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Rewitched #1
Rewitched
Belladonna Blackthorn hasn't lost her magical spark . . . but she hasn't seen it in a while, either.
Balancing work at her beloved Lunar Books with protecting it from her toxic boss, who's running it into the ground, and all the while concealing her witchcraft from the non-wicches around her - Belle is burnt out. Perfecting the potential of her magic is the last thing on her mind.
But when her 30th birthday brings a summons from her coven, and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle risks losing her magic forever. With the month of October to fix things, and signs that dark forces may be working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get - from the women in her life, from an unlikely mentor figure, and even an (infuriatingly handsome) watchman who's sworn to protect her . . .
With slow burn romance, found family and an uplifting message about self-love, this is the cosy autumnal read that Lucy's followers, and the market at large, are looking for.
Balancing work at her beloved Lunar Books with protecting it from her toxic boss, who's running it into the ground, and all the while concealing her witchcraft from the non-wicches around her - Belle is burnt out. Perfecting the potential of her magic is the last thing on her mind.
But when her 30th birthday brings a summons from her coven, and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle risks losing her magic forever. With the month of October to fix things, and signs that dark forces may be working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get - from the women in her life, from an unlikely mentor figure, and even an (infuriatingly handsome) watchman who's sworn to protect her . . .
With slow burn romance, found family and an uplifting message about self-love, this is the cosy autumnal read that Lucy's followers, and the market at large, are looking for.
407 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2024
3089 people are currently reading
68712 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Jane Wood
5 books1,404 followersI found myself falling into the world of writing almost by accident. My blogging friends at university were applying for swanky magazine internships, and I decided I should probably do something useful like that for myself. It was an obvious decision that almost made itself on my behalf, because writing is just who I am, and reading has always just been what I do.
Since happily stumbling my way into my first paid writing position for teen website Sugarscape back in 2013, I've been lucky and thrilled to find myself working freelance for giant titles like Marie Claire US, Cosmopolitan UK, MTV and Metro amongst others.
I am currently attempting to write my first fiction book. Wish me luck! I'm going slowly insane with it, and I am reassuringly told that's a good sign.
Since happily stumbling my way into my first paid writing position for teen website Sugarscape back in 2013, I've been lucky and thrilled to find myself working freelance for giant titles like Marie Claire US, Cosmopolitan UK, MTV and Metro amongst others.
I am currently attempting to write my first fiction book. Wish me luck! I'm going slowly insane with it, and I am reassuringly told that's a good sign.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,371 reviews
November 2, 2024
✩ 1.75 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Magical Trials
➼ Fate of the FMC’s Magic is on the Line
➼ Mystery
➼ Sinister Forces at Work
➼ Personal Growth & Self-Discovery
➼ A Sprinkle of Romance
➼ Third Person POV
I wanted to love this so much, but sadly it just didn’t deliver. It started pretty strong and honestly had a pretty solid ending, but there were about 250 pages in the middle that were PAINFULLY dull. The romance aspect was almost nonexistent and the trials she went through were either too intense for like 2 pages or drug out for 20. I enjoyed the trial where she interacted with her younger self, and the mystery was somewhat interesting, but everything else felt completely underdeveloped.
Belle’s lack of knowledge about her magic and the expectations associated with them also felt pretty unrealistic to me. She works in a book store, but she never read the book that would teach her about her magic? This detail kind of reminded me of Discovery of Witches, but at least that MC’s reasoning for not learning about her magic made sense because of her trauma and lack of magical ability. By comparison, the explanation this book provided for Belle’s ignorance felt extremely weak.
Maybe this will make me sound like a Yank, but there were also a few British terms and modern phrases that I think should have been removed. It might sound nitpicky, but a witch talking about needing to “hoover” multiple times just kind of killed the magic for me. I think the author was trying to emphasize that she just wanted to be normal, but she didn’t need to try quite so hard.
This book is the perfect example of why I don’t buy books until AFTER I read them. Once I’ve paid for them, I am too stubborn to DNF and I REALLY should have DNF’d this one. I know, I know… you guys told me to. You were right! I hope Spookily Yours doesn’t let me down like this book did! 🤞🏻
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Y’all, I’m really struggling with this one. 😩 I am just so incredibly bored. 😴 Been trying to read it all month and I just can’t get into it. I’m seriously considering letting Alexa read this to me, so you know the situation is dire!
Pre-Read: If this is even half as cute and cozy as the cover promises, I’ll be a happy gal. 🤗✨
What to Expect:
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Magical Trials
➼ Fate of the FMC’s Magic is on the Line
➼ Mystery
➼ Sinister Forces at Work
➼ Personal Growth & Self-Discovery
➼ A Sprinkle of Romance
➼ Third Person POV
I wanted to love this so much, but sadly it just didn’t deliver. It started pretty strong and honestly had a pretty solid ending, but there were about 250 pages in the middle that were PAINFULLY dull. The romance aspect was almost nonexistent and the trials she went through were either too intense for like 2 pages or drug out for 20. I enjoyed the trial where she interacted with her younger self, and the mystery was somewhat interesting, but everything else felt completely underdeveloped.
Belle’s lack of knowledge about her magic and the expectations associated with them also felt pretty unrealistic to me. She works in a book store, but she never read the book that would teach her about her magic? This detail kind of reminded me of Discovery of Witches, but at least that MC’s reasoning for not learning about her magic made sense because of her trauma and lack of magical ability. By comparison, the explanation this book provided for Belle’s ignorance felt extremely weak.
Maybe this will make me sound like a Yank, but there were also a few British terms and modern phrases that I think should have been removed. It might sound nitpicky, but a witch talking about needing to “hoover” multiple times just kind of killed the magic for me. I think the author was trying to emphasize that she just wanted to be normal, but she didn’t need to try quite so hard.
This book is the perfect example of why I don’t buy books until AFTER I read them. Once I’ve paid for them, I am too stubborn to DNF and I REALLY should have DNF’d this one. I know, I know… you guys told me to. You were right! I hope Spookily Yours doesn’t let me down like this book did! 🤞🏻
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Y’all, I’m really struggling with this one. 😩 I am just so incredibly bored. 😴 Been trying to read it all month and I just can’t get into it. I’m seriously considering letting Alexa read this to me, so you know the situation is dire!
Pre-Read: If this is even half as cute and cozy as the cover promises, I’ll be a happy gal. 🤗✨
September 18, 2024
Absolutely adored this! The perfect autumnal witchy read, so incredibly well written, funny and full of heart. The message of learning to have faith in yourself hit home with me. I hope there’s more where this came from because I want to move into this world of spellcasting, cinnamon rolls, cozy bookshops and floating cats!! More in depth thoughts will follow on my YouTube channel, Leora Aileen 🔮🕯️🍂🌛
August 19, 2025
In a Nutshell: A cozy fantasy with an immature lead character who never acts her age. Decent plot intent but too padded out. More of monotony than magic. This was a slogfest for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Let’s begin with a hypothetical situation. Suppose you learn that you have a secret magical talent, and someone more experienced hands you a book to help you hone your skill. You ignore the book and use your magic as you wish for personal benefit. After more than a decade, the person comes and says that your prowess is going to be tested within a few days, and if you fail, the consequences will be severe.
Question 1: What would you do?
A. Pick up the book and study as much as you can within the limited time to be well-prepared for the test?
B. Hurriedly peruse through the book for a couple of hours and try your best to wing your way through the test?
C. Ignore the book and go to the superiors *demanding* clemency, claiming that you had no idea that you would be tested?
Question 2: What would the senior who gave you the book do if they learnt that you weren’t aware of the test?
A. Offer an extension on the deadline but with a firm warning about not taking it lightly again?
B. Strip away your talent with no sympathy because you should have been prepared better?
C. Acknowledge that it was their fault for not telling you about the test (despite the fact that the book mentions it) and give you a special mentor to ace it on a future date?
If your answer is (C) for both questions, this book is for you.
My answer was not C.
While many readers don’t prefer unlikeable lead characters, I actually enjoy the complexity such characters bring to the narrative and the growth that we see in their personality as the pages go ahead. (Would ‘The Christmas Carol’ have been as impressive if Ebenezer Scrooge were a good fellow from the start?) However, there’s unlikeable, and there’s stupid! Belle firmly falls in the second category.
Belle is a paradox: entitled and wishy-washy at once. She has the tendency of being aggressive with some people without justification, and she also allows others to walk over her. She’s opinionated, but is also wary of other’s opinions. Can’t forget the biggest contradiction, which tears a big fat hole in the base premise: Belle is a book lover but she doesn’t even read the book gifted to her about her magical talents. (Why on earth would a bibliophile not read a book about magic!?!??)
It is next to impossible to accept that Belle is thirty! 🙄 At no point in the narrative does she behave in a mature, adult manner. Her only reaction towards issues is to throw a tantrum and either cry or yell about the unfairness of the situation. (Yeah, right! Welcome to adulthood, Belle!) I can’t even say that she behaved like a teen because my teen has more common sense and self-respect in her fingernail than Belle has in her entire body. No matter how the protagonist is, you should be able to root for them. But if I were in the panel that was testing Belle, I would have taken the opposing side because I found all the arguments against Belle legitimate.
One character says to Belle at one point in the narrative: "You sure have a lot to say for someone who doesn't really know that they're talking about." That sums up the main problem. And as a major chunk of the book aims to make us support Belle’s quest of saving her magic, I simply couldn’t enjoy the story.
It's not like Belle was the only problem area of this book.
😒 It is mostly repetitive and boring in execution.
😒 The pacing is terribly slow.
