an adult, I found I wanted more. Irving gives us a great characterization of Ichabod and Brom, but not so much about Katrina.

Alyssa Palombo's The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel is the answer to my bookish request. Palombo explores the inner life of the woman at the center of Irving's story. Palombo gives Katrina her own unique voice. She's smart; she's feisty; she's forward-thinking; she's brave. And she's in love with Ichabod Crane. I have to admit I had a hard time seeing Ichabod as a romantic lead. I blame Disney. Truly I do. I had this preconceived notion of what Ichabod looked like stuck in my head, and I'm afraid that image was hard to shake off. Palombo's Ichabod would have any girl swooning. It just took me a few minutes to adjust my thinking.

I was intrigued by the storyline of this book from the get-go. This Gothic story told from Katrina's point of view was more interesting than the original story--sorry Irving. There were a few twists and turns that kept this story fresh and exciting. The characters felt more fleshed out than in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and the story felt more complete. I love that Palombo was able to capture the romance without losing a bit of the mystery.

The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel is a great fall read. In fact, it's great any time of the year. Whenever I think of Sleepy Hollow from now on, Alyssa Palombo's The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel with be the first thing that comes to mind. And if you get the opportunity, you might want to pick it up. Be sure to clear your calendar for a day or two, you won't want to put it down.

Read more at https://www.toreadornottoread.net/2018/11/review-spellbook-of-katrina-van-tassel...

The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel is a retelling of the Legend of Sleepy Hallow that focuses on the life of Katrina and her life with Ichabod Crane. It is a hard to put down book full of love, mystery, and legends that surround Sleepy Hallow. It tells of a time long ago where a teaching a certain age meant that certain tasks should be done and only those with whom the father agreed were they to be completed. Overall it was a great book

A darkly romantic interpretation of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow that focuses on the female characters, their historical roles, and their resilience. Original and interesting, although a little long. For adaptation readers and Sleepy Hollow fans.

GoodReads FirstReads Giveaway

I will start by noting that I have not read the original Legend of Sleepy Hollow. I know the barest basics of the story – who doesn’t know of the Headless Horseman? As to the rest of the tale – I’m pretty clueless. I do plan to rectify that as I am now curious after reading The Spellbook of Katrina van Tassel. Ms. Palombo set about to retell the legend from the perspective of the woman at the heart of the tale. Something I’m sure that given the times in which the original was written was hardly given much consideration at all.

Katrina is the only daughter of a rich landowner in Sleepy Hollow. She is a little bit spoiled. Her father indulges her and her mother pretty much let’s her do what she wants only occasionally calling her away from her reading to help entertain guests or help with the mending. Unlike what one would expect for a young lady of the times she pretty much has free rein to do as she pleases. She does give some thought to propriety but is comfortable enough in her station in life that she knows she can get away with more than others.

One day a visitor comes along and although annoyed at first at being pulled from her leisure she finds that this man, the new school teacher is very intriguing. Ichabod Crane has come to town to take over the duties at the school and also give music lessons to earn some extra money. As the two embark upon their lessons they find themselves falling in love. But Ichabod is a poor man of a lesser class and Katrina is an heiress whose father expects her to marry the young man whose father owns the orchard next to them.

Katrina does not care for this boy known as Brom Bones as he has done harm to her best friend Charlotte. Charlotte and her mother are healers but she also has a bit of the sight and has made some predictions that made Brom nervous. He publicly called her a witch and since then the townspeople have been wary but Katrina stands by her friend.

As Katrina and Ichabod get closer Brom gets more jealous. Her father is pressuring her to marry Brom but she only loves Ichabod. What will become of this triangle? Katrina dreams of the Headless Horseman, a ghost famous to the area but what warning is he trying to give her?

Oh this was a page turner for me. I can’t say I fell in love with either Katrina or Ichabod as characters as each had traits that made them at times very unlikable; Ichabod was wishy-washy at times and Katrina was no lady. But the two of them together made for a compelling tale of love against the odds. Ms. Palombo created a mysterious, creepy world for her spirits to reside with Katrina sharing the ghost stories of the area throughout the book. The title is a bit of a misnomer as there is no real spellbook as there are no spells cast so if you are looking for tales of witches you will not find that here. There are dreams and tarot cards and visions and it creates the atmosphere that drives the story and keeps you on the edge wondering, even though you know what happened.

