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A Spell for Change
In this sumptuous, atmospheric historical fantasy set in post-WW1 Appalachia, three outcasts with misunderstood magical gifts search for their place in the world while battling the dark forces circling their community. For fans of Alix E. Harrow, Susanna Clarke and Kirsty Logan.
Kate has always been troubled by visions of the future. No matter what she does, her disturbing premonitions are always realized—often with terrible consequences. But Kate has swirling, romantic dreams of a strange boy, and a chance meeting in the woods.
Oliver returned from the Great War disabled, disillusioned, and able to speak to the dead. Haunted by the death of his best friend and his traumatic memories of the trenches, Oliver realizes that his ability to communicate with spirits may offer the chance of closure he desperately seeks.
Nora Jo’s mother and grandmother were witches, but she has never nurtured her own power. Always an outsider, she has made a place for herself in the town as Chatuga's schoolteacher, clinging to the independence the job affords her. But when her unorthodox ideas lead to her dismissal, salvation comes in the form of a witch from the mountains who offers her a magical apprenticeship.
Rumours of a dark force stalking the town only push Kate, Oliver and Nora Jo onwards in their quest to determine their own destinies. But as they close in on their goals, each will have to consider whether what they seek is worth the price.
Kate has always been troubled by visions of the future. No matter what she does, her disturbing premonitions are always realized—often with terrible consequences. But Kate has swirling, romantic dreams of a strange boy, and a chance meeting in the woods.
Oliver returned from the Great War disabled, disillusioned, and able to speak to the dead. Haunted by the death of his best friend and his traumatic memories of the trenches, Oliver realizes that his ability to communicate with spirits may offer the chance of closure he desperately seeks.
Nora Jo’s mother and grandmother were witches, but she has never nurtured her own power. Always an outsider, she has made a place for herself in the town as Chatuga's schoolteacher, clinging to the independence the job affords her. But when her unorthodox ideas lead to her dismissal, salvation comes in the form of a witch from the mountains who offers her a magical apprenticeship.
Rumours of a dark force stalking the town only push Kate, Oliver and Nora Jo onwards in their quest to determine their own destinies. But as they close in on their goals, each will have to consider whether what they seek is worth the price.
480 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2025
30 people are currently reading
1902 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
May 5, 2025
I picked this up beause I enjoy all kinds of witchy paranormal type stories. Nicole James is a new author for me and I enjoy trying new authors. This is Jarvis' third book.
Description:
Kate has always been troubled by visions of the future. No matter what she does, her disturbing premonitions are always realized—often with terrible consequences. But Kate has swirling, romantic dreams of a strange boy, and a chance meeting in the woods.
Oliver returned from the Great War disabled, disillusioned, and able to speak to the dead. Haunted by the death of his best friend and his traumatic memories of the trenches, Oliver realizes that his ability to communicate with spirits may offer the chance of closure he desperately seeks.
Nora Jo’s mother and grandmother were witches, but she has never nurtured her own power. Always an outsider, she has made a place for herself in the town as Chatuga's schoolteacher, clinging to the independence the job affords her. But when her unorthodox ideas lead to her dismissal, salvation comes in the form of a witch from the mountains who offers her a magical apprenticeship.
Rumours of a dark force stalking the town only push Kate, Oliver and Nora Jo onwards in their quest to determine their own destinies. But as they close in on their goals, each will have to consider whether what they seek is worth the price.
My Thoughts:
Nora Jo and Oliver were different and I think that is why they connected. Nora Jo with her flashes of vision into the future, and Oliver with his ability to see and talk to ghosts. There was a lot of turmoil for both of them. They are having to struggle to get through the many hurdles. The challenges are numerous. The atmosphere in the Appalachian small town seemed oppressive with its racial bias and class differences. I hadn't expected the demonic slant to the story so that was a surprising development. I enjoyed the plot and the characters.
Thanks to Titan Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
Kate has always been troubled by visions of the future. No matter what she does, her disturbing premonitions are always realized—often with terrible consequences. But Kate has swirling, romantic dreams of a strange boy, and a chance meeting in the woods.
Oliver returned from the Great War disabled, disillusioned, and able to speak to the dead. Haunted by the death of his best friend and his traumatic memories of the trenches, Oliver realizes that his ability to communicate with spirits may offer the chance of closure he desperately seeks.
Nora Jo’s mother and grandmother were witches, but she has never nurtured her own power. Always an outsider, she has made a place for herself in the town as Chatuga's schoolteacher, clinging to the independence the job affords her. But when her unorthodox ideas lead to her dismissal, salvation comes in the form of a witch from the mountains who offers her a magical apprenticeship.
Rumours of a dark force stalking the town only push Kate, Oliver and Nora Jo onwards in their quest to determine their own destinies. But as they close in on their goals, each will have to consider whether what they seek is worth the price.
My Thoughts:
Nora Jo and Oliver were different and I think that is why they connected. Nora Jo with her flashes of vision into the future, and Oliver with his ability to see and talk to ghosts. There was a lot of turmoil for both of them. They are having to struggle to get through the many hurdles. The challenges are numerous. The atmosphere in the Appalachian small town seemed oppressive with its racial bias and class differences. I hadn't expected the demonic slant to the story so that was a surprising development. I enjoyed the plot and the characters.
Thanks to Titan Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.
June 15, 2025
4.3⭐️My first foray into speculative history, and what a wild ride! Taking place in 1920 Appalachia, this story follows multiple small town POVs - a black woman struggling with visions of the future, a haunted soldier, and a troubled one-room-schoolhouse teacher, all interwoven with magical mystery and sprinkled with love.
This book has a very specific intersection between character study and American gothic / witch vibes. While I was reading this book I kept thinking this felt like the perfect mash up of the movies VVITCH (for the old timey spooky magic) and The Conjuring (for the Christian / exorcism overtones), but cut down the terror and pacing by half. Intrigue and mystery is around every corner, however this is not a fast paced novel, but rather a slow concentration on 3 individuals trapped by racism, sexism, and homophobia with a spooky backdrop. These characters feel real, and the plot is gripping and original. Even with a character who glimpses the future, I could not predict the final 15% of the book, and I couldn’t put it down as the ending neared! I would absolutely recommend this one if you don’t mind a slow burn and are the type of person who bets friends on how movies will end! Thank you to Nicole Jarvis, NetGalley and Titan Books for a copy of this eARC!
This book has a very specific intersection between character study and American gothic / witch vibes. While I was reading this book I kept thinking this felt like the perfect mash up of the movies VVITCH (for the old timey spooky magic) and The Conjuring (for the Christian / exorcism overtones), but cut down the terror and pacing by half. Intrigue and mystery is around every corner, however this is not a fast paced novel, but rather a slow concentration on 3 individuals trapped by racism, sexism, and homophobia with a spooky backdrop. These characters feel real, and the plot is gripping and original. Even with a character who glimpses the future, I could not predict the final 15% of the book, and I couldn’t put it down as the ending neared! I would absolutely recommend this one if you don’t mind a slow burn and are the type of person who bets friends on how movies will end! Thank you to Nicole Jarvis, NetGalley and Titan Books for a copy of this eARC!
May 1, 2025
An historical fantasy set in post-WW1 Appalachia.
We following three main characters, each struggling with their places in society and with a supernatural "gift". Nora Jo, who uses small spells learnt from her mother and grandmother, is a schoolteacher who loses her job because the community think it’s inappropriate for her to not be married. Kate, is trying to earn enough money to keep her family from moving away from the increasingly hostile and racist town, suffers seizures that come with visions of the future. And finally, Oliver, the only son of the local wealthy family, has returned from the Great War traumatised, suffering the debilitating effects of breathing in gas, and with the ability to see ghosts. Slowly we delve more into their stories and it becomes clear that something is amiss in their town, and a darkness is lurking.
The setting and atmosphere is excellent, the slow development of the characters stories allows you to get a feel of the time and place. All three of them felt distinct with their own life issues outside of the magic/supernatural elements: racism, sexism, family expectations to make traditional life choices, etc.
However, it took far too long for all three of the characters and their plotlines to come together. This was particularly detrimental to Nora Jo's storyline which feels like it should be the most important but was less engaging than Kate and Oliver's intertwined plot. The ending felt a little abrupt in it's change of pace and focus. I also wasn't keen on the reveal of what was the cause of the danger - it just didn't feel like it quite matched with the magic experienced by our MCs.
An atmospheric and engaging historical supernatural fantasy, that didn't quite keep me gripped until the end but was still an entertaining read.
Thanks to Titan Books for the netgalley review copy.
We following three main characters, each struggling with their places in society and with a supernatural "gift". Nora Jo, who uses small spells learnt from her mother and grandmother, is a schoolteacher who loses her job because the community think it’s inappropriate for her to not be married. Kate, is trying to earn enough money to keep her family from moving away from the increasingly hostile and racist town, suffers seizures that come with visions of the future. And finally, Oliver, the only son of the local wealthy family, has returned from the Great War traumatised, suffering the debilitating effects of breathing in gas, and with the ability to see ghosts. Slowly we delve more into their stories and it becomes clear that something is amiss in their town, and a darkness is lurking.
The setting and atmosphere is excellent, the slow development of the characters stories allows you to get a feel of the time and place. All three of them felt distinct with their own life issues outside of the magic/supernatural elements: racism, sexism, family expectations to make traditional life choices, etc.
