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kassidyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Grief
Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Child death
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
3.0
I received a copy of this book in an OwlCrate box years ago, and finally made the time to read it now.
"Sweet & Bitter Magic" is a witchy story that brings together two strangers: Wren and Tamsin. Wren is a source, a rare person who is made of magic, but cannot use magic herself. She has always kept this a secret because she does not want to go to the Coven and leave her ill father to fend for himself. Tamsin is the most powerful witch of her generation, but she made a horrible magic mistake, and she was exiled from the Coven and cursed to never be able to feel love. Unfortunately, a magical plague has taken over, and Wren finds herself in desperate need to save her father, so she seeks out Tamsin's unique brand of "assistance".
This was a really fun, quick witchy book to kick of the spooky season. The magic system was very easy to follow, and pretty basic for the witches to use. I also really enjoyed that the magic yielders were witches, because it added to the atmosphere of the beginning of spooky season.
Wren and Tamsin were such a great pair to read from. They both bring strengths and weaknesses to the table, and I think they both really helped to flesh the other out. Because she is unable to feel love, Tamsin is a little rough around the edges. Wren, on the other hand, is overflowing with empathy and love for those in her life. Wren can be a little naive about the world, because she has been so insular for so long, while Tamsin is well-versed in how dark the magical world can be.
This book kind of reads like a debut because it was not a very high-level fantasy. Nothing felt particularly unique about the story, it just felt very average, which I would expect from a debut. This is not necessarily a bad thing, I enjoyed the story, but it was not very memorable for me.
I would recommend this to someone who wants a fun, easy, YA witch story.
"Sweet & Bitter Magic" is a witchy story that brings together two strangers: Wren and Tamsin. Wren is a source, a rare person who is made of magic, but cannot use magic herself. She has always kept this a secret because she does not want to go to the Coven and leave her ill father to fend for himself. Tamsin is the most powerful witch of her generation, but she made a horrible magic mistake, and she was exiled from the Coven and cursed to never be able to feel love. Unfortunately, a magical plague has taken over, and Wren finds herself in desperate need to save her father, so she seeks out Tamsin's unique brand of "assistance".
This was a really fun, quick witchy book to kick of the spooky season. The magic system was very easy to follow, and pretty basic for the witches to use. I also really enjoyed that the magic yielders were witches, because it added to the atmosphere of the beginning of spooky season.
Wren and Tamsin were such a great pair to read from. They both bring strengths and weaknesses to the table, and I think they both really helped to flesh the other out. Because she is unable to feel love, Tamsin is a little rough around the edges. Wren, on the other hand, is overflowing with empathy and love for those in her life. Wren can be a little naive about the world, because she has been so insular for so long, while Tamsin is well-versed in how dark the magical world can be.
This book kind of reads like a debut because it was not a very high-level fantasy. Nothing felt particularly unique about the story, it just felt very average, which I would expect from a debut. This is not necessarily a bad thing, I enjoyed the story, but it was not very memorable for me.
I would recommend this to someone who wants a fun, easy, YA witch story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death and Toxic relationship
whatthekatdraggedin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent and Grief
frantically's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
3.5
This was really adorable and I'd recommend it to anyone who's into YA witches! Not really my genre anymore but it made me feel nostalgic <3 I wish I would've had more books like this as a young sapphic girl.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Child death
Moderate: Death of parent
booksdogsandcoffee's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.0
Tamsin is cursed witch. For years her curse has caused her not to feel love, so she takes it. When the people of her village come to her for help their payment is their love for someone in their life. Her village lives in constant fear of her.
A plague has befallen the country, one of magical origin. As it infects people they forget their loved ones. Sadly one such infected is Wren’s father. But Wren also has a secret. She is a source of magic, which are so rare and coveted that they are rarely found out side the witch lands. Yet Wren has managed to hide herself all these years. Until her father comes down with the plague.
Seeing no other choice Wren strikes a deal with Tamsin to help save her father. In return for his life, she will pay for her love for him. The two team up to track down the source of the dark magic causing the plague, but as they work together Tamsin’s secrets start to come back from the dead, and wren, well she just might start having feelings for the witch who can’t love.
I really enjoyed Sweet and bitter magic. Especially the magic system in it. It wasn’t very complex, but I did love that it was a system where you had a magic bar( like in a video game) and could only use x amount at a time with out loosing power.
On top of that there the love and relationship wren has with her father is very touching.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook and thought this was a fun wlw witchy quest that had me gasping and yelling at the book half the time.
Cw
Death
Violence
Death of a parent
Murder
A plague has befallen the country, one of magical origin. As it infects people they forget their loved ones. Sadly one such infected is Wren’s father. But Wren also has a secret. She is a source of magic, which are so rare and coveted that they are rarely found out side the witch lands. Yet Wren has managed to hide herself all these years. Until her father comes down with the plague.
Seeing no other choice Wren strikes a deal with Tamsin to help save her father. In return for his life, she will pay for her love for him. The two team up to track down the source of the dark magic causing the plague, but as they work together Tamsin’s secrets start to come back from the dead, and wren, well she just might start having feelings for the witch who can’t love.
I really enjoyed Sweet and bitter magic. Especially the magic system in it. It wasn’t very complex, but I did love that it was a system where you had a magic bar( like in a video game) and could only use x amount at a time with out loosing power.
On top of that there the love and relationship wren has with her father is very touching.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook and thought this was a fun wlw witchy quest that had me gasping and yelling at the book half the time.
Cw
Death
Violence
Death of a parent
Murder
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Violence
abigail_reads06's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-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
4.5
What I wanted: Sapphic witches and cool magic
What I got: All those things and sadness
What I got: All those things and sadness
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
readabookortwo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
4.25
I really enjoyed this book!! I loved Tamsin and Wren so much and there were so many clever things that were put in things I didn’t always notice until I processed them half an hour later and I enjoyed my time with this book so much!!
The only thing taking it down for me is that the ending felt super rushed I could have seen another 100 or so pages but other than that I would highly recommend!!
The only thing taking it down for me is that the ending felt super rushed I could have seen another 100 or so pages but other than that I would highly recommend!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit, Death of parent, Child death, Chronic illness, and Dementia
bot's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Violence and Death
Minor: Death of parent
lucy_shanners's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death
Moderate: Blood, Vomit, and Violence
violet_pages's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Violence, and Dementia
Moderate: Chronic illness, Vomit, Murder, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Torture
Minor: Death of parent and Suicidal thoughts