Scan barcode
A review by jmbq_reads
Love and Other Wicked Things by Philline Harms
4.0
Rhia is an earth witch from a family of witches, but she hasn't reached her full potential yet. Something in her sparks, though, when she feels an instant attraction to a newcomer in Oakriver. Valerie, a fire witch, has come to Oakriver not just to study art at the local college but also to discover the truth about her mother's disappearance years ago. Even though Valerie initially laughs at Rhia's admonition not to use her magic in public, she quickly accepts Rhia's tutoring in magical basics, and the two draw closer together. But there are dark secrets hiding in town, drawing Valerie closer to danger...
This witchy romance hits so many right notes: the family traditions, the simplicity and caring intent behind Rhia's spells, the found family aspect, and the awareness that power has a cost. The two main characters are well paired with their elemental powers: Rhia is grounded in her family and her practice, if sometimes stubborn and rule(root?)-bound, while Valerie has the warm, charismatic spirit with an occasional quick temper that you might expect from a fire witch. They both learn to draw on their own strengths to help each other, and in the process they discover more about themselves and the strengths they have yet to realize.
The suspenseful thread in the plot has a nice slow development, starting off giving the reader an uneasy feeling before amping up the tension, and it offered a nice little red herring along the way (which turned into something I didn't expect but enjoyed nonetheless). The romance is just a little insta-lovey but results in a HFN that still gives both of them room to grow. Representation (Black, Chinese, lesbian, queer, trans) is worked into the story seamlessly, with characters being given full support and acceptance.
Overall, it's not my favorite witchy romance, but its themes of inclusivity, acceptance, kindness, finding your identity, and discovering your power are certainly worth celebrating and sharing with teens and young adults. 4 stars.
Thank you, Wattpad Books and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.
This witchy romance hits so many right notes: the family traditions, the simplicity and caring intent behind Rhia's spells, the found family aspect, and the awareness that power has a cost. The two main characters are well paired with their elemental powers: Rhia is grounded in her family and her practice, if sometimes stubborn and rule(root?)-bound, while Valerie has the warm, charismatic spirit with an occasional quick temper that you might expect from a fire witch. They both learn to draw on their own strengths to help each other, and in the process they discover more about themselves and the strengths they have yet to realize.
The suspenseful thread in the plot has a nice slow development, starting off giving the reader an uneasy feeling before amping up the tension, and it offered a nice little red herring along the way (which turned into something I didn't expect but enjoyed nonetheless). The romance is just a little insta-lovey but results in a HFN that still gives both of them room to grow. Representation (Black, Chinese, lesbian, queer, trans) is worked into the story seamlessly, with characters being given full support and acceptance.
Overall, it's not my favorite witchy romance, but its themes of inclusivity, acceptance, kindness, finding your identity, and discovering your power are certainly worth celebrating and sharing with teens and young adults. 4 stars.
Thank you, Wattpad Books and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.