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quinnpjd930's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Classism
yarisbooksandbevs's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
This was super cute. I loved the vengeance plot (while still keeping a cozy, low stakes vibe), the romance, and all the witchiness. There were lots of cute moments and a few OH SHIT moments. I really loved Talia and Emmy was sarcastic and funny. Lin is also super interesting. The world building with magical realism was don’t really nicely and explaining all the families was done really well. I enjoyed this and I could see myself picking it up again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content
Minor: Death
abby_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
3.0
📱
This book was an unexpected delight. I wasn't sure if I would like it. I liked the town, it's kinda reminded me of Halloweentown. I liked the romance between Emmy and Talia.
This book was an unexpected delight. I wasn't sure if I would like it. I liked the town, it's kinda reminded me of Halloweentown. I liked the romance between Emmy and Talia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Misogyny and Classism
readwithria's review
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.0
Payback’s A Witch is an interesting book, and a fun read, but the world building is a little weird. Allow me to explain…
The small Illinois town of Thistle Grove makes almost no sense to me. There are mansions, and giant private estates, and a whole medieval castle, all in a small town that also has regular people living in it? There’s haunted woods, two orchards - how does all of this fit in a small town that also has regular businesses, a high school, and regular people living in it?
All of the town layout conundrums aside, I had a fun time reading this. It was silly and low stakes, and easy to consume.
That being said, I didn’t believe all of the character relationships or the plot setup. Why does Emmy still care about a breakup from nearly ten years ago? What do Emmy and Talia have in common? Why does the competition have to happen? None of this is ever really explained. People even point these things out in the book, and they’re just kinda brushed off as “the way it is”
Is this book fun? Yes. Is it super groundbreaking or impactful? Not in my opinion. 3 stars.
The small Illinois town of Thistle Grove makes almost no sense to me. There are mansions, and giant private estates, and a whole medieval castle, all in a small town that also has regular people living in it? There’s haunted woods, two orchards - how does all of this fit in a small town that also has regular businesses, a high school, and regular people living in it?
All of the town layout conundrums aside, I had a fun time reading this. It was silly and low stakes, and easy to consume.
That being said, I didn’t believe all of the character relationships or the plot setup. Why does Emmy still care about a breakup from nearly ten years ago? What do Emmy and Talia have in common? Why does the competition have to happen? None of this is ever really explained. People even point these things out in the book, and they’re just kinda brushed off as “the way it is”
Is this book fun? Yes. Is it super groundbreaking or impactful? Not in my opinion. 3 stars.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity
theverycraftyvegan's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5 stars for this wonderfully witchy book! Reading about Emmy Harlow’s return to Thistle Grove was magical, reading about why she left made me mad, and reading about what happens after her return had me smiling.
All the different relationships between the characters was lovely and angering at the same time. Some people were good and kind, others were complicated, and some were just the worst and I loved to hate them!
I can’t wait to continue with this series!
All the different relationships between the characters was lovely and angering at the same time. Some people were good and kind, others were complicated, and some were just the worst and I loved to hate them!
I can’t wait to continue with this series!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
merryfaith's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Alcohol
augustar14's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Body horror and Bullying
bzliz's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is a cute, harmless modern fantasy with a witchy side of queer love. It wasn’t groundbreaking by any means but I enjoyed it well enough to continue the series.
Our main character Emmy is returning to Thistle Grove to be the Arbiter of the Gauntlet- a 3 event magic tournament of the other 3 founding families of the town. Her ex-boyfriend’s casual dismissal of her family led to her fleeing town as soon as she was able, forsaking magic to build a life of her own in Chicago. In the mean time, he has managed to burn her best friend and the sexy wild card which leads to a plot for revenge to ensure his family loses the tournament.
The romance was cute but overall the less interesting part of the book. A lot of their chemistry felt heavy handed and Talia didn’t feel like a real person to me. Their blow-up didn’t feel warranted and felt manufactured.
I preferred seeing Emmy’s personal growth as she learns that she can still love her town and she doesn’t have to change everything about herself because of Gareth’s past actions. I would have like to see more of the families interacting; it seems like most of them want to follow tradition even though it has always been weighted heavily in favor of one family in particular. I kept thinking of it like generational wealth: of course the family who has “earned” some extra luck and magic over the past several generations keeps winning their little tournament at the expense of the other families.
Content warnings:
Cursing (on page):I don’t usually tag this but the cursing in this was so prolific that it feels worth mentioning. Hardly a page goes by without a curse or three to spice it up.
Sexual content (on page/fade to black):There’s a make out scene in the woods that gets stopped by spirits. Further sexual situations including chest touching but anything spicier fades to black.
Alcohol (on page):A few bar scenes and a party in the woods, plus alcohol at functions. Emmy has a hangover in one scene.
Infidelity (off page):Prior to the start of the book, Gareth is seeing Lin while hooking up with Talia. Talia feels betrayed because she thought they were exclusive and Lin felt betrayed because she thought they were falling in love.
Our main character Emmy is returning to Thistle Grove to be the Arbiter of the Gauntlet- a 3 event magic tournament of the other 3 founding families of the town. Her ex-boyfriend’s casual dismissal of her family led to her fleeing town as soon as she was able, forsaking magic to build a life of her own in Chicago. In the mean time, he has managed to burn her best friend and the sexy wild card which leads to a plot for revenge to ensure his family loses the tournament.
The romance was cute but overall the less interesting part of the book. A lot of their chemistry felt heavy handed and Talia didn’t feel like a real person to me. Their blow-up didn’t feel warranted and felt manufactured.
I preferred seeing Emmy’s personal growth as she learns that she can still love her town and she doesn’t have to change everything about herself because of Gareth’s past actions. I would have like to see more of the families interacting; it seems like most of them want to follow tradition even though it has always been weighted heavily in favor of one family in particular. I kept thinking of it like generational wealth: of course the family who has “earned” some extra luck and magic over the past several generations keeps winning their little tournament at the expense of the other families.
Content warnings:
Cursing (on page):
Sexual content (on page/fade to black):
Alcohol (on page):
Infidelity (off page):
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity and Alcohol
emilywemily6's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book is a well-written, cozy witchy read with a major subplot of sapphic romance. I’ve read other cozy reads like this, but this one was the most well written in sentence structure, voice, etc. The turn of events in the third challenge and after that felt like there were plot holes and unanswered questions, and some quick resolutions, but overall I enjoyed the story, the characters, the ending, and the twists. I’m excited to read the rest of the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
ilaxaria's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Alcohol