Book Review – Lessons in Magic and Disaster

02 Feb 2026 Leave a comment

by Clare in Books, Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

I didn’t realize that Charlie Jane Anders had a new book out until I came across it while browsing NetGalley. I’d really enjoyed three of her earlier books, and you can find my reviews as well as purchase links below. Lessons in Magic and Disaster is her newest book and my review follows.

  • All the Birds in the Sky (review here / purchase here)
  • The City in the Middle of the Night (review here / purchase here)
  • Never Say You Can’t Survive (review here / purchase here)

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I read the e-book edition.

Here is the blurb:

In the vein of Alice Hoffman and Charlie Jane Anders’s own All the Birds in the Sky comes a novel full of love, disaster, and magic.

A young witch teaches her mother how to do magic–with very unexpected results–in this relatable, resonant novel about family, identity, and the power of love.

Jamie is basically your average New England academic in-training–she has a strong queer relationship, an esoteric dissertation proposal, and inherited generational trauma. But she has one extraordinary secret: she’s also a powerful witch.

Serena, Jamie’s mother, has been hiding from the world in an old one-room schoolhouse for several years, grieving the death of her wife and the simultaneous explosion in her professional life. All she has left are memories.

Jamie’s busy digging into a three-hundred-year-old magical book, but she still finds time to teach Serena to cast spells and help her come out of her shell. But Jamie doesn’t know the whole story of what happened to her mom years ago, and those secrets are leading Serena down a destructive path.

Now it’s up to this grad student and literature nerd to understand the secrets behind this mysterious novel from 1749, unearth a long-buried scandal hinted therein, and learn the true nature of magic, before her mother ruins both of their lives.

This book was one of a few unfortunate DNFs (did-not-finish) for me in 2025. I made it about a third of the way before I gave up. It wasn’t that it was bad, it just wasn’t for me, and I think there are probably people out there that will love this novel. Let me see if I can explain my reaction.

Jamie is the protagonist and discovers that she can perform rites that cause favorable events to happen for her. This magic has no instructions or teacher, but she has fumbled her way to a rudimentary functional understanding that allows her to produce vaguely predictable results. I found the initial descriptions of the magic to be inventive and in a way, earnest. I could truly believe that this magic worked for Jamie and her mother, and that drew me in at the beginning of this book.

However, the story became less about the magic and more about Jamie’s relationships and her thesis struggles. By itself, those ideas could make for a decent story, but I never liked Jamie and couldn’t get invested in her struggles. Much of the novel is taken over by her obsessive research into a mid-18th century novel that feels like it should exist, but doesn’t. I felt like I was not enough of a literature nerd to understand what was going on, and this aspect of the story bored me.

I think that the concept (for as far as I got) would have worked better in a shorter format. Despite not enjoying this book, I loved the author’s earlier books and would still pick up a future novel by her.

Have you read anything by Charlie Jane Anders? Which book was your favorite? Let me know in the comments.

You can find more of my book reviews here.

Book Review – Perfectly Wicked

18 Feb 2025 1 Comment

by Clare in Books, Reviews Tags: , , , , , ,

I picked up Perfectly Wicked by Lindsay Lovise on a whim when I saw it on sale. This is a romance with magic-wielding characters who are not quite witches (paid link).

I read the hardcover edition.

Here is the blurb:

Holly Celeste and her sisters make the best apple cider in Maine—courtesy of a magical secret ingredient—but even that hasn’t been enough to keep their orchard afloat. To save the family business, Holly accepts a proposal to let a ghost hunting series film an episode on her farm. Connor Grimm may be the sexy and down-to-earth TV host the nation loves, but to Holly he represents her greatest fear: exposure. Holly doesn’t mind if Connor chases down a silly ghost story—it’s their other secret she’s terrified he’ll reveal.

Connor Grimm’s life goal is to normalize the paranormal, which he does on his show, Grimm Reality. Except he isn’t only looking for a ghost at Wicked Good Apples. There have been rumors of rain during droughts and other inexplicable happenings that could only be attributed to something supernatural, and Connor plans to expose it on an episode that will take his show’s success to another level.

Intent on keeping Connor in the dark, Holly joins him as he interviews eyewitnesses, hunts for old records, and unearths a story even she didn’t know existed. Despite her resolution to dislike him, she begins to fall for the only man who’s ever made her feel like strange could be normal. Too bad a relationship with Connor could only be temporary; he moves to a new state every month, and there’s no room in his life for a woman with a pet hedgehog, a houseful of nosy aunts and sisters, and a failing apple orchard.

