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Welcome To Midlife Magic #1
Susan, You're The Chosen One
Starting over isn’t easy when your whole world is a pile of rubble and everyone thinks you’re insane.
One moment, Susan Moore had the perfect life—a handsome husband, a fabulous career, wonderful friends, and a gorgeous home in Nob Hill, San Francisco.
The next minute, it was all gone. And Susan found herself in a straitjacket, locked in a padded room.
An optimist at heart, Susan’s clawing her way back, rebuilding her life brick by brick—not an easy feat when you’re over the hill and it feels like the whole city hates you.
But when a group of ridiculously gorgeous models in Fae cosplay barge into her tiny apartment and declare her to be the chosen one, Susan decides to play along. She’s off to save the world.
Except they’re not in cosplay.
Either Susan has really, truly gone insane this time… or all this magic is real.
Susan, You're The Chosen one is book one in the fun, fast-paced and thrilling new paranormal women's fiction series Welcome To Midlife Magic, by bestselling urban fantasy author Lauretta Hignett.
One moment, Susan Moore had the perfect life—a handsome husband, a fabulous career, wonderful friends, and a gorgeous home in Nob Hill, San Francisco.
The next minute, it was all gone. And Susan found herself in a straitjacket, locked in a padded room.
An optimist at heart, Susan’s clawing her way back, rebuilding her life brick by brick—not an easy feat when you’re over the hill and it feels like the whole city hates you.
But when a group of ridiculously gorgeous models in Fae cosplay barge into her tiny apartment and declare her to be the chosen one, Susan decides to play along. She’s off to save the world.
Except they’re not in cosplay.
Either Susan has really, truly gone insane this time… or all this magic is real.
Susan, You're The Chosen one is book one in the fun, fast-paced and thrilling new paranormal women's fiction series Welcome To Midlife Magic, by bestselling urban fantasy author Lauretta Hignett.
266 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2024
1572 people are currently reading
4288 people want to read
About the author
Lauretta Hignett
53 books473 followersA raving fangirl for all things paranormal, supernatural, supernormal and fantastical, Lauretta writes fun Urban Fantasy, PNR and Superhero adventures with a dash of sweet romance and humour.
She's a massive fan of Young and New Adult fiction, loves a plot twist, hates cliffhangers, and always keeps her readers on their toes.
When she's not writing, Lauretta enjoys fad diets, sunshine, her two little children, weird craft projects and massive amounts of dark chocolate
She's a massive fan of Young and New Adult fiction, loves a plot twist, hates cliffhangers, and always keeps her readers on their toes.
When she's not writing, Lauretta enjoys fad diets, sunshine, her two little children, weird craft projects and massive amounts of dark chocolate
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
May 2, 2024
Susan, you’re the HILARIOUS one
This is my favorite quote:
“As you were, gentlemen,” I said silkily, walking over to the coffee machine. I didn’t care if it wasn’t real; my hands greedily caressed the grinder, stroking up and down the frother in a way that was probably obscene. I didn’t care. I’d been living on freeze-dried instant for too long.
If I didn’t love the story before this part, I adored it from this point on. Anyone who loves good coffee this much is automatically my bestie.
Lauretta Hignett’s superpower is writing characters that are both down-to-earth realistic and who are incredibly funny. She hits it out of the ballpark with Susan.
Poor Susan has had to start her life over from the bottom again. From high-powered exec to lowly supervisor at a call center, her fall from grace was a big one, and the reason for it is slowly revealed as we start to wonder if she has as good of a grip on her sanity as she thinks.
At the same time, Susan convinces us that maybe sanity is overrated, and maybe the best medicine is just indulging your crazy and running with it. Which might be an excellent way to deal with menopause, I’m just sayin.
Ahem. Where was I? Oh yeah. You will like this story if you like fast-paced urban fantasy with supernatural characters who may or may not be handsome fae princes, one snarky unicorn with two horns, a sea hag who makes Ursula look like Mary Poppins, and the ex-husband from hell who may or may not be human … If you like a side of snark with your humor, and don’t mind guffawing out loud in the middle of the night when you have to finish just one more chapter … And if you’ve ever lost everything, or felt like you’d lost everything, and had to start over. This book is for you — reader, you are the chosen one!
This is my favorite quote:
“As you were, gentlemen,” I said silkily, walking over to the coffee machine. I didn’t care if it wasn’t real; my hands greedily caressed the grinder, stroking up and down the frother in a way that was probably obscene. I didn’t care. I’d been living on freeze-dried instant for too long.
