Brief review because I just realized I forgot to this weekend.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: the ability that certain authors have to creBrief review because I just realized I forgot to this weekend.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: the ability that certain authors have to create such complex fantasy stories in the space of a novella will never cease to amaze me. This was no exception. Gripping from the first page and intriguing until the last. (Even though you might be able to guess where the plot is going, that doesn't stop the gut-punch once you actually reach it.)
This also had such a good message. I love when allegory is utilized the way it was in here and I've heard the series only goes deeper, so I can't wait to carry on. ...more
“I am the only storm that matters now, and there is no shelter from what I bring.”
Oh, you guys weren't kidding. This was good.
I went into this book wi“I am the only storm that matters now, and there is no shelter from what I bring.”
Oh, you guys weren't kidding. This was good.
I went into this book with very little information about the plot itself and I highly recommend doing that. The first chapter is one of the most gripping opening scenes of a book that I've ever read and though the rest of the book isn't quite as dramatic, it's never less interesting. (Except for a certain character's POV but that's beside the point.)
This was atmospheric, with rich world-building and a writing style that somehow managed to be both simplistic and chilling at once. I love fantasy books that discuss religion and prophecies and old gods, so this was right up my alley.
I also loved Serapio and Xiala. They were easily some of my favorite characters I've read about recently.
I can't wait to see where the rest of the series goes. Highly recommend.
“But she still rises. Still stands strong. She’s truly beautiful, in all her phases.”
This was so cute.
I'm pretty picky when it comes to romances (I “But she still rises. Still stands strong. She’s truly beautiful, in all her phases.”
This was so cute.
I'm pretty picky when it comes to romances (I get the ick so easily, for some reason) so it's always a really pleasant surprise when I find one that works for me. This absolutely delivered.
It touches on some heavy topics (mentioned in the TW below), but it's still such a light-hearted, comforting read. The kind of romance that feels like a hug, with characters you can't help but root for - even when they aren't making the best decisions lol.
Like most romcoms, I will say that this felt a bit rushed but it's also pretty easy to overlook in this book. You get why the characters feel the way they do, even if it might not be the most realistic. That's part of the magic of it.
Overall, this was a perfect February read and I can't wait for "The Love Simulation."
TW: ableism (brief), death, death of a loved one, grief, injury/injury detail, medical content, pregnancy, sexual content, terminal illness....more
“My heart feels happy listening to her, like I could do it forever.”
(I've decided to move trigger warnings to the bottom of my reviews from here on ou“My heart feels happy listening to her, like I could do it forever.”
(I've decided to move trigger warnings to the bottom of my reviews from here on out, so they're still accessible but not pushing down the review itself.)
Once again proving that I can appreciate YA contemporaries, so long as they have a sad element.
There was so much I loved about this book, how it handled Stevie's relationship with her parents and her own identity as well as the ways she tried to get back to herself. Her romance with Nora felt very believable and it was incredibly easy to root for them.
My only complaints are that it felt odd for Stevie to perceive herself as 15 and yet carry on as an 18 year old (when it came to romance and her future) and that it was a bit rushed at times (particular the end) but when a book is this short, that's to be expected.
I would recommend going into this with caution if you're a vegan (or anyone that feels queasy with discussions of animal death/meat). It alternated between discussing the benefits of staying away from meat and then having a cow you'd met be served for dinner.
Overall, I thought this was a really good YA contemporary and I'm glad I read it.
TW: abandonment, abortion, abuse, alcohol, animal death (graphic), bigotry, blood, bullying, child abuse, cursing, emotional abuse, homophobia, injury/injury detail, lesbophobia, medical content, medical trauma, misogyny, physical abuse, racial slurs, racism, religious bigotry, sexual content, violence, xenophobia. ...more
TW: ableism, blood, body-horror, child abuse, child death, colonization, confinement, cursing, de"The stars would come and go. Fire was eternal."
➳ 4.5
TW: ableism, blood, body-horror, child abuse, child death, colonization, confinement, cursing, death, death of a loved one, drug use, fire/fire injury, genocide, grief, gun violence, injury/injury detail, medical content, medical trauma, mental illness, murder, panic attacks/disorders, physical abuse, police brutality, racism, religious bigotry, sexual content, slavery, suicide, torture, violence, vomit, war, xenophobia.
Everything I hoped it would be.
