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A Witchly Influence
Get ready to have fun and be influenced!
Fate can show up as anything… As a freshly minted divorcee, witch Carmen Devereaux returns to her hometown in North Carolina. With this decision comes another change in her life: Fate has decided that she is to become an Influencer, someone who guides others onto the path that they were meant to take.
When she’s assigned to Abby Windsor, a young schoolteacher, as well as her own stepbrother, Finn Cleary, she soon encounters several obstacles, including getting stuck in her own past.
A quirky, fun, and lovable cast of characters, including Lenny the Snowman—a grumpy, old snowman who really loves trashy reality shows, especially ones about real housewives, Egbert the Lobbyist Pencil—a pompous pencil who lobbies on magic and loves tasty cuisine, and Muse Siobhan Waters, who is thoughtful and down to earth, help guide and inspire Carmen whenever she gets stuck working on her assignment. Along the way, Carmen learns to influence others…and herself.
Humorous and light-hearted, A Witchly Influence is the perfect feel-good book of the year.
Fate can show up as anything… As a freshly minted divorcee, witch Carmen Devereaux returns to her hometown in North Carolina. With this decision comes another change in her life: Fate has decided that she is to become an Influencer, someone who guides others onto the path that they were meant to take.
When she’s assigned to Abby Windsor, a young schoolteacher, as well as her own stepbrother, Finn Cleary, she soon encounters several obstacles, including getting stuck in her own past.
A quirky, fun, and lovable cast of characters, including Lenny the Snowman—a grumpy, old snowman who really loves trashy reality shows, especially ones about real housewives, Egbert the Lobbyist Pencil—a pompous pencil who lobbies on magic and loves tasty cuisine, and Muse Siobhan Waters, who is thoughtful and down to earth, help guide and inspire Carmen whenever she gets stuck working on her assignment. Along the way, Carmen learns to influence others…and herself.
Humorous and light-hearted, A Witchly Influence is the perfect feel-good book of the year.
- GenresContemporary
262 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2020
6 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 22, 2024
I am trying to figure out what type of book this was...It was not a cozy mystery because there was no mystery... not a romance ... It was just a very fun and cute story, and I loved the characters. The main character is Carmen who is a witch. I really love cute witch book as long as they are done right. This one was done really well. It one have been 5 stars if there was a real mystery the character was solving because I feel that would have brought the book to another level. I really did still loved this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (BHC Press) or author (Stephanie Grey) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
June 9, 2020
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Carmen Devereaux is a witch who just got a divorce and decides to move back to her hometown, but she also has to find another job and she ends up working in a different position: she will work as an Influencer, i.e., she'll help people by guiding them towards the right direction in life. Her first case will be Abby, a schoolteacher and her own stepbrother, Owen.
Well, this was a nice book. I liked how the witches help the world to function, yet the humans have no clue about it. The world-building wasn't a big deal, but it was well done: nothing too complex and easy to keep up with. I also appreciated the humor from the book - especially Carmen's group of friends - and other side characters. However, I have to say that it was a very forgettable book. I read it and enjoyed the reading experience, but two days later I found myself wondering: what was it about again?
So I think it lacks something really special and memorable about it, but overall it's a good book.
Carmen Devereaux is a witch who just got a divorce and decides to move back to her hometown, but she also has to find another job and she ends up working in a different position: she will work as an Influencer, i.e., she'll help people by guiding them towards the right direction in life. Her first case will be Abby, a schoolteacher and her own stepbrother, Owen.
Well, this was a nice book. I liked how the witches help the world to function, yet the humans have no clue about it. The world-building wasn't a big deal, but it was well done: nothing too complex and easy to keep up with. I also appreciated the humor from the book - especially Carmen's group of friends - and other side characters. However, I have to say that it was a very forgettable book. I read it and enjoyed the reading experience, but two days later I found myself wondering: what was it about again?
So I think it lacks something really special and memorable about it, but overall it's a good book.
September 11, 2020
A fun, quirky read!
