Michelle Dsouza
I went into this knowing absolutely nothing about Natalie Summers, and I came out already wanting the next book.
Tides Wait for No Witch is exactly the kind of cozy fantasy I love. It mixes magic, mystery, small-town charm, family drama, a sprinkle of romance, and just enough humor to keep everything feeling light without losing the emotional moments.
Sara was so easy to root for. One minute she's living her perfectly ordinary life, and the next she's discovering an entire magical family tree nobody thought to mention. Honestly, most people would need months to process that level of emotional whiplash. Sara gets approximately five minutes before another secret appears, another family member materializes, or someone casually hands her yet another magical problem to solve. The poor woman never stood a chance.
And then there's Ollie.
I don't think I've loved a talking sea otter this much in my life. Every time he wandered onto the page, I knew something entertaining was about to happen. He somehow managed to be equal parts comic relief, professional busybody, and accidental voice of reason. More than once I found myself thinking the humans should probably just ask Ollie what to do and save everyone the trouble.
The mystery itself kept me guessing for most of the book, although I wasn't completely sold on the final reveal. It wrapped up a little too conveniently for me, and I wasn't entirely convinced by how everything came together. The motive in particular felt thin for what the story had been building toward. That said, the ending immediately set up the next mystery, and now I need Book Two because that cliffhanger absolutely did its job.
One thing I really appreciated was how the story handled family. Beneath all the spells, suspicious deaths, magical lessons, and increasingly bizarre situations was a reminder that family isn't always the people you've known the longest. Sometimes it's the people who appear when your life completely unravels and decide they're staying anyway. That thread ended up meaning more to me than I expected.
The dialogue was genuinely funny, the magical chaos never took itself too seriously, and the cast had that cozy mystery quality where everyone seems to know something but collectively agrees not to answer the one question the main character actually asked. Sara, of course, has exactly the kind of personality that hears "don't investigate" and immediately treats it like a personal challenge.
This was such a fun introduction to a new-to-me author. I'll definitely be picking up the next book because I'm far too invested in this wonderfully chaotic little island now.
I received this ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Originally posted at www.instagram.com.
I went into this knowing absolutely nothing about Natalie Summers, and I came out already wanting the next book.
Tides Wait for No Witch is exactly the kind of cozy fantasy I love. It mixes magic, mystery, small-town charm, family drama, a sprinkle of romance, and just enough humor to keep everything feeling light without losing the emotional moments.
Sara was so easy to root for. One minute she's living her perfectly ordinary life, and the next she's discovering an entire magical family tree nobody thought to mention. Honestly, most people would need months to process that level of emotional whiplash. Sara gets approximately five minutes before another secret appears, another family member materializes, or someone casually hands her yet another magical problem to solve. The poor woman never stood a chance.
And then there's Ollie.
I don't think I've loved a talking sea otter this much in my life. Every time he wandered onto the page, I knew something entertaining was about to happen. He somehow managed to be equal parts comic relief, professional busybody, and accidental voice of reason. More than once I found myself thinking the humans should probably just ask Ollie what to do and save everyone the trouble.
The mystery itself kept me guessing for most of the book, although I wasn't completely sold on the final reveal. It wrapped up a little too conveniently for me, and I wasn't entirely convinced by how everything came together. The motive in particular felt thin for what the story had been building toward. That said, the ending immediately set up the next mystery, and now I need Book Two because that cliffhanger absolutely did its job.
One thing I really appreciated was how the story handled family. Beneath all the spells, suspicious deaths, magical lessons, and increasingly bizarre situations was a reminder that family isn't always the people you've known the longest. Sometimes it's the people who appear when your life completely unravels and decide they're staying anyway. That thread ended up meaning more to me than I expected.
The dialogue was genuinely funny, the magical chaos never took itself too seriously, and the cast had that cozy mystery quality where everyone seems to know something but collectively agrees not to answer the one question the main character actually asked. Sara, of course, has exactly the kind of personality that hears "don't investigate" and immediately treats it like a personal challenge.
This was such a fun introduction to a new-to-me author. I'll definitely be picking up the next book because I'm far too invested in this wonderfully chaotic little island now.
I received this ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Originally posted at www.instagram.com.