Magical Realism

Witch Of Wild Things | Book Review

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About The Book
Sage Flores returns to her hometown eight years after her sister’s death, resuming her job at Cranberry Rose Company. She’s forced to work with Tennessee Reyes, her high school crush who she never fully got over. While juggling a ghostly sister, a stormy sibling, and an old flame, Sage navigates the tangled roots of her past and the new growth of her heart.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3BBsStZ

My Rating

This book is perfect for bridging the gap between summer and fall, with a mix of witchcraft and a touch of magic. Think Practical Magic meets Encanto and I loved every minute of it. The plot, characters, and unique twist on a second-chance romance make it a really engaging read. The romance involves secret high school pen pals—or AIM friends—which adds a fun twist to the typical second-chance story.

Sage Flores, the main character, is incredibly well-developed. She’s dealing with guilt over her younger sister Skye’s death, a tough relationship with her other sister Teal, and still holding on to her anger that when they were growing up, she had to act like a mother figure to her siblings and wasn’t able to be a kid herself. Despite these challenges, Sage’s protective nature and her journey to stand up for herself make her a character you’ll root for.

Even though second-chance romances usually aren’t my thing, this one stood out because it’s different from the usual plot. The reasons for the original conflict make sense, especially considering the characters were teenagers. Tennessee, the love interest, is fantastic and definitely falls first. There is something about the guy falling first in a romance that I just love.

“They needed to break. So now the roots and leave can come out and everything can bloom again.”

The side characters, especially Sage’s sisters Teal and Skye, add a lot to the story. Teal might come off as a bit harsh at first, but there’s more to her character than meets the eye. I also enjoyed Skye’s fun and adventurous personality. The magic tied to the Flores family is really interesting and make the plot even more compelling. I’m a sucker for a good witchy story, and this one didn’t disappoint.

The writing is great, balancing fast-paced action with slower, more thoughtful moments. Even when the plot slows down, I stayed hooked on the characters and their journey. The ending is satisfying and leaves room for more stories with these characters.

Overall, I wouldn’t call this a romcom but more of a magical realism or paranormal romance. If you’re interested in or new to romantasy, this is a good place to start. It’s a lighter take on the genre, with less world-building but a similar feel, making it an enjoyable read.

If you enjoyed this review or have read the book yourself, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please like, comment, and share this post. Don’t forget to follow the blog for more reviews and bookish content.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Unmaking Of June Farrow | Book Review

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About The Book
In Jasper, North Carolina, June Farrow, haunted by her family’s curse and her mother’s mysterious disappearance, starts experiencing strange visions and a mysterious door. Determined to end the curse, she discovers cryptic clues after her grandmother’s death, leading her to the door she thought was a hallucination. Crossing the threshold, June embarks on a journey that changes her past and future, uncovers her town’s secrets, and entangles her in an epic love story.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3WK9EdB

My Rating

From the get-go, this novel had me hooked with its fast-paced storytelling and intriguing mix of magical realism and mystery. It’s not often you come across a book that combines these elements so seamlessly, but this one does it brilliantly. If you’re a fan of Hallmark’s “The Way Home,” you’ll definitely get similar vibes from this book.

From the start, this novel grabbed my attention with its fast-paced story and interesting mix of magical realism and mystery. It’s rare to find a book that blends these elements so well, but this one nails it. If you like Hallmark’s “The Way Home,” you’ll definitely get those vibes from this book.

What pulled me in was the character-driven plot. We follow June Farrow, who’s dealing with her grandmother’s recent passing while trying to solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance. Plus, there’s a weird illness affecting her family that makes her question her sanity. It might sound like a lot, but the story flows really well and never feels messy or overwhelming.

June Farrow is such a relatable character. She’s dealing with a lot of stress and uncertainty, yet she stays composed and focused. Personally, I can’t imagine staying as calm as she does, especially when faced with traveling to the past and uncovering hidden family secrets. Her journey through these crazy events is both inspiring and engaging, keeping me hooked from beginning to end.

