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A review by ltg584
The Witches of BlackBrook by Tish Thawer
3.0
Overall, The Witches of Blackbrook is a cute read, but considering the material, I really wanted it to be darker. Don’t get me wrong. It’s perfect as a teen read. Sex is hinted at, fading to black. Not one single swear. But there’s also murder, and a witch being burned at the stake. Considering the mature themes, it was a strange contrast to have the book feel so light. It’s categorized as being New Adult, but I really didn’t feel like there was anything overtly sexual or too violent for a teenager.
When it comes to books with witchcraft, I’m always excited to see how the magic is portrayed. Sometimes the magic is merely thoughts brought to reality, maybe there’s sparks or lightning, or sometimes the author will just try to describe the intangible. In this case, there are actual spoken spells. I found that I actually enjoyed the rhyming spells. They were well thought out and didn’t come across as cheesy or forced. It fit in well with the characters, well rounding out the plot.
Speaking of plot, I had it figured out pretty quickly. No big surprises, though I still enjoyed the journey. I especially liked the flashbacks to their past lives, and I wished there had been more of those scenes. That was a whole half of the story that could have been explored further. Prequel perhaps?
When it comes to books with witchcraft, I’m always excited to see how the magic is portrayed. Sometimes the magic is merely thoughts brought to reality, maybe there’s sparks or lightning, or sometimes the author will just try to describe the intangible. In this case, there are actual spoken spells. I found that I actually enjoyed the rhyming spells. They were well thought out and didn’t come across as cheesy or forced. It fit in well with the characters, well rounding out the plot.
Speaking of plot, I had it figured out pretty quickly. No big surprises, though I still enjoyed the journey. I especially liked the flashbacks to their past lives, and I wished there had been more of those scenes. That was a whole half of the story that could have been explored further. Prequel perhaps?