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Accidental Demons #2
Mixing Magics
Bernadette Crowley feels like she’s finally getting a handle on her diabetes diagnosis. At least, she can finally manage to not summon a demon every time she checks her blood sugar. But without her Grandma Orla, who disappeared into the demon dimension while protecting their family’s coven, even big wins don’t seem to matter as much.
Frustrated that no one is trying hard enough to rescue Grandma Orla, Ber takes matters into her own hands, using her growing powers to try to reach the demon dimension. But nothing can prepare her for the truth, a history that ties together her family and demons back generations and a betrayal that has haunted them for years.
With her friends Cai and Phoebe and her alert dog Clio, Ber must venture into the unknown to save her grandma and the magical world as a whole.
Frustrated that no one is trying hard enough to rescue Grandma Orla, Ber takes matters into her own hands, using her growing powers to try to reach the demon dimension. But nothing can prepare her for the truth, a history that ties together her family and demons back generations and a betrayal that has haunted them for years.
With her friends Cai and Phoebe and her alert dog Clio, Ber must venture into the unknown to save her grandma and the magical world as a whole.
323 pages, Hardcover
Published November 11, 2025
8 people are currently reading
2679 people want to read
About the author
Clare Edge
4 books147 followersClare Edge is an author (and witch) who was raised in the Rocky Mountains. Her cozy middle grade fantasy debut Accidental Demons was a NYPL Best Books for Kids and Cybil’s Award Finalist; it follows the misadventures of a young diabetic witch who can’t stop conjuring demons when she tests her blood sugar.
Her horror-tinged YA speculative thriller debut Natural Selection is forthcoming from Delacorte/PRH in summer 2026.
She hold masters degrees from the University of Limerick’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance (MA) & the University of Montana (MFA). Her graduate research explored how we make and translate meaning through story. She has too many degrees, too few cats, and often too much or too little blood sugar.
She can be found on most socials as @clarewonders and online at clareedge.com
Her horror-tinged YA speculative thriller debut Natural Selection is forthcoming from Delacorte/PRH in summer 2026.
She hold masters degrees from the University of Limerick’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance (MA) & the University of Montana (MFA). Her graduate research explored how we make and translate meaning through story. She has too many degrees, too few cats, and often too much or too little blood sugar.
She can be found on most socials as @clarewonders and online at clareedge.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 25, 2025
You can't even imagine how glad I am for the return of the teen diabetic blood witch. Accidental Demons was one of my favorite reads last year and a big surprise hit for me. (Light spoilers ahead for book one.) It's the story of Bernadette Crowley who comes from a family of blood witches. They are able to conjure demons upon intentional blood sacrifice, which is no big deal for most witches but becomes a big problem when you are a diabetic who has to test glucose levels multiple times a day. As if having diabetes isn't awful enough, Bernadette also keeps accidentally summoning demons and her life has become a bit unbearable lately. Her solution was to conjure a blood sugar-sniffing demon, but she ends up with a being more powerful and mysterious than intended. The demon Fin must be my favorite talking dragon-wolf entity I've ever read about. Well ok, there is no competition. They are fancy and intelligent and very helpful in telling blood sugar without any bleeding involved, but they are also mischievous and strangely interested in the Crowley family. After the events of book one they are unfortunately missing together with Bernadette's grandma Orla, and it's up to Bernadette and her family and friends to bring them back. I'm very glad for Mixing Magics, because there were many unanswered questions at the end of Accidental Demons. Book two is set a couple of weeks after book one, with Bernadette trying to decode an unhelpful prophecy and with her being very frustrated over the whole situation. I actually really liked that she was so stressed out, because I think that it's uncommon to acknowledge that in middle grade. She's got a missing grandma and a missing demon, her diabetes sucks all day everyday and her friends try to understand her situation but are still occasionally inconsiderate. It gave more depth to Bernadette as a character. I also like all of her friends, but I really wish that her and Cai would just be best friends instead of a romantic couple. Their romance felt a bit unnecessary to me, maybe because they are only 13 and at that age I didn't even know what a boy was, essentially. But it's great how many interactions of the friend group are about how every kind of magic has positive and negative sides and that no magic is better than the others. Still, the second book felt less witchy to me. Maybe I liked the first book better because I was first introduced to the intriguing magic system, but there also must be way less conjuring of demons in book two in general. Mixing Magics focusses on the Crowley family history and the demon realm, and that was interesting to read about too, but not really what I expected from the story. There was the theme of memory - remembering and forgetting – and it almost felt like a whole different kind of magic when I actually wished to learn more about the blood magic itself. The memory part also gave heavy Inside Out movie vibes. The chronic illness representation was top notch, though. It's one of the only middle grade series that come to mind that really deal with diabetes to that extend while also explaining everything in an appropriate and comprehensible way for the target audience. Book two got even more medical with Bernadette getting an insulin pump, and I just really appreciate the author Clare Edge for doing the absolute most. She mentioned in the acknowledgements that she brought Bernadette's story to an end with this book, and I do actually feel a bit sad to leave this world already. Overall I liked book two a little less than book one, but this still is middle grade done right in my opinion.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
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March 30, 2025Hello! I wrote this sequel! That's the first and most relevant thing, this is a sequel. The first book is called Accidental Demons and I'm quite proud of it and for ideal reading experience of Mixing Magics, I'd suggest you read that one first. But! If you stumbled on this one first and didn't realize, no worries! Welcome to the strange and magical world of Bernadette Crowley, diabetic witch.
Anywho, since eARCs are up on NetGalley and Edelweiss, I'll be making myself scarce unless there are any relevant updates I can add here. Thank you so much to each reader who continues on with Ber's adventure. It's such a joy and a privilege to share this story with you!
Anywho, since eARCs are up on NetGalley and Edelweiss, I'll be making myself scarce unless there are any relevant updates I can add here. Thank you so much to each reader who continues on with Ber's adventure. It's such a joy and a privilege to share this story with you!
March 25, 2025
This is such a cute inclusive book, perfect for preteens.
I would highly recommend this book for a family read.
The FMC is a witch with diabetes and a service dog to help regulate her insulin. She is struggling with the loss of her grandma and learning how to control her powers. This speaks on individuality, emotions, losses, and growth.
This book reminds me of so many fun lovable characters and I would love it to be a series that my children could read and grow with.
I would highly recommend this book for a family read.
The FMC is a witch with diabetes and a service dog to help regulate her insulin. She is struggling with the loss of her grandma and learning how to control her powers. This speaks on individuality, emotions, losses, and growth.
This book reminds me of so many fun lovable characters and I would love it to be a series that my children could read and grow with.
September 30, 2025
Rounding up to 3 stars out of 5.