This was absolutely my kind of book. A religion based magic system, unearthing corrupt history, royalty x guard romance, complex family dynamics, and the realities of how far one must go to keep what they love safe.
I loved so much about this book, but (surprisingly) my favorite part was following Leo - Ravani's king and Elena's father - as he grapples with his own humanity and the decisions he feels he has to make to be a good leader. The way his relationship with faith and life was handled was really interesting to me and it made me look forward to chapters that, written by another author, might have bored me.
The relationship was fantastic, if a bit more rushed than I'd like in a slow-burn fantasy series. (Take this with a grain of salt, they don't even hold hands until at least 400 pages in.) I loved the characters on their own and I appreciated that neither of them lost their own struggles to fawning over each other.
Also, this book is brutal and no one was safe (which I prefer!)
It was a bit predictable, but in the way that makes you feel satisfied as everything unfolds.
My main complaint would be that - despite being a rather slow-paced, 500+ page book - certain aspects were rather rushed. I can't give any examples without heading into spoiler territory, but what I will say is that I just wished things would have been given more time instead of just quickly being moved past.
Overall, though, this is exactly what I was hoping it would be and I cannot wait for the next book. If we usually have similar tastes in books, I definitely recommend this one. ...more
“And what was freedom worth if I still felt imprisoned?”
TW: addiction, blood, body horror, colonization, confinement, cursing, death, death of a loved“And what was freedom worth if I still felt imprisoned?”
TW: addiction, blood, body horror, colonization, confinement, cursing, death, death of a loved one, drug use, emotional abuse, fire/fire injury, forced institutionalization, gore, grief, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, medical content, misogyny, murder, physical abuse, police brutality, sexual content, torture, violence.
I had such a good time with this.
With a focus on female rage, betrayal, magic, and revenge, For She Is Wrath serves as a reminder of just how thrilling and enjoyable YA fantasy standalones can be. It was so refreshing to see a main character that is actually willing to hurt people, instead of boasting about it and then... just... not.
The romance was also so much fun. It's been awhile since I've felt any fictional couples had any chemistry but they did and I loved them for it. This is partially because lovers-to-enemies is in my top three favorite tropes of all time, but also because Emily Varga did a really good job crafting their connection and tension in a rather short space. (The Pride and Prejudice reference was also beautifully handled.)
I'm not saying this book was perfect. It can be a bit cheesy, with a main character that sometimes felt like a cartoon villain (I love and adore her though), and a plot that happens a bit too conveniently; but these aspects are genuinely easy to overlook with everything else going on.
Overall, this is so underrated and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting a unique, romantic, revenge fueled YA fantasy standalone....more
I said this with the first installment, but it bears repeating: the diminutive size of this novella should be a mark against i➳ 4.5
This was fantastic.
I said this with the first installment, but it bears repeating: the diminutive size of this novella should be a mark against it, while instead Tobi Ogundiran uses the short amount of pages to build a story that is both fast-paced and masterfully crafted.
Not a single page is wasted, which makes this story all the more interesting. Even the smallest of conversations are used to expand the world, the mythology, characterization, and the religious system. All of this paired with rich, dynamic characters and an incredibly satisfying conclusion, this duology deserves so much praise.
“What is faith if not an offering in return for love? What have you offered lately for others, that is not for yourself? Who do you trust, other than “What is faith if not an offering in return for love? What have you offered lately for others, that is not for yourself? Who do you trust, other than yourself?”
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
➳ 4.5
Hannah Kaner has written a finale that is magical, hopeful, devastating, and really satisfying.
There's something inherently magical about reaching the conclusion to a series and being brutally hit in the face with the emotional equivalent of a frying pan, as you're forced to confront that you cared a bit more for these characters than you'd initially realized.
Not that that's what happened here, or anything. (cue distant sobbing)
To be clear: I have enjoyed every book in this trilogy. I knew I cared about the characters to some degree, but even in my review for Sunbringer I stated that they were my biggest issue and that I struggled to connect with them. So imagine my surprise when I reached the last 25% of this book and felt myself begin to TEAR UP?
I always struggle to review conclusions without spoilers (especially when they're arcs) so I offer my emotions as the best review I can give. As someone that reads quite a bit, it feels worth noting every single time a book reaches my emotions and I suddenly want everyone to read it.
This is one of those books. I finished this book last night and started to cry again when I thought about a specific line today. (Who is this emotionally intelligent, vulnerable queen?)
