Tag: witches

Book Review: Bring Me Your Midnight by Rachel Griffin

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Rachel Griffin
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: August 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Tana Fairchild’s fate has never been in question. Her life has been planned out since the moment she was she is to marry the governor’s son, Landon, and secure an unprecedented alliance between the witches of her island home and the mainlanders who see her very existence as a threat. Tana’s coven has appeased those who fear their power for years by releasing most of their magic into the ocean during the full moon. But when Tana misses the midnight ritual―a fatal mistake―there is no one she can turn to for help…until she meets Wolfe. Wolfe claims he is from a coven that practices dark magic, making him one of the only people who can help her. But he refuses to let Tana’s power rush into the sea, and instead teaches her his forbidden magic. A magic that makes her feel powerful. Alive. As the sea grows more violent, her coven loses control of the currents, a danger that could destroy the alliance as well as her island. Tana will have to choose between love and duty, between loyalty to her people and loyalty to her heart. Marrying Landon would secure peace for her coven but losing Wolfe and his wild magic could cost her everything else.

OHHH SO GOOD.

Can confirm. This is my new favorite book of Griffin’s. I was absolutely wrapped up in the forbidden romance between two witches who both wanted better for their groups.

I thought the pacing of the story was enchanting and oh my gosh it gave me ALL of the autumnal vibes. I love the aura of Griffin’s writing and how captivating it becomes. I loved watching Wolfe and Tana come together. THE SWOON. Catch me talking out loud to my audiobook because I could not keep my squeals and stop it right now‘s inside.

A gorgeous story. I loved the themes and romance. I loved the characters and energy of the whole book. I loved all of the witchy drama. READ IT. And the audiobook was amazing too!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: one vague fade to black
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: near death experiences

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Book Review: The Kiss Curse (Ex Hex #2) by Erin Sterling

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Erin Sterling
Publisher: Avon Books
Release Date: September 20th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Welcome to Spooky Season!! The follow-up to Erin Sterling’s New York Times bestselling hit The Ex Hex features fan favorite Gwyn and the spine-tinglingly handsome Wells Penhallow as they battle a new band of witches and their own magical chemistry.

Gwyn Jones is perfectly happy with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven; she’s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked; and she’s started mentoring some of the younger witches in town. As Halloween approaches, there’s only one problem—Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow.

Wells has come to Graves Glen to re-establish his family’s connection to the town they founded as well as to make a new life for himself after years of being the dutiful son in Wales. When he opens up a shop of his own, Penhallow’s, just across the street from Something Wicked, he quickly learns he’s gotten more than he bargained for in going up against Gwyn.

When their professional competition leads to a very personal—and very hot—kiss, both Wells and Gwyn are determined to stay away from each other, convinced the kiss was just a magical fluke. But when a mysterious new coven of witches come to town and Gwyn’s powers begin fading, she and Wells must work together to figure out just what these new witches want and how to restore Gwyn’s magic before it’s too late.

BETTER THAN THE FIRST.

I had some *thoughts* on the first book but felt inclined enough to give the second book a go and I liked it so much more!!

The romance was developed in a way I could get behind. There was still that lust component that isn’t for me personally, BUT, it was used here in an easier to handle light that ended with me actually liking this couple. A dash of enemies to lovers / workplace rivals that come together to save the town. Perfect for the season right?

It’s quirky and Gwyn is boisterous and full of banter that is well received by Wells. I especially liked that the third act wasn’t blown out of proportion. There was reasonable befuddlement that led to some simple answers and both Gwyn and Wells actually believed each other! YAY. There’s good tension and fluff mixed into a plot that has the same essence as the The Ex Hex.

Great for the season.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: multiple open door
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: alcohol consumption, blood depiction, torture mentioned, kidnapping

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Book Review: Faking It (Wayfair Witches #14) by A.A. Albright

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Length: 222 pages
Author: A.A. Albright
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 8th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When a bat arrives, telling Wanda that he is her familiar, and she is his witch, things get confusing …

Wanda already has a familiar, and he looks exactly like this bat, sounds exactly like this bat, and only eats mangoes – exactly like this bat. Is this new arrival a Doppel-Dizzy, or a sign of something sinister in the air?

As well as finding out why Dizzy now has a double, Wanda must deal with a strangely-behaving Max, and a murdered janitor. The janitor was killed in Wentforth’s College for Wizards, and an important magical object has been stolen from the college, too.

As the body count increases, Wanda and the gang work hard to solve the case. But when they get to the bottom of this mystery, they may not like the answers.

EMOTIONS.

I enjoyed this one much more than the last. Though, WOW, this pulled at the heart! Another good mystery where I didn’t see quite where things would go. I adore this full cast and loved the antics and heart put into every scene.

The ending really left me wondering how this series is supposed to wrap up. I know there’s only two more books and I am concerned how some major plot lines need wrapped up. I look forward to continuing these mysteries and finishing it off!

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal cozy mystery
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, attempted murder, kidnapping

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Book Review: Wicked Walking (Fallow Creek #2) by Claudia Cain

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Urban Fantasy
Length: 370 pages
Author: Claudia Cain
Publisher: Black Sheep Books
Release Date: August 30th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

After killing a monster and dragging herself home from another world, Cassandra Reilly has become more than a witch – she’s a hero. Sure, she can’t sleep through the night and she’s haunted by what she saw, but things should be looking up. Right?

Except something followed her out of the woods that day. And despite her best efforts – and the help of Merich, the handsome Fae Warden – Cass has failed to find any trace of it. Vanishing entities rarely bode well, but maybe no news is good news. And with a ticket out of town and her future on the horizon, Cass could really use a lucky break.

She’s not going to get one.

Thank you to the author for a gifted e-copy!

INVESTED.

I thought book one was good. And I think this one was even better. It is written so well and I am captivated by this really creep story and all of the characters involved. I liked the progression of the initial plot and the expansion of ideas surrounding The Child. There were many super spooky moments with the possessions and lights flashing and things showing up in the dark. It’s a book that I felt like I needed some lights on to keep going.

I liked Cass a lot more in this book too. She still holds to her wants, and also strives to solve the problems before her. I LOVED that we got more Merich content (sub plot of romance that I am adoring). And I still love Theo. There’s some good twists in here too that I was surprised by and have been wondering where in the world things will progress to next.

This has been a great urban fantasy series so far. I’m hopeful to possibly see new locations and characters be mixed in with the next book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Urban Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings:  death, mild gore and depictions of injury, mild body horror, mentions of suicide and depictions of anxiety

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