ARC Review: The Listeners by Maggie Stievater

#1 New York Times bestselling novelist Maggie Stiefvater dazzles in this mesmerizing portrait of an irresistible heroine, an unlikely romance, and a hotel—and a world—in peril.

January 1942. The Avallon Hotel & Spa has always offered elegant luxury in the wilds of West Virginia, its mountain sweetwater washing away all of high society’s troubles.

Local girl-turned-general manager June Porter Hudson has guided the Avallon skillfully through the first pangs of war. The Gilfoyles, the hotel’s aristocratic owners, have trained her well. But when the family heir makes a secret deal with the State Department to fill the hotel with captured Axis diplomats, June must persuade her staff—many of whom have sons and husbands heading to the front lines—to offer luxury to Nazis. With a smile.

Meanwhile FBI Agent Tucker Minnick, whose coal tattoo hints at an Appalachian past, presses his ears to the hotel’s walls, listening for the diplomats’ secrets. He has one of his own, which is how he knows that June’s balancing act can have dangerous consequences: the sweetwater beneath the hotel can threaten as well as heal.

June has never met a guest she couldn’t delight, but the diplomats are different. Without firing a single shot, they have brought the war directly to her. As clashing loyalties crack the Avallon’s polished veneer, June must calculate the true cost of luxury.

Title: The Listeners

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Viking

Expected Publication Date: June 3, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Penguin Group Viking Penguin and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I will be honest, I had no idea what this book was about. I saw Stiefvater's name on it, knew I loved all her previous works, and decided it didn't matter and I'd give it a chance. I'm so glad I did. It was totally different from what I know from her and a great joy to read.

Normally, historical fiction is not my cup of tea. I struggle with it, especially for the WWII time period. However, this one was totally different from other WWII books I've read. While it does take place during that time period and the basis of the book revolves around what was happening during the war, it was about so much more than that. It was about relationships and how they grow and change, morphing into what you need when you need it. It was also about priorities and putting yourself before others while still showing empathy and care for those who surround you.

The history of the government using large hotels as a house for captured Nazi's in America was fascinating. I knew this happened but I didn't know to what extent. 

June's point of view delves into the daily routines of the hotel, catering to it's guests, and how this is applied to the prisoners of war, because that is exactly what they are. They are treated to top notch service from her staff while still being restricted to what they can have and where they can go. Her connection to the waters that run under and around the hotel in West Virginia speak to the lore that often comes from this part of America. WV is rich with folklore steeped in the paranormal. While the waters definitely give off a paranormal vibe, I will say I never fully understand their presence or what they truly meant for the hotel. They are magical but they are not. They are healing but they also take away. I did understand the waters took from those who chose to submerge themselves: taking the good and expelling the bad to keep the hotel happy.

Tucker's character was my favorite. I loved his history with WV and how he buried it, only for it to grab at him as soon as he was back. His connection with the water is different than June's but not any less important. And the slow burn romance that ensues between the two is expected but comes upon you in bits and spurts. Their friendship grows first and then they find attraction. I was not surprised by this in the least. 

I loved that Stiefvater made this book in several POVs. It was nice to see it well rounded rather than just from June's POV, even though she really did take up about 70% of the book.

The pacing is a bit slow with this. And I will say there were times I was confused by the conversations that were happening. I know much of what was presented was to be mysterious given the nature of the spies involved, but even the idea of the sweetwater was confusing at times. This dropped by rating a bit.

I will say, the one secret with the little girl Hannelore I figured out early on. Not sure if that was intentional or not but it was not a surprise to me at all when it was revealed.

Overall I enjoyed this one. It's not my normal genre but it kept me interested and wanting to turn the pages, especially during the last 30% or so when things really ramp up and start to unravel. If you love historical fiction with a bit of magical realism sewn in, and Maggie's lyrical writing, give this one a try!