On a technical note, I will say that I felt the pacing was off (especially for the first half of the book) and that the romantic tension was just not there for me? However, the first one rectified in the second half and the latter was such a small portion of the book that it didn't really have much bearing on my overall appreciation of the story.
Overall, please read this trilogy (and this book when it comes out.) It's got a beautifully nostalgic found-family fantasy feel, whilst being effortlessly inclusive and delving into themes of faith/faithlessness, healing, vulnerability, and the lure of power.
I love this book so much and I look forward to whatever Hannah Kaner writes from here. ...more
“I thought about how the world can be anything and how sad it is that it's this.”
TW:(view spoiler)[ ableism, addiction, alcoholism, animal cruelty, a“I thought about how the world can be anything and how sad it is that it's this.”
TW:(view spoiler)[ ableism, addiction, alcoholism, animal cruelty, animal death, biphobia, blood, body horror, body-shaming, bullying, cancer, car accident, child abuse, child death, classism, colonization, confinement, death, death of a loved one, dementia, deportation, domestic abuse, forced institutionalization, gore, grief, gun violence, hate crime, homophobia, injury/injury detail, lesbophobia, mass shootings, medical content, medical trauma, mental illness, misogyny, panic attacks/disorders, pedophilia, physical abuse, police brutality, racial slurs, racism, rape, religious bigotry, self-harm, sexism, sexual assault, sexual content, sexual violence, slavery, suicidal thoughts, suicide, suicide attempt, terminal illness, trafficking, transphobia, torture, violence, vomit, war, xenophobia. (hide spoiler)]
You know when someone recommends a book for fans of the Hunger Games but then you read it and the only similarities to THG are a trial setting (usually poorly formed) and a love triangle (usually also poorly formed) and you realize that the person that recommended you the book apparently ignored all of the themes of the Hunger Games?
This is like the opposite of that experience.
This book is hauntingly brutal, with moments that make this dystopian society feel as though it is not that far away. Drawing parallels between what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen if we don't make radical changes. Parts of this novel can read as an almost satirical look at society's acceptance of violence, through the eyes of spectators of these events.
There were also times when this book felt a bit too... on the nose, I guess, with how it was handling certain topics. As if it didn't trust the reader to come to the correct conclusions on their own. That's a personal critique and to be fair... maybe that was a necessary inclusion for some people.
It's a criticism of the prison system. It's a look at the fascination with and dehumanization of anyone that society deems 'other'. It's an accusation of complacency and all of the forms that it can take. It's also about love and sacrifice and what it means to be human.
Also, I was struggling a bit to read this until I switched to the audiobook. The audiobook is fantastic. I especially loved the fact that one of the narrators actually sang the songs his character was singing.
Overall, this definitely deserves the hype. It may not bring anything new to the conversation around these topics, but it repackages them in a way that is incredibly impactful. I highly recommend to anyone that can handle such a bleak story. ...more
“All that mattered was the story. The myths that made gods, brought them to life in their shrines. Stories bind hope and love to make it faith.”
TW: ab“All that mattered was the story. The myths that made gods, brought them to life in their shrines. Stories bind hope and love to make it faith.”
TW: abandonment, ableism, alcohol, animal cruelty, animal death, blood, body horror, child abuse, child death, colonization, confinement, cursing, death, death of a loved one, fire/fire injury, genocide, gore, grief, injury/injury detail, medical content, medical trauma, murder, police brutality, religious bigotry, ritualistic sacrifice, sexual content, torture, trafficking, violence, war, xenophobia.
Fantasy books with a focus on gods, religion, and the line between faith & fanaticism have my entire heart.
I was a bit hesitant going into this book because I'd heard some mixed reviews, but I absolutely loved it. I can see why some people were let down, especially if they loved the first book for the found family and quest vibes (which were notably... less present in this story lol.)
The focus turned more towards the gods and their followers, which was exactly what I wanted. We still followed most of the characters from Godkiller, but their focus was on the changing tide of the kingdoms, the struggles of the gods, and the changing political climate.
The characters were perhaps the weakest part of this installment, which isn't to say I didn't still care for them, but their own internal struggle took up so much of their narratives that it became hard to connect with them. One character in particular was acting so rashly that I found it hard to not be irritated every time it was their perspective. (Not my beloved Skedi though; his internal struggle was actually handled the best, in my opinion.)
As for recommending this: I know this trilogy isn't quite as character driven as some books, but I'd still highly recommend this series to everyone. It's so good, familiar and unique at once, as well as fantastic at being inclusive without feeling forced.
