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Selcouth #3
Disenchanted
The brand-new novel from Sunday Times bestseller Lucy Jane Wood, available to pre-order now!
Sage Hemlock has no interest in embracing her witchy side. Magic has betrayed her before, bringing nothing but heartache, and she will not let something so foolish happen again.
Instead, Sage has thrown herself into her work and studies, running the local museum and largely preferring the company of her library and her cat to other humans. Her one goal is to fly under the coven’s radar so that she can finally shed her blasted powers forever.
But when a strange historical book accidentally triggers a curse, Sage’s quiet, small-town life is suddenly overrun and magic is running rife. A beanstalk grows in her garden, and her friend and co-worker Casimir starts to look an awful lot like a handsome prince. Fairy tales are coming true . . .
Now, with the threat of the coven on her tail, Sage must confront the magic she’s always denied to solve the mysteries of the book and save everyone she’s come to love from being lost to a fairy tale forever. The question is, can she finally learn to be her own happily ever after?
Everyone is falling under Lucy Jane Wood’s spell . . .
‘Beautifully crafted, sparkling with autumn magic’ Beth O’Leary
‘Pure, cosy joy’ Sangu Mandanna
‘Full of characters you’ll cheer for’ Sarah Beth Durst
‘A book to be savoured while curled up with a hot beverage and a sweet treat’ Jenna Levine
‘The novel equivalent of Gilmore Girls . . . Just add a spiced latte’ Stylist
‘The book to read to get into the cosy mood just in time for autumn’ Mirror
‘A warm and witchy delight’ Julie Leong
‘A mug of hot chocolate in book form’ Libby Page
‘The perfect cosy fantasy novel!’ Beth Reekles
Sage Hemlock has no interest in embracing her witchy side. Magic has betrayed her before, bringing nothing but heartache, and she will not let something so foolish happen again.
Instead, Sage has thrown herself into her work and studies, running the local museum and largely preferring the company of her library and her cat to other humans. Her one goal is to fly under the coven’s radar so that she can finally shed her blasted powers forever.
But when a strange historical book accidentally triggers a curse, Sage’s quiet, small-town life is suddenly overrun and magic is running rife. A beanstalk grows in her garden, and her friend and co-worker Casimir starts to look an awful lot like a handsome prince. Fairy tales are coming true . . .
Now, with the threat of the coven on her tail, Sage must confront the magic she’s always denied to solve the mysteries of the book and save everyone she’s come to love from being lost to a fairy tale forever. The question is, can she finally learn to be her own happily ever after?
Everyone is falling under Lucy Jane Wood’s spell . . .
‘Beautifully crafted, sparkling with autumn magic’ Beth O’Leary
‘Pure, cosy joy’ Sangu Mandanna
‘Full of characters you’ll cheer for’ Sarah Beth Durst
‘A book to be savoured while curled up with a hot beverage and a sweet treat’ Jenna Levine
‘The novel equivalent of Gilmore Girls . . . Just add a spiced latte’ Stylist
‘The book to read to get into the cosy mood just in time for autumn’ Mirror
‘A warm and witchy delight’ Julie Leong
‘A mug of hot chocolate in book form’ Libby Page
‘The perfect cosy fantasy novel!’ Beth Reekles
Audible Audio
First published September 8, 2026
About the author
Lucy Jane Wood
8 books1,654 followersI found myself falling into the world of writing almost by accident. My blogging friends at university were applying for swanky magazine internships, and I decided I should probably do something useful like that for myself. It was an obvious decision that almost made itself on my behalf, because writing is just who I am, and reading has always just been what I do.
Since happily stumbling my way into my first paid writing position for teen website Sugarscape back in 2013, I've been lucky and thrilled to find myself working freelance for giant titles like Marie Claire US, Cosmopolitan UK, MTV and Metro amongst others.
I am currently attempting to write my first fiction book. Wish me luck! I'm going slowly insane with it, and I am reassuringly told that's a good sign.
Since happily stumbling my way into my first paid writing position for teen website Sugarscape back in 2013, I've been lucky and thrilled to find myself working freelance for giant titles like Marie Claire US, Cosmopolitan UK, MTV and Metro amongst others.
I am currently attempting to write my first fiction book. Wish me luck! I'm going slowly insane with it, and I am reassuringly told that's a good sign.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
October 24, 2025
LUCY IM READY ✨🎀
August 8, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up because I had a great time with this book!
This being said, I feel like I should start with the potential surprise regarding this book. Despite it being a cozy fantasy, with witches and magic, the plot line is a lot more about self-acceptance and self-love, than it is about romance. And it does feel a little dragging but it’s all part of the process.
This is one of the slowest burns I’ve ever read about, because the romance felt slightly as an afterthought, which worked perfectly for me. However, I don’t think it’ll work for someone wishing to read a cozy fantasy with clearly developing romance.
Now to the point where I speak about how much I love the book! We have Sage, our smart reluctant witch that is a control freak, grieving and almost hating her magic, because she doesn’t want to have anything to do with it. Sage is the definition of someone being a little too smart, realistic, and pessimistic all at once. Her stubbornness until the end, is the reason, it might make some readers feel like it drags. But considering her ideals, thoughts and fears, adding the fact that she always thinks she’s right, it makes sense for her to be that stubborn and I like how after everything, she started seeing what everyone has been telling her. And in the end, she is loved. Very much so, if you ask me.
Casimir, the love interest, is her most supportive best friend through it all. He is there for her, supports her, and truth to be told I appreciated him a lot as the best friend, who clearly is fond of Sage, but he accepts her fully with all her quirks and stubbornness, and even her magic.
Their dynamic was so refreshing, because we could see the strong fondness and yearning, including the unspoken love between them, but they were friends first while dealing with everything before they finally took a deep breath in once everything was over, and became something more. Although, if you ask me they have already been something more anyways, they had just never spoken about it.
I really enjoyed this book a lot! And i strongly believe this one will be the perfect autumn read with a warm drink.
Thank you so much Pan Macmillan for inviting me to read this one in advance! You made my day better then, and this book made my August a good one as well!
This being said, I feel like I should start with the potential surprise regarding this book. Despite it being a cozy fantasy, with witches and magic, the plot line is a lot more about self-acceptance and self-love, than it is about romance. And it does feel a little dragging but it’s all part of the process.
This is one of the slowest burns I’ve ever read about, because the romance felt slightly as an afterthought, which worked perfectly for me. However, I don’t think it’ll work for someone wishing to read a cozy fantasy with clearly developing romance.
Now to the point where I speak about how much I love the book! We have Sage, our smart reluctant witch that is a control freak, grieving and almost hating her magic, because she doesn’t want to have anything to do with it. Sage is the definition of someone being a little too smart, realistic, and pessimistic all at once. Her stubbornness until the end, is the reason, it might make some readers feel like it drags. But considering her ideals, thoughts and fears, adding the fact that she always thinks she’s right, it makes sense for her to be that stubborn and I like how after everything, she started seeing what everyone has been telling her. And in the end, she is loved. Very much so, if you ask me.
