Where Magic Begins by Faith Prince | Book Review

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Where Magic Begins by Faith Prince
Series: The Crowe Sisters #1
Published by Faith Prince on July 7, 2023
Genres: YA Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 215
Format: Kindle
Source: Author

Content Warnings: Blood, Bullying, Bigotry
Rating:

Half human, half witch. Hated by both sides, Zoeli doesn't trust anyone, least of all her backstabbing twin sister Saria. Zoeli's family used to reign over the supernatural realm. When Zoeli's mother, Alaina Crowe, broke magical law to marry a human, their family was torn apart, and the Crowes were removed from the throne. Someone's still angry that the Crowes were dethroned. Someone who's been watching, plotting, and biding their time... As Zoeli uncovers more secrets, deceptions and lies surrounding the royal families, she discovers that a handsome sorcerer, Damian, has been following her. He claims that he only means to protect her, but can she trust him? In a world where nothing is what it seems and danger lurks around every corner, Zoeli's running out of time. A supernatural force more powerful than she ever imagined is coming after the Crowe sisters. If Zoeli can’t make amends with Saria, she’ll face the battle of her lifetime—alone.

I received my very first opportunity to review a book via an author and I couldn't be more excited! Where Magic Begins tells the story of half-witch twin sisters Saria and Zoeli as they wrestle with high school drama, family upsets, and being thrust into the world of magic. While both girls are aware of magic and the magical world from which their mother hails, nothing could prepare them for the realization that some witches can shapeshift, others have turned into vampires, and others still are trying to kill them.

Where Magic Begins hits the ground running and doesn't slow down, even at the very end. Despite being 215 pages, the story felt much shorter as a result of the pacing. I actually didn't mind this at all, and much prefer it when books feel shorter than they actually are. There is nothing worse than a book dragging needlessly for what feels like an eternity. However, because of the fast pacing, the author fails to explain some details that would better immerse the reader into the story. There is almost an assumption that the reader is already familiar with the girls and the world in which they exist, but obviously, we only know what the author has told us.

Furthermore, the love interests are rushed, leaving me feeling like they weren't appropriately fleshed out or relatable. This made it hard to connect to the characters and care about what happened to them. However, it's on par with how teenagers behave. They are quick to love, quick to break up, and quick to forgive and forget. As such, take this criticism whatever way you like, but I felt it could have taken its time in some areas and slowed down a bit as to better connect to the story, love interests, and the girls.

Despite these minor issues, the world-building was excellent and the magic system was unique. I don't want to give away too many details, but there is a separate magical realm with its own school, cities, and ruling class that was fully fledged out, as best you can in 215 pages. Furthermore, the magic system is based on colors, much like a flame. Of course one of our sisters is incredibly powerful, almost chosen one-like, but without training, are unable to do much with it other than basic stuff.

What I liked best, however, was the commentary on bigotry. Saria and Zoeli's mother married a human, an offense punishable by exile and the removal of some magical abilities. Being half witches, the girls are the target of bigotry and hatred, being made to feel unintelligent, unworthy, and otherwise less than. This is a recurring theme throughout the book, and Zoeli does an amazing job fighting back against the hatred. At one point, the crown prince and Zoeli's love interest expresses that exceptions will be made for her and her family so they can be together. Zoeli stands firm that giving her and her family special treatment while continuing to oppress humans and other half-witches is still bigotry and until everyone is welcome, she wants nothing to do with him and his half-promises. This commentary on racism, sexism, and otherwise oppressing marginalized groups was my favorite part of the book and I felt Prince did an excellent job integrating it into the story.

Overall, I enjoyed Where Magic Begins and will likely read the second in the duology simply to find out what happens to the girls. The book ends on a significant cliffhanger and while this wasn't the best book I have ever read, I am invested enough to find out what happens next!