This novel is a pretty quick, easy read. There's not much depth to any of the characters or world building. It's a great book if you're looking for something light-hearted that you can just dip your toes into without fully sinking in. Think of Bewitched or I Dream of Jeannie, very 60's sitcom vibe. Humorous and whimsical with a modern twist.
I found the writing a bit confusing in places as it seemed to jump often. Maybe the teleporting was throwing me off :)
Thank you BHC Press via LibraryThing for an e-arc to read in exchange for my honest review.
This novel is a pretty quick, easy read. There's not much depth to any of the characters or world building. It's a great book if you're looking for something light-hearted that you can just dip your toes into without fully sinking in. Think of Bewitched or I Dream of Jeannie, very 60's sitcom vibe. Humorous and whimsical with a modern twist.
I found the writing a bit confusing in places as it seemed to jump often. Maybe the teleporting was throwing me off :)
Thank you BHC Press via LibraryThing for an e-arc to read in exchange for my honest review.
July 1, 2020
As a child of the sixties, I grew up desperately attempting to twitch my nose like the beloved witch Samantha on the iconic TV show "Bewitched!" One look at the cover of Stephanie Grey's new book "A Witchly Influence" immediately transported me back to my childhood! So reminiscent was it of the show's opening credits that I actually giggled in anticipation!
With haste, I eagerly opened it's digital pages (wouldn't Darren have been so surprised that his witchy wife had absolutely nothing to do with this newfangled book?!) and began to read. Grey had created a set of magical characters, as well as a series of haplessly clueless mortals to inhabit her magical world. Primarily set in New Bern, North Carolina, we find our updated Samantha (here called Carmen) returning to her childhood home licking her wounds from a recent divorce and harbouring an inability to see where her life at 32 is actually heading. Faster than a nod or a blink, her wizardy boss informs her to "Suck it up, Buttercup!" For it seems as if Fate (yes THAT Fate...you know of mythological fame!) has decided Carmen is to have a new career. Carmen is to be...an Influencer! Two unsuspecting mortals are to have their futures transformed through Carmen's ordinary or magical "influential" interventions. (Bet you were thinking social media and thousands of "friends" liking and reposting, right?!) And with that start, Carmen (and the reader) are off on a magical journey toward purpose and enlightenment...accompanied, of course, by magical yard gnomes, witchly BFFs, various clueless friends and family members, and an enchanted snarky snowman named Lenny! What?!😳You were expecting Olaf the singing Disney snow dude? Please.😜
Okay. Oooookay.
Now is when I offer my honest review. While I could absolutely see how Grey developed her humorous and light-hearted story line and where she wanted it to go, as currently presented I was not quite able to string it all together into a seamlessly flowing total. It had the feel of related episodic scenes that needed just a bit more connectivity. Not to reveal the ending, I do believe said ending was rather precipitous. And by precipitous I mean "BOOM!" Done.
Building on my love of the "Bewitched" connection I sensed in the beginning, I was more than ready to engage with these quirky characters. While the potential was there, as written, however, many characters seemed in need of a bit more development. Grey often "told" us things about her characters by dropping tidbits of information here and there into each character's own dialogue, as opposed to building the reader's rapport with these essential "story people" through both plot and descriptive development. This made for more than a few awkward sentence constructs.
With all of this in mind, for this reader, this story (minus some suggestive conversational moments between characters and the occasional use of "adult" language) seems better targeted for a younger readership than it's general adult fiction designation would suggest.
My thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley
#AWitchlyInfluence
With haste, I eagerly opened it's digital pages (wouldn't Darren have been so surprised that his witchy wife had absolutely nothing to do with this newfangled book?!) and began to read. Grey had created a set of magical characters, as well as a series of haplessly clueless mortals to inhabit her magical world. Primarily set in New Bern, North Carolina, we find our updated Samantha (here called Carmen) returning to her childhood home licking her wounds from a recent divorce and harbouring an inability to see where her life at 32 is actually heading. Faster than a nod or a blink, her wizardy boss informs her to "Suck it up, Buttercup!" For it seems as if Fate (yes THAT Fate...you know of mythological fame!) has decided Carmen is to have a new career. Carmen is to be...an Influencer! Two unsuspecting mortals are to have their futures transformed through Carmen's ordinary or magical "influential" interventions. (Bet you were thinking social media and thousands of "friends" liking and reposting, right?!) And with that start, Carmen (and the reader) are off on a magical journey toward purpose and enlightenment...accompanied, of course, by magical yard gnomes, witchly BFFs, various clueless friends and family members, and an enchanted snarky snowman named Lenny! What?!😳You were expecting Olaf the singing Disney snow dude? Please.😜
Okay. Oooookay.
Now is when I offer my honest review. While I could absolutely see how Grey developed her humorous and light-hearted story line and where she wanted it to go, as currently presented I was not quite able to string it all together into a seamlessly flowing total. It had the feel of related episodic scenes that needed just a bit more connectivity. Not to reveal the ending, I do believe said ending was rather precipitous. And by precipitous I mean "BOOM!" Done.
Building on my love of the "Bewitched" connection I sensed in the beginning, I was more than ready to engage with these quirky characters. While the potential was there, as written, however, many characters seemed in need of a bit more development. Grey often "told" us things about her characters by dropping tidbits of information here and there into each character's own dialogue, as opposed to building the reader's rapport with these essential "story people" through both plot and descriptive development. This made for more than a few awkward sentence constructs.
With all of this in mind, for this reader, this story (minus some suggestive conversational moments between characters and the occasional use of "adult" language) seems better targeted for a younger readership than it's general adult fiction designation would suggest.
My thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley
#AWitchlyInfluence
October 8, 2020
What a fun story, I loved it. Great world building and character development, a lot of humour and a story that kept me hooked.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
August 13, 2020
The story was good, but too much being told what was happening over discovering for myself. Would have enjoyed a more detailed plot and characters to keep the story from dragging in many areas.
Thank you to BHC for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to BHC for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2020
A light hearted, very entertaining story. With her life changing, and not for the good, Carmen returns to her hometown to live. Carmen and her mother are secretly witches, the good kind!!!😁 As her new job, she's assigned as an Influencer. She must use her skills to improve life for her step brother and one other young woman. I do believe Stephanie Grey has developed a new genre....lots of good emotions and entertaining stumbles along the way to success. No crime, no dead bodies, no heavy romance, no eerie or creepy....just a good, clean, fun read!
October 1, 2020
A Witchly Influence by Stephanie Grey is a comedy, which opens with Carmen finalizing her divorce from her husband, Michael who cheated on her. She is kind of at loose ends, even after her best friends show up to commiserate. When she returns to work on Monday her boss informs her that she has a new job, but will be keeping her old one, too, sort of. See...Carmen is a witch. Her current job is in permitting, witchly permitting. Her new job will be as an influencer: a witch who tries to help get people on the correct path in life. There are some rules, however. She can't directly interfere, mostly, and no one is telling her what the correct path is; she has to figure it out. She is given two clients: Abby, a special education teacher, and her stepbrother, Finn. She sells, her townhouse, buys a house in New Bern, all with the help of magic, and is ready to begin.
An amazing and extremely interesting cast of characters trails through Carmen's life, no the least of which are Abby and Finn, who are human. Most of the rest are not, but they are terrific characters. In the year it takes for Carmen to set their lives on the right paths, she builds a guitar using magic; she time travels and spends a week as her teenage self; and she changes witchly protocol forever. This is an extremely entertaining story with characters we all know, but they are witches and so do things differently. Carmen is empathetic, carefree, and determined. She is not always a rule follower, but that makes all the difference. What a cute book. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of A Witchly Influence by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #awitchlyinfluence
An amazing and extremely interesting cast of characters trails through Carmen's life, no the least of which are Abby and Finn, who are human. Most of the rest are not, but they are terrific characters. In the year it takes for Carmen to set their lives on the right paths, she builds a guitar using magic; she time travels and spends a week as her teenage self; and she changes witchly protocol forever. This is an extremely entertaining story with characters we all know, but they are witches and so do things differently. Carmen is empathetic, carefree, and determined. She is not always a rule follower, but that makes all the difference. What a cute book. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of A Witchly Influence by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #awitchlyinfluence
August 6, 2020
A Witchly Influence is a fun, easy read. Like other reviewers, I have trouble putting it into a category. There isn't any romance or mystery, it's more of a "What comes next?" kind of story.
