I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel by Alyssa Palombo Also by this author: The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence
Narrator: Barrie Kreinik
Length: 13 Hours 34 Minutes
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on October 2, 2018
Genres: Fiction, Historical, Romance
Pages: 400
Format: Audiobook, ARC
Source: Library, Publisher
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ISBN: 9781250127686
Goodreads
"Marrying forbidden love, devoted friendship, and the supernatural with Palombo's signature passion for music, storytelling, and heartbreaking choices, The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel enchants with a concoction of love, longing, and loss plucked from the bones of one of our most enduring and haunting legends." - Erin Lindsay McCabe, USA Today bestselling author of I Shall Be Near to YouWhen Ichabod Crane arrives in the spooky little village of Sleepy Hollow as the new schoolmaster, Katrina Van Tassel is instantly drawn to him. Through their shared love of books and music, they form a friendship that quickly develops into romance. Ichabod knows that as an itinerant schoolteacher of little social standing, he has nothing to offer the wealthy Katrina – unlike her childhood friend-turned-enemy, Brom Van Brunt, who is the suitor Katrina’s father favors.
But when romance gives way to passion, Ichabod and Katrina embark on a secret love affair, sneaking away into the woods after dark to be together – all while praying they do not catch sight of Sleepy Hollow’s legendary Headless Horseman. That is, until All Hallows’s Eve, when Ichabod suddenly disappears, leaving Katrina alone and in a perilous position.
Enlisting the help of her friend – and rumored witch – Charlotte Jansen, Katrina seeks the truth of Ichabod Crane’s disappearance, investigating the forest around Sleepy Hollow using unconventional – often magical – means. What they find forces Katrina to question everything she once knew, and to wonder if the Headless Horseman is perhaps more than just a story after all. In Alyssa Palombo's The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel nothing is as it seems, and love is a thing even death won't erase.
As the seasons change, so do my reading tastes. I love it when a book I am reading reflects a sort of seasonal mood. For Autumn, I like books that are spooky, chilling, or cozy. And so, if you are similar to me in taste, you’re in luck because I have got some recommendations to make to you! The first recommendation for your list? The Spellbook Of Katrina Van Tassel by Alyssa Palumbo.
The Spellbook Of Katrina Van Tassel is somewhat of a different perspective on The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. It is told from the point of view of Katrina Van Tassel (as you could guess from the title). She’s the only child of a wealthy landowner in Sleepy Hollow, NY. One day an itinerant music teacher named Ichabod Crane arrives in town. Different from the other men Katrina has known, she finds herself drawn to him and they bond over common interests. Eventually they turn from friends to something more. Unfortunately, Ichabod disappears. Some blame a headless horseman. Katrina isn’t sure if he has abandoned her or not, but she must go on with her life. And so, we get this view of what comes next after the headless horseman allegedly takes Ichabod away.
Some books are just meant for reading with your fall candles burning. This book is one of them. I know some people didn’t care for the romance in this book or the adult times. But, I’ll double down and say I loved those bits. Palumbo weaves an atmospheric tale and an original take on an old legend. I loved how she breathes new life into the Headless Horseman and completely fleshes it out. Katrina seems completely real and her reactions and choices not at all out of line.
I am actually genuinely glad that I listened to the audiobook of The Spellbook Of Katrina Van Tassel. It was a good end of August listen. I felt like I was transitioned right into fall, what with the creepy atmosphere and all. Barrie Kreinik is the narrator. She does an excellent job and rarely gets overdramatic or comes across as slow or boring. The audiobook is 13 hours and 34 minutes long. It is an absolute must listen for my fall obsessed friends.
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