If I didn’t love the story before this part, I adored it from this point on. Anyone who loves good coffee this much is automatically my bestie.
Lauretta Hignett’s superpower is writing characters that are both down-to-earth realistic and who are incredibly funny. She hits it out of the ballpark with Susan.
Poor Susan has had to start her life over from the bottom again. From high-powered exec to lowly supervisor at a call center, her fall from grace was a big one, and the reason for it is slowly revealed as we start to wonder if she has as good of a grip on her sanity as she thinks.
At the same time, Susan convinces us that maybe sanity is overrated, and maybe the best medicine is just indulging your crazy and running with it. Which might be an excellent way to deal with menopause, I’m just sayin.
Ahem. Where was I? Oh yeah. You will like this story if you like fast-paced urban fantasy with supernatural characters who may or may not be handsome fae princes, one snarky unicorn with two horns, a sea hag who makes Ursula look like Mary Poppins, and the ex-husband from hell who may or may not be human … If you like a side of snark with your humor, and don’t mind guffawing out loud in the middle of the night when you have to finish just one more chapter … And if you’ve ever lost everything, or felt like you’d lost everything, and had to start over. This book is for you — reader, you are the chosen one!
July 2, 2024
Read for SPFBOX as part of team Fantasy Book Critic
7/10
As the title might suggest, Susan, You’re the Chosen One, book 1 in the Welcome to Midlife Magic series, is not your typical urban fantasy fare. This tongue-in-cheek spin on the genre is a hysterically funny yet surprisingly moving adventure that will instantly boost your dopamine levels and soothe your soul.
After a recent fall from grace due to sudden mental illness issues and violent psychotic breaks, Susan Moore is not exactly thriving. So when a group of ridiculously handsome models in Fae cosplay come knocking at her door and declare her the Chosen One, she just decides to play along and accept this latest wild hallucination for what it is. But as she goes off to save the world, she soon starts to doubt if she has truly gone insane this time, or if she has never been crazy at all.
Now, I certainly wasn’t intending to devour this book in one day, but that is exactly what ended up happening. Hignett just has an effortlessly engaging and highly amusing writing style, and I was immediately intrigued by this refreshing spin on the paranormal fantasy genre. I mean, when you give me a 40-year-old no-nonsense woman as the protagonist, and then add some dangerously handsome brooding Fae, a sentient house, a sassy unicorn (or, excuse me, a *duo*corn), and plenty of paranormal hijinx into the mix, how could that not be a recipe for success?!
Right from the very first page, Susan just proved to be an incredibly fun and compelling protagonist to follow, and I loved being introduced to the paranormal world through her eyes. Though she is generally quite sensible and rational, the fact that she assumes everything to be a hallucination gives her a level of reckless boldness that makes her interactions with anything paranormal just wildly amusing.
There really is no denying that the plot of Susan, You’re the Chosen One is a bit batshit crazy, but I quite enjoyed that it just didn’t take itself too seriously. At some points I did find myself rolling my eyes at the hyperfixation on everyone’s (ridiculously attractive) physical appearances and the toxic antagonism between all the women who were viciously insulting each other left and right, even if it may have been done in an almost satirical way to poke fun at the cliches of the genre. But still, generally the silly humour was just irresistibly amusing, and I couldn’t stop myself from snorting out loud multiple times.
Moreover, between all the shits and giggles, there are deeper emotional layers woven into Susan’s (back)story that gave this book a level of depth and nuance that I wasn’t anticipating. Themes of anxiety, toxic relationships, gaslighting, mental illness, menopause, infertility, and female rage are handled with surprising care and power, which is exactly why this paranormal romp stands out from the crowd for me.
With roughly 20 books in her connected universe already under her belt, Hignett is no newbie to the craft, and it definitely shows. There’s a surprising amount of world building packed into this short novel, and the story just moves along at a dangerously addictive speed. At times I do think the character work suffered a bit from the fast pacing, especially in the sense that the entire cast of supporting characters just felt a bit one-dimensional and paled in comparison to Susan’s vibrancy. Though with the enticing way this first instalment left off, I have a feeling we will get to see more development for them in the sequels, which I couldn’t be more excited for.
