The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
alicelalicon's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death
lulu_canread's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Magic Lies and Deadly Pies is a fantastic, cosy mystery about our entrepid magical pie girl, Daisy, who not only runs a pie business, but has a side hustle in murder. The mystery of this story is not how Daisy makes her magic pies infused with emotions, but on who is blackmailing her with information about her customers and the victims they order pie for.
This is a fun, mostly lighthearted story with a great sense of humour and a strong message about empowering domestic abuse victims and not letting 'victim' define who they are. While some of the dialogue is a little awkward at parts, and the ending was a little predictable. This is still a fun read with a great change of the typical cosy, baking mystery tropes.
This is a fun, mostly lighthearted story with a great sense of humour and a strong message about empowering domestic abuse victims and not letting 'victim' define who they are. While some of the dialogue is a little awkward at parts, and the ending was a little predictable. This is still a fun read with a great change of the typical cosy, baking mystery tropes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, and Misogyny
Minor: Murder and Sexual harassment
This book does contain mentions of domestic abuse (central to the plot of the story), along with some misogyny and mentions of addiction/alcoholism.leanne_miron's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Murder, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Car accident, and Death of parent
emmylamptey's review
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Daisy Ellery and her homemade pie business are more than meets the eye. From a glance, Daisy looks like a sweet, 1950s style housewife who bakes pies for a local diner, farmers markets, support group meetings, and college campuses. Her pies are sweet, delicious and customers swear they feel happier, stronger, or more focused. These customers are right.
Daisy comes from a long line of Ellery women who are all witches. These women’s magic is channeled through traditionally feminine skills like sewing, hair styling, and in Daisy’s case, baking pies. Daisy bakes magic into all her pies to help her customers improve their lives.
However, Daisy also possesses a power her ancestors did not: she is able to kill bad men without a trace with her magical pies (or so she believes). Daisy is a vigilante and passionate about social justice; creating pies to help local women who have been wronged by violent partners, abusers, and rapists. When someone finds out what Daisy is doing and contracts her to bake pies as blackmail, she is put into a compromising position.
While this mystery is not cozy in the traditional sense, the small town, farmers markets, and pie baking certainly are all very cozy plot devices. The book’s themes are likely darker than anticipated due to the nature of the crimes the men have committed and also that the protagonist is a murderer herself.
The writing was quirky and fun and I loved the diversity and inclusion present in the book. The authors politics are quite apparent in the book, which could be a turn off for some but not for me. This book is totally “Witches vs. The Patriarchy” baked up into a pie.
Thank you to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Daisy comes from a long line of Ellery women who are all witches. These women’s magic is channeled through traditionally feminine skills like sewing, hair styling, and in Daisy’s case, baking pies. Daisy bakes magic into all her pies to help her customers improve their lives.
However, Daisy also possesses a power her ancestors did not: she is able to kill bad men without a trace with her magical pies (or so she believes). Daisy is a vigilante and passionate about social justice; creating pies to help local women who have been wronged by violent partners, abusers, and rapists. When someone finds out what Daisy is doing and contracts her to bake pies as blackmail, she is put into a compromising position.
While this mystery is not cozy in the traditional sense, the small town, farmers markets, and pie baking certainly are all very cozy plot devices. The book’s themes are likely darker than anticipated due to the nature of the crimes the men have committed and also that the protagonist is a murderer herself.
The writing was quirky and fun and I loved the diversity and inclusion present in the book. The authors politics are quite apparent in the book, which could be a turn off for some but not for me. This book is totally “Witches vs. The Patriarchy” baked up into a pie.
Thank you to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Murder
Minor: Rape, Sexual harassment, Cancer, and Trafficking
idun_aurora's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book ticked many of my boxes. Cozy murder, mystery, HBTIQ+ and feminist themes, some romance, a sprinkle of magic, mouthwatering descriptions of pastries, and a cute dog. There are even recipes!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Body shaming, Sexism, Infidelity, Misogyny, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Emotional abuse
The book is quite lighthearted, but deals with the listed CW's seriously, skilfully balancing the heavy content with, well, really cozy baking.foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
“To everyone working to dismantle the pastry-archy in their own way.”
Synopsis: Daisy Ellery is your friendly local vigilante pie lady, on her mission to exact justice on behalf of wronged parties through magical pies.
I actually read this book in mid-April, but I’ve been holding off writing this review forever because I just loved this book so much and wanted to do it justice! This was such a fun read, I loved Daisy with her compassionate energy mixed with a whole lot of snark.
This was such a unique spin on a cozy read, as there were strong feminist threads weaved throughout and an interesting examination of how principles of restorative justice could look (albeit with a magical bent). This book deals with some pretty serious issues though, so be sure to check out the content warnings.
As well, while there are romances in this book, including some queer rep, this definitely takes a back seat to the larger storyline of Daisy’s magical pie business and mysterious blackmailer.
A final tip while reading this book: Don’t read this while you’re hungry! The descriptions of all the pies (yes, I would like a cutie pie) will have your mouth watering, and Misha Popp so graciously offers up some much needed recipes at the end. I can’t wait to see more in the Pies Before Guys series!
Pick this one up if you love:
- the Finlay Donovan series or quirky, murdery leads
- Baking/baking competition shows
- Books that blend genres
Thanks Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced listening copy of this audiobook!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment
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