Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne TooleyGenre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publishing Date: March 9, 2021
Synopsis: In this charming debut fantasy perfect for fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Girls of Paper and Fire, a witch cursed to never love meets a girl hiding her own dangerous magic, and the two strike a dangerous bargain to save their queendom. Tamsin is the most powerful witch of her generation. But after committing the worst magical sin, she’s exiled by the ruling Coven and cursed with the inability to love. The only way she can get those feelings back—even for just a little while—is to steal love from others. Wren is a source—a rare kind of person who is made of magic, despite being unable to use it herself. Sources are required to train with the Coven as soon as they discover their abilities, but Wren—the only caretaker to her ailing father—has spent her life hiding her secret.When a magical plague ravages the queendom, Wren’s father falls victim. To save him, Wren proposes a bargain: if Tamsin will help her catch the dark witch responsible for creating the plague, then Wren will give Tamsin her love for her father. Of course, love bargains are a tricky thing, and these two have a long, perilous journey ahead of them—that is, if they don’t kill each other first.
JOURNAL ENTRY
MY REVIEW
This was such a magical adventure— I was hooked from the very beginning! The story follows Tamsin, a powerful witch who was banished by the Coven and cursed with the inability to love, and Wren, an unregistered source, a person made of magic kept away from the Coven in order to care for her ill father. A magical plague descends on the queendom, afflicting Wren’s father and giving Tamsin the chance to return Within to join the hunt for the dark witch responsible. The two make a bargain: Tamsin will help find the dark witch and save her father if Wren gives Tamsin her love for her father. The journey they follow is full of great banter and a very satisfying slow burn, enemies to lovers, sapphic romance.
I really enjoyed the magic system of balance and the dynamic between sources and witches. The world building was easy to understand and well developed too. I loved Tamsin and Wren so much, they felt very distinctive and real, and I liked how we got both of their POVs. The mental health representation was also handled well. The story felt like a fairytale and while I was able to guess the plot twist I still really loved the way it unfolded. In summary, this is a lovely sapphic fantasy full of magic and romance!
Rating : ★★★★/5
GIVEAWAY
About the Author:
Adrienne Tooley was born and raised in the desert suburbs of Southern California. She grew up in the theater, earning her B.A. in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. She and her wife currently live in New York City where she works in hospitality tech. In addition to writing novels she is also a singer/songwriter and has released several EPs which are available on Spotify & other streaming sites. Her debut novel, SWEET & BITTER MAGIC, will publish from S&S/McElderry in Spring 2021.Her second novel, SOFI AND THE BONE SONG, will release from S&S/McElderry in 2022.
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