I went into this with highly charmed expectations after reading and loving the first installment of this series. I loved how wholesome and fully realized both the band of kid/adult characters were and the plot itself. I could easily see it as a Halloween film watched annually, fun for the whole family.
A part of me hopes this ARC is more of an early iteration of the final sequel — I’m looking forward to its release to peruse. Because rather than a separate sequel adventure, this felt like an extended epilogue to the first book. Characters we got to know and love in the first book were sidelined or ignored in favor for one new character’s whose backstory isn’t explored or even really explained. Basically, so much of the charm of the first book was missing here. And that really felt like a missed opportunity to build on the incredible groundwork achieved in the first book.
My thanks to HarperCollins & NetGalley for this ARC!
I went into this with highly charmed expectations after reading and loving the first installment of this series. I loved how wholesome and fully realized both the band of kid/adult characters were and the plot itself. I could easily see it as a Halloween film watched annually, fun for the whole family.
A part of me hopes this ARC is more of an early iteration of the final sequel — I’m looking forward to its release to peruse. Because rather than a separate sequel adventure, this felt like an extended epilogue to the first book. Characters we got to know and love in the first book were sidelined or ignored in favor for one new character’s whose backstory isn’t explored or even really explained. Basically, so much of the charm of the first book was missing here. And that really felt like a missed opportunity to build on the incredible groundwork achieved in the first book.
My thanks to HarperCollins & NetGalley for this ARC!
January 2, 2026
i love this series so much
May 3, 2025
This one is a sequel to Clare Edge's "Accidental Demons", in which we met thirteen-year-old Bernadette (Ber), a blood witch whose magic is triggered by pricking your finger and releasing a drop of blood - and, coincidentally, a recently diagnosed type one diabetic who is still learning to navigate her disease and, well, not conjure demons every time she tests. The two parts are tightly connected, so I highly recommend checking out this cycle starting with "Accidental Demons". This series is everything you could want in an upper-middle-grade/lower YA [*] cozy urban fantasy, combining a fun magical adventure with a discussion of the oh-so-real and often disturbing things a contemporary teen might encounter.
[*] you know, that liminal age category that doesn't have a generally established name: things like dating, first period, and body image are already relevant (unlike in much of middle grade), but high school GPAs and college applications aren't yet (unlike in much of contemporary YA).
The following will contain spoilers for the first book.
"Mixing Magics" picks up right where we left Ber in the first book: she now has new friends from other magical traditions, including the mind mage Cai, whom she's dating. She also now has a blood-sugar-sniffing dog, which makes her life a lot easier with those accidental conjurings. But she's missing both her grandmother and Fin, who disappeared into the demon dimension during the confrontation with the other coven's rogue witches. Worse, it seems that no one else in the family really cares about helping Grandma Orla return, so now it's up to Ber and her friends to solve the mystery.
I really liked that towards the end of "Accidental Demons" we learned about other magical traditions and met some of the other magical kids in Ber's town, and we get to see more of their friendships and collaborations in this part! Not always effective collaborations, it should be noted, which is inevitable when people come from different secretive traditions and were raised to be suspicious of each other. And it feels like this magical world is way bigger behind the scenes - I would love to learn more about it if Edge ever writes another installment! Cai and his mind magic - Ber is a little too eager to use his magical abilities as a master key to her life's problems - but we also get a little bit of the difficulty of living with constant knowledge - if not the exact thoughts, then at least the general moods of everyone around you, and how overwhelming that can be. And we may or may not get a major revelation about Cai near the end that would change their shared discovery of the world in interesting ways - I really wonder if that means there will be more installments to come.
Publication date November 11, 2025
In the meantime, I look forward to whatever Edge is going to publish - a darker YA title has been announced for 2026.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an eARC through NetGalley. The opinion above is my own.
[*] you know, that liminal age category that doesn't have a generally established name: things like dating, first period, and body image are already relevant (unlike in much of middle grade), but high school GPAs and college applications aren't yet (unlike in much of contemporary YA).
The following will contain spoilers for the first book.
"Mixing Magics" picks up right where we left Ber in the first book: she now has new friends from other magical traditions, including the mind mage Cai, whom she's dating. She also now has a blood-sugar-sniffing dog, which makes her life a lot easier with those accidental conjurings. But she's missing both her grandmother and Fin, who disappeared into the demon dimension during the confrontation with the other coven's rogue witches. Worse, it seems that no one else in the family really cares about helping Grandma Orla return, so now it's up to Ber and her friends to solve the mystery.
I really liked that towards the end of "Accidental Demons" we learned about other magical traditions and met some of the other magical kids in Ber's town, and we get to see more of their friendships and collaborations in this part! Not always effective collaborations, it should be noted, which is inevitable when people come from different secretive traditions and were raised to be suspicious of each other. And it feels like this magical world is way bigger behind the scenes - I would love to learn more about it if Edge ever writes another installment! Cai and his mind magic - Ber is a little too eager to use his magical abilities as a master key to her life's problems - but we also get a little bit of the difficulty of living with constant knowledge - if not the exact thoughts, then at least the general moods of everyone around you, and how overwhelming that can be. And we may or may not get a major revelation about Cai near the end that would change their shared discovery of the world in interesting ways - I really wonder if that means there will be more installments to come.
Publication date November 11, 2025
In the meantime, I look forward to whatever Edge is going to publish - a darker YA title has been announced for 2026.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an eARC through NetGalley. The opinion above is my own.
June 10, 2025
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.
I was semi-recently diagnosed as T2 diabetic, so as soon as I saw Ber’s story I knew I needed to get my hands on it, even as my experiences are different from hers (and not just because she accidentally summons demons with her finger sticks lol), and I loved Accidental Demons so much. I’m so glad I was able to read Mixing Magics early and now have the opportunity to scream at everyone to pick it up.
Mixing Magics picks up about a month after the end of Accidental Demons and Ber feels like she’s the only one still trying to save Grandma Orla and Fin from the demon dimension. She’s also still adjusting to dealing with her diabetes, even with the help of her alert dog, Clio, boyfriend Cai, and finally getting a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). It’s a lot, and all she wants is to have her grandmother back in their dimension. Through bonds with mages and a willingness to break from tradition (as they know it), Ber is able to find a way to reconnect with Grandma Orla.
This book is such a delight full of complicated feelings and growing pains as well as the frustration of being a diabetic. I love so much about this story and these characters and the world Clare has created. One of my absolute favorite moments is the ending with Cai and I hope Ber has more adventures ahead for me to tag along with. If you want a middle grade full of heart and adventure and friendship, as well as some realities of being diabetic and growing up, I cannot recommend this book, this series enough.