Author:

New York Times bestselling author of The Shiver Trilogy, The Raven Cycle, and The Scorpio Races. Artist. Driver of things with wheels. Avid reader.

Maggie Stiefvater plays several musical instruments (most infamously, the bagpipes) and makes art in several media (most generally, colored pencils).

She lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband, their two children, many dogs, a bunch of fainting goats, and a mating pair of growly tuner cars.

 

ARC Review: Old Flames And New Fortunes (Moonville #1) by Sarah Hogle

Fibs and squabbles and spells . . . oh my!

A small, magical town tucked away in rural Ohio, Moonville is the perfect place for floral witch Romina Tempest to use the language of flowers to help the hopeful manifest love in their lives. After giving up on her own big romance eleven years ago, at least she can bask in others' happily ever afters.

When the shop’s potential financier shares news of his wedding, Romina jumps at the opportunity to discuss the business . . . even if it means she has to fake-date her chaotic colleague Trevor to get an invitation. But all hell breaks loose when she discovers Trevor’s soon-to-be stepbrother is none other than Alex King: her high school sweetheart. Her greatest love. The boy who broke her heart.

What starts as an innocent misunderstanding becomes a weeklong fake-dating scheme, as Romina quickly finds out she can’t deny her connection with Alex. Caught between her livelihood and her heart, Romina must decide if taking a second chance on first love is worth the risk.

Title: Old Flames And New Fortunes (Moonville #1)

Author: Sarah Hogle

Publisher: Penguin Group Putnam

Publication Date: April 2, 2024

Review:

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Provide me with a witch book to make me happy? Check! Make that book a second chance romance with tons of swoon? Check! When I was offered the second in this interconnected series, I was worried I would miss out on something by not reading the first book first. I have yet to read the second book so I can't say if it will make a difference but I can see where knowing the characters for book 2 might become important.

This book started out quite slow for me and was honestly a bit confusing at first with all the characters and the animosity between the FMC and MMC. The transitions from chapter to chapter didn't flow initially and I wasn't sure I would end up liking it. But about halfway through the book all the things clicked and I ended up falling in love not only with the characters but also the town of Moonville. There's something about a small town story that makes my heart super happy. Maybe it's because I grew up in the busy city and love the idea of slowing things down and everyone knowing everyone and looking out for them. This story gave those vibes for sure.

And the second chance romance with him falling and never letting go. Total swoon. 

The FMC, Romina, so unsure of herself in any type of relationship having been burned before. Her heart not totally healing until she allowed herself to morn the loss enough to see it made her a stronger person. I do wish there was more witchiness in the story. It's billed as similar to Sarah Hawley's Glimmer Falls but there is not much paranormal in this story at all. It's more about intentions and the connections people have with nature. About how those connections lead us to certain places or people.

The MMC, Alex, was great. I loved how he had no qualms about making his intentions know to Romina, even if she didn't catch on at first. 

I will say the FMC and MMC didn't come off as being in their 30s. I really got more of a 20s vibe. And their enemies to lovers vibe was a bit choppy. It went from enemies to lovers without much in between and I needed more from that part of their relationship.

The last 25% of the book brought this up to four stars for me. It was very well done and honestly seemed like a different author was writing it. I wish the first part of the book was tighter. And I needed more: more witchy vibes, more about the other characters, more of the small town. I'm looking forward to reading the second book and seeing where the author takes the vibe.

Author:

Sarah Hogle is a mom of three who enjoys trashy TV and provoking her husband for attention. Her dream is to live in a falling-apart castle in a forest that is probably cursed. Her novels are You Deserve Each Other, Twice Shy, Just Like Magic, and Old Flames and New Fortunes.

