Witch of Wild Things

Two friends warned me: “this is fluff.” They then spoke glowingly of it, recommended it, and they were right on all counts. This is fun, rewarding fluff. I was surprised while reading it at how much I enjoyed it, and remain surprised in retrospect. I guess YA isn’t bad once in a while?

The magical elements are original and nicely done. The personal drama is over the top — the entire book is over the top — but engaging even so. The first-person narrator is so conflicted, so hurt, and so damn sweet that I couldn’t help being absorbed into her story. Vasquez Gilliland conveys both emotion and setting effectively; I felt and saw and sensed.

Definitely YA. The main character is nominally 29 but the content is clearly intended for someone sixteen -- and in good ways. Copious unobtrusive PSAs on communication, consent, boundaries, safe sex, expressing needs; basically, gently modeling responsible adult relationships and social responsibility without hitting you over the head. (All right, a little bopping. Love taps.) Annoyingly lookist, but there’s a lot of that going around. And the ending... well, it goes from over-the-top to full-gonzo oh-come-ON but even so, and I don’t understand how, it worked. As in, any other writer and I would’ve thrown the book down in contempt, but not this book not this time. Vasquez Gilliland’s kindness won me over all the way.