I was semi-recently diagnosed as T2 diabetic, so as soon as I saw Ber’s story I knew I needed to get my hands on it, even as my experiences are different from hers (and not just because she accidentally summons demons with her finger sticks lol), and I loved Accidental Demons so much. I’m so glad I was able to read Mixing Magics early and now have the opportunity to scream at everyone to pick it up.
Mixing Magics picks up about a month after the end of Accidental Demons and Ber feels like she’s the only one still trying to save Grandma Orla and Fin from the demon dimension. She’s also still adjusting to dealing with her diabetes, even with the help of her alert dog, Clio, boyfriend Cai, and finally getting a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). It’s a lot, and all she wants is to have her grandmother back in their dimension. Through bonds with mages and a willingness to break from tradition (as they know it), Ber is able to find a way to reconnect with Grandma Orla.
This book is such a delight full of complicated feelings and growing pains as well as the frustration of being a diabetic. I love so much about this story and these characters and the world Clare has created. One of my absolute favorite moments is the ending with Cai and I hope Ber has more adventures ahead for me to tag along with. If you want a middle grade full of heart and adventure and friendship, as well as some realities of being diabetic and growing up, I cannot recommend this book, this series enough.
July 26, 2025
5 stars
This was everything I could have hoped for and more. Ber has a LOT on her plate from rescuing grandma, growing up, and managing her blood sugar. The world building is really developed here, along with family history and how that affects present day. I loved the demon dimension . I am sad it seems this story is at a close when I've grown to love not only the human characters, but animals and demons too.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy to form opinions from.
This was everything I could have hoped for and more. Ber has a LOT on her plate from rescuing grandma, growing up, and managing her blood sugar. The world building is really developed here, along with family history and how that affects present day. I loved the demon dimension . I am sad it seems this story is at a close when I've grown to love not only the human characters, but animals and demons too.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy to form opinions from.
December 8, 2025
Audiobook review- 5/5 stars. Once again, another fantastic adventure by Clare Edge. I can’t believe this is a juvenile book! The writing is enjoyable, the characters are complex and well written, and the lessons within are seamlessly woven within the storyline. I love that Ber is not your stereotypical blonde, skinny, super popular girl. I love that she is someone who is learning to manage her diabetes (and does well, at that!) and is navigating realistic things for a tween like her first cycle on-page. Excellent body positivity and exploration/acceptance of gender identities. All of the characters are great, but I’m so glad that Fin played a large part of this book too. Great narration by Karissa Vacker!
May 1, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the e-ARC of Mixing Magics!
3.5 / 5 ⭐
“I love her with my entire heart, and probably some other organs too.”
Mixing Magics is a sequel, but I picked up the ARC without reading the first book by mistake; I still found it easy to follow. At its heart, Mixing Magics is a middle grade coming of age story centered around Ber, our thirteen year old protagonist who was recently diagnosed with diabetes. It's also a story about blood witches, demon realms, missing loved ones, and finding out what happens when you have “profound and irrevocable faith” in your own power. A cute read - I’ll need to go back and read the first one!
3.5 / 5 ⭐
“I love her with my entire heart, and probably some other organs too.”
Mixing Magics is a sequel, but I picked up the ARC without reading the first book by mistake; I still found it easy to follow. At its heart, Mixing Magics is a middle grade coming of age story centered around Ber, our thirteen year old protagonist who was recently diagnosed with diabetes. It's also a story about blood witches, demon realms, missing loved ones, and finding out what happens when you have “profound and irrevocable faith” in your own power. A cute read - I’ll need to go back and read the first one!
June 13, 2025
Ber's life is a great combination of real world complications and supernatural ones. She's getting used to having a blood sugar alert dog, meanwhile her grandma's trapped in the demon dimension and her boyfriend can read her mind. It feels so relatable, even if readers are unlikely to have experienced at least two of those situations.
Mixing Magics is a cool adventure, exploring new aspects of a neat magical world. Big sis Maeve doesn't appear much in this volume, but Cai and Phoebe are a very active supporting cast.
Thank you Netgalley for a review copy.
Mixing Magics is a cool adventure, exploring new aspects of a neat magical world. Big sis Maeve doesn't appear much in this volume, but Cai and Phoebe are a very active supporting cast.
Thank you Netgalley for a review copy.
November 10, 2025
Much thanks to Clare Edge, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I was greatly disappointed by book 2. It felt like a hot mess of a first draft. It also felt like the author had no idea what to do with any of her own lore.
Unfortunately, I was greatly disappointed by book 2. It felt like a hot mess of a first draft. It also felt like the author had no idea what to do with any of her own lore.
November 19, 2025
Accidental Demons didn’t really need a sequel.
I found the first book charming, if the writing was a little clunky and the villain a little too obvious. I just figured the drama surrounding Ber’s family would be more important, and that was where the real intrigue would lie. I also wanted to give the author some grace, knowing this was her debut.
And the story in the first felt fairly tight—every development getting us somewhere, the characters’ decisions sensible for their personalities and situations.
I also loved the casual queer representation. I’m incredibly glad middle grade is accepting of that stuff, even if YA/NA seems to be dragging its feet in that arena.
But Mixing Magics was kinda just…useless and boring?
(It could've been my age; I'm not exactly the target audience for this book.)
But the way Ber would make plot decisions felt more often than not forced to keep the story going. For example, early on, she thinks a flock of birds that swarmed Cai know some clue to the prophecy they’re trying to decode, and she goes to tell her family about it. But they’re happily cooking dinner—and the idea that they could move on without their Grandma Orla upsets Ber so much that she decides not to tell them anything about it.
Why not—other than to keep things going so the story lasts a while?
Most of the events of the first half of the book were basically just there to force Ber away from everyone in her life, so she’d have to act on her own to save her grandmother.
And I know teen protagonists are not the cleverest or most rational of narrators; but Ber felt impulsive and reckless to the extreme. I’ve read books with child/teen protagonists; and yes, sometimes they make mistakes (and sometimes catastrophic ones). But their actions all felt reasonably rooted in their emotions and the previous setup. You understood completely why they did what they did.
It just felt here like Ber was the one to do everything on her own because she’s the MC; not because it made any rational sense.
It took about 260 pages before we finally got anywhere in regards to the prophecy Fin left at the end of the first book. (And the same amount of time for something to actually happen, other than “let’s sit around and think about the prophecy.”)
From there, things catapulted quickly (and yet still in quite the boring manner) towards the last few pages where the important information was finally revealed.
I’m not expecting the earth to be shattered with every revelation I learn, but this twist was…a pretty big let-down.