 

ARC Review: Lies on the Serpent's Tongue (Bittersweet in the Hollow #2) by Kate Pearsall

 

A beautifully dark YA set in Appalachia tinged with magic, mystery, murder, and romance. For fans of House of Hollow and Wilder Girls! As Caball Hollow slowly recovers after a tumultuous summer, the James family must also come to terms with their own newly revealed secrets.        18-year-old Rowan James has spent her whole life harboring unpleasant truths—that’s what happens when you can smell people’s lies—and building walls around herself to block them out. Like her younger sister, Linden, who can taste the feelings of others, Rowan has long resented her gift, which has taught her that everyone lies and no one is who they seem to be. So when her old nemesis, Hadrian Fitch, the biggest liar of them all, shows up on her front porch—bloodied, broken, and asking for help only she can give—her first instinct is distrust. But something new is stalking the Forest that surrounds Caball Hollow.       Now things are disappearing. At first, it’s small stuff—like letters, photos, and keys. But then, Rowan notices people around her are losing their memories. And when the body of a neighbor is found in the middle of town, Rowan knows there’s a link between this death and all the events disturbing the Hollow. Can she find what—or who—the link is before it takes another life?

Title: Lies on the Serpent's Tongue (Bittersweet in the Hollow #2)

Author: Kate Pearsall

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Expected Publication Date: January 7, 2025

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for supplying me with an egalley and finished copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

When this popped up for request I was super excited. The publisher had sent me the first book to read and review and I really enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. So when I saw this I jumped on the chance to get a copy. And then a finished copy showed up in the mail for me and I knew it was meant to be.

If you haven't read the first book in this series, stop here as there may be spoilers in this review with regards to that book. And this book picks up right after the first one ends, so you'd be lost if you didn't read that one first! The world that is established in that book as well as the developed characters can only be understood if you have read these books in order.

After the tumultuous summer the James girls had, things are finally settling down. But the Moth Winged Man, always a myth in Caball Hollow but now made real, is still haunting the area. The myth is definitely a reality. While the first book focuses on Linden and Cole, this book focuses on Rowan and Hadrian.

Rowan James continues to scent lies on people tongues as they tell them. And things are not what they seem when she takes a job to help the forest rangers be on the look out for poachers. She isn't expecting to ever see Hadrian Fitch again but he ends up in her path anyway, flitting between her world and the Otherworld. Together they try to solve the mystery of the slowly dying Bone Tree while navigating their attraction to each other.

It's nice that Pearsall does not simply focus on a romance between Rowan and Hadrian. She builds the world out more than what we saw in the first book and gives the characters the space they ned to grow and develope. At the same time, I do wish there was just a bit more of them in that capacity in this book. You can feel their pull to each other but the scenes aren't really there to back it up.

Pearsall does a great job continuing to build the fantasy world that is within the boundaries of Caball Hollow. I feel like the pacing of this one is a bit slower than the first. There were areas where things dragged for me a bit. But the tension, banter, and mystery made up for it and kept me wanting to turn the pages to find out what happens. One of the things that prevented me from giving this book 5 stars was the fact that at some points the story line almost felt disjointed and confusing. I had to turn back pages a few times in order to truly understand what was going on or what had just happened.

Pearsall does a great job with describing the area, though. I've not spent time in this part of the country and I really felt as though I was right there. It was easy to picture the area in my mind.

The ending leaves you seeing there could definitely be a third book if the author chooses, though it does wrap up fairly well. I'm hoping we get to see the stories from the other sisters!

This series would be perfect for people looking for a bit of a spooky read during Halloween season!

Author:

Kate Pearsall developed a love for storytelling at a young age, often spinning tales of magical worlds and exciting adventures with her sisters. When she’s not writing, she can be found willfully indulging her curiosity by disappearing into museums, exploring new places, and becoming deeply submerged into obscure topics that inevitably make their way into future work.

ARC Review: Heist Royale (Thieves' Gambit #2) by Kayvion Lewis

 

The high-stakes sequel to Thieves' Gambit, for fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes and Ally Carter.

