A review by bookpanther
Witchmark by C.L. Polk

4.0

I have one word to describe C.L. Polk’s Witchmark: enchanting. I wasn’t hooked from the get-go, but as I read on, I started to fall more in love with the characters and the atmosphere. Set in an Edwardian-esque world, the story follows Dr. Miles Singer, an ex army doctor who works with severe PTSD veterans while also trying to hide the fact that he’s a runaway witch. Witchmark is a combination of paranormal steampunk-ish fantasy, murder mystery, and m/m romance (all with an intense bicycle chase scene thrown into the mix), but I thought all the elements were well-balanced. It also dives into themes of privilege/class and familial duty, but don’t expect something super nuanced. Overall, it’s not perfect and may be a little bit tropey, but what started as a random weekend read for me turned into a cute and engaging story. If top hats and bike riding are your aesthetic, give this one a try :P.