😒 Barely any scene development, with most of the progression happening only through conversations.
😒 A pile of descriptions (beautifully written in many cases) and hardly any story. If I had to crunch the plot to its bare essentials, the book would last just fifty pages or so.
😒 The lacklustre worldbuilding that doesn’t even explain how the interconnection between witches and “non-wicches” came to be. (On an aside, can someone please explain to me why witch and “wicche” couldn’t be spelt the same way though they mean the same thing and are probably pronounced the same way? What new fantastical nonsense is this?!)
😒 The budding relationship – I just didn’t see the connect! Why was the poor fellow so interested in a girl who didn’t ever speak a kind word to him? (To be fair, the romance is just a minor subplot and doesn’t steal away focus from the core story, which I appreciate.)
😒 It doesn’t take a genius to see how the story will end. So guessable!
😒 Oh, and a womb, aka the uterus, isn’t round like a bowl. 🙄🤦🏻♀️ It is shaped like an inverted pear. Issued in public interest!
On the positive side,
🥰 The cover: perfect for the genre
🥰 I do like the idea of seeing a protagonist who hasn’t figured out everything even at thirty. Even though I found her mostly annoying, this factor was refreshing.
🥰 Nice to see an older mentor instead of seeing a typical young guy who ends up being the romantic interest.
🥰 Ariadne, Belle’s human roommate. A bit overenthusiastic but still a delightful character.
🥰 A couple of the reveals in the climax.
As is clear, the skew of my feedback is heavily tilted towards the negative, and the five positives are for relatively minor reasons. Nothing about the book feels like it was written for adults. In fact, it seems childish even if read as a NA novel. The core content is so diluted that it could have worked far better as a novella.
This is the debut book by an established influencer. I wish I had known this before. Nothing against her, but influencer books tend to have bloated ratings because of their fan base. As someone from an older generation, I do not get this new trend of online influencers and don’t follow anyone in this category. I avoid books about and by influencers, so this entered my TBR only by fluke.
Sorry, but I cannot recommend this. YMMV. So please read other reviews and take a better-informed call.
1.5 stars.
My thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and Ace for making the DRC of “Rewitched” a ‘Read Now’ title on NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Belle, a witch who hides her magical powers from the humans around her, used to enjoy working at Lunar Books, but her new boss seems intent on butchering any customer-friendly ideas under the guise of corporate efficiency. To add to her troubles, just before her thirtieth birthday, there is a summons from her coven: there will be a trial to test her worthiness, and if she fails to pass the test, her magic will be stripped away. Belle has no choice but to prove that she deserves her magic, even if it means interacting with a mentor of questionable integrity and an intrusive “watchman” sworn to protect her.
The story comes to us in Belle’s third-person perspective.
Let’s begin with a hypothetical situation. Suppose you learn that you have a secret magical talent, and someone more experienced hands you a book to help you hone your skill. You ignore the book and use your magic as you wish for personal benefit. After more than a decade, the person comes and says that your prowess is going to be tested within a few days, and if you fail, the consequences will be severe.
Question 1: What would you do?
A. Pick up the book and study as much as you can within the limited time to be well-prepared for the test?
B. Hurriedly peruse through the book for a couple of hours and try your best to wing your way through the test?
C. Ignore the book and go to the superiors *demanding* clemency, claiming that you had no idea that you would be tested?
Question 2: What would the senior who gave you the book do if they learnt that you weren’t aware of the test?
A. Offer an extension on the deadline but with a firm warning about not taking it lightly again?
B. Strip away your talent with no sympathy because you should have been prepared better?
C. Acknowledge that it was their fault for not telling you about the test (despite the fact that the book mentions it) and give you a special mentor to ace it on a future date?
If your answer is (C) for both questions, this book is for you.
My answer was not C.
While many readers don’t prefer unlikeable lead characters, I actually enjoy the complexity such characters bring to the narrative and the growth that we see in their personality as the pages go ahead. (Would ‘The Christmas Carol’ have been as impressive if Ebenezer Scrooge were a good fellow from the start?) However, there’s unlikeable, and there’s stupid! Belle firmly falls in the second category.
Belle is a paradox: entitled and wishy-washy at once. She has the tendency of being aggressive with some people without justification, and she also allows others to walk over her. She’s opinionated, but is also wary of other’s opinions. Can’t forget the biggest contradiction, which tears a big fat hole in the base premise: Belle is a book lover but she doesn’t even read the book gifted to her about her magical talents. (Why on earth would a bibliophile not read a book about magic!?!??)
It is next to impossible to accept that Belle is thirty! 🙄 At no point in the narrative does she behave in a mature, adult manner. Her only reaction towards issues is to throw a tantrum and either cry or yell about the unfairness of the situation. (Yeah, right! Welcome to adulthood, Belle!) I can’t even say that she behaved like a teen because my teen has more common sense and self-respect in her fingernail than Belle has in her entire body. No matter how the protagonist is, you should be able to root for them. But if I were in the panel that was testing Belle, I would have taken the opposing side because I found all the arguments against Belle legitimate.
One character says to Belle at one point in the narrative: "You sure have a lot to say for someone who doesn't really know that they're talking about." That sums up the main problem. And as a major chunk of the book aims to make us support Belle’s quest of saving her magic, I simply couldn’t enjoy the story.
It's not like Belle was the only problem area of this book.
😒 It is mostly repetitive and boring in execution.
😒 The pacing is terribly slow.
😒 Barely any scene development, with most of the progression happening only through conversations.
😒 A pile of descriptions (beautifully written in many cases) and hardly any story. If I had to crunch the plot to its bare essentials, the book would last just fifty pages or so.
😒 The lacklustre worldbuilding that doesn’t even explain how the interconnection between witches and “non-wicches” came to be. (On an aside, can someone please explain to me why witch and “wicche” couldn’t be spelt the same way though they mean the same thing and are probably pronounced the same way? What new fantastical nonsense is this?!)
😒 The budding relationship – I just didn’t see the connect! Why was the poor fellow so interested in a girl who didn’t ever speak a kind word to him? (To be fair, the romance is just a minor subplot and doesn’t steal away focus from the core story, which I appreciate.)
😒 It doesn’t take a genius to see how the story will end. So guessable!
😒 Oh, and a womb, aka the uterus, isn’t round like a bowl. 🙄🤦🏻♀️ It is shaped like an inverted pear. Issued in public interest!
On the positive side,
🥰 The cover: perfect for the genre
🥰 I do like the idea of seeing a protagonist who hasn’t figured out everything even at thirty. Even though I found her mostly annoying, this factor was refreshing.
🥰 Nice to see an older mentor instead of seeing a typical young guy who ends up being the romantic interest.
🥰 Ariadne, Belle’s human roommate. A bit overenthusiastic but still a delightful character.
🥰 A couple of the reveals in the climax.
As is clear, the skew of my feedback is heavily tilted towards the negative, and the five positives are for relatively minor reasons. Nothing about the book feels like it was written for adults. In fact, it seems childish even if read as a NA novel. The core content is so diluted that it could have worked far better as a novella.
This is the debut book by an established influencer. I wish I had known this before. Nothing against her, but influencer books tend to have bloated ratings because of their fan base. As someone from an older generation, I do not get this new trend of online influencers and don’t follow anyone in this category. I avoid books about and by influencers, so this entered my TBR only by fluke.
Sorry, but I cannot recommend this. YMMV. So please read other reviews and take a better-informed call.
1.5 stars.
My thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and Ace for making the DRC of “Rewitched” a ‘Read Now’ title on NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
October 10, 2024
Wow. This book was pure and utter magic. 50 pages in I knew this book would claim a place in my heart. I resonated with Belle SO much in so many ways. The timing of this book releasing and me reading it when i needed the comfort and resonance of its protagonist most, seems supernatural… no pun intended 👀. And the writing!!! Descriptive, beautiful and atmospheric - my favourite writing style. ♾️ stars.
November 10, 2025
Okay, one last autumnal witchy read before I dive straight into Christmas 🪄✨
"Magic in the mundane can be difficult to find, but it is always waiting patiently somewhere: snuffling quietly, curled up like a sleeping animal and ready to be found by those searching hard enough." 💖 ✨
I have to admit this book wasn’t exactly what I had anticipated 😬 I normally adore cozy witch fantasies but this wasn’t my favourite. I’m not a big fan of stories based on challenges and that is predominantly what this book wasn’t about. However, it did pick up A LOT during the second half and there were many aspects of the book I really enjoyed; the cozy vibes, most of the characters, and the underlying message of reclaiming your inner-self and overcoming self-doubt.
"‘There is much, much more to a witch than simply her technical abilities. Magic is in your spirit, Belle." ✨
This is a heartwarming and cozy fantasy about a modern day witch called Bella. She works in the most charming bookshop in London, and although she hasn’t totally lost her magical spark, she works to conceal her witchcraft from all those around her. That is until her 30th birthday summons her to prove herself worthy of her Coven's magic. At risk of losing her powers altogether, she is given until the end of October to change their minds by undergoing a series of magical trials….
But the dark forces are against her, and Bella needs all the help she can get from an unlikely mentor (Arty) and an infuriatingly handsome coven watchman (Rune). Can she beat the dark forces and retain her magical powers? 👀
Despite a rocky start, there is a lot to love about this book. The characters, and their relationships, mainly. I loved how the relationships between all of the characters grew over the course of the book. There were some that particularly stood out to me, including Bella’s relationship with Arty. I loved how from the very beginning he made her feel safe, and free to be herself. He had unwavering belief in her and supported her fully throughout the trials. I also enjoyed watching the development of Bella’s relationship with Rune, as well as witnessing her interactions with her best friend and fabulously wacky mother.