Casimir, the love interest, is her most supportive best friend through it all. He is there for her, supports her, and truth to be told I appreciated him a lot as the best friend, who clearly is fond of Sage, but he accepts her fully with all her quirks and stubbornness, and even her magic.
Their dynamic was so refreshing, because we could see the strong fondness and yearning, including the unspoken love between them, but they were friends first while dealing with everything before they finally took a deep breath in once everything was over, and became something more. Although, if you ask me they have already been something more anyways, they had just never spoken about it.
I really enjoyed this book a lot! And i strongly believe this one will be the perfect autumn read with a warm drink.
Thank you so much Pan Macmillan for inviting me to read this one in advance! You made my day better then, and this book made my August a good one as well!
September 3, 2026
This is the perfect, most whimsical, autumn book that I promise you will need to read.
I have really enjoyed all of these books so far but the fairytale theme in this one tips it over the edge as my favourite.
I really don’t want to give too much away but it was such a fun and eventful book to read.
Sage and Casimir have worked to research witchy beings and magic alongside each other ther for a number of years. Casimir gets on her nerves more often than not but essentially his presence provides her with such comfort and is her best friend.
The truth behind Sage wanting to rid herself of her magic and free herself from the burden she believes it places on her was really sad. As the book progresses we unravel more about her character, her past and start to learn that perhaps her magic might not be the problem she thinks it is.
Honestly loved all the characters in this, Casimir needs to just be protected at all costs and Mal made me laugh so much 😂 I’m fond of responsive familiars within these books and so you are in for a treat with him.
I enjoyed how the pace of the book picked up towards the end and even though fairytales typically are fun throughout, this has a different spin on it that I really enjoyed. The story development was fabulous and I loved the growth of Sage’s personal journey as the book progressed! Definitely a book you need in your shelves this autumn or in the build up to Halloween.
I have really enjoyed all of these books so far but the fairytale theme in this one tips it over the edge as my favourite.
I really don’t want to give too much away but it was such a fun and eventful book to read.
Sage and Casimir have worked to research witchy beings and magic alongside each other ther for a number of years. Casimir gets on her nerves more often than not but essentially his presence provides her with such comfort and is her best friend.
The truth behind Sage wanting to rid herself of her magic and free herself from the burden she believes it places on her was really sad. As the book progresses we unravel more about her character, her past and start to learn that perhaps her magic might not be the problem she thinks it is.
Honestly loved all the characters in this, Casimir needs to just be protected at all costs and Mal made me laugh so much 😂 I’m fond of responsive familiars within these books and so you are in for a treat with him.
I enjoyed how the pace of the book picked up towards the end and even though fairytales typically are fun throughout, this has a different spin on it that I really enjoyed. The story development was fabulous and I loved the growth of Sage’s personal journey as the book progressed! Definitely a book you need in your shelves this autumn or in the build up to Halloween.
August 23, 2026
Disenchanted is the third standalone installment in the cozy fantasy Rewitched series. Ever since an incident when she first gained her powers, witch Sage Hemlock has wanted to be rid of her magic. She now rarely uses it, instead running a local museum with her best friend, Casimir Everald, in her hometown of Port Sylvan that has a rich magical heritage. But when Sage accidentally casts a spell from a historical book, fairy tales begin coming to life throughout the town. To save Port Sylvan from being permanently cursed into a fairy-tale parody, Sage must confront the magic she has spent years denying and unravel the book’s mystery.
There is something about this author’s writing that never perfectly clicks for me. Each book has a promising core, but one or two issues consistently keep it from fully coming together. The earlier installments, Rewitched and Uncharmed, struggled with focus and pacing. Unfortunately, Disenchanted has similar problems, including the same slow start, while also adding a more significant issue: its protagonist.
A pessimistic, dreary protagonist works against the comforting atmosphere that cozy fantasy relies on, and Sage often frustrated me. She is rash and repeatedly acts against her own better judgment. Her attitude toward magic also felt inconsistent with her life: although she claims to hate it, she surrounds herself with it through both her studies and her museum work. I also struggled to understand why Sage was so determined to avoid the coven’s attention. She seemingly should not know enough about any coven to fear it so specifically, and their harshest punishment which is removing a witch’s magic is exactly what she wants. This added to the frustration I had surrounding her choices.
The curse’s origin was similarly difficult to accept and make sense of. The villain’s scheme felt overly convoluted and so specifically designed for Sage that it seemed unlikely it could apply to anyone else. That was disappointing because the premise of fairy tales coming to life in a small magical town is easily the most compelling idea in the series and had so much potential. As for the romance, it felt underdeveloped. Sage and Casimir’s best-friends-to-lovers dynamic could have been genuinely charming, but the relationship did not receive enough on-page development to make it fully land. Casimir himself was a highlight, though; I loved how flamboyant, warm, and consistently supportive he was. Sage’s cat familiar, Malachite, was also underused. While his presence added some coziness, Mal had little meaningful impact on the plot. Likewise, Sage’s ghost friend Maggie had an important role in the story, yet still felt like an afterthought.
Overall, Disenchanted has the most appealing premise of the series so far, but its slow start, frustrating protagonist, and underdeveloped elements kept it from fulfilling that potential.
*Thank you to Pan MacMillan for the eARC via NetGalley
There is something about this author’s writing that never perfectly clicks for me. Each book has a promising core, but one or two issues consistently keep it from fully coming together. The earlier installments, Rewitched and Uncharmed, struggled with focus and pacing. Unfortunately, Disenchanted has similar problems, including the same slow start, while also adding a more significant issue: its protagonist.
A pessimistic, dreary protagonist works against the comforting atmosphere that cozy fantasy relies on, and Sage often frustrated me. She is rash and repeatedly acts against her own better judgment. Her attitude toward magic also felt inconsistent with her life: although she claims to hate it, she surrounds herself with it through both her studies and her museum work. I also struggled to understand why Sage was so determined to avoid the coven’s attention. She seemingly should not know enough about any coven to fear it so specifically, and their harshest punishment which is removing a witch’s magic is exactly what she wants. This added to the frustration I had surrounding her choices.
The curse’s origin was similarly difficult to accept and make sense of. The villain’s scheme felt overly convoluted and so specifically designed for Sage that it seemed unlikely it could apply to anyone else. That was disappointing because the premise of fairy tales coming to life in a small magical town is easily the most compelling idea in the series and had so much potential. As for the romance, it felt underdeveloped. Sage and Casimir’s best-friends-to-lovers dynamic could have been genuinely charming, but the relationship did not receive enough on-page development to make it fully land. Casimir himself was a highlight, though; I loved how flamboyant, warm, and consistently supportive he was. Sage’s cat familiar, Malachite, was also underused. While his presence added some coziness, Mal had little meaningful impact on the plot. Likewise, Sage’s ghost friend Maggie had an important role in the story, yet still felt like an afterthought.
Overall, Disenchanted has the most appealing premise of the series so far, but its slow start, frustrating protagonist, and underdeveloped elements kept it from fulfilling that potential.
*Thank you to Pan MacMillan for the eARC via NetGalley
September 11, 2026
Wow I’ve never wanted to live inside a book as much as this one! Lucy described it as a witchy Shrek and I couldn’t agree more!
