Karen H

What Doesn't Kill Her is the first Carla Norton book I've read, and I liked it so much I went back to buy the first book in this series. Norton's story is full of suspense—I had to force myself to stop reading or I would have read the entire book in one sitting. Reeve, the main character is compelling—vulnerable but confident, and Flint, her former captor, is fascinating yet terrifying in his obsessions. Norton conveys the horror of Reeve's experiences with Flint without relying on graphic descriptions. Instead she uses the shifting perspectives (Reeve to Flint to other minor characters) to heighten the tension and quicken the pace creating a true thriller with a satisfying ending.

The Silver Witch puts an interesting and compelling spin on the concept of witches being "others," or marked as different from the rest of society. Tilda's albinism makes her seem ethereal and vulnerable, a perfect character to be transformed with power. This combination creates an appealing main character that the reader wants to see overcome her grief, triumph over evil, and find love again. The alternating narrative—past and present, Tilda and Seren—heightens the tension in Tilda's journey to discover the source of her powers and to fight the evil she senses and sees. Seren's perspective also illuminates the struggles associated with being different; for Tilda it is uncomfortable, but for Seren it is a matter of life and death. She must command respect with her power or she and her daughter will be destroyed. On the whole, the Tilda sections are more gripping than the Seren sections, and are what keep the reader engaged. Grounded in a beautiful setting and plausible historical background, the book presents a unique version of a character struggling with her identity and overcoming obstacles to find happiness.