Cackle

by Rachel Harrison

3 out of 5

Synopsis

All her life, Annie has played it nice and safe. After being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Annie seeks a fresh start. She accepts a teaching position that moves her from Manhattan to a small village upstate. She’s stunned by how perfect and picturesque the town is. The people are all friendly and warm. Her new apartment is dreamy too, minus the oddly persistent spider infestation.

Then Annie meets Sophie. Beautiful, charming, magnetic Sophie, who takes a special interest in Annie, who wants to be her friend. More importantly, she wants Annie to stop apologizing and start living for herself. That’s how Sophie lives. Annie can’t help but gravitate toward the self-possessed Sophie, wanting to spend more and more time with her, despite the fact that the rest of the townsfolk seem…a little afraid of her. And like, okay. There are some things. Sophie’s appearance is uncanny and ageless, her mansion in the middle of the woods feels a little unearthly, and she does seem to wield a certain power…but she couldn’t be…could she?

Review

Annie's life hasn't gone to plan. Instead of marriage and Happy-Ever-After, her long-term boyfriend dumps her. On her birthday. She decides to take a job upstate, and get away from everything. She is not expecting her first new friend to be a witch.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Annie has been dumped. And without her long-term boyfriend, she finds that she has nothing else in her life. Sam was also her best (and only) friend. Without him, she can't even afford her own apartment in New York. When a job opportunity arises upstate, she takes the chance to start life afresh.

The new job might have its challenges, but her new home of Rowan is perfect. The little town is quaint and friendly, and ready to accept Annie with open arms.

One woman in particular is very keen to nurture a friendship with Annie. Sophie is beautiful and mysterious, and a little bit magic.

I liked how this was a story about friendship, and Annie finding herself after an all-consuming relationship.

I like how realistically this is portrayed. Annie has never been alone, going from one boyfriend to another; and she doesn't cope very well.

Sophie was an intriguing character, she makes no apology for who she is, and she keeps you guessing throughout what her motives are for Annie. Especially with the town's strange response to her. That fear and respect in varying levels.

(mild spoiler) I did think her falling out with Annie near the end was completely out of character, and just added for the sake of adding a bit of drama.

Unfortunately, I didn't like Annie. She spends her whole time whining. Which is kinda understandable in the circumstances, but it was never-ending, and there was nothing else to the story.

I felt like the story didn't know what it wanted to be. At times it paints Sophie as dangerous, and has some scary settings, but doesn't take full advantage of it. It could have been a thriller, and some groundwork was done, but it was abandoned.

There are little bits of how the various townspeople see her, but despite some very interesting hints, you never learn their history, which was very disappointing when the author has opted for more of Annie's whining instead.

Overall, this was an OK story about female friendship and enjoying life without romance.

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