And you better bet I will be continuing the Welcome to Midlife Magic series, if only so I can see more of Cecil the sassy duocorn and his hysterical antics, what an icon! Susan, You’re The Chosen One is one of those delightful palate cleansers that still has a lot of substance, making it the perfect weekend read to just snuggle up with and let yourself get totally lost in.
7/10
As the title might suggest, Susan, You’re the Chosen One, book 1 in the Welcome to Midlife Magic series, is not your typical urban fantasy fare. This tongue-in-cheek spin on the genre is a hysterically funny yet surprisingly moving adventure that will instantly boost your dopamine levels and soothe your soul.
After a recent fall from grace due to sudden mental illness issues and violent psychotic breaks, Susan Moore is not exactly thriving. So when a group of ridiculously handsome models in Fae cosplay come knocking at her door and declare her the Chosen One, she just decides to play along and accept this latest wild hallucination for what it is. But as she goes off to save the world, she soon starts to doubt if she has truly gone insane this time, or if she has never been crazy at all.
Now, I certainly wasn’t intending to devour this book in one day, but that is exactly what ended up happening. Hignett just has an effortlessly engaging and highly amusing writing style, and I was immediately intrigued by this refreshing spin on the paranormal fantasy genre. I mean, when you give me a 40-year-old no-nonsense woman as the protagonist, and then add some dangerously handsome brooding Fae, a sentient house, a sassy unicorn (or, excuse me, a *duo*corn), and plenty of paranormal hijinx into the mix, how could that not be a recipe for success?!
Right from the very first page, Susan just proved to be an incredibly fun and compelling protagonist to follow, and I loved being introduced to the paranormal world through her eyes. Though she is generally quite sensible and rational, the fact that she assumes everything to be a hallucination gives her a level of reckless boldness that makes her interactions with anything paranormal just wildly amusing.
There really is no denying that the plot of Susan, You’re the Chosen One is a bit batshit crazy, but I quite enjoyed that it just didn’t take itself too seriously. At some points I did find myself rolling my eyes at the hyperfixation on everyone’s (ridiculously attractive) physical appearances and the toxic antagonism between all the women who were viciously insulting each other left and right, even if it may have been done in an almost satirical way to poke fun at the cliches of the genre. But still, generally the silly humour was just irresistibly amusing, and I couldn’t stop myself from snorting out loud multiple times.
Moreover, between all the shits and giggles, there are deeper emotional layers woven into Susan’s (back)story that gave this book a level of depth and nuance that I wasn’t anticipating. Themes of anxiety, toxic relationships, gaslighting, mental illness, menopause, infertility, and female rage are handled with surprising care and power, which is exactly why this paranormal romp stands out from the crowd for me.
With roughly 20 books in her connected universe already under her belt, Hignett is no newbie to the craft, and it definitely shows. There’s a surprising amount of world building packed into this short novel, and the story just moves along at a dangerously addictive speed. At times I do think the character work suffered a bit from the fast pacing, especially in the sense that the entire cast of supporting characters just felt a bit one-dimensional and paled in comparison to Susan’s vibrancy. Though with the enticing way this first instalment left off, I have a feeling we will get to see more development for them in the sequels, which I couldn’t be more excited for.
And you better bet I will be continuing the Welcome to Midlife Magic series, if only so I can see more of Cecil the sassy duocorn and his hysterical antics, what an icon! Susan, You’re The Chosen One is one of those delightful palate cleansers that still has a lot of substance, making it the perfect weekend read to just snuggle up with and let yourself get totally lost in.
April 30, 2024
LOL start to a great new series
I love Lauretta Hignett novels; her books are always in the laugh out loud category, plus violence and mayhem.
This is a must read…
Susan embarks on an adventure of a lifetime and finds her true self. I love all the characters, and even though we don’t have Dwayne, we have CECIL!
I received this ARC to read and review. 😊
I love Lauretta Hignett novels; her books are always in the laugh out loud category, plus violence and mayhem.
This is a must read…
Susan embarks on an adventure of a lifetime and finds her true self. I love all the characters, and even though we don’t have Dwayne, we have CECIL!
I received this ARC to read and review. 😊
April 22, 2024
I've been reading practically nothing but Lauretta Hignett since I first saw the title "Oops I Ate a Vengeance Demon". (Side note: I started with that series first, and it was fine, but if you like to read things chronologically, read her Imogen Gray series first, then move on to Foils and Fury, in which the "Oops" book is first.)
