About the Book
-
Author:
- Melissa Albert
- Genres:
- Boy-Girl Romance
- Fantasy
- Horror
- Paranormal
- Voices:
- Cis Girl
- White (Non-Specified)
Cover Story: This Is About What?
BFF Charm: Best Witches
Talky Talk: Holy Similes, Batman
Bonus Factor: Witchy Stuff
Relationship Status: Hex Me, Baby, One More Time
Cover Story: This Is About What?
I love the look of this book. It’s haunting, intriguing and eye catching – everything you want in a cover. Is it relevant to the story? Yes…but in a creepy way you only figure out after you read the book. What’s behind that door with the bunny knocker? WITCHES *squeeee*
The Deal:
This book is split into two different points and it is, for lack of a better word, magical!
THE SUBURBS, RIGHT NOW:
Ivy’s on a mission to figure out who the naked woman was in the street that knew her name, why everyone is leery of her mother, Dana, and what’s going on with all the recent dead rabbits. Oh, also why she can’t remember being friends with her neighbor, Billy, when she was younger.
THE CITY, BACK THEN:
Three teenage girls, angry with the way their lives have turned out, long for something more and OH BOY do they get it. Dana and longtime friend Fee meet Marion and their worlds are changed forever. When Marion hexes a boy (he so deserved it), it opens up an entirely new world for Dana and Fee, one they have skirted on for as long as they can remember.
BFF Charm: Best Witches
I will always be best friends with a witch. Good witch, bad witch, person who looks like a witch, person who considers themselves a witch…you understand. I sided more with Dana in the story (mom here!) but all of Ivy’s concerns and anger are valid. There are elements I admire in each character: Ivy’s determination, Marion’s ambition, Fee’s calmness, and Dana’s protective nature. The characters were perfectly imperfect.
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
There’s not a lot of lovey-dovey stuff going on in this book, but there’s just enough that it makes your heart happy. Albert does a great job of integrating the supernatural into the love stories so it keeps you engaged. In the present, there’s a lovely neighbor romance trope between Billy and Ivy (even if it takes Ivy awhile to get there). In the past, we get a brief look into Dana and her husband’s relationship. All the interactions are very sweet and the scenes with Billy and Ivy give you all the butterflies! There’s just not a lot of them which is perfect. I’m all in for more magic and less kissy-kissy.
Talky Talk: Holy Similes, Batman
I was hooked as soon as I started this book. It reads like a movie (my fave) and it’s so intriguing and mysterious. I even suffered reading in a moving vehicle so I could find out what happened in the story! There are, however, similes GALORE and sometimes it got exhausting reading about how X was like Z. But it was all very dreamy and intoxicating. The ending, although poetic, felt hella rushed and I was left wanting more. Where’s my crazy magic battle and vengeance filled decisions?! Another book where I wouldn’t be mad if there was a sequel.
Bonus Factors: Witchy Stuff
I love that Albert pulled from so many places to give us magic in this world. From folklore to herbal medicine to our own bodies, she shows us that magic is all around us. The magic used felt so real and attainable for the characters. No fancy wands or chosen ones – just magically inclined women ready to harness their power and “bring shitheads to their knees”. After I watched The Craft (this book gives me major Craft vibes), I became obsessed with witches and spellcasting and this book has reignited that flame 100%.
Relationship Status: Hex Me, Baby, One More Time
Right now, I have a digital copy of this book and you can bet your bottom dollar I will be purchasing the physical copy so I can stare at it and hold it and love it. Like I said, I love witches and who doesn’t need four strong badass magical women in their lives?
Literary Matchmaking
For more teen witch fun, check out These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling.
For a more historical witch feel, check out The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson.
For some down to earth magic, check out A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from Raincoast books. I received no money or magical training in exchange for this review. Our Crooked Hearts is out now.
