Scan barcode
theverycraftyvegan's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
5 stars for this wonderfully witchy book! Reading about Emmy Harlow’s return to Thistle Grove was magical, reading about why she left made me mad, and reading about what happens after her return had me smiling.
All the different relationships between the characters was lovely and angering at the same time. Some people were good and kind, others were complicated, and some were just the worst and I loved to hate them!
I can’t wait to continue with this series!
All the different relationships between the characters was lovely and angering at the same time. Some people were good and kind, others were complicated, and some were just the worst and I loved to hate them!
I can’t wait to continue with this series!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Infidelity, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Cursing, and Toxic relationship
merryfaith's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Cursing
augustar14's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Classism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Bullying and Body horror
bzliz's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
This is a cute, harmless modern fantasy with a witchy side of queer love. It wasn’t groundbreaking by any means but I enjoyed it well enough to continue the series.
Our main character Emmy is returning to Thistle Grove to be the Arbiter of the Gauntlet- a 3 event magic tournament of the other 3 founding families of the town. Her ex-boyfriend’s casual dismissal of her family led to her fleeing town as soon as she was able, forsaking magic to build a life of her own in Chicago. In the mean time, he has managed to burn her best friend and the sexy wild card which leads to a plot for revenge to ensure his family loses the tournament.
The romance was cute but overall the less interesting part of the book. A lot of their chemistry felt heavy handed and Talia didn’t feel like a real person to me. Their blow-up didn’t feel warranted and felt manufactured.
I preferred seeing Emmy’s personal growth as she learns that she can still love her town and she doesn’t have to change everything about herself because of Gareth’s past actions. I would have like to see more of the families interacting; it seems like most of them want to follow tradition even though it has always been weighted heavily in favor of one family in particular. I kept thinking of it like generational wealth: of course the family who has “earned” some extra luck and magic over the past several generations keeps winning their little tournament at the expense of the other families.
Content warnings:
Cursing (on page):I don’t usually tag this but the cursing in this was so prolific that it feels worth mentioning. Hardly a page goes by without a curse or three to spice it up.
Sexual content (on page/fade to black):There’s a make out scene in the woods that gets stopped by spirits. Further sexual situations including chest touching but anything spicier fades to black.
Alcohol (on page):A few bar scenes and a party in the woods, plus alcohol at functions. Emmy has a hangover in one scene.
Infidelity (off page):Prior to the start of the book, Gareth is seeing Lin while hooking up with Talia. Talia feels betrayed because she thought they were exclusive and Lin felt betrayed because she thought they were falling in love.
Our main character Emmy is returning to Thistle Grove to be the Arbiter of the Gauntlet- a 3 event magic tournament of the other 3 founding families of the town. Her ex-boyfriend’s casual dismissal of her family led to her fleeing town as soon as she was able, forsaking magic to build a life of her own in Chicago. In the mean time, he has managed to burn her best friend and the sexy wild card which leads to a plot for revenge to ensure his family loses the tournament.
The romance was cute but overall the less interesting part of the book. A lot of their chemistry felt heavy handed and Talia didn’t feel like a real person to me. Their blow-up didn’t feel warranted and felt manufactured.
I preferred seeing Emmy’s personal growth as she learns that she can still love her town and she doesn’t have to change everything about herself because of Gareth’s past actions. I would have like to see more of the families interacting; it seems like most of them want to follow tradition even though it has always been weighted heavily in favor of one family in particular. I kept thinking of it like generational wealth: of course the family who has “earned” some extra luck and magic over the past several generations keeps winning their little tournament at the expense of the other families.
Content warnings:
Cursing (on page):
Sexual content (on page/fade to black):
Alcohol (on page):
Infidelity (off page):
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity and Alcohol
emilywemily6's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
This book is a well-written, cozy witchy read with a major subplot of sapphic romance. I’ve read other cozy reads like this, but this one was the most well written in sentence structure, voice, etc. The turn of events in the third challenge and after that felt like there were plot holes and unanswered questions, and some quick resolutions, but overall I enjoyed the story, the characters, the ending, and the twists. I’m excited to read the rest of the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Grief
ilaxaria's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, Infidelity, and Alcohol
laurel616's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Was this groundbreaking, or something that I will remember years from now and think back fondly on? No, absolutely not. Was this a fun, cozy-but-still-young-feeling book to read while sitting by the pool this summer? Hell yes.
This was an easy read, with good vibes all around. Happy ending, the kind of drama that I love to hear about irl, all painted over a fun, witchy, fall environment. Man, I am excited for autumn after reading this.
One thing that I will say - I, like the author, live in Chicago, and some of the parts talking about Chicago were totally odd. Some examples:
- Dissing on fall in Chicago - what?!?! Fall is great here!
- Specifically naming restaurants being nice because they have "$15 cocktails" - girl what nice restaurant are you going to where $15 cocktails seem expensive?
- Listing three "favorite go-to" restaurants that are like, the most varied locations possible. How are these the MC's go-to places that makes NO sense to me.
But, making it worse - I am from Chicago, and have strong opinions. I can only imagine as a reader NOT from Chicago how boring and little sense those sections would be read as. Either make it a love letter to Chicago that makes people want to visit or make it a less-specific downer (or mixed-bag) on a city that more people can relate too.
This was an easy read, with good vibes all around. Happy ending, the kind of drama that I love to hear about irl, all painted over a fun, witchy, fall environment. Man, I am excited for autumn after reading this.
One thing that I will say - I, like the author, live in Chicago, and some of the parts talking about Chicago were totally odd. Some examples:
- Dissing on fall in Chicago - what?!?! Fall is great here!
- Specifically naming restaurants being nice because they have "$15 cocktails" - girl what nice restaurant are you going to where $15 cocktails seem expensive?
- Listing three "favorite go-to" restaurants that are like, the most varied locations possible. How are these the MC's go-to places that makes NO sense to me.
But, making it worse - I am from Chicago, and have strong opinions. I can only imagine as a reader NOT from Chicago how boring and little sense those sections would be read as. Either make it a love letter to Chicago that makes people want to visit or make it a less-specific downer (or mixed-bag) on a city that more people can relate too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Misogyny
saintyeehaw's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Infidelity, Alcohol, Classism, and Cursing
boba_n_books's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.0
I enjoyed this story quite a bit! The magic aspect was fun, and the characters and feuding families made the story come alive.
The main theme of the novel seemed to be coming home for yourself, and I think the author hit the nail on the head with it. It was well executed and showed how you can want something for yourself while also wanting to be with the person you love.
The main theme of the novel seemed to be coming home for yourself, and I think the author hit the nail on the head with it. It was well executed and showed how you can want something for yourself while also wanting to be with the person you love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Cursing
Moderate: Infidelity and Toxic relationship
Minor: Misogyny
melodyseestrees's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Misogyny