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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
This was definitely a page-turner for me. The story became more twisted than I could have expected. Some parts were so unexpected that I had to read them twice. Some twists were a little complicated and it took me a while to fully develop the character differences (6 main characters plus supporting)- written in the voice of one character per chapter.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
I decided to pick up this book because I really like the idea of people having to sacrifice/lose things when they use magic. I think you can go away from this book and not be entirely sure that actual magic occurred, but overall I feel like the story was written well and I liked the mystery aspect to it. A lot of things are lost and found; some losses aren't bad and some things that are found are not good. The book conveyed that idea nicely.
This book has a pretty diverse cast, but it doesn't really shove it in the face of the reader that it's diverse. For example, one of the girls has a hearing aid and another girl has a mixed heritage and is offensively called "Pocahontas" at some point. There are bisexual characters, gay characters and straight characters. Plus scenes of homosexual and heterosexual sex. But again, it doesn't feel like any of that is being shoved in the reader's face; it's just who these characters are. I guess it's the difference between trying to be diverse and just happening to be diverse-- if that makes any sense.
For taking place in Ireland, one would think the author would take advantage of the magic and lore of the area. This is not the case, and honestly I think that works to the book's benefit. It's very easy to picture this book as happening anywhere in the world, and only now and then does it remind the reader that it is, in fact, Ireland. The magic itself is very interesting. It doesn't really follow Wicca practice as far as I can tell, but I don't think it's supposed to. Magic is supposed to be mysterious and unexplained, and Ivy's little speech at the end talks of how magic exists everywhere in everything we do. There are no set rules for what it is and isn't, or how it works.
It's not an overly complex story. There's no real antagonist and honestly not that huge of a climax. It's very much a coming-of-age story and these characters coming to grips with what they've gained and lost and who they've become. This feels like it's for older teens and young adults. It's up to the parents, but I wouldn't recommend it for readers under thirteen.
The only criticisms I have are technical, like I found some words misspelled or just in the wrong place. Not sure if it was just my copy or an editing error, but it didn't distract much from the story. Overall it was good, and I'm glad I gave it a try.
This book has a pretty diverse cast, but it doesn't really shove it in the face of the reader that it's diverse. For example, one of the girls has a hearing aid and another girl has a mixed heritage and is offensively called "Pocahontas" at some point. There are bisexual characters, gay characters and straight characters. Plus scenes of homosexual and heterosexual sex. But again, it doesn't feel like any of that is being shoved in the reader's face; it's just who these characters are. I guess it's the difference between trying to be diverse and just happening to be diverse-- if that makes any sense.
For taking place in Ireland, one would think the author would take advantage of the magic and lore of the area. This is not the case, and honestly I think that works to the book's benefit. It's very easy to picture this book as happening anywhere in the world, and only now and then does it remind the reader that it is, in fact, Ireland. The magic itself is very interesting. It doesn't really follow Wicca practice as far as I can tell, but I don't think it's supposed to. Magic is supposed to be mysterious and unexplained, and Ivy's little speech at the end talks of how magic exists everywhere in everything we do. There are no set rules for what it is and isn't, or how it works.
It's not an overly complex story. There's no real antagonist and honestly not that huge of a climax. It's very much a coming-of-age story and these characters coming to grips with what they've gained and lost and who they've become. This feels like it's for older teens and young adults. It's up to the parents, but I wouldn't recommend it for readers under thirteen.
The only criticisms I have are technical, like I found some words misspelled or just in the wrong place. Not sure if it was just my copy or an editing error, but it didn't distract much from the story. Overall it was good, and I'm glad I gave it a try.
This story was such a pleasant surprise. I was not expecting to love it as much as I did. The characters are intriguing, the plot is well done, and the writing style has just the right touch of fairytale vibes.
I got this book for free from TLA, and my bok club chose to read it. I am so glad. This book is amazing. I added the author to my follow list, because It was great. The cover is beautiful. Three teens find a spell book and decide to use it to find lost items. The problem is that the spell requires things to be lost for things to be found. The book has a lot of characters and a lot of points of view. It is a little hard to keep track of in the beginning while you are figuring out who's who. Laurel, Ash, and Holly are one group of characters with Laurel being the narrator of this group. Then there is Olive and Rose, with Olive narrating. Lastly there is Hazel, her brother Rowan, and Ivy, with Hazel narrating. Hazel is my favorite character. She is tough and angry, and flirty. The writing is beautiful. It's a quick and fun read. I love the plot twist, and didn't expect it. I love that there is some girl/girl romance in this book. Honestly loved this book, and look forward to read more from this author.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Sexual assault, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ve spent the last couple days trying to find the words to describe this book. I’ve decided that there aren’t any. Five stars could never be enough. This book is poetry, it’s art, it’s magic, and it’s without a doubt a new favourite. Spellbook of the Lost and Found is one that I’m sure will stay with me for a long time; I could feel it lodge itself into my heart and soul from the very first sentence. I listened to the audiobook, and when I first hit play I actually had to start it over and listen to the first couple sentences a few times just to be able to take in how beautiful they were. I truly can’t find the words to describe the beauty of this book, you’ll just have to read it yourself!