Lucy has done really well with this series, by creating three completely different characters but ones that we root for each time. Each one is unique but with enough Easter eggs to hint at them being set in the same world. Well done 👏🏻
Thoroughly enjoyed it and I hope we’re back in the same world again!
Lucy has done really well with this series, by creating three completely different characters but ones that we root for each time. Each one is unique but with enough Easter eggs to hint at them being set in the same world. Well done 👏🏻
Thoroughly enjoyed it and I hope we’re back in the same world again!
September 12, 2026
⟡ Thank you for the free ARC, Berkley Romance and NetGalley.
Book three in the Rewitched series was a lovely start to witchy season. I enjoyed Sage and Casimir’s slow-burn romance and the depth of their story. This cozy fantasy is a great option for your fall TBR.
Book three in the Rewitched series was a lovely start to witchy season. I enjoyed Sage and Casimir’s slow-burn romance and the depth of their story. This cozy fantasy is a great option for your fall TBR.
Want to Read
July 6, 2026🪄 Disenchanted 🪄
📖 Bookish Thoughts
A full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Cozy Fantasy
• Reluctant Witch
• Small Town
• Fairy Tale Magic
• Magical Curse
• Black Cat Energy
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 8, 2026
Thank you to Ace, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
A full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Cozy Fantasy
• Reluctant Witch
• Small Town
• Fairy Tale Magic
• Magical Curse
• Black Cat Energy
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 8, 2026
Thank you to Ace, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
September 2, 2026
What better way to start off the cosy season than by starting my ARC of Disenchanted 🍁🍂✨
I really do adore these books and they always bring the magic, fun and whimsy.
This story had its usual magic and whimsy with the feel of Sabrina the Teenage Witch mixed X Once Upon A Time x Shrek and I am 100% the target audience for this 🧙🏻♀️🪄
Lucy knows how to write compelling characters, stories and even included some dark twists in this book.
Thank you Lucy Jane Wood, Pan MacMillan and Negalley for the early copy of this book and helping me start my cosy season right 🍁🍂✨
I really do adore these books and they always bring the magic, fun and whimsy.
This story had its usual magic and whimsy with the feel of Sabrina the Teenage Witch mixed X Once Upon A Time x Shrek and I am 100% the target audience for this 🧙🏻♀️🪄
Lucy knows how to write compelling characters, stories and even included some dark twists in this book.
Thank you Lucy Jane Wood, Pan MacMillan and Negalley for the early copy of this book and helping me start my cosy season right 🍁🍂✨
September 13, 2026
This was very different from the other books in the series but still as magical and lovely just not as many pastries which is also good because I wasnt as hungry or annoyed that I didn't have a cinnamon roll or muffin to eat while reading.
September 13, 2026
The beginning was slow (action doesn’t start until page 60/70) but it became something I couldn’t put down. Lucy Jane Wood knows how to write books for the soul.
September 16, 2026
⭐️4.5
Lucy Jane Wood has done it again!! loved this
Lucy Jane Wood has done it again!! loved this
September 4, 2026
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓛;𝓓𝓡 ✧˖°
A charming Cosy Fantasy perfect for readers looking for a slower paced exploration of fairytales in real life, a heartwarming friendship that gently becomes something more, and a relatable message of self-acceptance and forgiveness.
° ˖✧ 𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
3.75 ⭐
0 🌶️
° ˖✧ 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
Fairy tales remind us that transformation and change are inevitable.
Time would pass regardless, whether wonder was permitted among it or not.
Her sister was a walking wish, her brother an abundance of trust and her best friend, with all of his charm, was the jammiest fool she had ever encountered.
"It was the witch I wanted. But not because she's the villain; she was never the villain. But she was always mine."
° ˖✧ 𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ✧˖°
When grumpy librarian Sage discovers a curse in an old book, she must confront the magic she’s always denied. But when fairytales start to escape the pages, can she resist her princely coworker Casimir and save their small town?
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
🏢 Workplace Romance
💘 Friends to Lovers
❤️🔥 Slow Burn
👑 Fairytale comes to Life
✨ Bookish Curse
🫶 Found Family
🏘️ Small Town
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
🪦 Parental Grief
° ˖✧ 𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
+ Sassy FMC
+ Friendly Banter
+ MCs Opposing Dynamics
+ Interesting Side Characters
+ Promising Concept
+ Self-Acceptance and Growth
° ˖✧ 𝓓𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
- MMC was sometimes inconsistent
- Very Slow Pacing
- Emotional Disconnect
- Romance lacked Tension
- Abrupt Ending
° ˖✧ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ✧˖°
Unfortunately, this book came at a point in my life where I just had too much going on to really appreciate it. So even while some things disappointed me, I've erred on the side of rating a little higher because I do think that a different Me might've enjoyed it more (but life got in the way!).
I really enjoyed Sage's overall sass as a character. Her internal voice was generally quite funny and it quickly got me interested in the story. I also really enjoyed her banter with Cas in front of her tour group - though I think it gave me a different impression of their relationship than intended.
Cas appears more like a rival coworker than a best friend of many years, and so I found it quite jarring when they began to treat each other with more kindness and trust than in the first couple chapters. That being said, I do think he was a good opposite for Sage. She's broody and a grump, whereas he's more charming and personable. They bring out good parts of each other.
The story is VERY slow. Granted it's a cosy book, but it felt like it meandered a lot before getting into the meat of the plot. Even once the spell had been triggered there was a lot of indulgence exploring every possible part of the village and it's characters before moving on. It was only at the very end that the pact picked up pretty drastically.
I did quite like the characters, besides Sage and Cas, there was also Sage's siblings, and the ghost and cat she lives with among various other townsfolk. They all felt unique and interesting, but again I really struggled to connect with any of them. Certain scenes do take a more sinister turn than expected but other than overall eeriness, I didn't feel anything for the characters effected themselves.
Even the main characters had this affliction, because their romance is practically non-existent until the very end. While I do enjoy a slow burn, I need there to be romantic tension too and that just wasn't the case here. Sage finds Cas attractive, but he's conventionally attractive anyway and catches the eye of lots of women. Cas never once crosses a line with her, staying firmly as her friend. It's only when he starts to lose himself that he speaks more freely but Sage believes it's an effect of the spell - it's maddening!
Which is a shame because this book has so much promise for me. The concept is an intriguing twist on other book-come-to-life tropes, and I appreciate the author's prose. I think I just had slightly different expectations, and when they weren't met in combination with my Life Stuff I just felt really burnt out with the story.
Thank you to Lucy Jane Wood and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A charming Cosy Fantasy perfect for readers looking for a slower paced exploration of fairytales in real life, a heartwarming friendship that gently becomes something more, and a relatable message of self-acceptance and forgiveness.
° ˖✧ 𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
3.75 ⭐
0 🌶️
° ˖✧ 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
Fairy tales remind us that transformation and change are inevitable.
Time would pass regardless, whether wonder was permitted among it or not.
Her sister was a walking wish, her brother an abundance of trust and her best friend, with all of his charm, was the jammiest fool she had ever encountered.
