Reviews

Oof, this was a TOUGH start to my spooky season reading. The actual criminal / animal sacrifices storyline was decent, and I actually didn't figure out the whodunnit until nearly the end of the book, a few pages before the actual reveal...but maybe that's because I was too distracted by the ATROCIOUS romance storyline.

I could NOT get behind the "courting" behaviors of the MMC, AT ALL. They were at best pushing past the boundaries of consent and at worst abusive (more on that later). I can handle books with gray characters, with villains, with characters I loathe, but not when said character is supposed to be the love interest and painted as loving and caring!! Plus, I'm just not one for too many pet names. The "babe"s I could tolerate, but every time they said "baby," I was sent over the edge, in the worst way possible.

Also, while the story is set in Salem (MA), I wish there had been more witchy vibes. The witchy vibes felt like an after thought sometimes, which is hard to accomplish when you're writing a book set in Salem during the lead up to Halloween!

***SPOILERS NEXT AS I COMPLAIN ABOUT GRAHAM (MMC)***

So, Graham is supposed to be the overly protective alpha type, and we are supposed to love him for it. While that's not my personal type, I can get behind characters like this if done appropriately (ACOTAR comes to mind). BUT THIS WAS NOT DONE WELL.

Here are my reasons for why Graham was an abusive lead, and not some swoon worthy heartthrob:

1a. Gwen is kidnapped. Roofied and dragged off into a basement of an abandoned building. Graham finds and saves her, all good so far...until Gwen learns he isn't taking her home, but instead to his house. Gwen protests PROFUSELY, but Graham refuses to yield...essentially kidnapping her AGAIN to take to his house, after multiple, very clear "no"s.

1b. Okay, so maybe you make the argument Graham is more familiar with him own home, and as such, better able to protect Gwen there. Her best friend, Flo, seems to think so. But then, what does Graham do? HE KISSES HER TO "SHUT HER UP." ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?? THIS WOMAN WAS JUST KIDNAPPED AND YOU ARE USING KISSING AS TACTIC TO MAKE HER STOP TALKING??

1c. Again, Gwen has JUST BEEN KIDNAPPED. She has expressed her discomfort sleeping away from her own home. At first, it seems like Graham is being a gentleman and letting her have the bed...UNTIL HE SHOWS UP TO SLEEP NEXT TO HER. Gwen expresses her discomfort. Graham doesn't move. Gwen eventually clearly articulates that she cannot sleep when sharing a bed with someone else because of her childhood trauma. GRAHAM STILL DOESN'T MOVE AND GIVE GWEN HER SPACE. Instead, he tells her where his Kindle is and its passcode, and we are supposed to think that is a sweet, kind gesture??? Get the fuck out of here.

2. On two different occasions, he seemingly uses shows of physical affection to prove points. The author seems to try to paint this as Gwrn overreacting to his comments, but nope, I'm not buying it. Do not use physical intimacy to prove a fucking point.

3a. He made a copy of her house key without her consent. Need I say more??

3b. Okay, I'll say more. He then used said unauthorized key copy to break into her house in the middle of the night, go into her room, and pretend to be an intruder. To teach her a fucking lesson. YUCK YUCK YUCK, FUCK NO. You already know she has childhood trauma related to not having safe spaces to sleep and you pull that fucking shit?? EXTRA YUCK beyond the baseline YUCK.

4. At one point, Graham points to Gwen's stiff nipples as a sign that she was into what they were just doing and wanted it. The book shows us through Gwen's narration that she was consenting in the moment. HOWEVER, Gwen never verbally consented to what was happening, so for Graham to point to physical signs of arousal as evidence of her wanting it is NOT FUCKING OKAY. THAT IS SOME RAPE CULTURE BULLSHIT. **Women's (and men's) bodies can show signs of physical arousal, EVEN WHEN THEY DO NOT WANT SAID PHYSICAL CONTACT AND ARE NOT CONSENTING. TO SAY OTHERWISE, IS PROPAGATING RAPE CULTURE BULLSHIT.

5. This quote from Graham: "'...I'm done with your boundaries and your bullshit excuses.'" (Chapter 14) I'm sorry, I'M DONE WITH YOUR BOUNDARIES?? AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE GRAHAM'S SIDE??????

6. "'...We're having what I like to call a conversation. And a conversation is between two people. You and me. We both get to decide when it's done. You don't get to order me out just because you don't like what you're hearing.'

I glowered at him, unable to refute his points." (Chapter 17)

UNABLE TO REFUTE HIS POINTS?! In normal circumstances, a conversation requires TWO people who want to talk to each other. If one of them doesn't want to talk anymore, the conversation ends. And that's in NORMAL circumstances. Never mind the fact that this "conversation" is happening in Gwen's home after Graham BROKE INTO HER HOUSE.

