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Supernatural Sisters #4
The Witch Who Courted Death
For some, death is a way of life . . .
Considering her status as the world's most powerful medium, Corvossier 'Casper' von Klitzing and her twin brother Barastin had a pretty normal life. Her unrivalled ability to speak with and control the dead had made her a living, made her notorious ... and made her a target.
After a horrific incident in her home city of Berlin, Casper's life is forever changed. The sole survivor, she is consumed with vengeance towards an enemy she doesn't understand. The only other person ever to escape the legendary Oct was a witch - so Casper is soon on her trail.
But this witch does not want to be found.
Diving headfirst into the supernaturally secretive world of spells, charms and covens, it's not long before Casper is crossing much more than just the line between the living and the dead . . .
This time reinventing witches and ghosts with a much-needed feminist twist, The Witch Who Courted Death is a brand new title from the bestselling author of Who's Afraid?
Considering her status as the world's most powerful medium, Corvossier 'Casper' von Klitzing and her twin brother Barastin had a pretty normal life. Her unrivalled ability to speak with and control the dead had made her a living, made her notorious ... and made her a target.
After a horrific incident in her home city of Berlin, Casper's life is forever changed. The sole survivor, she is consumed with vengeance towards an enemy she doesn't understand. The only other person ever to escape the legendary Oct was a witch - so Casper is soon on her trail.
But this witch does not want to be found.
Diving headfirst into the supernaturally secretive world of spells, charms and covens, it's not long before Casper is crossing much more than just the line between the living and the dead . . .
This time reinventing witches and ghosts with a much-needed feminist twist, The Witch Who Courted Death is a brand new title from the bestselling author of Who's Afraid?
420 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2018
12 people are currently reading
598 people want to read
About the author
Maria Lewis
14 books326 followersMaria Lewis is a AWGIE Award-winning screenwriter, best-selling author, and pop culture etymologist from Australia. She’s the author of the internationally published Supernatural Sisters series of eight books, which includes the Aurealis Award-winning The Witch Who Courted Death, and titles for Marvel (Mockingbird: Strike Out), Assassin's Creed (Daughter Of No One) and forthcoming slasher The Graveyard Shift. As a screenwriter, she has worked across projects for AMC, Netflix, SBS, Ubisoft, ABC, DC Comics and many more. She's the presenter, writer and producer of audio documentaries - The Phantom Never Dies - about the world's first superhero - and Josie and the Podcats - about the 2001 cult film. In 2023, she made her directorial debut with The House That Hungers, based on the Aurealis and Ditmar Award-nominated horror short story of the same name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
April 10, 2019
This is a supernatural fantasy from Maria Lewis that is fun, humorous and entertaining. Corvossier 'Casper' von Klitzing and her twin brother, 'Creeper' Barastin, are rare gifted and powerful mediums living in Berlin with the woman who raised them, Collette Blight, in the 1970s secure tower of Bierpinsel. They help traumatised ghosts move on, until a nightmare tragedy leaves Barastin and Collette dead, and Casper losing her arm. Casper is left shell shocked, she has instantly lost all the family she ever had and her pain is intensified when the Treize who govern the supernatural world insist the attack on her was orchestrated by witches, which she knows is not true. It takes time for her to physically recover and get used to operating a prosthetic arm. To her relief, Barastin who saved her, returns to accompany her as a ghost.
Lewis provides fine and skilfully constructed world building with an array of supernatural creatures, from goblins such as the immortal Hogan, werewolves, rogue wolves who own and run the coolest nightclub for the supernatural, Phases, the three crones, ghouls, witches, shifters, and the various elements that comprise the governing Treize structure, such as the Praetorian Guard, housed in the Bierpinsel. Casper has unavoidable changed after what has happened and with the help of Barastin, the pict immortal custodian, Heath, she plans and plots vengeance against those behind the attack. Nothing else matters or impinges on her consciousness as she directs all her energies on this task, and a trip to Riga in Latvia begins to give her an inkling as to who was behind the killings. A secretive and below the radar group run by Oct has carried other deadly atrocities in the past and has others planned, with Caspar still a target. Only a Australian aboriginal witch, Kala Tully, has managed to evade them and go into hiding.
Caspar is determined to find Kala, identify everyone behind the attack, and foil their nefarious and horrifying aims which entails going to Boscastle in Cornwall, and visiting Uzbekistan. In a world of spells and charms, special fortified armaments and more, Caspar and her diverse range of cohorts make detailed plans to take on Oct in the Museum of Witches in Boscastle in a thrilling finale. One of the best parts of this novel is seeing Casper make strong connections and relationships such as the ones with Opal and the young witch, Sprinkle, providing strong reasons for her to want to live after the dreadful losses she had endured. This was a lovely read, and I can see elements of it, especially those in the second half of the novel, appealing to some Harry Potter fans. Many thanks to Little, Brown for a copy.
Lewis provides fine and skilfully constructed world building with an array of supernatural creatures, from goblins such as the immortal Hogan, werewolves, rogue wolves who own and run the coolest nightclub for the supernatural, Phases, the three crones, ghouls, witches, shifters, and the various elements that comprise the governing Treize structure, such as the Praetorian Guard, housed in the Bierpinsel. Casper has unavoidable changed after what has happened and with the help of Barastin, the pict immortal custodian, Heath, she plans and plots vengeance against those behind the attack. Nothing else matters or impinges on her consciousness as she directs all her energies on this task, and a trip to Riga in Latvia begins to give her an inkling as to who was behind the killings. A secretive and below the radar group run by Oct has carried other deadly atrocities in the past and has others planned, with Caspar still a target. Only a Australian aboriginal witch, Kala Tully, has managed to evade them and go into hiding.
Caspar is determined to find Kala, identify everyone behind the attack, and foil their nefarious and horrifying aims which entails going to Boscastle in Cornwall, and visiting Uzbekistan. In a world of spells and charms, special fortified armaments and more, Caspar and her diverse range of cohorts make detailed plans to take on Oct in the Museum of Witches in Boscastle in a thrilling finale. One of the best parts of this novel is seeing Casper make strong connections and relationships such as the ones with Opal and the young witch, Sprinkle, providing strong reasons for her to want to live after the dreadful losses she had endured. This was a lovely read, and I can see elements of it, especially those in the second half of the novel, appealing to some Harry Potter fans. Many thanks to Little, Brown for a copy.
January 17, 2019
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Jayse Smith
In the latest offering from Australian author, Maria Lewis, readers are reacquainted with the amazing character Corvossier ‘Casper’ von Klitzing and introduced to her twin brother Barastin. The siblings both have the ability to confer with and control spirits of the dead. For those of you playing at home, Capser first appeared briefly in Maria’s Who’s Afraid series.
