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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
★★★☆ 3.5/5 stars
✨ 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 :
-magical realism meets unsolved mystery
-books with autumn vibes
-ancestral magic & folklore
-eerie island settings
-second chance romance
-short chapters, multiple POVs & alternating timelines
-apothecaries, spell books & reading tea leaves
✨ 𝑴𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 :
I’m so conflicted about this one. On one hand, Spells for Forgetting is absolutely beautiful — Adrienne Young’s lyrical writing & the atmospheric setting of Saoirse Island completely swept me away. The remote, misty small town full of secrets, the undercurrent of magic… it was dark, wild, & perfect for autumn reading. The setting is easily the book’s strongest element — lush, haunting, truly a character of its own. I loved the mood of this story.
But on the other hand, the plot left me a little underwhelmed. It was slow, sometimes repetitive, & leaned much more into the mystery than the magic — which was a disappointment for me. I had hoped for more of the spellbinding magical realism I adored in The Unmaking of June Farrow. And honestly, the big reveal at the end felt anticlimactic after all the build-up.
So while it didn’t quite live up to my (very high) expectations, I still think it’s worth the read — especially for the atmosphere alone. If you’re craving an autumnal story that’s moody, mysterious, & just a little magical, this might cast the right kind of spell for you. ✨
all of this for a damn orchard?!?! you could’ve just asked bro but anywayss em & august you guys are so loved
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved the setting and atmosphere, perfect for the beginning of spooky season! Though I wish it had more witchy-ness, I'm not disappointed in this particular magic system and its ties to the island. The characters were all pretty lame? Even main characters Emery and August were mostly uninteresting and their interactions were frustrating at times, while everyone else was just not great. Why are they all so low-key nasty to each other?
Giving 4 stars because the writing is *beautiful* and the mystery really got me. I even liked the small-town "us vs. them" and strong ties to blood and history.
Giving 4 stars because the writing is *beautiful* and the mystery really got me. I even liked the small-town "us vs. them" and strong ties to blood and history.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
mysterious
tense
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:
No
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I would say emery and august were lovable characters. Everyone else sucked. Well, Albertine didn’t suck, and Noah was OK/kind of morally grey but redeemed himself at the end. Everyone else though…. Really really sucked
I loved the first book I read by Adrienne Young, and this one was no different. I really enjoyed this and it kept my interest throughout. I thought the “twist” was well done and I did not expect it. 4.0⭐️
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A cool mix of magic and mystery! The scenic descriptions were great but there were a few times where the exposition felt wordy/lengthy. Otherwise I enjoyed it!
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Wow I absolutely loved this! I've had Spells For Forgetting on my TBR for ages and am so happy I finally picked it up. I think I read it in 2 sittings which is something I've not done for months.
The quiet, foreboding atmosphere gripped me immediately and I was so intrigued from the first chapter. I loved the writing style, the characters, the slow building suspense and the romantic undertones. It was just perfect. Emery and August were great main characters I loved that we saw everything from both points of view, both in present day and the past. I thought I knew where the plot was going and was slightly disappointed but the twist was a big surprise but also makes so much sense.
I've not read many murder mystery fantasies and I think I'm going to be obsessed with them from now on.
The quiet, foreboding atmosphere gripped me immediately and I was so intrigued from the first chapter. I loved the writing style, the characters, the slow building suspense and the romantic undertones. It was just perfect. Emery and August were great main characters I loved that we saw everything from both points of view, both in present day and the past. I thought I knew where the plot was going and was slightly disappointed but the twist was a big surprise but also makes so much sense.
I've not read many murder mystery fantasies and I think I'm going to be obsessed with them from now on.