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thebookgoober 's review for:
A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping
by Sangu Mandanna
emotional
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In a much anticipated follow up to Mandanna's "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches," comes the latest in the series "A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping." In this novel we meet Sera, a extremely *once* powerful witch who now lives her life a chaotic innkeeper. The inn? Open to all who need it, especially those who are a bit outcast. Having lost her power after a resurrection spell, Sera is ready to throw in the towel and accept that she must live her life without her power. But after a grumpy librarian shows up at her in with some much needed abilities, she now realizes that there's a possibility that she could gain what she once lost... all she has to do is complete some seemingly impossible tasks. But hey, as classic cozy fantasies go, along the way she will learn more about herself and what is truly important, as well as fall in love as she does it.
So... *sigh* I wanted to love this book. I absolutely adored Irregular Witches. Sadly though, this book felt incredibly forced. There were so many characters that were not very fleshed out, the pacing felt very slow, there seemed to be so many minority groups represented with little care to their representation, and the genre itself felt a bit off. With the regards to the latter critique, I felt like the author didn't know if she wanted a cozy fantasy or an erotica. I was really disappointed by the inclusion of such detailed sexual content in seemingly cozy situations. I much preferred the first novel which really led with the cozy found family vibe. If the novel focused on self-discovery and found family themes, I think the book would have felt a bit tighter. I am not opposed to sex in books at all, but it just was a bit jarring in this circumstance and it came off more uncomfortable and forced than organic.
So... *sigh* I wanted to love this book. I absolutely adored Irregular Witches. Sadly though, this book felt incredibly forced. There were so many characters that were not very fleshed out, the pacing felt very slow, there seemed to be so many minority groups represented with little care to their representation, and the genre itself felt a bit off. With the regards to the latter critique, I felt like the author didn't know if she wanted a cozy fantasy or an erotica. I was really disappointed by the inclusion of such detailed sexual content in seemingly cozy situations. I much preferred the first novel which really led with the cozy found family vibe. If the novel focused on self-discovery and found family themes, I think the book would have felt a bit tighter. I am not opposed to sex in books at all, but it just was a bit jarring in this circumstance and it came off more uncomfortable and forced than organic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual content
Minor: Racism, Classism