In Casper, Lewis has made a phenomenal character who is smart, independent, and although she does have moments of vulnerability when pushed to her limits, she is never presented as weak. This had a massive effect on myself, as a man, as a writer, as a person. So much so that in response to this, I spend three to four minutes raving about this exact statement in my latest booktube video.
Lewis has attempted and succeeded in bringing a character to life who is likeable and represents women in the way they should be portrayed in fiction. Writers need to stop this insta-love, love triangle, wall-flower BS and start taking a leaf from Maria’s book and instead write a kick-ass, accurate representation of a woman… Okay, rant over. Let’s continue!
After a tragic event in the beginning of the novel (don’t worry, I’m not about spoilers), Casper is filled with thoughts of revenge against The Oct, a corrupt gang of which she has little understanding. The medium uses her unrivalled ability to speak with and control the dead as well as her knowledge of the supernatural world to solve this mystery. Little does she know that this search will see her ending up missing a limb, being nearly drowned, hexed, tangled up in witchcraft, and perhaps getting more than she bargained for.
Every piece of evidence leads to a witch who does not want to be found. I for one adored the use of magic throughout the book, the spells/charms and Wicca history were all well researched and based in real practise. Lewis grew up in the 90’s around the same time of the last popularity boom for witches and witchcraft. The self-professed lover of the movie ‘The Craft’, easily weaves the magic into each page of this spin-off of her already successful Who’s Afraid series with another strong female lead, Tommi Grayson.
Lewis has an extensive breadth of work under her belt. She writes amazing film reviews on Junkee and flicks.com.au. She’s a journalist, a screenwriter, she interviews stars and directors on YouTube and much, much more. Be sure to hit up Maria’s website to join her mailing list. She sends out a newsletter monthly with links to her articles as well as all the awesome stuff she has been up to recently.
In the latest offering from Australian author, Maria Lewis, readers are reacquainted with the amazing character Corvossier ‘Casper’ von Klitzing and introduced to her twin brother Barastin. The siblings both have the ability to confer with and control spirits of the dead. For those of you playing at home, Capser first appeared briefly in Maria’s Who’s Afraid series.
In Casper, Lewis has made a phenomenal character who is smart, independent, and although she does have moments of vulnerability when pushed to her limits, she is never presented as weak. This had a massive effect on myself, as a man, as a writer, as a person. So much so that in response to this, I spend three to four minutes raving about this exact statement in my latest booktube video.
Lewis has attempted and succeeded in bringing a character to life who is likeable and represents women in the way they should be portrayed in fiction. Writers need to stop this insta-love, love triangle, wall-flower BS and start taking a leaf from Maria’s book and instead write a kick-ass, accurate representation of a woman… Okay, rant over. Let’s continue!
After a tragic event in the beginning of the novel (don’t worry, I’m not about spoilers), Casper is filled with thoughts of revenge against The Oct, a corrupt gang of which she has little understanding. The medium uses her unrivalled ability to speak with and control the dead as well as her knowledge of the supernatural world to solve this mystery. Little does she know that this search will see her ending up missing a limb, being nearly drowned, hexed, tangled up in witchcraft, and perhaps getting more than she bargained for.
Every piece of evidence leads to a witch who does not want to be found. I for one adored the use of magic throughout the book, the spells/charms and Wicca history were all well researched and based in real practise. Lewis grew up in the 90’s around the same time of the last popularity boom for witches and witchcraft. The self-professed lover of the movie ‘The Craft’, easily weaves the magic into each page of this spin-off of her already successful Who’s Afraid series with another strong female lead, Tommi Grayson.
Lewis has an extensive breadth of work under her belt. She writes amazing film reviews on Junkee and flicks.com.au. She’s a journalist, a screenwriter, she interviews stars and directors on YouTube and much, much more. Be sure to hit up Maria’s website to join her mailing list. She sends out a newsletter monthly with links to her articles as well as all the awesome stuff she has been up to recently.
January 3, 2019
Actual Rating: 4.5/5
Maria you have done it once again written one hell of a good urban fantasy novel and i cannot get enough of your stories there all so well done.
I like how Maria has connected this book and her other books all in the same world, so the Who's Afraid series, this one and it came from the deep are all set in the same world so it's something that i really love. You don't have to have read the others to start off this book because Maria has done it in a way were you can just pick up any of her books and still get that fun of finding things out without going into any spoilers.
Like Who's Afraid this one is also set in Berlin which was really clever of Maria to do because we got to see so many of the places we visited in Who's Afraid. This book follows Corvoisser *casper* and Barastin *Creeper* who are both some kick ass heroine that really work well with each other and the story being told. One thing i love about Maria is her female characters are not stupid and she really knows how to write strong and capable female leads that i can just easily fall in love with while reading the story.
We also meet some new characters in this book who are Opal and Sprinkle who are some very loveable characters we meet during the duration of this story. Also making a return from her other books include Heath, Rouges and Phases which i loved getting some characters that i was already familiar with.
Another thing that i really enjoy while reading this book is all the pop culture references that Maria makes because they are i'm familiar with and some new ones i have not even heard about before. I loved Maria's nods to Australia and its culture which was fantastic.
my favourite line early on in the book was: her phone was broker than Nicolas cage and there was no getting it back i have never laughed so much at a pop culture reference.
Maria is good at creating worlds and is really good at having a different range of styles throughout her books, they provide the creepiness, pop culture references, kick ass main characters, fast paced action and so much more.
I cannot wait to read more from Maria lewis because her writing always sucks me in and i can't wait to read more from these characters hopefully very soon!.
Maria you have done it once again written one hell of a good urban fantasy novel and i cannot get enough of your stories there all so well done.
I like how Maria has connected this book and her other books all in the same world, so the Who's Afraid series, this one and it came from the deep are all set in the same world so it's something that i really love. You don't have to have read the others to start off this book because Maria has done it in a way were you can just pick up any of her books and still get that fun of finding things out without going into any spoilers.
Like Who's Afraid this one is also set in Berlin which was really clever of Maria to do because we got to see so many of the places we visited in Who's Afraid. This book follows Corvoisser *casper* and Barastin *Creeper* who are both some kick ass heroine that really work well with each other and the story being told. One thing i love about Maria is her female characters are not stupid and she really knows how to write strong and capable female leads that i can just easily fall in love with while reading the story.
We also meet some new characters in this book who are Opal and Sprinkle who are some very loveable characters we meet during the duration of this story. Also making a return from her other books include Heath, Rouges and Phases which i loved getting some characters that i was already familiar with.