"It was the witch I wanted. But not because she's the villain; she was never the villain. But she was always mine."
° ˖✧ 𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ✧˖°
When grumpy librarian Sage discovers a curse in an old book, she must confront the magic she’s always denied. But when fairytales start to escape the pages, can she resist her princely coworker Casimir and save their small town?
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
🏢 Workplace Romance
💘 Friends to Lovers
❤️🔥 Slow Burn
👑 Fairytale comes to Life
✨ Bookish Curse
🫶 Found Family
🏘️ Small Town
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
🪦 Parental Grief
° ˖✧ 𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
+ Sassy FMC
+ Friendly Banter
+ MCs Opposing Dynamics
+ Interesting Side Characters
+ Promising Concept
+ Self-Acceptance and Growth
° ˖✧ 𝓓𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
- MMC was sometimes inconsistent
- Very Slow Pacing
- Emotional Disconnect
- Romance lacked Tension
- Abrupt Ending
° ˖✧ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ✧˖°
Unfortunately, this book came at a point in my life where I just had too much going on to really appreciate it. So even while some things disappointed me, I've erred on the side of rating a little higher because I do think that a different Me might've enjoyed it more (but life got in the way!).
I really enjoyed Sage's overall sass as a character. Her internal voice was generally quite funny and it quickly got me interested in the story. I also really enjoyed her banter with Cas in front of her tour group - though I think it gave me a different impression of their relationship than intended.
Cas appears more like a rival coworker than a best friend of many years, and so I found it quite jarring when they began to treat each other with more kindness and trust than in the first couple chapters. That being said, I do think he was a good opposite for Sage. She's broody and a grump, whereas he's more charming and personable. They bring out good parts of each other.
The story is VERY slow. Granted it's a cosy book, but it felt like it meandered a lot before getting into the meat of the plot. Even once the spell had been triggered there was a lot of indulgence exploring every possible part of the village and it's characters before moving on. It was only at the very end that the pact picked up pretty drastically.
I did quite like the characters, besides Sage and Cas, there was also Sage's siblings, and the ghost and cat she lives with among various other townsfolk. They all felt unique and interesting, but again I really struggled to connect with any of them. Certain scenes do take a more sinister turn than expected but other than overall eeriness, I didn't feel anything for the characters effected themselves.
Even the main characters had this affliction, because their romance is practically non-existent until the very end. While I do enjoy a slow burn, I need there to be romantic tension too and that just wasn't the case here. Sage finds Cas attractive, but he's conventionally attractive anyway and catches the eye of lots of women. Cas never once crosses a line with her, staying firmly as her friend. It's only when he starts to lose himself that he speaks more freely but Sage believes it's an effect of the spell - it's maddening!
Which is a shame because this book has so much promise for me. The concept is an intriguing twist on other book-come-to-life tropes, and I appreciate the author's prose. I think I just had slightly different expectations, and when they weren't met in combination with my Life Stuff I just felt really burnt out with the story.
Thank you to Lucy Jane Wood and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 13, 2026
Oh dear, I've always been lukewarm on this universe but now am thoroughly disenchanted. I did buy them all! That counts for something.
I can't tell if this book has not been edited enough or has been edited, as the author might say, to bits. Events do not happen in proper sequence for good storytelling and this results in characters having reactions to things without proper motivation. The dialogue in this book might as well be randomized. For example, people talk around a package and the book it contains in a way that is unfairly suspicious, then wrongly banal, then sudden suspicious again.
The idea of changes in the town suggesting a fairytale is not properly structured or paced. There would need to be at least one more incident and those things together would need to more properly suggest a fairytale. Thinking that your house has been converted to gingerbread overnight by a town committee is ludicrous.
As with the other books I don't mind having a "flawed" main character, but she isn't established properly. If she's the logical, practical one (especially of her siblings) then that needs to be something that is both clear about her and her approach and something for which she is appreciated. We need positive examples of her being "the logical one" in the lives of her loved ones – that would give her a proper character history and also license to be a bit sarcastic and disdainful and still endearing. We have no actual proof that Sage is "reliable" and "clever." As-is she is presented as ill-tempered and her reactions are quite emotional, and then she is layered with the idea of being logical and scholarly after that and it doesn't sit well on her. If she were first presented as very logical and then found herself reacting very emotionally, that would be complex. To be emotional and then logical and then emotional again is perhaps more true-to-life but causes whiplash on the page.
People just keep saying things with no supporting evidence; as though I've missed a chapter somewhere. There is no proof that ambient magic is here to teach Sage some kind of lesson or make her accept her magic.
I got through this book by pretending it was like Cain's Jawbone and all the pages were out of order (and maybe some were missing.) Lucy seems a lovely person and a well-intentioned author and she's been failed by her editors here. I beg for a rewrite.
I can't tell if this book has not been edited enough or has been edited, as the author might say, to bits. Events do not happen in proper sequence for good storytelling and this results in characters having reactions to things without proper motivation. The dialogue in this book might as well be randomized. For example, people talk around a package and the book it contains in a way that is unfairly suspicious, then wrongly banal, then sudden suspicious again.
The idea of changes in the town suggesting a fairytale is not properly structured or paced. There would need to be at least one more incident and those things together would need to more properly suggest a fairytale. Thinking that your house has been converted to gingerbread overnight by a town committee is ludicrous.
As with the other books I don't mind having a "flawed" main character, but she isn't established properly. If she's the logical, practical one (especially of her siblings) then that needs to be something that is both clear about her and her approach and something for which she is appreciated. We need positive examples of her being "the logical one" in the lives of her loved ones – that would give her a proper character history and also license to be a bit sarcastic and disdainful and still endearing. We have no actual proof that Sage is "reliable" and "clever." As-is she is presented as ill-tempered and her reactions are quite emotional, and then she is layered with the idea of being logical and scholarly after that and it doesn't sit well on her. If she were first presented as very logical and then found herself reacting very emotionally, that would be complex. To be emotional and then logical and then emotional again is perhaps more true-to-life but causes whiplash on the page.
People just keep saying things with no supporting evidence; as though I've missed a chapter somewhere. There is no proof that ambient magic is here to teach Sage some kind of lesson or make her accept her magic.
I got through this book by pretending it was like Cain's Jawbone and all the pages were out of order (and maybe some were missing.) Lucy seems a lovely person and a well-intentioned author and she's been failed by her editors here. I beg for a rewrite.
September 14, 2026
I absolutely loved this book. Full of whimsical charm, Lucy Jane Wood yet again brings a book full of gorgeous characters, a picture perfect setting, and oh just a hint of the drama magic can bring! I loved Sage and her siblings, and of course Cas, the prince charming of the story and the plot was so well written. Just when I thought I knew what was happening, something else would pop up and keep me on my toes! These books feel like a big autumnal hug!
Yet again, I felt I could relate to this main character a lot. Initially, she was a little difficult to warm to whilst we met her (as, I know for a fact, am I) but once Sage shows her colours we get insight into a fantasically complex character who is so realistic. I’m also an academic, and I could completely understand why some days she wished to stay in the archives amongst research rather than talking to people! Sage is human, and we get to see all of her flaws and still love her for it - especially when she overcomes obstacles we know have been tough for her. By the ending, when you really understand her character you’re met with a satisfying conclusion and I feel like I’ve travelled through such a journey with Sage!