7. "'You decide to withhold any of that information, you even think about withholding any of that information, and I will toss you over my shoulder, take you to my bed, tear off your clothes, and quite literally fuck the truth out of you. And babe?' He leaned in, hands planting back on the countertop, and glared at me, his eyes narrowed to emerald slits. 'I will enjoy it.'" (Chapter 19)

That sounds more like a rape threat than cutesy romantic banter...

8. The use of "my woman" and such throughout the book. Ick.

***okay, and a few quotes I did like or made my chuckle***

"I'm more of a dog person. -Gwen Goode, forced to hold a newborn" (Chapter 8)

"'You couldn't beat me if I was a bowl of egg whites!'

'Your new nickname will be meringue after Sunday's meeting. Just you wait!'" (Chapter 8)

"When you've got nothing, you learn early on that nothing is really free." (Chapter 12)

"When you're a kid, you think by the time you're an adult, you'll have it all figured out. Life, that is. As though you'll turn eighteen and, with the simple flip of a calendar page, be better equipped to handle everything that the world throws at you.

Of course, when you actually turn eighteen, you realize pretty quickly that you're just as much of an idiot kid as you were at eight--albeit with slightly better sense of style and slightly worse taste in men." (Chapter 16)

thebookishbrewnette's review

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2.0

Let me start by saying, this book gives great fall witchy vibes. I highly enjoyed the witty headings/quotes from Gwen at the opening of each chapter. The characters were enjoyable, and the storyline itself is not bad, but this just wasn't the book for me.

The relationship between Gwen and Graham just took off too quickly especially considering the amount of time Gwen spent pining/loathing him and him basically ignoring her. He comes across very aggressive, arrogant, and the way most of his dialogue is written irritated me. While he did have a lot of redeeming qualities, the relationship between the two just didn't grow organically or make me tense waiting for them to get together.

I feel like the "who is behind this" mystery got overshadowed and felt disconnected - popping into the story when it was convenient. I did enjoy the ending of that storyline as I did not see it coming...even though I thought I knew.

Overall, I think this will be an enjoyable book for a lot of people, it was just a little too chaotic and disconnected for me.

rachhhe's review

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

happilycricket's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

graham graves is both the reddest and the greenest flag ever
still made me kick my feet

aade6705's review

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adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

4.5

iaiatales's review

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3.0

What a mess of feelings.
I was truly intrigued after reading the plot of this book, attracted by the witchy spooky vibe and quirky characters! Usually I am a sucker for it but this book was not it for me.
While I enjoyed the story and still think it had so much potential, it ended up being quite a mediocre reading for so many things.

Gwendolyn is the owner of an occult shop in Salem which she manages after the death of her Aunt. She loves her friends and the life she worked hard to achieve after having a rough start, but after a string of threats she finds herself in the middle of a mystery. The man in charge of the investigation is Graham, her childhood crush (we’re gonna circle back to this) turned out enemy/ company non grata.

See what I was going on about? A whimsical world where the occult mixes up with reality, a quirky FC and a solid romance. The perfect combination.

Until it wasn’t. I might spoiler a little, so be aware from this point on.
The story didn’t really evolve as much as I hoped, the characters lacked depth. Even Gwen of whom we got the widest backstory ends up being quite boring. We don’t know anything about Graham beside him being a consultant and the golden/ perfect boy of Salem.
Their history is nonexistent and borderline on creepy.
Gwen meets Graham when she is 10 years old and he is 5 years older, and while I could understand an innocent crush it felt a bit awkward and uncomfortable to read, especially when 10 year old Gwen focused so much on her lack of boobs and his “V” line during the encounters.
They meet again ONCE when she is thirteen and he is seventeen (?) and he remembers her
They meet again when they’re adults and after a dramatic encounter Gwen decides that Graham is a dick. Reasonably. He says so many wrong things that made me very mad.
They have sporadic meetings for two years, mostly happening though their mutual friends, but nothing really goes on.
Until one day he decides that she is more. His gaze goes from icy to heated!
Write me surprised!

blueyreadseverything's review

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4.0

Once I finally got into this book (more my fault than fault with the story or writing) it was a ton of fun. Low spice and a little mystery, some suspense, murder and the potential of a bunch of future MMCs working in detection...yes please.
I enjoyed all of this and while I had a good idea of who the baddie was by halfway through, the possible other baddies were very well hinted at and gave some reasonable doubt to my initial (and correct) first guess.
The set up for the next book is awesome, especially with the way the plot for that one starts in this one very subtly.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this one and am looking forward to book two.

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