Another thing that i really enjoy while reading this book is all the pop culture references that Maria makes because they are i'm familiar with and some new ones i have not even heard about before. I loved Maria's nods to Australia and its culture which was fantastic.
my favourite line early on in the book was: her phone was broker than Nicolas cage and there was no getting it back i have never laughed so much at a pop culture reference.
Maria is good at creating worlds and is really good at having a different range of styles throughout her books, they provide the creepiness, pop culture references, kick ass main characters, fast paced action and so much more.
I cannot wait to read more from Maria lewis because her writing always sucks me in and i can't wait to read more from these characters hopefully very soon!.
November 12, 2018
This book was amazing!!! I loved how seamlessly it fits into the same world as her other stories, it just seems to slot in. I think a lot of this is due to the connections to the world and characters that have appeared in previous books. 'The Witch Who Courted Death' is set in Berlin, which is also where a lot of 'Who's Afraid Too' was set - familiar locations and characters include the Rogues, Phases, and Heath. I was so excited and fangirled when I read that Heath was back - I loved reading about him!! After just one chapter I already loved Corvoisser (Casper) and Barastin (Creeper), as well as all the other new characters who we meet later including Opal and Sprinkle.
For people who haven't previously read any of Maria's books, you could easily start with this - even though the stories are connected, Maria makes sure to introduce the reader to the world and the supernatural creatures that inhabit it. I really enjoyed that this book (and 'It Came from the Deep' to a degree) expanded the supernatural world and the creatures within it. I also like how Maria is taking the focus away from vampires and giving other creatures their time to shine.
All of the pop culture references that Maria is known for are very present in this book too and I love it! I found it hilarious that Barastin was using tinder (or a similar app). At one point a demon makes a comment about the need for internet access and Maria clever has a go at how terrible Australian internet can be. As this book has a lot to do with witches there were a lot more references to well known witch pop culture and stories - some of these included a nod to 'The Craft' and 'Hocus Pocus'. At one point Opal makes a comment that reminded me so much of Hermione. Opal says: "You're going to get yourself killed. Or worse, lead them back to us" (p 234), mirrored against Hermione saying: "I'm going to bed before either of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed or worse… expelled!". There were many Australianisms in this book too which are hilarious, including Corvoisser's response to Sprinkle saying she'll make her a vegemite and cheese toastie: "feeling reluctant about the notion of vegetables in mite form" (p 235).
All up this was a really good read and I cannot wait to continue reading more from this world and more from Maria Lewis!!
For people who haven't previously read any of Maria's books, you could easily start with this - even though the stories are connected, Maria makes sure to introduce the reader to the world and the supernatural creatures that inhabit it. I really enjoyed that this book (and 'It Came from the Deep' to a degree) expanded the supernatural world and the creatures within it. I also like how Maria is taking the focus away from vampires and giving other creatures their time to shine.
All of the pop culture references that Maria is known for are very present in this book too and I love it! I found it hilarious that Barastin was using tinder (or a similar app). At one point a demon makes a comment about the need for internet access and Maria clever has a go at how terrible Australian internet can be. As this book has a lot to do with witches there were a lot more references to well known witch pop culture and stories - some of these included a nod to 'The Craft' and 'Hocus Pocus'. At one point Opal makes a comment that reminded me so much of Hermione. Opal says: "You're going to get yourself killed. Or worse, lead them back to us" (p 234), mirrored against Hermione saying: "I'm going to bed before either of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed or worse… expelled!". There were many Australianisms in this book too which are hilarious, including Corvoisser's response to Sprinkle saying she'll make her a vegemite and cheese toastie: "feeling reluctant about the notion of vegetables in mite form" (p 235).
All up this was a really good read and I cannot wait to continue reading more from this world and more from Maria Lewis!!
July 5, 2019
I’m a fan of exciting and clever urban fantasy and The Witch Who Courted Death is so much fun, action filled, witty, extraordinarily engaging all the way through.
This is my first Maria Lewis novel, although I have others in my mahoosive reading pile, I absolutely loved it. The characters are all highly intriguing, the levels of world building are uber cool- the story itself is pacy and addictive with some terrific relationships and all the magical mayhem you could possibly want.
Two sittings saw this one complete and I’m very sorry to leave that world behind, however temporarily. Even given the witches, werewolves, ghouls and goblins its a far better world to occupy than our own currently. Go live there for a while.
Highly Recommended.
This is my first Maria Lewis novel, although I have others in my mahoosive reading pile, I absolutely loved it. The characters are all highly intriguing, the levels of world building are uber cool- the story itself is pacy and addictive with some terrific relationships and all the magical mayhem you could possibly want.
Two sittings saw this one complete and I’m very sorry to leave that world behind, however temporarily. Even given the witches, werewolves, ghouls and goblins its a far better world to occupy than our own currently. Go live there for a while.
Highly Recommended.
July 4, 2019
Witches, ghosts and a dive into the supernatural + a much needed feminist twist.
Love, loved it !
full review
Love, loved it !
full review
April 26, 2020
I read this one for the OWLs readathon and unfortunately it was a bit mixed for me. Witchy books can be fab, and this certainly has two witches that I really enjoyed learning about as they were pretty awesome, but also this book isn't quite as exciting as I think some of the other books with witches I've read were. This story feels a little more crime-based and mystery-oriented than I expected, it follows a Medium known as Caspar whose brother is murdered by a mysterious sect and she is trying to hunt down the killers and their motives. This leads her to England where she meets the witches and the mystery begins to unravel from there.
I definitely like the ideas here of LGBT paranormal relationships and awesome magic, I just didn't think the execution came off as well as it could have considering the way things were revealed. I felt like it was both obscure and predictable at various times and I also found quite a few typos/errors in the ebook version which was distracting.
I think that I probably wouldn't read another in the series, but I liked this enough to finish it and I think that the relationships were the best between live interests and family. Sprinkle was a FAB 8 yr old who made the story brighter, and so it was just the plot that mainly let this down for me. 2.5*s.
I definitely like the ideas here of LGBT paranormal relationships and awesome magic, I just didn't think the execution came off as well as it could have considering the way things were revealed. I felt like it was both obscure and predictable at various times and I also found quite a few typos/errors in the ebook version which was distracting.
I think that I probably wouldn't read another in the series, but I liked this enough to finish it and I think that the relationships were the best between live interests and family. Sprinkle was a FAB 8 yr old who made the story brighter, and so it was just the plot that mainly let this down for me. 2.5*s.