However, it took far too long for all three of the characters and their plotlines to come together. This was particularly detrimental to Nora Jo's storyline which feels like it should be the most important but was less engaging than Kate and Oliver's intertwined plot. The ending felt a little abrupt in it's change of pace and focus. I also wasn't keen on the reveal of what was the cause of the danger - it just didn't feel like it quite matched with the magic experienced by our MCs.
An atmospheric and engaging historical supernatural fantasy, that didn't quite keep me gripped until the end but was still an entertaining read.
Thanks to Titan Books for the netgalley review copy.
January 8, 2025
Blurb to come!
May 27, 2025
The nitty-gritty: Ghosts, demons and magic infuse this well written, high-stakes tale that addresses racism, queer love, interracial relationships and much more.
A Spell For Change is an unexpectedly thoughtful and emotional story that takes place after World War I in a small town in Tennessee. It’s also a demonic possession story, which I wasn’t expecting and never would have guessed based on the lovely cover design. Nicole Jarvis excels at immersing her reader in a specific place and time, when racial segregation and class divide were the norm, and along with her carefully developed characters and just a touch of otherworldly magic, the story is an unusual mix of elements that somehow worked.
We follow three main characters who all live in the small Appalachian town of Chatuga. Nora Jo is the teacher at the town’s only school, and it’s a job she loves dearly. She enjoys her quiet and predictable life, that is until a strange man knocks on her door one day. Everett Harlow tells Nora Jo that he senses a latent magical ability in her and want to help her unlock her potential by training her in the art of witchcraft.
Kate is a young Black woman who can see visions of the future, and although she’s always hated these visions—what her parents call “fits”---she can’t escape them. So when she starts to have visions of handsome man, she does everything she can to make them come true. Maybe this mystery man is the key to her future freedom.
Finally, Oliver is a veteran with both physical and emotional scars from the war. His best friend Tucker Lee died right in front of him, and he’s unable to get over the loss. Not only that, but when he returned to Chatuga, he started to see ghosts. Now he’s haunted wherever he goes, but the only ghost he can’t see is Tucker Lee’s.
All three characters’ storylines eventually intersect in some interesting and terrifying ways. Nora Jo’s lessons in magic and witchcraft become increasingly disturbing, Oliver’s ghosts start to warn him that something dangerous is coming, and Kate’s visions turn deadly. At the center of these omens is Harlow, who may or may not be more than he appears.
Jarvis takes her time setting up the story and delving into the lives of her characters, and I appreciated the slower pace in the beginning, since there is quite a bit to absorb. We learn that Kate’s father may soon be laid off from his factory job, and so the family is thinking about moving to Nashville and tearing their children away from everything that’s familiar to them. Kate is a hard worker and contributes everything she can so they can stay in Chatuga, but she’s barely eighteen and can’t control their decisions. I loved hearing about Kate’s visions and how the family copes with them, as well as the possible reason she has them in the first place.
Oliver’s experience in the war colors his present life, and he’s never far away from the awful memories of watching Tucker Lee die. Oliver himself came back with a lung condition and struggles with it daily. He has no desire to see ghosts, and yet he can’t escape them. I loved the way the author portrayed the aftermath of the war and the effect it has on everyone, not only those who fought in it. The heartache of loss is palpable, and although I don't read many stories set in this time period, I was surprised how emotionally invested I became in the characters' lives.
I love Nora Jo’s story as well. She’s the most forward thinking one in the story, a woman who wants to make her own way in the world without having to rely on a man—something that just wasn’t done in the 1920s. She also bucks tradition when she falls in love with another woman and is determined to create a future with her, no matter what anyone else thinks. The only thing that didn’t work for me when it came to Nora Jo was her involvement with Harlow. I couldn’t figure out why a smart, self reliant woman would agree to meet with a strange man in the middle of the night, agree to cut herself in order to increase her magical abilities, and blindly do whatever Harlow asked her to do. Luckily she redeems herself at the end of the story, though.
As for the demons, they don’t really make an appearance until the last hundred pages, and from that point on the story changes abruptly from a quiet, more character focused tale to one of frantic action and terror. This shift was a bit jarring, although don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed these parts a lot. I do wish the author had introduced the demon storyline sooner in the story, though, which would have added more tension and mystery. There are some hints early on, but they ended up being more confusing than anything else.
But that being said, I loved the way the author wrapped everything up. There’s a nice, emotional twist at the end involving Nora Jo that I absolutely adored, and despite some of the terrifying things the characters go through, Jarvis gives her readers an upbeat, hopeful ending. I enjoyed A Spell For Change a lot, and I’m looking forward to more of Nicole Jarvis’s books.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
A Spell For Change is an unexpectedly thoughtful and emotional story that takes place after World War I in a small town in Tennessee. It’s also a demonic possession story, which I wasn’t expecting and never would have guessed based on the lovely cover design. Nicole Jarvis excels at immersing her reader in a specific place and time, when racial segregation and class divide were the norm, and along with her carefully developed characters and just a touch of otherworldly magic, the story is an unusual mix of elements that somehow worked.
We follow three main characters who all live in the small Appalachian town of Chatuga. Nora Jo is the teacher at the town’s only school, and it’s a job she loves dearly. She enjoys her quiet and predictable life, that is until a strange man knocks on her door one day. Everett Harlow tells Nora Jo that he senses a latent magical ability in her and want to help her unlock her potential by training her in the art of witchcraft.
Kate is a young Black woman who can see visions of the future, and although she’s always hated these visions—what her parents call “fits”---she can’t escape them. So when she starts to have visions of handsome man, she does everything she can to make them come true. Maybe this mystery man is the key to her future freedom.
Finally, Oliver is a veteran with both physical and emotional scars from the war. His best friend Tucker Lee died right in front of him, and he’s unable to get over the loss. Not only that, but when he returned to Chatuga, he started to see ghosts. Now he’s haunted wherever he goes, but the only ghost he can’t see is Tucker Lee’s.
All three characters’ storylines eventually intersect in some interesting and terrifying ways. Nora Jo’s lessons in magic and witchcraft become increasingly disturbing, Oliver’s ghosts start to warn him that something dangerous is coming, and Kate’s visions turn deadly. At the center of these omens is Harlow, who may or may not be more than he appears.
Jarvis takes her time setting up the story and delving into the lives of her characters, and I appreciated the slower pace in the beginning, since there is quite a bit to absorb. We learn that Kate’s father may soon be laid off from his factory job, and so the family is thinking about moving to Nashville and tearing their children away from everything that’s familiar to them. Kate is a hard worker and contributes everything she can so they can stay in Chatuga, but she’s barely eighteen and can’t control their decisions. I loved hearing about Kate’s visions and how the family copes with them, as well as the possible reason she has them in the first place.
Oliver’s experience in the war colors his present life, and he’s never far away from the awful memories of watching Tucker Lee die. Oliver himself came back with a lung condition and struggles with it daily. He has no desire to see ghosts, and yet he can’t escape them. I loved the way the author portrayed the aftermath of the war and the effect it has on everyone, not only those who fought in it. The heartache of loss is palpable, and although I don't read many stories set in this time period, I was surprised how emotionally invested I became in the characters' lives.
I love Nora Jo’s story as well. She’s the most forward thinking one in the story, a woman who wants to make her own way in the world without having to rely on a man—something that just wasn’t done in the 1920s. She also bucks tradition when she falls in love with another woman and is determined to create a future with her, no matter what anyone else thinks. The only thing that didn’t work for me when it came to Nora Jo was her involvement with Harlow. I couldn’t figure out why a smart, self reliant woman would agree to meet with a strange man in the middle of the night, agree to cut herself in order to increase her magical abilities, and blindly do whatever Harlow asked her to do. Luckily she redeems herself at the end of the story, though.
As for the demons, they don’t really make an appearance until the last hundred pages, and from that point on the story changes abruptly from a quiet, more character focused tale to one of frantic action and terror. This shift was a bit jarring, although don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed these parts a lot. I do wish the author had introduced the demon storyline sooner in the story, though, which would have added more tension and mystery. There are some hints early on, but they ended up being more confusing than anything else.
But that being said, I loved the way the author wrapped everything up. There’s a nice, emotional twist at the end involving Nora Jo that I absolutely adored, and despite some of the terrifying things the characters go through, Jarvis gives her readers an upbeat, hopeful ending. I enjoyed A Spell For Change a lot, and I’m looking forward to more of Nicole Jarvis’s books.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
May 22, 2025
Я считаю, что этому миру нужно больше квирной южной готики, но чего-то мне в этой в целом неплохой книге не хватило, и я даже не могу внятно объяснить, чего именно. (А от концовки линии Норы Джо повеяло вайбами .)
September 5, 2025
BOOK REPORT
I particularly enjoyed the historical aspects of this book, as well as what seemed to me a fairly realistic depiction of (most of) the various characters and the way they related to one another.
But that last stretch that got us to the end? Ugh. It’s like I told my husband…..when things get just a little too far-fetched for me to suspend disbelief, I find myself thinking that the author has resorted to the old “vampires from outer space” trope. Sigh.
Let’s end on a positive note, though. Nicole Jarvis, in the acknowledgements section, talked about reading a book about her great-grandmother. It was Dorie: Woman of the Mountains, by Florence Cope Bush. It looks extremely interesting and I have put it on my To Read list.
