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aimzthereader's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Love the setting . The magic. The writing style and narration . The characters I enjoyed but not as much as first one. Tension and romance was good even if it was heterosexual. I preferred the first one bc of sapphic relationship and more characters actually had parts in it .
I wish there was more action and more explaination of the celebrations bc I enjoyed the mystery solving and the celebration
I liked the end . Wished there was a bit less angst.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Alcohol and Cursing
Minor: Death
relin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Medical trauma and Xenophobia
Minor: Death, Racism, and Misogyny
decklededgess's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
Trigger warnings: anxiety and panic attacks, racism mention, paranormal activity, gore, physical injury and detail, sexual content, alcohol
Payback's a Witch was wonderful and now From Bad to Curse is just exceptional. I love mow much more we learn about Thistle Grove while watching Issa and Rowan investigate the curse and fall in love. I appreciated how well-balanced the mystery and the romance were written out. It didn't feel like one overwhelmed the other. The mystery was also masterfully crafted what with introducing all the key players in the first act and then running through the investigative process and ending with the Sherlock Holmes line "when you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth" so it was genuinely perfect. Issa and Rowan were also genuinely so fucking cute it hurt. I love them and I appreciated that the I love you timeline wasn't forced for the sake of the story.
Payback's a Witch was wonderful and now From Bad to Curse is just exceptional. I love mow much more we learn about Thistle Grove while watching Issa and Rowan investigate the curse and fall in love. I appreciated how well-balanced the mystery and the romance were written out. It didn't feel like one overwhelmed the other. The mystery was also masterfully crafted what with introducing all the key players in the first act and then running through the investigative process and ending with the Sherlock Holmes line "when you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth" so it was genuinely perfect. Issa and Rowan were also genuinely so fucking cute it hurt. I love them and I appreciated that the I love you timeline wasn't forced for the sake of the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
purplepenning's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Thistle Grove continues to be the small Midwestern town of your diverse, contemporary, witchy romance dreams!
In this latest installment, powerful dark sorceress Isidora (Issa) Avramov has to partner with her nemesis, the disgustingly noble and handsome, I mean… wholesome green magic user Rowan Thorn. They're investigating a decidedly unwholesome hex that badly injured a Beltane festival queen candidate. A hex associated with the Avramov family. A candidate from the Thorn family. With magics and personalities that mix like oil and water, can Issa and Rowan find a way to uncover the truth before the growing danger destroys them, their families, and the safety of Thistle Grove?
This is a fun, moderately steamy read with a main character who is allowed to be a whole complicated, strong, dark, powerful, chaotic, creative, cuddly, sweet person — who is finding her way in the world. Her love interest isn't quite as well developed but feels like a good, solid, trustworthy, swoon-worthy match. The characters are mid-twenties (I think?), but overall it reads like new adult to me — which isn't a criticism, since I think it's definitely a niche that needs filling.
In this latest installment, powerful dark sorceress Isidora (Issa) Avramov has to partner with her nemesis, the disgustingly noble and handsome, I mean… wholesome green magic user Rowan Thorn. They're investigating a decidedly unwholesome hex that badly injured a Beltane festival queen candidate. A hex associated with the Avramov family. A candidate from the Thorn family. With magics and personalities that mix like oil and water, can Issa and Rowan find a way to uncover the truth before the growing danger destroys them, their families, and the safety of Thistle Grove?
This is a fun, moderately steamy read with a main character who is allowed to be a whole complicated, strong, dark, powerful, chaotic, creative, cuddly, sweet person — who is finding her way in the world. Her love interest isn't quite as well developed but feels like a good, solid, trustworthy, swoon-worthy match. The characters are mid-twenties (I think?), but overall it reads like new adult to me — which isn't a criticism, since I think it's definitely a niche that needs filling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Sexual content, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Possession/nonconsensual control
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