When I saw the author is starting a Paranormal Women's Fiction (PWF) series where the protagonist is a woman in her 40s just discovering the paranormal world, I was HERE FOR IT and requested to be on her ARC team. So I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I'm also buying this book because I love this author and this new world she has concocted!
I was delighted the whole way through. As you can see from the book's description, Susan spent some time in a mental hospital and is dealing with repercussions of the incident that started it, financially, socially, and mentally. When the "models in Fae cosplay" show up, she doesn't just decide to play along, she leans into what she thinks are her hallucinations. It is fun and hilarious!
The whole book spoke to me on so many levels: dealing with mental illness, being midlife (although I'm a bit older than that now), and experiencing infertility and the feelings that will linger for the rest of one's life. Susan and her ex-husband tried a little late in life but didn't have a child, just like my husband and me. While that subject is kinda hard for me to read, it just endeared Susan to me more.
Whether you're considering this book because you've read other books by this author, you like the name "Susan, You're the Chosen One," the fabulous cover made you curious, you like the PWF genre, or for whatever reason, I hope you do take the chance and read it. There's so much to love in this book. Cecil on his own is worth the price of admission!
When I saw the author is starting a Paranormal Women's Fiction (PWF) series where the protagonist is a woman in her 40s just discovering the paranormal world, I was HERE FOR IT and requested to be on her ARC team. So I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I'm also buying this book because I love this author and this new world she has concocted!
I was delighted the whole way through. As you can see from the book's description, Susan spent some time in a mental hospital and is dealing with repercussions of the incident that started it, financially, socially, and mentally. When the "models in Fae cosplay" show up, she doesn't just decide to play along, she leans into what she thinks are her hallucinations. It is fun and hilarious!
The whole book spoke to me on so many levels: dealing with mental illness, being midlife (although I'm a bit older than that now), and experiencing infertility and the feelings that will linger for the rest of one's life. Susan and her ex-husband tried a little late in life but didn't have a child, just like my husband and me. While that subject is kinda hard for me to read, it just endeared Susan to me more.
Whether you're considering this book because you've read other books by this author, you like the name "Susan, You're the Chosen One," the fabulous cover made you curious, you like the PWF genre, or for whatever reason, I hope you do take the chance and read it. There's so much to love in this book. Cecil on his own is worth the price of admission!
July 27, 2024
I read this for the title, thinking it was rather ridiculous.
Imagine being so gaslit by your husband that you have wild hallucinations, destroy part of your home, nearly kill him with bricks (so he says), get arrested, and end up in a mental institution. Meanwhile, he's taken all your money, house, possessions, and shacked up with one of his young interns. And, she's having his baby.
I thought my ex was bad enough. Haha
But then some fae cosplayers show up. Only...they aren't actually cosplayers and they say,"You are the Chosen One, Susan."
Chosen for what? More psychosis? Maybe you should call your therapist.
Imagine being so gaslit by your husband that you have wild hallucinations, destroy part of your home, nearly kill him with bricks (so he says), get arrested, and end up in a mental institution. Meanwhile, he's taken all your money, house, possessions, and shacked up with one of his young interns. And, she's having his baby.
I thought my ex was bad enough. Haha
But then some fae cosplayers show up. Only...they aren't actually cosplayers and they say,"You are the Chosen One, Susan."
Chosen for what? More psychosis? Maybe you should call your therapist.
June 15, 2024
Oh I absolutely adore Susan! Lauretta has a way of creating characters that you instantly want to be friends with. Imogen, Sandy, Pru, Chloe, and now Susan are all amazingly written and loveable characters that I miss when the book ends. The storyline was a roller coaster of emotions, I was laughing out loud one minute and tearing up the next. Cecil is adorably extra and insane and I can’t wait for the next book. Highly recommended, I loved this book!
May 3, 2024
I dont have the words...
I love Ms Hignetts books, so of course I grabbed her new series starter. Wow! So funny, my family are giving me 'those' looks. Again. But as I've come to expect from this author, amidst the humor and fantasy, a poignant thread of truth and irony. Our Susan maybe going through a challenging menopause, the circumstances may seem extreme, however it reflects the way women of a 'certain age' who are 'going through the change' are treated. Like ticking time bombs at best, or candidates for pastel walled mental health facilities at worst. People talk at us, yes, I'm one of those who need to be talked to in soothing voices, as if we're slightly feeble toddlers. My company policy is that women going through menopause have to have regular chats with their managers to make sure our mental health is ok. Sounds good. But my manager is about 8 (I may be exaggerating slightly), and what if that manager was male? The indignity and stupidity of pathologizing a perfectly natural process... Well, the author captures this so well. I was cheering Susan on all the way. The scene with the sea hag...well, I had to read it aloud to my family. My mother got it, my kids may well be looking to see if they can find one of Susan's doctors to up my meds...