Yet again, I felt I could relate to this main character a lot. Initially, she was a little difficult to warm to whilst we met her (as, I know for a fact, am I) but once Sage shows her colours we get insight into a fantasically complex character who is so realistic. I’m also an academic, and I could completely understand why some days she wished to stay in the archives amongst research rather than talking to people! Sage is human, and we get to see all of her flaws and still love her for it - especially when she overcomes obstacles we know have been tough for her. By the ending, when you really understand her character you’re met with a satisfying conclusion and I feel like I’ve travelled through such a journey with Sage!
August 15, 2026
Sage has spent years building up an exhibition for all things magic in the town of Port Sylvan. Despite her academic love for the topic, she’s spent her whole life suppressing her own magic and wants to nothing more than to get rid of it. When the lost grimoire of Lilara Mournfell mysteriously ends up at her doorstep, she thinks this may be the key to getting rid of her magic for good. Instead, she casts an incantation that results in magic popping up everywhere in her town.
Sage is an interesting character. She blames herself and her magic for the tragedies she has experienced in life, and has a fairly negative outlook on life. She’s not a character that I instantly warmed to, which was different to my other experiences with cosy fantasies. That being said, the more the book progressed the more I understood her. She’s the typical older sister type, carrying a lot of responsibility at all times.
Casimir was a brilliant side character. I found him so entertaining at times, and he was great alongside Sage. If you’re expecting romance a key focal plot then this won’t be for you. Whilst there is a romance subplot, it’s subtle, and the focus is mainly on Sage and her journey of self acceptance.
I instantly adore a cosy fantasy with a familiar and this was no exception. Mal was a great familiar and the talking moments were so so good. I also loved Maggie, and loved that she played a key role in this book.
Lucy does such a beautiful job of creating immersive cosy fantasy reads. This book is beautifully descriptive and the fairy tale theme just added to that even more. The fairy tales were cleverly woven into the plot as the spell played out and it added a unique twist to this book.
I am so grateful to have received a proof for this book, and all views are my own.
Sage is an interesting character. She blames herself and her magic for the tragedies she has experienced in life, and has a fairly negative outlook on life. She’s not a character that I instantly warmed to, which was different to my other experiences with cosy fantasies. That being said, the more the book progressed the more I understood her. She’s the typical older sister type, carrying a lot of responsibility at all times.
Casimir was a brilliant side character. I found him so entertaining at times, and he was great alongside Sage. If you’re expecting romance a key focal plot then this won’t be for you. Whilst there is a romance subplot, it’s subtle, and the focus is mainly on Sage and her journey of self acceptance.
I instantly adore a cosy fantasy with a familiar and this was no exception. Mal was a great familiar and the talking moments were so so good. I also loved Maggie, and loved that she played a key role in this book.
Lucy does such a beautiful job of creating immersive cosy fantasy reads. This book is beautifully descriptive and the fairy tale theme just added to that even more. The fairy tales were cleverly woven into the plot as the spell played out and it added a unique twist to this book.
I am so grateful to have received a proof for this book, and all views are my own.
September 16, 2026
Disenchanted is the third installment in the Selcouth Series, and this time we follow Sage’s story, a witch who refuses to use her magic, but she will have to face it sooner than she imagined.
It’s a cozy book, set around Halloween, with a lighthearted, hopeful feel that keeps you reading.
I really liked the characters, from Sage to Casimir, Maggie, and Mal. However, it was sometimes difficult for me to fully understand Sage. But in the end, I could see more of her and see the complexity of her character. I enjoyed reading this book and immersing myself once again in the Selcouth world. I liked how it ties nicely to the previous book, but not so much that you need to read them to understand this one fully.
I appreciated the romantic side of the story very much, because it was subtle and yet very sweet.
Overall, it was a lovely read; it has everything you would like in an autumn, cozy story, and I recommend it if you are looking for something heartwarming, especially if you’ve read the other two books.
It’s a cozy book, set around Halloween, with a lighthearted, hopeful feel that keeps you reading.
I really liked the characters, from Sage to Casimir, Maggie, and Mal. However, it was sometimes difficult for me to fully understand Sage. But in the end, I could see more of her and see the complexity of her character. I enjoyed reading this book and immersing myself once again in the Selcouth world. I liked how it ties nicely to the previous book, but not so much that you need to read them to understand this one fully.
I appreciated the romantic side of the story very much, because it was subtle and yet very sweet.
Overall, it was a lovely read; it has everything you would like in an autumn, cozy story, and I recommend it if you are looking for something heartwarming, especially if you’ve read the other two books.
September 13, 2026
None of these standalones hit as good as our OG Rewitched They're still such fun whimsy stories with some deeper lessons but the level of emotions I felt with the first book in this series of standalones has been unmatched. I was so fond of the ending part of this one though where the lesson really starts to get instilled into our main character.
If you are looking for a read that's kind of a mishmash of Halloweentown, Disenchanted, and dare I even say a dash of We Call Them Witches this gave so many vibes from each of those.
If you are looking for a read that's kind of a mishmash of Halloweentown, Disenchanted, and dare I even say a dash of We Call Them Witches this gave so many vibes from each of those.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I have enjoyed this series.
Disenchanted is the perfect autumn cozy with a little mystery, self-discovery, and magic. The romance in this one is served solidly on the side as a deliciously cute and loyal slow-burn.
Sage Hemlock is working on an exhibit about magic and the town of Port Sylvan when she isn’t giving magical historical tours. Sage may possess magic, but a tragic event in her past makes her avoid it. All magic comes with a cost, or goes sideways for her. Because of this, she keeps her head down and focuses on things she can trust, like books, history, and family.
Sage’s best friend from college and co-worker, Casimi, knows all about her magic, the tragedy, and Sage’s struggles. To anyone around them, it’s obvious Casimi has it bad. When a strange package is delivered containing a grimoire, Casimi, her family, and ghostly cook will all be there for her.
I got caught up in this one as the town transformed and Sage found herself. We learn more about the witch Lilara Mournfell and about Sage’s own tragic past as the story unfolds. The romantic development felt genuine and left me grinning.
From familiars to beanstalks, Disenchanted delivered a well-paced cozy fantasy filled with magic, character growth, family, and heart.
This review originally published at Caffeinated Reviewer
Disenchanted is the perfect autumn cozy with a little mystery, self-discovery, and magic. The romance in this one is served solidly on the side as a deliciously cute and loyal slow-burn.
Sage Hemlock is working on an exhibit about magic and the town of Port Sylvan when she isn’t giving magical historical tours. Sage may possess magic, but a tragic event in her past makes her avoid it. All magic comes with a cost, or goes sideways for her. Because of this, she keeps her head down and focuses on things she can trust, like books, history, and family.
Sage’s best friend from college and co-worker, Casimi, knows all about her magic, the tragedy, and Sage’s struggles. To anyone around them, it’s obvious Casimi has it bad. When a strange package is delivered containing a grimoire, Casimi, her family, and ghostly cook will all be there for her.