Spoiler taggin’, though I’ll remain vague:
The lore was poorly explained, when it was explained at all. We didn’t really learn anything about demons, nor why the blood witches do pretty much anything they do. The fact that Fin also constantly absolved the narrative with “I’m not at liberty to say” was kind of annoying. By that point, the story was getting ready to wrap itself up. Why couldn’t we know anything? There isn’t going to be another installment.
We also touched a bit more on the prejudice between the different types of magics; but we didn’t get any deeper with that than we did in the first book. And the resolution was also pretty basic.
This duology should've just been one book. For the brief amount of time it took us to actually learn what had happened in Grandma Orla’s past, it would’ve been super simple to weave it in at the end of the first installment instead.
---
This next point may just be me.
I feel for Ber for having to put up with bullies and insensitive comments about her condition. And I definitely don’t think kids’ books should shy away from such topics.
But the “Krystal with a K” scene was—kind of weird?
The point of the scene (at least how I understood it) was to illustrate how people judge Ber for her weight. How Ber can’t even commiserate sometimes with her fellow Type 1 diabetics, because she still has features that set her apart from the others.
Which is 100% a valid point to make. I don't think this scene shouldn't have been included. I think the author representing her condition and all the trials and tribulations surrounding it should be supported. All kids need to see themselves represented in stories, after all.
But I don’t know if it’s because I had flashbacks to the bleach-blonde, calorie-counting, designer-handbag “mean girl” from early 2000s YA (shudder); but I didn’t get why the kid making comments had to be some model-perfect “childfluencer” who fit that trope to a T.
If you’re gonna include a kid whose parents set her up on social media when she was seven to take advantage of her life-altering chronic illness for clicks, you can’t just drop that in there like Dumbledore leaving infant Harry on the Dursleys’ doorstep and never talk about it again.
It’s not just people who are unhealthily obsessed with their weight and/or appearance who judge others for their size. Even the kids who think they’d never be that way might never sit down and think about the damaging way they view weight, if they’re conventionally an “acceptable” size.
It would’ve been just as impactful if the other kid was a regular student, still noticeably skinnier than Ber, who insensitively assumed Ber’s diabetes was Type 2 because of their bias about weight.
Also, no teenage girl wants to be a model-thin, picture-perfect social media darling because she has a healthy mindset and emotionally mature parents. I don’t know why we keep including that as the model archetype for a bully, when we know there’s a lot more going into that situation than just a “girl who wants attention.”
In a weird way, bringing up those details about Krystal felt like a faint echo of the “not like other girls” phenomenon. I don’t know how else to put it; but the point was supposed to be the lack of understanding on Krystal’s part, and how she didn’t think about how insensitive her comments came off. Judging her looks, bizarre name, and her family’s questionable lifestyle choices didn’t really add much to the scene. Those factors didn’t dictate why Krystal was bullying others (unless she took out her anxiety and frustration on the other kids?).
At the least, it warranted a much deeper discussion on a cornucopia of other issues. And we never saw Krystal again, so those issues weren’t even mentioned, let alone explored.
---
All in all, if you read the first book, you might as well check this one out to get the conclusion. It's a pretty quick, if an underwhelming, read.
I found the first book charming, if the writing was a little clunky and the villain a little too obvious. I just figured the drama surrounding Ber’s family would be more important, and that was where the real intrigue would lie. I also wanted to give the author some grace, knowing this was her debut.
And the story in the first felt fairly tight—every development getting us somewhere, the characters’ decisions sensible for their personalities and situations.
I also loved the casual queer representation. I’m incredibly glad middle grade is accepting of that stuff, even if YA/NA seems to be dragging its feet in that arena.
But Mixing Magics was kinda just…useless and boring?
(It could've been my age; I'm not exactly the target audience for this book.)
But the way Ber would make plot decisions felt more often than not forced to keep the story going. For example, early on, she thinks a flock of birds that swarmed Cai know some clue to the prophecy they’re trying to decode, and she goes to tell her family about it. But they’re happily cooking dinner—and the idea that they could move on without their Grandma Orla upsets Ber so much that she decides not to tell them anything about it.
Why not—other than to keep things going so the story lasts a while?
Most of the events of the first half of the book were basically just there to force Ber away from everyone in her life, so she’d have to act on her own to save her grandmother.
And I know teen protagonists are not the cleverest or most rational of narrators; but Ber felt impulsive and reckless to the extreme. I’ve read books with child/teen protagonists; and yes, sometimes they make mistakes (and sometimes catastrophic ones). But their actions all felt reasonably rooted in their emotions and the previous setup. You understood completely why they did what they did.
It just felt here like Ber was the one to do everything on her own because she’s the MC; not because it made any rational sense.
It took about 260 pages before we finally got anywhere in regards to the prophecy Fin left at the end of the first book. (And the same amount of time for something to actually happen, other than “let’s sit around and think about the prophecy.”)
From there, things catapulted quickly (and yet still in quite the boring manner) towards the last few pages where the important information was finally revealed.
I’m not expecting the earth to be shattered with every revelation I learn, but this twist was…a pretty big let-down.
Spoiler taggin’, though I’ll remain vague:
The lore was poorly explained, when it was explained at all. We didn’t really learn anything about demons, nor why the blood witches do pretty much anything they do. The fact that Fin also constantly absolved the narrative with “I’m not at liberty to say” was kind of annoying. By that point, the story was getting ready to wrap itself up. Why couldn’t we know anything? There isn’t going to be another installment.
We also touched a bit more on the prejudice between the different types of magics; but we didn’t get any deeper with that than we did in the first book. And the resolution was also pretty basic.
This duology should've just been one book. For the brief amount of time it took us to actually learn what had happened in Grandma Orla’s past, it would’ve been super simple to weave it in at the end of the first installment instead.
---
This next point may just be me.
I feel for Ber for having to put up with bullies and insensitive comments about her condition. And I definitely don’t think kids’ books should shy away from such topics.
But the “Krystal with a K” scene was—kind of weird?
The point of the scene (at least how I understood it) was to illustrate how people judge Ber for her weight. How Ber can’t even commiserate sometimes with her fellow Type 1 diabetics, because she still has features that set her apart from the others.
Which is 100% a valid point to make. I don't think this scene shouldn't have been included. I think the author representing her condition and all the trials and tribulations surrounding it should be supported. All kids need to see themselves represented in stories, after all.
But I don’t know if it’s because I had flashbacks to the bleach-blonde, calorie-counting, designer-handbag “mean girl” from early 2000s YA (shudder); but I didn’t get why the kid making comments had to be some model-perfect “childfluencer” who fit that trope to a T.
