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jnishi's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely fantastic! The first one was great but this one surpassed it in greatness. It doesn’t shy away from darkness for sure but Abe handles it with grace and deft pen. Superb read.
gallagirlreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
cait_readsxox's review against another edition
5.0
Such an amazing ending to a fantastic duology! I absolutely loved the first book and it was no surprise I loved this one too! I love how we got to see more of Eva’s friendship with Charlotte and Davy! This book somehow had even more adventurous elements to it; with the characters moving around more to solve the truth about the culling, the missing witches, wizards, and non magical people. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author because she writes such fantastic middle grade
hanacopter's review against another edition
3.0
Me screaming into pips ear: Do you ever read a book and you're like the answer is so fucking obvious you fuckwit to the mc but then you realise the mc is a child and you're like nvm carry on 13 year old IDIOT
I like that this book answered the underlying plot points from the first book, which I thought was the most interesting part of the duology.
I like that this book answered the underlying plot points from the first book, which I thought was the most interesting part of the duology.
emily_mh's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This sequel read quite differently from its predecessor, which worked in some ways and let me down in others. For example, Semi-Magical Witch (SMW) is undoubtedly a cosy fantasy with a Studio Ghibli-inspired atmosphere. Cursed Witch (CW) is a lot darker, with world-ending stakes, and so loses all the Studio Ghibli magic and cosiness for it. This might turn readers off, and I thought this might be the case for me too, but the change-up actually allowed for an engaging, fast-paced plot to take place. I found it very entertaining and didn’t want to put the book down in the final third.
An element that didn’t work so well in CW was Eva herself. Her “development” here was a weaker, unsatisfying version of that which took place in SMW. This is because, unlike in SMW, Eva’s lack of magic was never actually a threat in CW. There’s never a risk of her fainting from magic overuse, she can handle almost every spell that’s required of her, yet Abe still tries to position Eva’s development in realising her capabilities. You can’t do this satisfactorily when her capabilities aren’t properly in question! And I didn’t like that they weren’t in question, either. This was a core part of Eva’s character in SMW and it sucked that it wasn’t carried over well into CW. It makes her feel like another super-charged, naturally capable magical middle-grade MC instead of the Eva who has to be creative and problem-solve, who has to work for her achievements. Here she could just do the spell, or someone else was there to do it for her. The payoff just wasn’t the same. I don’t think this was Abe’s intention for Eva judging by the way she positioned Eva’s character development, but this was how it came across.
What unfortunately WAS carried over in CW were the writing problems of SMW. The prose was again sometimes repetitive or bloated or forced, and the rhyming spells still read like first drafts.
I was really conflicted about rating this. While there were some issues with craft, I still enjoyed reading CW. The world is so interesting, the relationships between the characters are heartwarming, I love Ember, the emotional beats were solid for the most part, and, as aforementioned, it was entertaining. So while I wouldn’t give this a solid 4 stars, it sits close by at a 3.75.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Major: medical emergency, sick parent Moderate: loss of a loved one Minor: typhoon, loss of a loved one, missing loved one, adverse weather, earthquake, floodmonniebiloney's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The story makes weird decisions to move it's plot forward. It's almost like the author had a couple of specific scenes in mind when writing the book, but was unsure how to get to those scenes, and the story suffered for it.
If I had to describe this book, it would have been disappointing.
If I had to describe this book, it would have been disappointing.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
asreadbykat's review against another edition
5.0
After adoring "Eva Evergreen: Semi-magical Witch," I was both excited for and nervous about this sequel. Would it be as heartwarming? As enchanting? As good? I'm pleased to say that, in my opinion, the answer to all those questions is a loud, resounding: YES.
In this sequel, the stakes are higher. Eva must help uncover the mystery behind the Culling and save the entire realm before it's too late, with only her friends and her own small spark of magic supporting her.
Although the novel still retains the Studio Ghibli feel of the first one, "The Cursed Witch" carries a distinctly darker tone. If "Semi-Magical Witch" is the novel equivalent of watching "Kiki's Delivery Service," then "The Cursed Witch" falls somewhere between watching "Castle in the Sky" or "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind." While still heartwarming, there are still dangers and repercussions that must be faced, and the novel stands strong in the face of them while still retaining all the heart and warmth of the first.
If I wanted to look hard enough, I could probably find something to criticize about this; the plot moved too quickly, plot points weren't introduced before and so come as a huge shock, etc. And while all those critiques would be valid, I think it's a testament to the strength of the story that I didn't care about them at all. I was too invested in Eva and her journey, and the mystery that was unfolding. I basically binged this book because I just couldn't put it down, and that's a rare thing nowadays.
If you loved "Semi-Magical Witch," then I can guarantee you're going to love this sequel as well.
In this sequel, the stakes are higher. Eva must help uncover the mystery behind the Culling and save the entire realm before it's too late, with only her friends and her own small spark of magic supporting her.
Although the novel still retains the Studio Ghibli feel of the first one, "The Cursed Witch" carries a distinctly darker tone. If "Semi-Magical Witch" is the novel equivalent of watching "Kiki's Delivery Service," then "The Cursed Witch" falls somewhere between watching "Castle in the Sky" or "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind." While still heartwarming, there are still dangers and repercussions that must be faced, and the novel stands strong in the face of them while still retaining all the heart and warmth of the first.
If I wanted to look hard enough, I could probably find something to criticize about this; the plot moved too quickly, plot points weren't introduced before and so come as a huge shock, etc. And while all those critiques would be valid, I think it's a testament to the strength of the story that I didn't care about them at all. I was too invested in Eva and her journey, and the mystery that was unfolding. I basically binged this book because I just couldn't put it down, and that's a rare thing nowadays.
If you loved "Semi-Magical Witch," then I can guarantee you're going to love this sequel as well.
dgrstory'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? No
3.75
Less whimsical and personal than the first book, a fun adventure with familiar characters.
mels_reads_'s review against another edition
4.0
4,5 stars ⭐
Nem acredito que chegamos oficialmente ao final das aventuras de Eva Evergreen. Não fazia ideia que era apenas uma duologia e agora queria mais!!
Nem acredito que chegamos oficialmente ao final das aventuras de Eva Evergreen. Não fazia ideia que era apenas uma duologia e agora queria mais!!