I got caught up in this one as the town transformed and Sage found herself. We learn more about the witch Lilara Mournfell and about Sage’s own tragic past as the story unfolds. The romantic development felt genuine and left me grinning.
From familiars to beanstalks, Disenchanted delivered a well-paced cozy fantasy filled with magic, character growth, family, and heart.
This review originally published at Caffeinated Reviewer
July 19, 2026
Book 1 in this series: a winner. Book 2 in this series: a winner. Book 3 in this series (this one): you guessed it, a winner.
I slip into these books so easily and each one brings its own special element. Sage is in rebuttal against her magic and she is eager for it to not only be strictly controlled, but she wants it gone. She hates the unpredictability and lives in fear of loosing control and causing harm. She’s determined and an easy character to get behind.
That and with the romance element with Cal, I was well invested and loved the magical fairytale spin running throughout.
Fantasy, magic and romance. All of my favourites wrapped up in a cosy little book.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
I slip into these books so easily and each one brings its own special element. Sage is in rebuttal against her magic and she is eager for it to not only be strictly controlled, but she wants it gone. She hates the unpredictability and lives in fear of loosing control and causing harm. She’s determined and an easy character to get behind.
That and with the romance element with Cal, I was well invested and loved the magical fairytale spin running throughout.
Fantasy, magic and romance. All of my favourites wrapped up in a cosy little book.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
September 10, 2026
Such a fun, cute autumnal read! 🍂✨ I absolutely loved the cosy small-town setting, the quirky magical elements and the fairytale vibes woven throughout the story.
Sage was such a fun character to follow, especially as she was forced to confront the magic she’d spent so long trying to avoid. I loved the mix of mystery, magic, friendship and a little bit of romance, and Casimir was definitely a highlight! 🥰
This was the perfect light-hearted, cosy read for autumn and gave me all the warm, magical vibes. A really fun story that was easy to get lost in! 🍁✨
Sage was such a fun character to follow, especially as she was forced to confront the magic she’d spent so long trying to avoid. I loved the mix of mystery, magic, friendship and a little bit of romance, and Casimir was definitely a highlight! 🥰
This was the perfect light-hearted, cosy read for autumn and gave me all the warm, magical vibes. A really fun story that was easy to get lost in! 🍁✨
September 17, 2026
oh lucy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
this is so fun and magical and definitely delivers on the “witchy shrek” vibes we were sold. it was especially magical being able to picture port sunlight throughout the whole book, i felt like i had an extra special insight into the world and i could walk around in it.
i love the sprinkles of references to the rest of the selcouth world and i love casimir and i love talking cats. i will literally read everything lucy writes for the end of time ❤️
this is so fun and magical and definitely delivers on the “witchy shrek” vibes we were sold. it was especially magical being able to picture port sunlight throughout the whole book, i felt like i had an extra special insight into the world and i could walk around in it.
i love the sprinkles of references to the rest of the selcouth world and i love casimir and i love talking cats. i will literally read everything lucy writes for the end of time ❤️
August 24, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!
I love a cozy Fantasy and the one didn’t disappoint.. I’m really enjoying this series! Another lovely cozy read from Lucy Jane Wood. I enjoyed this one from start to finish and can’t wait to read more. 4⭐️
I love a cozy Fantasy and the one didn’t disappoint.. I’m really enjoying this series! Another lovely cozy read from Lucy Jane Wood. I enjoyed this one from start to finish and can’t wait to read more. 4⭐️
September 16, 2026
DNF @ 18%
Disenchanted dictionary definition – no longer feeling enthusiasm, belief or satisfaction in something or someone after realising their flaws or hidden problems.
Unfortunately, the title sums up this story for me. I just couldn’t get into it. I even started listening to it as an audiobook and it just became background noise as I went about other things.
Sadly this one was not for me.
Thanks to NetGalley
Disenchanted dictionary definition – no longer feeling enthusiasm, belief or satisfaction in something or someone after realising their flaws or hidden problems.
Unfortunately, the title sums up this story for me. I just couldn’t get into it. I even started listening to it as an audiobook and it just became background noise as I went about other things.
Sadly this one was not for me.
Thanks to NetGalley
July 9, 2026
3.5*
I really enjoyed this one! When I first picked up one of Lucy’s books I was new to the genre. But this time I knew to expect cosy, fairly low stakes, whimsical magic… and plenty of good cat action!
This book was based around fairytales, and it certainly read as one. Let yourself enjoy the simple magic and it’s a lovely escapist read! And I actually thought the romance in this was her best yet- subtle but buyable.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publishing team, and LJW for this advanced copy in return for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this one! When I first picked up one of Lucy’s books I was new to the genre. But this time I knew to expect cosy, fairly low stakes, whimsical magic… and plenty of good cat action!
This book was based around fairytales, and it certainly read as one. Let yourself enjoy the simple magic and it’s a lovely escapist read! And I actually thought the romance in this was her best yet- subtle but buyable.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publishing team, and LJW for this advanced copy in return for an honest review.
September 10, 2026
This book was the perfect cozy fantasy witchy fairytale!
September 18, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
This scratched the Practical Magic itch. Mal 🧡
This scratched the Practical Magic itch. Mal 🧡
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 1.5 stars ⭐️
Disenchanted is a witchy romance about Sage, a young academic who wants her magic to disappear. When Sage unleashes a fairy-tale spell over her town by mistake, she and her friends must try to untangle the curse and break the spell.
I love a cozy book. I love whimsy. I love witchy romances and books about people who love books and spooky old towns. I was so excited for this book, as the premise seemed interesting, with the promise of real character development and a fun romance along the way. Unfortunately, my expectations were not met.
The one thing that was done well was the fairy tale spell. The elements to the spell were clever and the integration into the plot was very fun. I appreciated both the whimsical and sinister elements, which go hand in hand in a classic fairy tale. Between the beanstalk, the gingerbread house, the sleeping princess, the enchanted forest, and the talking cat (and more!!), the story really leaned into the classic fairy tale elements, and it worked for me.
The main character from this story is a deeply negative person. If the glass could be half empty or half full, Sage would see flaws in the glasswork and decide all the water should be thrown out. Her approach to almost everything is clouded by her pessimism. Even in moments that she allows herself to indulge in the whimsy around her, she is haunted by her own negative thoughts. I couldn’t understand what the love interest saw in her, or why I as a reader should root for her. The romance itself felt underdeveloped, and I kept wishing for a point-of-view chapter from our love interest so I could see some kind of chemistry brewing between the two.
There’s also a strange contradiction that was never addressed or explained. Our main character is deeply afraid of her magic, noticing that it gets stronger leading up to Halloween and explodes in a variety of ways. She laments her magic as a whole, but especially her inability to control it. Yet, she starts our story telling the audience that she is avoiding the local witch coven. She has no good reason for avoiding them; the worst they could do to her is take her magic away, which is all she wants. She has no contact with other witches to warn her about any nefarious or predatory deeds, and she has no context about the coven’s motives or actions. We’re never given a good explanation why she would hide herself, and the problem facing her town, when all she wants is to suppress her magic and keep her family and friends safe. If the author had explained this motivation at any time, it might have made more sense, but from what I could tell, she avoided the coven because they’re magical and she doesn’t want to be? It was nonsensical, especially from a character who wants nothing more than to research and understand the history of magic.