If you’re gonna include a kid whose parents set her up on social media when she was seven to take advantage of her life-altering chronic illness for clicks, you can’t just drop that in there like Dumbledore leaving infant Harry on the Dursleys’ doorstep and never talk about it again.
It’s not just people who are unhealthily obsessed with their weight and/or appearance who judge others for their size. Even the kids who think they’d never be that way might never sit down and think about the damaging way they view weight, if they’re conventionally an “acceptable” size.
It would’ve been just as impactful if the other kid was a regular student, still noticeably skinnier than Ber, who insensitively assumed Ber’s diabetes was Type 2 because of their bias about weight.
Also, no teenage girl wants to be a model-thin, picture-perfect social media darling because she has a healthy mindset and emotionally mature parents. I don’t know why we keep including that as the model archetype for a bully, when we know there’s a lot more going into that situation than just a “girl who wants attention.”
In a weird way, bringing up those details about Krystal felt like a faint echo of the “not like other girls” phenomenon. I don’t know how else to put it; but the point was supposed to be the lack of understanding on Krystal’s part, and how she didn’t think about how insensitive her comments came off. Judging her looks, bizarre name, and her family’s questionable lifestyle choices didn’t really add much to the scene. Those factors didn’t dictate why Krystal was bullying others (unless she took out her anxiety and frustration on the other kids?).
At the least, it warranted a much deeper discussion on a cornucopia of other issues. And we never saw Krystal again, so those issues weren’t even mentioned, let alone explored.
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All in all, if you read the first book, you might as well check this one out to get the conclusion. It's a pretty quick, if an underwhelming, read.
November 20, 2025
3.5 I was so excited to read this sequel after loving the first book, and I enjoyed this, though it was definitely missing some of the magic spark I felt when reading Accidental Demons.
This book still did a wonderful job of portraying chronic illness, diabetes, and diversity. I enjoyed the magic system, with demons and different kinds of witches.
That said, the plot fell flat. We end up spending most of the book trying to solve the riddle or prophecy, which ends up being solved very simply but also I didn't quite understand how or why. Even once in the demon dimension, the stakes didn't feel very high. There is a reveal towards the end about Ber's family history, but overall it was anticlimactic. I was left with a lot of questions about how and why certain things are the way they are.
I still loved Ber and her character arc, but many of the other side characters from book 1 are either not present or don't get much page time or are less vibrant here. Ber has conflict with her friends, but it doesn't ever seem to be fully resolved. I wished we got more of Maeve and Tempest. And Cai's announcement at the end came kind of out of nowhere and wasn't the way I would have expected to end the book basically.
There were new characters introduced, but not much was done with them. Like Patrick Walsh, who had potential to be interesting but didn't serve much of a purpose. And the part with Krystal with a K felt kind of weird. I think it's important to address that side of Ber's experience with diabetes, but Krystal was portrayed as a very stereotypical pretty influencer "mean girl" character without any complexity whatsoever.
Unfortunately, Fin - who was my absolute favorite in book 1 - also felt less.... Fin in this book. I was a bit disappointed, especially since it took so long before they returned to the story.
The book ended in a nice place, but it also felt like not much changed, and there were still secrets and prejudices that should have been more directly addressed or resolved, and I had a lot of questions.
I believe Clare Edge has mentioned that this was originally intended to be a trilogy, but publishing complications resulted in a duology instead, and that might explain some of these issues, which is a shame.
This book still did a wonderful job of portraying chronic illness, diabetes, and diversity. I enjoyed the magic system, with demons and different kinds of witches.
That said, the plot fell flat. We end up spending most of the book trying to solve the riddle or prophecy, which ends up being solved very simply but also I didn't quite understand how or why. Even once in the demon dimension, the stakes didn't feel very high. There is a reveal towards the end about Ber's family history, but overall it was anticlimactic. I was left with a lot of questions about how and why certain things are the way they are.
I still loved Ber and her character arc, but many of the other side characters from book 1 are either not present or don't get much page time or are less vibrant here. Ber has conflict with her friends, but it doesn't ever seem to be fully resolved. I wished we got more of Maeve and Tempest. And Cai's announcement at the end came kind of out of nowhere and wasn't the way I would have expected to end the book basically.
There were new characters introduced, but not much was done with them. Like Patrick Walsh, who had potential to be interesting but didn't serve much of a purpose. And the part with Krystal with a K felt kind of weird. I think it's important to address that side of Ber's experience with diabetes, but Krystal was portrayed as a very stereotypical pretty influencer "mean girl" character without any complexity whatsoever.
Unfortunately, Fin - who was my absolute favorite in book 1 - also felt less.... Fin in this book. I was a bit disappointed, especially since it took so long before they returned to the story.
The book ended in a nice place, but it also felt like not much changed, and there were still secrets and prejudices that should have been more directly addressed or resolved, and I had a lot of questions.
I believe Clare Edge has mentioned that this was originally intended to be a trilogy, but publishing complications resulted in a duology instead, and that might explain some of these issues, which is a shame.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2026
Bernadette Crowley’s Grandma Orla and friend Finley, a Mystery demon, vanished into the demon dimension. She’s left with only a cryptic prophecy from Fin and little hope of solving it. The other members of the Irish American Crowley family seem to have moved on from Grandma Orla’s disappearance. The family is concerned about Ber being a diabetic. So Ber is still adjusting to her new insulin pump, Ber has made strides in accepting herself as “a diabetic.” When a frustrated Ber takes the rescue into her own hands, she summons a stranger from her grandmother’s past and begins to learn about the true, complicated history of blood witch culture. Ber takes the rescue into her own hands, she summons a stranger from her grandmother’s past and begins to learn about the true, complicated history of blood witch culture. Will Ber find and rescue Grandma Orla?
I find myself feeling disappointed while reading the author’s novel as it complex and difficult in places making the plot slow reading at times for me. The story does uncover family secrets, including one that brings about a twist. Ber uncovers family secrets, including one that brings about a twist. Too much time was used trying to figure out Fin’s “Prophecy” which when solved was vague and cryptic opening it up to interpretation making it difficult to understand. The book has ended with unanswered questions (at least for me). Will there be a book three to answer those questions? It doesn’t seem likely. I wish I had know that this was a second book as reading the first one might have made the novel easier to understand.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
I find myself feeling disappointed while reading the author’s novel as it complex and difficult in places making the plot slow reading at times for me. The story does uncover family secrets, including one that brings about a twist. Ber uncovers family secrets, including one that brings about a twist. Too much time was used trying to figure out Fin’s “Prophecy” which when solved was vague and cryptic opening it up to interpretation making it difficult to understand. The book has ended with unanswered questions (at least for me). Will there be a book three to answer those questions? It doesn’t seem likely. I wish I had know that this was a second book as reading the first one might have made the novel easier to understand.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
June 28, 2025
💫 NetGalley ARC Review 💫
Mixing Magics offers a captivating narrative centered on Bernadette Crowley, a protagonist whose journey is both fantastical and profoundly relatable. The unique premise of managing a diabetes diagnosis alongside the nascent ability to summon demons immediately distinguishes Ber and grounds her extraordinary circumstances in a tangible, personal struggle. Her initial victories, such as checking blood sugar without accidental demonic summoning, provide charming moments of triumph, yet these are tempered by the lingering grief and frustration over her Grandma Orla's disappearance into the demon dimension.
