Deadly Sweet

The Spellwork Syndicate #1

by Lola Dodge

For fans of Hex Hall,The Magicians, Practical Magic, and Food Wars!

Anise Wise loves three things: baking, potion making, and reading her spell books in blissful silence. She might not be the most powerful witch in the suburbs, but enchantment is a rare skill, and her ability to bake with magic is even rarer. Unfortunately, witches have a bad rep, and Anise’s dream of attending pastry school crumbles with each rejection letter.

Then her great aunt Agatha pops out of the woodwork with a sweet offer. If she signs on as Agatha’s apprentice, Anise can have all the training and ingredients she’s ever imagined, and she’ll inherit the family bakery.

The catch? Studying with Agatha means moving to Sedona—a dangerous otherworldly power center where her aunt is a key player in the magical community’s shady dealings. And the last apprentice? Assassinated.

Now Anise is next on the hit list. If she can’t find and stop whoever wants her dead, she’ll be more toasted than a crème brulee.

Who knew baking cakes could be so life or death?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal, Magic, Mystery, Witches, Urban Fantasy

294 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2018

Reviews

[☆Dani☆ ☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book 4 out of 5 Magical Stars! I really enjoyed this paranormal/fantasy that was mixed with a bit of mystery as well!😍 From the beginning I felt at the edge of my seat with Anise being sought out by an assassin! I really enjoyed the main character and seeing her escape so many sticky situations was quite fun! The mystery was fun as well and enjoyed going through this story figuring out who was who. The only drawback for me was that I wish there was too much deserts and baking and not enough witchcraft like I have hoped. I still really enjoyed this read and will be looking forward to the next one in the series!
4 Star Review at touchmyspinebookreviews.com for The Xpresso Book Blog Tour!!!📚💖📚💙 Thanks so much for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deadly Sweet by Lola Dodge is the first book in the new Spellwork Syndicate series. This one is a bit of a young adult/new adult fantasy/paranormal read mixed with a bit of mystery. The main character is a young kitchen witch who bakes spells into her goodies but after moving to a new town finds herself the target of an assassin.

This was a nice enough opener to this series introducing readers to Anise who is a witch and wants to attend pastry school but keeps getting rejected. After a witchy accident she learns of a great aunt that will take her to a more witch friendly town and teach her to bake. The only problem is this puts Anise on a hit list with many attempts on her life.

I didn’t find the mystery too particularly difficult to figure out in this one as the story went on. Also, what I kept wishing for while reading this one was a bit more into the magical side of things. I think the story focused a bit more on dessert than magic most times which left me wanting to know about the powers and witchcraft. But even with being a tad on the predictable side and not going very deep into the magical world it was still a light and fun young adult read.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

[Cindy ✩☽♔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a free ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

A pleasant, though slightly predictable, tale of a young, inexperienced magical baker trying to find her place in a new town where she can finally use her gifts freely.

The book itself is a bit more magical-realism rather than full-on magical hijinks, and also focuses far more on baking than magic. So if you are a foodie or you enjoy foodporn this is might be for you. Though if you are hungry, this may not be the best thing to read because you will just be envious of the delicious baked goods that are described but that you cannot have.

In terms of writing, the book was simple and rather straightforward. I found the first half to be a bit slow in terms of plot development, but it did pick up around the 50% mark. The surprise reveal was not much of a surprise for me. Because I placed my bets on who the villain was going to be pretty early on. Also, it finally happened guys. For once, I did not fall for the nice boy act. Finally learned my lesson with these book boys. Because I have been betrayed too many times!

Overall, I liked the book but I did not find it was anything particularly new or memorable about it.

[Page Grey (Editor) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told from a first POV of a young witch name Anise (such a great name), I was introduced into a whole new world of magic, of witches and of weirdness. Like in all other witch stories, Anise has a problem with mortals. Though it is a general knowledge that witches exist, still she can't just be who she is. She's misunderstood, along with the whole population, to put it lightly. But all she wanted is to study culinary and then succeed in it. But rejection after rejection of college applications, she turned to the person she should be associated with - her great aunt, Agatha Wise and is owner of the most magical bakeshop in the world. As if fated, Agatha needs an assistant, and so Anise went to her after a little mishap with mortals. Now here comes the magical world. Taos, New Mexico, where witches live - peacefully? Arriving in the bakeshop, her Aunt tested her skill and said she's not on the level she wants her to be so she got to go to school. Seemed like a dream come true, right? But no, bad, mysterious, dangerous things start to happen. Anise also learned about the disappearance of the previous apprentice. Suddenly, her life is in danger and achieving her dream is not really that easy. Like always in her life.

