Books, Books And More Books

Title: Eva Evergreen Semi-Magical Witch

Author: Julie Abe

Published by: Hachette

Publication Date: 12/10/21

Australian RRP: $15.99

Genres: fantasy, middle-grade, 

Pages: 416

Format: Paperback

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: 

A charming new middle-grade fantasy adventure, about a young witch whose pinch of magic just might be more than enough, perfect for fans of Kiki's Delivery Service and Aru Shah and the End of Time. Sometimes all you need is a pinch of magic... Eva Evergreen is determined to earn the rank of Novice Witch before she turns thirteen years old. If she doesn't, she'll lose her magic forever. For most young witches and wizards, it's a simple enough test: ONE: Help your town, do good all around. TWO: Live there for one moon, don't leave too soon. THREE: Fly home by broomstick, the easiest of tricks. The only problem? Eva only has a pinch of magic. She summons heads of cabbage instead of flowers and gets a sunburn instead of calling down rain. And to add insult to injury, whenever she overuses her magic, she falls asleep. When she lands on the tranquil coastal town of Auteri, the residents expect a powerful witch, not a semi-magical girl. So Eva comes up with a plan: set up a magical repair shop to aid Auteri and prove she's worthy. She may have more blood than magic, but her "semi-magical fixes" repair the lives of the townspeople in ways they never could have imagined. Only, Eva's bit of magic may not be enough when the biggest magical storm in history threatens the town she's grown to love. Eva must conjure up all of the magic, bravery, and cleverness she can muster or Auteri and her dreams of becoming a witch will wash away with the storm.

Review:

I LOVED THIS BOOK! Eva Evergreen Semi-Magical Witch is a middle-grade fantasy story full of adventure, friendship and magic. The beautiful writing and interesting characters had me completely enthralled in the story. I’m so excited to continue reading the series.

Eva Evergreen wants to be a novice witch, but first, she needs to go on her witch's quest. Eva only has a pinch of magic; she is excited to learn more on her quest. After Eva uses magic she is exhausted and goes faint. I experience a lot of fatigue with my chronic illnesses, everyday tasks can be completely exhausting so I could relate to Eva needing to rest after using her magic. I loved how much Eva became a part of the town and community. Friendship was such a big part of the story, it was great to see Eva’s friendship develop with Charlotte and Davy.

Title: Her Time to Shine

Author: Fiona McCallum

Published by: HarperCollins 

Publication Date: 30/03/22

Australian RRP: $32.99

Genres: fiction, contemporary, 

Pages: 432

Format: eARC

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:

Sometimes serendipity comes knocking, and life leads us to the most surprising places ...

It's never too late to find your true self.

While very pretty, the tiny town of Melrose isn't where Erica thought she'd be at almost fifty. And working in a funeral home and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, while navigating her grief as a recent widow, is not how she thought her life would look either. But she's committed to her lovely new boss, Walter, who gave her a chance when she so desperately needed it.

Erica's friends and daughters back in Adelaide cheer her on as she discovers a genuine love for her new job, forms friendships and immerses herself in the local community. But why is she being plagued with fresh bouts of anxiety and flashes of partial memories of her brother Mark who died when she was eleven? Why is there so much about him she doesn't know and can't remember? And why does it feel like it's more about her than him?

But she has to put it all aside when, despite being happy and settled, Erica is suddenly called upon to step up and face her deepest fear. If she can, what will she discover about herself and her past? And what will it mean for her future?

From Australia's master storyteller, a tender story about finding strength and fulfilment after major upheaval, and discovering you can only outrun your true calling for so long ...

Trigger Warnings: PTSD, stalker, grief, death, 

Review: 

Her Time to Shine by Fiona McCallum is a contemporary fiction story about life in your late 40s, starting over and solving the mysteries of the past. The story follows Erica, a late 40s widow and mother of two, as she embarks on a new life in the country. Her Time to Shine showed how hard it is to settle into a new place and start a new job. The side characters were great; I especially liked Walter and Erica’s working relationship. Also, Bruce is the most adorable dog, and I loved how much her character brought to the story. I felt like the writing captured the setting of a small country town in South Australia and the comings and goings of country life. I liked the discussions of mental health in this book. However, I felt the story was slow-paced and dialogue-heavy, which sometimes made the book hard to get through.

Overall, if you are looking for a story about moving to a small town and finding yourself, I recommend picking up a copy of Her Time to Shine.

Title: Gallant

Author: V. E. Schwab

Published by: Titan Publishing

Publication Date: 01/03/22

Australian RRP: $32.99

Genres: young adult, fantasy, 

Pages: 310

Format: Paperback

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

Number one New York Times bestselling author Victoria Schwab spins a dark, original tale about our world full of life a world that mirrors it haunted by death and the manor that stands between them. The Secret Garden meets Crimson Peak in this novel perfect for readers of Holly Black and Neil Gaiman. Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home, it doesn’t matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways. Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant but not. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. Now Olivia sees what has unravelled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from. Olivia has always wanted to belong somewhere, but will she take her place as a Prior, protecting our world against the Master of the House? Or will she take her place beside him?

