Gr 8 Up—Growing up in present-day Salem has not been particularly magical for Eleanor, but with the appearance
of a strange new book about tarot and a cute witch named Pix, she may find the motivation to reckon with her past in
favor of a happy future. A witty romance full of flying sparks that nevertheless tackles some heavy topics.

Some how I thought there would be actually a little magic involved so I was a little bummed it wasn't there. This honestly felt alot more about tarot and trauma, and everything else was kind of minor details? For me it seemed really strange to have a character that had such strong feelings of distaste about alcohol... but was perfectly okay with getting high? I don't really see the difference there personally, so it was kind of distracting. idk I got some mixed feelings on this one. Very angsty so it felt like a heavy read that was trying to be a comfy read. ( )

I didn’t expect much from this book, but damn, if it wasn’t absolutely adorable and exactly what I needed to read right now! The story follows highschooler Eleanor, an outcast who found herself on the wrong side of the expected small town drama of Salem (yes, even witchy towns have their clichéd high school bullies) and who must find her way back into her own life by learning to trust again. Everything kicks off when a handmade guide to the tarot is anonymously delivered to the witch souvenir shop she works at (run by her mum’s best friend) and she finds herself unceremoniously thrust into a coven of teenage witches. This set-up sounds like a total cliché, but I actually really liked the witchy meet-cute (hehe, young witches in love, we’re into it) since it wasn’t at all what Eleanor was expecting and her new group of friends clearly pull her way out of her comfort zone in the best way possible. The story loosely follows the tarot’s Major Arcana, with personable descriptions of the cards interspersing the story and acting as paired inspiration (or just well-timed happenstance) for Eleanor’s journey towards a happy outcome. In theory, this framing device could have easily fallen flat and made the story seem forced, but Scelsa’s tongue-in-cheek tarot asides act as timely and occasionally comedic breaks that show subtly how the cards can apply to the real world. Like all good witchy books, the narrative teaches as it tells its story, so not only do we get a light crash course in the mystical abilities of the tarot, we’re also inspired by the power of found community, explore family dynamics, and get entertained by the small town happenings of witch-central Salem. It might just be time to revitalise my own coven, since we’ve been very bad witches lately and the Summer Solstice is almost upon us! ( )

I listened to a voicegalley copy of this book, so I cannot comment on the final audiobook or the narrator's abilities.

It took me a while to get into this book, I believe this was because it was a voicegalley. Once I got into the book I enjoyed it. The main character has a lovely arc throughout the story and learns a lot about herself, and her beliefs about how others perceive her. ( )

Is the publishing world becoming more inclusive? The flow of my reading pipeline might suggest it. Read my review of this YA story set in Salem, Massachusetts here. ( )