The Hawkweed Prophecy by Irena Brignull

Author: Irena Brignull

Publisher: Weinstein Books

Publication Date: September 6, 2016

Pages: 363

Format: ARC

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Purchase Links: [Chapters/Indigo] [Amazon]

Goodreads Synopsis:

Poppy Hooper and Ember Hawkweed couldn't lead more different lives. Poppy is a troubled teen: moving from school to school, causing chaos wherever she goes, never making friends or lasting connections. Ember is a young witch, struggling to find a place within her coven and prove her worth. Both are outsiders: feeling like they don't belong and seeking escape. Poppy and Ember soon become friends, and secretly share knowledge of their two worlds. Little do they know that destiny has brought them together: an ancient prophecy, and a life-changing betrayal. Growing closer, they begin to understand why they've never belonged and the reason they are now forever connected to each other. Switched at birth by the scheming witch Raven Hawkweed, Poppy and Ember must come to terms with their true identities and fight for their own place in the world. Enter Leo, a homeless boy with a painful past who – befriending them both – tests their love and loyalty. Can Poppy and Ember's friendship survive? And can it withstand the dark forces that are gathering?

Review:

I'm mentally kicking myself for not reading this book sooner! My best friend lent me a copy of the arc she received and kept telling me to read it. It got to the point where she would tell me each day, almost begging me to start it. She promised that once I started I wouldn't stop and that I'll love it. Damn was she right. I SHOULD HAVE READ IT SOONER JUST LIKE SHE SAID! I've done this before, you know, sabotaging good opportunities for myself? She recommended for me to read Killer Instinct, for a whole year practically nagging me to read, and I didn't think it would be that good, but boy was I wrong. I was wrong on both counts.

A prophecy was told about 303 years ago that the Hawkweed sisters would give birth to the future Queen of the witches. The prophecy would be past generation to generation until after 303 years when it was told to Raven and Charlock. Two sisters, which one will bear the Queen? Raven believes that it should be her daughter, so she schemes and curses her sister to only bearing sons (there aren't any male witches; the babies are killed once they find out the gender). Until an uneventful night that Charlock comes to Raven and tells her that she's pregnant– wait for it– WITH A GIRL. Raven basically freaks out and starts planning. So on labor Raven sets a spell into motion switching Charlocks baby with another (one across the country). The babies are magically linked, they were born on the same day at the same time.

Poppy and Ember are so different; personality and lifestyle wise, yet they are the same at heart. When the two meet they instantly connect and become best friends. I love their friendship. They care so much about each other, always wanting to make each other happy, especially Poppy, even if they are giving up a lot for themselves. They are so devoted to each other. You can see the love they have for one another. True friendship isn't just about being there for your friends when they are happy, but also when they are sad, understanding them, not judging them and also sacrificing for them. You see all this play out in this book. And Ember and Poppy's friendship is something everyone can learn from.

They both grew up in the wrong environment. Since they were switched Poppy was supposed to grow up with the witches and Ember the Chaffs (its what the witches call humans). It's interesting seeing how they grew up and how they live and cope in the "wrong" environment. Both girls are bullied for being different than the community around them. Now that I think back I see that they kind of experienced almost the same events.

Some of the stuff that happened had me gasping and just re reading to make sure that actually happened, that I didn't imagine it. The book has it's dark moments but it fit in so perfectly with the story too. I WOULDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING!

I connected more with Poppy than Ember. Ember was the cheery type and reminded me of sunshine (kind of like her name... she's always glowing). Poppy on the other hand was a little bit dark and she did have to go through the "real world" while I found that Ember was in her perfect little protected bubble.

Poppy being a witch in the Chaffed world caused her a lot of problems with her family and the places that she's been in. She was classified as a freak by her classmates.

There are 2 main secondary characters, Leo and Sorrel. Sorrel is Poppy's cousin and she’d been shaped and raised to be queen by Raven. She is envious of Poppy since she finds that Poppy doesn't have any weight on her shoulders and is free to do as she pleases in the Chaffed world.

Leo is a homeless boy that seems drawn to Poppy. They meet during an unfortunate circumstance and keep meeting up after. I need you all to know that Leo is my baby. I want to bottle him up take him every where with me, making sure he's safe and loved.

The ending was perfection. It left me wanting more but also feeling satisfied... IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?!!! Usually I won't get the hardcover if I have an ARC of a book or if my friend has it, but this book had me setting up a plan, making sure I can save the money and get the hardcover. I can't wait to re read The Hawkweed Prophecy and seeing what changes the author made in the final. I hope Irena didn't change too much, especially the ending. To me the ending was perfection!

Sequel comes out in August 15, 2017! ONLY 2 MONTHS AWAY!!!

#TheHawkweedProphecy #IrenaBrignull #YA #5stars