April 13, 2019
It’s been a while since I read a book about witches. Actually, it’s been a while since I read a genuinely fresh urban fantasy and I read in the genre regularly. The Witch who Courted Death by Maria Lewis impressed me on many levels and I don’t understand why so few people read it. It has it all - a relatable, complex characters, interesting supernatural creatures, magic, spells, charms, covens, mayhem, and romance. Plus, contrary to most books in the genre, the story happens in Europe, in Berlin, Riga, and Cornwall.
Corvossier ‘Casper’ von Klitzing, the world’s most powerful medium, and her twin brother Barastin can speak with and control the dead. For unknown reasons a sect called Oct targets them, kills Barastin and maims Casper. She survives, but she loses everyone she’s ever cared for. She wants revenge, but before she sees justice done, she must find a witch who doesn’t want to be found.
Casper is an impressive gal. Strong, composed, caring, intelligent and resourceful she makes her plans work by using resources at hand. The hunger for revenge drives her but doesn’t consume her. As a self-aware adult who’s been using her powers all her life, she’s already accomplished the quest for self-discovery and teenage angst is way past her. And I love it. Urban fantasy needs more mature protagonists.
Her relationships with Barastin and the remaining cast of characters felt true, and I loved her interactions with ghosts. Lewis impressed me with descriptions of Casper’s journeys on an astral plane. Very imaginative, and fresh.
Worldbuilding is the second delight of this story. I enjoy urban fantasy for many reasons, mainly because it introduces supernatural elements to our world and doesn’t have to spend a lot of time on establishing geography, mythology and, well, the world. Lewis impressed me with the amount of supernatural knowledge and research she poured into the novel and that allowed her to keep the balance between two worlds: supernatural and the real one. Caspers’ world has a lot of different beings (elementals, werewolves, ghouls, Arachne) and a complex supernatural hierarchy, sets of powers and behaviors. In places it reads almost like an espionage thriller.
I need to give you an example. Have you ever seen stunning etchings of Gustave Doré? If not, you should. He created beautifully haunting engravings to accompany Dante’s Divine comedy, and one of the most impressive presents Arachne’s punishment. We see her partially transformed into a spider. Similar creatures play a significant role in Lewis’ stand-alone. And they’ll give you goose bumps.
The plot, while engaging, has uneven pacing. The story starts strong and develops fast until Casper visits Cornwall. And then things slow down and the story looses momentum. What started as a darker urban fantasy saturated with humor and pop-culture references suddenly devolves into a romance story. The middle part of the book reads almost as a supernatural slice of life fantasy. I didn’t like it. It bored me.
The romance is convincing; I guess. The thing is, I dislike romance, and when it becomes the focus of otherwise engaging story, I start to complain. Even though more romantic readers will enjoy this arc, they will, probably see (and if not, I’ll tell them) the biggest problem of this novel - it can’t choose what type of story it wants to tell. For me, revenge and “investigation” parts contrast strongly with unfocused, wordy and unexciting stay in Cornwall and blooming romance.
That said, if you like romance, I expect your reaction to differ from mine.
The prose, now. Lewis writes well. She likes descriptions and long chapters more than me, but I have no complaints. Her language conveys the story and paints a clear picture. When needed, she mixes humor with horror. She delivers punchy lines, and excellent descriptions of people, magical creatures and their interactions. Also, the dialogue. Natural, nicely flowing, engaging.
Despite minor issues I had with this book, I enjoyed it a lot. It provides a solid, energetic story and well-needed emphasis on women (not teenagers, adult, mature women). With fine characterization and willingness to spill blood so the reader may understand the stakes, it shines amongst a plethora of generic books published in the genre. Also, it’s a stand-alone, self-contained novel with a satisfying, upbeat end. Highly recommended.
Corvossier ‘Casper’ von Klitzing, the world’s most powerful medium, and her twin brother Barastin can speak with and control the dead. For unknown reasons a sect called Oct targets them, kills Barastin and maims Casper. She survives, but she loses everyone she’s ever cared for. She wants revenge, but before she sees justice done, she must find a witch who doesn’t want to be found.
Casper is an impressive gal. Strong, composed, caring, intelligent and resourceful she makes her plans work by using resources at hand. The hunger for revenge drives her but doesn’t consume her. As a self-aware adult who’s been using her powers all her life, she’s already accomplished the quest for self-discovery and teenage angst is way past her. And I love it. Urban fantasy needs more mature protagonists.
Her relationships with Barastin and the remaining cast of characters felt true, and I loved her interactions with ghosts. Lewis impressed me with descriptions of Casper’s journeys on an astral plane. Very imaginative, and fresh.
Worldbuilding is the second delight of this story. I enjoy urban fantasy for many reasons, mainly because it introduces supernatural elements to our world and doesn’t have to spend a lot of time on establishing geography, mythology and, well, the world. Lewis impressed me with the amount of supernatural knowledge and research she poured into the novel and that allowed her to keep the balance between two worlds: supernatural and the real one. Caspers’ world has a lot of different beings (elementals, werewolves, ghouls, Arachne) and a complex supernatural hierarchy, sets of powers and behaviors. In places it reads almost like an espionage thriller.
I need to give you an example. Have you ever seen stunning etchings of Gustave Doré? If not, you should. He created beautifully haunting engravings to accompany Dante’s Divine comedy, and one of the most impressive presents Arachne’s punishment. We see her partially transformed into a spider. Similar creatures play a significant role in Lewis’ stand-alone. And they’ll give you goose bumps.
The plot, while engaging, has uneven pacing. The story starts strong and develops fast until Casper visits Cornwall. And then things slow down and the story looses momentum. What started as a darker urban fantasy saturated with humor and pop-culture references suddenly devolves into a romance story. The middle part of the book reads almost as a supernatural slice of life fantasy. I didn’t like it. It bored me.
The romance is convincing; I guess. The thing is, I dislike romance, and when it becomes the focus of otherwise engaging story, I start to complain. Even though more romantic readers will enjoy this arc, they will, probably see (and if not, I’ll tell them) the biggest problem of this novel - it can’t choose what type of story it wants to tell. For me, revenge and “investigation” parts contrast strongly with unfocused, wordy and unexciting stay in Cornwall and blooming romance.
That said, if you like romance, I expect your reaction to differ from mine.
The prose, now. Lewis writes well. She likes descriptions and long chapters more than me, but I have no complaints. Her language conveys the story and paints a clear picture. When needed, she mixes humor with horror. She delivers punchy lines, and excellent descriptions of people, magical creatures and their interactions. Also, the dialogue. Natural, nicely flowing, engaging.
Despite minor issues I had with this book, I enjoyed it a lot. It provides a solid, energetic story and well-needed emphasis on women (not teenagers, adult, mature women). With fine characterization and willingness to spill blood so the reader may understand the stakes, it shines amongst a plethora of generic books published in the genre. Also, it’s a stand-alone, self-contained novel with a satisfying, upbeat end. Highly recommended.