Crowley’s resolve to rescue her grandmother drives the core of the plot, leading her to independently harness her burgeoning powers. This initiative unearths a compelling, generational history connecting her family directly to demonic entities, revealing layers of ancient betrayal that enrich the narrative's complexity. While the pacing in some sections could benefit from further development, the urgency of Ber’s quest is consistently maintained.
The supporting cast, particularly her friends Cai and Phoebe, adds depth to Ber's journey, providing camaraderie and additional dimensions to the challenges she faces. Clio, her alert dog, also contributes a delightful and practical element to the story. Mixing Magics successfully crafts an engaging adventure into the unknown, balancing high-stakes magical conflict with a resonant exploration of family legacy and self-discovery.
Mixing Magics offers a captivating narrative centered on Bernadette Crowley, a protagonist whose journey is both fantastical and profoundly relatable. The unique premise of managing a diabetes diagnosis alongside the nascent ability to summon demons immediately distinguishes Ber and grounds her extraordinary circumstances in a tangible, personal struggle. Her initial victories, such as checking blood sugar without accidental demonic summoning, provide charming moments of triumph, yet these are tempered by the lingering grief and frustration over her Grandma Orla's disappearance into the demon dimension.
Crowley’s resolve to rescue her grandmother drives the core of the plot, leading her to independently harness her burgeoning powers. This initiative unearths a compelling, generational history connecting her family directly to demonic entities, revealing layers of ancient betrayal that enrich the narrative's complexity. While the pacing in some sections could benefit from further development, the urgency of Ber’s quest is consistently maintained.
The supporting cast, particularly her friends Cai and Phoebe, adds depth to Ber's journey, providing camaraderie and additional dimensions to the challenges she faces. Clio, her alert dog, also contributes a delightful and practical element to the story. Mixing Magics successfully crafts an engaging adventure into the unknown, balancing high-stakes magical conflict with a resonant exploration of family legacy and self-discovery.
May 29, 2025
Thank you to HaperCollins and Netgalley for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!
Oh my goodness, I don't even know how to describe my love for this book, these characters, the impeccable representation Clare paints onto the page. From the simultaneous joy and pain that family can bring, to the journey of a recent life-altering diagnosis, Clare is a master of depth behind the epic, sometimes hilarious journey of Ber.
This book truly dives into the love-hate relationship that you can only really understand when you live life with a disability or chronic illness. The way that you wouldn't change a thing about yourself and your journey because it made you into *you*, while you would also give anything to just be *normal* for a moment, to have the relief of a life only a cure could bring. Ber's journey paints this picture so beautifully, in such a raw way, that it would bring me to tears at the most "random" of times.
I cannot say enough about every aspect of this book. The epic, magical journey that is thrust upon Ber is one that is so dazzling and full of life. The family dynamics, the idea of both a found family and a to-die-for even when they disappoint you biological family. It all sparkles off the page, each piece of the story its own spectacular part that would make an amazing book on its own, that all make a masterpiece when mixed together.
Oh my goodness, I don't even know how to describe my love for this book, these characters, the impeccable representation Clare paints onto the page. From the simultaneous joy and pain that family can bring, to the journey of a recent life-altering diagnosis, Clare is a master of depth behind the epic, sometimes hilarious journey of Ber.
This book truly dives into the love-hate relationship that you can only really understand when you live life with a disability or chronic illness. The way that you wouldn't change a thing about yourself and your journey because it made you into *you*, while you would also give anything to just be *normal* for a moment, to have the relief of a life only a cure could bring. Ber's journey paints this picture so beautifully, in such a raw way, that it would bring me to tears at the most "random" of times.
I cannot say enough about every aspect of this book. The epic, magical journey that is thrust upon Ber is one that is so dazzling and full of life. The family dynamics, the idea of both a found family and a to-die-for even when they disappoint you biological family. It all sparkles off the page, each piece of the story its own spectacular part that would make an amazing book on its own, that all make a masterpiece when mixed together.
August 17, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Ber is determined to find her grandmother, Orla, even though her mother doesn't seem to interested in helping. She's still with her boyfriend, Cai, and hangs out with her friend, Phoebe. When Ber is having trouble managing her diabetes, Cai's mother manages to magic up top tier health insurance for the Crowleys, and Ber gets an insulin pump, which is helpful but complicated to deal with. When she meets Patrick Walsh, her grandmother's nemesis, Ber hopes to get some answers that will help locate her grandmother. She does learn some family secrets about how the Bitterroot Coven memories that are sacrificed every year are being used.
I forgot most of the first book, so it would have been helpful to have remembered some of the back story about the demon Fin. There were lots of good details about dealing with diabetes, but they were sometimes hard to follow while also keeping track of the complicated magic. I was a little concerned about Ber's approach to diabetes; at one point, she states that she prefers drinking sugar sodas and shooting the insulin for them. My father had a similar approach, and it did not work all that well. Most of the tween diabetics I've known have been very careful about their choice of foods. Readers who liked Hautman's 2003 Sweetblood or Van Otterloo's Cattywampus will enjoy this mix of fantasy and health problems.
Ber is determined to find her grandmother, Orla, even though her mother doesn't seem to interested in helping. She's still with her boyfriend, Cai, and hangs out with her friend, Phoebe. When Ber is having trouble managing her diabetes, Cai's mother manages to magic up top tier health insurance for the Crowleys, and Ber gets an insulin pump, which is helpful but complicated to deal with. When she meets Patrick Walsh, her grandmother's nemesis, Ber hopes to get some answers that will help locate her grandmother. She does learn some family secrets about how the Bitterroot Coven memories that are sacrificed every year are being used.
I forgot most of the first book, so it would have been helpful to have remembered some of the back story about the demon Fin. There were lots of good details about dealing with diabetes, but they were sometimes hard to follow while also keeping track of the complicated magic. I was a little concerned about Ber's approach to diabetes; at one point, she states that she prefers drinking sugar sodas and shooting the insulin for them. My father had a similar approach, and it did not work all that well. Most of the tween diabetics I've known have been very careful about their choice of foods. Readers who liked Hautman's 2003 Sweetblood or Van Otterloo's Cattywampus will enjoy this mix of fantasy and health problems.