I've read, or tried to read other midlife magic authors, but this is the first of that genre that I can really identify with. Mostly I find books based on this age group don't seem to get it. Femaleness doesn't end with menopause, our lives aren't over because our periods stop, we don't need to be handled or managed any differently than anyone else. Susan gets it.. she's living it.she is a calm, capable woman, even if she has to remind herself of that every so often.
I am struggling to wait for the next book in the series. Please hurry up!
At least I can console myself with a visit to Sandy and Magda, just picked up the foils box set x
I love Ms Hignetts books, so of course I grabbed her new series starter. Wow! So funny, my family are giving me 'those' looks. Again. But as I've come to expect from this author, amidst the humor and fantasy, a poignant thread of truth and irony. Our Susan maybe going through a challenging menopause, the circumstances may seem extreme, however it reflects the way women of a 'certain age' who are 'going through the change' are treated. Like ticking time bombs at best, or candidates for pastel walled mental health facilities at worst. People talk at us, yes, I'm one of those who need to be talked to in soothing voices, as if we're slightly feeble toddlers. My company policy is that women going through menopause have to have regular chats with their managers to make sure our mental health is ok. Sounds good. But my manager is about 8 (I may be exaggerating slightly), and what if that manager was male? The indignity and stupidity of pathologizing a perfectly natural process... Well, the author captures this so well. I was cheering Susan on all the way. The scene with the sea hag...well, I had to read it aloud to my family. My mother got it, my kids may well be looking to see if they can find one of Susan's doctors to up my meds...
I've read, or tried to read other midlife magic authors, but this is the first of that genre that I can really identify with. Mostly I find books based on this age group don't seem to get it. Femaleness doesn't end with menopause, our lives aren't over because our periods stop, we don't need to be handled or managed any differently than anyone else. Susan gets it.. she's living it.she is a calm, capable woman, even if she has to remind herself of that every so often.
I am struggling to wait for the next book in the series. Please hurry up!
At least I can console myself with a visit to Sandy and Magda, just picked up the foils box set x
February 11, 2025
200+ pages and nothing really happened, we did not need to dedicate so much page time to her house and Susan being bullied by insignificant side characters. Susan also feels more like a reskinned 20 something than a 40 year old woman to me for how clueless she acts and her general mannerisms.
October 20, 2024
I think I wouldn't like Susan in real life.
December 16, 2024
This is a fun, fast paranormal women's read. I really like the FMC. She might be a little slow on the uptake sometimes, but you have to remember that she was gaslit into thinking she's crazy, so that's not unfair. She doesn't trust herself, and doesn't trust what she sees. The background is actually really sad, though the book doesn't dwell on it very much - Susan is a tough woman who finds humor in life despite being royally fucked over.
I hope that once she finds her footing in actual reality - hers, I mean: she's a supernatural, with magic and the ability to see through glamours... NOT a crazy person - she whips the asses of everyone who screwed her previously. Honestly, if they don't end up either dead, broken with literally nothing left to their name, or in jail at the end, I'm going to be super pissed, because don't give me an amazing FMC who got utterly fucked over and abused, give her superpowers, and NOT have her get her own back. You can take your "the best revenge is living well" tripe - that only enables abusers to continue with no consequences - and stuff it up your butt. I want to see people pay for what they've done. I have to live with bad guys getting away with no consequences in the real world, I am certainly NOT living with it in my fantasy.
But that's a tangent, because none of that is relevant in this first book - poor Susan is just starting to figure things out and get her feet under her. And she's doing amazing.
Already partway through book 2...!
I hope that once she finds her footing in actual reality - hers, I mean: she's a supernatural, with magic and the ability to see through glamours... NOT a crazy person - she whips the asses of everyone who screwed her previously. Honestly, if they don't end up either dead, broken with literally nothing left to their name, or in jail at the end, I'm going to be super pissed, because don't give me an amazing FMC who got utterly fucked over and abused, give her superpowers, and NOT have her get her own back. You can take your "the best revenge is living well" tripe - that only enables abusers to continue with no consequences - and stuff it up your butt. I want to see people pay for what they've done. I have to live with bad guys getting away with no consequences in the real world, I am certainly NOT living with it in my fantasy.