The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski | Book Review

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The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski
Published by Atria Books on October 1, 2024
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 335
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased

Content Warnings: Parent Loss, Death, Grief
Rating:

Ever since the untimely death of their parents, Anne, Beatrix, and Violet Quigley have made a business of threading together the stories that rest in the swirls of ginger, cloves, and cardamon that lie at the bottom of their customers’ cups. Their days at the teashop are filled with talk of butterflies and good fortune intertwined with the sound of cinnamon shortbread being snapped by laced fingers. That is, until the Council of Witches comes calling with news that the city Diviner has lost her powers, and the sisters suddenly find themselves being pulled in different directions. As Anne’s magic begins to develop beyond that of her sisters’, Beatrix’s writing attracts the attention of a publisher, and Violet is enchanted by the song of the circus—and perhaps a mischievous trapeze artist threatening to sweep her off her feet—it seems a family curse that threatens to separate the sisters is taking effect. With dwindling time to rewrite their future and help three other witches challenge their own destinies, the Quigleys set out to bargain with Fate. But in focusing so closely on saving each other, will they lose sight of themselves?

I have mixed feelings about The Crescent Moon Tearoom. On one hand, the magic system was fantastic, the main characters were lovable, and the twist was intriguing, but the story fell flat for various reasons.

The Crescent Moon Tearoom follows triplet witches Anne, Beatrix, and Violet Quigley who run a tea-leaf reading tearoom in Chicago at some point in the past. Its unclear exactly when this book takes place. There are references to the train station in town being new and the outfits worn by the customers, but otherwise, we are left largely in the dark as to when this story takes place. The first major train station was built in Chicago around 1850 while Chicago Union Station opened in 1925. Women-owned tearooms, on the other hand, became popular in America in the 1920s and were a turning point for women across America, as women could both own, operate, and visit a tearoom without a male chaperone. They were often located in a woman's home or garden, which is exactly where the three sisters run their tearoom. The attire of the women customers, the use of sequins on circus attire, the new train station, and the rise of the tearoom suggest this story takes place sometime in the mid- to late-1920s. I mention this because context is important. There are events that occur in this book that may or may not fit historically, and while this is a fantasy, these details are still important. For example, Beatrix is offered a book tour (this really isn't a spoiler in any way), which would have been highly unlikely for a woman during the 1920s, no matter how good of a writer she is. The circus also stays in town for months, which is highly unlikely as visitation would quickly stagnate. Needless to say, these minor historical inaccuracies bothered me and pulled me out of the story instead of immersing me, and interrupted otherwise pivotal moments for the characters.

On top of this, the plot was an overall mess. The triplets are supposedly cursed to separate, something their mother worked hard to prevent. To break the curse and prevent their tearoom from closing, the sisters must do everything they can to remain together, all while solving the mysterious purpose of three aging witches. Failure to find each witch's purpose will result in the Council seizing their tearoom, thus forcing the sisters to separate, a fate that is described as earth-shattering for the sisters after the loss of both of their parents. You'd think solving these mysteries and breaking the curse would be the main focus on the story, but it isn't. For three sisters who want nothing more than to stay together, they spend the majority of the book apart. There is almost no look into their lives together or just how inseparable the three are supposed to be. The reader is given hints at how things are used but not a definitive look into it in real time, making the stakes of separating low. I honestly didn't care if they separated or not. Even the twist couldn't completely rectify my complete lack of connection to their crisis and their supposed unbreakable bond of sisterhood. 

While doing their own things, two of the sisters "fall in love." I put this in quotes because the love is largely unexplored. There is very little description of either love interest apart from their profession, leaving me feeling disconnected from the relationships altogether, especially that of Beatrix. To add to this, Beatrix's power feels almost...manipulative, which made me feel icky. Can her love be real if she is manipulating the people around her with her stories? I'll leave that up to you to decide.

Finally, there were some editing issues I greatly detested, errors that pulled me out of the story and left me angry. That or the Quigleys don't listen when people are talking to them. On more than one occasion, a subject is breached, and the very next page its treated as a 'surprise.' For example, the first time the Council visits to ask the sisters for their assistance (a threat, really), they mention that three witches have not completed their Task, or life purpose. Failure to complete your Task will result in the witches turning into ghosts and disruptions in the natural world. The very next page, one of the sisters asks how many witches they have to uncover the Task for, and, again, are told three. The girls are shocked. Like what...you were literally told not a moment before there were three?! The same issue occurs a couple of chapters later when Beatrix meets with a publisher for the first time who tells her that if it weren't for his assistant reading her short story and passing it to him, he'd have never discovered her amazing talent. On the very next page, Beatrix is shocked that the assistant has read her work. Again...what?! You were literally just told he read your work! Ugh! Can you tell I am still upset about this?

