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j_nell's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
Protagonist was very whiny and very difficult to tolerate. Otherwise the plot was super cute and reasonable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Alcohol, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, and Biphobia
isnt_it_pretty's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Toxic relationship, Drug use, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Outing, Lesbophobia, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Biphobia, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying and Sexual assault
the_lesbrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
While working in a witchy shop in Salem, high school outcast and skeptic Eleanor gets invited to join a local coven and quickly falls for one of the other girls, despite her best efforts not to. Eleanor is thrilled for a chance to start over, but as the difficult events of Eleanor’s last year are slowly revealed, she struggles to keep her present and past separate. The story is fun, if not a little uneven both in pacing and characterization. The main character can at times be frustratingly overdramatic, but in some ways her thoughts capture how important and messy everything feels in high school. “Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches“ is another quick queer book to ring in autumn, with a lesbian mc and multiple established LGBTQ+ characters and relationships.
Although the premise is cozy and solidly in the YA category, there are several significant triggering events in this book, so be sure to check tws before picking it up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Homophobia
julialudovici's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Drug use, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual assault, Stalking, and Chronic illness
radler's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual assault
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The author combines chapters from Eleanor's present, past, and explanatory tarot book to tell the story of a teen who lost her confidence in love and life and show how she gets it back. The switches between past and present were a little confusing on the audio, but otherwise I liked this book. The characters are fun and the story engaging throughout. Content warnings for toxic relationship, bi erasure, and chronically ill parent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Alcohol, Grief, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Stalking
Minor: Vomit
Bi erasurecaseygracee's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Sexual assault
Moderate: Lesbophobia and Biphobia
eggboybee's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
3.5
I really enjoyed the first 3/4ths of this book, but after that, the pacing was all over the place.
Sclesa does a really great job of establishing the Salem atmosphere and explaining what "witchy" means without feeling like I was being hit over the head with it. I really liked that the focus of the coven was "this is a group of people who take care of each other and are connected to their surroundings" rather than "these teens think they're casting spells."
The way the narrative bounced between past and present felt really clean, and helped keep the tension even.
I also really appreciated that queerness was approachable but not overwhelming, and that characters' identities are allowed to be nebulous.
I read the audiobook narrated by Stacey Glemboski, and really enjoyed her work.
<Spoiler> If I found out my girlfriend was not only aware of a huge scandal in my past, but that it had been a driving force in her seeking me out, she would absolutely not be my girlfriend anymore. It was super unrealistic that Pix - who is previously a true believer in the human ability to communicate their intention - would be so dishonest about that!
Also, the quick resolution of "Aha, everyone doesn't actually hate me, it was just my anxiety all along!" made me feel cheated as a reader. I think there could have been a lot more foreshadowing about that to make Eleanor's acceptance that Chloe had been using her a way more natural progression.
Overall, I would have given this book 4 stars, up until the point where Eleanor realizes that the coven sent her the tarot book. I think it would have been way cleaner if Pix saw Eleanor's tarot guide for the first time when Eleanor found the draft of it. I don't think Pix should have known about Eleanor's past - the coven leader whose name I don't remember should have sent it to Eleanor as part of the larger effort that the coven was making to heal Salem. Pix should have asked Eleanor why the coven leader chose her, and Eleanor should have told Pix what happened, while the goth girl whose name I forget explained that Chloe was a manipulative creep. </Spoiler>
Sclesa does a really great job of establishing the Salem atmosphere and explaining what "witchy" means without feeling like I was being hit over the head with it. I really liked that the focus of the coven was "this is a group of people who take care of each other and are connected to their surroundings" rather than "these teens think they're casting spells."
The way the narrative bounced between past and present felt really clean, and helped keep the tension even.
I also really appreciated that queerness was approachable but not overwhelming, and that characters' identities are allowed to be nebulous.
I read the audiobook narrated by Stacey Glemboski, and really enjoyed her work.
<Spoiler> If I found out my girlfriend was not only aware of a huge scandal in my past, but that it had been a driving force in her seeking me out, she would absolutely not be my girlfriend anymore. It was super unrealistic that Pix - who is previously a true believer in the human ability to communicate their intention - would be so dishonest about that!
Also, the quick resolution of "Aha, everyone doesn't actually hate me, it was just my anxiety all along!" made me feel cheated as a reader. I think there could have been a lot more foreshadowing about that to make Eleanor's acceptance that Chloe had been using her a way more natural progression.
Overall, I would have given this book 4 stars, up until the point where Eleanor realizes that the coven sent her the tarot book. I think it would have been way cleaner if Pix saw Eleanor's tarot guide for the first time when Eleanor found the draft of it. I don't think Pix should have known about Eleanor's past - the coven leader whose name I don't remember should have sent it to Eleanor as part of the larger effort that the coven was making to heal Salem. Pix should have asked Eleanor why the coven leader chose her, and Eleanor should have told Pix what happened, while the goth girl whose name I forget explained that Chloe was a manipulative creep. </Spoiler>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Minor: Emotional abuse
katjacatbeans's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is a cute book. I appreciate the unflinching appraisal of small town high school life, but I also found the central conflict between Eleanor & Chloe increasingly difficult to believe/parse until the end. I do appreciate the tongue-in-cheek use of Pix as a quasi manic pixie dream girl, but I also am thankful that she isn't completely pigeon-holed there
I think it was pretty good overall; as an adult reader of a lot of YA, however, it didn't really wow me.
I think it was pretty good overall; as an adult reader of a lot of YA, however, it didn't really wow me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Stalking, and Alcohol
joeyclowns's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Alcohol