Carmen is newly divorced and looking for a change of location. Fate has more than a geographical move in mind for her, and Carmen ends up as an Influencer. Her new job will be to help people find their path in life, with a little help from some other witches and a snowman, Carmen sets out to help her two assignments, and finds her way as well.
So my only issue with this book is the magic use. There is no cost for the magic, it just is. Carmen and her friends whip up new furniture, remodel houses, pop from place to place and just create anything they need. Carmen also uses magic in a big way to help one of the people she is guiding...and it feels like cheating to me. I guess I'm used to there being a limit or repercussions to using magic, especially for every day stuff, otherwise where does it stop? If you can change the past, create whatever you want, and set up future events to go how you plan...what's the point in anything? That being said, this book doesn't really focus on where magic comes from or the mechanics behind it...instead it is just a fun story about what could be.
Carmen is newly divorced and looking for a change of location. Fate has more than a geographical move in mind for her, and Carmen ends up as an Influencer. Her new job will be to help people find their path in life, with a little help from some other witches and a snowman, Carmen sets out to help her two assignments, and finds her way as well.
So my only issue with this book is the magic use. There is no cost for the magic, it just is. Carmen and her friends whip up new furniture, remodel houses, pop from place to place and just create anything they need. Carmen also uses magic in a big way to help one of the people she is guiding...and it feels like cheating to me. I guess I'm used to there being a limit or repercussions to using magic, especially for every day stuff, otherwise where does it stop? If you can change the past, create whatever you want, and set up future events to go how you plan...what's the point in anything? That being said, this book doesn't really focus on where magic comes from or the mechanics behind it...instead it is just a fun story about what could be.
June 11, 2020
Carmen is a witch and none of her family members besides her mom knows about it. After her divorce, she decided to move back home to start over. Since she can work anywhere in the world, the Fate decided she will now be an Influencer. Her first assignment is her stepbrother, Finn, and Abby (no relation). What does she need to influence them to do? She has no idea.
This is a very fun story to jump into. There's a whimsical tone to the story with Carmen's helper Lenny, the snowman, or the French talking pencil, Egbert. I like Carmen's sarcasm personality. I can see that being annoying to some readers, but to me, it's fun and humorous. Carmen's group of friends has many mixed personalities. When reading the story, the setting and dialogue can make a reader feel like they are in the center of the story. It's very real, although, some of the magic can make a reader question the basic physic.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this fabulous ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a very fun story to jump into. There's a whimsical tone to the story with Carmen's helper Lenny, the snowman, or the French talking pencil, Egbert. I like Carmen's sarcasm personality. I can see that being annoying to some readers, but to me, it's fun and humorous. Carmen's group of friends has many mixed personalities. When reading the story, the setting and dialogue can make a reader feel like they are in the center of the story. It's very real, although, some of the magic can make a reader question the basic physic.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this fabulous ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2020
This book was filled with a neat world, lots of interesting characters, and puts us right into a very relatable situation - starting over.
Carmen just got divorced from her cheating husband. On top of that push into the unknown, she's also been offered a new job that will allow her to work from home. This home? It's back in her old home town. It's here that she meets Abby, her charge. She also reconnects with Finn, her talented but unmotivated stepbrother. Oh, and to make things more interesting, Carmen is also a witch, now tasked by fate to help influence others.
