Reviewed by: Book Addict
White Cat by Holly Black
Published February 8, 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Being the only non worker in a family full of curse workers has left Cassel on the outside. When the touch of a hand means having your emotions, your memories, or your luck tampered with, you learn to be cautious. Oh, and curse work is illegal, which makes his whole family criminals including Cassel, who killed his best friend Lila.
Now he is trying his best to live a 'normal' life, as a 'regular' guy. Reality intrudes when he begins sleepwalking during terrifying nightmare featuring a mysterious white cat. There are also his brothers, who are keeping secrets and behaving oddly. To get to the bottom of it, Cassel must unlock the memories from his past. But how do you out-con a con?
For a complete review which may contain SPOILERS, please click 'Read More' below:
Now he is trying his best to live a 'normal' life, as a 'regular' guy. Reality intrudes when he begins sleepwalking during terrifying nightmare featuring a mysterious white cat. There are also his brothers, who are keeping secrets and behaving oddly. To get to the bottom of it, Cassel must unlock the memories from his past. But how do you out-con a con?
For a complete review which may contain SPOILERS, please click 'Read More' below:
Cassel lives in the world of curse workers - people born with the ability to influence others with the touch of their hand. It is illegal to act with these gifts, and distrust abounds. Everyone wears gloves... just in case. Being the only non worker in a family of criminals makes it hard for Cassel to fit in anywhere. His private school gives him at least the illusion of normalcy until he almost sleepwalks himself off the roof.
Then there are his brothers with their secrets and their lies. Cassel seems to recall things in flickering moments, memories lost from his past. He doesn't know who to trust and he has nowhere to turn. He knows only one thing - someone has been messing with his life and he is determined to find out who.
Expect some major twists and turns in this story, some of which you may have predicted and some which will take you totally by surprise. Cassel is a hard character to get a read on, you get the sense that even he doesn't know exactly who he is. The curse working part of the plot was an inventive take on your every day magic. You can picture the world they live in, with everyone walking around, hands in gloves. It was a quick, enjoyable read that I recommend for fans of teen and adult fiction alike.
The second book, Red Glove, is available now.