I sped through the pages felling the emotions of the characters and crying along with Katrina for the loss of her great love. For that is no spoiler as the synopsis tells you that Ichabod disappears. It’s the how that you need to read the book to discover. It’s a perfect read for a moonless night by the fire with a crackling fire. Just don’t jump at any strange sounds you might hear…

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Alyssa Palombo for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advanced copy.

A crispness in the air lets you know October is here and the time for some spooky reads is upon us. This is my first one for this month and a retelling of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” from Katrina’s perspective sounded right up my alley. I was really excited for this one. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations and it was more sleepy and hollow than I wanted.

Palombo has given us, in her words, a feminist retelling of the classic tale. She has taken some liberties, as often is the case in a retell and I was fine with her choices. For myself, I don’t care if jack-o-lanterns weren’t around in the 1700, or the type of tarot cards she used was historically inaccurate -they served the story. I’m not convinced of the feminist claim, other than the fact that Katrina is a fully flushed out character and the story is told from her perspective. I guess giving her more agency in the events might be enough for a case to be made. I appreciated the fact that she made Sleepy Hollow, an actual place, “otherwordly” as to allow for superstitions to breed and magical events to take place.

Katrina is an only child of a wealthy farming family when Ichabod Crane come to town. He is to replace the schoolteacher and he supplements his meagre income by conducting music lessons for those in town. The two begin an illicit affair and eventually fall in love and want to get married. But not if Brom Bones has anything to say about it. He has threatened Crane more than once, warning him to stay away from Katrina. Once childhood friends, he is obsessive about making Katrina his wife. However, Katrina will have nothing to do with him after he ruined her best friend Charlotte’s life by spreading a rumour that she is a witch. Charlotte and her mother are healers and know the of the special properties of different herbs. But only those close to Charlotte know that she has a special intuition because if people in the town knew, they would turn against them. Brom knows better than to label her a witch but he has turned cruel since becoming a man. Katrina’s father has been putting a lot of pressure on Katrina to accept Brom as he believes this to be a good match. Her father has high hopes of joining their two farms together knowing that this will provide for his daughter long after he is gone. But Katrina knows her heart and it is set on Crane. She is crushed when her father declines Crane’s proposal to court his daughter. And now Ichabod has gone missing. Everyone in town has heard the tale of the Headless Horseman. Could Ichabod have fallen as one of his victims? Or did he really just abandon Katrina after being denied by her father. Was he just after her fortune after all? Or did something fouler take place. Katrina must have answers and she is not above using magic to find out.

So I loved the premise of the story and the outline sounded so exciting. Once I started to read, however, it fell rather flat for me. I did not relate to Katrina at all, finding her rather unlikable. She was self-centred, a rotten friend to Charlotte, and rather spoiled. Also, I needed Ichabod to be stronger and sexier. I don’t really know what his appeal was. He deferred to Katrina a lot, well she was bossy, but he never took matters into his own hands. He was supposed to be of high moral character, but the first thing he did after coming to town was to bed the teenage daughter of the man whose house he was staying at and food he was eating. Then snuck around for months, sleeping with her. Uhmm, yeah - not so moral after all. There was something about the writing style that bothered me. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it was off-putting. Plus, the story really dragged on. I wanted to stop a couple of times and if I had put it down, there wasn’t enough of a draw to make me pick it up again. I would have loved more magic, and one spell would have been nice. Given that this was a Headless Horseman tale, there should have been a stronger connection to the tale. It was weak at best.
There was a lot of potential for a rich story. I didn’t enjoy this one. It really was more of a sleepy (a really yawn) and hollow (with no substance) tale.

DNF @ 25%. I went into this thinking that a retelling of Sleepy Hollow would be full of creepy atmosphere and suspense. I am 25% in and all I have, in my opinion, is a sappy and instant romance. I will say the author has done a very credible job with building the characters and portraying the historical era through their dialogue. I'm just disappointed that everything that led me to think I was getting something creepy - the Sleepy Hollow legend, the word "spellbook" in the title and the cover art - just didn't deliver for me. This ARC was provided to my through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.