But that's a tangent, because none of that is relevant in this first book - poor Susan is just starting to figure things out and get her feet under her. And she's doing amazing.
Already partway through book 2...!
April 20, 2025
This is when you try to be funny but fail because you're taking the plot too seriously. Read Assistant to the Villain instead. It has tropes and makes fun of them perfectly.
Read
August 28, 2024DNF at 7%. By this point, the author had used the same bland descriptors of how hot the fae were several times. The FMC then referred to herself as someone with paranoid schizophrenia and ODD. The first is no longer a diagnosis (no more subtypes), and ODD cannot be diagnosed/does not apply past the age of 18. After that, I was not invested in continuing at all. I like the Blood and Magic series, so I was surprised to be turned off so quickly in this book.
July 17, 2025
who would have thought that this book that I picked up almost as a meme would be so funny and absorbing that I wouldn't want to stop reading?
Susan, a fallen from grace ex VP of an important company, has just started to recover from a year-long stay in the psychiatric hospital due to her long list of mental illnesses having wrecked havoc in her life. At forty years old, she is going through early menopause, she almost killed her now ex-husband, she destroyed their dream home, she was sure she was having all sorts of hallucinations due to her schizophrenia. She is now better, working as a manager in a lousy call-center trying to keep her life together against rude coworkers. She is doing as fine as she can.
That is, until four warrior looking, tall and beautiful people (?) show up at her rundown shoebox apartment to tell her she is the Chosen One required to help them save the whole universe.
She must be going seriously crazy. Again.
This book is so funny in every aspect, but at the same time so engaging that it can help you get out of any reading slump. The story is linear and straight-forward and the characters are simple but diverse, it enriched such a short story in many ways. You will get a flamboyant horse (emh, duocorn) personal stylist, a house that bends to all your wishes, an old sea monster that feeds into the patriarchal stereotypes and all sorts of unmanageable and uncooperative team members.
I had some difficulties at the beginning because I couldn't understand if some parts were a joke or a serious opinion from the author, and throughout the book there were several instances of comments on physical appearance of males (who were 99% of the time described as sculpted like greek gods) vs females (especially the MC, who was described as being old and saggy in various places, or comparing her to the ballerina body of a twenty year old).
Overall I had a lot of fun and even some deep thoughts while reading this book, I will surely keep reading the next to see how this story will develop, if it will become more serious or if it will manage to maintain the same tone even when the novelty has worn off.
Susan, a fallen from grace ex VP of an important company, has just started to recover from a year-long stay in the psychiatric hospital due to her long list of mental illnesses having wrecked havoc in her life. At forty years old, she is going through early menopause, she almost killed her now ex-husband, she destroyed their dream home, she was sure she was having all sorts of hallucinations due to her schizophrenia. She is now better, working as a manager in a lousy call-center trying to keep her life together against rude coworkers. She is doing as fine as she can.
That is, until four warrior looking, tall and beautiful people (?) show up at her rundown shoebox apartment to tell her she is the Chosen One required to help them save the whole universe.
She must be going seriously crazy. Again.
This book is so funny in every aspect, but at the same time so engaging that it can help you get out of any reading slump. The story is linear and straight-forward and the characters are simple but diverse, it enriched such a short story in many ways. You will get a flamboyant horse (emh, duocorn) personal stylist, a house that bends to all your wishes, an old sea monster that feeds into the patriarchal stereotypes and all sorts of unmanageable and uncooperative team members.
I had some difficulties at the beginning because I couldn't understand if some parts were a joke or a serious opinion from the author, and throughout the book there were several instances of comments on physical appearance of males (who were 99% of the time described as sculpted like greek gods) vs females (especially the MC, who was described as being old and saggy in various places, or comparing her to the ballerina body of a twenty year old).
Overall I had a lot of fun and even some deep thoughts while reading this book, I will surely keep reading the next to see how this story will develop, if it will become more serious or if it will manage to maintain the same tone even when the novelty has worn off.
April 24, 2025
Susan is the FMC we would all be in a fantasy novel, and don't lie to me and say you'd accept magic is real instantly, you wouldn't. you would do a Susan and I love that this book is funny, doesn't take itself too seriously but has a story line that keeps you hooked and a plot twist I did not see it coming so thank you!
