Norma Jean's School of Witchery: Book One: Jewel

What do some wealthy people do with the excess money they have is donate to charity or start schools to benefit those like them to make learning life lesson's a little easier. That's sort of the premise behind that founding of Norma Jean's School of Witchery, a place established by one famous Norma Jean (a.k.a Marilyn Monroe) for other young witches to develop their skills. Jewel, the guardian of Jade and Jane and goddaughter of Jill, the Winter Queen of the Faeries, arrives late in the school year, just prior to Halloween, which also happens to be her birthday. You see, truly gifted witches tend to be born on Halloween. She has a lot of make-up work in order to catch up with theater students, yet in many ways she is much more advanced than the others, including the teachers.Rose Montague is a great storyteller and this Young Adult book has the potential to become a classic of the supernatural on a par with the Harry Potter series. She creates a world that parallels our own but operates on its own asked rules, where witches, faeries, vampires and such coexist, albeit not always happily, with normal humans. It's about a teen coming of age, discovering her that her special powers are growing and others depend on her. All the while she is also discovering some of the normal things teens deal with, discovering her sexuality and contending with popularity. It's basically a story about what friendship is and the importance of doing your best to protect those closest to you.Like her adopted parents and faerie godmother, Jewel is totally bad ass. She creates rings of fire drawn from he depth of her being and source of her immense magical power. And that isn't even her most impressive attribute. She can also see a few seconds or minutes into the future, a pretty neat ability considering someone is trying to kill the witch daughter of a presidential candidate - Jewel's roommate.I enjoyed this story and found inspiring me to explore some of the more unusual aspects of one of my own character's nature. I feel a new wrinkle in the Fried Windows saga coming on. Inspiration comes from the works of other artists, doesn't it?In the way of a disclaimer here, one of the supporting characters in this supernatural thriller is my namesake. Rose told me she was going to do that, since she has named other characters in her books after her friends. Do you know how unusual it is to spend a lifetime not knowing anyone else (except for your father named Elgon)? There are no first grade readers that contain sentences like "See Elgon run". Also there are no coffee mugs or keychains in souvenir shops bearing my name. But Rose has created a character who, other than superficial physical similarities to a younger me in terms of hair color, eyes and height, is not really like me. But that's okay, I enjoyed reading about someone else named Elgon for once. I won't spoil what happens but it's a pretty cool and humorous part of the story.

I have to admit that I had my reservations about this series as I read the first few pages, but I ended up reading book one and two in one night, it was just that good of a storyline. While the ebook version I had of this book was riddled with typos, missing words, and doubled phrases it did not keep me from turning the page. It is fair to say that this was just a poorly edited version because the second book in this series was finely edited. What’s the big deal and why am I saying anything about editing? Well, I hate being pulled out of a story by poor editing, but thankfully Montague's cool characterization and amazing story telling skills helped me to look and read past any mistakes.Jewel was a reflective and sensitive young woman, which did not take away from her ability to kick butt. Of course, when your current family unit consists of Jade Smith, London Jane, and Jill, the Winter Queen of Faerie, (from Jade - book 1 and Jane - book 2 of the Three J'amigos book series) kicking butt is to be expected and so is being true to yourself. Jewel has lost a lot, but her new family knows something great lies within their new charge, even though none of them seem to know exactly how that will evolve or impact her future. Jewel starts school at Norma Jean's School of Witchery a place to hone her skills and her magic, although the magic part doesn't seem to come as easily as kicking butt. Jade, Jane, and Jill want everyone at school to know the family from which Jewel hails and they make a showing of it on her first day. One would think that this would make her life easier, but with her magic abilities sputtering, her first day is full of ridicule. Jewel shows her heart though, as the friends she makes are amazing, accepting, talented and not the most popular.The secrets that Jewel begins to learn about herself, along with those things about her abilities that her family believes she should keep quiet begin to grow in numbers. Now she is keeping things from the family she has trusted, as well as the new group of friends that may have inadvertently helped her unlock something dangerous, but I digress. I don’t want to give anything too juicy away.Jewel is a strong and worthy female lead. This is the kind of character young readers should be reading about. I love to see a female character that is so able to take care of herself both physically and mentally. Beyond that, what Montague has created is a story that is enthralling, it sucks you in and doesn’t let go until you turn the last page and even then it leaves you hungry for more.