It's been six months since the end of the Gambit. Instead of winning an impossible wish, Ross has the threat of her family’s execution hanging over her head. Devroe, the only person Ross thought she could trust, could wish the Quests into oblivion at any time. Shockingly, despite his betrayal, Devroe is still making a play for Ross’s heart as the two work together pulling jobs for the Organization. But Ross has learned her lesson: A Quest can only trust another Quest.

When Ross finds herself at the center of a power struggle within the Organization, she sees her chance to change her fortunes. As a new deadly Gambit develops for control of the criminal underworld, Ross strikes a risky deal to guarantee protection for herself and her family.

In this final clash, Ross will square off against a ruthless opponent who will stop at nothing to seize power, and in their corner will be not only Devroe but his mother, who wants to destroy the Quests at any cost.

The new Gambit takes Ross and her crew into the intoxicating casinos of Monte Carlo and across treacherous snow-covered slopes in Antarctica as Ross competes against Devroe in a fight for her life. Loyalties will be tested, backs stabbed, hearts broken. May the best thief win.

Title: Heist Royale (Thieves' Gambit #2)

Author: Kayvion Lewis

Publsiher:
Expected Publication Date: November 12, 2024

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group/Penguin Young Readers Group/Nancy Paulson Books for providing me with an egalley of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I enjoyed Thieves' Gambit a lot. It was a fun filled, action packed, story. Of course I wanted to see what the next adventure brought so I dove into this one. And I'm happy to say it was just as fun.

The first book definitely left you feeling there could be more, or it could have been done. So I'm glad the author decided to do another book. 

This one was filled with action, adventure, unbelievable stunts, and a bit of romance (which started in the first book but never really blossomed). 

We get a return of the old characters from the first book: Ross, Noelia, Deveroe, and others. But we are also introduced to a few new characters, which I enjoyed. 

The story reminded me of Marie Lu's Stars and Smoke series. And  if you like John Wick or James Bond, you'll definitely get those vibes here with the heists and shenanigans the characters are able to pull off. Reading this felt like a movie playing out in my head. But it's geared towards the younger YA crowd, in my opinion.

The plot is similar to the first book, but the stakes are set a bit higher with this one. I liked the twistiness of the story but I will say the ending felt a bit rushed to me. The writing is good but not fabulous. I had a hard time with some of the transitions the author made. I had to flip back a few pages to understand who was talking, what they were talking about, and why. Sometimes it felt like conversations were completely cut off other times it felt like the conversation switched gears in the middle or picked up on something I didn't even know was being discussed.

The only thing I would say for anyone who wants to read this, suspend your beliefs. Just like the first book, I had a hard time believing these young kids were basically spies sent to do unbelievable things in order to win a game.

Overall this was fun and I think a great book for YA readers who want a little mystery and thrill.

KAYVION LEWIS is a young adult author of all things escapist and high-octane. Her THIEVES' GAMBIT duology has been published in over 25 languages, and is being adapted for film by Lionsgate. A former youth services librarian, Kayvion's been working with young readers and kidlit since she was sixteen. When she’s not writing, she's breaking out of escape rooms, jumping out of airplanes, and occasionally running away to mountain retreats to study kung fu.

Though she lives in Louisiana and often visits her family in The Bahamas, Kayvion never really knows when she'll take off on her next adventure, which could take her anywhere in the world.

ARC Review: Heir (Heir Duology #1) by Sabaa Tahir

 

Prepare for the action-packed, ruthless, and romantic new fantasy from the #1 New York Times bestselling and National Book Award winning author Sabaa Tahir about love, legacy, and vengeance.

An orphan.
An outcast.
A prince.
And a killer who will bring an empire to its knees.

Growing up in the Kegari slums, AIZ has seen her share of suffering. An old tragedy fuels her need for vengeance, but it is love of her people that propels her. Until one hot-headed mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, where the embers of her wrath ignite.

