Black Candle Women
By: Diane Marie Brown
Publisher: HarperCollins Imprint:Graydon House
Genre: Fiction
On Sale February 28, 2023
*Review & quotations are based on a proof copy*
Reviewer Marisa Marquez
Generations of the Montrose women have lived their lives cursed.
Unable to fall in love as their loved ones are destined to die. Cursed, but also gifted. Some call it voodoo or black magic, but the Montrose women are the chosen few who have abilities that allow them to see the world differently.
From their home in Long Beach, California, the Montrose women use their gifts to help others through their therapy practice. Augusta the matriarch of the house, the first to learn how to use her gift and grandmother to Victoria and Willow. Victoria, the eldest who tries to take care of everyone; her patients, her family, but neglects herself. Willow who is everything but Victoria’s assistant she brings so much more to the family, she’s the fun auntie who knows how to make a spell or a tonic for your everyday needs. Nickie, daughter of Victoria, is left in the dark about her family’s history and abilities until the day she brings home a boy. Brown weaves a story that is familiar and fun with underlying tones of mystery and magic.
“But how would she ever explain to her daughter that,
as a Montrose woman,
she didn’t get to fall in love?”
-Brown p. 22
My overall rating of Brown’s debut is 4 stars!
Told from the interchanging point of views of the Montrose women, in no particular order. An evident timeline is constructed by the title pages that divide the women’s chapters. The title pages have the names of the month in which the story takes place, starting with the month of August. (An important theme throughout the story!)
Although the pacing of the story was slow I thoroughly love these women.
The dynamic Brown was able to create within the first few chapters will compel you to keep reading. The juicy history of Augusta’s past in 1950’s New Orleans will intrigue you further! Absolutely brilliant and worth the build up.
Below is my recreation of the book’s cover.
I was inspired by the vibrant and rich colors as well as the dreamy flashbacks Augusta would have throughout the story. The photos were taken by my cousin, Grace Marquez, who also helped me develop the concept of a milk bath photo shoot. Don’t worry, no books damaged in the process! Also special thanks to my aunt Letty who let us use her bath and provided her photoshop expertise. The hardest part of this photo was blurring it and smudging it just right. I love how my eye and lip color stand out. It is also reminiscent of the dreamy pose one of the Montrose women has in the center.
I think we captured the essence of the book. What do you think? Thank you to Hear Our Voices Tours, the author, and the publishers for the ARC’s.
Shop for the book here at my bookshop!