November 27, 2018
Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.
This book is absolutely amazing. Highly recommend.
This book is absolutely amazing. Highly recommend.
December 31, 2020
While there was a moment in which I thought that I would never ever ever forgive Maria Lewis, I managed to swallow my tears, and then accidentally finished it in a day. Oooops? Now I have that much longer to wait for more!!!!!!
Also, a badass bisexual disabled protagonist who can see ghosts and hangs out with Aboriginal Australian witches? Including a mini-witch who names herself Sprinkles? Yes, there is all of the perfection right there.
Also, a badass bisexual disabled protagonist who can see ghosts and hangs out with Aboriginal Australian witches? Including a mini-witch who names herself Sprinkles? Yes, there is all of the perfection right there.
November 12, 2018
Brilliant urban fantasy from Maria Lewis.
It's an absolute page turner.
My only complaint is that I finished it and immediately wanted more of it.
I can't wait to read more in this universe.
It's an absolute page turner.
My only complaint is that I finished it and immediately wanted more of it.
I can't wait to read more in this universe.
January 21, 2019
This was a good read! Interesting, competent protagonist with good world building and serious stakes in play.
There was a little two much detail to keep me riveted (there are only so many times I can read about eating muscles in cream sauce before my eyes glaze over), but I know that some people really appreciate that kind of description to help them sink into a story. YMMV.
I'm also not a huge fan of mystery novels, so all the detective work in tracking down the bad guys was a bit ho-hum to me, but again some people dig that.
But I found the main characters completely badass in very different ways, and it was fun to see Europe through the eyes of an Australian character (Opal was a great voice in an otherwise serious book). It was also amazing to see a main character who was completely and unapologetically bisexual, and there was no hand-wringing or fence-sitting self loathing involved. Made me happy :)
SFF Fems Book Club - January 2019 (option 01)
There was a little two much detail to keep me riveted (there are only so many times I can read about eating muscles in cream sauce before my eyes glaze over), but I know that some people really appreciate that kind of description to help them sink into a story. YMMV.
I'm also not a huge fan of mystery novels, so all the detective work in tracking down the bad guys was a bit ho-hum to me, but again some people dig that.
But I found the main characters completely badass in very different ways, and it was fun to see Europe through the eyes of an Australian character (Opal was a great voice in an otherwise serious book). It was also amazing to see a main character who was completely and unapologetically bisexual, and there was no hand-wringing or fence-sitting self loathing involved. Made me happy :)
SFF Fems Book Club - January 2019 (option 01)
March 23, 2019
This book was a fun read. Wonderful funny characters with heart. I’d never read anything by this author before but I loved her writing, fast paced and full of humour. A great twist on witches for the twenty first century.really enjoyable read, recommended.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
December 7, 2018
I absolutely adored this book!!
I haven’t read Maria’s other books, Who’s Afraid and Who’s Afraid Too, so I was meeting all the characters for the first time. It was fantastic! I need to get my hands on her other books asap!!
This story follows medium twins, Corvossier ‘Casper’ von Klitzing and her brother Barastin ‘Creeper’. Throw in some kick-ass fight scenes, tragic events, a witch, a lot of ghosts and some other supernatural creatures and you have an amazing read! Not going to lie, parts of this book just broke my heart.
As a general rule it was always best to navigate life as politely as possible, especially when dealing with the dead.
Maria’s writing style is just fantastic. She has created a dramatic and exciting world, but you don’t get bogged down with information overloads. Maria manages to seamlessly incorporate world and character building into the storyline.
Whilst the story takes place throughout Europe, my favourite thing is the nods to Australia dropped throughout the story.
‘Uh, sure,’ Corv murmured, not wanting to be rude but having a) no idea what Vegemite was and b) feeling reluctant about the notion of vegetables in mite form.
Overall, this was an original and enjoyable read with diverse and relatable characters. The story includes a little bit of everything you could want in a book, romance, horror, action and mystery. I highly recommend this book to everyone! If you haven’t read any urban fantasy before, I think Maria’s books are a great place to start.
I would like to thank the publisher and the author for providing me with a copy of this book! This has in no way affected my views or opinions of the book or the content of my review.
I haven’t read Maria’s other books, Who’s Afraid and Who’s Afraid Too, so I was meeting all the characters for the first time. It was fantastic! I need to get my hands on her other books asap!!
This story follows medium twins, Corvossier ‘Casper’ von Klitzing and her brother Barastin ‘Creeper’. Throw in some kick-ass fight scenes, tragic events, a witch, a lot of ghosts and some other supernatural creatures and you have an amazing read! Not going to lie, parts of this book just broke my heart.
As a general rule it was always best to navigate life as politely as possible, especially when dealing with the dead.
Maria’s writing style is just fantastic. She has created a dramatic and exciting world, but you don’t get bogged down with information overloads. Maria manages to seamlessly incorporate world and character building into the storyline.
Whilst the story takes place throughout Europe, my favourite thing is the nods to Australia dropped throughout the story.
‘Uh, sure,’ Corv murmured, not wanting to be rude but having a) no idea what Vegemite was and b) feeling reluctant about the notion of vegetables in mite form.
Overall, this was an original and enjoyable read with diverse and relatable characters. The story includes a little bit of everything you could want in a book, romance, horror, action and mystery. I highly recommend this book to everyone! If you haven’t read any urban fantasy before, I think Maria’s books are a great place to start.
I would like to thank the publisher and the author for providing me with a copy of this book! This has in no way affected my views or opinions of the book or the content of my review.
November 9, 2018
This book was my most anticipated book of the year and didn't disappoint.
Maria Lewis is one of my all-time favorite authors and her Who's Afraid series is one of my all-time favorites. This book while technically a spin-off just didn't feel like a spinoff. It felt like a story that happened alongside Tommi's journey.
Heath, my stupidly heroic son I loved him in this. Casper and Opal were fantastic characters and I loved reading from Caspers POV.
Maria Lewis is one of my all-time favorite authors and her Who's Afraid series is one of my all-time favorites. This book while technically a spin-off just didn't feel like a spinoff. It felt like a story that happened alongside Tommi's journey.
Heath, my stupidly heroic son I loved him in this. Casper and Opal were fantastic characters and I loved reading from Caspers POV.
November 2, 2018
I'll keep this one short and sweet. This was amazing. I absolutely love Maria's signature style of writing and this is no different. Full of pop culture references and nods to all things quintessentially Australian, I enjoyed every page (well most pages because there was some things that made my heart hurt).
