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Against the Grain
It’s bad enough when your own body tries to attack you, but when dark powers want to as well, running is the only option. Until you can’t.
After another casual fling goes horribly wrong, coeliac witch Trinity moves down the country to start over, yet again, in the bush-clad suburb of Karori. On the surface, it seems like the perfect place: from the local bistro below her flat with its gluten-free baking (and its handsome owner) to the mountain bike trails she can escape to.
But her fresh start takes a dark turn when she discovers something is trapping her familiar, Saifa, in the suburb. He might take the shape of a pūriri moth as a passive-aggressive joke, but whatever power can hold the ancient demon captive is no laughing matter. If Trinity can’t find and break the anchors of his invisible cage, she could lose everything—her power, her freedom, and her only friend in the world.
After another casual fling goes horribly wrong, coeliac witch Trinity moves down the country to start over, yet again, in the bush-clad suburb of Karori. On the surface, it seems like the perfect place: from the local bistro below her flat with its gluten-free baking (and its handsome owner) to the mountain bike trails she can escape to.
But her fresh start takes a dark turn when she discovers something is trapping her familiar, Saifa, in the suburb. He might take the shape of a pūriri moth as a passive-aggressive joke, but whatever power can hold the ancient demon captive is no laughing matter. If Trinity can’t find and break the anchors of his invisible cage, she could lose everything—her power, her freedom, and her only friend in the world.
130 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2021
38 people are currently reading
381 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 17, 2021
I loved this! Hot baker, yes please, sassy familiar? Oh yes! Excellent banter? Always!
December 11, 2024
3.75*
Cute little witchy romance book
Cute little witchy romance book
June 13, 2021
A cosy Sunday morning read. Loved the Wellington setting and all the delicious baked good mentions.
100% ship Trinity with her snarky passive-aggressive demon familiar. Sure, baking dude seems nice and all, but is he an ancient demon with glowing demonic eyes who has to help siphon off her power whilst resisting the desire to suck her dry? I rest my case.
100% ship Trinity with her snarky passive-aggressive demon familiar. Sure, baking dude seems nice and all, but is he an ancient demon with glowing demonic eyes who has to help siphon off her power whilst resisting the desire to suck her dry? I rest my case.
May 14, 2021
An engaging and entertaining novella that left me wishing for a whole series about Trinity and her snarky demon familiar!
July 27, 2024
This was a little like a Mills & Boon Romance Story for teenagers. The storyline was fairly predictable. I enjoyed the setting, as Karori in Wellington is a place I am familiar with and I liked the ‘magic’ that was threaded through the story. My favourite character was Safia. We all need a Safia in our lives. It was a quick, short read - something when you need a break from powerful stories.
When I read the author’s suggestion that her next set of books were “longer and steamier” I groaned.
When I read the author’s suggestion that her next set of books were “longer and steamier” I groaned.
January 11, 2022
Too short, would of liked it to be a full novel with more magic and romance. I felt like she should of realised sooner who the villain was because I did lol, but it was fun to read a witchy story set in NZ and it kept my interest.
June 27, 2021
A magical read that had me intrigued from the first page. Loved all the NZ details and reading about a character who is gluten free!
February 20, 2025
DNF
I could not make it more than 10 pages. The writing made me feel icky and didn't hook me at all. I just couldn't keep going.
I could not make it more than 10 pages. The writing made me feel icky and didn't hook me at all. I just couldn't keep going.
May 21, 2022
felt a bit like fanfic
The story was cute, and I found the celiac bits relatable and well written. There weren’t enough characters to make this a real mystery, and I felt like the names alone gave things away early. It was a quick read, and I was thankful the book was on Kindle so I could look up the New Zealand flora and fauna easily, as well as the witchy vocab. This would be a fun airplane read.
The story was cute, and I found the celiac bits relatable and well written. There weren’t enough characters to make this a real mystery, and I felt like the names alone gave things away early. It was a quick read, and I was thankful the book was on Kindle so I could look up the New Zealand flora and fauna easily, as well as the witchy vocab. This would be a fun airplane read.
