Compulsion (Heirs of Watson Island, #1)

by Martina Boone

Beautiful Creatures meets The Body Finder in Compulsion, the first novel in a spellbinding new trilogy.

All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lived with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt's South Carolina plantation instead-a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.

Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn't what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead.

• ISBN10: 1481411233
• ISBN13: 9781481411233
• Publish Date: 4 August 2015 (first published 28 October 2014)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Simon Pulse
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 464
• Language: English

Reviews

[jesstheaudiobookworm]

4.75 ★ Audiobook⎮ The 4.75 star rating I'm awarding this story is a direct result of tabling done right. "Tabling" is my version of DNF-ing (did not finish-ing), albeit more temporary. If ever I am not feeling a certain story, for whatever reason, I'll "table" it until a later date. Sometimes, I'm just not in the mood for a particular type of story or it may not appeal to me at that time. I think that was largely the case when I first picked up Compulsion last year. I purchased it because it checked so many boxes on my list of interests: a Southern Gothic setting, characters with rich family histories, ancient curses, magic, and mystery. Considering all of that, it would be putting it lightly to say that I had high expectations going in. Unfortunately, the beginning of this story felt weak by comparison to those expectations. I quickly became annoyed with the main character and the author for not being able to hold my interest. The beginning was super slow and I was being picky and terribly impatient, so I decided to table the story.

Fast forward 8 months and I finally decided to give it another shot. Maybe it was the heat and humidity of a sticky Southern summer, but I suddenly could not get enough of Martina Boone and Compulsion. I can't explain my sudden change of opinion any better than that. The story may not be for everyone, especially those expecting to be blown away. This is one of those books that could easily be picked apart and dismissed, as I originally did. But is also one that can engulf you, if you let it. I took .25 off of the overall rating because the beginning was a little tedious to get through, but the remaining 4.75 stars were pure enjoyment. I found the character growth especially enjoyable and refreshing. The top most areas in which Boone most certainly did not disappoint were the development of characters, background, and setting (the writing trifecta!). I'm glad that Boone decided to stick to a relatively small, but well-rounded, cast of characters. This gave the characters room to grow and the reader time to connect with them. Stories with rich background development are always a huge draw for me and Boone did an excellent job of painting a detailed family portrait (x3) in Compulsion. The setting beautifully balanced modern-day Southern culture with that of long ago in a way that echoes the atmosphere of the real towns, small and large, that dot the region today.

Narration review: I'm new to Joell A. Jacob's narration, but I'm fast becoming a fan. She provided just enough characterization for me to be able to distinguish between voices, without any of them being over-the-top. I felt like she integrated characters' personality traits into their voices very effectively, which aided the writing tremendously. I'm happy to have discovered Joell's work and I certainly hope she will stay on as a narrator for the rest of the series. ♣︎

[cornerfolds]

I purchased Compulsion when I saw it on a 25% off rack at my local indie bookstore, although I really didn't know what to expect from it. It had a beautiful cover and, although the synopsis was a little out of my comfort zone, it was signed and on sale so my mind was easily made up! It sat on my bookshelf for a good year before I finally decided to give it a read and it was pretty much exactly what I expected it to be - a sweet and slow and magical contemporary romance.

Barrie Watson is the protagonist of this story. She's new to Watson Island, having been sent there after the death of her mother and the subsequent incapacitation of her caretaker. Her family there are strangers and the dilapidated property is strange, but Barrie intends to make the best of the unusual situation. Right away I liked Barrie. She was a strong and capable heroine who, despite the circumstances, never let herself be pulled under. She tried to see the best in everyone and made it her mission to be the support system for the aunt she never knew. Her decision making skills did not always seem quite on point, but a little lapse in judgment here and there can be easily forgiven when a character is wonderful in every other way!

The love interest (no love triangle!!!) on Watson Island is Eight Beaufort, who I wasn't quite sure what to think about at the beginning. Right to start with, he has a weird name. I have a hard time with weird names because I think they're usually unnecessary, but here I can let it slide since it was a family tradition (his father was Seven). I enjoyed Eight as a character and found him to be both likable and surprisingly complex. Barrie is instantly attracted to Eight, but is not instantly in love with him. Instead, their relationship is slow and believable and even a little adorable!

