Introvert’s Book Club
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The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
Rating: 4/5
Spice: 0/5
Plot: 4/5
Primary Genre: Magical Realism
Trigger Warnings: Death of a loved one on page, unaliving of oneself attempt
Blurb: For fans of Practical Magic, The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic is a debut novel that explores the shields we build around our hearts to retain our own magic. Sadie Revelare has always believed that the curse of four heartbreaks that accompanies her magic would be worth the price. But when her grandmother is diagnosed with cancer with only weeks to live, and her first heartbreak, Jake McNealy, returns to town after a decade, her carefully structured life begins to unravel. With the news of their grandmother's impending death, Sadie's estranged twin brother Seth returns to town, bringing with him deeply buried family secrets that threaten to tear Sadie's world apart. Their grandmother has been the backbone of the family for generations, and with her death, Sadie isn't sure she'll have the strength to keep the family, and her magic, together. As feelings for Jake begin to rekindle, and her grandmother growing sicker by the day, Sadie faces the last of her heartbreaks, and she has to decide: is love more important than magic? Readers who love the magic of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake and the sense of community found in The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches will enjoy this warm, witchy novel.
Satyr by Megan Mossgrove
Rating: 4/5
Spice: 1/5
Plot: 4/5
Primary Genre: Cozy fantasy
Blurb: "I just thought my life would be different." At 34, Elaine spends each day going through the motions---alone. When she learns of her father's passing, she puts her home up for sale, hoping it will give her the strength to abandon the city, its memories, and the ghosts of her dashed hopes. Like her mother "There’s no longer a reason to stay." But soon, Elaine wonders if reason may have agreed to split spices at the market. Tall, handsome, green, with a bone shaking laugh, and a glorious smile, the orc innkeeper seems set on wooing her, but he doesn’t know the depth of her heartache. Or the truth that could very well push him away.
"This one can still be good."
Innkeeper by day, smuggler by night, Satyr dreams of a future where he can keep the Aspen Inn afloat without skimming Arnell’s precious pearls—but too many rely on him for it to be a choice. When the pressure doubles and his separate lives bleed together, it’s all he can do to stop it from affecting the inn’s newest resident—the castle’s head chef, whose ribboned hair and solemn eyes betray more than she knows. With found family, life after loss, and a bit of hot chocolate, Satyr is a sweet, heart-achy, cozy romantasy about a chef that carries a mountain of grief, and the orc innkeeper who’s determined to carry her in turn.
The Curse of Soulwaker by Sharon Elwood
Blurb: Dunegray, commander of the undead Cursed legion, has led it in terrorizing and spilling blood throughout the kingdom of Nahmval. When Zerael, a powerful young sorcerer, lifts the curse, Dunegray and her army must learn to live among the very people they oppressed. But the Curse never forgets its servants. While she struggles with her newfound mortality and haunting visions, Silnus, a dark figure from the past, returns. Dunegray must prevent him from harnessing the Curse, or else she will be Cursed again and forced to destroy the people she’s learning to love, obliterating the last remnants of her humanity in the process. To save her people and this new world she misunderstands, Dunegray and Zerael are commanded to search for new allies in the coming war. This journey throughout Nahmval will reveal hidden motives and a secret that could unravel both Zerael’s country and Dunegray’s identity.
