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vbzshenanigans's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Graphic: Sexual content
jkneebone's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
This book is narrated by Nina Blackmoore, who we've only met briefly in previous installments. The Blackmoores used to rule Thistle Grove - their scions had won the Gauntlet of the Grove, giving them that privilege, for generations - and because of how they handled that power (think entitlement and squashing others), they are widely disliked by the other families. Although Nina was raised to put her family first, and still works for them as their in-house lawyer, she recognizes the damage her family has done to her, and can acknowledge that the behavior of others, such as her mother and her older brother Gareth (who readers will remember from Payback's a Witch), have hurt their family's reputation.
Nina is a powerful witch, but she's still reeling from being cruelly dumped by her ex-fiancee a week before they were supposed to marry. She's struggling to put herself out there, and her best friend (and non-witch) Jessa suggests a date with someone who is definitely not her type to help get her back in her groove. Jessa initiates an online match between Nina and Morty, another non-magical member of the Thistle Grove community (again, readers will remember having briefly met Morty, the non-binary proprietor of the Shamrock Cauldron, when Emmy and Linden visited the pub). Nina and Morty meet up, but the date (unsurprisingly) goes south as soon as Morty realizes who Nina is. But things don't end there, because the next day Morty wakes up able to do magic - something that only should have happened if he and Nina were in a committed relationship and decided to get witchbound or, as Morty calls it, "witch married."
Morty's new powers coincide with Nina's own magic becoming supercharged, and the advent of weird dreams about a statue at the bottom of Lady's Lake. Nina's mother and grandmother forbid her from reporting the weirdness to Emmy, the current leader of the magical community; instead, Nina and her older brother Gareth are tasked with finding out what's going on with Nina's magic. As they investigate, Nina's relationship with Morty grows, and she is finally able to acknowledge the harm that her family has done to her and her brothers as they grew up. But when it comes time to align herself either with or against House Blackmoore, which will Nina choose?
I really really enjoyed this book! All of the witchy, magical things that Nina and Morty experience were perfectly described, and the wintery atmosphere made this a great seasonal read (exactly why I waited to read it in December). I liked getting to see inside the Blackmoore family after they've served as a sort of specter in the previous two books, and I liked that we got to go along with Nina as she questioned what she'd been taught and learned to reign in her initial judgments. Seeing Gareth go through some of that along with her was cool as well. I was just as invested in Nina coming into her own and discovering what was supercharging her magic as I was in her relationship with Morty. But their relationship was great too - Harper did an amazing job of describing their chemistry, and I also liked how we got to see them learning about each other, and the way that Morty helped Nina become a better version of herself. Even though she didn't get a ton of screentime, I really appreciated Jessa as a character too - it was so nice to see a platonic relationship being given the same weight and value as a romantic relationship (Jessa moved to Thistle Grove to be close to Nina, something that Nina does not take for granted), especially in a romance novel.
All in all, I had very few quibbles with this book! Some of the stuff that happened at the climax left me a little uneasy, although I think it was meant to, and I liked the way it was resolved.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse
myinvinciblesummer's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I want to address something I’ve seen in some of the reviews. I first will say, I do not identify as non-binary, so I do not wish to speak for that community or to minimize any of their opinions on how the author wrote a non-binary character. I do want to express my view on how I saw it, but again, please give my opinion less weight than those with the lived experience. I think the author did a okay/good job (not great, not horrible) writing Morty (he/they). I know other readers have expressed frustration that Morty was only ever referred to with the he pronoun, even though their chosen pronouns also include they. Morty explained his pronouns and preferences very early in the story. Throughout the story we also see that Morty has NO problem (expect maybe with his Mother on the specific topic of gender expression) passionately making his opinion known and fighting for the good and what he thinks is right. If Morty had wanted more they, along with the he, I believe he would have expressed that. Being non-binary and fluid gender expression is not black and white. It’s a spectrum, and Morty is just one small example of all the beautiful places on the spectrum, and that’s all any character can be. Just one example. I wish there was more NB representation in books because with more representation then more of the spectrum could be shown, and I believe that is the way what the non-binary community could feel more fairly represented. They deserve to be seen and represented in all media, and I’m glad Morty exists as a step in that direction, and I hope to see more.
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
The emotional abuse I note in the content warnings I chose: is done by adult family members against the FMC and her siblings. It’s a short description when detailed but clear. The father of the MMC has MS, which I wanted to mention because it may be triggering if you have a person in your life with a chronic illness’sallisonbraun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Emotional abuse and Alcohol
kaitrates's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
As with the first book (which i also enjoyed a lot!) the pacing was a bit off at times (eg the ending felt rushed, i wanted more time with Morty’s family which i think would’ve been GREAT to see in an epilogue - how did Nina win them over? )
I LOVE Morty SO much. They’re firmly rooted in their values, such a fantastic communicator, and confident in who they are. So damn swoonworthy. I also appreciated how his enby-ness just was and the balance they had found in their life. This isn’t a coming out story at all. Though i, like others, was extremely disappointed to not see they/them pronouns used beyond the beginning.
Overall this was a fun, sexy, witchy romance with deep themes and a powerful story of stepping into your own power.
CN: childhood neglect and abuse
Sex tags: oral sex, kissing, hand sex, PIV
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse
percervall's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content and Emotional abuse
Minor: Child abuse
theespressoedition's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Classism, and Toxic relationship
emilywemily6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
Minor: Biphobia
cassielaj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Emotional abuse
augustar14's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Classism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Alcohol, and Body horror
Moderate: Toxic relationship