Incantation By: Alice Hoffman

The Spanish Inquisition was a very dark time in the world's history. This was a time when Muslims, healers/doctors/surgeons, and Jews were persecuted for their practices and beliefs.

When she was a child she was nicknamed Raven for her black hair, but that name doesn't feel like hers. Neither does her true name, Estrella. To her and her family she is Esther. People think her family is odd. They cross themselves differently, they don't eat pork, and they light candles every Friday. Esther never thought of this as a sign of differences, but when accusations start flying, she realizes that there is must she doesn't know about the world, or her own family.

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The main thing I liked about this book was the way the author writes. I have reviewed two of her other books (Green Angel and Blackbird House) and am amazed over and over again by how she is able to incorporate a mystical feel into her books without blatant magic.

The main thing I didn't like about this book was the gruesomeness of certain parts. I was actually getting angry when telling my friend about it on the bus one day. There are lines like, 'Then the screaming really began'. Take this as fair warning. As previously stated, this book takes time during the Spanish Inquisition which was a very dark time in the history of the world.

Overall I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars.