White Cat (Curse Workers #1) by Holly Black

Book:  White Cat (Curse Workers #1) by Holly Black

Release date:  May 4, 2010

Number of pages:  310

Publisher:  Margaret K. McElderry

From:  Publisher

Summary:

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers — people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they’re all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn’t got the magic touch, so he’s an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail — he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He’s noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he’s part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

*****
Holly Black is amazing!  I knew that before from reading The Modern Faerie Tales series but White Cat proved it once again.  The Curse Workers series is one that I cannot wait for more of.  =]
The plot of White Cat is what really drew me in.  I had read some pretty bad reviews, saying that the book was predictable so I was worried I wouldn’t like it.  I should have known better.  Once I started the book I was drawn into the world of the curse workers and I couldn’t stop reading.  The different powers of each worker were unique and so unlike anything I had read about.  There were tons of twists and turns in the plot and Holly Black really kept me guessing until the very end.  I loved it!
The characters were good but I thought they could have been better developed.  I know this is the beginning to a series though so I am not worried.  I look forward to learning more about each character in the books to come.  Cassel’s brothers are the ones I really want to know more about.  They were very odd and mysterious.  Cassel was too but I actually liked him.
Overall, White Cat is a book that I have to recommend.  Holly Black is a genius and this new series of hers is one you don’t want to miss.  
First line:  I wake up barefoot, standing on cold slate tiles.  
Writing:  5
Characters:  4
Plot:  5
Ending:  4
Originality:  5
Overall:  23=A-
Cover:  5=A++
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22 comments

  1. Great review! I read this book about a week or two ago and really liked it and I’m so excited about reading the next addition. Though, like you, I thought the characters could’ve been better developed.

  2. I’m really looking forward to reading this book! I’ve never picked up anything by her, but this one just sounds so intriguing! Great review!

  3. Ooh, this sounds awesome!
    I’ve seen this cover pretty much everywhere. I’ll try my best to drop by the bookstore soon!
    Love, Hannah

  4. I’ve been waiting for this book ever since I saw the trailer *made by the awesome Vania*! I’ve heard so many good things about it that i now canNOT wait to read it! Awesome review!

  5. Hmm. I’ve never been sure about this book, because I wasn’t thrilled with her faerie books, but this sounds really good and I think I’ll give her a second chance!

  6. This book has been on my TBR and your review just sealed the deal … I *must* get my hands on a copy of it soon! 🙂 I really enjoyed Holly’s Modern Faerie Tales series, but White Cat actually seems more of “my type of book” than her previous ones – I have high hopes! Great review!

  7. Hah HA! I suspected Lila might be alive! Or at least, you know, a zombie. At any rate, I really really really want to read the book.

  8. I LOVED the Modern Faerie Tales series. Tithe was amazing. I could not believe how good it was. Ironside was just as good. Valiant was good, but not as good as Tithe or Ironside. I still loved it though. Holly Black is amazing. I heard about this book, but I didn’t bother to learn more about it. Thanks for the review! And for mentioning the Modern Faerie Tale series. I need to read White Cat now. 😉
    -Wolfie

  9. Great review. I’m surprised you read a bad review for White Cat. All the ones I’ve read have been fantastic. I can’t wait to pick this one up!

  10. I read the first chapter when it was posted somewhere (the publisher’s site, I think), and it totally hooked me! Definitely want to read this one. Thx for your review. 🙂