Sisters of Misery by Megan Kelley Hall

Maddie Crane has lived in the small, prestigious town of Hawthorne her entire life, and thanks to her mother, has always had the right clothes, the right friends, and the right experiences. She belongs to a secret clique of the most popular, powerful girls in school called the Sisters of Misery. But even though Maddie spends her time with the most popular girls around, she has never felt like she truly belonged. But then her quirky Aunt Rebecca and beautiful cousin Cordelia come to live with her, bringing a glimpse of what the outside world is really like. Maddie and Cordelia forge a sisterly bond; Maddie drawn to her aunt and cousin’s free spirits and in-depth knowledge of runestones. But the Sisters of Misery aren’t so welcoming, especially after Cordelia takes a liking to several dashing men in town, one of whom being the leader of the Sister of Misery, Kate Endicott’s boyfriend. Kate and the rest of the “sisters” are determined to make her pay. The morning after a terror-filled, torturous ceremony conducted on Misery Island, Cornelia vanishes without a trace.
All I can say is…WOW! Sister of Misery is a stunning, gothic debut by an author I will definitely keep looking out for. Blending fantasy, thriller, and history, Sisters of Misery weaves a story filled with magic, mystery, and coming of age. Each character was magnificently drawn, from the bewildered Maddie to the mysterious Cordelia to the truly evil Kate Endicott. This book kept me turning pages all through the night. The many plot twists kept the story alive, the end leaving you begging for more. Thankfully, its sequel, The Lost Sister will be out August 2009, can’t wait!