Now that I have sufficiently described my issues with The Crescent Moon Tearoom why did it give it 3 stars? Despite the issues outlined above, I did enjoy the characters, the tearoom, the house, and the twist. The Quigleys live in an enchanted house that helps with tasks in the home and tearoom, takes care of the sisters, and otherwise is heavily involved in all that the family does. I absolutely loved the house and honestly wish we had gotten more than we did. Because of the house, the book felt very cozy, especially when coupled with otherwise low-stakes (largely because I couldn't connect to the urgency, and neither could the Quigleys.)

Without giving too much away, the twist was beautiful and the ending brought a tear to my eye.  There is the potential for another book to continue the sisters' stories, but it closed in such a way that everything was wrapped neatly in a bow. To add to this, the magic system was beautifully portrayed, and the tea-leaf reading was largely accurate. I can tell Sivinski did her homework. 

Finally, Anne reminded me a lot of myself, a woman who shirks herself to not outpace the ones she loves. I, too, have been a victim of my own thoughts and purposely held myself back to avoid making others feel bad. Watching Anne break free from this restraint and grow into her power was liberating, not just for her, but for me as well. Anne is a reminder that "older" sisters and women in general are not responsible for making sure others feel comfortable.

While I found several issues with the book that prevented me from giving it a 4 or a 5, others have loved the story and characters enough to rate it higher. I encourage you to give this cozy fantasy a read, especially during these chillier months when we could all use a heart-warming story. 

Don't Let the Forest In by CG Drews | Book Review

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Don't Let the Forest In by CG Drews
Published by Feiwel & Friends on October 29, 2024
Genres: Horror, YA Fantasy, Romance, LGBT
Pages: 336
Format: Hardback
Source: Purchased

Content Warnings: Death, Self-Harm, Blood & Gore, Bullying, Horror, Disordered Eating, Homophobia, Grief
Rating:

Once upon a time, Andrew had cut out his heart and given it to this boy, and he was very sure Thomas had no idea that Andrew would do anything for him. Protect him. Lie for him. Kill for him. High school senior Andrew Perrault finds refuge in the twisted fairytales that he writes for the only person who can ground him to reality―Thomas Rye, the boy with perpetually ink-stained hands and hair like autumn leaves. And with his twin sister, Dove, inexplicably keeping him at a cold distance upon their return to Wickwood Academy, Andrew finds himself leaning on his friend even more. But something strange is going on with Thomas. His abusive parents have mysteriously vanished, and he arrives at school with blood on his sleeve. Thomas won't say a word about it, and shuts down whenever Andrew tries to ask him questions. Stranger still, Thomas is haunted by something, and he seems to have lost interest in his artwork―whimsically macabre sketches of the monsters from Andrew's wicked stories. Desperate to figure out what's wrong with his friend, Andrew follows Thomas into the off-limits forest one night and catches him fighting a nightmarish monster―Thomas's drawings have come to life and are killing anyone close to him. To make sure no one else dies, the boys battle the monsters every night. But as their obsession with each other grows stronger, so do the monsters, and Andrew begins to fear that the only way to stop the creatures might be to destroy their creator...

Wow...The cover drew me in, the synopsis solidified my purchase, and for the last 2 months I have patiently waited for this beauty to arrive. When it finally did, I tossed all other books to the side so I could devote all my time and effort to it, and boy oh boy was it worth it!

Don't Let the Forest In is a psychological horror that follows Andrew as he embarks on his senior year at Wickwood Academy while navigating difficult classes, his sexuality, a homophobic bully, a distant twin sister, and his feelings for his best friend Thomas, all while trying to figure out how stop the monsters that are invading the school each night. By the end of the book, you won't be sure what is real and what isn't. While I guessed the major twist early on, nothing prepared me for the ending. I slowly closed the book and just stared at my bed for a good 10 minutes before shaking my head and saying, "What the fuck just happened?!" Days later I am still reeling! Drews does an amazing job giving you just enough information to leave you guessing right to the very end without you feeling completely out of the loop.