Jewel is about to start a new school and she has the usual worries. Fitting in, making up the time she’s missed, getting over being dumped by her boyfriend. And she’s worried because her adoptive guardians are concerned that she still hasn’t discovered her main magical abilities yet.Written in the first person, Jewel is an easy and enjoyable read although it does have one or two darker edges which might put it at the older end of the YA audience. Jewel herself is easy to relate to since we can all understand some of the things she goes through early on; making friends, failing in class, gaining attention. These earlier sections do go at a slower pace but they never drag. As she begins to learn what her powers are and as a plot against one of her classmates becomes increasingly dangerous, the pace picks up considerably, culminating in an all-out attack on Jewel and her friends.The Norma Jean (yes, that Norma Jean) School of Witchery is a young adult off-shot of some of Ms. Montague’s other work. I will admit I have not read any of those other books as of yet and since some of the characters do overlap (Jewel’s guardians are the main characters of the Three J’Amigo’s series) I did feel like I was missing a little bit of back story during the first chapter. But for the most part, this faded as the narrative focuses on Jewel and her new school.There is enough given about the history and some of the supporting characters to hint about the larger world beyond the school but it doesn’t feel forced and or excessive. There is a sequel available although, this book is perfectly capable of standing on its own. I would say it also serves as a gateway into the larger, more adult, series. I know it has for me, since I'm already eyeing the author's other books.

After losing her parents, and a summer spent training with a witch, a vampire and a shifter; Jewel is about to start a new school, to learn more about her magic and witchcraft. How far can she trust her new friends with her secrets? What secrets will she discover?I've been wanting to read this for ages, and with it being the Indie Book Club's book of the month. I mean, that cover is pretty fantastic; plus it's about witches.I really enjoyed this. It follows Jewel as she gets used to life at a new school. After spending her time with her foster family (who all happen to be awesome and powerful), Jewel she gets to discover her strengths and weaknesses in comparison to the rest of the witch high school community.Jewel was a fun main character. She is very self-sufficient and capable no matter what is going on; but she is also friendly and loyal to those around her. I found it refreshing that she is popular in her new school, that she attends and brings these groups of people together that hadn't been that close before, and they all get on fantastically. She's a magnet for those around her, regardless of what clique they should be in.Jewel is amazing at martial arts and doesn't waste her time boasting or being overly-humble. She gets on with her training and enjoys learning everything she can.Her friends are all interesting, and a love interest in Elgon, who is supposed to be a Chris Hemsworth look-a-like (I approve).If I'm being picky, I sometimes felt like the friends and background characters were all interminable, and it was hard to recall which name belonged to which person.The plot rolls out, with the first half establishing the school and dynamics in a fun way. In the latter half, this naturally builds to an explosive fight to protect their friends and their own lives against some rather shady people that will go to drastic lengths to get what they want. It was very creative and had plenty of action.There aren't any great surprises in this story, you know how it's going to play out fairly early on, but it was enjoyable to read all the same.((This has no bearing on my rating of the story)) I bought my copy from Amazon at the beginning of April, and I found it had a lot of formatting errors regarding paragraphs and speechmarks. Too often different character's speech would follow on with no spacing to show it was someone new. A lot of speechmarks were missing, so you didn't realise this was dialogue and have to go re-read it when you get to the end of the section. These are simple problems that shouldn't take long to rectify.So, overall I really enjoyed this book, and I will definitely be looking into this series, and the Three J'Amigos!