February 28, 2022
(This review originally appeared at HistoryThatNeverWas.com.)
Against the Grain by Melanie Harding-Shaw is a lovely urban fantasy novella about magic, romance, and celiac/coeliac disease. Told from the perspective of Trinity, a coeliac witch who believes she’s cursed when it comes to matters of love and romance, it’s a quick-paced story set against a glorious New Zealand backdrop.
Trinity has always has problems with romance, as all of her partners inevitably become obsessed with her in an unhealthy way. So she’s moved around quite a bit, and she’s resolved to try not to fall for anyone in her new home of Karori. But she soon realizes that the idyllic area contains more danger than she expected, and with the help of her familiar, a demonic entity named Saifa, she resolves to get to the bottom of it. Along the way, though, there are two men who catch her attention, and she’s not sure if either of them can be trusted with her health or her heart.
While romance novels aren’t normally my thing, this novella has a romance subplot that works within the story and didn’t feel contrived or overblown. With the protagonist actively working against falling in love, it felt less like a standard romance novel and much more like a story that had the potential for more of a romance in the future of these characters. It was also very cool to see a character who suffered from coeliac disease as the protagonist, and for her disease to be big part of her life without feeling like it was the only thing in her life. As someone who suffers from a gluten intolerance that isn’t quite at the level of coeliac disease, I could easily empathize with the main character and her struggles to find good baked goods.
If you like sweet romantic urban fantasy stories, check out Against the Grain!
Against the Grain by Melanie Harding-Shaw is a lovely urban fantasy novella about magic, romance, and celiac/coeliac disease. Told from the perspective of Trinity, a coeliac witch who believes she’s cursed when it comes to matters of love and romance, it’s a quick-paced story set against a glorious New Zealand backdrop.
Trinity has always has problems with romance, as all of her partners inevitably become obsessed with her in an unhealthy way. So she’s moved around quite a bit, and she’s resolved to try not to fall for anyone in her new home of Karori. But she soon realizes that the idyllic area contains more danger than she expected, and with the help of her familiar, a demonic entity named Saifa, she resolves to get to the bottom of it. Along the way, though, there are two men who catch her attention, and she’s not sure if either of them can be trusted with her health or her heart.
While romance novels aren’t normally my thing, this novella has a romance subplot that works within the story and didn’t feel contrived or overblown. With the protagonist actively working against falling in love, it felt less like a standard romance novel and much more like a story that had the potential for more of a romance in the future of these characters. It was also very cool to see a character who suffered from coeliac disease as the protagonist, and for her disease to be big part of her life without feeling like it was the only thing in her life. As someone who suffers from a gluten intolerance that isn’t quite at the level of coeliac disease, I could easily empathize with the main character and her struggles to find good baked goods.
If you like sweet romantic urban fantasy stories, check out Against the Grain!
February 4, 2022
This is a great little comfort read, best enjoyed with a cup of your favourite hot beverage (hot chocolate for me) and a plate of warm baked goods close at hand. Part of the Witchy Fiction collection, it is a novella combining a couple of delightful characters with romance, magic, and suspense. Just the recipe for a relaxing weekend read.
Powerful witch Trinity and her shape-shifting demon familiar, Saifa, have to keep moving. If they settle in any one place too long, bad things happen. So when she rents a flat over a bistro in the Wellington suburb of Karori, with an appealing baker (Charlie) for a landlord, she’s torn. She knows better than to get romantically involved, even with a man who is sympathetic to her physical ailments (coeliac disease) and who enlists her as a taste tester for all sorts of gluten-free goodies.
But then she discovers she can’t leave Karori, even if she wanted to. Someone has built a magical barrier around the suburb, trapping Saifa, and by extension, her. Who would want to trap them, and why? Is the perpetrator after any witch who falls into the trap, or after her specifically? While they search for answers, her romantic life gets more complicated, and the danger mounts for her, Saifa, and her new friend, Charlie.