Now, I shall sit here and wait for March/April, because I need Faithbreaker in my hands as soon as possible....more
This was a great example of what middle grade fantasy can /should be. This book focuses a lot on Aru Shah's changing emotions as she's getting older, with a particular focus on anger. The discussions around it were so poignant for the intended audience, but still managed to be impactful for people not in the target age-range.
I also felt that quest elements were extremely creative in this one and the plot itself was coherent, while also never feeling boring. The humor was a bit cartoonish, which is expected in a middle grade, but there were moments where even I (in my cranky book-humor state) found the jokes funny.
All in all, this was a great installment and I look forward to finishing the series. ...more
“Lingering on the pain of their loss did not serve them now. That would only come with vengeance.”
TW: abuse, addiction, alcohol, alcoholism, blood, bo“Lingering on the pain of their loss did not serve them now. That would only come with vengeance.”
TW: abuse, addiction, alcohol, alcoholism, blood, body horror, child abuse, child death, classism, colonization, cursing, death, death of a loved one, drug use, emotional abuse, fire/fire injury, genocide, gore, grief, hate crime, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, medical content, medical trauma, mental illness, misogyny, murder, panic attacks/disorders, physical abuse, racism, rape, self harm, sexual assault, sexual content, sexual harassment, sexual violence, suicidal ideation, suicide, torture, trafficking, violence, vomit, war, xenophobia.
Happy to report that this was (overall) an improvement on book 1.
I liked book 1 but there were also a lot of flaws that kept me from rating it higher. (Also, Riven was a much bigger part of that book and I don't like that man very much...more
TW: abuse, alcohol, blood, body horror, body-shaming, cannibalism, cursing, death, death of a loved one, e“For the ones who dream of stranger worlds.”
TW: abuse, alcohol, blood, body horror, body-shaming, cannibalism, cursing, death, death of a loved one, emotional abuse, fire/fire injury, gore, grief, gun violence, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, medical content, misogyny, murder, physical abuse, police brutality, possession, rape, self harm, sexual harassment, sexual content, sexual violence, stalking, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, torture, trafficking, violence.
Solid, if not as life-changing as I might have hoped.
I've found a bit of a mixed bag with V.E. Schwab's works (didn't care for Addie LaRue, The Near Witch, or City of Ghosts but really enjoyed This Savage Song and Gallant) so I was hesitant going into this one, but I wanted to love it. It was one of those books that I just felt like I'd love.
And... while I can't say I'm leaving this book in love, I did enjoy it quite a bit!
This is a book that focuses a great deal on atmosphere (which I love) though it sometimes felt like it came at the price of me connecting with the characters or story. The tone of the story and the setting was incredibly well-crafted, but the villains felt evil just for being evil and the other pieces of the story seemed to fall into place rather conveniently. And the character I found most interesting was a side character and barely focused on. (Also, side note, I see why everyone says Lila Bard has "not like other girls" syndrome, but I couldn't help but wonder if this was meant to be read as her questioning/struggling with her gender identity?)
Despite my criticisms, this is a good book. I see why it's so well-beloved, even if I didn't connect with it as much as I'd hoped. The world(s) and magic system are incredibly interesting and I could see growing to care for the characters more as I continue with the series.
Overall! This was good, I liked it. The hype may have done it a bit of disservice, but not so much that it ruined my enjoyment. I look forward to reading book 2. ...more
“When you love a thing too much, it is a special kind of pain to show it to others and to see that it is lacking.”
TW: animal death, blood, child death“When you love a thing too much, it is a special kind of pain to show it to others and to see that it is lacking.”
TW: animal death, blood, child death, confinement, death, death of a loved one, gore, murder, sexual content, violence.
Loving the style of this series - using stories, fables, oral histories, and mythologies to give us a glimpse of the surrounding world and relay the themes. It's incredible powerful and the author does a fantastic job weaving engaging, well-crafted stories in such a short space.
I'm currently too tired to write a longer review so to summarize: this was good! I liked it. It held my interest from beginning to end. I'm still not connecting with this series quite as much as some people, but I do think it deserves all the appreciation it has gotten. ...more
“She now understood that the world wasn’t kind to young women, especially when they behaved in ways men didn’t like, and spoke truths that men weren’t“She now understood that the world wasn’t kind to young women, especially when they behaved in ways men didn’t like, and spoke truths that men weren’t ready to hear.”