“The curse on the Farrows had broken the natural laws of the world, and with it had come so much suffering. But in this, there’d been the most unexpected of gifts.”

One of the things I loved most about this book is its originality. It’s hard to find a story that feels so fresh and unique, especially in the magical realism and time travel genres. This novel keeps you guessing with twists and turns you won’t see coming. It’s a total original, and I couldn’t get enough of the fascinating elements throughout the story.

The writing style is another highlight. It’s beautifully written without being too fancy or slow. The prose flows smoothly, making it easy to get lost in the story. Each chapter moves the narrative forward, ensuring there are no dull moments. This makes it perfect for those who might find other literary fiction books a bit too slow-paced.

My only complaint about the book was the ending, which was a bit confusing to me. However, I think it’s hard to create a satisfying conclusion when the story deals with time travel. I struggled to understand how it all came together and the reasoning behind the Farrow family’s secret ability. Still, that might be more of a me problem than an issue with the story.

Overall, this is a fantastic read that I couldn’t put down. It’s a story that will stick with me for years, thanks to its well-developed characters, imaginative plot, and beautiful writing. If you’re looking for a book that’s both gripping and original, I highly recommend giving this one a try. It’s definitely worth your time.

I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve read this book, so please share in the comments! By liking and sharing this post, you’re helping my blog grow and reach more readers. Don’t forget to follow the blog to stay updated on all my bookish content!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Weyward // Book Review

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About The Book
In 2019, Kate escapes her abusive partner to live in Weyward Cottage, inherited from a mysterious great-aunt. In 1619, Altha awaits trial for murder, desperately fighting accusations of witchcraft. During World War II, Violet is confined to her family’s estate, seeking answers about her mother’s mysterious past. These intertwined stories of Kate, Altha, and Violet span five centuries, highlighting their resilience. “Weyward” is a captivating debut novel about female strength.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4bpemlU

My Rating

I’ll admit, I wasn’t immediately drawn into the story, but there was something about it that kept me intrigued. As I delved deeper, I found myself captivated by the historical elements and witchy vibes. Plus, the way all three characters and timelines were woven together was nothing short of brilliant.

I’ve never been a huge fan of historical fiction, but the book has completely changed my perspective. Turns out, I have a soft spot for stories that blend history with a touch of magical realism. Who knew? I think that the writing really helped me enjoy the genre, and I’ll definitely be reading more books by this author in the future.

Let’s talk characters. Altha, Violet, and Kate—three women from different time periods, each with their own story to tell. While I liked them all, I couldn’t shake the feeling that they lacked distinct personalities. Still, their journeys were compelling enough to keep me turning the pages.

“Everything is made out of magic, leaves and trees, flowers and birds, badgers and foxes and squirrels and people. So it must be all around us.”

When it comes to pacing, it’s not what I’d call a fast-moving story. But you know what? That’s okay. The slower pace actually worked in favor of the narrative, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the plot and each character’s story. I was completely invested, despite having a pretty good idea of where the plot was headed.

Now, here’s something I didn’t love so much about the book. While I appreciated the feminist themes woven throughout, I couldn’t help but feel like the portrayal of men was a bit one-sided. Sure, not all men are saints, but lumping them all together felt a tad unfair. It would have been nice to see a broader range of male characters, acknowledging that while some men can be horrible, others can be kind and true of heart.

Overall, this is a beautifully written novel with an intriguing storyline. The ending tied everything up nicely, though I couldn’t shake the feeling that the feminist message was a bit heavy-handed. Still, it’s definitely worth a read, especially if you’re a fan of historical fiction with a magical twist. It’s 100% a girls supporting girls book, which is great, but it also contains a lot of triggering topics, so please check out Trigger Warning Database for a complete list.