"‘Fate can’t be twisted and turned as you like, Belle. What’s meant for you is meant, no matter which turn you take or hurdle you stumble at, you’ll always end up on the path that’s meant for you." 🥰 💖 ✨
On top of that, the plot also got more exciting and interesting as it went on, and by the end 😮 - I was definitely surprised!
Overall, this is a fun and engaging autumnal fantasy with an uplifting message about self-love, and a strong found-family feel. There were so many magical (literally) moments scattered amongst a backdrop of mystery and intrigue. And, there is also a hint of slow-burning romance, although it is definitely not the major theme. I had a very enjoyable time with Bella and her family 😌
"Love, let the dust settle on choices that you’ve made or that you didn’t make. Leave all those different lives behind and make peace with the fact that this is the right one. Tell yourself: this is how my story is supposed to go, but I am the one who can write it as it’s supposed to be.’" 💖 ✨
"She had found true magic and would hold onto it tightly with both hands." 🙌🏽✨
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
"Magic in the mundane can be difficult to find, but it is always waiting patiently somewhere: snuffling quietly, curled up like a sleeping animal and ready to be found by those searching hard enough." 💖 ✨
I have to admit this book wasn’t exactly what I had anticipated 😬 I normally adore cozy witch fantasies but this wasn’t my favourite. I’m not a big fan of stories based on challenges and that is predominantly what this book wasn’t about. However, it did pick up A LOT during the second half and there were many aspects of the book I really enjoyed; the cozy vibes, most of the characters, and the underlying message of reclaiming your inner-self and overcoming self-doubt.
"‘There is much, much more to a witch than simply her technical abilities. Magic is in your spirit, Belle." ✨
This is a heartwarming and cozy fantasy about a modern day witch called Bella. She works in the most charming bookshop in London, and although she hasn’t totally lost her magical spark, she works to conceal her witchcraft from all those around her. That is until her 30th birthday summons her to prove herself worthy of her Coven's magic. At risk of losing her powers altogether, she is given until the end of October to change their minds by undergoing a series of magical trials….
But the dark forces are against her, and Bella needs all the help she can get from an unlikely mentor (Arty) and an infuriatingly handsome coven watchman (Rune). Can she beat the dark forces and retain her magical powers? 👀
Despite a rocky start, there is a lot to love about this book. The characters, and their relationships, mainly. I loved how the relationships between all of the characters grew over the course of the book. There were some that particularly stood out to me, including Bella’s relationship with Arty. I loved how from the very beginning he made her feel safe, and free to be herself. He had unwavering belief in her and supported her fully throughout the trials. I also enjoyed watching the development of Bella’s relationship with Rune, as well as witnessing her interactions with her best friend and fabulously wacky mother.
"‘Fate can’t be twisted and turned as you like, Belle. What’s meant for you is meant, no matter which turn you take or hurdle you stumble at, you’ll always end up on the path that’s meant for you." 🥰 💖 ✨
On top of that, the plot also got more exciting and interesting as it went on, and by the end 😮 - I was definitely surprised!
Overall, this is a fun and engaging autumnal fantasy with an uplifting message about self-love, and a strong found-family feel. There were so many magical (literally) moments scattered amongst a backdrop of mystery and intrigue. And, there is also a hint of slow-burning romance, although it is definitely not the major theme. I had a very enjoyable time with Bella and her family 😌
"Love, let the dust settle on choices that you’ve made or that you didn’t make. Leave all those different lives behind and make peace with the fact that this is the right one. Tell yourself: this is how my story is supposed to go, but I am the one who can write it as it’s supposed to be.’" 💖 ✨
"She had found true magic and would hold onto it tightly with both hands." 🙌🏽✨
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
September 26, 2024
I've been a fan of Lucy's YouTube channel for a few years, and I even (correctly) guessed that she was writing a book when the first of her easter eggs were laid in some of her photos and videos. I think that is an important fact to mention before getting into my review, seeing as everything I say is with admiration for the joy, light and love that she's pressed into these pages.
To begin, this isn't what I was expecting, at least not entirely, but that's more on me and my assumptions than the novel itself. I was extremely excited for this novel! But, more than anything, what I struggled with once I got my hands on it was the amount of overwritten prose. It was exorbitantly heavy-handed. Though the author’s descriptions at times sounded lovely, they were either jam packed with adjectives or full of repetition so thick I had to weed-whack myself out of to get to the point. I noticed an inane tendency to over-explain, something that I may see in a young adult novel, wherein the author may feel the need to, but this author wrote in a way that spoon feeds the reader everything, down to every excruciating banal detail. I found, as a reader, there were a lot of instances where I was unable to determine my own version of this world that had been so carefully crafted due to the hyper-specificity of the author's own words. An example of this would be when the author used "dove, fawn and ivory" to describe the colour of something, when a good editor would have told her to decide on the strongest adjective instead of weighing down her sentences like this. I'd guess this has to do with being a debut author, and there is a lot of insecurity that comes with the intention of the work -- hoping each reader "gets it." However, in trying to secure that connection I felt like the true closeness was lost among the prose that so desperately needed room to breathe.
Now, this is not to say that I think this author is untalented. She clearly is creative and has a knack for storytelling, but the editing let down said abilities. I wish there had been greater care taken with the practical aspects as I noticed a few logical fallacies in Belle's story. Early on, Belle and her flatmate/best friend, Ari, are described as having "[grown] up with terrifying determination." Moreover, Belle is a self-proclaimed bookworm who runs a bookshop, so when she was fifteen (and full of determination) and had access to magic suddenly, she decided not to read the historical text of her coven? She's never been interested in reading the very book that is all about her magic in the last fifteen years? That didn't make sense with her character. At all. However, had Belle been someone who didn't think very much of magic, or misused it purposely, or was rebellious in some way, I could understand her lack of preparation or interest. Knowing your characters and writing about them are two different things.
Overall, I will say there was a delightful earnestness to this writing. Even though I found there to be a lack of sentence length variation, which hindered the heavy-feeling prose even more, I felt like I understood why this was happening. The story suffered from a lack of grit, stakes, or any real feeling of adversity, especially in the main character's actions. Even if the novel was intended to be a cozy read, the pacing lacked fervor to keep the story moving in an interesting way. Like I said though: earnest. The writing wasn't bad, but I contest there was a dire need for a seasoned editor. It's even clear in the sheer length of the novel that it needed to have some fat trimmed off, but it had good bones.
I'd be open to reading more from the author and seeing how she grows.
To begin, this isn't what I was expecting, at least not entirely, but that's more on me and my assumptions than the novel itself. I was extremely excited for this novel! But, more than anything, what I struggled with once I got my hands on it was the amount of overwritten prose. It was exorbitantly heavy-handed. Though the author’s descriptions at times sounded lovely, they were either jam packed with adjectives or full of repetition so thick I had to weed-whack myself out of to get to the point. I noticed an inane tendency to over-explain, something that I may see in a young adult novel, wherein the author may feel the need to, but this author wrote in a way that spoon feeds the reader everything, down to every excruciating banal detail. I found, as a reader, there were a lot of instances where I was unable to determine my own version of this world that had been so carefully crafted due to the hyper-specificity of the author's own words. An example of this would be when the author used "dove, fawn and ivory" to describe the colour of something, when a good editor would have told her to decide on the strongest adjective instead of weighing down her sentences like this. I'd guess this has to do with being a debut author, and there is a lot of insecurity that comes with the intention of the work -- hoping each reader "gets it." However, in trying to secure that connection I felt like the true closeness was lost among the prose that so desperately needed room to breathe.
Now, this is not to say that I think this author is untalented. She clearly is creative and has a knack for storytelling, but the editing let down said abilities. I wish there had been greater care taken with the practical aspects as I noticed a few logical fallacies in Belle's story. Early on, Belle and her flatmate/best friend, Ari, are described as having "[grown] up with terrifying determination." Moreover, Belle is a self-proclaimed bookworm who runs a bookshop, so when she was fifteen (and full of determination) and had access to magic suddenly, she decided not to read the historical text of her coven? She's never been interested in reading the very book that is all about her magic in the last fifteen years? That didn't make sense with her character. At all. However, had Belle been someone who didn't think very much of magic, or misused it purposely, or was rebellious in some way, I could understand her lack of preparation or interest. Knowing your characters and writing about them are two different things.
Overall, I will say there was a delightful earnestness to this writing. Even though I found there to be a lack of sentence length variation, which hindered the heavy-feeling prose even more, I felt like I understood why this was happening. The story suffered from a lack of grit, stakes, or any real feeling of adversity, especially in the main character's actions. Even if the novel was intended to be a cozy read, the pacing lacked fervor to keep the story moving in an interesting way. Like I said though: earnest. The writing wasn't bad, but I contest there was a dire need for a seasoned editor. It's even clear in the sheer length of the novel that it needed to have some fat trimmed off, but it had good bones.
I'd be open to reading more from the author and seeing how she grows.
November 17, 2024
3,75/5
September 24, 2024
This was very fun! It was a lot less small-town-cozy-vibes than I initially expected (and what the cover made me believe) and a lot more high fantasy and moderately high stakes. This book is all about learning to trust in your own abilities & believing you are worthy. There's some loveable characters & a cozy bookstore that sells cinnamon buns. The magic is extensive and is very reminiscent of HP, which made me feel nostalgic. In short: it delivers everything you could want from a cozy fantasy. Yet I couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed by the constant pressure of the plot that doesn't let up at any given time. Our main character is on a time sensitive mission and I could FEEL it. There's continuous tension that made me feel a little stressed, which kind of interfered with my cozy experience. Even I felt like I needed a five day nap after Bella's month of Magical Learning and No Sleep.