The overall story was fast-paced and the world-building was dark, tragic, and at times completely horrifying. Drews does a fantastic job describing the horrors of the forest, so much so I could almost smell the forest around me as it crept into the school and into the boys to wreak havoc on those within.

"When something moved in the dark, everyone’s first instinct was to go inside and hide under the covers. As if monsters couldn’t open doors and crawl into bed with you."

Something certainly crept into my room each night, filling my dreams with forests, thorns, princes, and dark crowns. Drews's writing is so poetic it almost hurts. I found myself rereading passages simply because they were so beautifully written. Nothing gets me quite like flowery language that describes situations, objects, emotions, and scenery in ways other words could not. 

Apart from the twists and turns, the characters are all so beautifully written and so full of dimension, especially Andrew and Thomas. Watching their relationship blossom was delightful. As their final year of school slowly advances, Andrew wrestles with his sexuality, coming to terms with the fact that he is ace. His feelings and representation felt genuine and informed many of Andrew's frustrating behaviors and his strained relationship with Thomas, who is bisexual. 

"They were beautiful together; they were magic and monstrous, and they had created a whole vengeful world between them."

And beautiful they shall remain...Andrew's slow descent into madness mirrors the absolute chaos happening around him, making the reader further question what is real and what is not. My only disappointment with the book is we didn't get more monsters and more of Andrew's dark and twisted tales. 

While I may not come back to Don't Let the Forest anytime soon, it will be one I continue to think about and recommend to anyone interested in the macabre. It was lush, evocative, and absolutely tragic in all the best ways. I can't wait to read her upcoming books, which are set to be released at the end of next year!

A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney | Book Review

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A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney
Published by Alcove Press on October 8, 2024
Genres: Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 304
Format: Hardback
Source: Purchased

Content Warnings: Death of a Parent, Suicide, Blood, Injury, Sexual Harassment, Grief
Rating:

Hecate Goodwin, Kate to her friends, has curated the perfect life as a hedge witch, living in a secluded cottage with only a black cat for company. She spends her days foraging herbs from the Ipswich forest, gardening, and creating tinctures to sell at the apothecary she owns. Most evenings pass without her speaking to another human being, an arrangement she quite prefers. Kate’s solitude is thrown into disarray when her older sister, Miranda, reaches out and asks her to host their coven’s annual Halloween gathering. The day marks the beginning of the new year for witches and is also Kate’s birthday. The pressure from her coven to make the evening memorable mounts as the event draws near. To complicate things further, a handsome man from Kate’s past turns up at her cottage, asking for sanctuary. It is Kate’s duty as a hedge witch to honor this request, much to her dismay. Matthew Cypher is no ordinary lost soul–he’s a practitioner of forbidden magic who’s tricked Kate once before, and her guard is up. As she juggles Matthew’s arrival and the preparations for Halloween, Kate comes across an old tome shrouded in dark magic. She is horrified when she realizes the blood-red inscription is written in familiar handwriting: her recently deceased mother’s. Afraid to even touch the dark magic her mother secretly studied, Kate can turn only to Matthew for help. Her idealized memory of her mother begins to distort, and as she and Matthew grow closer, Kate has to reevaluate whom she can really trust.

A Dark and Secret Magic was the perfect read for the month of October. Full of witches, pumpkin carving, dark magic, and a cozy cottage complete with a cat, I couldn't put this book down! I absolutely devoured it, even staying up late on a work night to finish it.