Have you read “Weyward”? I’d love to hear your thoughts! And if you’re interested in checking it out, the audiobook is available on Everand—I’ve got a link (click here) for a free trial if you’re interested. Don’t forget to hit that follow button for more bookish content!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Ruthless Vows // Book Review

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About The Book
Get ready for the epic conclusion every reader of Divine Rivals has been waiting for. An unforgettable story of love and betrayal, Ruthless Vows brings Iris and Roman closer together as they face impossible choices. The epic conclusion to the intensely romantic and beautifully written story that started in Divine Rivals.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/499o0ay

My Rating

I wouldn’t say that I was disappointed in this book, by any means. However, I wouldn’t agree that it lived up to the first book. I was simultaneously putting off reading this book and dying to pick it up. Since, the first book was done so well, and the cliffhanger ending left me heartbroken, I needed to know what was going to happen. Yet, I was scared that I wasn’t going to love this conclusion as much. Before you keep reading, know that this review will have spoilers since it is the second book in a duology.

The book picks up right where the first book left off, and we find Iris living back at home with her brother heartbroken about being separated from Roman. While Roman is being healed and taken hostage (so to speak) by the god Dacre to be his personal war correspondent. And, let me just say, I couldn’t wait for Iris and Roman to find each other once again. Because, their relationship is what really makes this story for me.

Something that I loved about this book was that there weren’t any slow paced moments. The first book took a while to get into the heart of the story, but this was very fast paced. But, my favorite thing was that we didn’t wait endless chapters for Iris and Roman to meet again. The author doesn’t do slow burn, and doesn’t drags things out needlessly, which I am a major fan of. I’m an impatient girl, so if you’re like me, then you’ll enjoy the fact that she doesn’t make us wait forever for things to happen.

As for the plot, we are still following the war, but this time we get a little more context on the Gods. We learn about Dacre and a bit more about Enva. And, it went more into depth about the magic system. The first book focused more with the romance side of things, which this book does as well. However, I believe that the stakes were higher in this book than in the first.

“Write me a story where there is no ending, Kitt. Write to me and fill my empty spaces.”

We got to see more of the side characters in this book, which was nice. I loved Attie in the first book, and her playing a bigger role in this plot was great. Also, romance the author gave her was a nice added touch. And, let’s not forget Forest, Iris’ brother, we don’t see him much in the book but the author does a great job of showcasing how fighting in a war can effect someone, and the emotional and physical toll it takes on someone.

But, I will say that this book just like the first is centered on love. It shows that true love can conquer anything and the length one will go for love. If you have read the first book than you know that the war was started because of love, but in actuality in infatuation, which are to very different things. Dacre felt entitled to not only Enva but the people of the world, yet he did nothing that made him deserving of that love. The book shows that wanting love and deserving it are two very different things, and even Gods can be selfish creatures.

Overall, the book was written beautifully, and was a great conclusion to the duology. However, there were some moments that broke my heart but I kept it together and surprising didn’t cry. But, if you have read the first book and it wasn’t as intense as you would have preferred than I would suggest you giving this book a chance. It is a lot more fast paced while still being mainly a magical romance rather than a fantasy.

In the comments, let me know your thoughts on the duology as a whole. Don’t forget that you can always like and share this post with other book lovers. And please, give the follow button a push before you go, so that you can support my blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Seven Year Slip // Book Review

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About The Book
An overworked book publicist with a perfectly planned future hits a snag when she falls in love with her temporary roommate only to discover he lives seven years in the past, in this witty and wise new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Dead Romantics. After all, love is never a matter of time—but a matter of timing.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3M2jvWx

My Rating

This book is full of romance, time travel, and grief. Sure, they seem like a weird combination, but Ashley Poston somehow makes all these plot points work together. She gives us a story that deals with the past, present and future. I loved the ‘Lake House’ movie vibes of the story, yet grief is a huge topic, which at times did overshadow the romance plot.