New characters take the spotlight in this spinoff from Lewis' well adored Who's Afraid series including Casper - a medium from Who's Afraid Too, Heath - the towering beast of a Pict warrior followed by his own ghosts, Sprinkle (yes like the things on fairy bread) - a baby witch with a penchant for fire magic and enough sass to fill a large swimming pool and Opal - a witch who got caught up in a conspiracy who is simultaneously soft and squishy for all things Casper as well as a badarse in her own right.
Although there were some minor editing errors, they fall by the wayside when the book is read as a whole and I honestly loved it. Read it! Otherwise I may need to hunt people down and make it into a personal projectile.
New characters take the spotlight in this spinoff from Lewis' well adored Who's Afraid series including Casper - a medium from Who's Afraid Too, Heath - the towering beast of a Pict warrior followed by his own ghosts, Sprinkle (yes like the things on fairy bread) - a baby witch with a penchant for fire magic and enough sass to fill a large swimming pool and Opal - a witch who got caught up in a conspiracy who is simultaneously soft and squishy for all things Casper as well as a badarse in her own right.
Although there were some minor editing errors, they fall by the wayside when the book is read as a whole and I honestly loved it. Read it! Otherwise I may need to hunt people down and make it into a personal projectile.
July 8, 2022
I love everything she writes. Need more :)
November 30, 2018
http://jessjustreads.com
The Witch Who Courted Death is the start of a new fantasy duology by Australian author Maria Lewis, reimagining the role of ghosts and witches in present day society.
This was a delightful read. I was completely smitten with pretty much everything inside these pages, from the plot to the characters to the world to the writing. Maria Lewis is so talented. I’ve read quite a few of her books now and The Witch Who Courted Death is my favourite so far.
After a horror attack in Berlin, protagonist Corvossier is planning revenge. In order to track down the people who killed her brother and stole her arm, she must team up with a witch who has escaped them before.
Maria Lewis has taken the concept of ‘mediums’ and ‘ghosts’ and completely reinvented them. Corvossier can interact with ghosts and help them move on. She can encourage them to cross through and find peace outside of our world.
When we meet her at the beginning of the novel, her and her brother Baristan are working to remove a vengeful, angry ghost from a haunted house. They’re strong and they’re prepared and this really sets the tone for the rest of the novel.
“As a general rule it was always best to navigate life as politely as possible, especially when dealing with the dead. The ghost looked up, blinking for a moment before glancing around the room with surprise. She registered their presence for the first time, somewhat snapping out of her daze.”
The Witch Who Courted Death illustrates an incredible amount of research from Maria Lewis; the book finishes with a four-page glossary, describing words for the reader like Alchemist to Selkie to Vankila.
The plot felt original and enriching, the dialogue realistic, and the characters diverse and relatable. I loved the strong bond between Corvossier and her brother, and the budding relationship between Corvossier and witch Opal. There were also a cast of secondary characters like Heath and Sprinkle who added humour and warmth to the novel.
“She remained still, Corvossier touching her fingertips to the woman’s temple. They could physically interact here, on this plane, and she could tell just by the way the ghost’s body stiffened that she had forgotten what it was like to be touched. Images flashed in front of her eyes, like a deck of cards being shuffled.”
I’m now heavily invested in the series and really looking forward to the sequel. I love that a disabled, bisexual character was the protagonist for the book and her relationship with another female was a dominant part of the story, not something glossed over or skipped.
Urban fantasy readers will love this new edition to the genre. The Witch Who Courted Death will also delight all readers, young and old, even if you’re a stranger to this genre.
Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Witch Who Courted Death is the start of a new fantasy duology by Australian author Maria Lewis, reimagining the role of ghosts and witches in present day society.
This was a delightful read. I was completely smitten with pretty much everything inside these pages, from the plot to the characters to the world to the writing. Maria Lewis is so talented. I’ve read quite a few of her books now and The Witch Who Courted Death is my favourite so far.
After a horror attack in Berlin, protagonist Corvossier is planning revenge. In order to track down the people who killed her brother and stole her arm, she must team up with a witch who has escaped them before.
Maria Lewis has taken the concept of ‘mediums’ and ‘ghosts’ and completely reinvented them. Corvossier can interact with ghosts and help them move on. She can encourage them to cross through and find peace outside of our world.
When we meet her at the beginning of the novel, her and her brother Baristan are working to remove a vengeful, angry ghost from a haunted house. They’re strong and they’re prepared and this really sets the tone for the rest of the novel.
“As a general rule it was always best to navigate life as politely as possible, especially when dealing with the dead. The ghost looked up, blinking for a moment before glancing around the room with surprise. She registered their presence for the first time, somewhat snapping out of her daze.”
The Witch Who Courted Death illustrates an incredible amount of research from Maria Lewis; the book finishes with a four-page glossary, describing words for the reader like Alchemist to Selkie to Vankila.
The plot felt original and enriching, the dialogue realistic, and the characters diverse and relatable. I loved the strong bond between Corvossier and her brother, and the budding relationship between Corvossier and witch Opal. There were also a cast of secondary characters like Heath and Sprinkle who added humour and warmth to the novel.
“She remained still, Corvossier touching her fingertips to the woman’s temple. They could physically interact here, on this plane, and she could tell just by the way the ghost’s body stiffened that she had forgotten what it was like to be touched. Images flashed in front of her eyes, like a deck of cards being shuffled.”
I’m now heavily invested in the series and really looking forward to the sequel. I love that a disabled, bisexual character was the protagonist for the book and her relationship with another female was a dominant part of the story, not something glossed over or skipped.
Urban fantasy readers will love this new edition to the genre. The Witch Who Courted Death will also delight all readers, young and old, even if you’re a stranger to this genre.
Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2019
"It's a blessing to be able to live how you really are in this life and one that not everyone gets.."
The book took me on an adventure I did not quite expect and I had a lot of fun talking to Maria Lewis when running her panel at Oz Comic Con about her writing process, research and the mechanics of putting this book together. I thought the setting in Berlin (one of Maria's fav. cities) was an interesting place, particularly Boscastle - a place that I have never heard of before, now put on the map. I enjoyed the sibling dynamic between "Creeper and Casper" and "Opal and Sprinkle" characters you come to know in this book . I was most impressed with the characterisation, how we get to know the characters as we read the book rather than through an info dump in the beginning. I felt the characters growing as I was reading. I also liked the witty and humorous dialogue between the characters that made me chuckle along the way. Maria did such a great job in constructing a story full of diverse characters not just from the human world but all manner of creatures and drawing a parallel between the worlds. It was very entertaining and insightful with travel and historical reference throughout the book. Recommended to readers who enjoy diverse urban fantasy reads.
