Scan barcode
cameronreads's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
2.0
I really wanted to like this book, but I just didn't. In fact I was very close to dnf-ing it at one point after the first hundred pages put me in a month long reading slump, but I expected it to get better so I kept going. It didn't. I think it had a lot of potential, but the majority of the book was excessive (and somewhat repetitive) inner monologuing rather than plot, and that is my absolute pet peeve. It meant the the plot seemed to move so slowly, whilst the climax was completely rushed. Also, it may have just been because I was rushing to finish and missed something, but the climax seemed very anti-climatic. I wasn't the biggest fan of the characters, either; the main two girls were defined by one or two personality traits, and all of the background characters were literally just there to serve a purpose of the story and seemed completely one-dimensional. I did think the romance was sweet and was probably my favourite part, but I am really not a fan of the whole 'love saves the day and breaks the curses' trope. I was also expecting that to happen (whilst hoping it wouldn't) so that made me roll my eyes a little. The world-building and magic system was fairly lack-lustre, but the writing style was fine and concept was pretty good. It had potential, but just didn't quite hit the mark for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Vomit
elwirax's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
"Sweet & Bitter Magic" was one of my most anticipated releases of 2021 and for a debut it was a great book. It had the enemies to lovers, the cute sapphic romance, a morally grey protagonist and the perfect atmosphere to top it all off.
I think the exploration of love- how it shapes you as a person, and the commitments and sacrifices that come with it- was such a well done aspect of this book. While you have the cute wee romance between Tamsin and Wren there is also a focus on familial love. This was significant as the way Tamsin and Wren looked at love fuelled their actions throughout the book and helped build a set of great characters. The diary entries were also a great way of establishing the relationship between Tamsin and her twin sister.
Additionally, there was a total lack of homophobia, it was just a normal aspect in this world which is something I always love to see especially in fantasy.
My only issues with the book was that the enemies to lovers aspect didn't last as long as I'd hoped. However, this was quite a short book and slow burns are a personal preference in romance so I can't fault the book too much. I found the major plot points to be quite predictable (I wasn't a big fan of the "sister showdown" either) which slightly took away from the reading experience.
Overall, I think this was a very entertaining book. It was more character driven rather than action which is not something I typically prefer yet it worked well in this book. The writing was really well done and the author built an interesting world. I'm always hunting for sapphic, enemies to lovers and this was definitely a good book for that.
I think the exploration of love- how it shapes you as a person, and the commitments and sacrifices that come with it- was such a well done aspect of this book. While you have the cute wee romance between Tamsin and Wren there is also a focus on familial love. This was significant as the way Tamsin and Wren looked at love fuelled their actions throughout the book and helped build a set of great characters. The diary entries were also a great way of establishing the relationship between Tamsin and her twin sister.
Additionally, there was a total lack of homophobia, it was just a normal aspect in this world which is something I always love to see especially in fantasy.
My only issues with the book was that the enemies to lovers aspect didn't last as long as I'd hoped. However, this was quite a short book and slow burns are a personal preference in romance so I can't fault the book too much. I found the major plot points to be quite predictable (I wasn't a big fan of the "sister showdown" either) which slightly took away from the reading experience.
Overall, I think this was a very entertaining book. It was more character driven rather than action which is not something I typically prefer yet it worked well in this book. The writing was really well done and the author built an interesting world. I'm always hunting for sapphic, enemies to lovers and this was definitely a good book for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Violence
thecourtofreading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
"there was a difference between existing and living. that was something tamsin knew well."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Animal death and Child death
lexstonum's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
This book was absolutely wonderful and has taken place as my favorite read of the year. The story is endearing, the characters are beyond lovely.
The way the author shifts the tone and voice of the two characters never ceased to amaze me. I feel this is something that gets lost in a lot of books with shifting POVs but not in this one.
The world building and Magic system was well explained and highly interesting. As a witchy vibe enthusiast I was very happy to see little details of the magical world strewn throughout the world building.