The main character, Clementine, is struggling with her aunt’s passing, as well as the possibility of a promotion she doesn’t want. But, when her late aunt’s apartment keeps sending her backwards in time seven years, where she connects with a charming young southern man, she might be forced to start following her heart instead of her head.

I loved the romance side of things! Right away, you could feel the chemistry between Clementine and the stranger. A big thing in the story is how you just know when you’re in love with someone. And, I think that really showed when these two were together. Personally, I agree with the “when you know, you know sentiment”. I met my husband and we both just knew.

The entire story was very engaging, and I wanted to keep reading. I needed to know how things were going to turn out! Honestly, throughout the whole book, I kept guessing where things were going to go. Even though I wasn’t always right, some of my assessments were spot on. And, I loved how the past and present collided in a way that made total sense for the story.

“That was love, wasn’t it? It wasn’t just a quick drop — it was falling, over and over again, for your person.”

As for the grief plot, I felt that it was a bit heavy on the grief. However, in the author’s notes, she mentioned how she might not have tackled loss in the best way possible. I understand why loss and grief was such a big part of the story, because it really helped Clementine rethink her present life and what she wants for the future, yet was just an overwhelming dark cloud throughout the story.

The writing wasn’t my favorite, but that’s not to say it was bad either. I have read Poston’s young adult books before, and felt that her writing is very simple. But, it is easy to read, and her stories are unique in their own way. I really enjoyed how seamlessly the plot flowed, and would read another one of her adult romances in the future.

Overall, this was a solid read, with a fun magical realism element to it. I would have liked an epilogue, but that’s just a personal opinion, since the story didn’t really require it. I do want to mention something, and this might be a spoiler, but I feel that it is important to share. The book deals with suicide, so if that is at all triggering, please do keep that in mind.

In the comments, let me know if this book is on your TBR. Don’t forget to like and share this post with other book lovers. If you enjoy my content, then hit the follow button, so that you can get notified whenever there’s a new post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Mister Magic // Book Review

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About The Book
Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. Then a twist of fate brings the castmates back together at the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. But as the Circle of Friends reclaim parts of their past, they begin to wonder: Are they here by choice, or have they been lured into a trap?
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/46hkQB0

My Rating

This book was nothing like I expected, but in the best possible way. I am a very big fan of Kiersten White’s writing style and her books always seem to captivate me. The premise of the book sounded unlike anything I had heard before. A group of childhood friends, who were on a television show together, come back years later to uncover hidden secrets about their beloved TV program. It is similar to Barney but with a supernatural twist.

The book mainly follows Val, who was one of the cast members of the children’s show ‘Mister Magic.’ She had disappeared years ago, and her disappearance was the reason behind the shows cancellation. Val is an unreliable narrator, since she has no memories of her time on ‘Mister Magic.’ However, I found that the rest of her cast members were also somewhat unreliable since their memories of the show were somewhat blurry.

The plot follows Val, as she decides to join five out of six former cast members to celebrate the show’s 30th anniversary by doing a podcast that talks about the show. However, in truth, she is hoping to discover what actually happened all those years ago, and who the sixth-cast member really was. And let me tell you that the mystery aspect was done very well. Honestly, I had no idea who to trust or what was going to happen.

“Children accept absurdity because everything is absurd, everything made up of complex rules and systems that they don’t understand.”

The book was fast-paced, and it kept me engaged for the whole time. I needed to know what was going to happen! I loved seeing these former childhood friends reconnecting and forming bonds as adults. They all had their share of trauma, but I found the added found family element to be a nice touch in a thriller novel.

The only con I had with the book was a certain subject matter that I am not usually fond of in books, but to talk about it outright would be kind of spoiler-ish. All that I will say is that despite my usual distaste for this plot device, it had a remarkable lack of impact on my overall enjoyment of the book. Thus, it is nothing too earth shattering.

