verinvaldez's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An incredible book, Hester the witch is working as a hag but everything goes wrong when she loses her magic and is fired.
She is assigned her familiar, a highly charismatic cockroach named Herman that Hester transforms into many different forms throughout the book. Herman and Missera, the familiar of Hester's best friend Magda and a hat wearing asp, are two of the most endearing, troublemaking animal companions I've read about.
On her journey to stay at a job long enough to be allowed to become an Adept she struggles to keep a job as her magical abilities slowly return to her.
The writing style is funny and engaging, Hester's diary is a joy to read. The final 40% of the book undoubtedly transcends the previous 60%. Hester is such a fish out of water, but she adapts wonderfully and you can tell how much happier she is. It is such a wholesome, cosy experience after the trouble she has to deal with in the first half of the book, it feels so earned.
I am sincerely looking forward to Rebecca Brae's future works.
She is assigned her familiar, a highly charismatic cockroach named Herman that Hester transforms into many different forms throughout the book. Herman and Missera, the familiar of Hester's best friend Magda and a hat wearing asp, are two of the most endearing, troublemaking animal companions I've read about.
On her journey to stay at a job long enough to be allowed to become an Adept she struggles to keep a job as her magical abilities slowly return to her.
The writing style is funny and engaging, Hester's diary is a joy to read. The final 40% of the book undoubtedly transcends the previous 60%. Hester is such a fish out of water, but she adapts wonderfully and you can tell how much happier she is. It is such a wholesome, cosy experience after the trouble she has to deal with in the first half of the book, it feels so earned.
I am sincerely looking forward to Rebecca Brae's future works.
Moderate: Excrement
Minor: Violence, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Animal death, and Toxic relationship
shellycampbellauthor's review
4.0
Fun, fanciful, feel good read.
The Witch’s Diary was not within my regular wheel house, but I enjoyed it nonetheless! Hester was a wonderful reminder of the messes we can get into—and out of—when life throws us curve balls. Seeing our world—the outerplane—through Hester’s eyes was great fun. Rebecca does a fantastic job of dealing with some pretty heavy life lessons all the while maintaining this witchy read as a lighthearted departure from the everyday.
The Witch’s Diary was not within my regular wheel house, but I enjoyed it nonetheless! Hester was a wonderful reminder of the messes we can get into—and out of—when life throws us curve balls. Seeing our world—the outerplane—through Hester’s eyes was great fun. Rebecca does a fantastic job of dealing with some pretty heavy life lessons all the while maintaining this witchy read as a lighthearted departure from the everyday.
essjay's review
4.75
Do I feel bad for judging this book by its cover? Yes, but in my defense, that cover is terrible and makes this look like any of the many terrible self-published paranormal romances disguised as paranormal cozies that I normally ragequit after said romance shows up.
This is NOT a romance, and Hester Digitalis Wishbone would never wear that hat, but I'm going to stop harping on the cover now because this book was a fucking delight.
I genuinely had a huge grin on my face while reading, and even got a little weepy a few times. I loved Hester's voice, her familiar, the surprising group of friends she accumulated, the magical bureaucracy (a personal weakness of mine), and the well-developed magic system.
I don't necessarily see myself re-reading, but would love to read more in this world and will be attempting to force this on others for a long time.
This is NOT a romance, and Hester Digitalis Wishbone would never wear that hat, but I'm going to stop harping on the cover now because this book was a fucking delight.
I genuinely had a huge grin on my face while reading, and even got a little weepy a few times. I loved Hester's voice, her familiar, the surprising group of friends she accumulated, the magical bureaucracy (a personal weakness of mine), and the well-developed magic system.
I don't necessarily see myself re-reading, but would love to read more in this world and will be attempting to force this on others for a long time.
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