Though I enjoyed reading this and found that I love many aspects of the book, there is always an annoying BUT in the tip of my tongue.

I love the MC Anise she seems really cool and definitely not a quitter.
BUT sometimes, I do see her as weak and lame. I don't actually know how to explain this better. All I can say is that, she was too uninformed about many things in the book, maybe it added to the mystery of the whole but Anise is not doing anything about NOT-KNOWING. Like accepting that she has a bodyguard, yeah, she somehow complained a little but that's it. And when others don't allow her to know more about the situation, she didn't repulse or something. AND SHE has the right. Even after several danger happened to her, she's still uninformed about many things. That makes her seemed controlled. A character should be the one in control of the story/plot not the other way around. That makes that character weak and lame as she just get along with the things happening in the book.

I love the characters, most of them seemed believable and this is a magical story so that's a plus point. BUT I also find them cliche or stereotyped. (Shame on you Steff)

I love the world/magic. The idea was just brilliant and has really huge potential. I mean in Anise's world, the witches and magic are somehow legal. Not totally accepted but legal. BUT even though there are many interesting aspects of the magic, upon finishing the book, I still don't understand the foundation of the it that the author is trying to introduce to me. There is this vortex that not everyone can get near and God knows why. And the magical, useful jewels. How do they work exactly and how are they made?

Maybe I just missed that part.

And the Shields and Servants and Hands. If they were explained more , maybe the foundation of the Anise's world aren't filled with plot holes in my mind. For example, they get to bake sweets with magic and people just eat them? Ahm, no. Is it safe, really?

I just really wish Anise could be more curious about everything so I, the reader, know more. But no, like I said, Anise seems to just accept everything and ask less because that's what people told her. I know she's still naive and new, and inexperienced but still. In the end there was no definite character development too.

I'm still gonna read the next book but hopefully I get more than I get from this first instalment. I guess the main problem here is the MC. She lacked the will of real heroine. I'm not saying that all heroines should all be strong but this is told in her POV, so everything that the readers know depends on what she says and how she acts. If she would've been more driven to know about everything, maybe there will be no plot holes, maybe I already understand the foundation of magic, maybe I'd be more excited the next book because I already know the world I'm jumping in. Like I said, she just get along.

Overall, I still recommend this book especially to those who love baking (because there's too much of that in here). Also this is a clean YA, so definitely recommendable to younger YAs.

Thank you for reading until here. :)



 

 

 

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deadly Sweet by Lola Dodge

First book in the Spellwork Syndicate series

3 stars

Anise Wise is tired of hiding from the humans of the world. It doesn’t that matter that witches are a well-known magical species, humans hate and fear them. All Anise wants to do is bake and create cakes that could allow her to have a bakery one day. The problem is that she keeps getting rejected from colleges and she and her mother are barely scraping by. When an incident arises and Anise finds herself in Taos to be an apprentice to her great-aunt Agatha. The catch? Agatha’s last apprentice went missing and Anise finds herself the target of a powerful and out of control warlock. Dodge’s newest series opener is a lot of fun. This is a fun witch novel that takes an interesting approach by making witches common knowledge to regular humans. This incites fear, but it also creates the dynamic of witches being seen as tourist attractions. It makes the story a little bit more complex than the run of the mill witch story, but this story doesn’t go beyond that. It is a very simple story and it can be a bit predictable. While the story is predictable, Dodge attempts to make Anise’s passions the centerpiece of her magic- baking is at the story’s centerfold. The baking makes this story unique and fun. Dodge isn’t the best urban fantasy writer, but the story is fun and I’d definitely recommend it to fans of witch stories and characters who bake.

Whimsical Writing Scale: 3

The main character is Anise. She isn’t the most original character, but her love and passion for baking made me love reading her PoV because she had a purpose outside of hunting a big bad guy like most UF heroines. It made her dynamic. She isn’t the most fleshed out character, but her passion is so strong that it makes her story fun to follow. Mainly, I’m just rooting for her because I want to see her bake more deserts.

Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 3.25

There are two potential love interests in this story. One is a huge character, but I don’t know if their relationship will blossom into more, but I’m betting that it will in later novels because of this guy’s role in her life as a protector. The other well, he isn’t a love interest anymore, but for the sake of not spoiling this incredibly short novel, I’ll leave it at that.

Swoon Worthy Scale: 2

The Villain- I called this one from the moment this character was introduced. Mainly because Dodge seems to depict all men with tattoos as villains. At the beginning of the novel, Anise is nearly assaulted by an older man covered in tattoos. The villain is covered in tattoos. It made the story arc incredibly obvious and I wasn’t surprised in the least.

