Title: Payback’s a Witch
Author: Lana Harper
Release Date: October 5, 2021
Format: Paperback
Where to buy: Bookshop.org | Amazon
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis
Emmy Harlow is a witch but not a very powerful one–in part because she hasn’t been home to the magical town of Thistle Grove in years. Her self-imposed exile has a lot to do with a complicated family history and a desire to forge her own way in the world, and only the very tiniest bit to do with Gareth Blackmoore, heir to the most powerful magical family in town and casual breaker of hearts and destroyer of dreams.
But when a spellcasting tournament that her family serves as arbiters for approaches, it turns out the pull of tradition (or the truly impressive parental guilt trip that comes with it) is strong enough to bring Emmy back. She’s determined to do her familial duty; spend some quality time with her best friend, Linden Thorn; and get back to her real life in Chicago.
On her first night home, Emmy runs into Talia Avramov–an all-around badass adept in the darker magical arts–who is fresh off a bad breakup . . . with Gareth Blackmoore. Talia had let herself be charmed, only to discover that Gareth was also seeing Linden–unbeknownst to either of them. And now she and Linden want revenge. Only one question stands: Is Emmy in?
But most concerning of all: Why can’t she stop thinking about the terrifyingly competent, devastatingly gorgeous, wickedly charming Talia Avramov?
My review
The first in the Witches of Thistle Grove series did not disappoint. Payback’s a Witch was one of my favorite reads in the past couple of weeks. I was looking for something light and magical for my vacation and this book really fit the bill.
The love story between Emmy and Talia was fun. It was light and low stakes, but also absolutely what I needed. I appreciated that it these two women were strong in their own ways. I also loved that Talia, who looks like a dark and scary witch is actually a total softy. She loves to bake and support her friends and family. Meanwhile Emmy is working to find her footing. She is re-acquainting herself with the small town she abandoned 10 years ago and finding how much she missed it and its changes.
Harper created a setting that I would actually give my left leg to live in. Thistle Grove isi a cute little town, filled with frequent festivals. The sky sounds like it is magically enhanced. Four magical families live there and the businesses they own sound so fun. The Avramov’s magical emporium sounds so fun. Honey cakes, the Thorn’s orchard, BnB and restaurant, sounds like a total small town dream. And of course the Harlow bookstore Tomes and Omens is a business I would certainly frequent.
Harper also has created a pretty fun magical world. Each of the four families have specific kinds of magic that they are aligned with—Avramovs and necromancy, Thorns and green magic, Blackmoores and visual magic, Harlows and minimal magic. These magics create a bit of a magical stratification in society. As the story goes on we learn that the Harlows have a special connection to Thistle Gove which is not widely known. Emmy grew up having no idea that her magic was tied up in that connection. She and Talia will certainly be spending some time breaking down the stratification.
The magical contest was a really fun trope as well. I liked that the Thorns and the Avramovs teamed up in order to overcome the ongoing Blackmore rule. I thought it was interesting that Gareth’s grandmother was so over the top. I hope that further in the series we can learn what her problem is. I want to know why the Blackmoores have been so powerful for so long. And if their rule has been in someway unfair.
If you are looking for something light that makes you want to move to a mystical fake town, Payback’s a Witch is for you!
