Genre: Adult Fantasy
Release Date: September 13th, 2022
Pages: 336
Publisher: Forever
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Synopsis:
Twenty years ago, the entire town of Yarrow had their memories erased. During that time, one person died and another disappeared. But no one can remember anything from those summer months, nor why they can’t remember it.
The Haywood family of witches are known in the town of Yarrow for being able to heal your pain, suffering, and heartache. They can absorb your unwanted feelings, which they feed to their shadow garden that thrives off of them.
Addison Haywood is next in line to inherit her family’s business, except she can’t seem to properly use her magic.
After Addison’s mother suffered an unforgivable betrayal years ago, their family is now at odds with the Bonner family, who own a local distillery for bourbon that can take away your worst memory.
The rival families clash as secrets about that summer twenty years ago begin to surface.
Review:
Ok, first let’s talk about the fact that this is a debut. I am still in awe about this because the story is impeccable.
This is an insane debut that reads like it’s from a seasoned author.
It’s an expertly crafted experience you are sure to savor.
I don’t read contemporary. It’s just not my thing, so I tend to stay away from fantasy books with contemporary vibes.
With that in mind, I was a little skeptical going into this one and not sure what to expect. I didn’t have my hopes up for a five-star read.
But man if this one didn’t prove me wrong! This is one of the few exceptions to my typical reading habits because I absolutely loved it.
The darker themes and heavier concepts that are explored make this story feel so real. It’s some real life shit y’all, and you’re going to feel every minute of it while you’re reading.
The magic system in this book is full of interesting sensory elements. The Haywood family can see people’s emotions and auras as different types of flowers.
Colors and emotions converge to create a visually tangible experience.
You’ll be hooked into the magic of it all and wishing you could get your own tea leaves read by the Haywood women.
From the start there is a creeping tension that drives our need for answers. Out of the shady circumstances blooms light-hearted romances.
I was sucked into the drama and the intrigue, flat-out hooked, and I couldn’t get enough.
When I say that this story is brilliantly intricate, I truly mean it.
There are multiple plot lines, perspectives, and timelines. And yet, even though that sounds like it might get convoluted, it couldn’t be more the opposite.
The flow is incredibly seamless through the events and transitions. Never once did I feel pulled out of the story world because of a jarring switch.
It was a smooth ride and I was strapped in for the whole thing.
I’m glad there was a chart at the beginning of the book to show the family lineages because that definitely saved me from any confusion. This is the one aspect I needed a little help keeping track of.
There are a lot of relationships (both past and present) to keep up with. And I think this added to the depth of the plot because it really spoke to the small-town theme in the story.
Again, I’m truly shocked this is a debut. You can tell this author put some seriously hard work into this story and it really shines.
Just wow. This is an accomplishment to be proud of for sure. This story deserves all the hype and I can’t wait to help share the word about how good this book is.
Also, this cover is absolutely stunning! Props to the designer for creating such an accurate depiction of both the feel and content in this story.
I recommend this book to readers who love:
- Strong family bonds
- Witchy magic
- Sinister mysteries
- Multiple POV
- Contemporary fantasy
- Drama and intrigue
- Being one with nature
- Light-hearted romance
- Emotional traumas and recoveries
Disclaimers:
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from Netgalley and Forever. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Huge thank you to them for this opportunity!
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