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adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
CW: death, reanimated dead, ableism, xenophobia
Absolutely wonderful, could hardly put it down so I read it in two days.
Absolutely wonderful, could hardly put it down so I read it in two days.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Xenophobia
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Abandonment
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Classism
Minor: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Sexual content
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The ending was a bit of a surprise. It came to a resolution but a more bittersweet one than I had expected. I felt that the poor main character had been dealt such a rough hand that I was hoping for a more positive and satisfying resolution for her in the end. This book is more serious than others by this author. The flowery prose in some places was a little heavy-handed, and some similes/metaphors were a little far-fetched to evoke a clear image that enriched the reader’s experience. Overall I enjoyed the plot and characters and loved the underlying theme of a found family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
emotional
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In a much anticipated follow up to Mandanna's "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches," comes the latest in the series "A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping." In this novel we meet Sera, a extremely *once* powerful witch who now lives her life a chaotic innkeeper. The inn? Open to all who need it, especially those who are a bit outcast. Having lost her power after a resurrection spell, Sera is ready to throw in the towel and accept that she must live her life without her power. But after a grumpy librarian shows up at her in with some much needed abilities, she now realizes that there's a possibility that she could gain what she once lost... all she has to do is complete some seemingly impossible tasks. But hey, as classic cozy fantasies go, along the way she will learn more about herself and what is truly important, as well as fall in love as she does it.
So... *sigh* I wanted to love this book. I absolutely adored Irregular Witches. Sadly though, this book felt incredibly forced. There were so many characters that were not very fleshed out, the pacing felt very slow, there seemed to be so many minority groups represented with little care to their representation, and the genre itself felt a bit off. With the regards to the latter critique, I felt like the author didn't know if she wanted a cozy fantasy or an erotica. I was really disappointed by the inclusion of such detailed sexual content in seemingly cozy situations. I much preferred the first novel which really led with the cozy found family vibe. If the novel focused on self-discovery and found family themes, I think the book would have felt a bit tighter. I am not opposed to sex in books at all, but it just was a bit jarring in this circumstance and it came off more uncomfortable and forced than organic.
So... *sigh* I wanted to love this book. I absolutely adored Irregular Witches. Sadly though, this book felt incredibly forced. There were so many characters that were not very fleshed out, the pacing felt very slow, there seemed to be so many minority groups represented with little care to their representation, and the genre itself felt a bit off. With the regards to the latter critique, I felt like the author didn't know if she wanted a cozy fantasy or an erotica. I was really disappointed by the inclusion of such detailed sexual content in seemingly cozy situations. I much preferred the first novel which really led with the cozy found family vibe. If the novel focused on self-discovery and found family themes, I think the book would have felt a bit tighter. I am not opposed to sex in books at all, but it just was a bit jarring in this circumstance and it came off more uncomfortable and forced than organic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual content
Minor: Racism, Classism
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“It seemed at first glance like ridiculous theatre, unnecessary and a bit silly, but at the heart of it, weren’t they just a handful of people trying to be good to one another?“
If you loved the author’s ‘The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches’ then this will not disappoint you!!! It’s very cozy, very magical, and very heartwarming. It also has queer, BIPOC, physical disability, and autism rep💜
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping tells the story of Sera Swan, one of the most powerful witches of her time, who lost most of her magic when she was a teenager because she resurrected her dead aunt. Many years later, Sera, now running an inn with said resurrected aunt, finds a spell that could finally give her lost magic back.
Enter Luke Larsen, a grumpy historian with problems and baggage of his own. Luke came at the perfect time when Sera needed help with the spell. Luke is determined to keep everyone at arm’s length but maybe, slowly, these people aren’t so bad after all.
I think this book cured my slump. It was so fun (sometimes sad) to read. The plot itself was really good, but the characters, oh my god, I love them so much. They were such an odd ensemble but they all worked well together. Found family trope I will always love you.
Honestly, this book feels like getting a big warm hug, and I enjoy hugs so this book was really for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual content
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If a safe place could be a book, it would be this book.
Before I knew it, I had so subtly entered a safe space where I was welcome to explore my identity, emotions, mistakes, people, beliefs, values, and decisions made in my life. Ultimately, I left the space at the end of the book with acceptance, kindness, and optimism. I love this form of fantasy literature - magic as a metaphor to explore complex real-world challenges, making the tough or sensitive subjects of life approachable. They are not fantasies where you find yourself trying to escape life, but rather find yourself exploring introspection. What lovely irony!
Before I knew it, I had so subtly entered a safe space where I was welcome to explore my identity, emotions, mistakes, people, beliefs, values, and decisions made in my life. Ultimately, I left the space at the end of the book with acceptance, kindness, and optimism. I love this form of fantasy literature - magic as a metaphor to explore complex real-world challenges, making the tough or sensitive subjects of life approachable. They are not fantasies where you find yourself trying to escape life, but rather find yourself exploring introspection. What lovely irony!
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Abandonment, Classism
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sangu Mandanna knows how to do cosy and a found family. I loved how the characters were all a little different or battling with something. I loved how the inn was also a character and that the story was almost entirely set at the inn.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Heartwarming was created to define this book, and maybe even comfort. I love these characters and their messy, imperfect, beautiful lives, their lovely little found family that accepts and protects, with my whole heart. I giggled, I smiled — a lot — and I loved every minute of this book. Forgive me, because I'll be screeching at everyone I know about how perfect it is! Read it!!!
History was how he made sense of the world, after all, and what was history if not a collection of stories to make the incomprehensible comprehensible?
If you know where to look for it, there is always a little magic in the heart of the person who loves it.
History was how he made sense of the world, after all, and what was history if not a collection of stories to make the incomprehensible comprehensible?
If you know where to look for it, there is always a little magic in the heart of the person who loves it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Sexual content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death