Another small issue I had with this one was how the plot (and the *big explanation* for everything) just didn't make that much sense and made the conclusion of the story not as believable. But for books like this I don't care as much as I'm there for the fun experience and immersing myself in a cozy, magical world. And this definitely did that for me. I feel like this book could function as a setup for a lot more stories set within this world, as I feel like so many small things were mentioned but not explored. Other covens? Sirens? I need to know moreee
Another small issue I had with this one was how the plot (and the *big explanation* for everything) just didn't make that much sense and made the conclusion of the story not as believable. But for books like this I don't care as much as I'm there for the fun experience and immersing myself in a cozy, magical world. And this definitely did that for me. I feel like this book could function as a setup for a lot more stories set within this world, as I feel like so many small things were mentioned but not explored. Other covens? Sirens? I need to know moreee
January 3, 2026
⭐ 3.8
✧ Cosy fantasy
✧ Slow burn romance
✧ Witches
RTC: I really enjoyed this one!
✧ Cosy fantasy
✧ Slow burn romance
✧ Witches
RTC: I really enjoyed this one!
August 29, 2025
The most magical, coziest, sweetest story to kick off my fall reading! 🥹🧡
![Profile Image for Brooke 𝜗𝜚 [comments restricted].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1767046154i%2F138265236._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
October 13, 2024
—— 𝟻 ✰ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ. 🔮💫
📖: 𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★
ꜱᴇᴀꜱᴏɴ: 🍁🍂🎃
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴄᴜᴘ ᴏꜰ ᴛᴇᴀ & ᴄɪɴɴᴀᴍᴏɴ ʙᴜɴ
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ꜱᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀꜱ ♪ ꜰʟᴇᴇᴛᴡᴏᴏᴅ ᴍᴀᴄ
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🔮 ꜱᴇʟꜰ ʟᴏᴠᴇ
💫 ꜱʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ
🔮 ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ
💫 ᴄᴏᴢʏ ꜰᴀɴᴛᴀꜱʏ
🔮 ᴀᴜᴛᴜᴍɴᴀʟ ᴠɪʙᴇꜱ
✎﹏ I went into 𝙍𝙚𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 expecting just another witchy romcom, but it is SO much more than that. I haven’t had a book give me this feeling in a long time. 🥹 And I can’t believe this is just the author’s debut novel! This is the perfect Halloween, autumnal witchy read that I’ve been waiting for this season. It’s so incredibly well written, funny, & heartwarming. The message of self love & learning to have faith in yourself really hit home for me. As soon as I started reading, I had a feeling this would be a five star read. I found myself instantly immersed in this world. This book feels like a hot cup of coffee on a chilly fall day, a warm hug by a loved one, fuzzy socks & a cozy blanket.
✎﹏ I loved the unique concept that a witch had to complete a series of trials to prove why she deserves to keep her powers in front of a coven jury. The magic system is very detailed & reminiscent of Harry Potter, which gives all the magical, nostalgic vibes. Our main character, Belle, is a such a lovable, relatable character who you want to root for on her journey of self discovery. I loved hyping her up to be the bad ass witch I knew she can be. Not only did I love Belle, I loved ALL of the side characters. Especially Rune. Actually, that’s my only complaint about the whole book: more Rune pls. I want Rune lore. And of course I want more of Belle & Rune together. I could really see the potential for this book to become a series. I hope there's more where this came from.
❝ 𝑀𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝓊𝓃𝒹𝒶𝓃𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒷𝑒 𝒹𝒾𝒻𝒻𝒾𝒸𝓊𝓁𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒹, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝒾𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝓌𝒶𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓁𝓎 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒, 𝓈𝓃𝓊𝒻𝒻𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓆𝓊𝒾𝑒𝓉𝓁𝓎, 𝒸𝓊𝓇𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝓊𝓅 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶 𝓈𝓁𝑒𝑒𝓅𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝓃𝒾𝓂𝒶𝓁 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 𝒷𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝓈𝑒𝒶𝓇𝒸𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒹 𝑒𝓃𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽. ❞
📖: 𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★
ꜱᴇᴀꜱᴏɴ: 🍁🍂🎃
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴄᴜᴘ ᴏꜰ ᴛᴇᴀ & ᴄɪɴɴᴀᴍᴏɴ ʙᴜɴ
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ꜱᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀꜱ ♪ ꜰʟᴇᴇᴛᴡᴏᴏᴅ ᴍᴀᴄ
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🔮 ꜱᴇʟꜰ ʟᴏᴠᴇ
💫 ꜱʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ
🔮 ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ
💫 ᴄᴏᴢʏ ꜰᴀɴᴛᴀꜱʏ
🔮 ᴀᴜᴛᴜᴍɴᴀʟ ᴠɪʙᴇꜱ
❝ 𝐼𝓉’𝓈 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒. 𝐸𝓋𝑒𝓇. 𝐼𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊’𝓇𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓃𝑒𝓉𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝒶𝓁𝒾𝑔𝓃 𝒷𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒹𝑒𝒸𝒾𝓈𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉’𝓁𝓁 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓅𝒾𝑒𝓇, 𝓎𝑜𝓊’𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇. ❞
✎﹏ I went into 𝙍𝙚𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 expecting just another witchy romcom, but it is SO much more than that. I haven’t had a book give me this feeling in a long time. 🥹 And I can’t believe this is just the author’s debut novel! This is the perfect Halloween, autumnal witchy read that I’ve been waiting for this season. It’s so incredibly well written, funny, & heartwarming. The message of self love & learning to have faith in yourself really hit home for me. As soon as I started reading, I had a feeling this would be a five star read. I found myself instantly immersed in this world. This book feels like a hot cup of coffee on a chilly fall day, a warm hug by a loved one, fuzzy socks & a cozy blanket.
❝ 𝒴𝑜𝓊’𝓇𝑒 𝒻𝒶𝓈𝒸𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒶 𝓌𝑜𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝓌𝑒𝒾𝓇𝒹. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒷𝑒𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒾𝒻𝓊𝓁. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝓂𝓅𝑜𝓈𝓈𝒾𝒷𝓁𝑒. 𝐼𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝐼’𝓋𝑒 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝒷𝑜𝒹𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒. 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊. 𝐸𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔. ❞
✎﹏ I loved the unique concept that a witch had to complete a series of trials to prove why she deserves to keep her powers in front of a coven jury. The magic system is very detailed & reminiscent of Harry Potter, which gives all the magical, nostalgic vibes. Our main character, Belle, is a such a lovable, relatable character who you want to root for on her journey of self discovery. I loved hyping her up to be the bad ass witch I knew she can be. Not only did I love Belle, I loved ALL of the side characters. Especially Rune. Actually, that’s my only complaint about the whole book: more Rune pls. I want Rune lore. And of course I want more of Belle & Rune together. I could really see the potential for this book to become a series. I hope there's more where this came from.
❝ 𝐹𝒶𝓉𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓃’𝓉 𝒷𝑒 𝓉𝓌𝒾𝓈𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝓊𝓇𝓃𝑒𝒹 𝒶𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒, 𝐵𝑒𝓁𝓁𝑒. 𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉’𝓈 𝓂𝑒𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒾𝓈 𝓂𝑒𝒶𝓃𝓉. 𝒩𝑜 𝓂𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓌𝒽𝒾𝒸𝒽 𝓉𝓊𝓇𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝑜𝓇 𝒽𝓊𝓇𝒹𝓁𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓈𝓉𝓊𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒 𝒶𝓉, 𝓎𝑜𝓊’𝓁𝓁 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝑒𝓃𝒹 𝓊𝓅 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝒶𝓉𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉’𝓈 𝓂𝑒𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊. 𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒, 𝓁𝑒𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓈𝑒𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝑜𝓃 𝒸𝒽𝑜𝒾𝒸𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊’𝓋𝑒 𝓂𝒶𝒹𝑒 𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒹𝒾𝒹𝓃’𝓉 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒. 𝐿𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝒹𝒾𝒻𝒻𝑒𝓇𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝒽𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓅𝑒𝒶𝒸𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝑜𝓃𝑒. 𝒯𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻, 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝓈 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓂𝓎 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓎 𝒾𝓈 𝓈𝓊𝓅𝓅𝑜𝓈𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝑔𝑜, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝐼 𝒶𝓂 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑜 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓌𝓇𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝒾𝓉 𝒶𝓈 𝒾𝓉’𝓈 𝓈𝓊𝓅𝓅𝑜𝓈𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒. ❞
July 9, 2025
☆☆☆
Let me start by saying—the cover is absolutely adorable. Probably one of the cutest I’ve seen all year, and it definitely drew me in.
There were a few things I really enjoyed about Rewitched. Artie and Belle’s mom were standout characters for me—charming, well-written, and genuinely fun to follow. They added a lot of heart and humor to the story.
That said, I had a harder time connecting with Belle. She didn’t quite read like a 30-year-old; her voice and actions felt much younger, more like a teenager than an adult. The romance subplot also didn’t work for me—it felt rushed, with little buildup or chemistry between the characters. It just sort of appeared out of nowhere.
The beginning was very slow, and I seriously considered DNF’ing it. The middle and end picked up and had some fun moments, but even then, the plot felt fairly predictable.
Overall, this one was a mixed bag for me. Cute concept and some strong side characters, but not quite the magical read I was hoping for.
Let me start by saying—the cover is absolutely adorable. Probably one of the cutest I’ve seen all year, and it definitely drew me in.
There were a few things I really enjoyed about Rewitched. Artie and Belle’s mom were standout characters for me—charming, well-written, and genuinely fun to follow. They added a lot of heart and humor to the story.
