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ceridwenanne's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
Took me a minute to get through this! I think partially because the opening drags as our heroine fucks up job posting after job posting: she's a post-college witch who has a big deal board accreditation in like a year, so she has to have a union-approved job for however long. But once things settle into a non-magical plane, aka modern America, I got a lot more invested and shot right through the last half. Sometimes a bit goofy for my tastes, it nevertheless had enough bureaucracy, casually well thought out magic, and genuinely funny slapstick to keep me happy.
foxwish's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Don't let the cover hold you back, everything about the content of this book is amazing, if you like the blurb then read this!
An incredible book, Hester the witch is working as a hag but everything goes wrong when she loses her magic and is fired.
She is assigned her familiar, a highly charismatic cockroach named Herman that Hester transforms into many different forms throughout the book. Herman and Missera, the familiar of Hester's best friend Magda and a hat wearing asp, are two of the most endearing, troublemaking animal companions I've read about.
On her journey to stay at a job long enough to be allowed to become an Adept she struggles to keep a job as her magical abilities slowly return to her.
The writing style is funny and engaging, Hester's diary is a joy to read. The final 40% of the book undoubtedly transcends the previous 60%. Hester is such a fish out of water, but she adapts wonderfully and you can tell how much happier she is. It is such a wholesome, cosy experience after the trouble she has to deal with in the first half of the book, it feels so earned.
I am sincerely looking forward to Rebecca Brae's future works.
An incredible book, Hester the witch is working as a hag but everything goes wrong when she loses her magic and is fired.
She is assigned her familiar, a highly charismatic cockroach named Herman that Hester transforms into many different forms throughout the book. Herman and Missera, the familiar of Hester's best friend Magda and a hat wearing asp, are two of the most endearing, troublemaking animal companions I've read about.
On her journey to stay at a job long enough to be allowed to become an Adept she struggles to keep a job as her magical abilities slowly return to her.
The writing style is funny and engaging, Hester's diary is a joy to read. The final 40% of the book undoubtedly transcends the previous 60%. Hester is such a fish out of water, but she adapts wonderfully and you can tell how much happier she is. It is such a wholesome, cosy experience after the trouble she has to deal with in the first half of the book, it feels so earned.
I am sincerely looking forward to Rebecca Brae's future works.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Excrement
Minor: Animal death, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Violence
shellycampbellauthor's review
4.0
Fun, fanciful, feel good read.
The Witch’s Diary was not within my regular wheel house, but I enjoyed it nonetheless! Hester was a wonderful reminder of the messes we can get into—and out of—when life throws us curve balls. Seeing our world—the outerplane—through Hester’s eyes was great fun. Rebecca does a fantastic job of dealing with some pretty heavy life lessons all the while maintaining this witchy read as a lighthearted departure from the everyday.
The Witch’s Diary was not within my regular wheel house, but I enjoyed it nonetheless! Hester was a wonderful reminder of the messes we can get into—and out of—when life throws us curve balls. Seeing our world—the outerplane—through Hester’s eyes was great fun. Rebecca does a fantastic job of dealing with some pretty heavy life lessons all the while maintaining this witchy read as a lighthearted departure from the everyday.
essjay's review
4.75
Do I feel bad for judging this book by its cover? Yes, but in my defense, that cover is terrible and makes this look like any of the many terrible self-published paranormal romances disguised as paranormal cozies that I normally ragequit after said romance shows up.
This is NOT a romance, and Hester Digitalis Wishbone would never wear that hat, but I'm going to stop harping on the cover now because this book was a fucking delight.
I genuinely had a huge grin on my face while reading, and even got a little weepy a few times. I loved Hester's voice, her familiar, the surprising group of friends she accumulated, the magical bureaucracy (a personal weakness of mine), and the well-developed magic system.
I don't necessarily see myself re-reading, but would love to read more in this world and will be attempting to force this on others for a long time.
This is NOT a romance, and Hester Digitalis Wishbone would never wear that hat, but I'm going to stop harping on the cover now because this book was a fucking delight.
I genuinely had a huge grin on my face while reading, and even got a little weepy a few times. I loved Hester's voice, her familiar, the surprising group of friends she accumulated, the magical bureaucracy (a personal weakness of mine), and the well-developed magic system.
I don't necessarily see myself re-reading, but would love to read more in this world and will be attempting to force this on others for a long time.
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