The youngest in two of the founding families of the island, Barrie and Eight both bear their family gifts. Although the mythological explanation behind the gifts (tied up in the three founding families, voodoo, and curses) were a little confusing, it was unique and made for an interesting story. Cassie Colesworth is Barrie's cousin and a descendant of the third founding family - the one that didn't get off quite as lucky as the Watsons and Beauforts. The conflict between the Colesworths and the rest of the island is best described as tense. The mixture of magical elements and possible real-world issues made this story feel really unique to what I usually read.

I also really enjoyed the southern gothic setting of Compulsion. I've never really read anything with this setting and I think Martina Boone did a fantastic job of creating an atmosphere that felt somehow... heavy? But in a good way. I don't know if that makes any sense at all. I was born and raised near coastal North Carolina and, while reading this book, I felt like I was there on Watson Island laying under giant trees watching lightening bugs and breathing in the humid air. I really don't know how else to describe it other than to say it was fantastic!

My only problem with this book, and I'm honestly not quite sure it's really a problem, is the pacing. At times it seemed extremely slow, almost meandering and lazy, but I also feel like that could kind of fit with the setting of the story. Because of the pace, it took me a little longer than usual to get through all 400+ pages of Compulsion.

The good news is that Compulsion didn't end on a cliffhanger so, when I did reach the end, it left me feeling satisfied. I really did enjoy this book even though I wasn't quite sure I would. The magic fit nicely and believably with the gothic atmosphere and the romance was really well done! I don't feel like I necessarily need to read the next book in the series based on how this one ended, but I probably will anyway. I'm interested to see what Persuasion has in store for Barrie and Eight!

[kimbacaffeinate]

Five reasons to grab your earbuds and listen to Compulsion

• The Set Up -A long time ago, three families after making their fortunes came to South Carolina seeking land. They were each granted a parcel on Watson Island. However, the men awakened magic on the land. It resulted in two of the families, the Beaufort's and Watson's receiving abilities. The third family the Colesworth's inherited a cursed. These gifts/curses are passed down from generation to generations. The family’s history, pirates, voodoo and the present day story of Barrie and those on the island was fascinating.


• The Writing- Boone delivers a beautifully written Gothic Southern novel. She paints a picture of the island, its history and the characters who live there. Our story revolves around protagonist Barrie Watson. Barrie is seventeen and upon her mother’s death, she discovers she has family on Watson Island. Leaving her dying Uncle behind in San Francisco, she goes to live with her Aunt Pru. Here she learns about her family history and the ancient spirt who cursed them all long ago. The world is magical, eerie and the gifts are not exactly gifts but compulsions that will not be denied. It was riveting.


• Characters- Despite the rich details, the story itself is more character driven and Boone created delightfully fleshed out, quirky characters. Aunt Pru seems eccentric, but as we learn about her, we see what the island has done.  Our protagonist Barrie is curious and tentative. Now free from her mother’s control she is determined to experience life. She wants to explore the island and unravel its secrets. Barrie is spirited and at times fearless. A young man named Eight acts as a guide for Barrie and their relationship develops into something deeper. Cassie, Barrie’s cousin fiends friendship and we soon learn she wants more from Barrie. The three families are intertwined from the beginning in scandal, drama, romance and feuds. Boone gave us all the scandalous details and I was drawn to it like a bee to nectar.


• Mystery- The overall mystery and suspense was presented to the reader with an unhurried pace with different storylines weaving slowly together. Ghosts, strange figures, unexplained happenings, strange pulls calling the characters to act all had me wanting to stay on Watson Island and uncover its secrets. The thread regarding a fire carrier was one of my favorites. The story should be read/listened to at a leisurely pace.  Allowing reader to absorb every detail. Boone builds the story on little tid-bits creating ah-ha moments for the reader. I love how she allows the reader to make connects and discover things for themselves.


• Romance- The romance was wonderfully done. It reminded me of summer from the sun on my skin to the smell of cut grass. Boone allowed it develop from friendship, drawing it out with tender moments and laughter. It felt realistic and I basked in it.  I loved that this young adult novel didn't succumb to any of the usual romantic tropes.