That said, I had a harder time connecting with Belle. She didn’t quite read like a 30-year-old; her voice and actions felt much younger, more like a teenager than an adult. The romance subplot also didn’t work for me—it felt rushed, with little buildup or chemistry between the characters. It just sort of appeared out of nowhere.
The beginning was very slow, and I seriously considered DNF’ing it. The middle and end picked up and had some fun moments, but even then, the plot felt fairly predictable.
Overall, this one was a mixed bag for me. Cute concept and some strong side characters, but not quite the magical read I was hoping for.
October 9, 2024
**Many thanks to Berkley and Lucy Jane Wood for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**
Remember when Sabrina the Teenage Witch had to get her witch's license?
If you aren't familiar with the show, as she comes of age, she has to pass several tests given by the Witch's Council in order to keep her magic. Now as a teenage witch, Sabrina had a whole OTHER set of adolescent problems to deal with...but suffice it to say, this was a fantastic story arc that kept me invested until the FINAL showdown...and although I hoped for the best, you just weren't quite sure if Sabrina had waggled her last magical finger wag.
Now age the character up into her 30s, put her in the most CHARMING bookstore ever, toss in a true blue bestie, a lovable familiar named Jinx 🐈, and a mysterious, handsome stranger named Rune...and you're halfway to the cozy, mystical, magical, and fantastic read that is Lucy Jane Wood's Rewitched!
Belladonna Blackthorn (which is the perfect witchy name, by the way) is dreaming of running Lunar Books one day...but she's got to get through today first. Her boss is a misogynist and a nightmare, and oh yeah, hiding the small fact that she is a WITCH gets harder by the day. Belle longs to tell her best friend Ariadne, but because Ariadne is mortal, she can't tell her a thing. As she comes from a magical heritage, Belle has always appreciated her abilities, but didn't think she would necessarily have to prove herself to keep living The Magic Life...until the aforementioned handsome stranger shows up one day at Lunar Books...and all bets are off.
Turns out Belle has ONE MONTH to prepare herself for a series of trials presented to her by her coven...and based on her performance, a panel of judges will decide whether or not she gets to keep her magic. All of this, of course, will culminate on the spookiest night of the year - Halloween. Accustomed to using her magic for the perfect cute outfit (and a cleaning spell or two) Belle is terrified as she realizes that losing her magic is a true possibility...and part of finding her magic will mean also require her to be vulnerable, brave, and to find herself, deep in a sea of insecurity. With a possible romantic entanglement with her broody and devilishly handsome watchman Rune brewing in the background, Belle discover that someone is out to sabotage Belle AND steal her magic...but who? How will her family's storied past come into play? And will she finally have the courage to stand up for her magic, her family, her bookstore...and most importantly, herself?
I'm not one to normally gush over a cozy fantasy book normally....but trust me when I say I've been basking in the warm, cozy, afterglow of this CHARMING and pitch perfect witchy read for a week...and I hope this snuggly, sweater weather feel-good feeling NEVER goes away!
I had a hard time even believing this was Lucy Jane Wood's debut - it's just THAT good. From the instantly lovable cast of characters (you'll want to meet and befriend ALL of them, save for those couple of pesky villains!) to the homey Stars-Hollow-but-make-it-British sort of town, to the UNREAL and incredible atmosphere provided by one Lunar Books (and yes, they also serve CINNAMON ROLLS, as if it wasn't good enough already), I was instantly enchanted, bewitched, hexed...you name it, I felt it! I do love a good witchy tale, but this one is so much more than that: from page one to its sugary sweet finish, I was rooting Belle on, falling in love with her kitty Jinx, and fully ENTRENCHED in the emotional journey and exciting plot.
And of course, I would be remiss if I didn't spend some time on Rune. He is SO dreamy, you're going to wish Lucy Jane Wood had given him even MORE page time...he's just THAT type of guy. A bit mysterious, slightly snarky but never obnoxious, a brave and loyal protector...and of course, he's wearing the PERFECT outfit for his character, has the requisite long hair....he ticks ALL of the boxes. As much as I did feel this was one of the only areas of the book that was somewhat lacking, there's also good reason for this having to take a back seat: there is a LOT of plot wound into one book, and a pretty heavy emphasis on the journey of self discovery for Belle. This did lead to the book feeling less like a romance and more like a witchy feel-good cozy...but if that's my only quibble, that isn't saying too much!
On top of this plot that will keep you enchanted and keep you guessing, there are some beautiful and heartbreaking moments thrown in as well, where Belle's journey of self-discovery put a lump in my throat...and as a millennial who often feels unsure of herself, it was SO easy to step into Belle's pointy shoes (Okay, maybe not pointy but it's fun to imagine them that way, am I right? 😂) Although it does take a while to get there, I feel like Lucy Jane Wood did such a beautiful and subtle job of tying all of the points together, of incorporating family history and scandal into the plot, and keeping the book light, fun, and whimsical from open to close, and that's no easy feat. This book manages to feel comfortable and familiar, but exciting and new, much like watching a GOOD reboot of a classic 90's sitcom (yes, Fuller House, I'm looking at you!), where there is something unspeakable and subtly referential, but also so refreshing and new that you can't WAIT to try it. Much like that brand new fall drink you've been waiting for all year long, you shouldn't hesitate - these are the kind of sugary sweet book calories that are worth EVERY sip! ☕
And as it turns out, the only thing better than being bewitched?
Being Rewitched!
4.5 shiny stars
Remember when Sabrina the Teenage Witch had to get her witch's license?
If you aren't familiar with the show, as she comes of age, she has to pass several tests given by the Witch's Council in order to keep her magic. Now as a teenage witch, Sabrina had a whole OTHER set of adolescent problems to deal with...but suffice it to say, this was a fantastic story arc that kept me invested until the FINAL showdown...and although I hoped for the best, you just weren't quite sure if Sabrina had waggled her last magical finger wag.
Now age the character up into her 30s, put her in the most CHARMING bookstore ever, toss in a true blue bestie, a lovable familiar named Jinx 🐈, and a mysterious, handsome stranger named Rune...and you're halfway to the cozy, mystical, magical, and fantastic read that is Lucy Jane Wood's Rewitched!
Belladonna Blackthorn (which is the perfect witchy name, by the way) is dreaming of running Lunar Books one day...but she's got to get through today first. Her boss is a misogynist and a nightmare, and oh yeah, hiding the small fact that she is a WITCH gets harder by the day. Belle longs to tell her best friend Ariadne, but because Ariadne is mortal, she can't tell her a thing. As she comes from a magical heritage, Belle has always appreciated her abilities, but didn't think she would necessarily have to prove herself to keep living The Magic Life...until the aforementioned handsome stranger shows up one day at Lunar Books...and all bets are off.
Turns out Belle has ONE MONTH to prepare herself for a series of trials presented to her by her coven...and based on her performance, a panel of judges will decide whether or not she gets to keep her magic. All of this, of course, will culminate on the spookiest night of the year - Halloween. Accustomed to using her magic for the perfect cute outfit (and a cleaning spell or two) Belle is terrified as she realizes that losing her magic is a true possibility...and part of finding her magic will mean also require her to be vulnerable, brave, and to find herself, deep in a sea of insecurity. With a possible romantic entanglement with her broody and devilishly handsome watchman Rune brewing in the background, Belle discover that someone is out to sabotage Belle AND steal her magic...but who? How will her family's storied past come into play? And will she finally have the courage to stand up for her magic, her family, her bookstore...and most importantly, herself?
I'm not one to normally gush over a cozy fantasy book normally....but trust me when I say I've been basking in the warm, cozy, afterglow of this CHARMING and pitch perfect witchy read for a week...and I hope this snuggly, sweater weather feel-good feeling NEVER goes away!
I had a hard time even believing this was Lucy Jane Wood's debut - it's just THAT good. From the instantly lovable cast of characters (you'll want to meet and befriend ALL of them, save for those couple of pesky villains!) to the homey Stars-Hollow-but-make-it-British sort of town, to the UNREAL and incredible atmosphere provided by one Lunar Books (and yes, they also serve CINNAMON ROLLS, as if it wasn't good enough already), I was instantly enchanted, bewitched, hexed...you name it, I felt it! I do love a good witchy tale, but this one is so much more than that: from page one to its sugary sweet finish, I was rooting Belle on, falling in love with her kitty Jinx, and fully ENTRENCHED in the emotional journey and exciting plot.
And of course, I would be remiss if I didn't spend some time on Rune. He is SO dreamy, you're going to wish Lucy Jane Wood had given him even MORE page time...he's just THAT type of guy. A bit mysterious, slightly snarky but never obnoxious, a brave and loyal protector...and of course, he's wearing the PERFECT outfit for his character, has the requisite long hair....he ticks ALL of the boxes. As much as I did feel this was one of the only areas of the book that was somewhat lacking, there's also good reason for this having to take a back seat: there is a LOT of plot wound into one book, and a pretty heavy emphasis on the journey of self discovery for Belle. This did lead to the book feeling less like a romance and more like a witchy feel-good cozy...but if that's my only quibble, that isn't saying too much!