Banished from her tribe for an unforgiveable crime, SIRSHA is a down-on-her-luck tracker who speaks to the earth, air, and water to trace her marks. Destitute, she agrees to hunt down a killer who has murdered children across the Empire. All she has to do is carry out the job and get paid. But then, she falls for a charismatic and inconvenient fugitive who keeps getting in her way.

QUIL is the crown prince of the Empire, nephew of a famed and venerated empress, but he’s loathe to pick up the mantle when his aunt steps down. As the son of the most hated emperor in the history of his people, he, better than anyone, understands that power corrupts. When a vicious new enemy threatens the survival of the Empire, Quil must ask himself if he can rise above his tragic lineage and be the heir his people need.

Beloved storyteller Sabaa Tahir masterfully interweaves the lives of three young people as they grapple with the burdens of power, the treachery of love and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed. Get ready for a dark and breathless journey that will captivate readers and that may cost these young people their lives―and their hearts. Literally.

Title: Heir (Heir Dulology #1)

Author: Sabaa Tahir

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Expected Publication Date: October 1, 2024

Review:

I want to thank Penguin Group/Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest feedback. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Just as some background, I have not read Tahir before. I know this series is somehow connected to An Ember In the Ashes and I'm not sure if I should have read that series first, but I was able to understand this book so I am not sure it's necessary. But I did see it recommended.

I'll start by saying wow, Tahir can write. I don't read a ton of YA these days so if I do I want something that will draw me in and Tahir did that immediately. I was super curious and invested in the story trying to figure out who each of the three POVs were. Yes, THREE POVs, though later in the book Tahir does incorporate two more! I was worried it would be confusing but it was not.  And I can only assume introducing the other two POVs will be integral in the next book of this series.

Tahir builds a fabulous world. A world full of magic and political intrigue as well and romance. I loved the culture the author created. It was very rich and even included language which supported it. Tahir holds nothing back and often keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the book. She drives the story with a fantastic mix of plot and character development. I often thought of Bardugo's Six of Crows series when I was reading this one (and Bardugo is a favorite author of mine!). There is a great deal of layering in this world with things building on top of each other until finally they come together and it all makes complete sense.

All three main characters, Sirsha, Aiz, and Quil were uniquely done and very well developed. I understood each of their motivations and who they were in relation to the politics surrounding them. Each of their stories was important to what was happening around them and to them. I related to all three, as well. The prince who doesn't want to assume his position. The girl who stole his heart but had an agenda all his own. And the other girl who just wants to save her found family. The rotation of their POVs keeps the story moving and kept me wanting to turn the pages to know more. Each character faces their own demons and challenges and grows from this. 

he one thing I will complain about was the length or the chapters. I prefer shorter chapters for the most part so I don't feel bogged down.

Overall I really enjoyed this one and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book with that bit of a cliffhanger ending.

Author:

Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s 18-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.

ARC Review: Queen B (Her Majesty's Royal Coven #0.5) by Juno Dawson

 

This next spellbinding installment of Juno’s “irresistible” fantasy series Her Majesty's Royal Coven (Lana Harper) takes us back to the reign of Henry VIII and the origins of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven under the beautiful, the bewitching, Anne Boleyn.

It’s 1536 and the Queen has been beheaded.

Lady Grace Fairfax, witch, knows that something foul is at play—that someone had betrayed Anne Boleyn and her coven. Wild with the loss of their leader—and her lover, a secret that if spilled could spell Grace’s own end— she will do anything in her power to track down the traitor. But there’s more at stake than revenge: it was one of their own, a witch, that betrayed them, and Grace isn’t the only one looking for her. King Henry VIII has sent witchfinders after them, and they’re organized like they’ve never been before under his new advisor, the impassioned Sir Ambrose Fulke, a cold man blinded by his faith. His cruel reign could mean the end of witchkind itself. If Grace wants to find her revenge and live, she will have to do more than disappear.

She will have to be reborn.

In this gripping, propulsive, sultry short novel, Juno Dawson takes us back to the bloody beginnings of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven to show us the strength, steel and sacrifice it takes to make a sisterhood.