PS
If you’d like to read a real review of the book, check out this one by The Starry Library: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I particularly enjoyed the historical aspects of this book, as well as what seemed to me a fairly realistic depiction of (most of) the various characters and the way they related to one another.
But that last stretch that got us to the end? Ugh. It’s like I told my husband…..when things get just a little too far-fetched for me to suspend disbelief, I find myself thinking that the author has resorted to the old “vampires from outer space” trope. Sigh.
Let’s end on a positive note, though. Nicole Jarvis, in the acknowledgements section, talked about reading a book about her great-grandmother. It was Dorie: Woman of the Mountains, by Florence Cope Bush. It looks extremely interesting and I have put it on my To Read list.
PS
If you’d like to read a real review of the book, check out this one by The Starry Library: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
May 11, 2025
4⭐️
✅ An atmospheric and spooky historical fantasy
✅ Multiple POVs with good character exploration
❌ Slightly predictable plot
❌ Didn’t fully understand the motivations of the main antagonist
I read this as an ARC on NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. This was a surprisingly spooky book which features witchcraft, ghosts and demons while being set in a small town in Tennessee during the early 1920s. You follow 3 characters who each are trying to understand and control their strange magical abilities, whilst also dealing with their own personal and societal challenges within their local community. I really liked how this book was a very character-focused story and touched on wider topics around race, sexuality, and family tradition. You spend a lot of time with each character and get a good sense of the emotional struggles they are dealing with.
The fantasy aspect of this story went in a direction I wasn’t fully expecting when going into this book, and I have to say the final 20% of the book felt quite different to the rest. I was also a little frustrated at the naivety of one of the main characters, which drove the plot forward but led to quite a predictable ‘twist’.
Aside from the personal journeys of each character, it was difficult to grasp how each of the stories would come together and what the bigger picture would be. While you are rewarded with a character convergence, the main antagonists of the book didn’t really become truly apparent until right at the end, and their motivations felt a little underdeveloped.
Despite this, I really enjoyed the slowly unraveling mystery and I did feel as though each character’s journey had a fitting ending. The dark, spooky atmosphere was well captured in the writing and made it an overall quite immersive reading experience.
✅ An atmospheric and spooky historical fantasy
✅ Multiple POVs with good character exploration
❌ Slightly predictable plot
❌ Didn’t fully understand the motivations of the main antagonist
I read this as an ARC on NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. This was a surprisingly spooky book which features witchcraft, ghosts and demons while being set in a small town in Tennessee during the early 1920s. You follow 3 characters who each are trying to understand and control their strange magical abilities, whilst also dealing with their own personal and societal challenges within their local community. I really liked how this book was a very character-focused story and touched on wider topics around race, sexuality, and family tradition. You spend a lot of time with each character and get a good sense of the emotional struggles they are dealing with.
The fantasy aspect of this story went in a direction I wasn’t fully expecting when going into this book, and I have to say the final 20% of the book felt quite different to the rest. I was also a little frustrated at the naivety of one of the main characters, which drove the plot forward but led to quite a predictable ‘twist’.
Aside from the personal journeys of each character, it was difficult to grasp how each of the stories would come together and what the bigger picture would be. While you are rewarded with a character convergence, the main antagonists of the book didn’t really become truly apparent until right at the end, and their motivations felt a little underdeveloped.
Despite this, I really enjoyed the slowly unraveling mystery and I did feel as though each character’s journey had a fitting ending. The dark, spooky atmosphere was well captured in the writing and made it an overall quite immersive reading experience.
August 10, 2025
This book went all over the place for me, and I mentally rated it as 2 stars to 4 stars depending on the chapter. Ultimately I think it stuck the landing, but I don't begrudge any reader for a DNF.
Though I will say, if you're a fan of Sarah J Maas's "all gas no brakes" vibe for the last 100 pages, you're in for a treat with this one.
Though I will say, if you're a fan of Sarah J Maas's "all gas no brakes" vibe for the last 100 pages, you're in for a treat with this one.
January 1, 2025
A Spell for Change by Nicole Jarvis is a historical fantasy story about three people each with a special gift that haunts, threatens, and seeks to reveal the truth about something evil stalking them all.
Set in a small town in Appalachia in the 1920s, this book has a slight folk horror feel with its rustic supernatural setting. Kate has visions of the future that don't make any sense whilst trying to support her struggling family. Oliver is a World War One soldier who is haunted by his experience and the ghosts he sees. Nora Jo is an independent school teacher who is reintroduced to her witchcraft ancestry by a mysterious stranger. Each of these characters begins to confront their "gifts" with their consequences becoming more and more dangerous as something dark enters their lives. Kate, Oliver, and Nora Jo will cross paths in unlikely ways as the shocking truth reveals itself.
I really enjoyed this story, for its setting, atmosphere, and character development. I was pulled into the small town magic and challenging lives of the characters. It had a folk horror feel like I mentioned, with its rural and rustic setting juxtaposed with the darkness of nature. The supernatural aspects were interesting and original in how they were experienced by the characters.
What I really enjoyed about this book was that the emotional journey of the characters rather than their magical abilities drove the plot forward so that it was a story about survival that used fantastical elements to examine issues surrounding class, race, sexuality, women's rights, and freedom.
My only small critique is that I didn't love the demonic twist which took me out of the story. It got a little too fantastical for me and I think a different dark twist would have suited the feel of the story better, perhaps something more pagan or nature based?
Overall A Spell for Change was an entertaining story about love, loss, and the power to claim your magic in the face of the evils that seek to control your choices.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Set in a small town in Appalachia in the 1920s, this book has a slight folk horror feel with its rustic supernatural setting. Kate has visions of the future that don't make any sense whilst trying to support her struggling family. Oliver is a World War One soldier who is haunted by his experience and the ghosts he sees. Nora Jo is an independent school teacher who is reintroduced to her witchcraft ancestry by a mysterious stranger. Each of these characters begins to confront their "gifts" with their consequences becoming more and more dangerous as something dark enters their lives. Kate, Oliver, and Nora Jo will cross paths in unlikely ways as the shocking truth reveals itself.
I really enjoyed this story, for its setting, atmosphere, and character development. I was pulled into the small town magic and challenging lives of the characters. It had a folk horror feel like I mentioned, with its rural and rustic setting juxtaposed with the darkness of nature. The supernatural aspects were interesting and original in how they were experienced by the characters.
What I really enjoyed about this book was that the emotional journey of the characters rather than their magical abilities drove the plot forward so that it was a story about survival that used fantastical elements to examine issues surrounding class, race, sexuality, women's rights, and freedom.
My only small critique is that I didn't love the demonic twist which took me out of the story. It got a little too fantastical for me and I think a different dark twist would have suited the feel of the story better, perhaps something more pagan or nature based?
Overall A Spell for Change was an entertaining story about love, loss, and the power to claim your magic in the face of the evils that seek to control your choices.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm so sorry that I wound up finishing after the release!
Seriously, I regret not reading this faster (the end of the semester and other ARCs I was hoping to finish on time got in the way). But, uh. I started at about 5:30pm on the 25th at 20%, and I read straight through until I finished at 4am. I could not put this book down, even if I had a big gap between that first 20% and the last 80%. That's entirely on me. I am astounded that, at the time of writing this, this book has less than a hundred ratings on Goodreads. I know it only just came out, but still. Holy shit.
The pros: Everything. Literally, what can I say? Fucking everything. From concept to execution, from characters to plot to worldbuilding, this is a masterpiece. It is beautifully written, all of the characters are unique and fascinating, the way magic works is amazing and feels so real, the setting and the time period and the history and the queerness and just AAAAAAA!!! ALL OF IT! I started going insane in my friends and I's Discord server in the middle of the night because I just needed to get out all of my feelings about this book as I was reading it, in particular the last 20%. Completely unintelligible to everyone but me, but who cares.
The cons: This book is amazing. I genuinely cannot recall a single issue I had with it. Even in other five-star books I've read, I usually can find something to nitpick - I can't here. Absolutely nothing comes to mind. Maybe a couple things were a little predictable? But I can't even say I mind. It still felt like everything was naturally built-up to and foreshadowed. I have nothing negative to say.
As soon as I have the money to do so, I am buying myself a copy of this book. Looking online all I'm seeing are paperbacks (I prefer hardcovers) but I will take what I can get. I loved every second of this, I'm going to coerce my fiancé to read it. Get this book.
Seriously, I regret not reading this faster (the end of the semester and other ARCs I was hoping to finish on time got in the way). But, uh. I started at about 5:30pm on the 25th at 20%, and I read straight through until I finished at 4am. I could not put this book down, even if I had a big gap between that first 20% and the last 80%. That's entirely on me. I am astounded that, at the time of writing this, this book has less than a hundred ratings on Goodreads. I know it only just came out, but still. Holy shit.
The pros: Everything. Literally, what can I say? Fucking everything. From concept to execution, from characters to plot to worldbuilding, this is a masterpiece. It is beautifully written, all of the characters are unique and fascinating, the way magic works is amazing and feels so real, the setting and the time period and the history and the queerness and just AAAAAAA!!! ALL OF IT! I started going insane in my friends and I's Discord server in the middle of the night because I just needed to get out all of my feelings about this book as I was reading it, in particular the last 20%. Completely unintelligible to everyone but me, but who cares.