On top of this plot that will keep you enchanted and keep you guessing, there are some beautiful and heartbreaking moments thrown in as well, where Belle's journey of self-discovery put a lump in my throat...and as a millennial who often feels unsure of herself, it was SO easy to step into Belle's pointy shoes (Okay, maybe not pointy but it's fun to imagine them that way, am I right? 😂) Although it does take a while to get there, I feel like Lucy Jane Wood did such a beautiful and subtle job of tying all of the points together, of incorporating family history and scandal into the plot, and keeping the book light, fun, and whimsical from open to close, and that's no easy feat. This book manages to feel comfortable and familiar, but exciting and new, much like watching a GOOD reboot of a classic 90's sitcom (yes, Fuller House, I'm looking at you!), where there is something unspeakable and subtly referential, but also so refreshing and new that you can't WAIT to try it. Much like that brand new fall drink you've been waiting for all year long, you shouldn't hesitate - these are the kind of sugary sweet book calories that are worth EVERY sip! ☕
And as it turns out, the only thing better than being bewitched?
Being Rewitched!
4.5 shiny stars
October 4, 2024
I hated the main character. Belle is a thirty-year-old witch who doesn't want to be a witch but who gets incredibly cranky when her coven decides to take away her powers. She doesn't use her powers for anything other than to clean her house and make herself coffee, but having them taken away becomes the worst possible catastrophe in her world. She also works in a bookstore where she hates the manager but refuses to buy the store, even though the owner begs her to, because she "might fail." She is whiny, obnoxious, rude, and she gives up at the first hint of any challenge. She is surrounded by people who want to help her, but she treats them terribly. She was absolutely insufferable.
Also, this book was so slow and boring. Nothing happens! If you decide to read it, just skip the first 200 pages. The first 200 pages could have easily been condensed into 30 pages. This book did not need to be 400 pages. So disappointed.
Also, this book was so slow and boring. Nothing happens! If you decide to read it, just skip the first 200 pages. The first 200 pages could have easily been condensed into 30 pages. This book did not need to be 400 pages. So disappointed.
August 26, 2024
There is no question that Lucy was always destined to be an author. I’ve known her a long time, so I appreciate I’m a little biased (and was kindly gifted an early copy from Pan Macmillan!), but I know she’s poured her soul and passion into writing this, and you can certainly tell.
I absolutely loved the story. It’s a perfect witchy, magical, and cosy autumn read. I love a novel about found family, finding yourself, and transitioning into your 30s. There is so much warmth in the story. Belle is very relatable, and you’ll be rooting for her every chapter.
However, I did find the first half slow. I appreciate that it’s necessary for the world-building, but it took me a while to get into it. It’s written in the third person, which might also be why it took me a while, but I didn’t see the ending coming, and the final part of the book is so incredible to visualise.
As a romance novel girly, I desperately wanted more Rune! He is dreamy. I hope we get more romantic moments between them in a future book. This certainly sets us up for the next chapter in Belle’s life, and I look forward to seeing what she achieves next!
I absolutely loved the story. It’s a perfect witchy, magical, and cosy autumn read. I love a novel about found family, finding yourself, and transitioning into your 30s. There is so much warmth in the story. Belle is very relatable, and you’ll be rooting for her every chapter.
However, I did find the first half slow. I appreciate that it’s necessary for the world-building, but it took me a while to get into it. It’s written in the third person, which might also be why it took me a while, but I didn’t see the ending coming, and the final part of the book is so incredible to visualise.
As a romance novel girly, I desperately wanted more Rune! He is dreamy. I hope we get more romantic moments between them in a future book. This certainly sets us up for the next chapter in Belle’s life, and I look forward to seeing what she achieves next!
Read
November 8, 2025dnf at 40% 🌙 this is so cute and I love what it’s trying to do, but the writing just didn’t click for me. for a cozy fall read, I weirdly had to focus hard to keep up… the flow just felt off. loved the witchy, bookish concept though! slow burn, found family, burnout, self love are all things I adore. just didn’t quite work for me?
November 12, 2024
3.75
Fajne połączenie cosy fantastyki z magią i akcją
Fajne połączenie cosy fantastyki z magią i akcją
November 23, 2025
Cozy fantasy with real world self-discovery and empowerment? I love it! ❤️✨️🥰
I absolutely loved this book! Rewitched is so full of heart – it is the definition of all things whimsical, charming, and magical. This book felt like a warm hug or a mashup of beloved movies and shows from the 90s and 2000s, capturing that nostalgic feeling of Sabrina the Teenage Witch or Hocus Pocus, but rewritten for us as adults with a wonderful dose of chaotic feminine energy.
I really appreciated the growth and discovery that Belle goes through. Watching her struggle to reclaim her power, rediscover the magic of life, and navigate the pressure of "wasted potential" hit me right in the feels. Sure, it's definitely a whimsical fantasy adventure, but it's grounded in very real emotions.
And the romance? So cute and utterly heartwarming! The main male character gives off major "black cat" vibes—think Howl's Moving Castle—with a layered edge of swoon-worthy protectiveness. It was exactly my favorite dynamic.
🎧 Audiobook Note: The narrator, Evie Hargreaves, was incredible and truly brought the characters to life. It felt like Mary Poppins herself was reading to me; it was so magical and practically perfect in every way! I really could listen to her forever.
As a bonus treat, I loved listening to the interview between the author and narrator at the end. It felt like listening in on a cozy conversation between friends and added so much context to the found family and nostalgic inspirations behind the story.
Adding this to my favorites list for cozy fantasy stories that I'd love to reread and get lost in again in the future! Loved it!
Perfect if you love:
✨️ Cozy, whimsical adventures
🍂 Comforting seasonal books
🥰 Found family
🔥 Slow burn
💖 Nostalgia - Mary Poppins, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Hocus Pocus, Harry Potter
💛 Magic, witches, and spells!
📚 Real growth & self-discovery
✨️ Reclaiming your magic and potential
❤️ Heartwarming, feel-good stories
🎧 Incredible narration from Evie Hargreaves! ✨️
I absolutely loved this book! Rewitched is so full of heart – it is the definition of all things whimsical, charming, and magical. This book felt like a warm hug or a mashup of beloved movies and shows from the 90s and 2000s, capturing that nostalgic feeling of Sabrina the Teenage Witch or Hocus Pocus, but rewritten for us as adults with a wonderful dose of chaotic feminine energy.
I really appreciated the growth and discovery that Belle goes through. Watching her struggle to reclaim her power, rediscover the magic of life, and navigate the pressure of "wasted potential" hit me right in the feels. Sure, it's definitely a whimsical fantasy adventure, but it's grounded in very real emotions.
And the romance? So cute and utterly heartwarming! The main male character gives off major "black cat" vibes—think Howl's Moving Castle—with a layered edge of swoon-worthy protectiveness. It was exactly my favorite dynamic.
🎧 Audiobook Note: The narrator, Evie Hargreaves, was incredible and truly brought the characters to life. It felt like Mary Poppins herself was reading to me; it was so magical and practically perfect in every way! I really could listen to her forever.
As a bonus treat, I loved listening to the interview between the author and narrator at the end. It felt like listening in on a cozy conversation between friends and added so much context to the found family and nostalgic inspirations behind the story.
Adding this to my favorites list for cozy fantasy stories that I'd love to reread and get lost in again in the future! Loved it!
Perfect if you love:
✨️ Cozy, whimsical adventures
🍂 Comforting seasonal books
🥰 Found family
🔥 Slow burn
💖 Nostalgia - Mary Poppins, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Hocus Pocus, Harry Potter
💛 Magic, witches, and spells!
📚 Real growth & self-discovery
✨️ Reclaiming your magic and potential
❤️ Heartwarming, feel-good stories
🎧 Incredible narration from Evie Hargreaves! ✨️
September 30, 2024
I had very high hopes for this and although it was definitely an enjoyable read, it unfortunately didn't quite live up to my expectations. A large reason for this is the pacing just didn't work for me.
The 'big' events happened within a blink of an eye and yet there were chunky paragraphs of interior descriptions and inner ponderings that, whilst they painted a vivid world, meant the plot, characters and relationships seemed to take a back seat. There were so many exciting plot elements that, at over 400 pages, I wish had been explored further.
That being said, Rewitched definitely delivered on the promise of 90's witch vibes and the characters, although somewhat lacking in depth, were endearing. I also thoroughly enjoyed the overall message of self love, the fear of failure not always having to have everything 'worked out'.
Despite not wholly working for me, I'm looking forward to see what Lucy Jane Wood writes next, as her ideas and writing show a lot of potential.
The 'big' events happened within a blink of an eye and yet there were chunky paragraphs of interior descriptions and inner ponderings that, whilst they painted a vivid world, meant the plot, characters and relationships seemed to take a back seat. There were so many exciting plot elements that, at over 400 pages, I wish had been explored further.
That being said, Rewitched definitely delivered on the promise of 90's witch vibes and the characters, although somewhat lacking in depth, were endearing. I also thoroughly enjoyed the overall message of self love, the fear of failure not always having to have everything 'worked out'.
Despite not wholly working for me, I'm looking forward to see what Lucy Jane Wood writes next, as her ideas and writing show a lot of potential.
October 26, 2024
« It’s never the right time. Ever. If you’re waiting for all of the stars and planets to align before you make decisions that’ll make you happier, you’ll be waiting forever »
Cozy Fantasy is definitely a winning genre for me this year.
This book is an oath to believing in yourself. Let go of self doubt, stop comparing, stop waiting for things to happen to you… Mixed with a dash of inner child healing.
I loved everything about this cute book. The whole set of characters (and the cat) were absolutely lovable.
This book also made me realize that we rarely see an accurate representation of a nervous breakdown - this was well depicted in this story.
I read this in one sitting and didn’t want to stop reading it. If you love Cozy Fantasy - this will hit a mark for you.
PS : I bought the Waterstones copy and it has a cat on the sprayed edges 🥹😸😻
Cozy Fantasy is definitely a winning genre for me this year.