September 6, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley & HarperCollins Children's Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Sadly, I DNF'ed at 20% of the way through.
I didn't realize this was a sequel and I feel like the book didn't explain the first book all that well. Which is unsual for a children's book because they're pretty diligent about explaining everything that happened in the previous book.
I couldn't stand the protagonist; she came across as a kid who thinks she knows better than everyone else. Not my favorite. She was pretty sassy to a teacher that was trying to be nice and understanding of her diabetes and just thought she was cringe...rude, lol.
I liked how the diabetes was explained and handled, but it seemed like the protagonist just whined and moaned the whole time. I know it sucks and all but it's not fun reading about the complaining every other page...
The magic was pretty dark--the idea of summoning demons through blood AND losing your memories each month? DARK. I hate the idea of losing memories so personal to you! That really turned me off from the book and how nonchalant everyone was about it. I would've liked to see the protagonist fight against magic traditions--apparently she already did so in the first book, but didn't do it for the memory wipe session. For some reason.
I didn't realize this was a sequel and I feel like the book didn't explain the first book all that well. Which is unsual for a children's book because they're pretty diligent about explaining everything that happened in the previous book.
I couldn't stand the protagonist; she came across as a kid who thinks she knows better than everyone else. Not my favorite. She was pretty sassy to a teacher that was trying to be nice and understanding of her diabetes and just thought she was cringe...rude, lol.
I liked how the diabetes was explained and handled, but it seemed like the protagonist just whined and moaned the whole time. I know it sucks and all but it's not fun reading about the complaining every other page...
The magic was pretty dark--the idea of summoning demons through blood AND losing your memories each month? DARK. I hate the idea of losing memories so personal to you! That really turned me off from the book and how nonchalant everyone was about it. I would've liked to see the protagonist fight against magic traditions--apparently she already did so in the first book, but didn't do it for the memory wipe session. For some reason.
April 6, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.
First thing to know is this book is a sequel, so grab Accidental Demons first - you won't regret it!
Another cute adventure for Ber, Cai, and their friends and assorted pets (and demons!). A direct follow-up on the first book, Ber is seeking answers to the riddle left behind that will reveal how to save her Grandmother Orla and Fin. Sometimes riddles cause more problems than they give answers.
While there are plenty of magic hijinks, there's also a good foundation of disability awareness and LGBT+ characters. All topics are more than approachable for older middle grade readers and pre-teens while still being an enjoyable read for older readers.
I adore this series and am very happy to have stumbled across it and am crossing my fingers for more books. The characters are relatable and their actions are understandable, even if they don't always make the wisest choices. The book wraps up the plot, but leaves plenty of opportunities for future adventures.
Highly recommended!
First thing to know is this book is a sequel, so grab Accidental Demons first - you won't regret it!
Another cute adventure for Ber, Cai, and their friends and assorted pets (and demons!). A direct follow-up on the first book, Ber is seeking answers to the riddle left behind that will reveal how to save her Grandmother Orla and Fin. Sometimes riddles cause more problems than they give answers.
While there are plenty of magic hijinks, there's also a good foundation of disability awareness and LGBT+ characters. All topics are more than approachable for older middle grade readers and pre-teens while still being an enjoyable read for older readers.
I adore this series and am very happy to have stumbled across it and am crossing my fingers for more books. The characters are relatable and their actions are understandable, even if they don't always make the wisest choices. The book wraps up the plot, but leaves plenty of opportunities for future adventures.
Highly recommended!
October 30, 2025
This was a satisfying conclusion to the middle grade duology that features Ber, a tween blood witch with Type 1 diabetes. This book picks up a few weeks after the first book ends with Ber trying to track her missing grandmother and demon. While the diabetes rep is top notch and super relatable (Ber gets an insulin pump in this book and also has her blood sugar alert dog, Clio).
This book goes more in depth with Ber's family history, exploring how they made deals with demons and traded in memories for power. There's a lot of Inside out vibes, which I found interesting and she also has help from her gender nonconforming love interest/friend, Cai while navigating her first period.
Good on audio narrated by Karissa Vacker and a great pick for #SpookySeason. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review. Recommended for fans of books like The truth about Stacey by Anne M. Martin or Sugar isn't everything by Willo Davis Roberts.
This book goes more in depth with Ber's family history, exploring how they made deals with demons and traded in memories for power. There's a lot of Inside out vibes, which I found interesting and she also has help from her gender nonconforming love interest/friend, Cai while navigating her first period.
Good on audio narrated by Karissa Vacker and a great pick for #SpookySeason. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review. Recommended for fans of books like The truth about Stacey by Anne M. Martin or Sugar isn't everything by Willo Davis Roberts.
November 16, 2025
Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinion!
Bernadette aka Ber who is navigating being a teenager, having diabetes, and her first period as a blood witch, all while going to school and trying to find her grandmother who disappeared into the Demon dimension. Nothing is what it seems and expect the unexpected!
This series is so emotionally powerful and full of magic and book two did not disappoint, I highly recommend reading the books in order as the previous book was referenced quite a bit. This book has so much adventure, wit, and great character growth. Ber is strength personified. She is an amazing role model and kind. I fell in love with the story, and the pacing of the book was excellent. Life gets hard and taking the easy way out may seem better but is it always the best option? So many great lessons to learn in this series. I listened to the audiobook and I loved the narrator, she fit the book perfectly! Great book! Highly recommend!
Bernadette aka Ber who is navigating being a teenager, having diabetes, and her first period as a blood witch, all while going to school and trying to find her grandmother who disappeared into the Demon dimension. Nothing is what it seems and expect the unexpected!
This series is so emotionally powerful and full of magic and book two did not disappoint, I highly recommend reading the books in order as the previous book was referenced quite a bit. This book has so much adventure, wit, and great character growth. Ber is strength personified. She is an amazing role model and kind. I fell in love with the story, and the pacing of the book was excellent. Life gets hard and taking the easy way out may seem better but is it always the best option? So many great lessons to learn in this series. I listened to the audiobook and I loved the narrator, she fit the book perfectly! Great book! Highly recommend!
November 18, 2025
I adored this book! Just like accidental demons, this is a fun, fast-paced fantasy adventure set in our modern world but with demons, witches and mages.
I really appreciate the realistic way this book handles diabetes. Learning to live with a chronic illness is not just about the symptoms and the diagnosis and the medical equipment and the medication (though that is a big part of it too). What was so realistic about the book is the way the people around you respond to your diagnosis, with some loved ones getting hyperfocused on learning everything about it and some acquaintances being (unintentionally) hurtful and putting you in harmful situations.