Title: Queen B (Her Majesty's Royal Coven #0.5)

Author: Juno Dawson

Publisher: Penguin Group

Expected Publication Date: July 23, 2024

Review:

I would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group/Penguin Books for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Someone betrayed Anne Boleyn and her coven, and Lady Grace Fairfax is determined to find out who. But Grace is not the only one looking for the traitor. Kind Henry has his witch hunters out determined bring them to the light and punish them for their crimes.

I have been really enjoying this series by Dawson. I loved this chance I had to go back to the beginnings of how Her Majesty's Royal Coven and see the strength and fortitude it took to keep their coven alive. I love an origin story. Dawson takes us from present to past with alternating chapters as we watch the relationship between Grace and Anne develops as well as how their coven joins to ensure the continuation of their group.

All the characters are well developed despite the short nature of the story. I really enjoyed the twist on the relationship between Anne and one of her ladies; the love and intimacy they shared. And the fear involved in them potentially being found out. Dawson expertly shows the important connections between the witches, how they protect each other, and their determination to be kept safe from those who want them eradicated. She easily weaves in drama and emotion between her characters and touches on the power love, betrayal, fear, and death.

There is action and suspense making the story fast paced and impactful.

For those who know the story of Boleyn, this story truly delves into the idea of what if she were really a witch and how that played out behind the scenes. While this is part of the HMRC series, it can definitely be read as a stand alone, if you choose to do so. But if you're a fan of the series, it will give you a wonderful background of how HMRC was formed and how they continued to be enmeshed in the politics that are the royal family.

Author: 

Juno Dawson is a #1 Sunday Times best-selling novelist, screenwriter, journalist, and a columnist for Attitude Magazine. Juno’s books include the global bestsellers, THIS BOOK IS GAY and CLEAN. She won the 2020 YA Book Prize for MEAT MARKET. Her first adult fantasy trilogy HER MAJESTY’S ROYAL COVEN launched in 2022, becoming an instant best-seller.

She also writes for television and has multiple shows in development both in the UK and US. Her debut short film was THE BIRTH OF VENUS (BBC 2020) and she created the first official Doctor Who scripted podcast DOCTOR WHO: REDACTED (BBC Sounds 2022). An occasional actress and model, Juno had a cameo in the BBC’s I MAY DESTROY YOU (2020), a recurring role in HOLBY CITY (BBC 2021) and was the face of Jecca Cosmetics Play Pots campaign.

Juno grew up in West Yorkshire, writing imaginary episodes of Doctor Who. She later turned her talent to journalism, interviewing luminaries such as Steps and Atomic Kitten, before writing a weekly serial in a Brighton newspaper. Her writing has appeared in Glamour, The Pool, Dazed and the Guardian. She has appeared on Pointless Celebrities, BBC Women’s Hour, Front Row, ITV News, Channel 5 News, This Morning and Newsnight.

Juno lives in Brighton. She is a part of the queer cabaret collective known as CLUB SILENCIO. In 2014, Juno became a School Role Model for the charity STONEWALL.

ARC Review: Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson

A Discovery of Witches meets The Craft in this the first installment of this epic fantasy trilogy about a group of childhood friends who are also witches.

If you look hard enough at old photographs, we're there in the background: healers in the trenches; Suffragettes; Bletchley Park oracles; land girls and resistance fighters. Why is it we help in times of crisis? We have a gift. We are stronger than Mundanes, plain and simple.