The cons: This book is amazing. I genuinely cannot recall a single issue I had with it. Even in other five-star books I've read, I usually can find something to nitpick - I can't here. Absolutely nothing comes to mind. Maybe a couple things were a little predictable? But I can't even say I mind. It still felt like everything was naturally built-up to and foreshadowed. I have nothing negative to say.
As soon as I have the money to do so, I am buying myself a copy of this book. Looking online all I'm seeing are paperbacks (I prefer hardcovers) but I will take what I can get. I loved every second of this, I'm going to coerce my fiancé to read it. Get this book.
January 14, 2025
E-ARC received from Edelweiss, thank you so much!
I had a feeling I'd enjoy this, as someone who grew up in east Tennessee and is fairly familiar with the mountains and their history. It reminded me to a degree of Catherine Marshall's Christy, but with an extra spice of magic. The three viewpoints are woven together expertly, and whenever anyone does something dumb, it's not solely because they have to in order for the plot to move forward. All three of them struggle with trust for their own reasons, and that makes Nora Jo aloof, Kate temperamental, and traps Oliver in his own pain.
I like that the ending is change, for all of them. As much as we all would like to stay on the mountain and keep to the ways things always were, the world turns. Thing change. Magic needs to be taught and managed. Sometimes you can move to a new part of the mountain, sometimes you leave, sometimes you go even further, but staying stagnant isn't an option. That's how you get ghosts.
Dig ginseng in the woods, Nora Jo. Play that fiddle, Kate, but be careful at any crossroads you wander through. Breathe deep, Oliver.
I had a feeling I'd enjoy this, as someone who grew up in east Tennessee and is fairly familiar with the mountains and their history. It reminded me to a degree of Catherine Marshall's Christy, but with an extra spice of magic. The three viewpoints are woven together expertly, and whenever anyone does something dumb, it's not solely because they have to in order for the plot to move forward. All three of them struggle with trust for their own reasons, and that makes Nora Jo aloof, Kate temperamental, and traps Oliver in his own pain.
I like that the ending is change, for all of them. As much as we all would like to stay on the mountain and keep to the ways things always were, the world turns. Thing change. Magic needs to be taught and managed. Sometimes you can move to a new part of the mountain, sometimes you leave, sometimes you go even further, but staying stagnant isn't an option. That's how you get ghosts.
Dig ginseng in the woods, Nora Jo. Play that fiddle, Kate, but be careful at any crossroads you wander through. Breathe deep, Oliver.
Want to read
September 20, 2024"For fans of Alix E. Harrow, Susanna Clarke and Kirsty Logan, this sumptuous, atmospheric historical fantasy set in post-WW1 Appalachia, three outcasts with misunderstood magical gifts search for their place in the world while battling the dark forces circling their community. "
sounds fantastic
sounds fantastic
May 1, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Titan books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars
I really loved the writing of this book. It was very slow-paced at the beginning, but you could feel things building up as you kept reading which I loved. The author did a great job setting the tone and atmosphere of the book. I also appreciated the queer representation in the book, and found the queer romance to be sweet, but I did wish it was built upon more. I especially loved Oliver as a character. He was loveable and his heartbreaking backstory during the Great War really hit my heartstrings.
I would have liked to have Nora Jo's POV more intertwined with the other two main characters. She felt like she was very separate during almost the entirety of the book compared to Kate and Oliver whose POVs greatly intersected. The "twist" at the end wasn't that much of a shocker, but that may just be because the foreshadowing to me was pretty obvious. I do wish more action happened earlier in the book, but I did find the ending of the book to be very satisfying and a nice conclusion.
3.5 stars
I really loved the writing of this book. It was very slow-paced at the beginning, but you could feel things building up as you kept reading which I loved. The author did a great job setting the tone and atmosphere of the book. I also appreciated the queer representation in the book, and found the queer romance to be sweet, but I did wish it was built upon more. I especially loved Oliver as a character. He was loveable and his heartbreaking backstory during the Great War really hit my heartstrings.
I would have liked to have Nora Jo's POV more intertwined with the other two main characters. She felt like she was very separate during almost the entirety of the book compared to Kate and Oliver whose POVs greatly intersected. The "twist" at the end wasn't that much of a shocker, but that may just be because the foreshadowing to me was pretty obvious. I do wish more action happened earlier in the book, but I did find the ending of the book to be very satisfying and a nice conclusion.
May 3, 2025
This was a really enjoyable read! The fantasy elements were woven into the story in a way that feels like a historical version of an urban fantasy. There are some darker elements that mirror horror, but it is not the primary focus of the story.
One big point down for me was to specifically set a historical story and create a black main character (one of the three) which heavily involves interracial dynamics and interactions, but using language and character choices that are completely antithetical with the reality of black Americans (especially in the rural south) at the time the story is set.
It felt like the author wanted the character to be black to support the plot of why certain relationships and actions cannot happen but then had them interact with white characters in a way that just didn’t ring realistic or match what was already established.
Plot wise, I had a great time with this book. I think the author using pretty modern language made it easier but also took me out of the historical aspect a bit.
Disclosure: I received a finished copy from the publisher.
One big point down for me was to specifically set a historical story and create a black main character (one of the three) which heavily involves interracial dynamics and interactions, but using language and character choices that are completely antithetical with the reality of black Americans (especially in the rural south) at the time the story is set.
It felt like the author wanted the character to be black to support the plot of why certain relationships and actions cannot happen but then had them interact with white characters in a way that just didn’t ring realistic or match what was already established.
Plot wise, I had a great time with this book. I think the author using pretty modern language made it easier but also took me out of the historical aspect a bit.
Disclosure: I received a finished copy from the publisher.
May 21, 2025
My favorite character is Kate! I lived her hard life in every word. I could smell and hear the green beans snap in the small kitchen and was transferred back to my grandmother’s kitchen in the foothills of Appalachia. She has become the great fiddler her grandfather knew she would be. With a good life and still doing all for her family. Oliver is loved in this world and beyond. There are no scars, no gasps for breath, and he has found his peace. And Nora Jo is having a greater influence than she ever imagined and making change in the world from the mountain top and helping more than just the students she dearly loves.
All in my mind, of course, where a great story should rest.
All in my mind, of course, where a great story should rest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2025
Stunning! A Spell for Change is a three POV Southern gothic novel that revolves around 3 magical adults trying to navigate their powers solitarily and together.
I loved the main characters. Kate would do anything for her four sisters. Nora Jo dreams of being a teacher, and she is steadfast. Oliver is suffering from trauma of the Great War, but he is trying to figure out his ability to see ghosts. The interactions between the three characters was well done, and the action scene at the end of the book was intense.
The book doesn’t really pick up until the middle. It’s a slow start for sure. While every part of this book is written beautifully and the setting is gorgeously atmospheric, I feel like this book could’ve been shortened.
Thank you to Titan Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the main characters. Kate would do anything for her four sisters. Nora Jo dreams of being a teacher, and she is steadfast. Oliver is suffering from trauma of the Great War, but he is trying to figure out his ability to see ghosts. The interactions between the three characters was well done, and the action scene at the end of the book was intense.
The book doesn’t really pick up until the middle. It’s a slow start for sure. While every part of this book is written beautifully and the setting is gorgeously atmospheric, I feel like this book could’ve been shortened.
Thank you to Titan Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 18, 2025
Picked this book up from the library new releases. In A Spell for Change, three young people--broken soldier Oliver, Kate who sees the future, and teacher Nora Jo whose grandmother was a witch--all live in the same small Appalacchian town after the Great War. But their power makes them a target, and something sinister lurks in the mountains...
I was intrigued by the comparison to Katherine Arden and Susanna Clarke in the cover copy, which persuaded me to give the book a try. But those authors are a high bar to live up to, and A Spell for Change missed it. The initial premise was interesting enough. Oliver is haunted by the best friend he left dead on the battlefield, his damaged lungs, and his newfound ability to see ghosts. Kate struggles with seizure-like visions that foretell a future she can't avoid. Nora Jo longs for freedom and independence, but neither her job as a teacher nor her dabbling in magic seem likely to save her. Unfortunately! After the premise is introduced, the rest of the book is relatively static, and very little happens in the bulk of the 400 pages, except for the sudden showdown in the last fifty pages.
Similar flaws to Motheater, which I read earlier this year. Unfortunately, I think the comparison to the incomparable Arden and Clarke hurt rather than help this book.
I was intrigued by the comparison to Katherine Arden and Susanna Clarke in the cover copy, which persuaded me to give the book a try. But those authors are a high bar to live up to, and A Spell for Change missed it. The initial premise was interesting enough. Oliver is haunted by the best friend he left dead on the battlefield, his damaged lungs, and his newfound ability to see ghosts. Kate struggles with seizure-like visions that foretell a future she can't avoid. Nora Jo longs for freedom and independence, but neither her job as a teacher nor her dabbling in magic seem likely to save her. Unfortunately! After the premise is introduced, the rest of the book is relatively static, and very little happens in the bulk of the 400 pages, except for the sudden showdown in the last fifty pages.
Similar flaws to Motheater, which I read earlier this year. Unfortunately, I think the comparison to the incomparable Arden and Clarke hurt rather than help this book.
September 7, 2025
A weak three. I really liked how the story was progressing then it became overly complicated & the writing didn’t handle it well. Ending wrapped up ok.
April 21, 2025
The story takes place in 1920s Appalachia where three young people are each touched with a specific type of magic. Kate, an African American teen, has explosive fits where she sees glimpses of the future. Oliver, a veteran of WWI with lung disease brought on by exposure to mustard gas, sees ghosts. Nora Jo, a teacher who's just lost her job, has the ability to become a powerful witch.
Kate foresees a relationship with Oliver, the son of the town's wealthiest white family. The two meet and slowly develop a close friendship. Now unemployed, Nora Jo is approached by a mysterious male witch who begins to teach her how to bring forth her magic.
All of this moves toward violent and disturbing final chapters in which dark forces are unleashed on the three.
The writing, character development and historical background are all strong in this rather lengthy book. I would have preferred more action sooner, but what we get in those last chapters is very intense and keeps the reader going. The ending is both sad and satisfactory.
Highly recommended.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Kate foresees a relationship with Oliver, the son of the town's wealthiest white family. The two meet and slowly develop a close friendship. Now unemployed, Nora Jo is approached by a mysterious male witch who begins to teach her how to bring forth her magic.
All of this moves toward violent and disturbing final chapters in which dark forces are unleashed on the three.
The writing, character development and historical background are all strong in this rather lengthy book. I would have preferred more action sooner, but what we get in those last chapters is very intense and keeps the reader going. The ending is both sad and satisfactory.
Highly recommended.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
May 5, 2025
Review originally appearing on FanFiAddict.com
Hello again dear reader or listener, I need you to picture the terrified child holding a cross meme and, instead of the cross, to picture a box of antihistamines, and that is me currently with everything blooming all around me. I love spring, I do. My hay fever however, oh she chuckles maniacally. Why should you care about all this? No reason whatsoever!
With thanks to the team at Titan for offering an eARC of Nicole Jarvis’ latest book, let’s get to my honest thoughts that are actually relevant, shall we?
I was fresh off watching Ryan Coogler’s Sinners (and Loving it – seriously go watch that movie it is incredible) when this book came to my attention and to say the timing was excellent is an understatement. Supernatural happenings in a 1920s southern American town? Gimme. Also, having read Jarvis’ debut The Lights of Prague and greatly enjoying it, I knew this was an author I wanted to read more from. The final decider in me picking this up was the byline “For fans of Katherine Arden”, which I am, most ardently.
I’ll see myself out. Blame the Zirtec.
With Jarvis’ story set right after the first World War, I could see the connection to Arden’s The Warm Hands of Ghosts, a book I deeply loved and still think about. As well as for the ghostly happenings of course. But that’s not all A Spell for Change was!
Told through three POVs that I liked each for the own merits, Jarvis navigates the fraught lives of three individuals who are about to learn how far they are willing to go to fight against the injustices of their society. For truly if you were disabled, a woman, Black, or queer, in Tennessee of the ‘20s you were definitely not having a roarin’ time. Jarvis does not shy away from showing the realities of racism, classism, and overall lack of rights for anyone that wasn’t an abled white man. But she does so in ways that are so deceptively simple and to the point, and yet to visceral and evocative that you can’t help but feel everything the characters do, or at the very least easily relate to them in one way or another. The helplessness of it all truly hits hard. The author takes her time to build up tensions and foreshadow what is to come so well that you always find yourself intrigued and needing to know more but also unable to shake off a sense of wrongness that permeates everything.
Jarvis also renders ambience so well, from the deceptive warmth but not quite of Spring, to the stifling summer heat, or the chill that offers relief from it but also brings goosebumps on your skin typical of deep caves. Moreover, she presents us with more horror elements than I was expecting, which was a delightful and welcome surprise. They created the right juxtapositions to all the soft and tender moments that really make you care for the characters and their budding – yet forbidden – relationships. By weaving the natural beauty of the land into the lives of the protagonists, while also underscoring it with the horrific echoes of the past she rendered a deeply layered canvas of a story that resonates with the modern reader. Even her tackling of PTSD, and how it was viewed/understood at the time, was done very well, which is something I always keep an eye on.
Although the first half of the book is fairly slow going, which in my opinion was not a bad thing as it was not a slog, the second half ramps up onto an action-packed final act that shifts several gears and delivers more than one gut punch, but also offers super satisfying resolutions that I was glad to see. In fact, Jarvis does such a good job of building it all up, enriching it with folklore and stories passed down through generations, and thus making you care for all the things that are at stake if the protagonists don’t succeed at getting to the bottom of the mysteries even more. And yet that sense of wrongness, of something coming to ruin everything they have fought so hard for, would not leave me. I was ready to get hurt, dear reader. And I kinda was, not gonna lie to you, but it all made so much sense for the story and where each character was with their life that I was not even mad about it in the end. Did I want to shake the characters a bit from time to time? Sure. But that to me is a sign of good writing because I was invested rather than indifferent and just waiting to see where the story would go!
A Spell for Change is everything you want in a leisurely weekend read: it is a heartfelt, intriguing, and at times eerie tale of defiant people trying to carve out space for themselves to peacefully exist true to themselves, in a world that tries to tell them they have no right to. It presents us with food for thought while also granting escapism, wonder, and supernatural phenomena that I will not spoil the exact nature of. Ultimately it is a story about love, both familial and romantic, that pushes us to be better and fight for more.
The book comes out tomorrow May 6th through Titan Books and if anything I mentioned has you curious, dear reader, I suggest you run to grab a copy!
Until next time,
Eleni A.E.
Hello again dear reader or listener, I need you to picture the terrified child holding a cross meme and, instead of the cross, to picture a box of antihistamines, and that is me currently with everything blooming all around me. I love spring, I do. My hay fever however, oh she chuckles maniacally. Why should you care about all this? No reason whatsoever!
With thanks to the team at Titan for offering an eARC of Nicole Jarvis’ latest book, let’s get to my honest thoughts that are actually relevant, shall we?
I was fresh off watching Ryan Coogler’s Sinners (and Loving it – seriously go watch that movie it is incredible) when this book came to my attention and to say the timing was excellent is an understatement. Supernatural happenings in a 1920s southern American town? Gimme. Also, having read Jarvis’ debut The Lights of Prague and greatly enjoying it, I knew this was an author I wanted to read more from. The final decider in me picking this up was the byline “For fans of Katherine Arden”, which I am, most ardently.
I’ll see myself out. Blame the Zirtec.
With Jarvis’ story set right after the first World War, I could see the connection to Arden’s The Warm Hands of Ghosts, a book I deeply loved and still think about. As well as for the ghostly happenings of course. But that’s not all A Spell for Change was!
Told through three POVs that I liked each for the own merits, Jarvis navigates the fraught lives of three individuals who are about to learn how far they are willing to go to fight against the injustices of their society. For truly if you were disabled, a woman, Black, or queer, in Tennessee of the ‘20s you were definitely not having a roarin’ time. Jarvis does not shy away from showing the realities of racism, classism, and overall lack of rights for anyone that wasn’t an abled white man. But she does so in ways that are so deceptively simple and to the point, and yet to visceral and evocative that you can’t help but feel everything the characters do, or at the very least easily relate to them in one way or another. The helplessness of it all truly hits hard. The author takes her time to build up tensions and foreshadow what is to come so well that you always find yourself intrigued and needing to know more but also unable to shake off a sense of wrongness that permeates everything.
Jarvis also renders ambience so well, from the deceptive warmth but not quite of Spring, to the stifling summer heat, or the chill that offers relief from it but also brings goosebumps on your skin typical of deep caves. Moreover, she presents us with more horror elements than I was expecting, which was a delightful and welcome surprise. They created the right juxtapositions to all the soft and tender moments that really make you care for the characters and their budding – yet forbidden – relationships. By weaving the natural beauty of the land into the lives of the protagonists, while also underscoring it with the horrific echoes of the past she rendered a deeply layered canvas of a story that resonates with the modern reader. Even her tackling of PTSD, and how it was viewed/understood at the time, was done very well, which is something I always keep an eye on.
Although the first half of the book is fairly slow going, which in my opinion was not a bad thing as it was not a slog, the second half ramps up onto an action-packed final act that shifts several gears and delivers more than one gut punch, but also offers super satisfying resolutions that I was glad to see. In fact, Jarvis does such a good job of building it all up, enriching it with folklore and stories passed down through generations, and thus making you care for all the things that are at stake if the protagonists don’t succeed at getting to the bottom of the mysteries even more. And yet that sense of wrongness, of something coming to ruin everything they have fought so hard for, would not leave me. I was ready to get hurt, dear reader. And I kinda was, not gonna lie to you, but it all made so much sense for the story and where each character was with their life that I was not even mad about it in the end. Did I want to shake the characters a bit from time to time? Sure. But that to me is a sign of good writing because I was invested rather than indifferent and just waiting to see where the story would go!
A Spell for Change is everything you want in a leisurely weekend read: it is a heartfelt, intriguing, and at times eerie tale of defiant people trying to carve out space for themselves to peacefully exist true to themselves, in a world that tries to tell them they have no right to. It presents us with food for thought while also granting escapism, wonder, and supernatural phenomena that I will not spoil the exact nature of. Ultimately it is a story about love, both familial and romantic, that pushes us to be better and fight for more.
The book comes out tomorrow May 6th through Titan Books and if anything I mentioned has you curious, dear reader, I suggest you run to grab a copy!
Until next time,
Eleni A.E.
May 13, 2025
Read as a Netgalley ARC, many thanks to the publisher Titan Books for the review copy
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3.5 / 5 stars
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For the majority of this book, I was sure that I would rate it 4 or 4.5 stars, but the ending was just…. no. And that’s really disappointing because I was really loving the book up til then, even though it is a lot slower paced than the books I usually love.
It really takes its sweet time getting the plot going, so for a long while you really aren’t sure where the plot’s going and what the ultimate goal is, and yet it’s written in a way that nonetheless made me eager to keep reading. The convergence point of the three POVs is also unclear for a long time, since Nora Jo rarely interacts with Kate and Oliver, but somehow that did not impede my enjoyment of the story. I loved the setting, which is almost cozy at times, but always with an undercurrent of danger, with the POV characters’ engaging in all sorts of behaviours that were highly stigmatised at the time (interracial and lesbian/homosexual relatioships, and witchcraft). The town felt alive and very vivacious at that. I had no trouble picturing the landscapes our protagonists traversed throughout the narrative.
As for the three POVs, Kate’s was probably my favourite, but I liked reading all of them. Kate and Oliver’s relationship is built up very well and I soon fell in love with their relationship. The romance between Nora Jo and Gloria, on the other hand, felt quite underdeveloped unfortunately. The book initially peaked my interest mainly because I love reading queer fantasy, but honestly, the sapphic relationship ended up being one of my least favourite things about the book. Nora Jo and Gloria already have an established relationship before the beginning of the story, even if it is only platonic at the time. As such, their relationship doesn’t really get built up during the plot, as Kate and Oliver’s does, and should already feel like a close (friend)ship from the very first on-page interaction. Unfortunately that just wasn’t the case.
However, my biggest gripe, as mentioned earlier, is the ending. It became pretty clear who the ‘betrayer’ character was gonna be, and that demons would somehow play a role in the climax around the halfway point. To be clear, I did not mind that the twist was foreseeable. The demonic activity and its Christian background were thoroughly forshadowed, but once the demons actually appeared it all just got very messy, and not in a good way. The demons appeared, were clearly evil and could be defeated with Christian symbology, so they were definitely Christianity-coded, but there was nothing about anything about the world’s cosmology beyond that. Some people aren’t gonna mind that, but for me it just felt weird to just have this one type of magical creature and that’s it. I mean witchcraft does exist and some of the explanations there also tie it in with religious belief in general, but the world-building just feels very barebones and thus incomplete.
I was also quite bummed about the death of one of the POV characters at the end, but not in a «I’m bawling my eyes out» way, but more in a «this feels weird and not right?» kinda way. I really don’t know how to explain it, to be honest, but it just didn’t hit emotionally, even though I really liked the character.
Also this is totally a nitpick, but why were they all suddenly naked in the cave? Did their clothes like burn off or? It is such a minor detail, but because it was never actually explained I kept wondering why which in turn kept distracting me from the actual plot.
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3.5 / 5 stars
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For the majority of this book, I was sure that I would rate it 4 or 4.5 stars, but the ending was just…. no. And that’s really disappointing because I was really loving the book up til then, even though it is a lot slower paced than the books I usually love.
It really takes its sweet time getting the plot going, so for a long while you really aren’t sure where the plot’s going and what the ultimate goal is, and yet it’s written in a way that nonetheless made me eager to keep reading. The convergence point of the three POVs is also unclear for a long time, since Nora Jo rarely interacts with Kate and Oliver, but somehow that did not impede my enjoyment of the story. I loved the setting, which is almost cozy at times, but always with an undercurrent of danger, with the POV characters’ engaging in all sorts of behaviours that were highly stigmatised at the time (interracial and lesbian/homosexual relatioships, and witchcraft). The town felt alive and very vivacious at that. I had no trouble picturing the landscapes our protagonists traversed throughout the narrative.
As for the three POVs, Kate’s was probably my favourite, but I liked reading all of them. Kate and Oliver’s relationship is built up very well and I soon fell in love with their relationship. The romance between Nora Jo and Gloria, on the other hand, felt quite underdeveloped unfortunately. The book initially peaked my interest mainly because I love reading queer fantasy, but honestly, the sapphic relationship ended up being one of my least favourite things about the book. Nora Jo and Gloria already have an established relationship before the beginning of the story, even if it is only platonic at the time. As such, their relationship doesn’t really get built up during the plot, as Kate and Oliver’s does, and should already feel like a close (friend)ship from the very first on-page interaction. Unfortunately that just wasn’t the case.
However, my biggest gripe, as mentioned earlier, is the ending. It became pretty clear who the ‘betrayer’ character was gonna be, and that demons would somehow play a role in the climax around the halfway point. To be clear, I did not mind that the twist was foreseeable. The demonic activity and its Christian background were thoroughly forshadowed, but once the demons actually appeared it all just got very messy, and not in a good way. The demons appeared, were clearly evil and could be defeated with Christian symbology, so they were definitely Christianity-coded, but there was nothing about anything about the world’s cosmology beyond that. Some people aren’t gonna mind that, but for me it just felt weird to just have this one type of magical creature and that’s it. I mean witchcraft does exist and some of the explanations there also tie it in with religious belief in general, but the world-building just feels very barebones and thus incomplete.
I was also quite bummed about the death of one of the POV characters at the end, but not in a «I’m bawling my eyes out» way, but more in a «this feels weird and not right?» kinda way. I really don’t know how to explain it, to be honest, but it just didn’t hit emotionally, even though I really liked the character.
Also this is totally a nitpick, but why were they all suddenly naked in the cave? Did their clothes like burn off or? It is such a minor detail, but because it was never actually explained I kept wondering why which in turn kept distracting me from the actual plot.
April 13, 2025
A Spell for Change by Nicole Jarvis is a compelling historical fantasy with a hint of darkness that I absolutely loved. Set in the post World War 1 Appalachia the book quickly grabbed me and held my attention from first page to last. I loved the setting and immediately fell for the character of Nora Jo Barker, a young woman who is determined to make something of herself and loves her job as teacher in the small local school. Her grandmother and mother were witches but both died before Nora Jo could learn how to use her own powers and so they have remained undeveloped. When a strange man comes to town and singles her out as someone with power she at first has no intention of taking up his offer of a magical apprenticeship but when her unorthodox teaching methods cause her to fall foul of the narrow minded local community and she loses her job his offer becomes more appealing.
Oliver is the son of the local mill owner and has grown up in relative wealth and privilege but that was not enough to save him from the nightmare of trench warfare, he has returned from his time on the front traumatised, able to see the dead and feeling immense guilt about the death of his best friend.
Kate Mayer is the eldest daughter of a poor Black family whose visions of the future disturb not only her but also her family, especially when so many of them come to pass. When she meets Oliver one night in the woods she realises that he is the mysterious man she has been seeing in her dreams but what kind of future could they possibly have, especially since he is hostile and wary of her intentions.
As the stories of these three characters are deftly woven together by the author I was transported to another time and place and I found myself gripped by the story that was unfolding. The pacing was on the slower side, especially in the first half of the book but never in a way that bothered me, rather in a way that let me acclimatise to setting and warm to the characters. The pace does pick up and things definitely take a turn for the darker in the last third or so of the book, and it times it veered into horror territory, so reader be warned there are some brutal and bloody moments. There are a couple of romance sub plots but neither are particularly well developed, so if that is something you look for in your reading this might not be the book for you. On the other hand if you like character driven story telling with a good sense of place this might be right up your street. I appreciated that the author used three characters who were to one degree or another outsiders to explore trauma, identity and belonging and the importance of community and while this was my first book by Nicole Jarvis, I will definitely be reading more from her in the future.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Oliver is the son of the local mill owner and has grown up in relative wealth and privilege but that was not enough to save him from the nightmare of trench warfare, he has returned from his time on the front traumatised, able to see the dead and feeling immense guilt about the death of his best friend.
Kate Mayer is the eldest daughter of a poor Black family whose visions of the future disturb not only her but also her family, especially when so many of them come to pass. When she meets Oliver one night in the woods she realises that he is the mysterious man she has been seeing in her dreams but what kind of future could they possibly have, especially since he is hostile and wary of her intentions.
As the stories of these three characters are deftly woven together by the author I was transported to another time and place and I found myself gripped by the story that was unfolding. The pacing was on the slower side, especially in the first half of the book but never in a way that bothered me, rather in a way that let me acclimatise to setting and warm to the characters. The pace does pick up and things definitely take a turn for the darker in the last third or so of the book, and it times it veered into horror territory, so reader be warned there are some brutal and bloody moments. There are a couple of romance sub plots but neither are particularly well developed, so if that is something you look for in your reading this might not be the book for you. On the other hand if you like character driven story telling with a good sense of place this might be right up your street. I appreciated that the author used three characters who were to one degree or another outsiders to explore trauma, identity and belonging and the importance of community and while this was my first book by Nicole Jarvis, I will definitely be reading more from her in the future.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
May 5, 2025
A Spell for Change is set in the small Appalachian town called Chatuga. Here, Nicole Jarvis weaves a moving tale that centers on three characters, Nora Jo, Kate, and Oliver. Each of them is haunted in their own way. Nora Jo by the magical family legacy she never learned. Kate by cryptic visions of the future. Oliver, a war veteran, haunted by the memory of his best friend’s death, and the invisible scars of a battlefield he can't escape. Together they try to navigate the burdens of expectations and the mysterious forces they don't understand.
Nora Jo is determined to maintain her independence. She is passionate about teaching and believes an education will better the lives of the children of Chatuga. Unfortunately, her modern ideas put her at odds with the conservative community which eventually leaves her without a job. In her darkest moment a mysterious man offers to take her as his apprentice and teach her the ancestral magic she never had a chance to learn. Nora Jo, desperate and out of options, accepts.
Oliver, known as Junior to most, returns from World War I carrying invisible wounds: trauma, damaged lungs from mustard gas, survivor's guilt. He also brings back something stranger—an ability to see the dead. His parents don't understand; his father wants him to take over the family business while his mother thinks all he needs is a good wife. Oliver struggles to make a place for himself in a world he no longer fits in.
Kate has seen visions for as long as she can remember, flashes of a future she doesn’t always understand. Some are terrifying, others hopeful. When her family announces their plan to move to Nashville for a better life, Kate tries to find a way to stay. Taking on extra work to help make ends meet and chasing the romantic visions she has.
Each protagonist wrestles with the roles their community tries to force on them. For Nora Jo and Oliver, marriage is presented as a cure-all. For Kate, escaping to the city is seen as her only hope. But each of them resists these “solutions” and tries to find their own path.
This book felt shorter than it actually is. Once through the introduction, the chapters fly by. I cared deeply for Nora Jo, Oliver, and Kate—not just because they were well-written, but because they felt so real. I wanted them to succeed, to find peace, to be happy. While I can’t say I was completely satisfied with how Jarvis concluded each of their stories, the endings felt honest and earned.
I recommend A Spell for Change to readers who enjoy historical fiction that contain just enough magic to remind you that wonder still exists.
Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me with the ARC.
Nora Jo is determined to maintain her independence. She is passionate about teaching and believes an education will better the lives of the children of Chatuga. Unfortunately, her modern ideas put her at odds with the conservative community which eventually leaves her without a job. In her darkest moment a mysterious man offers to take her as his apprentice and teach her the ancestral magic she never had a chance to learn. Nora Jo, desperate and out of options, accepts.
Oliver, known as Junior to most, returns from World War I carrying invisible wounds: trauma, damaged lungs from mustard gas, survivor's guilt. He also brings back something stranger—an ability to see the dead. His parents don't understand; his father wants him to take over the family business while his mother thinks all he needs is a good wife. Oliver struggles to make a place for himself in a world he no longer fits in.
Kate has seen visions for as long as she can remember, flashes of a future she doesn’t always understand. Some are terrifying, others hopeful. When her family announces their plan to move to Nashville for a better life, Kate tries to find a way to stay. Taking on extra work to help make ends meet and chasing the romantic visions she has.
Each protagonist wrestles with the roles their community tries to force on them. For Nora Jo and Oliver, marriage is presented as a cure-all. For Kate, escaping to the city is seen as her only hope. But each of them resists these “solutions” and tries to find their own path.
This book felt shorter than it actually is. Once through the introduction, the chapters fly by. I cared deeply for Nora Jo, Oliver, and Kate—not just because they were well-written, but because they felt so real. I wanted them to succeed, to find peace, to be happy. While I can’t say I was completely satisfied with how Jarvis concluded each of their stories, the endings felt honest and earned.
I recommend A Spell for Change to readers who enjoy historical fiction that contain just enough magic to remind you that wonder still exists.
Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me with the ARC.
May 8, 2025
Kate's always had visions of the future, and they always come to pass, even the most disturbing ones. Oliver's return from the Great War haunts him in the form of loss and seeing the dead. Nora Jo loved the independence of teaching, but her dismissal means she can apprentice to a witch from the mountains. She is also falling for a woman from town, pulling her in yet another direction. Rumors of dark forces push the three further down the path to their destiny, and soon they realize that not all magic is good.
Chatuga, Tennessee, is next to the forest and the mountains, and is essentially the same as it was when founded in the early 1880s. Nora Jo hadn't been taught much about the magic her maternal family had, and she focused on learning and being a teacher. Like teachers today, she used her own money for treats and buying novels to teach reading from. Unfortunately, the mayor and older residents of the town feel "The Wizard of Oz" is a witchcraft book and only want the Bible for the farming community, and give the job to the retired former teacher. This frees her to learn more about the magic she never learned before.
The other two main POV's are Kate, who works odd jobs around town. She's especially hard pressed after her father gets fewer hours at the mill now that white men are back from WWI and want jobs. Oliver, whose father owns that mill and whose ancestors built the town, wants him to take his place running things. He has coughing fits and isn't as physically fit after inhaling mustard gas, but now also sees ghosts everywhere. This sends him to Kate, who has visions of the future that trigger seizures. Both want to control their abilities, so they meet in secret in the forest to train.
These three people are all constrained by the predetermined roles for sex, race, and class. It's difficult for them to move outside of expectations; we get a full third of the book before each begins to push a little past those boundaries. As their stories progress, we see them try to find their way, and it's the final quarter where their stories fully converge, and we see the true dangers that had stalked them for months. It's a tight battle at the very end, with a high price to pay in the conclusion. Faith in religion or magic only goes so far, and it's working together that puts a stop to the dangers. It's a fascinating story, and one I fully enjoyed.
Chatuga, Tennessee, is next to the forest and the mountains, and is essentially the same as it was when founded in the early 1880s. Nora Jo hadn't been taught much about the magic her maternal family had, and she focused on learning and being a teacher. Like teachers today, she used her own money for treats and buying novels to teach reading from. Unfortunately, the mayor and older residents of the town feel "The Wizard of Oz" is a witchcraft book and only want the Bible for the farming community, and give the job to the retired former teacher. This frees her to learn more about the magic she never learned before.
The other two main POV's are Kate, who works odd jobs around town. She's especially hard pressed after her father gets fewer hours at the mill now that white men are back from WWI and want jobs. Oliver, whose father owns that mill and whose ancestors built the town, wants him to take his place running things. He has coughing fits and isn't as physically fit after inhaling mustard gas, but now also sees ghosts everywhere. This sends him to Kate, who has visions of the future that trigger seizures. Both want to control their abilities, so they meet in secret in the forest to train.
These three people are all constrained by the predetermined roles for sex, race, and class. It's difficult for them to move outside of expectations; we get a full third of the book before each begins to push a little past those boundaries. As their stories progress, we see them try to find their way, and it's the final quarter where their stories fully converge, and we see the true dangers that had stalked them for months. It's a tight battle at the very end, with a high price to pay in the conclusion. Faith in religion or magic only goes so far, and it's working together that puts a stop to the dangers. It's a fascinating story, and one I fully enjoyed.
July 29, 2025
I read this book for the Small Press square on r/fantasy 2025 Bingo challenge
I love her writing, especially since she’s one of the very few authors where I feel like I’m in the location she’s writing about. But it’s also probably the book I enjoyed least of hers from the trio I reas so far, sadly.
The setting to begin with (a small town in the US) isn’t nearly as interesting to me as Prague or Florence, and even though the time period showcases a part of history I don’t usually read about, or I'm unfamiliar with due to my own background, I still wish it was set in someplace different.
That is a very small nitpick either way, since the magical and supernatural side of the story was way more interesting for me to care too much.
The story is told through multiple point of views, one of them follows a single plot line, while the other two follow what is technically the same plot line, from interlinked point of views. I did wish that it was more solo of a progression in all of the plot lines due to my greed in wanting to see the abilities in a much bigger focus, especially .
Despite each one of the abilities being unique to their character, this one in particular doesn’t feel nearly as explored as the other two. And it’s probably the main issue with this story, in my humble opinion.
Her previous books followed 1-2 characters in a full on - or at least a semi interlinked plot line throughout and that ended up giving the progression a much bigger felt weight (the final reveal here for example was a bit predictable given how much it was alluded to in discussions, inferred from some sentences or mentioned previous events), while also providing me with more compelling characters to care about.
The bigger nature of the plot and cast this time along was an admirable effort, but it also doesn’t feel like she mastered that side of her craft just yet. I enjoyed seeing the attempts at breaking societal norms, feminism and magic.
The last one in particular was my favourite, and I definitely wanted to see more of that instead of the author’s usual big focus on romance. Maybe get to know the characters a bit more than just some basic characteristics as well.
I do believe that it’s still an enjoyable read (despite my nitpicks) with the potential to be a steppingstone for future works, and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more from her.
I love her writing, especially since she’s one of the very few authors where I feel like I’m in the location she’s writing about. But it’s also probably the book I enjoyed least of hers from the trio I reas so far, sadly.
The setting to begin with (a small town in the US) isn’t nearly as interesting to me as Prague or Florence, and even though the time period showcases a part of history I don’t usually read about, or I'm unfamiliar with due to my own background, I still wish it was set in someplace different.
That is a very small nitpick either way, since the magical and supernatural side of the story was way more interesting for me to care too much.
The story is told through multiple point of views, one of them follows a single plot line, while the other two follow what is technically the same plot line, from interlinked point of views. I did wish that it was more solo of a progression in all of the plot lines due to my greed in wanting to see the abilities in a much bigger focus, especially .
Despite each one of the abilities being unique to their character, this one in particular doesn’t feel nearly as explored as the other two. And it’s probably the main issue with this story, in my humble opinion.
Her previous books followed 1-2 characters in a full on - or at least a semi interlinked plot line throughout and that ended up giving the progression a much bigger felt weight (the final reveal here for example was a bit predictable given how much it was alluded to in discussions, inferred from some sentences or mentioned previous events), while also providing me with more compelling characters to care about.
The bigger nature of the plot and cast this time along was an admirable effort, but it also doesn’t feel like she mastered that side of her craft just yet. I enjoyed seeing the attempts at breaking societal norms, feminism and magic.
The last one in particular was my favourite, and I definitely wanted to see more of that instead of the author’s usual big focus on romance. Maybe get to know the characters a bit more than just some basic characteristics as well.
I do believe that it’s still an enjoyable read (despite my nitpicks) with the potential to be a steppingstone for future works, and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more from her.
September 6, 2025
I recommend this book. I was actually interested because I noticed the author is from a town in Georgia that I visit often. I have not read many tales involving witchcraft, unless it’s Wicked- so this took me off guard and is not what I thought.
As a fan of historical and realistic fiction, Nicole Jarvis writes a very authentic story, in the context of the town set in the early 1900’s in a town of Chatuga, Tennessee. This story uncovers the hidden truths of prejudices and racism, which are common themes in African American literature. These are American truths depicting the cruel treatment of the people through the perspective of Americans. The history of our country is embedded at the heart of the tale. Jarvis is very good at writing through the perspective of different cultures and demographics. You meet 3 promising characters who show strength in facing challenges of this time period.
Eloquently, Jarvis creates a story that is believable. From the history of the people, how they are perceived in this Appalachian town, and even the strange abilities they have. In fact for the first half, This narrative does not even seem like a fantasy about demons at all
I love how subtle the story changes. The reader really gets to know the characters and has time to invest in their character development. I fall in love with all three: Nora Jo, Kate, and Oliver and their obstacles. I love the magic they find within themselves. I can see how some people would be turned away by the evil aspects, but interestingly enough it is not as scary as I would have thought. The conversations around exorcisms and demons are interesting. And if you like From Dusk Till Dawn you will fall in love with the historical and realistic element this story brings to fruition. I promise it is good all the way to the end.
As a fan of historical and realistic fiction, Nicole Jarvis writes a very authentic story, in the context of the town set in the early 1900’s in a town of Chatuga, Tennessee. This story uncovers the hidden truths of prejudices and racism, which are common themes in African American literature. These are American truths depicting the cruel treatment of the people through the perspective of Americans. The history of our country is embedded at the heart of the tale. Jarvis is very good at writing through the perspective of different cultures and demographics. You meet 3 promising characters who show strength in facing challenges of this time period.
Eloquently, Jarvis creates a story that is believable. From the history of the people, how they are perceived in this Appalachian town, and even the strange abilities they have. In fact for the first half, This narrative does not even seem like a fantasy about demons at all
I love how subtle the story changes. The reader really gets to know the characters and has time to invest in their character development. I fall in love with all three: Nora Jo, Kate, and Oliver and their obstacles. I love the magic they find within themselves. I can see how some people would be turned away by the evil aspects, but interestingly enough it is not as scary as I would have thought. The conversations around exorcisms and demons are interesting. And if you like From Dusk Till Dawn you will fall in love with the historical and realistic element this story brings to fruition. I promise it is good all the way to the end.
April 29, 2025
Set in small-town 1920s Appalachia, this dark historical fantasy follows three protagonists, each with different forms of magic, as they navigate the challenges of their society and the wilder forces out to destroy them.
The book was inspired by the author’s own roots and is very well-researched as a result. The town of Chatuga comes to life in your mind in all its damaged complexity, and the vivid descriptions of the fields and caves have you engrossed in the atmosphere. I really like this author’s writing. It flows between scenes, then snags you on sharply insightful or emotional quotes. For this type of story, that works really well.
I also really like the characters. They are all clearly developed and feel whole, with dreams and fears specific to their experiences. I’m a sucker for a multi-POV story where all of the characters come together by the end - I just wish it happened in this tale a little sooner. About 60-70% of the book is character development and societal commentary, but then there’s an abrupt switch to a demonic battle in the last portion of the book. I found the sudden change of pace and the late introduction of new characters jarring. It felt like the first portion of the book was one genre and the ending was something completely different.
That being said, the final battle is told brilliantly, with all three character arcs coming to a head to lead to a believable result. The magic system is interesting and the overall story gives voices to outcasts who would have been lost on the fringes of their community.
If atmospheric historical fantasy with a smidgen of supernatural horror sounds like your thing, this might be one for you to pick up. Thank you to @titanbooks for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book was inspired by the author’s own roots and is very well-researched as a result. The town of Chatuga comes to life in your mind in all its damaged complexity, and the vivid descriptions of the fields and caves have you engrossed in the atmosphere. I really like this author’s writing. It flows between scenes, then snags you on sharply insightful or emotional quotes. For this type of story, that works really well.
I also really like the characters. They are all clearly developed and feel whole, with dreams and fears specific to their experiences. I’m a sucker for a multi-POV story where all of the characters come together by the end - I just wish it happened in this tale a little sooner. About 60-70% of the book is character development and societal commentary, but then there’s an abrupt switch to a demonic battle in the last portion of the book. I found the sudden change of pace and the late introduction of new characters jarring. It felt like the first portion of the book was one genre and the ending was something completely different.
That being said, the final battle is told brilliantly, with all three character arcs coming to a head to lead to a believable result. The magic system is interesting and the overall story gives voices to outcasts who would have been lost on the fringes of their community.
If atmospheric historical fantasy with a smidgen of supernatural horror sounds like your thing, this might be one for you to pick up. Thank you to @titanbooks for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2025
Lushly atmospheric and character-driven, this is less a story about casting spells and more about becoming whole again, through pain, hope, and transformation.
Jarvis created three equally compelling threads through the quiet town of Chatuga:
* Kate, the seer plagued by visions she can’t prevent. Her precognition is both a curse and a call to action, as she dreams of a mysterious boy who may change everything.
* Oliver, the war-haunted medium whose ability to commune with the dead is both salvation and torment. He’s gentle, broken, and beautifully written.
* Nora Jo, the outcast teacher turned reluctant witch-in-training. Her journey from resignation to reclamation of identity is one of the novel’s quiet triumphs.
Their arcs are as personal as they are mystical, and Jarvis doesn’t rush the bloom. Instead, she lets magic root in the soil, fed by folklore, loneliness, and the hard-won defiance of those society deems “other.”
What to Expect:
* A slow-burn, folkloric fantasy, where the magic is subtle but soul-deep
* Quiet revolution—three characters taking back their futures in a world that’s pushed them aside
* Post-war trauma rendered with tenderness and clarity
* Witchcraft as legacy and liberation
* An Appalachian setting that breathes—earthy, mysterious, and beautifully described
A Spell for Change is about claiming space in a world that tells you that you don’t belong. It’s about grief, yes, but also about healing, especially the kind you conjure in stolen moments with kindred spirits and whispered truths. For fans of The Once and Future Witches, The Familiars, or The Ten Thousand Doors of January, this one should be on your tbr.
May 6, 2025
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
This story is told in the alternating voices of the three main characters: Kate, Oliver, and Nora Jo. Kate has always been troubled with predictions of the future, and no matter what she does, she can't change the outcome. Oliver Chadwick Jr returned from the Great War, disabled & with the ability to see ghosts. He is haunted by the death of his best friend, who gave up his life in the trenches, in order to spare Oliver. Nora Jo Barker’s mother and grandmother were witches, but she hasn't ever practiced witchcraft herself. She has always been an outsider trying to fit in - she became the new teacher when the old one retired, but when her unorthodox ideas lead to her dismissal, she gets offered a magical apprenticeship from a witch from the mountains,. When a dark force begins stalking the town, Kate, Oliver, and Nora Jo are all forced to to determine their own destinies as they discover not all magic is used for good.
I enjoyed this book up until the final few chapters when it turned into the demon possession and a battle scene between good and evil. That is just a personal preference, as I would rather read about the magic and ghosts aspect of the story. I did feel like the pacing was a little slow up until the very end and then it really sped up. I liked Kate and Oliver's characters, but I never felt like Nora Jo really developed enough to get a good grasp on her character. Overall this is a solid 4 out of 5.
This story is told in the alternating voices of the three main characters: Kate, Oliver, and Nora Jo. Kate has always been troubled with predictions of the future, and no matter what she does, she can't change the outcome. Oliver Chadwick Jr returned from the Great War, disabled & with the ability to see ghosts. He is haunted by the death of his best friend, who gave up his life in the trenches, in order to spare Oliver. Nora Jo Barker’s mother and grandmother were witches, but she hasn't ever practiced witchcraft herself. She has always been an outsider trying to fit in - she became the new teacher when the old one retired, but when her unorthodox ideas lead to her dismissal, she gets offered a magical apprenticeship from a witch from the mountains,. When a dark force begins stalking the town, Kate, Oliver, and Nora Jo are all forced to to determine their own destinies as they discover not all magic is used for good.
I enjoyed this book up until the final few chapters when it turned into the demon possession and a battle scene between good and evil. That is just a personal preference, as I would rather read about the magic and ghosts aspect of the story. I did feel like the pacing was a little slow up until the very end and then it really sped up. I liked Kate and Oliver's characters, but I never felt like Nora Jo really developed enough to get a good grasp on her character. Overall this is a solid 4 out of 5.
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