Persuasion

Martina Boone

Oct 2015 · Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

Beautiful Creatures meets Gone with the Wind in the spellbinding second novel in the Heirs of Watson Island trilogy that “skillfully blends rich magic and folklore with adventure, sweeping romance, and hidden treasure” (Publishers Weekly, on Compulsion).

Grieving the death of her godfather and haunted by her cousin Cassie’s betrayal, Barrie returns from a trip to San Francisco to find the Watson plantation under siege. Ghost-hunters hope to glimpse the ancient spirit who sets the river on fire each night, and reporters chase rumors of a stolen shipment of Civil War gold that may be hidden at Colesworth Place. The chaos turns dangerous as Cassie hires a team of archeologists to excavate beneath the mansion ruins. Because more than treasure is buried there.

A stranger filled with magic arrives at Watson’s Landing claiming that the key to the Watson and Beaufort gifts—and the Colesworth curse—also lies beneath the mansion. With a mix of threats and promises, the man convinces Barrie and Cassie to cast a spell at midnight. But what he conjures may have deadly consequences.

While Barrie struggles to make sense of the escalating peril and her growing feelings for Eight Beaufort, it’s impossible to know whom to trust and what to fight for—Eight or herself. Millions of dollars and the fate of the founding families is at stake. Now Barrie must choose between what she feels deep in her heart and what will keep Watson’s Landing safe in this stunning addition to a series filled with “decadent settings, mysterious magic, and family histories rife with debauchery” (Kirkus Reviews, on Compulsion).

Ratings and reviews

Continuing from the ending of Compulsion, Barrie is wary of Cassie now, who being given a chance to stay out of jail renews her efforts to get to the lost treasure buried on Colesworth land. Meanwhile, the whole controversy surrounding the Colesworth means there is renewed interest from journalists and ghost hunters, and that is the last thing Barrie wants - disturbing the peace of Watson Island. As she and her aunt try to figure out how to best manage this situation, as well as move forward with the plans for Barrie's restaurant, Barrie and Eight are also trying to untangle their complicated situation. Their gifts make it that their feelings may only be a part of their relationship, and that insecurity drives them both to keep secrets from each other. A theme that is frequently repeated throughout the book is the concept of free will, and how much of the heirs' personalities are a reflection of their true selves and not just a result of their gifts, or what would their lives be if they weren't tied by history and magic. Eight wants what Barrie wants, which presents a complication in of itself, as she can never be sure how much of her love is reciprocated truly. Eight, for his part, struggles with his compulsion to please others and about what he wants for the future. Cassie's backstory gets more detailed in this book, as we learn about her past and also the past of the ancestors who were cursed initially. Adding another mystery of a character, Obadiah, means we see forms of magic other than the heirs gifts. This book also builds a direction for the plot to go forward with, as they are now focused on undoing the curse and gifts that lie them to the their land. In short, a focused sequel that takes the story forward in a more concrete direction while also expanding characterization.

About the author

Martina Boone was born in Prague and spoke several languages before learning English. She fell in love with words and never stopped delighting in them. She’s the author of the Heirs of Watson Island series, and the founder of both AdventuresinYAPublishing.com, a Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers site, and YASeriesInsiders.com, a Tumblr site devoted to news, giveaways, and insider secrets of much-loved and up-and-coming YA series.

From her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband, children, and Auggie the wonder dog, she enjoys writing contemporary fantasy set in the kinds of magical places she’d love to visit. When she isn’t writing, she’s addicted to travel, horses, skiing, chocolate flavored tea, and anything with Nutella on it.