I considered stopping this book at the 60% mark. Our main character was, throughout the story, defined by her over-responsibility, her academic pursuits and her rational mind. In the second act, our character behaves in ways that go against that characterization entirely. In what can only be described as a mental breakdown, our character goes against everything that she stood for and acted recklessly. The act itself has political implications that made me feel deeply uncomfortable, without any real acknowledgement from the character that her actions were obscene. I genuinely don’t understand what, in her addled state, she believed that the act would do; it seemed both reckless and senseless, destruction simply for the act of aggression. For the rest of the story, I was haunted by her choices. I pushed through, and the book ended in a better place, but I couldn’t get over our character’s actions.
I wanted so badly to enjoy this book. It had so many elements that I love, and the fairy tale spell felt whimsical and fun. But the main character was overly negative, the romance was lackluster, and the plot contained too many unclear elements for me to enjoy the book.
Thank you to Lucy Jane Wood, Berkley and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.
Disenchanted is a witchy romance about Sage, a young academic who wants her magic to disappear. When Sage unleashes a fairy-tale spell over her town by mistake, she and her friends must try to untangle the curse and break the spell.
I love a cozy book. I love whimsy. I love witchy romances and books about people who love books and spooky old towns. I was so excited for this book, as the premise seemed interesting, with the promise of real character development and a fun romance along the way. Unfortunately, my expectations were not met.
The one thing that was done well was the fairy tale spell. The elements to the spell were clever and the integration into the plot was very fun. I appreciated both the whimsical and sinister elements, which go hand in hand in a classic fairy tale. Between the beanstalk, the gingerbread house, the sleeping princess, the enchanted forest, and the talking cat (and more!!), the story really leaned into the classic fairy tale elements, and it worked for me.
The main character from this story is a deeply negative person. If the glass could be half empty or half full, Sage would see flaws in the glasswork and decide all the water should be thrown out. Her approach to almost everything is clouded by her pessimism. Even in moments that she allows herself to indulge in the whimsy around her, she is haunted by her own negative thoughts. I couldn’t understand what the love interest saw in her, or why I as a reader should root for her. The romance itself felt underdeveloped, and I kept wishing for a point-of-view chapter from our love interest so I could see some kind of chemistry brewing between the two.
There’s also a strange contradiction that was never addressed or explained. Our main character is deeply afraid of her magic, noticing that it gets stronger leading up to Halloween and explodes in a variety of ways. She laments her magic as a whole, but especially her inability to control it. Yet, she starts our story telling the audience that she is avoiding the local witch coven. She has no good reason for avoiding them; the worst they could do to her is take her magic away, which is all she wants. She has no contact with other witches to warn her about any nefarious or predatory deeds, and she has no context about the coven’s motives or actions. We’re never given a good explanation why she would hide herself, and the problem facing her town, when all she wants is to suppress her magic and keep her family and friends safe. If the author had explained this motivation at any time, it might have made more sense, but from what I could tell, she avoided the coven because they’re magical and she doesn’t want to be? It was nonsensical, especially from a character who wants nothing more than to research and understand the history of magic.
I considered stopping this book at the 60% mark. Our main character was, throughout the story, defined by her over-responsibility, her academic pursuits and her rational mind. In the second act, our character behaves in ways that go against that characterization entirely. In what can only be described as a mental breakdown, our character goes against everything that she stood for and acted recklessly. The act itself has political implications that made me feel deeply uncomfortable, without any real acknowledgement from the character that her actions were obscene. I genuinely don’t understand what, in her addled state, she believed that the act would do; it seemed both reckless and senseless, destruction simply for the act of aggression. For the rest of the story, I was haunted by her choices. I pushed through, and the book ended in a better place, but I couldn’t get over our character’s actions.
I wanted so badly to enjoy this book. It had so many elements that I love, and the fairy tale spell felt whimsical and fun. But the main character was overly negative, the romance was lackluster, and the plot contained too many unclear elements for me to enjoy the book.
Thank you to Lucy Jane Wood, Berkley and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group/Ace and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I've really enjoyed the previous books in this series. Each has been unique and fun with a hint of overlap in characters and themes. This one was more out of the ball park. Very separate from the others until the very end when it's all tied together. I have to admit, it started out slow for me. I wasn't sure where it was going or if I would like it, and that upset me a bit. But then suddenly at about the 25% mark it took off and I didn't want to put it down.
Sage Hemlock wants nothing to do with her magic ever since her parents died. She believes it was her magic's fault and she would do anything to be rid of it. In the mean time, she runs a small witch museum in her small home town with her enemy turned best friend, Casimir. She has always been obsessed with Lilimar, the witch who rid herself of magic believing it was a curse. When she falls upon Lilimar's grimoire, suddenly the town begins to morph and change before her eyes, living out fairytales long since told to children and adults alike. But when the fairytale magic begins to take away the town she knows, she needs to find a way to get it back and rid herself of magic for good.
Sage was a great character. You could feel her heartache as she tries so hard not to use her magic. Her life is very emotional. But while she struggles to see her magic as anything good, others see it for the potential it has. She's kept herself under the radar, far away from where the coven might be able to find her. She loves her family and would do anything to keep her brother and sister safe. I really wanted to give Sage a little shove throughout this book. She couldn't truly see the forest for the trees. No matter how many times people told her the death of her parents was not her fault (though you could eventually see why she thought this), she would not listen. She held tight to keeping herself locked in a box, not allowing anyone in, not allowing herself to be happy.
Casimere is a fun character. I loved his interactions with Sage. Right away you could tell they had some chemistry, even as best friends. Their banter was really fun. And I loved his character in the fairytale story.
The side characters were, as usual with Wood, fantastic. They all leant so much to the story. The house witch Maggie, who plays so much of a bigger role towards the end of the book that I was not expecting. Sages brother, Rob, and her sister, Laurel, who love Sage with all their hearts and just want her to be happy. And Mal, Sage's familiar (definitely one of my most favorite characters in this story).Plus all the side town folk who run the stores or have interactions with Sage throughout the book. Every character was unique and well developed.
The story line was probably my favorite of all the books so far. I loved the hints of all the fairytales I grew up loving. I also appreciated Wood diving into the darker parts of these stories and demonstrating the moral dilemmas the characters of those stories face and what lessons the reader was taught.
I also appreciated to overall theme of self-acceptance. While there is some romance in this story, it really is about seeing who you are and seeing how your life has shaped you. While this is slated as a cozy fantasy, the romance definitely is a slow burn that takes a back seat to Sage figuring out who she is to herself and to her being able to share that with others.
I see potential for future books as Wood really pulled this story together with the others at the end. This series is perfect for anyone looking to read some coziness during the fall/Halloween/witchy season!
