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apoppyinthewind's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Another installment of my new favourite series. I love the way Harper writes about magic with a wonderful mix of silly and serious elements. I said it before and I'll say it again, I enjoy how the magic is front and center in the story and not a backseat element compared to the romance. This time we're getting to see more of the infamous Blackmoore family that served as the "villains" of book one, Payback's a Witch.
It was enjoyable to read an inside and new perspective on the Blackmoores that's more nuanced than they're the rich snobby family everyone loves to hate. In this book, we get to meet Nineve "Nina" Blackmoore who's the perfect ice princess on the outside and an adorkable nerd on the inside. She still trying to recover from her engagement ending and soon finds herself entangled with Morty, the lovable bartender from earlier books in the series.
Things start rocky with a short-lived enemies moment to Morty & Nina quickly becoming lovers due to magical fuckery thanks to the interference of a mysterious goddess. I didn't mind the quick pace though as it makes sense story-wise and both characters are good about communicating. This is great if you, like me, are getting a little sick of miscommunication being used as a plot device too often.
It was enjoyable to read an inside and new perspective on the Blackmoores that's more nuanced than they're the rich snobby family everyone loves to hate. In this book, we get to meet Nineve "Nina" Blackmoore who's the perfect ice princess on the outside and an adorkable nerd on the inside. She still trying to recover from her engagement ending and soon finds herself entangled with Morty, the lovable bartender from earlier books in the series.
Things start rocky with a short-lived enemies moment to Morty & Nina quickly becoming lovers due to magical fuckery thanks to the interference of a mysterious goddess. I didn't mind the quick pace though as it makes sense story-wise and both characters are good about communicating. This is great if you, like me, are getting a little sick of miscommunication being used as a plot device too often.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Toxic relationship
theespressoedition's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Classism, and Toxic relationship
augustar14's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
I am enjoying this series. However, the author had the chance to do much more with the genderqueer character and I found myself very disappointed with how much it felt like token representation, or just a fact tossed in/mentioned to try to be inclusive, but not actually built into the character like ones gender identity truly is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Classism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Alcohol, and Body horror
Moderate: Toxic relationship
haileyhardcover's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Ugh. For books about witches, these books are getting less and less magical for me. The premise of this one was boring, so that’s bad enough… but it gets worse.
I learned before going into Back in a Spell that the non-binary representation was not great. (Please check out @foreverinastory’s review of this book on IG! Xe shared their perspective as a genderqueer individual and I really appreciated xem sharing their insights and feelings!) Being cis myself, I can’t speak to how authentically Morty’s identity was represented, but I will say that from my perspective, Morty’s non-binary identity felt more like a last-minute grasp for more diversity.
Morty’s pronouns are identified early on as he/they, but “they” isn’t used a single time after that, by any character. They were described in very masculine ways consistently, with occasional references to being “pretty” or “feline” or wearing makeup, which seemed like they were only added to remind us that Morty was non-binary, without actually having to do the work of exploring or embracing that identity.
“I could feel the ripple of his amusement, THAT DISTINCTLY MALE undercurrent of pride, as if he were somehow responsible for his own size.” This quote (emphasis my own) from a spicy scene cemented for me the feeling that the author made Morty’s character non-binary purely for some diversity points, and not with any actual care or empathy for the character she was creating or those with whom they share an identity.
I’m more and more disappointed with this series as I keep reading. I know there is a 5th book in the works, but as of right now, I’m not inclined to read it. I purchased all 4 of the already published books, and the 4th, In Charm’s Way, is short (and sapphic again!) so I will read it… but I think that is where my glimpse into the lives of the witches of Thistle Grove ends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Transphobia, Classism, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Child abuse and Toxic relationship
stacy837's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Classism, Alcohol, and Grief
booksandstardust's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Emotional abuse
saintyeehaw's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Classism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, and Fire/Fire injury
relin's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
There was a lot of good feelings and the smut was enjoyable.
The magic system was neat, though the addition of the goddess and the demigoddess stuff was a bit tough to see how it fit .
I struggled with the love interest as Morty had the potential to have much more depth than 'be hot' and 'be a decent person'. I appreciated their first date but struggled with how the narrative completely ignored that Morty uses he/they after the first conversation (and only used he). Which I was hoping for a bit more of a fleshed out partner to our main character.
Did enjoy the surprise married factor though!
The magic system was neat, though the addition of the
I struggled with the love interest as Morty had the potential to have much more depth than 'be hot' and 'be a decent person'. I appreciated their first date but struggled with how the narrative completely ignored that Morty uses he/they after the first conversation (and only used he). Which I was hoping for a bit more of a fleshed out partner to our main character.
Did enjoy the surprise married factor though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Sexism, and Bullying
Minor: Alcohol
memory manipulationoliviathebookwyrm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Classism
Minor: Homophobia, Mental illness, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
krisalexcole's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Chronic illness, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Minor: Mental illness, Cursing, and Panic attacks/disorders