Review: Magic or Madness

Magic or Madness by Justine Larbalestier
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

For fifteen years, Reason Cansino has lived a life on the run. Together with her mother, Sarafina, she has moved from one place to another in the Australian countryside, desperate not to be found by Reason's grandmother Esmeralda, a dangerous woman who believes in magic. But when Sarafina suffers a breakdown, Reason is forced to move in with her grandmother in Sydney. The moment Reason walks through Esmeralda's back door and finds herself on a New York City street, she's confronted by an unavoidable truth-magic is real.
This thrilling novel will bring readers through revelation upon revelation, leading to Reason's ultimate discovery of the price she must pay if she uses her magic.

My Thoughts:

Although, I found the story idea interesting, I wasn't a huge fan of the characters. Reason believed everything her mother told her even after seeing the truth. Her mother's description of how Esmeralda lived was obviously distorted. Instead of talking to her grandmother (Esmeralda) and deciding for herself, she decided to stubbornly continue to believe her mother. Most of the book she believes what everyone tells her and never decides anything for herself. Even when she is deciding which grandparent is worth helping she looks to Tom for an answer. I really prefer stronger heroines and she just isn't it. The book did have potential but fell short of it.

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