The romance in this story was sweet, but underdeveloped. The real sparks were between Trinity and Saifa. Their relationship—intense, conflicted, and more than a little snarky—was the best part of the story.
Powerful witch Trinity and her shape-shifting demon familiar, Saifa, have to keep moving. If they settle in any one place too long, bad things happen. So when she rents a flat over a bistro in the Wellington suburb of Karori, with an appealing baker (Charlie) for a landlord, she’s torn. She knows better than to get romantically involved, even with a man who is sympathetic to her physical ailments (coeliac disease) and who enlists her as a taste tester for all sorts of gluten-free goodies.
But then she discovers she can’t leave Karori, even if she wanted to. Someone has built a magical barrier around the suburb, trapping Saifa, and by extension, her. Who would want to trap them, and why? Is the perpetrator after any witch who falls into the trap, or after her specifically? While they search for answers, her romantic life gets more complicated, and the danger mounts for her, Saifa, and her new friend, Charlie.
The romance in this story was sweet, but underdeveloped. The real sparks were between Trinity and Saifa. Their relationship—intense, conflicted, and more than a little snarky—was the best part of the story.
August 10, 2021
Such a great read! 'Against the Grain' is something a bit different to what I have been reading, but I definitely enjoyed it.
The book was full of mystery, magic, and more. I really enjoyed reading about a character who had health issues too. As someone with chronic health conditions, I felt seen in it. As well as this, it shows some very real realities one might face, and I liked that aspect.
As well as this, I loved all the NZ language and references. Especially with thanks to Saifa! He was a great character and I loved his relationship with Trinity.
The twists at the end were done well and I felt the tension in every sentence!
Loved this book! Definitely recommend you give it a read.
The book was full of mystery, magic, and more. I really enjoyed reading about a character who had health issues too. As someone with chronic health conditions, I felt seen in it. As well as this, it shows some very real realities one might face, and I liked that aspect.
As well as this, I loved all the NZ language and references. Especially with thanks to Saifa! He was a great character and I loved his relationship with Trinity.
The twists at the end were done well and I felt the tension in every sentence!
Loved this book! Definitely recommend you give it a read.
August 23, 2021
Witty, immersive and unique
“Aren’t you bored of being a moth yet?” Aren’t you bored of mothballing your life yet?
I don't wanna give away any spoilers, so I'll try keep this vague but this is a very unique spec fic - it is vivid and immersive, a paranormal experience based in NZ that gets up close and personal with elusive NZ wildlife in a way that I can pretty much guarantee you'll have never had before. (I want a moth shifter buddy so much now)
VIVID descriptions of food like injected donuts that are delightful but also PURE TORTURE to read when hungry (and in a lockdown, unable to order any :( )
Also a really unique and original presence of autoimmune disease symptoms.
Totally recommend giving this book a try if you like new and original experiences.
“Aren’t you bored of being a moth yet?” Aren’t you bored of mothballing your life yet?
I don't wanna give away any spoilers, so I'll try keep this vague but this is a very unique spec fic - it is vivid and immersive, a paranormal experience based in NZ that gets up close and personal with elusive NZ wildlife in a way that I can pretty much guarantee you'll have never had before. (I want a moth shifter buddy so much now)
VIVID descriptions of food like injected donuts that are delightful but also PURE TORTURE to read when hungry (and in a lockdown, unable to order any :( )
Also a really unique and original presence of autoimmune disease symptoms.
Totally recommend giving this book a try if you like new and original experiences.
February 15, 2024
I don't get it...
I'm missing so much world building. How are the magical people organised? There is an old witches retirement home, so there must be a witch community. Where there is a community, there have to be laws or at least rules. So how can it be that Trinity has to hide from other magical folk? That they and nobody cared?
And if she only has to hide from magical folk and has a cursed love life - but seems to not be bisexual or pansexual - why doesn't she have any female non-witchy friends? Why does she have to do this "Oh no, I'm all alone in the world except for my pet demon" thing?
