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casseyt's review
2.0
I enjoyed the refrain of magic is in the mundane...it fit the world building in this read. While there were some things that got over played - the "Oh it's like X in the real world" for one - I recognise that it was used to give the readers some easy shorthand. The protagonist was okay...but very much the author's Mary Sue which grated. The back and forth on solving the murders also started to annoy me.
All in all though, there is some great parts, but this is not a read for me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
All in all though, there is some great parts, but this is not a read for me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
blairlovesbooks's review
5.0
I started to give this my standard 4 stars for a cozy mystery - but then I realized that it actually surpassed my expectations.
I’m so used to a certain formula and rhythm for these stories, and while this book followed them well, it also had some extras that put it over the top.
First, the story was paced well and the introduction to the town blended really well with the mystery.
Second, the characters were well-defined right off the bat, and easy to remember from their introductions.
Third, the cozy factor is just right. Is it basically a rip off of Halloweentown? Yes it is. Is that so bad? I don’t think so.
It’s not Shakespeare, but if you’re looking for an easily readable, solid mystery for the autumn, this should be on your list (along with the Juliet Blackwell Books).
I’m so used to a certain formula and rhythm for these stories, and while this book followed them well, it also had some extras that put it over the top.
First, the story was paced well and the introduction to the town blended really well with the mystery.
Second, the characters were well-defined right off the bat, and easy to remember from their introductions.
Third, the cozy factor is just right. Is it basically a rip off of Halloweentown? Yes it is. Is that so bad? I don’t think so.
It’s not Shakespeare, but if you’re looking for an easily readable, solid mystery for the autumn, this should be on your list (along with the Juliet Blackwell Books).
tawnyad2004's review
3.0
I think one word can sum up this book and that’s cheesy. It was just kind of silly and didn’t grab my attention enough to read more in the series. Zoe is a witch but doesn’t know it. She shows up in this magic only town and finds out paranormal exist. Ok I can get on board so far. But then she starts investigating a murder and she solves it of course, in a week, while knowing absolutely nothing about magic. Yet these people who have grown up in this magical town are unable to piece these OBVIOUS pieces together. Sad. Then there’s her love interest Bo. The narrator didn’t help with his personification. When she read his parts she made him sound like a slow, rather stupid but friendly person. I mean it fit, he’s a shape shifter but he shifts into a golden retriever. Not the smartest dog out there and that’s who this character reminded me of. So a love interest was a stretch for me.
srivalli's review
5.0
A very enjoyable book with a super cool heroine. She's smart, sassy, and daring with loads of humor. Yet, she has doubts and insecurities. As much as we find it odd that she adapts so quickly in the new para world, we can see it's her love for solving a crime that makes it easy.
The story moves from urban to a fantasy setting with witches, warlocks, vampires, shapeshifters, werewolves, etc. Wikipedia becomes parapedia, smartphones are paraphones, etc. (you get the drift).
The book does justice as a cozy mystery with almost no gore. The writing is fun and light.
The story moves from urban to a fantasy setting with witches, warlocks, vampires, shapeshifters, werewolves, etc. Wikipedia becomes parapedia, smartphones are paraphones, etc. (you get the drift).
The book does justice as a cozy mystery with almost no gore. The writing is fun and light.
catchme_ridingnerdy's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
2.0
This was a quick and light read. I’m always up for a book about magic and especially someone discovering they are magical. The mystery seemed to fall into place too easily. It’s like everything Zoe did worked for her. There were no real setbacks for her. I had an issue with the passage of time in this book. I felt like everything happened within like 2 days, but then we find out it’s been a couple of weeks. It kept me relatively entertained but I’m not sure I’ll pick up the next in the series right away. I’ll probably pick it up at some point though.
d_marie's review
5.0
I'm so glad I found this book. It was cute, fun and very entertaining. Zoe has amazing powers and I can't wait to find out about her lineage. Everyone needs friends like Flora and Luna.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
hallaxx's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
chelsjulian's review
3.0
She was definitely too stupid to live, but the plot and characters were otherwise entertaining.
panamaangie's review
4.0
Received a free copy from the author from Voracious readers Only for a unbiased review.
I thought this was a very cute paranormal mystery. First book to a new series about Zoe Clark a journalist that has fallen on hard times and while looking for a new job finds more about herself, a hidden world of witchcraft and other paranormal creatures, as well as, a murder that needs to be solved. A cute cast of characters that are easy to love and want to see what will they do next. This is a great summer read quick and fun.
I thought this was a very cute paranormal mystery. First book to a new series about Zoe Clark a journalist that has fallen on hard times and while looking for a new job finds more about herself, a hidden world of witchcraft and other paranormal creatures, as well as, a murder that needs to be solved. A cute cast of characters that are easy to love and want to see what will they do next. This is a great summer read quick and fun.
see_sadie_read's review
3.0
2.5, round up to 3
*Sigh* "It's not you. It's me." This is one of those books. It's a fine book....for someone else. As an explanatory example, the love interest is a golden retriever shifter. Can you get anymore pure than that? The whole book is just too cutesy and Mary Sue-like for my taste. There is absolutely no edge to it at all. And yes, I do realize it's a cozy mystery. But cozy doesn't really have to mean naive. (The word I want to use here is bland, but that will sound far more derisive than I mean it to.) This could almost pass for middle-grade fiction, it's that innocent.
Regardless, the writing is fine and the narrator did an excellent job with it. So, if you're the sort of reader who really likes this sort of book, pick it up. If you like a bit of grit in your fantasy/paranormal/mystery books, you won't find it here.
*Sigh* "It's not you. It's me." This is one of those books. It's a fine book....for someone else. As an explanatory example, the love interest is a golden retriever shifter. Can you get anymore pure than that? The whole book is just too cutesy and Mary Sue-like for my taste. There is absolutely no edge to it at all. And yes, I do realize it's a cozy mystery. But cozy doesn't really have to mean naive. (The word I want to use here is bland, but that will sound far more derisive than I mean it to.) This could almost pass for middle-grade fiction, it's that innocent.
Regardless, the writing is fine and the narrator did an excellent job with it. So, if you're the sort of reader who really likes this sort of book, pick it up. If you like a bit of grit in your fantasy/paranormal/mystery books, you won't find it here.