While we don't get all the information all the time, you can detective out other character's roles, powers, and general background. With such a rich world of different characters, this could easily grow into a nice series, looking more at Carmen's friends (or even the pencil). There are two big stories in this book - Abby's path and Finn's path. I have to admit, I thought they would cross at some point, but it never panned out. Overall, it was a nice, resolved story that left you satisfied at the end.
Carmen just got divorced from her cheating husband. On top of that push into the unknown, she's also been offered a new job that will allow her to work from home. This home? It's back in her old home town. It's here that she meets Abby, her charge. She also reconnects with Finn, her talented but unmotivated stepbrother. Oh, and to make things more interesting, Carmen is also a witch, now tasked by fate to help influence others.
While we don't get all the information all the time, you can detective out other character's roles, powers, and general background. With such a rich world of different characters, this could easily grow into a nice series, looking more at Carmen's friends (or even the pencil). There are two big stories in this book - Abby's path and Finn's path. I have to admit, I thought they would cross at some point, but it never panned out. Overall, it was a nice, resolved story that left you satisfied at the end.
June 13, 2020
Great characters, fun world, this book is a feel-good paranormal book of the year. The magic world seems like the 90's series Sabrina the Teenager Wich but with a grown-up feeling and technology from our age. I loved and I´m will be waiting for the series continuation. Said all that I need to point a few details that didn´t work out for me. I like that the magic is more of a fluid thing in this world, with no set of hard rules like books are inclining to do nowadays, but it is maybe too fluid. It doesn't seem that any consequences happen when witches use magic. Another thing that bothered me was the many descriptions of famous places without saying the name of the place. When every restaurant and shop that the protagonist enter is compared with a famous place described in you-know-what-I-mean writing, it is not fun anymore. Overall, these are just details, and this is a great book to spend a day resting.
October 4, 2020
Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com
3.5 Hearts What if witches were really fairy godmothers? Carmen moves back to her hometown and becomes, for lack of a better title, a life coach. But then that is what the witches in this book seem to be. They help the people of the world make the word a better place. In this novel Carmen is set to help Abby and, of all people, her step-brother Owen.
I enjoyed the book. It was cute and had a nice amount of humor. The characters in Carmen’s world are so funny. I don’t see myself running out to tell the world about it but I will certainly pick up the next in the series.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Hearts What if witches were really fairy godmothers? Carmen moves back to her hometown and becomes, for lack of a better title, a life coach. But then that is what the witches in this book seem to be. They help the people of the world make the word a better place. In this novel Carmen is set to help Abby and, of all people, her step-brother Owen.
I enjoyed the book. It was cute and had a nice amount of humor. The characters in Carmen’s world are so funny. I don’t see myself running out to tell the world about it but I will certainly pick up the next in the series.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2020
Thank you to BHC Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on Oct 1st, 2020.
Light and fun — a kind of rom-com without the rom. Carmen Devereaux is a witch who has been recently promoted to the role of "Influencer". Tasked with “helping” two people gain confidence and thus head towards greater fulfillment she shamelessly uses magic to help her help them.
Funny and creative — a fast and happy read.
Light and fun — a kind of rom-com without the rom. Carmen Devereaux is a witch who has been recently promoted to the role of "Influencer". Tasked with “helping” two people gain confidence and thus head towards greater fulfillment she shamelessly uses magic to help her help them.
Funny and creative — a fast and happy read.
June 21, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on Oct 1st, 2020.
Carmen Devereaux is a witch who has been recently promoted to the role of "Influencer". Tasked with “helping” two people gain confidence and thus head towards a happier life she uses magic to help her help them.
Funny and creative — a fast and happy read.
Carmen Devereaux is a witch who has been recently promoted to the role of "Influencer". Tasked with “helping” two people gain confidence and thus head towards a happier life she uses magic to help her help them.
Funny and creative — a fast and happy read.
September 21, 2020
Cute story with fun ideas about how a witch (or whole community of witches!) would operate undercover in our normal lives, but it lost me several times in events that didn't flow well. And why was it necessary to have f-bombs dropped at her boss and a few other crude things that felt out of place with the silliness of the rest of the story? I would have preferred it to be more focused, but it was an okay read.