And also, gosh, girl, buy yourself a sex toy! If every man you ever see immediately makes you think of oh no, you can't get together with him, because of your curse, there really is something wrong with you. But not the way you think. (And darling, that's not your heart. Love takes 6-8 months to form.)
Finally,
In the end a book that solely focuses on men. There's not a single female character apart from the protagonist. Even the male demon familiar is bossing her around. And most of it has an undertone of "romance". I don't get where the reviews claiming that this was a fantasy with only a romance subplot came from. The book focuses on little other than which guy will get the girl in the end.
There was potential in there to be an enjoyable story (for me), but unfortunately it always steered away from where the plot would have had to go to get me to like it.
I'm missing so much world building. How are the magical people organised? There is an old witches retirement home, so there must be a witch community. Where there is a community, there have to be laws or at least rules. So how can it be that Trinity has to hide from other magical folk? That they and nobody cared?
And if she only has to hide from magical folk and has a cursed love life - but seems to not be bisexual or pansexual - why doesn't she have any female non-witchy friends? Why does she have to do this "Oh no, I'm all alone in the world except for my pet demon" thing?
And also, gosh, girl, buy yourself a sex toy! If every man you ever see immediately makes you think of oh no, you can't get together with him, because of your curse, there really is something wrong with you. But not the way you think. (And darling, that's not your heart. Love takes 6-8 months to form.)
Finally,
In the end a book that solely focuses on men. There's not a single female character apart from the protagonist. Even the male demon familiar is bossing her around. And most of it has an undertone of "romance". I don't get where the reviews claiming that this was a fantasy with only a romance subplot came from. The book focuses on little other than which guy will get the girl in the end.
There was potential in there to be an enjoyable story (for me), but unfortunately it always steered away from where the plot would have had to go to get me to like it.
February 17, 2024
Against The Grain was a warm hug from home, a beautiful experience through and through.
A witchy novella set in Karori, New Zealand, gluten-free MC, sassy demon familiar, spells, wards, magic, betrayals, found family - what more could you want?
This was such a cosy read. Melanie's writing style is incredible, despite being 130 pages, the story felt so alive (and I loved googling Karori to find how accurate it was to the actual town). I adored everything about it and only wished it was longer. This was a perfect introduction to Melanie's books because you bet I've found a new author to love.
Against The Grain was a 5-star read for me. I love everything about it, I am SO sad it's over and now I really want a sassy Pūriri moth friend.
I couldn't recommend this book enough
A witchy novella set in Karori, New Zealand, gluten-free MC, sassy demon familiar, spells, wards, magic, betrayals, found family - what more could you want?
This was such a cosy read. Melanie's writing style is incredible, despite being 130 pages, the story felt so alive (and I loved googling Karori to find how accurate it was to the actual town). I adored everything about it and only wished it was longer. This was a perfect introduction to Melanie's books because you bet I've found a new author to love.
Against The Grain was a 5-star read for me. I love everything about it, I am SO sad it's over and now I really want a sassy Pūriri moth friend.
I couldn't recommend this book enough
July 12, 2024
Against the Grain is a short novella about celiac witch Trinity, and her pet demon Saifa. The novella follows Trinity to a small town with a baker who specializes in gluten free baked goods, a mysterious man named Dante, and a spell that traps Saifa.
This book was fairly enjoyable. I liked the celiac representation a lot, although I wish how it affected Trinity and her magic was explained a bit better. The romance in this book is fairly small, but the endearing relationship between Trinity and Saifa is what makes this read enjoyable. It wasn’t spectacular, and it wasn’t a total win for me, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
This book was fairly enjoyable. I liked the celiac representation a lot, although I wish how it affected Trinity and her magic was explained a bit better. The romance in this book is fairly small, but the endearing relationship between Trinity and Saifa is what makes this read enjoyable. It wasn’t spectacular, and it wasn’t a total win for me, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
May 15, 2022
The diverse Wellington witch community grows
I love Melanie's style, bringing characters and their settings to life. The point of the witchy series was to be inclusive, local, and cosy - all things that are present here. We Wellingtonians definitely have a connection with the diverse history of our city, and you can tell that through the engagements of our witches - active, engaged with history and tucked away spots. It's easy to find places which are suitable for witches here and go searching out all the places where they hang out.