When Connor finally pieces together Holly’s greatest secret, he’s forced to choose between revealing his biggest paranormal discovery yet and propelling his show to the top of the charts, and giving it all up for the wicked woman who’s charmed his heart.

After some dark, dense, and long fantasy books, I needed to find something like this light romance novel from Lindsay Lovise. I read this last month while I was sick with the flu, so I finished this book in just a few days. It was easy to read and at about 300 pages, made for a quick break from more complicated novels.

This book follows a traditional formula for a romance novel. We see the main male and female character’s viewpoint chapters as they both deny what they feel for each other and try to resist their mutual attraction. Circumstances keep throwing them together until they realize they can no longer resist each other. There is a good amount of spicy description in this book, and a particularly hot hayloft painting scene.

I liked how the plot skipped over details of Connor’s show and only showed brief glimpses of his filming process. The focus of the story was on the character interactions and the mystery of the apple farm’s magic and history. While this was a romance, I found enough other aspects of the plot to keep me interested in how the characters figured out those secrets.

I had assumed that Holly and her sisters were witches, but they never thought of themselves this way, and they struggled to understand their own magic. This turned out to be an important mystery in the book, but initially I had thought it was a weakness in the characterization.

Overall this was a light and fun book. I’d consider reading another novel by this author. Have you read any other books by Lindsay Lovise? Let me know in the comments.

Find more of my reviews here.

Book Review – Time’s Convert

04 Aug 2021 Leave a comment

by Clare in Books, Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

This is another review for a book that I’d read some time ago. Time’s Convert by Deborah Harkness is both a prequel and a sequel to her All Souls Trilogy. I don’t think I reviewed the first book, A Discovery of Witches, but you can find my reviews for Shadow of Night (#2) here, and The Book of Life (#3) here.

While you could probably read this book without having read the earlier ones since much of it tells the backstory of one character (Marcus), the parts set in the present of the story won’t make much sense.

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Here is the blurb:

On the battlefields of the American Revolution, Matthew de Clermont meets Marcus MacNeil, a young surgeon from Massachusetts, during a moment of political awakening when it seems that the world is on the brink of a brighter future. When Matthew offers him a chance at immortality and a new life free from the restraints of his puritanical upbringing, Marcus seizes the opportunity to become a vampire. But his transformation is not an easy one and the ancient traditions and responsibilities of the de Clermont family clash with Marcus’s deeply held beliefs in liberty, equality, and brotherhood.

Fast-forward to contemporary Paris, where Phoebe Taylor–the young employee at Sotheby’s whom Marcus has fallen for–is about to embark on her own journey to immortality. Though the modernized version of the process at first seems uncomplicated, the couple discovers that the challenges facing a human who wishes to be a vampire are no less formidable than they were in the eighteenth century. The shadows that Marcus believed he’d escaped centuries ago may return to haunt them both–forever.

A passionate love story and a fascinating exploration of the power of tradition and the possibilities not just for change but for revolution, Time’s Convert channels the supernatural world-building and slow-burning romance that made the All Souls Trilogy instant bestsellers to illuminate a new and vital moment in history, and a love affair that will bridge centuries.

I enjoyed this book but I could see how it wouldn’t be for everyone. If you read the original three books, then this novel fills in some backstory and provides a look ahead at how Matthew and Diana’s story continues. The dynamics between the vampires are expanded upon, but the story doesn’t have the same tension as the original trilogy.

The author is reportedly working on more books in this world though, so if you liked Matthew and Diana’s story, I would read this book so that you’re caught up when the next one comes out. Also, AMC has produced a television show from the All Souls Trilogy. The first season was well done and the second season is out now (I still have to watch the new episodes)!

Here’s my last comment — I have a kitten (okay, adult cat now) named Marcus. He wasn’t named for the character in this book, but here are photos, just because the internet always needs more cats.

If you like witches, look here in October for my thoughts on some witchy fiction! I’m planning to read several witch-themed books soon.

Have you read anything by Deborah Harkness? Are you watching the show? Let me know in the comments above.

Find more of my reviews here.

Book Review – The Book of Life

19 Jan 2019 Leave a comment

by Clare in Books, Reviews Tags: , , , , ,

The Book of Life is the third book in the All Souls trilogy by author and historian Deborah Harkness. This final volume completes the story begun in A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night, which I have also reviewed.

This series is set in our modern world, but with a subculture of witches, daemons, and vampires who are secretly struggling to survive as their powers wane and they are plagued by blood rage and madness.

