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renpuspita's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
What I think at first as your usual cozy mystery but with witch, turn up a mix of paranormal suspense with some cozy elements set in small town with troubled past and a promise of a little romance. Bait and Witch is the first book of Witch Way Librarian Mysteries and also my first foray into Angela M. Sanders book.
Told entirely from 1st PoV, our heroine, Josephine Way (named after Napoleon's wife, Josephine. Also her older sister named Marie Antoinette. Figures) or Josie fly to Wilfred, Oregon to become the town's new librarian. Feel ordinary at first, but in truth Josie is running from her current job as Congress's library catalogue staff since she just blowing a corruption practice in her office and suddenly her friend (that also a whistleblower) is missing. Afraid for her life, she accept this librarian offer in Wilfred only to find that the said library will be demolished in favor of the new retreat center to boost the town's economy. Still in shock, in the morning Josie also find a dead body, find out that apparently she's a witch and have ability connected to book, try to save the library from turning into retreat center despite she's just a new resident and must look for her life because her mother's prophecy that she will die if she embrace her witch ability.
The start is pretty much slow even the events that happen span in just 2 weeks. By the time Josie find her magical ability, that when story pick up the pace and become interesting. I especially like Josie's magic that make her able to recommend book suitable for people needs. How totally cool!! It's like a librarian's dream come true to able to recommend every book and since I love recommend book I'd read for people that searching for specifics trope or plot, Josie's ability make me green with envy, lol. I also enjoy Josie's voice, her up and downs and since she's still in her mid twenties (aka 25-ish), she sound just like her age, unsure but still determined when it's come to save the library. Her interaction with the town citizen also delightful to read. I liked that Sanders manage to introduce some of the citizen and make me as a reader connected to them.
The mystery about the dead body itself is pretty solid with so many red herrings, distractions, and concluded nicely in the end with some questions answered and surprise too regarding the real culprit. I will said the mystery is not the focus because the main focus of the story is Josie's predicaments since she's a whistleblower. So, more like a suspense about Josie being targeted by the people that she reports to law enforcement. Also, beside suspense, the story is about Josie coming to term with her magic. I can feel her frustration because she think while her magic is wonderful, she also can't control it and she didn't have another witch to teach her. The romance itself is just a glimpse and there's a hints of Josie's possible love interest, who is Sam Wilfred, an enigmatic man of Wilfred family that in the past become responsible for the Wilfred (the town name)'s declining economy state.
Charming and delightful, I didn't hesitate to order the next books since I want to know if Josie will finally mastered her magic and what comes next in the Wilfred town.
Told entirely from 1st PoV, our heroine, Josephine Way (named after Napoleon's wife, Josephine. Also her older sister named Marie Antoinette. Figures) or Josie fly to Wilfred, Oregon to become the town's new librarian. Feel ordinary at first, but in truth Josie is running from her current job as Congress's library catalogue staff since she just blowing a corruption practice in her office and suddenly her friend (that also a whistleblower) is missing. Afraid for her life, she accept this librarian offer in Wilfred only to find that the said library will be demolished in favor of the new retreat center to boost the town's economy. Still in shock, in the morning Josie also find a dead body, find out that apparently she's a witch and have ability connected to book, try to save the library from turning into retreat center despite she's just a new resident and must look for her life because her mother's prophecy that she will die if she embrace her witch ability.
The start is pretty much slow even the events that happen span in just 2 weeks. By the time Josie find her magical ability, that when story pick up the pace and become interesting. I especially like Josie's magic that make her able to recommend book suitable for people needs. How totally cool!! It's like a librarian's dream come true to able to recommend every book and since I love recommend book I'd read for people that searching for specifics trope or plot, Josie's ability make me green with envy, lol. I also enjoy Josie's voice, her up and downs and since she's still in her mid twenties (aka 25-ish), she sound just like her age, unsure but still determined when it's come to save the library. Her interaction with the town citizen also delightful to read. I liked that Sanders manage to introduce some of the citizen and make me as a reader connected to them.
The mystery about the dead body itself is pretty solid with so many red herrings, distractions, and concluded nicely in the end with some questions answered and surprise too regarding the real culprit. I will said the mystery is not the focus because the main focus of the story is Josie's predicaments since she's a whistleblower. So, more like a suspense about Josie being targeted by the people that she reports to law enforcement. Also, beside suspense, the story is about Josie coming to term with her magic. I can feel her frustration because she think while her magic is wonderful, she also can't control it and she didn't have another witch to teach her. The romance itself is just a glimpse and there's a hints of Josie's possible love interest, who is Sam Wilfred, an enigmatic man of Wilfred family that in the past become responsible for the Wilfred (the town name)'s declining economy state.
Charming and delightful, I didn't hesitate to order the next books since I want to know if Josie will finally mastered her magic and what comes next in the Wilfred town.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Violence
Moderate: Murder and Death
Minor: Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Police brutality
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