Nice work!
I love Melanie's style, bringing characters and their settings to life. The point of the witchy series was to be inclusive, local, and cosy - all things that are present here. We Wellingtonians definitely have a connection with the diverse history of our city, and you can tell that through the engagements of our witches - active, engaged with history and tucked away spots. It's easy to find places which are suitable for witches here and go searching out all the places where they hang out.
Nice work!
February 26, 2024
I loved this book, as my husband said it was perfect for me, witchy and mountain biking. I loved that mtb was a priority to Trinity(MFC), the little bike humor that was in there was perfect. It was such a quick read that I had done in just a few hours Friday night to Saturday morning. Cute kind of meet cute, witchy with a sassy little companion, a little drama, a little bit of crazy, some relatable coeliac (gluten intolerance) and riding bikes with her kicking butt and not struggling. I love that the ending didnt rush things for the story line too. I would def recommend this one.
February 5, 2025
I've gotta give this a 5-star rating for the Celiac representation alone. Not only is the representation great to see, but it's also an accurate representation! Including an accurate view of what occurs after being glutened. The book itself is short, and I wish we could've gotten a bit more depth and explanation about what was happening and maybe even some background. Regardless, because of the representation, it's now my favorite book.
June 13, 2021
A book that cheekily educates in the guise of a good story.
Want to learn a bit about being coeliac? Native New Zealand fauna? A great place to visit with some insider knowledge? Wrapped up in a well put together pacey and a little bit delicious sounding story? Then this is a good book to read. Short enough to devour in a couple of delicate (gluten free) bites.
Want to learn a bit about being coeliac? Native New Zealand fauna? A great place to visit with some insider knowledge? Wrapped up in a well put together pacey and a little bit delicious sounding story? Then this is a good book to read. Short enough to devour in a couple of delicate (gluten free) bites.
September 22, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and the details are what makes it so wonderful. Brilliantly written with an engaging plot, and I loved how strongly I could identify with Trinity the gluten free witch. A cosy, clever book, that shows off Harding-Shaw’s exceptional talent for crafting a great story and creating delightful, believable characters.
January 29, 2024
I thought the plot twist and antagonist were pretty obvious, but the extent of the antagonist was pretty surprising. I'm in disbelief that Saifa wasn't able to tell, especially considering how powerful he supposedly is. Honestly there seems to be a lot of plot holes surrounding Saifa but otherwise I like the story. Short and sweet, well written and it get the story across well.
June 12, 2021
Great story telling
Loved the characters, loved how the local geography wove through the story, loved the repartee and I too hope to find a gluten free cronut one day🥰
Loved the characters, loved how the local geography wove through the story, loved the repartee and I too hope to find a gluten free cronut one day🥰
July 3, 2021
Great to see gluten issues as part of a novel, and a witchy one at that, loved it.
July 8, 2021
A great, short book that you can easily get through in half a day. The characters were wonderful and the story itself was fun and, yes, witchy - a plus for me!
August 10, 2021
Absolutely loved this book, great storyline and characters, can't wait to read more!
November 28, 2021
Ah, the coeliac stuff was spot on. I liked the protagonist. Tropey but comforting read, fun and quick and relaxing (and helped in no small part by the sarcastic familiar).
June 26, 2022
Paranormal Wellington! A demon with an attitude! Gluten-free baking! Mountain bikes and native wildlife! This is cute, fun, romantic and well-written.
November 21, 2023
It's cute
It's cute and sweet and very kiwi. For whatever reason it didn't draw me in, but I'd think that's far more on me than the book.
It's cute and sweet and very kiwi. For whatever reason it didn't draw me in, but I'd think that's far more on me than the book.
November 25, 2023
Cute but unsurprising to the point of being predictable; the romance was more of a side plot than an actual plot (which is difficult because the page count was so short).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews