Charlie Lavender and the Origin of Everything Volume Two: Transfiguration

by Carson Patrick Bowie

Though it comes at a devastating price, Charlie Lavender finally has a taste of the life she’s always longed for—budding romance, a close circle of friends, and entry into the world of witchcraft hidden from her since birth. But will she find it any easier to fit in with the witches of Avebury than the kids at Normal High?

As Charlie hones her abilities, she must confront her family’s tangled past with the Order of Kerioth—a deadly religious sect, led by the maniacal Holy Father Addison, bent on destroying anything they can’t control. Each answer she finds only brings more questions about where she belongs.

Meanwhile, as Addison extends his gaze to Japan, Kaede Mochizuke relies on her precognitive powers to stay a step ahead and defend Tokyo’s underground covens.

While Kaede looks forward and Charlie looks to the past, Ichigo begins to open up about his own journey of identity and acceptance.

The Magic Breakfast Club faces their greatest transformation as the forces of entropy tighten, leading closer to a final showdown from which nothing will ever be the same.

374 pages, Paperback

Published December 17, 2024

About the author

Carson currently resides in the suburbs of Toronto, Canada, along with his two rescued cats. A proud father of two terrific sons, he’s juggling the challenges of adapting to both empty nest syndrome and life after surviving a severe stroke. Carson is passionate about great storytelling regardless of the medium. He believes representation is important, is unreasonably fond of Dan Levy, and just the right amount of fond of Dungeons & Dragons. He considers himself a master of run-on sentences and something of a hack. He misses the Scholastic book fair and endeavors to write stories that look forward while taking every reader back.

Reviews

[Rachel Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been so so excited to get the sequel to this book! I love the vibes - it’s such a great throwback to the 1990s and it fills me with great nostalgia, from the setting to the music.
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There is amazing queer rep in this and this book especially Charlie is really having to navigate her feelings. There are also secrets exposed, new characters, and plenty of action. I continue to love the found family feels and how Carson writes all these characters. You definitely need to read this in order!

It's been such a thrill to get back to this world. I love the found family in this so, so much. I loved getting to know some of the characters more - especially Ich. And I really, really loved getting to know more about Charlie's Dad.

There is still so much more left to come in this world, and I cannot wait for the next book in this series!
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Add it to your TBR if you love:
✨High school romance
✨LGBTQ+ rep
✨Perfect spooky read
✨A love triangle you won’t hate
✨Set in the 90s
✨Authentic witchcraft
✨Owl familiar

[jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly I am beyond honoured to be among the first to read and review Charlie 2, thank you to Carson for being kind enough to give me an ARC because I was too excited and could not wait

I LOVE the representation in this book. I truly think just about anyone could find pieces of themselves within this book. I resonated with so many characters for different reasons and feel very attached to each and every one of them.

It was so interesting getting to deep dive into the life of Charlie’s dad in this story. Lots of questions were answered but of course many more have popped up since. I’m so excited to see where things go from here

Carson is an incredibly talented author and has a way with words. He’s provided us 90’s kids with a perfectly nostalgic and cozy atmosphere to spend time in with these characters in and I just adore it

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Returning to the world of Normal is pure magic. The story picks up with Ich, pulling you back into this world, and whew, buckle up! This book whisks you between Normal and Japan, keeping you hooked the entire way. Father Addison is still relentless in his hunt for the witches, while Charlie, Ich, and their new friends race against time to help Charlie with her magic.
I absolutely loved the glimpses into the past and the incredible new tricks and science that unfold in this one. Several things are revealed, and I’m already burning with anticipation for the next book! There’s a moment between Charlie and Ich that I adored. Their friendship is everything, and Ich’s wisdom just shines through.

If you love witches, evil vs good, 90s vibes, and secrets, be sure to check this one out!

Favorite quotes:

"I'm not Pinocchio and you're not the blue fairy. I'm definitely not your project."

"There is no universal answer for the human experience. Everyone has to find their own way, and everyone has to decide for themselves."

[P.D. Mackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll stop the world and melt with you, Charlie Lavender!

I love that I am old enough to laugh loudly at the movie quotes before the author explains them to the younger readers. The continuing adventures of the MBC unfold like the movie this book series is meant to be.

Everything is coming together and I enjoyed every minute of this ride. This volume was filled with colorful characters. Having a hard time picturing anyone other than Annie Potts as Ms. Crane! The elements of the story woven into this series are poignant for today and the thoughtful touch Carson adds to each MBC storyline brings joy to my heart. I love getting to know them all.

We’ll be patiently waiting at the Wormhole Coffee Shop in Chicago for volume three!

[John Heller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, after the first book, I was prepared for this book to go in many directions. But where it went was so fantastic and unique and we got so many new reasons to love the characters we already do, and new ones to add to the list. I thought about touching on the story itself. I really want to gush over the stuff that is simultaneously happening in Japan while things are happening in Normal. But you need to do this book clean and I'm not spoiling anything other than to tell you that Kaede is my new favorite character. I love her. And this series.

[Shawna Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so thrilled to have had the privilege of reading this book. As in the first, Bowie's characters are so deeply relatable. The story has such mesmerizing themes and imagery. The clear line between good and evil gets a little blurry and reminds us that sometimes we can still make the wrong choices, but that redemption is always possible.

I loved it, and highly recommend it!