Having finished this book, I’m pleased to say that I’m doing well with finishing up series that I’ve started, and this is going to be one of my main reading goals for 2019. So look out for plenty of book 2’s, 3’s, etc. here.

As this book begins, Diana and Matthew have just returned from Elizabethan England through Diana’s witch abilities as a timewalker. What they had envisioned as a happy reunion with their friends and family in our current time quickly turns tragic when they discover that Emily has died under suspicious circumstances, likely murdered.

All of the problems they had escaped by traveling to the past have returned with their arrival back at Sept Tours. Diana still needs to obtain Ashmole 782, the book which supposedly holds the secrets to the origin of all types of creatures. The Congregation has grown more suspicious of the de Clermont’s affairs, and Diana’s magic is stronger but still a bit beyond her understanding.

In addition, Diana is pregnant with twins, with no idea what her children will be like or how to keep them safe. Matthew’s son, Benjamin, reemerges from obscurity and is driven by blood rage and revenge, threatening both Diana and the babies.

The story takes Diana and Matthew to America first and then back to various parts of Europe. There is renewed focus on Matthew’s research on creature genetics, and additional characters appear to help solve their problems.

I thought that the plot of this final book meandered more than the earlier ones, and for the first half, this lack of focus weakened the tension. It seemed like the characters should have been in greater danger, but they didn’t face any immediate threats until later in the book.

My favorite aspect of this book was how Diana’s magic evolved and grew in response to her actions and changes. I enjoyed seeing her learn to use her strength and to use both her wits and her power to overcome challenges.

The end of the novel finally brought all the story elements together and was satisfying. While all of the main points are wrapped up, it still allows for the possibility of future books in the series. I would have liked more explanation of a few elements, but it’s possible that I read too fast and missed some of the details.

The author has recently released a new book, Time’s Convert. This novel is separate from the All Souls series, but has some overlap. It appears to detail Marcus’ backstory and delves further into his relationship with Phoebe. I’d like to read this novel also, but will not get to it just yet.

Have you read the All Souls trilogy? Let me know in the comments below!

See all my book reviews here.

Book Review – Shadow of Night

30 Nov 2018 3 Comments

by Clare in Books, Reviews Tags: , , , , , , ,

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness is Book 2 in the All Souls Trilogy and is one of the books that I recently picked up at New York Comic-Con about 2 months ago. I had read the first book, A Discovery of Witches, back in the beginning of 2015, but with the recent release of the television show based on this series, I wanted to get back to the books.

First of all, I read the opening pages and realized that I had no memory of how the first book ended. I found some plot summaries online and was quickly up to speed. With the way that this book begins, it’s going to be impossible to avoid spoilers, so if you haven’t finished the first book, read on at your own risk.

Shadow of Night

Shadow of Night is set in Elizabethan England (and other parts of Europe). At the end of A Discovery of Witches, Diana Bishop and her new husband and vampire Matthew Clairmont must flee the modern world. Diana needs time to find a teacher who can help unlock her powers of witchcraft, and their relationship is forbidden by powerful creatures who are trying to hunt them down.

One thing that Diana does know is that she is a Timespinner–a witch who can travel through time. She takes herself and Matthew into the past in an attempt to avoid their enemies, find herself a teacher, and to search for the mysterious alchemical book that started it all: Ashmole 782.

Once they arrive, Diana and Matthew meet with his friends from that time. This turns out to be a blend of historical figures and a few imagined characters. While they attempt to blend in at first, it is quickly apparent that they must divulge their secrets to this group. While it is safe for Matthew’s friends to know that version of the vampire is from the future, he must go on playing his established roles in Elizabethan society.

Diana’s relationship with Matthew meets several challenges as she learns about the secrets he has been hiding. In fact, much of this book’s secondary plot revolves around the growing relationship between the witch and the vampire. She must also deal with trying to figure out Elizabethan dress, manners, and etiquette. Danger also follows Diana, with historical witch trials taking place in nearby Scotland and a constant suspicion of anyone new or unusual.

The story takes them to other parts of Europe, and the details from this time period felt very accurate to me. That only makes sense, because the author is a historian who studies and teaches European history and the history of science at the University of Southern California. This book was a lot of fun to read, and has several sections that deal with different aspects of the story. The overarching plot to find a teacher for Diana and search for Ashmole 782 is often in the background, but I don’t think that the book suffered for this, as the other events were entertaining on their own.

I’m hoping to get to book 3 in another couple of weeks and then watch the television show. Have you seen any of that yet? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Find my other book reviews here


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