Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches
Ratings7
Average rating3.6
15
Ratings7
Average rating3.6
A witchy, atmospheric lesbian contemporary romance set in Salem--from the acclaimed author of Fans of the Impossible Life. Perfect for fans of Nina LaCour and Becky Albertalli. Seventeen-year-old Eleanor is the last person in Salem to believe in witchcraft--or think that her life could be transformed by mysterious forces. After losing her best friend and first love, Chloe, Eleanor has spent the past year in a haze, vowing to stay away from anything resembling romance. But when a handwritten guide to tarot arrives in the mail at the witchy souvenir store where Eleanor works, it seems to bring with it the message that magic is about to enter her life. Cynical Eleanor is quick to dismiss this promise, until real-life witch Pix shows up with an unusual invitation. Inspired by the magic and mystery of the tarot, Eleanor decides to open herself up to Pix and her coven of witches, and even to the possibility of a new romance. But Eleanor's complicated history continues to haunt her. She will have to reckon with the old ghosts that threaten to destroy everything, even her chance at new love. Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches is a romantic coming-of-age about learning to make peace with the past in order to accept the beauty of the present.
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READER NOTE: This book does not have magic. These are witches in the real-life pagan sense.
I seriously considered DNF'ing this in the middle.
I think this book didn't work for me because it's told in two timelines, and there's such a tonal difference between those timelines that it doesn't feel like they belong in the same story. The Chloe story interested me more, because you can really feel the attraction and why Eleanor made the decisions she did and how things spiraled like they did. It's all very dark and angsty. The timeline with Pix felt so bland in comparison. Pix had very little personality and the two of them had no chemistry. Despite Eleanor talking about being sad/anxious/etc. her scenes felt very la-dee-da with Pix and the coven, not like the same girl dealing with the trauma that happened with Chloe. It didn't feel like Eleanor actually dealt with the trauma of her relationship with Chloe. I mean, at least have her give up weed and start going to therapy.
Using the major arcana as the thread through the book, each chapter starts with a tarot card and then the action of the story occurs. This is definitely a YA book but it is tender and filled with real raw emotion that can make even the most cyclical adult remember the agony of being a misunderstood, depressed teen. Bonus: witches, tarot and LGBTQ love.