This is a book that I’d recommend going into knowing little to nothing about it! Don’t read spoilers, reviews, or even the blurb first. Just dive right in and get sucked into the magic
This is a book that I’d recommend going into knowing little to nothing about it! Don’t read spoilers, reviews, or even the blurb first. Just dive right in and get sucked into the magic
Review originally on Heart Full of Books
I had seen a lot of hype surrounding this book on twitter – lots of authors and publishers getting ARCS, which were beautiful, by the way. So, it’s one that’s been on my radar for a while, even though I had no idea when it was coming out. Then I went book shopping with Maddie and happened to see Spellbook For The Lost and Found on the table and I NEEDED IT. I picked it up practically as soon as I got home (which hardly ever happens) and I feel like I genuinely have some stuff to say about it, so let’s get to it.
There are three perspectives: Olive, who wakes up after a crazy party and starts to lose things. Hazel, a girl who’s living with her brother and best friend in an abandoned house because staying with her parents wasn’t a safe option. And Laurel, whose diary pages go missing and to get them back she casts a spell with her two best friends.
It’s a very self-contained story with lots of characters: Olive, Rose, Hazel, Ivy, Rowan, Laurel, Ash, Holly, Mags. And while I’m all for a majority female cast this was a lot of girls who love to speak in riddles and metaphors to keep track of. When it came to the voices sometimes couldn’t distinguish between them. With context I could always work it out, but all the girls had very similar ways of looking at the world. Olive and Hazel both idolise and comment in detail about their best friend’s traits, meaning I felt like I knew more about Rose because of Olive’s lens, and Rowan because of Hazel’s. I didn’t get to know about Hazel and Olive themselves until they showed up in each other’s POVs. There just wasn’t as much of a change in tone as I would have liked, but it was beautiful writing regardless, so *shrugs*
I also thought the pacing was bit off at time. We’d get to a bit where it felt like things were going somewhere. Like we’d just bitten off a huge chunk of intrigue, but then things would settle down and it would be back to the same pattern of ‘lost-thing and a hang-out session’. THAT BEING SAID. the ending. Similarly to I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson you have to read to the end before you realise how well constructed the story is. I might have had complaints about it being self-contained, but I certainly didn’t see any of the twists coming. I felt like I was always five steps behind the characters, but I was hooked and when ends were being tied I was living for those reveals. There was genuinely a moment, like fifty pages from the end, when my chin was on my chest.
Spellbook For The Lost and Found is a book that will keep you on your toes if you can get through purple prose, and stick with the plot until things all start coming together. It’s full of romance, and pretty great diversity of character too, with Olive being deaf in one ear, Rose being a WOC, the pair of them being bisexual and Hazel being gay. (Though I do have reservations about the pacing of exposition (we were still learning about Olive and Rose’s friendship over 100 pages through…)).
Overall, this book was a bit of self-indulgence. Moria Fowley-Doyle has a knack of creepy-cool atmosphere building, so if you liked her debut The Accident Season then you’ll find all the same things to love in Spellbook. Overall, I gave it 4 stars. I was frustrated at times, but I had a fun time reading it. I might just have found my new favourite addiction: queer witches.
I had seen a lot of hype surrounding this book on twitter – lots of authors and publishers getting ARCS, which were beautiful, by the way. So, it’s one that’s been on my radar for a while, even though I had no idea when it was coming out. Then I went book shopping with Maddie and happened to see Spellbook For The Lost and Found on the table and I NEEDED IT. I picked it up practically as soon as I got home (which hardly ever happens) and I feel like I genuinely have some stuff to say about it, so let’s get to it.
There are three perspectives: Olive, who wakes up after a crazy party and starts to lose things. Hazel, a girl who’s living with her brother and best friend in an abandoned house because staying with her parents wasn’t a safe option. And Laurel, whose diary pages go missing and to get them back she casts a spell with her two best friends.
It’s a very self-contained story with lots of characters: Olive, Rose, Hazel, Ivy, Rowan, Laurel, Ash, Holly, Mags. And while I’m all for a majority female cast this was a lot of girls who love to speak in riddles and metaphors to keep track of. When it came to the voices sometimes couldn’t distinguish between them. With context I could always work it out, but all the girls had very similar ways of looking at the world. Olive and Hazel both idolise and comment in detail about their best friend’s traits, meaning I felt like I knew more about Rose because of Olive’s lens, and Rowan because of Hazel’s. I didn’t get to know about Hazel and Olive themselves until they showed up in each other’s POVs. There just wasn’t as much of a change in tone as I would have liked, but it was beautiful writing regardless, so *shrugs*
I also thought the pacing was bit off at time. We’d get to a bit where it felt like things were going somewhere. Like we’d just bitten off a huge chunk of intrigue, but then things would settle down and it would be back to the same pattern of ‘lost-thing and a hang-out session’. THAT BEING SAID. the ending. Similarly to I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson you have to read to the end before you realise how well constructed the story is. I might have had complaints about it being self-contained, but I certainly didn’t see any of the twists coming. I felt like I was always five steps behind the characters, but I was hooked and when ends were being tied I was living for those reveals. There was genuinely a moment, like fifty pages from the end, when my chin was on my chest.
Spellbook For The Lost and Found is a book that will keep you on your toes if you can get through purple prose, and stick with the plot until things all start coming together. It’s full of romance, and pretty great diversity of character too, with Olive being deaf in one ear, Rose being a WOC, the pair of them being bisexual and Hazel being gay. (Though I do have reservations about the pacing of exposition (we were still learning about Olive and Rose’s friendship over 100 pages through…)).
Overall, this book was a bit of self-indulgence. Moria Fowley-Doyle has a knack of creepy-cool atmosphere building, so if you liked her debut The Accident Season then you’ll find all the same things to love in Spellbook. Overall, I gave it 4 stars. I was frustrated at times, but I had a fun time reading it. I might just have found my new favourite addiction: queer witches.