Overall, the supernatural element was a little weird, but I think the author did a good job by tying everything together. I did happen to figure out how the book was going to end, so, unfortunately, I was not too shocked at the outcome. However, there were a few twists that I did not see coming, and I think Kiersten White put quite some thought into the story. Although it fits more into the supernatural and magical realism category, so keep that in mind when picking it up.

In the comments, let me know what your favorite children’s show was. I was a ‘Blue’s Clues’ kid myself. Don’t forget to hit the follow button and like this post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Bloody Fool For Love // Book Review

- Bunny 1 Comment

About The Book
New York Times best-selling author William Ritter marks the beginning of an all-new series that explores prequel stories about fan-favorite Buffy characters. A verified villain. A slayer killer. A god among vampires. And most of all? A hopeless romantic… This rompy, action-packed novel inspired by one of Buffy’s most infamous bad boys is part Bonnie and Clyde, part Sherlock and Watson, with just a bit more bloodsucking.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/455nU1s

My Rating

When I heard about a ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ reimagining based on the character of Spike, I immediately added this to my TBR. I was not exactly sure of the plot before going into the book, and probably could not give you a good description of it. Unfortunately, the story is quite forgettable.

The concept of a book that explored the backstory of Spike, a beloved character, had a great deal of promise. While I have always been a fan of Spike, I found that the execution of the story was somewhat lacking. The plot left much to be desired and was difficult to follow at times. There was too much going on for my liking.

One thing I enjoyed was the setting of the book. It took place in the UK, and we got to see the side of Spike, which was a slayer-killer. However, the author did not capture the essence of the characters. Spike is supposed to be this big bad vampire, but comes off too lighthearted. Personally, I think the book generally needed to be darker and more eerie.

“Eat your heart out, Count Dracula.”

However, I appreciate the addition of Drusilla and Darla to this story. This helped connect the story slightly more to the Buffy Universe. Also, I think the author did a wonderful job bringing both these lady vampires to life. Darla reminded me very much of the one from the show. Drusilla was similar to her series counterpart as well. But I admit that I  was never really a fan of these two.

Overall, it did not capture the iconic Buffy vibes that I was hoping for. That said, it was still a good read, and the writing, although not amazing, was decent. I particularly liked the audiobook format since it helped me have a better reading experience. While this prequel did not fully meet my expectations, I would be open to reading more reimaginings in the Buffyverse.

If you enjoy bookish content like this, do not forget to like and share this post. Make sure to follow as well, to get notifications whenever I have new content!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue // Book Review

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About The Book
 A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget. France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever—and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue. But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3OdHNP2

My Rating

I had heard that this book was beautifully written with an addictive plot. Well, I do agree that that the writing was fantastic. V.E. Schwab is a wonderful author, but since I’ve read her Cassidy Blake trilogy, written as Victoria Schwab, I already knew that I loved her writing style. The writing might be one of the best things about this book.

Schwab has a way of pulling you into the story write from the first chapter. The book started off wonderful, and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. In the book, we follow a young girl named Addie LaRue, who in 1714 makes a deal with a demon. One that has lasting consequences. She shall live forever, but never be remembered by anyone.

Now tell me that plot doesn’t sound intriguing? Of course, Addie does end up meeting a boy who, by some miracle. remembers her. And, thus a romance develops. I didn’t mind the romance, but I’m not actually sure if I liked Addie or her love interest, Henry. However, I enjoyed watching the fall in love and understand each. One of my all time favorite quotes is “The greatest feeling in this world is knowing you actually mean something to someone.” And, I think that describes their relationship.

On the other hand, we have Luc who is the demon that made the deal with Addie. The book shows that they share somewhat of a bond, but their relationship is more of want vs need. Although, I will say I have a thing for a dark, mysterious bad boy so I was team Luc. And, I have no shame in saying that.

“If no one heard it, did it happen?
If a person cannot leave a mark, do they exist?”

