witchy romance? YES!!

Payback’s a Witch – Lana Harper 

Witches, sorcerers, magic, competition, LGBTQ+, romance, fiction. 

Rating 10/10

Emmy ran away from Thistle Grove and the witch part of her to find her path and to run away from the heartbreak that had happened. This is all the fault of Gareth who broke her heart and she put a self-exile away from home. However, there is a tournament where she has to be a part of that is tradition. She runs into a familiar face, Talia, who just got her heartbroken. Talia tells Emmy it was Gareth’s fault. The next day she runs into her best friend who’s also got heartbroken by Gareth. Talia proposes an idea to get revenge, the three women that Gareth dated, together with getting revenge. Each of them goes with that idea. As time progresses, Emmy learns that her being away has caused some emotional wreckage with not only her family but with those who loved and cared for her. She also begins to fall for Talia during the tournament. Emmy has to choose her destiny, stay here or leave town again. 

I got this book strictly because of booktok. I was curious because of the way that booktok was advertising this book as a witchy queer romance comedy. Let me tell you that booktok was not wrong. This was fun and sweet and insane to read. This had some elements of a slow-burn romance which is good for this type of novel. I loved how all three women ganged up against this one dude which was funny. The author did a great job with the witch lore and some world-building that was like breadcrumbs in the story. Harper wanted the audience to focus on the revenge and the romance part. The lore was simply helping the plot along and it wasn’t too distracting. Each character had and served a purpose for the plot. Highly recommend getting this novel to read. It was fun and romantic to read.

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fantastic manga that’s magical and enriching

Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina (Vol 1) – Story by Jougi Shiraishi, Art by Itsuki Nanao, Character design by Azure 

Magic, fantasy, witches, wizards, teen, manga, fiction. 

Rating 10/10

Elaina, ever since she was a small child, had read books about magic and faraway places. She wanted to become a witch and was willing to do all that she can do to become one. She grows up to the teenage age to take an entrance exam to become an apprentice to a witch. Along her journey, she meets extraordinary people who she helps as she learns to become a full fledged witch.

I am saddened that I was only able to get the first book of this possible Wandering Witch series. This was really cute and heartfelt to read. We got to see along with Elaina the world she is in. The artwork is equally amazingly detailed and the dialogue felt so natural. There were a lot of good and learning moments for the protagonist that readers can take the lesson too. I felt myself wanting to be right there in the action with Elaina but unfortunately book jumping is only fantasy. I suggest reading this book. This will take readers on adventures that are unique and different.

before Ariel…

Sea Witch – Sarah Henning

Fairy tales, Hans Christian Anderson, young adult, fiction.

Rating 9/10

Evelyn and her Prince friend, Nik, witnessed their friend drown four years ago. Both still shaken up about it but they mourned for so long. They had grown exceptionally close to each other. One day, there is unease seas that throws Nik into the ocean and later a mermaid saves him. When Evelyn goes to her hidden cove, she notices the mermaid who looks like her deceased friend. Later on, she runs into a girl who is a spitting image of her long-deceased friend. The new girl introduces herself as Annemette. Evelyn takes her to see Nik. Nik and Annemette kick it off while Evelyn turns her attention to the prince’s cousin. After the long day, Annemette confesses that she is a mermaid as well as only has four days to remain on land to find out if the Prince is her true love. She wants to remain on land and never return to the sea. Evelyn promises to help her with just that. What Evelyn doesn’t know is that she is to be made a fool by Annemette because she came back on land fully knowing what had happened to her and craves revenge on her friends who abandoned her.

I have to say that I was not expecting this novel to become dark as it had. I should have seen the signs however that this novel would have taken a turn. I did have had pity in Evelyn because she thought all along that this mysterious girl was their long dead friend and there was ought to be some form of resentment. I enjoyed reading from a perspective of a villain and their origin story. I’d like to think it forms some sort of equal judgement to understand where they are coming from and why they are the way they are. I loved this novel and the little surprises here and there that the author embedded into the plot. This novel is worth reading and I might try to get my hands on the sequel. I loved the writing style for sure. The style was very immersive into the world that Henning took the reader into. 

A Weird Surprise?

Zero’s Familiar 1-3

Story: Noboru Yamaguchi

Art: Nana Mochizuki

Manga, romance, comedy, witches, wizards, familiars, fiction.

Rating 10/10

Louise is a mage wanting to summon her familiar as the first test of becoming a mage. When she summons a mage, it’s a human as her familiar by the name of Saito. Saito, being equally confused, is distraught about how he ended up in the realm of magic and as this girl’s familiar. Saito and Louise begin to adjust to each other and the challenges they will come across together. Sticking to each other, they are partners in crime for what life puts in front of them. They slowly fall for each other.

This was made into an anime that I watched first then sought out for the manga version. I love this manga for how weird it goes, and it goes in a direction that makes the reader question what they are reading. This was hilarious and weird. I love this manga and wished it was longer.

LOVE Sabrina

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: Season of the Witch, A prequel – Sarah Rees Brennan

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Netflix original, magic, witches, wizards, young adult, fiction.

Rating 10/10

Sabrina is coming close to her sixteenth birthday, where she will pledge her soul to the Dark Lord Satan, go to the Academy of Unseen Arts and become a full pledged witch. However, due to her mixed blood heritage, being half-mortal is causing her heart strain. Sabrina loves her mortal friends and wants to be a witch, she must choose one or the other, not both. She talks to her cousin, Ambrose, about her long-time best friend now boyfriend about a recent incident, Ambrose suggests a spell that can prove his love for Sabrina. Sabrina goes for the spell and waits to see what happens. Suddenly Harvey is head over heels in love with Sabrina and does multiple acts of love for her as well as following her around and doing things for her. When Sabrina has had enough, she attempts to reverse the spell or fix Harvey, this goes dark and wrong.

I am a huge fan of the Netflix series, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and found myself drawn to the chilling aspect of the show for sure. Also, the plot line as well. I had originally saw this book on the Target shelf and was contemplating to purchase right away or not. I had decided to wait. The next day, however, I went to a library I hadn’t visited in a while and saw this book on the shelf, tis was fate for me to borrow this book. I am glad to have read this. This novel stuck with the lore of the show completely and was well thought into. I was amazed of how much was packed into such a small book. I legitimately read this novel in just a day, not only because this was a small book, but the fact is that this was a page turner and couldn’t get enough of the story. I recommend this novel and the show on Netflix.