➳ 4.5
TW: abandonment, blood, body horror, child death, classism, confinement, death, death of a loved one, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, fire/fire injury, forced institutionalization, gore, grief, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, medical content, medical trauma, mental illness, misogyny, murder, panic attacks/disorders, physical abuse, possession, sexism, sexual harassment, torture, violence, war.
People have been recommending this to me for years and they were all right. It's a complete failure on my part that it took me 5 entire years to actually pick this book up, but I'm so glad I finally gave it a chance.
This was a masterclass in how to create a great YA fantasy standalone. Somehow, finding a perfectly steady pace, this book weaves together humor and magic with a host of grim, sometimes almost creepy subject matter and balances them perfectly. It has lovable, vivid characters, an incredibly fun book-based magic system, and some of my favorite pieces of writing I've read all year.
I would recommend this to almost anyone, but particularly fans of the Infernal Devices series. They aren't incredibly similar, but if you loved one, I feel you would really enjoy the other.
Overall, I had such a good time with this. Everyone that recommended it was correct and I love them for it. ...more
“He knew that she was the only one he wanted to find in the darkness. The only one he wanted to hold the shape of his soul, even with his thorns and d“He knew that she was the only one he wanted to find in the darkness. The only one he wanted to hold the shape of his soul, even with his thorns and dreams and wounds.”
TW: abandonment, alcohol, blood, body horror, bullying, child death, confinement, death, death of a loved one, fire/fire injury, grief, injury/injury detail, kidnapping (mentioned), medical content, medical trauma, mental illness, murder, pandemic/epidemic, pregnancy, sexual content, torture, violence, war.
Another beautiful book from Rebecca Ross, proving that I need to read everything she's ever written.
As with the first book, A Fire Endless transported me to Cadence from the first page. I read quite a bit (admittedly, not as much lately lol) and it's incredibly rare to find books I feel are this immersive and magical, with characters that stay with me long after I've read the last page. Both books of the Elements of Cadence duology accomplish this flawlessly.
With that being said, I did enjoy this one slightly less than A River Enchanted. Mostly due to an increase in predictability & melodrama, particularly in scenes that were meant to be solving a political dilemma. These moments often felt like the fantasy equivalent of "and then everyone clapped." Which may not make sense to anyone other than myself, but the comparison remains.
Don't get me wrong! I still adored this book. I love the poetically romantic way it was written, the focus on the spirits, and the journeys the characters went on. Truthfully, my complaints are only noticeable when contrasted with how perfect book 1 was. I just wanted to explain why this didn't quite reach a 5 star rating.
Overall? This has cemented its place as one of my all-time favorite series/duologies. These are the kinds of books you leave feeling forever changed, willing everyone in your life to read it so they can partake in the story you love so dearly.
If you've made it this far into my exhausted rambling and are still wondering: yes, I highly recommend this duology. It's atmospheric, magical, romantic, and a bunch of other beautiful words I could probably think of if I wasn't so tired right now.
A super fun, imaginative MG with a focus on self-identity and a celebration of mythology/culture.
This would work so well as an animated TV show! I could visualize everything so vividly while reading and my brain kept translating it to a show. I loved the focus on Lei finding herself, feeling caught between worlds, as well as the fun of reconnecting with nature.
This is a very... solitary book, meaning that for most of the journey it is just the main character and a talking animal companion. That did lead to some parts of it feeling a bit sluggish, as the pacing was a bit off, which could be a struggle for certain younger readers but! I also appreciated that it gave us time for the main character to rediscover the world around her (mostly) on her own.
Overall, a fun time that would be good for fans of PJO or Aru Shah. ...more
“There are so many worse things than death. Not to be loved or not to be able to love: that is worse.”
TW: addiction, blood, body horror, confinement, “There are so many worse things than death. Not to be loved or not to be able to love: that is worse.”
TW: addiction, blood, body horror, confinement, death, death of a loved one, drug use, fire/fire injury, grief, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, misogyny, murder, self-harm, sexual assault, sexual content, sexual violence, terminal illness, violence.
No one touch me. No one speak to me. No one look at me.
I thought having this series spoiled for me would make me immune to the epilogue but apparently not. I have never been so wrong. I cried while reading the entire thing. What the actual hell, honestly?