The book took me on an adventure I did not quite expect and I had a lot of fun talking to Maria Lewis when running her panel at Oz Comic Con about her writing process, research and the mechanics of putting this book together. I thought the setting in Berlin (one of Maria's fav. cities) was an interesting place, particularly Boscastle - a place that I have never heard of before, now put on the map. I enjoyed the sibling dynamic between "Creeper and Casper" and "Opal and Sprinkle" characters you come to know in this book . I was most impressed with the characterisation, how we get to know the characters as we read the book rather than through an info dump in the beginning. I felt the characters growing as I was reading. I also liked the witty and humorous dialogue between the characters that made me chuckle along the way. Maria did such a great job in constructing a story full of diverse characters not just from the human world but all manner of creatures and drawing a parallel between the worlds. It was very entertaining and insightful with travel and historical reference throughout the book. Recommended to readers who enjoy diverse urban fantasy reads.
June 4, 2019
Caspar and Creeper, not particularly positive nicknames given to the world’s best mediums. They’re carrying out what they see as everyday activity, when an unprovoked attack occurs and things are changed forever.
Having to adjust to life without her brother in a physical sense, Caspar is determined to seek revenge. She’s heard strange tales of who was responsible for the attack in which she lost an arm, and is determined to make them pay.
We follow Caspar to Cornwall as she searches for a witch who survived a similar attack. There’s something odd going on, and it focuses on some supernatural behaviour.
The pacing of this felt slow initially. The story itself was entertaining, and it built to an exciting end. However, there were key background details that I felt were lacking, and there were a number of characters/moments that I felt were preparing us for another story.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me the chance to try something different.
Having to adjust to life without her brother in a physical sense, Caspar is determined to seek revenge. She’s heard strange tales of who was responsible for the attack in which she lost an arm, and is determined to make them pay.
We follow Caspar to Cornwall as she searches for a witch who survived a similar attack. There’s something odd going on, and it focuses on some supernatural behaviour.
The pacing of this felt slow initially. The story itself was entertaining, and it built to an exciting end. However, there were key background details that I felt were lacking, and there were a number of characters/moments that I felt were preparing us for another story.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me the chance to try something different.
October 31, 2019
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazingly frightening book
and what a book to read for hallooween...there is enough magic,mayhem, murder, witches and ghouls to go around....
a brother and sister who have the power to see ghosts and help them on their way but the story that follows is thought provoking and frightening....they are betrayed in the worst possible way....
but there is another survivor out there, a witch who has gone underground and with a bit of luck casper will find her and hopefully get her to help
i seriously could not put this book down...as it has all the elements i love plus its actually a very good story and to find out its part of a series...well i am now hooked...
another author to add my list of authors to keep an eye out for...
dont miss this chance to read this book...its brilliant
and what a book to read for hallooween...there is enough magic,mayhem, murder, witches and ghouls to go around....
a brother and sister who have the power to see ghosts and help them on their way but the story that follows is thought provoking and frightening....they are betrayed in the worst possible way....
but there is another survivor out there, a witch who has gone underground and with a bit of luck casper will find her and hopefully get her to help
i seriously could not put this book down...as it has all the elements i love plus its actually a very good story and to find out its part of a series...well i am now hooked...
another author to add my list of authors to keep an eye out for...
dont miss this chance to read this book...its brilliant
April 23, 2019
This book surprised me a few times. On first few pages I had a feeling it's going to be some trashy paranormal romance, but it's nothing like that. Very quickly somethin important happens and though then a pace slows, the plot is still mostly about bigger game. And yes, it is strong romance subplot, but it occurs only in the second half on the book I don't think it's annoying.
Characters are big strength in this novel. Casper is great, her brother is amazin, Opal is sweet and Heath is funny. It was pleasure to read about them and I hope that we will se something more of their adventures.
Characters are big strength in this novel. Casper is great, her brother is amazin, Opal is sweet and Heath is funny. It was pleasure to read about them and I hope that we will se something more of their adventures.
June 13, 2019
I really enjoyed this. It was a fun, fast and thread. Great world building and wonderfully written characters. A lit slow to start but definitely worth the perseverance to get into it properly. A bit darker than a lot of urban fantasy but the humour balances this out and it’s a great read.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
December 27, 2018
I just love spending time in this universe.
January 8, 2019
I need more Opal and Casper in my life ASAP and I defiantly need a new book from Maria soon!
October 31, 2021
Fascinating premise but a bit too slow for my liking.
I loved the communicating with death part but sadly this isn’t a very strong element in this book. Also there was a wide variety of fantasy species mentioned but again few were featured, as this book focused on the main character who is psychic and some friends she makes along the way who are witches.
Also this book probably needs another proof read as there were a few errors I noticed including; ‘Heath, who are they pursing then’.
I loved the communicating with death part but sadly this isn’t a very strong element in this book. Also there was a wide variety of fantasy species mentioned but again few were featured, as this book focused on the main character who is psychic and some friends she makes along the way who are witches.
Also this book probably needs another proof read as there were a few errors I noticed including; ‘Heath, who are they pursing then’.
November 18, 2018
My favorite so far. So easy to read. Maria Lewis is building a universe that is exciting, dramatic and rich in detail as well as character.
After reading Who’s Afraid and Who’s Afraid Too, I had been wanting more of Tommi Grayson. Now I can’t wait to see what other characters’ stories will fill this world.
After reading Who’s Afraid and Who’s Afraid Too, I had been wanting more of Tommi Grayson. Now I can’t wait to see what other characters’ stories will fill this world.
October 16, 2019
Come for the paranormal universe, stay for the sweet queer romance.
April 14, 2020
This is a really excellent urban fantasy novel, it is creative in world building, immensely competent in character creation and is as action packed as any thriller.
In a world that is the same as our own in most respects, there is a powerful confederation of three powers who keep the supernatural aspects of the world under control. The Praetorian Guard, the Custodians and the Askari are a kind of triumvirate and they are a very well thought out, with their world monitoring and policing system. Now, about this system; one criticism I have of this book it that it is not well explained. We learn about the society by increments but in the early part of the novel I was a little confused and I felt that the writing relies a bit too heavily on the authors world building in previous books, only about halfway through the novel is the society truly well defined.
In any case, we start with two characters and their jobs within the triumvirate. Capser and her twin brother Baristan are the most powerful mediums alive and as orphans had grown up within the organisation, at the Berlin chapter. From there they talk to the dead, banish spirits reluctant to move on and live a generally fascinating life. The slow reveal of their powers throughout the novel was a genuinely fascinating part of reading this book. This is a complex, well thought out talent and reading about it is fascinating. In fact all the characters in this book were great though my favourite was definitely the titular witch who Casper encounters latter in the novel an Australian with hiding out in a tiny English village.... Loved it!