I've read a few witch type stories and I admit this has to be one of my favourites. We totally feel like our MC and get inside her head as her journey unfolds.The necklace with charms is a gift from her god mother, which I had no doubts would be a piece of equipment that would do some real good through the novel, and it did.What I expected and got were two different things, Jewell feels a bit lost at the school at first, but she soon meets some other interesting students and fast makes some friends, Wyatt and Riley. However she's still very guarded over her abilities and that comes off as a little weird at first, but then reasons to the why do unfold in a really natural way, we learn more and more about her and the whys. Being late to the school because of her parents, still pretty much a grieving young woman, but not a snotty or bratty teen like I've read in most other books. Jewell is literally a gem amongst other kids, she was deep and giving.Some of her classes are interesting, especially the self defence. Both written extremely well and with a light sense of humour, you can seriously get into these characters just from how well they're developed. All of them are interesting and whole. Really enjoyed the banter and the fight, even if it got her in trouble.Despite the trouble and not wanting to out her abilities she does a pretty good job of letting everything slip. Each chapter is a great follow on, leading Jewell on a fab adventure. I won't post anymore spoilers, but to say it's a wild ride and a book you just won't want to put down.I am very interested in seeing what happens with Jewell and her friends in the next book. You've got a fan. Thank you very much.I have to admit, I kinda struggled with all the J's Jade, Jane and Jewell, Jess fab names but I think there was some room for differences, unless of course there was a totally specific reason for it that I missed, I'm kinda goofy like that. I was thinking that Jade and Jane were sisters looking after Jewell then sending her off to the school.

Rose Montague is back on full form with the beginning of this new series of YA stories.  We have cameos from characters from the Three J'amigos series, which fans will recognise with glee, but I don't think you need to have read the previous series to get stuck into this one.  The skill this writer has is to draw you in from the beginning and weave action into even the most mundane encounter. I read this in two sittings, because I just didn't want to put it down, it was so packed full of action, adventure and excitement. Of course, this is set in a school, with school children, so we have to suffer a bit of teenage angst along the way to help appeal to the YA readership, but honestly I felt it was handled well, and didn't detract from the story or irritate me too much! (I am a grumpy old badger).  I feel it would have benefited from a final edit, to catch some typos and sort out some formatting errors, but honestly, the story was so good I forgave most of it.

This is the first book that I have read written by Rose Montague.You will not want to put this book down...The book is as the title says, a book about a schools namely Norma Jean's school of Witchery. It helps young witches expand their knowledge of the craft and the history surrounding it as well as martial arts. I want to go to this school.Rose has been able to write as a teenager as the main character and it is nice to have a rather mature and not petulant teenager. Well done.I was automatically drawn in from page one and the story keeps you spellbound (ha see what I did there).Jewel possesses some rare magical talent and decides that she must keep some of it to herself whereas her adopted parents suggested keeping other parts quiet for now. Jewel on starting at the school is drawn in to an attempted assassination plot on her new friend and she for one wants to helps foil any further attempt. She is already behind as she started the school year late due to the death of her parents. Jewel also finds romance in the shape of Elgon.Jewel has been given a magical fae necklace with magical charms from her godmother the winter queen. These charms go a long way to helping keep her safe and Jewel somehow manages to dream new charms into existence.Such an exciting read :-))

...Norma Jean's School of Witchery ist Zauberschule mal erfrischend anders.Jewel, die liebenswerte Göre mit mit dem Jahrbuch aus "Jane" bekommt ihr eigenes Buch und damit einen ganzen Haufen Probleme, wobei die mit den Zaubersprüchen noch die kleinsten sind...Norma Jean's School of Witchery ist eine gelungene Mischung aus Harry Potters "Hogwarts" und Buffy Summers "Sunnydale Highschool", Jewel und ihre Freunde eine Clique, die man einfach lieben muss und letztendlich kommen weder die Action noch die Romantik zu kurz...Macht Lust auf mehr...