Audio provided by Tantor Media. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Sam@WLABB]

Wow! I really liked this book. It had romance, paranormal touches and mystery.
What I loved:
The writing: I found the author's style quite pleasing. It flowed with such ease, was rich in description and full of beautiful phrasing.
The characters: Barrie, Eight, Mark -- they were all great. I loved reading about them, getting to know them, reading scenes with them together. Very memorable characters.
The dynamic between Barrie and Eight: These two were great and amazing together. The scenes they shared were the best. Their banter made me smile and I really need the next book so I know what happens with them.
Watson's Landing: This may have been one of the plantations, but it was also another character in the book as far as I was concerned. And how I love the south and all it's peculiarities.
There will be a second book! Why is this important? Because I have waaaaayyyy too many unanswered questions. This book has only scratched the surface of the mysteries and curses that surround Watson Landing and its inhabitants.
What I didn't love
I need more answers, so let's get that next book stat!

[readingwithwrin]

Rating 4.25

Between Barrie finding out about her family's past of privateers, an ancient curse, family feuds, and family secrets. Plus dealing with the death of her mother, and her Godfather slowly dying from pancreatic cancer. This book kept me captivated from start to finish, and was one of my quickest reads this year.

[ellieroth]

También en: El Extraño Gato del Cuento

Cuando vi la portada más la asociación con el título, me esperaba… no sé, creo que no el escenario que trae Compulsion. La portada me dice otoño, la chica recostada en el piso… ¿quizá una tragedia? ¿Pérdida? ¿Sueño? Y el título “Compulsión” (traducción literal al español), la verdad pensé que era sobre una chica que cleptómana que sea tropieza y cae al suelo en uno de sus episodios. A veces creo que tengo demasiada imaginación cuando se trata de interpretar imágenes, deberían ver mis pruebas psicológicas, son bastante curiosas.

Misticismo Sureño (del gringo)

Luego de leer tropecientos libros ambientadas en Estados Unidos una llega a cansarse y sentir que ya conoce todo acerca de ese país, muchas de las locaciones son casi siempre repetitivas. En Compulsion la historia gira entorno a una leyenda y una especie de Dios/Demonio Indio (no me pidan nombre que ya no me acuerdo, es un poco difícil de recordar u.u), una cultura de la que no sé nada y fue interesante aprender siquiera una poquita cosa (de seguro inventada) de historia. No hay muchos libros en Young Adult que usen como recurso creencia popular, el único otro libro que recuerdo que tiene un poco de eso es en la serie Night Huntress, con el vudú y el Mardi Grass. Así que por ahí, tiene para mí, un punto a favor.

Romance

Dije una vez que cuando hay algo paranormal o no-humano en un libro, el insta-love no me molesta. Es que, si puedo creer que tal o cual cosa tiene poderes imposibles ¿Por qué habría de ser imposible también enamorarse a primera vista? Creo que eso ya son pequeños traumas míos con que el amor entre humanos normales no existe y demás. La relación entre Barrie Watson y Eight “8” (se cree el doble de Tobías *badatumbs*) Beaufort es extraña, el secreto de la familia Beaufort es bastante curiosa y, créanme, mataría por tenerla. Así la vida sería tan sencilla, podría dominar el mundo sin más esfuerzo del que hago ahora. La manera en la que su relación se desarrolla no me molestó pero tampoco tiene el efecto “DESMAYO”, no es memorable porque estuve más interesada en la historia central.

Mansión Watson

Cómo comenté al inicio de esta reseña, la portada me tuvo en conflicto porque no dice “Esta es la historia de una chica que tiene el poder de encontrar cosas perdidas y que si no lo hace tiene horribles dolores de cabeza”, al menos para mí no. La portada no me dice nada fuera de lo común, más allá de un drama sobre una chica. Yendo al punto, el escenario central del libro es esta mansión bella y antigua, y aquí tengo que decir que tengo un pequeño amor por la arquitectura. Y lo antiguo. Y rebuscar entre las cosas ¿Qué mejor lugar para encontrar pequeños tesoros y secretos que una mansión antigua? Mientras leía la mano me picaba porque quería estar ahí abriendo cajones, buscando pasadizos secretos, cajas con fotos antiguas. Compulsion sería un muy buen y sencillo video juego (de esos de Facebook, como Criminal Case)

Leí Compulsion un domingo en la tarde que quería descansar, distraer mi mente un rato y lo logré, ha sido muy entretenido leerlo

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