At the dawn of their adolescence, on the eve of the summer solstice, four young girls--Helena, Leonie, Niamh and Elle--took the oath to join Her Majesty's Royal Coven, established by Queen Elizabeth I as a covert government department. Now, decades later, the witch community is still reeling from a civil war and Helena is now the reigning High Priestess of the organization. Yet Helena is the only one of her friend group still enmeshed in the stale bureaucracy of HMRC. Elle is trying to pretend she's a normal housewife, and Niamh has become a country vet, using her powers to heal sick animals. In what Helena perceives as the deepest betrayal, Leonie has defected to start her own more inclusive and intersectional coven, Diaspora. And now Helena has a bigger problem. A young warlock of extraordinary capabilities has been captured by authorities and seems to threaten the very existence of HMRC. With conflicting beliefs over the best course of action, the four friends must decide where their loyalties lie: with preserving tradition, or doing what is right.

Juno Dawson explores gender and the corrupting nature of power in a delightful and provocative story of magic and matriarchy, friendship and feminism. Dealing with all the aspects of contemporary womanhood, as well as being phenomenally powerful witches, Niamh, Helena, Leonie and Elle may have grown apart but they will always be bound by the sisterhood of the coven.

Title: Her Majesty's Royal Coven
Author: Juno Dawnson
Publisher: Penguin Books

Expected Publication Date: May 31, 2002

Review: 

I want to thank Penguin Group/Penguin Books and NetGalley for approving me to read this ebook and offer my honest opinion.

This is my second Juno Dawson book. I read my first one last year and adored it. I love her writing because it flows well but more than that I adore the wit she weaves into her stories. Plus, who doesn't love a good modern witch story with characters who are good and bad, fun banter between friends, and a tense story line that has you hanging on to your seat until it's done?

I will say at the beginning I had a bit of a hard time getting into the story. I'm not sure if it is because I'm not British or I just wasn't in the right frame of mind. I also felt a bit like this was not the first book about this coven. The beginning made it feel like there was a back story I had missed. I want to chock this up to poor world building in a book that is a modern fantasy. It made it hard to understand where the characters were coming from.

Once I got about 30% into the book, the story took better shape, despite the absence of world building.

The four points of view really helped to solidify the different type of witches these ladies truly are. It helped you to solidify a dislike for one of the characters in particular, which I know was how the author wanted to present her in the story. You were meant to totally dislike her up until the very end. The other three witches are absolutely wonderful to get to know.

This book definitely brings forth many societal issues. The author presents them directly, in a no bones type of way. Completely straight to the point without holding back. It made the impact of these issues more relatable and understandable. She did a good job pointing out the discrimination that occurs as a result of the different lifestyles people lead. I do wish she would have chosen one issue to focus on as having so many made the book feel forced in nature.

Overall, it's obvious the author had one idea in mind for this book: tear down "norms" because they no longer exist as many have always thought they were. But I think she could have done a better job incorporating some world building to help set the tone a bit better.

About the author:

Queen of Teen 2014 Juno Dawson is the multi award-winning author of six novels for young adults. In 2016, she authored the best-selling World Book Day title: SPOT THE DIFFERENCE.

Her next novel is the beautiful and emotive MARGOT & ME (Jan 2017) which will be followed by her adult debut, the memoir THE GENDER GAMES (Jul 17).

Juno also wrote the bestselling non-fiction guide to life for young LGBT people, THIS BOOK IS GAY. In 2016 a follow-up, MIND YOUR HEAD, featured everything a young person needs to know about mental health.

Juno is a regular contributor to Attitude Magazine, Glamour Magazine and The Guardian and has contributed to news items on BBC Women’s Hour, Front Row, ITV News, Channel 5 News, This Morning and Newsnight concerning sexuality, identity, literature and education.

Juno’s titles have received rave reviews and have been translated into more than ten languages around the world.

Juno grew up in West Yorkshire, writing imaginary episodes of Doctor Who. She later turned her talent to journalism, interviewing luminaries such as Steps and Atomic Kitten before writing a weekly serial in a Brighton newspaper. In 2015, Juno announced her intention to undergo gender transition and live as a woman.

Juno writes full time and lives in Brighton. In her spare time, she STILL loves Doctor Who and is a keen follower of horror films and connoisseur of pop music. In 2014 Juno became a School Role Model for the charity STONEWALL.