The plot was actually pretty heartbreaking, yet I didn’t find myself crying. A big message with in the story is that sometimes the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Every choice has consequences and your life might be worse for it. That being said, love played a big part in the story mainly what you’d do for true love.

There was some LGBT representation in the book, but I would say mental health was very prevalent in the plot. Interestingly enough the mental health aspect worked well in this primarily magic realism story. Also, Addie had to do some questionable things throughout her life. Some of those things could be triggering to be. As I always say, please do your research, and look up trigger warnings before reading the book.

I think my major problems with this book, and the reason I didn’t rate it super high, is the pacing. The chapters were so long and the book it self felt very slow. As a reader, I am all about fast paced books especially when it comes to fantasies. And, this one just took me way too long to finish. Also, I’m normally fine with dual timelines but I found myself getting a bit confused with all the jumping around through time with in the story.

Overall, the book is a solid story, that I didn’t hate whatsoever. The plot was very interesting, and the writing was top notch. Not sure how I feel about the end, but I enjoyed my reading experience nonetheless. And, I will most certainly be reading more from this author.

In the comments, let me know if you think this book deserves all the hype behind it. Don’t forget to give this post a like, and share it with other book lovers. Support my little book blog by giving it a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Dark And Shallow Lies // Book Review

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About The Book
A teen girl disappears from her small town deep in the bayou, where magic festers beneath the surface of the swamp like water rot, in this chilling debut supernatural thriller for fans of Natasha Preston, Karen McManus, and Rory Power. In a town where secrets lurk just below the surface, and where a murderer is on the loose, nobody can be presumed innocent—and La Cachette’s dark and shallow lies may just rip the town apart.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/3WGq05r

My Rating

This book is a very interesting take on the YA mystery genre, because it has a magical realism element to it. In the book, Grey returns to La Cachette, Louisiana to spend the summer in the same place that her best friend, Elora, disappeared from, 6 month earlier.

In La Cachette everyone has some kind of magical ability, from being a love psychic to an empath. However, Grey, just now seventeen years old, is learning to discover her own gift. As the protagonist of the story, Grey was just okay. She wasn’t horrible or unlikable, but I wouldn’t say I loved following her either.

In my opinion, this book is way more mystery based, because there were a lot of secrets going on. The mystery of Elora disappearance did keep me interested, but not enough to where I couldn’t put the book down.

“Welcome to La Cachette, Louisiana Elevation 3 Ft. Population 106 Living Souls.”

For me, the story as a whole just didn’t work. The psychic aspect of the story was a bit weird, and La Cachette was a very twisted place. There’s also another mystery from the past that somewhat ties into the current mystery. And, there’s a romance as well. It just had a lot going on.

My biggest con was the writing. I do understand that this is a debut novel, so I am trying not to judge it too heavily. But, the book didn’t come to life for me, and man, was it slow moving. I wanted the plot to pick up, but it never really did.

Overall, the ending was solid and I do think the author has the potential to write something really good. Nevertheless, I want to say the this book isn’t comparable to Karan M. McManus’ works (as it states on GoodReads), which might be a good thing for some people. Also, the story is pretty sad, and there are some triggering things talked about in this book. One being the murder of children.

Remember that StoryGraph is a great tool for finding trigger warnings for books. Don’t forget to show your support by giving the blog a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

My Book Wishlist // Christmas 2022

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Happy Bookmas Day 18! Today, I’m going to be sharing 5 books from the top of my wishlist for this year. I have a lot of books on my Amazon wishlist, but these are the ones that I am hoping to add to my bookshelf soon. Normally, I’m a YA girl, but my wishlist is surprisingly diverse this year, which I’m happy about! So, if you’re reading this, Santa, I would love to see one or more of these books in my stocking or under the three this year!

In the comments, let me know what is at the top of your wishlist this holiday season. You can view my Amazon Book Wishlist to see other books I would love to be gifted. Don’t forget to follow my blog for more bookish content.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny