Remember

Remember

by Marnie Cate

3 out of 5

Synopsis
Hiding the truth from you is no longer protecting you. Sit and I will tell you what you need to know.

With these words the secrets of my great grandmother, Genevieve Silver, were unburied and my role as a Protector of the Elemental Magic revealed.

My name is Mara. I always felt that there is something missing; that nothing is permanent. Why would I feel that way? I was raised with my little sister by my grandmother, who loved and doted on me. And then there was Cole Sands. Who could forget the blue-eyed boy that had stolen my heart. What more could a girl need?

Little did I know that with one secret, my life and the world I live in would change forever.



Review
Living peacefully with her Gram and sister; it is now time for Mara to discover her heritage, as a protector of magic.

I've been meaning to read this book for ages, elements and witches, and all things good.

We follow Mara who, now she has come of age, has two major changes in her life.
First, her childhood sweetheart proposes.
Second, her Gram reveals that she had purposefully removed Mara's memories and bound her powers, to protect her from a dark witch. But now is the time for her to realise her inheritance, and her destiny.

This is a nice and very gentle read. It would be suitable for younger readers.
There's an emphasis on the importance of family - whether it is those you are related to, or the family you make.
The whole story gives off a warm and homely vibe, and a lot of attention is paid to Grams house, and the baking, lots and lots of baking.

There is a lot of respect given to the spells and magic used. They are always accompanied by full descriptions.

The not-so-good.
It's too nice for my tastes.
Everyone's reactions are very considerate, and logical, and ultimately gentle.
Mara's "dead" father returns from his self-imposed exile. OK, no abandonment issues, and only mild distrust there.
Mara's Gram stole her memories, and bound her magic. No sense of crossing the line, or a breach of a person's rights. Straight to understanding and love.
Mara's sister is kidnapped; but even before the vision that showed she was safe, everything relaxed pretty quickly.
And don't even get me started on Mara's mum.

I know she's our heroine, but she is the most composed and mature teenager I've come across.

As much as I appreciated the respectful approach to magic, I felt it got a little text-booky and slowed the pace of the plot. The spells, potions and ingredients are considered in length.

Overall, this is a nice book, and I would recommend it for younger readers.

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