This book is an oath to believing in yourself. Let go of self doubt, stop comparing, stop waiting for things to happen to you… Mixed with a dash of inner child healing.
I loved everything about this cute book. The whole set of characters (and the cat) were absolutely lovable.
This book also made me realize that we rarely see an accurate representation of a nervous breakdown - this was well depicted in this story.
I read this in one sitting and didn’t want to stop reading it. If you love Cozy Fantasy - this will hit a mark for you.
PS : I bought the Waterstones copy and it has a cat on the sprayed edges 🥹😸😻
October 28, 2024
oh no the hot bisexual man with an impeccable sense of style and a tendency to announce himself in the worst possible way is tasked with keeping an eye on me!! whatever shall i do??
this was quite simply the coziest fall fantasy with a dash of romance to round it all out
the character dynamics were some of my favorite and the dialogue was dialoguing!!!!
"Because I was busy returning my heart rate to a normal level after you emerged from the shadows like a sewer rat. And then you conjured chips, and we've been arguing ever since."
"We're not arguing."
this was quite simply the coziest fall fantasy with a dash of romance to round it all out
the character dynamics were some of my favorite and the dialogue was dialoguing!!!!
"Because I was busy returning my heart rate to a normal level after you emerged from the shadows like a sewer rat. And then you conjured chips, and we've been arguing ever since."
"We're not arguing."
October 21, 2024
Is this fan fic? Terribly amateurish writing.
May 26, 2025
2.5 Stars
One Liner: Underbaked and raw on the inside
Belladonna Blackthorn is burnt out. Between saving Lunar Books and concealing her witchcraft, she has no time or inclination to perfect her magic. However, she gets summoned by the coven on her 30th birthday to prove her worth as a witch.
With little time to work, Belle needs all the help from her family, mentor, and a handsome watchman sworn to protect her. She has to prove herself somehow.
The story comes in Belle’s third-person POV.
My Thoughts:
Imagine my delight when a friend (Rosh) said Berkeley made one of their books, Read Now. Though this was released last year, getting an ARC from the publisher is a big deal (for us from non-Western regions). Now, I wonder if I should have been less excited. This rating isn’t going to help my chances! *sniffle*
Right! So, about the book…
Cozy fantasy is one of my favorite genres, and if it has witches, even better! The premise is terrific, too. There are hints of danger, romance with a brooding hero, and a thirty-year-old book-loving witch learning to use her powers correctly.
What we get is a walking contradiction in the FMC. The only saving grace is that the POV is her third-person instead of first. That would have been a disaster.
Belle starts as a literal pushover, a doormat with confidence issues. Okay, fine. Her growth will be the arc. Nope. She has no issues being snarky and rude with random strangers and just about every other witch she meets. Think about it. You’re told you have to clear a test to keep your magic. You go there and act like a bratty celeb, all because you didn’t bother to prepare for the test.
Also, she has no reason not to ask for help. Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t understand why she is such a meek mouse when someone treats her like dirt, but swipes at others who are just there. What weird wiring is this?
She is told she is good at magic and is worthy of it. Nope, I don’t see it. Heck, take it from her and give it to me. I’ve been hoping for years that someone would tell me I have magic and it’s time to activate it.
What we are told and what we see are almost always the opposite with the FMC. She has no reason to be the way she is. It would have made sense if her backstory supported this. But there’s nothing there. Maybe being a 30-year-old with the maturity of a 13-year-old is a flex (mind you, I know better-behaved teens in real life). Sadly, not my jam.
The uneven pacing didn’t help, but the book got faster in the second half, so I’m willing to let this go. I saved a reading day, thankfully. That said, scenes that need time are over in a blink, and the ones that can be summarized drag on.
There is quite a lot of description. Some of it is good. The rest is just fluff. The book could… should have been trimmed by 50 pages.
The theme selection is good – self-love, self-confidence, family, relationships, believing in magic inside you, etc. However, the presentation is patchy and underwhelming.
And oh, there is no romance. I mean, there are traces of it, but I can’t even call it a slow burn. No real chemistry. Or, maybe I didn’t want to see it since I couldn’t understand why the guy liked her. Nothing endearing about her, if you ask me.
Those extra 0.5 stars are for the mentor. He saved the book in many ways. When I thought it would go downhill, he kept it alive despite the FMC’s attempts to sabotage it often. The mother was good, too. The bestie was a bit OTT, but at least her arc was steady and her heart was in the right place!
To summarize, Rewitched has a good premise and some worthy bare bones, but the execution and the characterization (especially the FMC) are erratic and inconsistent. This needs some depth for the themes to matter.
Thank you, NetGalley and Berkeley (Ace), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #Rewitched
One Liner: Underbaked and raw on the inside
Belladonna Blackthorn is burnt out. Between saving Lunar Books and concealing her witchcraft, she has no time or inclination to perfect her magic. However, she gets summoned by the coven on her 30th birthday to prove her worth as a witch.
With little time to work, Belle needs all the help from her family, mentor, and a handsome watchman sworn to protect her. She has to prove herself somehow.
The story comes in Belle’s third-person POV.
My Thoughts:
Imagine my delight when a friend (Rosh) said Berkeley made one of their books, Read Now. Though this was released last year, getting an ARC from the publisher is a big deal (for us from non-Western regions). Now, I wonder if I should have been less excited. This rating isn’t going to help my chances! *sniffle*
Right! So, about the book…
Cozy fantasy is one of my favorite genres, and if it has witches, even better! The premise is terrific, too. There are hints of danger, romance with a brooding hero, and a thirty-year-old book-loving witch learning to use her powers correctly.
What we get is a walking contradiction in the FMC. The only saving grace is that the POV is her third-person instead of first. That would have been a disaster.
Belle starts as a literal pushover, a doormat with confidence issues. Okay, fine. Her growth will be the arc. Nope. She has no issues being snarky and rude with random strangers and just about every other witch she meets. Think about it. You’re told you have to clear a test to keep your magic. You go there and act like a bratty celeb, all because you didn’t bother to prepare for the test.
Also, she has no reason not to ask for help. Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t understand why she is such a meek mouse when someone treats her like dirt, but swipes at others who are just there. What weird wiring is this?
She is told she is good at magic and is worthy of it. Nope, I don’t see it. Heck, take it from her and give it to me. I’ve been hoping for years that someone would tell me I have magic and it’s time to activate it.
What we are told and what we see are almost always the opposite with the FMC. She has no reason to be the way she is. It would have made sense if her backstory supported this. But there’s nothing there. Maybe being a 30-year-old with the maturity of a 13-year-old is a flex (mind you, I know better-behaved teens in real life). Sadly, not my jam.
The uneven pacing didn’t help, but the book got faster in the second half, so I’m willing to let this go. I saved a reading day, thankfully. That said, scenes that need time are over in a blink, and the ones that can be summarized drag on.
There is quite a lot of description. Some of it is good. The rest is just fluff. The book could… should have been trimmed by 50 pages.
The theme selection is good – self-love, self-confidence, family, relationships, believing in magic inside you, etc. However, the presentation is patchy and underwhelming.
And oh, there is no romance. I mean, there are traces of it, but I can’t even call it a slow burn. No real chemistry. Or, maybe I didn’t want to see it since I couldn’t understand why the guy liked her. Nothing endearing about her, if you ask me.
Those extra 0.5 stars are for the mentor. He saved the book in many ways. When I thought it would go downhill, he kept it alive despite the FMC’s attempts to sabotage it often. The mother was good, too. The bestie was a bit OTT, but at least her arc was steady and her heart was in the right place!
To summarize, Rewitched has a good premise and some worthy bare bones, but the execution and the characterization (especially the FMC) are erratic and inconsistent. This needs some depth for the themes to matter.
Thank you, NetGalley and Berkeley (Ace), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #Rewitched
September 19, 2025
this was good for a debut author but you can definitely tell it was a debut. the book dragged in so many parts which is disappointing because i found the beginning very intriguing. the romance also barely existed and it took way too long for the love interest to be introduced and when he was i kinda didn’t care.
October 1, 2024
Let me start this off with the only positive things i have to say, i love lucy’s videos, i have done for years so this is nothing to do with her as a person.
The Cover is also really really cute!!
Now, the list of reasons why i really really didn’t enjoy this:
1. Third Person - i don’t enjoy third person, as i cant get into personally
2. Over-Description - things were explained in so much detail to the point i couldn’t even remember what i was tryna visualise to start with so it became a blue
3. Long Chapters paired with slow pacing = dragggggggg
4. Blocky writing - it was really hard to take in anything
5. Lack of character & world building - it was hard to understand a lot of things like the magic system as there was never any building or context
6. The Pacing - it was 90% very slow pacing but in random points it would be rushed like crazy
7. The Bore - the entire book was a battle, i resisted the urge to DNF the whole time in hopes the ending would be good (spoiler alert it wasn’t)
8. The Romance - it’s about as bland as a just ham sandwich in a meal deal from tesco
9. The Plot & Ending - i found it all really really predictable and underwhelming
Going into this book i was really excited for a cute cosy fantasy, but it just fell sooooo flat for me i’m really disappointed unfortunately 🫠
The Cover is also really really cute!!
