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A review by indieandajean
Hex Appeal by Kate Johnson
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This was almost a DNF for me.
The start of the book opens in media res, but in a way that feels off kilter and uninviting instead of exciting or interesting. Immediately we're introduced to a whole cast of characters whose names and descriptions become a jumble of which-witch-is-which. The magic system doesn't seem to be well fleshed out and lacks stakes, the insta-love between the protagonists is not believable, the misunderstanding that builds the foundation of the romantic conflict is just convoluted, and by the time the pregnant half-sister is out in a rainstorm, I was ready to never read another word.
Then the whole book turned around. As soon as Essie and Josh went back in time and the magic actually became something with stakes, I was in it. Their relationship and previous romantic trauma was interesting to read about. The romance was sweet, the places where the plot finally came through re: angry trapped spirit was actually fun to read.
I wish that the book hadn't tried quite so hard to be "girl who doesn't know how special she is in her quirky magic house" and had focused more on the interpersonal relationships that it did well.
The start of the book opens in media res, but in a way that feels off kilter and uninviting instead of exciting or interesting. Immediately we're introduced to a whole cast of characters whose names and descriptions become a jumble of which-witch-is-which. The magic system doesn't seem to be well fleshed out and lacks stakes, the insta-love between the protagonists is not believable, the misunderstanding that builds the foundation of the romantic conflict is just convoluted, and by the time the pregnant half-sister is out in a rainstorm, I was ready to never read another word.
Then the whole book turned around. As soon as Essie and Josh went back in time and the magic actually became something with stakes, I was in it. Their relationship and previous romantic trauma was interesting to read about. The romance was sweet, the places where the plot finally came through re: angry trapped spirit was actually fun to read.
I wish that the book hadn't tried quite so hard to be "girl who doesn't know how special she is in her quirky magic house" and had focused more on the interpersonal relationships that it did well.