2.25 Stars

I feel like if you've ever read the Casts' other works, you're going to know exactly where this book is going. I really loved their House of Night series (I even have a quote tattoo from that series) and while it definitely had some issues I thought I'd read this new series because surely they've progressed since then. I'm not so sure about that. This book really did read like the first HoN book but with two MCs instead of one.

But let's talk non-comparison things, shall we? Firstly, 98% of this book reads like a lower age YA book. No difficult terms, regular life things, totally normal, a bit whimsy, could possibly even be MG. The other 2%? Explicit sex scene. It was so far out of left field. And y'all, I read adult romance novels, so I'm not against the sex part. And realistically, I know that 16 y/o's are having sex. I get it. But it didn't fit with the tone of this book at all. It was just like normal, normal, normal, graphically detailed sex scene, normal, normal, normal. And honestly what's worse is it didn't even fit with the character motivation. Like, There was no character progression to even make sense of why it happened other than as a plot device that just didn't take off.

The magic system is interesting, I did like that aspect of it. I like that it's all about intention and stating what you want. But ya know, rolling back into comparison things, it's similar to their HoN magic system in that it does deal a lot with Wiccan rituals. Which I mean, they're witches, I get it but it's just, two different worlds with pretty similar magic systems.

The plot meanders like nobody's business. As long as this book is, SOMETHING should have happened but it was just like, meh. I was bored. And there were no real plot twists or surprises. Zero.

Honestly, I may have judged this book harshly. If this had been someone's debut I probably would have rated it higher. But as long as these two women have been in the business? This felt lazy and just a recycled version of a story they've already told, repackaged into a new way to make money.

Edited to add: WTF I didn't even mention that one of the sisters starts a fight with a guy and then right as he's about to swing a punch she just walks away from him and lets her best male friend "handle himself" like no bitch. He's handling shit you started. While I'm not saying that the dude you started a fight with didn't deserve it, if you want to start a physical altercation with someone, you don't just step aside and let another male finish it for you. That's not his job. He's your friend, so he's going to protect you, but he shouldn't HAVE to. And you're a pretty shitty friend for putting him in that situation.

cover 2; characters 3; plot 3; pace 2; writing 2; enjoyment 2.