It took me awhile to get into this book particularly, actually. Not because I wasn't enjoying it, but because the plot seemed to moving a bit slow compared to the previous books. Particularly with the amount of letters from the Consul and all of the side characters we began to follow. Once I got past the first 30%, it got much easier enjoy.
It's been a consistent thread throughout this trilogy to tread the line between devastating and hopeful, and no two words describe Clockwork Princess better. Even at the bleakest moment, there is an undeniable light across the story. A hope that filters through between everything.
I could also go on forever about the use of Dickens to explore Will's character arc and how much I loved that aspect of the story. On the themes of curses and self-hatred and love and family. There are so many fantastic things about this trilogy (even if it is not without flaws.)
Overall, if it wasn't clear, I don't know what to do with myself now. ...more
“To the quiet girls with stories in their heads. To their dreams—and their nightmares.”
TW: abandonment, abuse, alcohol, blood, body horror, bullying, c“To the quiet girls with stories in their heads. To their dreams—and their nightmares.”
TW: abandonment, abuse, alcohol, blood, body horror, bullying, child abuse, child death, classism, confinement, cursing, death, death of a loved one, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, fire/fire injury, genocide, gore, grief, hate crime, injury/injury detail, medical content, mental illness, misogyny, murder, pandemic/epidemic, panic attacks/disorders, physical abuse, police brutality, possession, religious bigotry, schizophrenia/psychosis, self-harm, sexual content, sexual harassment, terminal illness, torture, violence.
Dark, atmospheric, and a bit romantic; the perfect book to make me stop thinking about life for a bit.
I'm always hesitant to pick up books once they get super popular (not because I have a superiority complex), but I do have a track record of not enjoying most super hyped books, though I really want to. Thankfully, this was one of the cases where I had a really fun time.
It wasn't without flaws and there were moments I rolled my eyes at the convenience of the plot but overall? It was a really good debut. I've been struggling to stay engaged with quite a few of the books I've read recently, but this one took no effort at all. I loved the setting, the world-building, the character interactions, the writing style; it all worked so well together and made an enjoyable, pretty unique book.
This actually saved me from the beginnings of a reading slump and I now have borrowed book 2 from the library to keep these vibes going lol.
I feel like if you enjoyed the Caraval trilogy and are looking for something similar but more mature, you'll really love this. Conversely, if you didn't like Caraval's world-building and overall vibe, you may not enjoy this one. They're very different stories (other than the card magic) but the goth, whimsical vibe reminded me of certain aspects I really enjoyed about Caraval.
Overall, I had a fantastic time with this. It kept me interested from beginning to end, and even though I predicted where the story was going, it was never in a way that made me feel annoyed. (view spoiler)[Though it did take her way too long to realize what the Nightmare was. (hide spoiler)]
I look forward to reading whatever Rachel Gillig writes in the future, especially if it's as atmospheric as this one....more
"There is an old tale woven through the mountain town of Woodsmoke about a stranger who appears as the first snow falls in winter, who will disappear "There is an old tale woven through the mountain town of Woodsmoke about a stranger who appears as the first snow falls in winter, who will disappear without a trace as the frost thaws in spring, leaving a broken heart behind."
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
TW: abandonment, blood, death, death of a loved one, grief, infertility, injury/injury detail, medical content, pregnancy.
Perfect for fans of Rachel Griffin and Practical Magic, The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells was one of the most heartwarming books I've read in awhile.
This book delivered everything I wanted it to. Cozy, small-town, magical vibes with the kind of witchy atmosphere that feels like a Pinterest aesthetic board - complete with dried herbs and old, worn books. From the very first chapter, I was immediately captured by the setting and the characters - a feeling that didn't let go for the entirety of the novel.
Along with all of the cozy, higher budget Hallmark vibes there was also an undercurrent of heavier themes which is something I really appreciate. Amidst the little book clubs and tall trees, there are also discussions of grief and sacrifice and identity and beginnings/endings and what it means to call a place home. It was the kind of book that finds beauty even in tragic circumstances.
The only... criticism (if you could even call it that) I would give is that this book is very simple. I really enjoyed this and it's what I was looking for, but I could see some readers expecting more from this book. If you love Rachel Griffin's short, cozy take on witchy fantasy, I really think you'll enjoy this. But if you're wanting them to do a deeper look at the other townspeople and their lives and the implications of the magic, you won't get much more than a topical but still meaningful read.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and I will in fact be recommending it to everyone - especially those looking for a cozy read for the colder months (or any time of the year, really.)...more