A review by sharron_joy_reads
Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


On the night of the high school graduation in the close knit community of Saoirse a fire rages through the orchard that is the lifeblood of the island. Once the fire is extinguished the body of Lily is found, drowned on dry land between the apple trees. August is accused and is taken from the island by his mother away from his sweetheart, Emery, and the plans they had to escape together. 14yrs later he returns to bury the remains of his mother and old wounds are opened and secrets revealed. 

I read this as a buddy read with the lovely Gen and it was an interesting read. The islanders are secretive, paranoid and cult like. Everyone has a secret from the night of Lily’s death and some will stop at nothing to stop August and Emery finding the truth. 

The story is told through multiple POV’s and I liked this, although this did cause the story to slow down a little for me. The island itself is steeped in magic and folklore, it resonates through the prose how deeply the pagan roots stretch beneath the earth. The tourists come every year to see the “witchy island” and shop for teas and tinctures. This mystique and the orchards keep the island alive. This is a mystery and unravels slowly as the story progresses but it also a story of love and longing, grief and family ties. The writing is lovely, it flows beautifully, a gentle read with a witchy edge. 
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