Now, the list of reasons why i really really didn’t enjoy this:
1. Third Person - i don’t enjoy third person, as i cant get into personally
2. Over-Description - things were explained in so much detail to the point i couldn’t even remember what i was tryna visualise to start with so it became a blue
3. Long Chapters paired with slow pacing = dragggggggg
4. Blocky writing - it was really hard to take in anything
5. Lack of character & world building - it was hard to understand a lot of things like the magic system as there was never any building or context
6. The Pacing - it was 90% very slow pacing but in random points it would be rushed like crazy
7. The Bore - the entire book was a battle, i resisted the urge to DNF the whole time in hopes the ending would be good (spoiler alert it wasn’t)
8. The Romance - it’s about as bland as a just ham sandwich in a meal deal from tesco
9. The Plot & Ending - i found it all really really predictable and underwhelming
Going into this book i was really excited for a cute cosy fantasy, but it just fell sooooo flat for me i’m really disappointed unfortunately 🫠
September 17, 2024
A cozy fantasy perfect for book lovers, uncertain millennials, and those seeking Autumn vibes.✨
Bella works in a bookshop in London and stays clear of anything magical unless it’s small spells to clean up the books and make cups of tea.
Then, she fails a trail to keep her magic and is given until the end of October to change the Coven’s minds, by undergoing a series of magical trials or risk losing her magic forever.
Overall, this is a tale of self-love. It is okay not to have a set plan for yourself. To be scared to planning for your future. To find joy in your friends and connections!
I just feel like I have read this story before with different characters and different scenes. I loved the message, but it wasn’t anything new, albeit touching!
I did love the audiobook as the accents made me reminisce of my time in London braving the blustering winds.
Similar book recommendation - Threadneedle by Cari Thomas.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for providing me the arc in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
Bella works in a bookshop in London and stays clear of anything magical unless it’s small spells to clean up the books and make cups of tea.
Then, she fails a trail to keep her magic and is given until the end of October to change the Coven’s minds, by undergoing a series of magical trials or risk losing her magic forever.
Overall, this is a tale of self-love. It is okay not to have a set plan for yourself. To be scared to planning for your future. To find joy in your friends and connections!
I just feel like I have read this story before with different characters and different scenes. I loved the message, but it wasn’t anything new, albeit touching!
I did love the audiobook as the accents made me reminisce of my time in London braving the blustering winds.
Similar book recommendation - Threadneedle by Cari Thomas.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for providing me the arc in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
October 20, 2025
3 disappointed stars - I really wanted to like this cozy, para-normal debut, but it was so slow & off in the pacing and I really struggled with it. Both the romance & the villain reveal went down in the last 20% and the middle was just tedious. And I didn't connect with the MC at all - she seemed awfully whiny and wishy-washy. Overall, just a "meh" read which is a bummer as it had such potential. Onward!
September 26, 2024
2.5/5 🌟
I was really excited about the release of this book, it sounded so wonderful for one of the first witchy season reads of the year. The begining was strong, the scene set, unique magical cottagecore witchy vibes enchanted the pages.
And then, quite rapidly, it took a turn. The FMC is less annoying if you view her as a 30 year old body with emotional maturity that stunted at a teenage level. Don’t get me wrong I love an emaciated, illiterate teenage girl whose communication style lies solely in shoe throwing instead of words as much as the next bookish girlie. But, it’s disappointing because we get so few older FMCs with more developed maturity levels and I had been hopeful that this would be one of those rare gems we so seldom see. Alas her favorite witchy incantation being “it’s not fair!” whenever someone holds her accountable for her own actions unfortunately leaves much to be desired. For someone who’s described over and over to supposedly lack confidence her whole life…she has seriously strong opinions about everyone and everything and is not afraid to share them regardless of whether or not she has any idea what she’s even talking about. We are told that she has no confidence, she apologizes too much, etc…but the actual dialogue and way she behaves shows a different story.
She doesn’t want magic, doesn’t use magic for much of anything besides shelving children’s books and pouring tea in the kitchen and floating it over so she doesn’t have to get out of her chair. She’s upset she wasn’t told about her thirtieth birthday test when it’s literally in the how to be a witch manual she was given 15 years ago, but she would have had to actually pick it up and read it instead of shoving it into a corner out of sight out of mind to know that. And then all of a sudden she’s desperate to save her magic? Why…? That’s not totally clear other than the fact that she comes from a very strong bloodline of witches and her mom would maybe be disappointed. Let’s not even get started on said bloodline providing a heaping dose of nepotism that got her a second chance at keeping her magic in the first place.
That’s a common theme for this book - we are told things but the way the story unfolds presents a different picture. It’s like the author had a thought process for how she wanted the book to be but couldn’t flush it out into a fully formed story that matched.
The relationship between her and that sexy warlock is supposed to read like sexual tension, I think? But instead it just comes across as her being the world’s biggest b*tch to a man who’s literally done nothing but help her from the moment he introduced himself. She simply enjoys being mean to him and cutting him down to size because…why…it makes her feel more powerful? Idk. What I do know is that he deserves better than her.
Then there’s that odd “who did this to you” scene that felt like the author just desperately wanted one of those in the book and forced it to fit. It made no sense given how their relationship is developing- he cares way too much and she can’t stand him and neither of them have a tangible reason given they’ve only had a handful of encounters total and they’ve all been pretty benign.
I appreciated the little bits of attention paid to trauma and mental health - mental wounds are at the heart of her suffering and her lack of motivation to even try in life. However, those moments were fleeting, a small mention here and there but not really expounded upon. Her 30 days of training with magic was her come to Jesus moment, a slap accross the face to wake her up from her monotonous existence. But for a book that is supposed to be centered around finding yourself and coming into your own power…it fell flat. Yes, she absolutely gained the knowledge of how to unlock levels of magic she didn’t know before while she was practicing everyday with a talented mentor…but I think that’s to be expected of anyone practicing anything consistently with a mentor.
Speaking of mentors…It took about 200 pages, but once she began working with him, the story began to regain its appeal. And it remained the one part of the book that felt like it really worked. Her relationship with her mentor was like grandfather/granddaughter. She made progress with her magic, stepped outside of her comfort zone, and learned new things. The ending of the book was pretty obvious and didn’t require a ton of imagination, but it was a cute and cozy ending to match the beginning of the book. Overall I just think this book had a ton of potential but was weighed down by extras that didn’t belong, and a lack of depth and finesse to connect the dots of the story together.
I was really excited about the release of this book, it sounded so wonderful for one of the first witchy season reads of the year. The begining was strong, the scene set, unique magical cottagecore witchy vibes enchanted the pages.
And then, quite rapidly, it took a turn. The FMC is less annoying if you view her as a 30 year old body with emotional maturity that stunted at a teenage level. Don’t get me wrong I love an emaciated, illiterate teenage girl whose communication style lies solely in shoe throwing instead of words as much as the next bookish girlie. But, it’s disappointing because we get so few older FMCs with more developed maturity levels and I had been hopeful that this would be one of those rare gems we so seldom see. Alas her favorite witchy incantation being “it’s not fair!” whenever someone holds her accountable for her own actions unfortunately leaves much to be desired. For someone who’s described over and over to supposedly lack confidence her whole life…she has seriously strong opinions about everyone and everything and is not afraid to share them regardless of whether or not she has any idea what she’s even talking about. We are told that she has no confidence, she apologizes too much, etc…but the actual dialogue and way she behaves shows a different story.
She doesn’t want magic, doesn’t use magic for much of anything besides shelving children’s books and pouring tea in the kitchen and floating it over so she doesn’t have to get out of her chair. She’s upset she wasn’t told about her thirtieth birthday test when it’s literally in the how to be a witch manual she was given 15 years ago, but she would have had to actually pick it up and read it instead of shoving it into a corner out of sight out of mind to know that. And then all of a sudden she’s desperate to save her magic? Why…? That’s not totally clear other than the fact that she comes from a very strong bloodline of witches and her mom would maybe be disappointed. Let’s not even get started on said bloodline providing a heaping dose of nepotism that got her a second chance at keeping her magic in the first place.
That’s a common theme for this book - we are told things but the way the story unfolds presents a different picture. It’s like the author had a thought process for how she wanted the book to be but couldn’t flush it out into a fully formed story that matched.
The relationship between her and that sexy warlock is supposed to read like sexual tension, I think? But instead it just comes across as her being the world’s biggest b*tch to a man who’s literally done nothing but help her from the moment he introduced himself. She simply enjoys being mean to him and cutting him down to size because…why…it makes her feel more powerful? Idk. What I do know is that he deserves better than her.
Then there’s that odd “who did this to you” scene that felt like the author just desperately wanted one of those in the book and forced it to fit. It made no sense given how their relationship is developing- he cares way too much and she can’t stand him and neither of them have a tangible reason given they’ve only had a handful of encounters total and they’ve all been pretty benign.
I appreciated the little bits of attention paid to trauma and mental health - mental wounds are at the heart of her suffering and her lack of motivation to even try in life. However, those moments were fleeting, a small mention here and there but not really expounded upon. Her 30 days of training with magic was her come to Jesus moment, a slap accross the face to wake her up from her monotonous existence. But for a book that is supposed to be centered around finding yourself and coming into your own power…it fell flat. Yes, she absolutely gained the knowledge of how to unlock levels of magic she didn’t know before while she was practicing everyday with a talented mentor…but I think that’s to be expected of anyone practicing anything consistently with a mentor.
Speaking of mentors…It took about 200 pages, but once she began working with him, the story began to regain its appeal. And it remained the one part of the book that felt like it really worked. Her relationship with her mentor was like grandfather/granddaughter. She made progress with her magic, stepped outside of her comfort zone, and learned new things. The ending of the book was pretty obvious and didn’t require a ton of imagination, but it was a cute and cozy ending to match the beginning of the book. Overall I just think this book had a ton of potential but was weighed down by extras that didn’t belong, and a lack of depth and finesse to connect the dots of the story together.
November 1, 2025
Súper entrañable. Si te gustan los libros cozy, es aquí
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