44 pages • 1 hour read
Incantation
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Book Brief
192
Novel • Fiction
Spain • 16th century
2006
YA
14-18 years
730L
Super Short Summary
In Incantation, Estrella deMadrigal, a young woman in 16th-century Spain, discovers her family's secret Jewish heritage amidst the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition. As the persecution intensifies, she grapples with identity, betrayal, and the struggle for survival, ultimately vowing to preserve her family's history and traditions despite the oppression they face. This book includes themes of death, torture, antisemitism, and cruelty to animals.
Melancholic
Dark
Mysterious
Bittersweet
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
9,902 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Alice Hoffman’s Incantation is widely praised for its lyrical prose and vivid historical setting, immersing readers in the turbulence of the Spanish Inquisition. Reviewers commend Hoffman's ability to create compelling, multidimensional characters, though some critique the narrative's pacing and predictability. Overall, it’s considered a poignant and thought-provoking read.
Who Should Read Incantation?
A reader who would enjoy Incantation by Alice Hoffman is likely someone captivated by historical fiction with a mystical twist. Fans of Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief or Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits will appreciate Hoffman’s lyrical prose and poignant themes of love, betrayal, and identity during the Spanish Inquisition.
9,902 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
192
Novel • Fiction
Spain • 16th century
2006
YA
14-18 years
730L
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