I will be recommending this book very highly and I simply cannot wait to read more from the author.
The way the author shifts the tone and voice of the two characters never ceased to amaze me. I feel this is something that gets lost in a lot of books with shifting POVs but not in this one.
The world building and Magic system was well explained and highly interesting. As a witchy vibe enthusiast I was very happy to see little details of the magical world strewn throughout the world building.
I will be recommending this book very highly and I simply cannot wait to read more from the author.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Death, Violence, Vomit, and Terminal illness
raccoonsinatrenchcoat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Very well-written, soft prose. I enjoyed the characters and it's a good book to get you out of a reading slump. Love how the concept of grief was handled and thoroughly enjoyed the characters. Some of the plot elements were a little rushed and I would have liked a bit more development of the romance. The dual POVs was well handled and each voice, Tamsin and Wren, felt different and unique. Love the overall theme of healing and growing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death
dhwani's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Grief, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Vomit
kp_writ's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-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
3.0
Overall a good debut; I'll be keeping an eye out for this author in the future.
The story and worldbuilding starts strong, and the writing style is pretty solid. A fairly predictable plot, though that doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. It does start to crawl towards the end, and I think this is mainly due to the lack of scenes and variety of conflict. Sweet and Bitter Magic read like the kinds of adventure quests I adored as a kid--it even has a map in the beginning of the book!-- but without as much of the adventure parts as I was hoping for.
I'd also say the biggest letdown for me was the romance. Wren and Tasmin just didn't have the kind of chemistry I was hoping for, and it made their relationship feel very out of place. Of course, that's the trouble with having to write chemistry when one half of the relationship has been cursed not to feel. Still, I think some more time spent with these characters, more scenes outside of conversation, would've helped that along.
The story and worldbuilding starts strong, and the writing style is pretty solid. A fairly predictable plot, though that doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. It does start to crawl towards the end, and I think this is mainly due to the lack of scenes and variety of conflict. Sweet and Bitter Magic read like the kinds of adventure quests I adored as a kid--it even has a map in the beginning of the book!-- but without as much of the adventure parts as I was hoping for.
I'd also say the biggest letdown for me was the romance. Wren and Tasmin just didn't have the kind of chemistry I was hoping for, and it made their relationship feel very out of place. Of course, that's the trouble with having to write chemistry when one half of the relationship has been cursed not to feel. Still, I think some more time spent with these characters, more scenes outside of conversation, would've helped that along.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Grief, Murder, Torture, and Vomit
maggie_atwood's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
caidyn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Did I read this in basically one sitting? Yes, yes I did. It was so good that I couldn't put it down. I kept wanting to know what would happen next. I loved Wren and Tamsin, as well as their stories. Grief plays a huge role in this, as well as figuring out their identities. Tamsin is a witch who was banished and cursed to never feel love. Wren is trying to take care of her sick father the best she can. And then a plague starts coming because of a dark witch. I just loved the book. It was such a great story and I can see myself revisiting the world again in a reread as a comfort book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Medical content and Death of parent
phoebereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Sweet & Bitter Magic is a heartfelt sapphic fantasy full of morally grey characters, slowburn romance and a beautiful arc of self-growth and forgiveness! I loved the way magic was described in this book and how the perspectives of it shifted between Tamsin and Wren. Both characters have really fantastic arcs through the book that made them both so lovely to follow along in the story, and also made me love the way they were slowly drawn to each other. Overall, this book is a really enjoyable read and I highly recommend it!!
(Also, nothing hits quite like a sort of enemies-to-lovers slowburn (we even briefly get a "there's only one bed" moment!) mixed together with literal MAGIC!)
So happy I won an ARC of this book and got to read it early!!
(Also, nothing hits quite like a sort of enemies-to-lovers slowburn (we even briefly get a "there's only one bed" moment!) mixed together with literal MAGIC!)
So happy I won an ARC of this book and got to read it early!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, and Mental illness
More...