Trigger Warnings: ableism, bullying, grief, death, death of a parent, 

Review: 

Gallant by V. E. Schwab is a young adult spooky tale about family, finding yourself, and home. From the first page, the eerie atmosphere of the story captured my attention. V. E Schwab's writing is engaging and weaves a beautifully spooky tale.

Gallant tells the story of sixteen-year-old Olivia Prior as she is summoned to an estate and finds the family she didn't know she had. Olivia has no voice and communicates through sign language, drawings and writing things down. I loved how the illustrations throughout Gallant helped to tell the story. Olivia is such an interesting character; she was determined to solve the mysteries of Gallant and what happened to her parents. The feelings of grief, loneliness and fear are explored so well in this book.

Overall, If you are looking for a dark, spooky and atmospheric tale, I highly recommend reading Gallant.

Title: Wendy, Darling

Author: A. C. Wise

Published by: Titan Books

Publication Date: 01/09/21

Australian RRP: $19.99

Genres: Fantasy, historical fiction

Pages: 336

Format: Paperback

Rating: 3.5/5

Synopsis:

For those that lived there, Neverland was a children’s paradise. No rules, no adults, only endless adventure and enchanted forests all led by the charismatic boy who would never grow old.

But Wendy Darling grew up. She has a husband and a young daughter called Jane, a life in London. But one night, after all these years, Peter Pan returns. Wendy finds him outside her daughter s window, looking to claim a new mother for his Lost Boys. But instead of Wendy, he takes Jane.

Now a grown woman, a mother, a patient and a survivor, Wendy must follow Peter back to Neverland to rescue her daughter and finally face the darkness at the heart of the island.

Trigger Warnings: homophobia, misogyny, bullying, physical abuse, torture, racism,

Review:

Wendy, Darling is a unique twist on the story of Peter Pan. It follows Wendy as an adult as she navigates life after Neverland. Wendy, Darling also follows Wendy's daughter Jane as she is taken away to Neverland by Peter Pan. I was so intrigued by the premise of this story, and I liked how it captured the darkness of the original Peter Pan story by J. M. Barrie. However, I felt the ending was drawn out, and the climax scene lost some of the tense atmosphere that had been building up throughout the story. Jane and Wendy were interesting characters to read about; they both had different approaches and feelings regarding Neverland. It was heartbreaking to read about Wendy's life after Neverland at St Bernadette's. I liked how Wendy, Darling touched on important topics such as motherhood, friendship, mental health, sexuality and misogyny.

Overall, If you are looking for a dark reimagining of Peter Pan, I recommend picking up a copy of Wendy, Darling.

Title: Luminous

Author: Mara Rutherford

Published by: Harlequin Australia

Publication Date: 05/01/22

Australian RRP: $19.99

Genre: fantasy, young adult, 

Pages: 384

Format: Paperback

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: 

Her sister has been taken, and the only boy she’s ever loved has disappeared. To get them back, she’ll have to use the magic she’s always feared. Liora has shone from within ever since a star collided with her house when she was a child. Since that day, she has spent her life indoors, only venturing out on the brightest days when her magic can’t be detected. For discovery could mean falling prey to the king’s warlock, Darius, who uses mages’ magic to grow his own power. But when her worst nightmare comes to pass, and Darius discovers her, she’s not the one taken. Instead, he demands that her younger sister return to the capital with him to work under his watchful eye. To make matters worse, Evran, Liora’s childhood friend and the only one who knows her secret, goes missing following Darius’s visit, leaving Liora with no one to turn to. To find Evran and to save her sister, Liora must embrace the power she has always feared. But the greatest danger she’ll face is yet to come, for Darius has plans in motion that will cause the world to fall into chaos and Liora and Evran may be the only ones who can stop him.

Trigger Warnings: grief, death, animal death, 

Review:

Luminous is a young adult fantasy story filled with magic, stars, shadows, love and family. From the first chapter, I found Liora's story intriguing. Mara Rutherford's writing was enchanting; the twists and turns of the story kept me reading until the end.

Luminous follows Liora a young witch who is in hiding and yet to learn the full extent of her powers. I loved finding out more about her magic and seeing it develop as the story progressed. The balance between light and dark magic in Luminous was interesting. At first, I wasn't sure about the romance but as the story went on and I got to know the characters more, the love story felt more believable. I think what I liked the most about Luminous was seeing Liora's self-confidence grow throughout the story.

Overall, Luminous was an enjoyable read. I recommend picking up a copy if you love fantasy stories about magic, love and family.