A Dark and Secret Magic is a debut adult fantasy novel that follows Kate, the first hedge witch in several generations, as she navigates the loss of her mother, her role in her coven, and the return of a years-old crush and practitioner of dark magic, Matthew Cypher. It was so refreshing to have a 30-something-year-old witch to read about, as I too am a 30-something-year-old witch, and we just so happen to both be hedge witches. It's clear Kinney did her research prior to writing this book or is a practitioner herself. While there are many fantastical elements to this story, there is a lot rooted in modern witchcraft, especially her description of what a hedge witch does and their role in society. I use society lightly here because many believe witches do not exist or that the work we do is inconsequential. Thankfully it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, as long as the task is complete, which is exactly how Kate approaches her day-to-day life. Part of the work of a hedge witch is to act as a psychopomp, a ferrier of souls, commune with the dead, and otherwise cross over into the Otherworld for various reasons. Veil crossing, also known as hedge crossing, is a central practice of a hedge witch, and I loved that Kinney included this in her novel through the use of shadow stepping or shadow walking. Kate has been denied central aspects of her power in an attempt to protect her, which completely backfires, leaving Kate and Matthew woefully unprepared for the dangers that lurk in the shadows.

All of the other witchy aspects of this book were beautifully done as well, from the Dumb Supper, or spell casting with intention, to the spell ingredients used. Kinney even includes a handful of recipes in the back with some witchy tips to boot! I am super excited to try her hot chocolate recipe when it gets a wee bit cooler here as recent temperatures have been in the upper 70s for several days, even this far into November. Despite this, I was compelled to carve two pumpkins after finishing as I was so smitten with the pumpkin carving contest and other festivities of the fall festival.

Apart from the magical elements, which I appreciated and adored, the overall story was sweet and alluring albeit sometimes slow, taking on a Hades and Persephone-like retelling in many aspects. The pacing seems off at times, with events happening rather quickly while others dragged needlessly. There were parts that could have been cut or otherwise glossed over as they really didn't add much to the story, while other parts should have received more attention to better flesh out the main plot. I too get distracted by side quests, but the main story deserved a little more attention at times. This didn't take away from my overall enjoyment, as it made me fall in love with the lead characters even more, allowing the reader an opportunity to see how they live "day-to-day" sort of speak.

My favorite part, however, was Matthew Cypher. My fiancé accused me of wanting to run off with a fictional man and he isn't wrong. Matthew is clearly a man written by a woman, as he checks off every. single. box. I mean even one. Tall, dark, handsome, mysterious, and deeply, deeply devoted to the safety and well-being of Kate. It's obvious from the moment he arrives that he loves Kate with a fierceness rarely shown by men today. Not to give too much away, but the man carves Kate's cottage into a pumpkin as his contest entry and names it "Home." Hello?! Take me now. The lengths this man goes to, despite everyone's doubts and accusations, are representative of his love. He is a beautifully written male character who uplifts and supports our heroine, instead of overshadowing her. While Kate may need help, Matthew consistently reminds her that she is the powerful one and capable of doing extraordinary things. Gotta love a man who supports and uplifts women!

Overall, this book was a win for me, and I encourage anyone interested in some cozy, autumnal, adult fantasy to pick up A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney. It's the perfect pairing for a gray autumn day, a cozy blanket, and a warm cup of hot chocolate.

The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste | Book Review

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The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste
Published by Sourcebooks Fire on April 30, 2024
Genres: YA Fantasy, LGBT, BIPOC
Pages: 480
Format: Hardback
Source: Purchased

Content Warnings: Death, Murder, Blood, Torture, Racism, Coercion, Gun Violence, PTSD
Rating:

In a country divided between humans and witchers, Venus Stoneheart hustles as a brewer making illegal love potions to support her family. Love potions is a dangerous business. Brewing has painful, debilitating side effects, and getting caught means death or a prison sentence. But what Venus is most afraid of is the dark, sentient magic within her. Then an enemy's iron bullet kills her mother, Venus's life implodes. Keeping her reckless little sister Janus safe is now her responsibility. When the powerful Grand Witcher, the ruthless head of her coven, offers Venus the chance to punish her mother's killer, she has to pay a steep price for revenge. The cost? Brew poisonous potions to enslave D.C.'s most influential politicians. As Venus crawls deeper into the corrupt underbelly of her city, the line between magic and power blurs, and it's hard to tell who to trust…Herself included.

The Poisons We Drink is another debut novel that was review-bombed earlier this year, months before the actual release. I don't understand why people feel the need to do this, but needless to say, it sparked my interest! Combine it with witches and you have a book that will certainly end up on my TBR.

The Poisons We Drink follows Venus as she navigates an increasingly unsafe world after her mother's death in an alternate version of the United States. Not only is Venus Black, but she is also a witcher (magical folk), putting her in even more danger as the political climate escalates toward violence. Not only is Venus a witcher, but she is also a brewer of love potions, which is illegal, and for a good reason if you ask me. There are significant parallels between Venus's reality and that of marginalized groups today, especially with the rise of MAGA. There is a hate group akin to the KKK, laws synonymous with Jim Crow, and police brutality disguised as "peacekeeping." Baptiste presents very real social and political issues in a fantastical setting making it hard to ignore. Venus, her sister Janus, cousin Tyrell, and her partner and best friend, Presley stand on business, fighting for a better future for themselves and others like them. It's easy to love these characters, even if they are a little hasty in their decision-making; they are teens after all.

Not only is there excellent political and social commentary, the overall story is engaging with a huge twist at the end. Everything you thought you knew was turned upside down at the last minute, which left me reeling. I am not going to lie, I knew there was a twist and had a gut feeling about what it might be, but I was still surprised when everything finally unfolded. However, the story meanders and the pacing sometimes felt off. One moment things would be happening quickly and the next the story slowed to a snail's pace. I understand life is often like this, but it's not something I enjoy in a book. 

The world-building and magical system are excellent, fully immersing the reader in the story. While not entirely unique, the magic system is interesting, with different witchers specializing in different forms of magic. Baptiste spent quite some time fleshing out Venus's potion recipes which as rooted in modern and historical correspondences, particularly Victorian flower language. Furthermore, there are multiple familiars throughout, which are also based on folklore. Baptiste adds a unique aspect to her familiars with loyalty being something that can be consumed by a witcher. Not only are familiars bound to a family, but should the need arise, they can be "killed" and eaten to strengthen a witcher's power. As a witch, I appreciated this attention to detail.

However, my favorite part of the book was Baptiste's representation of mental illness. Venus's PTSD is represented by a literal monster inside her. This is often how it is described by people suffering from PTSD, especially when she lashes out or becomes violent under extreme stress. Venus is given potions (medicine) to help suppress the beast, but even then the beast rears its ugly head anyway. Venus's best friend and love interest, Presley, however, treats their PTSD very differently. Instead of trying to lock it away and suppress it, they address the issue head-on and accept that it's not a part of who they are. I don't feel like Baptiste is attacking medication for mental illness, but instead suggesting it be paired with self-reflection and therapy, which I fully support. Other complex emotions such as grief, desperation, and fear are also addressed, but unfortunately are used to justify and even excuse poor behavior.

Despite loving the political and social commentary, there are some problematic aspects of the book that Baptiste does not fully explore. First, Venus is a brewer of love potions. Love potions take away a person's free will, which is not okay in my opinion, and Venus shows no remorse for doing this. In fact, her poor behavior is often excused by her violent emotions. Potion brewing is also incredibly dangerous, and Venus is injured every time. Why would her mother allow her to do such a thing and watch as if this is completely normal? It borders on abuse in my opinion. Second, strong and difficult emotions are often used to excuse poor and even morally unacceptable behavior. Finally, force and lack of consent are extremely prevalent throughout without being addressed a single time. Individuals are given love potions without their consent or forced into making blood oaths which force them to act against their will. I understand doing what is necessary to fight oppressive systems, but at what point have you gone too far? At what point do you lose your humanity? This is slightly hinted at with Venus's monster but otherwise left largely unexplored. These topics should have been addressed in a more consequential way.

Finally, Baptiste's writing is somewhat clunky, as she chooses repeated short sentences over more complex ones fairly often. This is likely done to evoke emotion, and while it was fine occasionally, I found it bothersome after a while. It felt like reading a high school student's writing, which may work for young adult readers, but not for me. However, I wouldn't let this deter you from picking up the book. If you are a skimmer (which I am not) these short sentences make it easy to skim and read quickly.

Overall, The Poisons We Drink is decent. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't my favorite book either. It's certainly a quick and easy read, but it probably could have been a few chapters shorter.