July 22, 2020
I read all the witch books, and this was light hearted and fun. It's like the tv show Bewitched but for 2020. There are some genuinely funny moments, and several of the characters were charming. I particularly love how the witches talk sh*t about cupids. Super funny! But, the actual story lacked flow. It's an interesting world, but I wanted a more developed storyline.
December 12, 2020
Nice feelgood, with magic!
The beginning of the book is good, then the story gets a bit more difficult to read, but after about p. 50 it is fun all over.
The magical touch is nice.
I like the main subject: a young woman who knows what she wants, trying to help other people and not only bending the rules, but succeeding in changing them.
The beginning of the book is good, then the story gets a bit more difficult to read, but after about p. 50 it is fun all over.
The magical touch is nice.
I like the main subject: a young woman who knows what she wants, trying to help other people and not only bending the rules, but succeeding in changing them.
August 6, 2020
A Witchly Influence is a great read for an afternoon when you need a quirky, funny pick-me-up. We join Carmen in her new job as an influencer and experience all the obstacles in her way. Wonderful read.
Thank you NetGalley and BHC Press for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.
Thank you NetGalley and BHC Press for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.
August 6, 2020
This was a great read. Light and fun, well written. Likable characters. I enjoyed it so much I am hoping its just the beginning of a new fantasy series. Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for this engaging and entertaining read.
July 27, 2020
Very fun book. Lots of laughs!
September 8, 2020
Carmen Devereaux is a witch. But that doesn’t mean she’s not susceptible to heartbreak. Divorcing her husband might not quite reach that level but it still sends her home to North Carolina. It may not be entirely where she grew up but it’s where her family is now. And Fate has decreed that Carmen will no longer be working granting permits. Instead, she will be an Influencer, helping to age sure that people get to where they should be in life. Her first two people are both in the town she’s moving to and one is her stepbrother. She struggles a little, even going through time to help them out.
This was just a nice book. Is the solution for the friend a little bit of a cheat? Yes. Are all the solutions she comes up with a little too pat? Yes. Is Carmen just a little bit of a Mary Sue? Yes. But this is just a nice story at a time that I needed to read something light and sweet.
This was just a nice book. Is the solution for the friend a little bit of a cheat? Yes. Are all the solutions she comes up with a little too pat? Yes. Is Carmen just a little bit of a Mary Sue? Yes. But this is just a nice story at a time that I needed to read something light and sweet.
September 26, 2020
This was a light, fun-filled read. It was one of those stories you'd sit and read in a day. If you're a fan of rom coms and love a good witchy tale, you're sure to enjoy this one.
October 10, 2020
Very cute story. After a number of intense books in a row, this one was like a sorbet course at a meal; it cleanses the palette.
October 12, 2020
A Witchly Influence was an absolutely engaging and quick read. I loved how the magic was so prevalent and intertwined throughout the story. A book definitely worth your time.
November 14, 2020
This was a fun story that reminded me of the tv series Bewitched. At times it felt YA to me.
October 29, 2024
Not what I expected. Not a romance and even though it has magic, I'm not convinced it's really a fantasy. A nice cozy read for when feeling mellow.
June 25, 2020
I can't say enough about how much I love Stephanie Grey's writing! She is so talented. Where The Immortal Prudence Blackwood was a dark and twisted, A Witchy Influence is light and fun. Both books are great reads, a tribute to the author's range of talent.
I look forward to more from Stephanie Grey in the future. Thank you to BHC Press and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book. Keep them coming!!
I look forward to more from Stephanie Grey in the future. Thank you to BHC Press and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book. Keep them coming!!
November 17, 2020
This was a very fun read! Who wouldn't like to have magical powers to instantly make dinner, clean the house, or decorate the house?
This book is full of charismatic characters. Some of the characters are witches and some are mortal. I loved the clever plot to have Carmen use her powers to help improve the lives of two mortals. Especially when she used her magic slyly in front of them. I also liked the Erasers whose job it was to erase memories from mortals who had seen a witch using their magic. Poor Finn, Carmen's step-brother who lived with her, he was always having his memory erased because he was able to sense Carmen's magical powers.