September 17, 2025
Honestly, the title is what sold me from the beginning lol.
I wanted a silly read and this sure hit the mark! It’s a quick but entertaining read.
I wanted a silly read and this sure hit the mark! It’s a quick but entertaining read.
February 5, 2025
I 1000% need “This meeting could have been an email. This email could have been a cage fight.” Cross stitched and hung on my cubicle wall
September 18, 2025
Silly and fun, great palate cleanser.
July 18, 2025
This book was an alright read, but the fact that the author used the word preternatual no less than 6 times irritated me way more than it probably should have. Come on now. Not bad if you need to kill time but I have no desire to read the rest of the series.
March 26, 2025
While I definitely find the title brilliant, the book made me cringe a few times. The second half was much more enjoyable to me, it surely had its nice and funny moments. But I still don’t know if the lectures about patriarchy, misogyny and other sensitive modern topics were there as part of the MC’s character or just the author’s style. Like, I’d rather decide for myself whether the character is a misogynistic entitled white male asshole than have the author tell me this directly.
September 7, 2024
It's satire and it's not a shitty story and I love satire.
September 7, 2024
Dumb
I don't read picture books. At least, not since my daughter was three. I wanted this to be gods it it was horrible
I don't read picture books. At least, not since my daughter was three. I wanted this to be gods it it was horrible
January 6, 2025
Once again this author takes a rather pulp fiction premise/genre and does something so readable with it. Susan is eminently relatable, even when she’s fighting with a fae warrior prince against an evil- if misunderstood- Ursula inspired monster. Modern fiction at its most fun with great tones of confronting the patriarchy and handsome heroes that allow you to beat your own demons and find your power- gotta love a Perimenopausal heroine zooming along in a self aware fugue but filled with lots to root for…
November 26, 2025
I hated this. I was also deeply offended at times. This book had me seething. I hated it so much.
It was revolting chick lit that was supposed to be empowering, but again I was deeply offended multiple times??? I don't even know where to start with a review, so I'm not going to bother because I've already wasted my time reading this. I think the author should have her writing privileges revoked and idk, fined on top of that. Most of the high reviews are ARC don't be fooled. The others have to be paid.
A truly awful book.
It was revolting chick lit that was supposed to be empowering, but again I was deeply offended multiple times??? I don't even know where to start with a review, so I'm not going to bother because I've already wasted my time reading this. I think the author should have her writing privileges revoked and idk, fined on top of that. Most of the high reviews are ARC don't be fooled. The others have to be paid.
A truly awful book.
July 3, 2024
Not bad .. But not at full price
For a fanfic novella of pre-crone empowerment it is a fine piece of work with some very engaging vingettes/scenes. As a full forged novel ... Too haphazard and reliant on deus ex for me. On the whole I would recommend with a tonne of caveats and not at full price
For a fanfic novella of pre-crone empowerment it is a fine piece of work with some very engaging vingettes/scenes. As a full forged novel ... Too haphazard and reliant on deus ex for me. On the whole I would recommend with a tonne of caveats and not at full price
September 6, 2024
Okay. I admit that I chose to read this because the title just tickled my fancy. I wasn’t expecting much because most urban fantasy is a bit rubbish. My expectations were low, but I wanted fluff, and fluff I got.
I will say that I did finish all four books, and my full review will be in the fourth one.
I will say that I did finish all four books, and my full review will be in the fourth one.
September 21, 2024
A surprisingly engaging and funny read
October 10, 2024
A fun reading experience which was not serious in the slightest and just what I needed
October 13, 2024
Okay, but the best part of the book was still the title, so I rounded up from a 2.5!
April 17, 2025
En ægte wtf-did-I-just-read-oplevelse, men fuck det var sjovt
August 22, 2025
It's like Harry Potter, except the protagonist is a 40-year-old woman. It reminds me of a 90s action movie that's rated R. A bit on the sweary side and with some suggestive language, it's not for kids - but it doesn't cross the line into "spice" or extreme vulgarity.
Still, it was an entertaining read and inventive enough to keep my interest. The story had a distinct feel thanks to the strong character writing. As much as I wouldn't have expected to, I'll probably continue reading the series.
Still, it was an entertaining read and inventive enough to keep my interest. The story had a distinct feel thanks to the strong character writing. As much as I wouldn't have expected to, I'll probably continue reading the series.
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