The main plot involves a mysterious organisation called the Oct and after a betrayal Casper is attacked and barely escapes them alive - but not intact. Damages and traumatised, she embarks on a personal revenge mission to find out where and what the Oct are with the eventual aim of taking them down.
I will not say any more about the thriller element of the plot. I really enjoyed reading every minute of it and I think it is probably a lot more engrossing if you do not know too many of the details beforehand. I loved the world building and the fascinating characters and scenarios along the way.
I think this author has a particularly magical (pun?) touch in her writing, in that I always get very strong visuals when reading her work. I tend to have a strong imagination and visualise what I am reading quite well in general but with this author I have found that I actually remember the stories as if I had watched them as well as read them.
Great book - I do recommend. As an aside, there are non-binary characters and relationships integrated into the story and there is moderate violence and a couple of pretty graphic fight scenes, so, all the good stuff!
In a world that is the same as our own in most respects, there is a powerful confederation of three powers who keep the supernatural aspects of the world under control. The Praetorian Guard, the Custodians and the Askari are a kind of triumvirate and they are a very well thought out, with their world monitoring and policing system. Now, about this system; one criticism I have of this book it that it is not well explained. We learn about the society by increments but in the early part of the novel I was a little confused and I felt that the writing relies a bit too heavily on the authors world building in previous books, only about halfway through the novel is the society truly well defined.
In any case, we start with two characters and their jobs within the triumvirate. Capser and her twin brother Baristan are the most powerful mediums alive and as orphans had grown up within the organisation, at the Berlin chapter. From there they talk to the dead, banish spirits reluctant to move on and live a generally fascinating life. The slow reveal of their powers throughout the novel was a genuinely fascinating part of reading this book. This is a complex, well thought out talent and reading about it is fascinating. In fact all the characters in this book were great though my favourite was definitely the titular witch who Casper encounters latter in the novel an Australian with hiding out in a tiny English village.... Loved it!
The main plot involves a mysterious organisation called the Oct and after a betrayal Casper is attacked and barely escapes them alive - but not intact. Damages and traumatised, she embarks on a personal revenge mission to find out where and what the Oct are with the eventual aim of taking them down.
I will not say any more about the thriller element of the plot. I really enjoyed reading every minute of it and I think it is probably a lot more engrossing if you do not know too many of the details beforehand. I loved the world building and the fascinating characters and scenarios along the way.
I think this author has a particularly magical (pun?) touch in her writing, in that I always get very strong visuals when reading her work. I tend to have a strong imagination and visualise what I am reading quite well in general but with this author I have found that I actually remember the stories as if I had watched them as well as read them.
Great book - I do recommend. As an aside, there are non-binary characters and relationships integrated into the story and there is moderate violence and a couple of pretty graphic fight scenes, so, all the good stuff!
January 16, 2020
A really fun romp of an urban fantasy. Witches, werewolves, vampires and immortals. Great if you want to sit back and read about magical secret organisations and murder mysteries and absolutely love every minute while using approximately 1% of your brain function.
Very goth and very gay/bisexual. There's a very racially and sexually diverse cast including a disabled main character. The different personalities are very well-expressed and likeable and there's good character development. The socially reclusive main character is very psychologically realistic in her anxiety and social isolation. Fairly relatable. Lots of cool/fun magic stuff. The action and cospiracy is silly and indulgent and OTT which is just fine by me. The main love interest plot is a hilariously stereotypical lesbian relationship (Step 1: hello hot stranger I hate you because of reasons, Step 2: I've known you for two weeks and we've had an emotionally intense experience let's make out, Step 3: now we've had sex let's raise a child and move in together). I.E., I love it. It feels entirely emotionally earned by the fictional situation and the writing. The fantasy horror is fairly creepy but there isn't a lot of it.
It tells a story about oppressed social groups in magical society that fixes a lot of the world-building issues of the Harry Potter-style fantasy universes, where a powerful magic world lives in parrallel to the real world during contemporary historical events. However, it retains the same big flaw where Jewish and Romani characters don't explicitly exist and their oppression not mentioned but there's a lot of very notable stand-ins for their oppression and racial stereotypes in the magic world. This just stands out badly during the first part of the book, which is set in Germany following a slightly ubermenschy-looking OP magic german woman with a fancy German name who can see and talk to traumatised ghosts, and deals with massacres and murders, and it Doesn't Mention The War. It's easy to forget and forgive this flaw later on in the book though. It seems like a case of Lewis being afraid to touch any real-world trauma in her pulpy fictional universe, which is fair enough.
This isn't deep or literary by any stretch, and the writing quality is a little awkward, with a lot of sentence structure problems and typos that should have been fixed in a proofread. That said, I highly recommend it to anyone who likes any of the gay and supernatural themes mentioned above. It's a good time.
Very goth and very gay/bisexual. There's a very racially and sexually diverse cast including a disabled main character. The different personalities are very well-expressed and likeable and there's good character development. The socially reclusive main character is very psychologically realistic in her anxiety and social isolation. Fairly relatable. Lots of cool/fun magic stuff. The action and cospiracy is silly and indulgent and OTT which is just fine by me. The main love interest plot is a hilariously stereotypical lesbian relationship (Step 1: hello hot stranger I hate you because of reasons, Step 2: I've known you for two weeks and we've had an emotionally intense experience let's make out, Step 3: now we've had sex let's raise a child and move in together). I.E., I love it. It feels entirely emotionally earned by the fictional situation and the writing. The fantasy horror is fairly creepy but there isn't a lot of it.
It tells a story about oppressed social groups in magical society that fixes a lot of the world-building issues of the Harry Potter-style fantasy universes, where a powerful magic world lives in parrallel to the real world during contemporary historical events. However, it retains the same big flaw where Jewish and Romani characters don't explicitly exist and their oppression not mentioned but there's a lot of very notable stand-ins for their oppression and racial stereotypes in the magic world. This just stands out badly during the first part of the book, which is set in Germany following a slightly ubermenschy-looking OP magic german woman with a fancy German name who can see and talk to traumatised ghosts, and deals with massacres and murders, and it Doesn't Mention The War. It's easy to forget and forgive this flaw later on in the book though. It seems like a case of Lewis being afraid to touch any real-world trauma in her pulpy fictional universe, which is fair enough.
This isn't deep or literary by any stretch, and the writing quality is a little awkward, with a lot of sentence structure problems and typos that should have been fixed in a proofread. That said, I highly recommend it to anyone who likes any of the gay and supernatural themes mentioned above. It's a good time.
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