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thaliareads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-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
5.0
I loved the premise of this book and the idea of this interfamily competition. I also appreciated Emmy's desire to get away from what she knew growing up and to go explore a wider world despite the consequences on her use of magic coupled with the desire to be there for her family and her town.
In addition, the "revenge pact" that the main trio makes and that guides the plot along through the various stages of the competition makes for a lot of fun antics.
In addition, the "revenge pact" that the main trio makes and that guides the plot along through the various stages of the competition makes for a lot of fun antics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Infidelity
A focal point of the story is three of the girl's relationships with the same guy - who cheated on all of them and wasn't at any point a healthy relationship.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
blackcatkai's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
CW: casual ableism (use of words like junkie (in relation to liking to travel, not drug use), stupid, etc), alcohol use, sex scenes, cheating mentioned
this was super cute and fun. love a good revenge plot, magic, and a little sapphic romance. I would absolutely recommend if a cozy, magical, romance book sounds like your cup of tea.
this was super cute and fun. love a good revenge plot, magic, and a little sapphic romance. I would absolutely recommend if a cozy, magical, romance book sounds like your cup of tea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity
martachbc's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Great premise, but it never gelled for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity
kdailyreads's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Cursing
Moderate: Infidelity
carlyoc's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
4.25
A cute Sapphic romance and coming-home story with John Tucker Must Die vibes.
Who would ever leave a town steeped in magic and run by families of witches? Emmaline "Emmy" Harlow, that's who. When your family is the least powerful of the four founding witch families and your first love breaks your heart by driving home that you will never amount to anything because of your family background, the opportunity to run a magic bookstore and supernatural ability always heat your tea to just the perfect temperature just don't seem like enough to staying stuck in your pigeonhole.
Emmy has created a life for herself in the big city of Chicago, cut off from her magic and family for nine years. But she decides to return home to Thistle Grove one last time to participate in a traditional ancient competition between the witch families, in which House Harlow act as mystic emcees/referees.
Once there, she learns that her asshole ex has since broken the hearts of her best friend and also the intriguing and intimidating bisexual it-girl from her high school days, Talia. Since he is House Blackmore's champion for the competition, the trio of scorned witches conspire to make his family lose for the first time in decades.
I love that each of the four families has a different magic system, and Talia's magic through attunement with dead spirits is particularly interesting. I love to see a necromancer be one of the good guys.
Who would ever leave a town steeped in magic and run by families of witches? Emmaline "Emmy" Harlow, that's who. When your family is the least powerful of the four founding witch families and your first love breaks your heart by driving home that you will never amount to anything because of your family background, the opportunity to run a magic bookstore and supernatural ability always heat your tea to just the perfect temperature just don't seem like enough to staying stuck in your pigeonhole.
Emmy has created a life for herself in the big city of Chicago, cut off from her magic and family for nine years. But she decides to return home to Thistle Grove one last time to participate in a traditional ancient competition between the witch families, in which House Harlow act as mystic emcees/referees.
Once there, she learns that her asshole ex has since broken the hearts of her best friend and also the intriguing and intimidating bisexual it-girl from her high school days, Talia. Since he is House Blackmore's champion for the competition, the trio of scorned witches conspire to make his family lose for the first time in decades.
I love that each of the four families has a different magic system, and Talia's magic through attunement with dead spirits is particularly interesting. I love to see a necromancer be one of the good guys.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity
cassielaj's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
4.5
Loved it. The witchy, autumnal elements are unbelievably cozy. The relationships between characters, platonic and not, are deep and well developed. AND the magical competition plot is both compelling and well balanced with the romantic and self-discovery plot lines. I also loved that this was a queer story in which queerness is completely normalized and accepted. Not even a whiff of coming out or homophobia.
The only complaints I had: 1) the use of current slang felt incongruous at times, even though this is a modern story. I think it will date the book for readers in the future, when the story could be pretty timeless.
2) I wanted just a teeny bit more to Emmy’s backstory/reason for leaving home. Sorry, but it wasn’t quite believable that someone would leave their hometown, family, and friends seemingly forever just because they got their heart broken at 18. I know the Harlow element was part of it, but it felt like too much power was given to Gareth’s opinion
The only complaints I had: 1) the use of current slang felt incongruous at times, even though this is a modern story. I think it will date the book for readers in the future, when the story could be pretty timeless.
2)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Infidelity
solypoly's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity
jenmcreads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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? No
4.5
I picked this up expecting a light and cute fall read and it surpassed my expectations- especially in the last 20% of the book. I felt like the ending did an exceptional job of tying up loose ends and landing the themes from throughout the text.
I really loved the magic system in this book, and the way different individuals experienced magic differently. The (sapphic! Yay!) romance was sizzling and the chemistry, connection and stakes definitely drew me in. The sense of home and searching for home as portrayed in this book was surprisingly poignant.
I honestly loved this and look forward to reading the rest of the series!
I really loved the magic system in this book, and the way different individuals experienced magic differently. The (sapphic! Yay!) romance was sizzling and the chemistry, connection and stakes definitely drew me in. The sense of home and searching for home as portrayed in this book was surprisingly poignant.
I honestly loved this and look forward to reading the rest of the series!
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity and Toxic relationship
selene_nyxly's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved this book! Bi witches teaming up to get revenge on an awful ex? Yes, please! I liked how detailed the magic in this book is, both in terms of the descriptions and the history of Thistlewood. I do think that the characters and dialogue fell flat at certain points in the novel.
While I loved Talia, I had a hard time connecting to Emmy during the beginning of the book. Her reasons for leaving her home, family, and friends just didn’t resonate with me. Having your heart broken is the worst, but for a highschool romance to send her running for the hills for nine years? It was just hard to believe.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing, Alcohol, and Infidelity