I've really enjoyed the previous books in this series. Each has been unique and fun with a hint of overlap in characters and themes. This one was more out of the ball park. Very separate from the others until the very end when it's all tied together. I have to admit, it started out slow for me. I wasn't sure where it was going or if I would like it, and that upset me a bit. But then suddenly at about the 25% mark it took off and I didn't want to put it down.
Sage Hemlock wants nothing to do with her magic ever since her parents died. She believes it was her magic's fault and she would do anything to be rid of it. In the mean time, she runs a small witch museum in her small home town with her enemy turned best friend, Casimir. She has always been obsessed with Lilimar, the witch who rid herself of magic believing it was a curse. When she falls upon Lilimar's grimoire, suddenly the town begins to morph and change before her eyes, living out fairytales long since told to children and adults alike. But when the fairytale magic begins to take away the town she knows, she needs to find a way to get it back and rid herself of magic for good.
Sage was a great character. You could feel her heartache as she tries so hard not to use her magic. Her life is very emotional. But while she struggles to see her magic as anything good, others see it for the potential it has. She's kept herself under the radar, far away from where the coven might be able to find her. She loves her family and would do anything to keep her brother and sister safe. I really wanted to give Sage a little shove throughout this book. She couldn't truly see the forest for the trees. No matter how many times people told her the death of her parents was not her fault (though you could eventually see why she thought this), she would not listen. She held tight to keeping herself locked in a box, not allowing anyone in, not allowing herself to be happy.
Casimere is a fun character. I loved his interactions with Sage. Right away you could tell they had some chemistry, even as best friends. Their banter was really fun. And I loved his character in the fairytale story.
The side characters were, as usual with Wood, fantastic. They all leant so much to the story. The house witch Maggie, who plays so much of a bigger role towards the end of the book that I was not expecting. Sages brother, Rob, and her sister, Laurel, who love Sage with all their hearts and just want her to be happy. And Mal, Sage's familiar (definitely one of my most favorite characters in this story).Plus all the side town folk who run the stores or have interactions with Sage throughout the book. Every character was unique and well developed.
The story line was probably my favorite of all the books so far. I loved the hints of all the fairytales I grew up loving. I also appreciated Wood diving into the darker parts of these stories and demonstrating the moral dilemmas the characters of those stories face and what lessons the reader was taught.
I also appreciated to overall theme of self-acceptance. While there is some romance in this story, it really is about seeing who you are and seeing how your life has shaped you. While this is slated as a cozy fantasy, the romance definitely is a slow burn that takes a back seat to Sage figuring out who she is to herself and to her being able to share that with others.
I see potential for future books as Wood really pulled this story together with the others at the end. This series is perfect for anyone looking to read some coziness during the fall/Halloween/witchy season!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I’ve been a fan of Lucy’s cosy, witchy books since Rewitched, and I happily tuck into the pages every autumn. This year, I had the chance to read Disenchanted early, and it was such a pleasure to learn all about Sage as summer slowly comes to an end. In the third Rewitched book, Sage Hemlock is a witch who would rather not be one. After her magic wronged her when she was younger, it’s been more of a nuisance than a helper. She does everything in her power to keep it away, smothering it’s every chance at coming through—she’s an eldest daughter, too, and I feel this adds to how she handles this pressure. Living in a historical, magical-history-rich town means Sage is never far from the very thing she’s pushed aside. She even has a live-in ghost, Maggie, and of course a witchy tale wouldn’t be the same without a familiar, Mal, the cat. Whilst working at the town’s museum, Sage with her confidant and friend, Casimir, tries her best to keep her sparky fingertips under wraps and away from the watchful eyes of the local coven. (I love that we’re welcomed back to Selcouth again as it ties to the other books in the series beautifully whilst allowing them to stand on their own.)
But Sage’s supressed magic has other ideas this October, a time when it always amps up a little. It often fires off on it’s own as the season awaits, flying off random burst of magic that only makes Sage crawl more into her own head, steadfast in her belief that it only causes more harm than help. After discovering an old grimoire in her studies of an ancient witch, Sage’s entire life is whirled into an enchanting chasm of chaos when a hex takes a hold of her life. Her house walls turn to gingerbread, children grow wings, a beanstalk grows in her garden and Casimir starts to look more like Prince Charming than her closest friend. Resisting her magic is no longer a choice for Sage, and she suddenly—reluctantly—has to take a firm hold of the very thing she’s been determined to cast away at all costs, or else risk losing everything and everyone she loves to the spiral of the curse at her fingertips.
There is something altogether immersive and spellbinding about Disenchanted that I seem to always find in one of Lucy’s witchy books. The power it holds to be able to relax my heart and whisk me away into an enchanting tale is second to none. Sage quickly became one of my absolute favourites, and her journey is such a riveting look at self-acceptance. It centres on moving past the hesitance to welcome her magic in fully, and instead using it to build a life where she no longer has to hide who she really is or what she possesses. I loved the slow burn, friends-to-lovers aspect, where the deeper meaning of the story takes charge but the romance flows along gently and effortlessly beside it. Casimir’s love for Sage was truly unconditional and achingly beautiful, as was her family. This was such a wholesome, deeply comforting novel that reads like a love letter to classic fairytales with a modern spin. It’s a quiet celebration of stepping into your truest self, finding your light, and having the courage to simply be yourself and let whimsy in. Thought Daughters will love this one. And of course, at its heart, it’s nothing short of a pure, wholly bewitching story I couldn’t adore more.
But Sage’s supressed magic has other ideas this October, a time when it always amps up a little. It often fires off on it’s own as the season awaits, flying off random burst of magic that only makes Sage crawl more into her own head, steadfast in her belief that it only causes more harm than help. After discovering an old grimoire in her studies of an ancient witch, Sage’s entire life is whirled into an enchanting chasm of chaos when a hex takes a hold of her life. Her house walls turn to gingerbread, children grow wings, a beanstalk grows in her garden and Casimir starts to look more like Prince Charming than her closest friend. Resisting her magic is no longer a choice for Sage, and she suddenly—reluctantly—has to take a firm hold of the very thing she’s been determined to cast away at all costs, or else risk losing everything and everyone she loves to the spiral of the curse at her fingertips.
There is something altogether immersive and spellbinding about Disenchanted that I seem to always find in one of Lucy’s witchy books. The power it holds to be able to relax my heart and whisk me away into an enchanting tale is second to none. Sage quickly became one of my absolute favourites, and her journey is such a riveting look at self-acceptance. It centres on moving past the hesitance to welcome her magic in fully, and instead using it to build a life where she no longer has to hide who she really is or what she possesses. I loved the slow burn, friends-to-lovers aspect, where the deeper meaning of the story takes charge but the romance flows along gently and effortlessly beside it. Casimir’s love for Sage was truly unconditional and achingly beautiful, as was her family. This was such a wholesome, deeply comforting novel that reads like a love letter to classic fairytales with a modern spin. It’s a quiet celebration of stepping into your truest self, finding your light, and having the courage to simply be yourself and let whimsy in. Thought Daughters will love this one. And of course, at its heart, it’s nothing short of a pure, wholly bewitching story I couldn’t adore more.
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