I also loved the plot, the adventure and, like in the first book in the series, the cool worldbuilding! I don't know if there will be a next book but I really really hope so! I want to keep hanging out with these characters and I really want to see what happens with .
I really appreciate the realistic way this book handles diabetes. Learning to live with a chronic illness is not just about the symptoms and the diagnosis and the medical equipment and the medication (though that is a big part of it too). What was so realistic about the book is the way the people around you respond to your diagnosis, with some loved ones getting hyperfocused on learning everything about it and some acquaintances being (unintentionally) hurtful and putting you in harmful situations.
I also loved the plot, the adventure and, like in the first book in the series, the cool worldbuilding! I don't know if there will be a next book but I really really hope so! I want to keep hanging out with these characters and I really want to see what happens with .
November 21, 2025
I really like that Ber is so serious about her diabetes and doesn't just act like it's something that's no big deal. I also liked the period positivity and that the question of what happens when a blood witch is menstruating was answered.
I did not like Phoebe. She comes across as a know-it-all who can't really accept when they're wrong. Ber could have been seriously injured because of her actions and she didn't seem to truly care. Phoebe is Cai's friend, not Ber's.
I was confused about some of the reveal. I don't understand how Bernadette was able to do what she did on such a grand scale. Or how time is supposed to work in the demon dimension. How long were people there that no time passed in the human realm? Ber wasn't gone for very long but time noticeably passed.
Overall I think this was a bit weaker than the first book, but still good and worth checking out.
CW: death of a parent, blood
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital review copy.
I did not like Phoebe. She comes across as a know-it-all who can't really accept when they're wrong. Ber could have been seriously injured because of her actions and she didn't seem to truly care. Phoebe is Cai's friend, not Ber's.
I was confused about some of the reveal. I don't understand how Bernadette was able to do what she did on such a grand scale. Or how time is supposed to work in the demon dimension. How long were people there that no time passed in the human realm? Ber wasn't gone for very long but time noticeably passed.
Overall I think this was a bit weaker than the first book, but still good and worth checking out.
CW: death of a parent, blood
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital review copy.
November 3, 2025
This series has my whole heart. I would have loved to read these books as a kid and I’m so glad Clare has written them for kids to be able to read from now on. Besides the impeccable type 1 diabetes representation (especially in a fantasy story), this story is full of positive messaging for children regarding prejudices, accepting oneself, and body image.
I just want to give Ber a hug and let her know that life with diabetes will be okay. Yes, it is a struggle sometimes but it is full of great people (well, mostly), snacks, and powerful memories. I love how Ber and her friends also have typical childhood struggles, including some fights and misunderstanding, even while dealing with the fantastical side with their magic.
While this story does have a fantastic ending, I would love to see more of Ber in the future!
Thank you to @harperkids for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.
I just want to give Ber a hug and let her know that life with diabetes will be okay. Yes, it is a struggle sometimes but it is full of great people (well, mostly), snacks, and powerful memories. I love how Ber and her friends also have typical childhood struggles, including some fights and misunderstanding, even while dealing with the fantastical side with their magic.
While this story does have a fantastic ending, I would love to see more of Ber in the future!
Thank you to @harperkids for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.
April 2, 2025
I’d actually say 3.5 stars, but that’s not an option on this platform. I’ll be honest, my review may be affected by the fact that I’m jumping into the second book of a series when I haven’t read the first…especially if this is intended to be a trilogy since second books notoriously don’t do it for me…but there was just SO MUCH going on in the story that I had a hard time really getting INTO it.
Don’t get me wrong, it was a fun read. The various types of magic and the way the structures are set up felt fresh, plus anything about Ireland/Irish culture is my jam…but the sheer amount of STUFF happening made me feel pulled all over the place in a way that made it hard to ever settle in.
I’m going to read the first book and see if that changes my relationship to this book. But for now, three and a half stars is my final answer.
Update: I went back and read the acknowledgements and this is apparently a duology. So absolutely 3.5 starts. The way that this ended, knowing that’s the final word in the subject was deeply unsatisfying. What’s the point of creating a whole new world for yourselves to then have the series end abruptly?
Don’t get me wrong, it was a fun read. The various types of magic and the way the structures are set up felt fresh, plus anything about Ireland/Irish culture is my jam…but the sheer amount of STUFF happening made me feel pulled all over the place in a way that made it hard to ever settle in.
I’m going to read the first book and see if that changes my relationship to this book. But for now, three and a half stars is my final answer.
Update: I went back and read the acknowledgements and this is apparently a duology. So absolutely 3.5 starts. The way that this ended, knowing that’s the final word in the subject was deeply unsatisfying. What’s the point of creating a whole new world for yourselves to then have the series end abruptly?
December 31, 2025
This was such a great sequel! Like Accidental Demons, this one had lots of adventure and fun demon/animal action (Fin is still my favorite—so sarcastic and witty!). Ber is a very relatable main character. Too often in modern MG, we have twelve or thirteen years olds who have life figured out and never make wrong choices, but it’s far more realistic to see a kid make an impulsive choice out of anger or fear and then need to deal with the consequences later.
I liked the way the story wrapped up, too, and how it was a satisfying ending but gave a glimpse into how different Ber and her family’s lives would be going forward. A perfect two-book series for adventure and magic-loving readers!
I liked the way the story wrapped up, too, and how it was a satisfying ending but gave a glimpse into how different Ber and her family’s lives would be going forward. A perfect two-book series for adventure and magic-loving readers!
June 16, 2025
The first book was great, and this is an excellent follow-up -- less c0ven dramatics, more diabetes management and a fascinating trip to the demon dimension. I love how Bern has to figure out her magic as well as how to live her life. I loved how things resolved, I love that she has a diabetes helper dog and gets an insulin pump, and I'm impressed with her relationships -- partner and new friend more than sister in this book. Highly imaginative, and relatable. Excellent.
Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.
Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2025
I loved the first book and I love this second instalment as well. We need more stories like this that show young readers that anyone can be a hero no matter who they are. It is so important for them to be able to see themselves in the stories they read and this series is going to do that for many. Not only is the representation great but it is also a fun well crafted story. the world and characters are described in detail and well thought out. This book is well worth your time! thank you to netgalley for the ARC.
August 8, 2025
This series has become a fast favorite in our household. My T1 loves the representation and validation she gets from these stories. Mixing Magics is the sequel to Accidental Demons, both books a perfect blend of real life and magic. This is a great family or buddy read with your kiddo that explores grief, friendship, change and other big feelings. Thank you to HarperCollins for this ARC through NetGalley!
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