The story was a little predictable but was charming to watch the mortals realize their potential and become the best person they could be. The ending alluded to future mortals for Carmen to influence so hopefully the author will be adding more books to create a series.
Thank you to NetGalley and BHC Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This book is full of charismatic characters. Some of the characters are witches and some are mortal. I loved the clever plot to have Carmen use her powers to help improve the lives of two mortals. Especially when she used her magic slyly in front of them. I also liked the Erasers whose job it was to erase memories from mortals who had seen a witch using their magic. Poor Finn, Carmen's step-brother who lived with her, he was always having his memory erased because he was able to sense Carmen's magical powers.
The story was a little predictable but was charming to watch the mortals realize their potential and become the best person they could be. The ending alluded to future mortals for Carmen to influence so hopefully the author will be adding more books to create a series.
Thank you to NetGalley and BHC Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
July 25, 2020
Carmen Devereaux is a witch, but more importantly, she is a fresh and energetic narrator. Even though she recently divorced her husband, she has a positive outlook on life. Her friends also bring a lot of energy to the story. They use magic as a gimmick, like for a spontaneous night out in Paris. It is refreshing to read about magic this way: as something that brings fun and joy instead of a gift that should be used sparingly to preserve a balance.
Soon after the start of the book Carmen becomes an influencer. She has to influence other people down their better paths and she has to do so without getting any guidelines herself: ‘Fate’ is convinced she’ll know what’s right. Meanwhile, an android (fancier than a robot) takes her place at work.
It makes you feel good to read about someone who helps others to do better at life. The book is off to a good start. Unfortunately, as the book progresses, Carmen becomes less inspirational and somehow doesn’t seem as strong as she was at the beginning of the book. She suddenly lacks maturity and the portrayal of her character feels inconsistent. She doesn’t seem like an influencer but more like your best friend that listens to you and supports you.
Carmen’s attempt at influencing is not subtle enough for my taste and I don’t feel any inspiration coming from her at all; the feeling stays within the book (if it is present at all). The same goes for the ending, which feels like a deus ex machina (or witch ex machina). I was hoping for a more elegant conclusion where two people combine their skills to reach their goals in a joint effort. Now that would inspire me.
The dialogues are witty and the examples of magic use are fun to read about. A Witchly Influence is a light book that certainly gives you the feel-good vibe. It lacked character depth though and the story didn’t linger with me after I finished the book nor did it make me reflect on my life or inspire me. In the end, a book’s rating is based on feelings and because I did enjoy reading the book I’m giving it three stars.
Many thanks to BHC Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Soon after the start of the book Carmen becomes an influencer. She has to influence other people down their better paths and she has to do so without getting any guidelines herself: ‘Fate’ is convinced she’ll know what’s right. Meanwhile, an android (fancier than a robot) takes her place at work.
It makes you feel good to read about someone who helps others to do better at life. The book is off to a good start. Unfortunately, as the book progresses, Carmen becomes less inspirational and somehow doesn’t seem as strong as she was at the beginning of the book. She suddenly lacks maturity and the portrayal of her character feels inconsistent. She doesn’t seem like an influencer but more like your best friend that listens to you and supports you.
Carmen’s attempt at influencing is not subtle enough for my taste and I don’t feel any inspiration coming from her at all; the feeling stays within the book (if it is present at all). The same goes for the ending, which feels like a deus ex machina (or witch ex machina). I was hoping for a more elegant conclusion where two people combine their skills to reach their goals in a joint effort. Now that would inspire me.
The dialogues are witty and the examples of magic use are fun to read about. A Witchly Influence is a light book that certainly gives you the feel-good vibe. It lacked character depth though and the story didn’t linger with me after I finished the book nor did it make me reflect on my life or inspire me. In the end, a book’s rating is based on feelings and because I did enjoy reading the book I’m giving it three stars.
Many thanks to BHC Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
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