Villain Scale: 3

The characters are all just kind of there. None of them feel concrete and I didn’t feel attached to any of them and I feel like it is because there are so many characters being introduced and mentioned that the few that should’ve been fleshed out were briefly touched on, but not further expanded upon. I’m sure Dodge will expand upon the friendships that Anise made in the next novel, which I really hope she does because the character friendship could be a lot of fun.

Character Scale: 3

This is a fast, quick story that I definitely recommend if you are in the mood for a quick read to past the time that doesn’t require a lot of concentration and thought. Magical baking is really what sealed the deal for me when it came to this story and I think it will be a lot of fun for readers, especially younger readers who are getting into the paranormal genre.

Plotastic Scale: 3.25

Cover Thoughts: I love this cover. It’s purple and the cake looks scrumptious. I’m a definite fan of it.

Thank you, Netgalley and Inkmonster, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Erin Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Anise wants is to become a pastry chef, but applying to college isn’t easy when you’re a witch. Shouldn’t magic make her life easier? In small ways, maybe. But baking a little happiness into cookies isn’t the same thing as waving a magic wand and making all your dreams come true. Normal people are scared of her, and even her own mother—the only other witch Anise has ever known—would rather she didn’t use her powers at all.

When Anise is assaulted at a local fair, her untempered magic comes to her rescue, incinerating the baking tent and leaving a trail of crime behind. Then, with superior witchy timing, Anise’s great-aunt invites her to apprentice at the only witch-sanctioned bakery in the country, and Anise jumps at the chance. But things go from bad to worse as Anise discovers that finally embracing her power might come with a terrible price.

I just loved this read! I mean, spells and sugar? My two favorite things! Add a young woman trying to find her way in the world, and, yeah, Lola Dodge hooked me hard. The first chapter is one of my favorite first chapters ever, so I think might have over-hyped myself for the rest of the book. (Can you over-hype yourself on a read? What do you think? Is that a thing?)

After that brilliant start, I wanted to see more of Anise’s baking power. There was plenty of magic and plenty of baking, but I wanted more of the two together. I wanted to see magical baking. I wanted to feel it. And I wanted to read the spell books! What’s in there??? WHAT SECRETS DO THEY POSSESS???

Ahem. Anyhoo (read that first syllable all drawn out, btw: “AAAAAAAAAnyhoo”), the book was still a super fun read, and if it left me wanting more, hey, that’s a good thing! The series promises to get deeper into her magical training later on, and Anise promises to get stronger and wiser over time. I’m looking forward to both, and I’ll definitely be reading the next book just as soon as I can get my hands on it!

[Nora Eliana | Papertea & Bookflowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deadly Sweet surprised me with how much I really enjoyed it and how much I just wanted to keep reading.

Anise is a baker through and through and that was quite interesting to read about. I didn't know it would be possible to talk about baking so much no matter the topic, seriously in at least every other sentence there is some reference to baking. And more so surprised me that I wasn't annoyed by that in the slightest. I loved it actually. It made the book so cozy and wonderful. It is certainly the strong point of this book.

Now, the plot wasn't anything new, it was quite predictable and I knew fairly quickly who the villain was, nevertheless I enjoyed her journey. Again, it's not the plot that keeps you reading, it's the feeling you get while reading, the atmosphere.

The world of the witches is quite interesting and I'm actually really curious to learn more about it in the next book. We didn't get to see that much of the magic in this one. I'd love to know more about Blair's magic and about Anise's mother as well.
I loved that all the woman were so supportive of Anise and really tried to genuinely help her.

Now there were some dramatic, higher action, higher stakes scenes, but I didn't found them to be really dramatic. That might sound negative. But it is not. At least not for me. That wasn't what this book was about in my opinion. This is more in the cozy mystery style with magic mixed in.

Deadly Sweet is the perfect book if you don't have much time, or not the mind to read a long and heavy book. This is fun, cute and original. But be prepared to be hungry after reading this!

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://functioninginsanity.blogspot....

I received a copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

Rating: 5 Cherry Pies

Deadly Sweet is about baking, witches, and everything in between. Anise loves to bake and using her magic in it but being a witch is a bit hard outside of certain areas where you have to hide what you are. So when Anise ends up with a chance to study under a long-lost relative who owns the only magic bakery in the US, she is more than excited for the chance. Upon arriving for her dream apprenticeship she learns that it won't be as simple as she thought. She has lots to learn from pastry school and oh yeah the last apprentice went missing under mysterious circumstances and there may or may not be a reason for her to have a full time security detail. But for a dream job what's a little danger?

This book appealed to me on so many levels. First witches and intrigue are always fun but when you add in baking….magical baking. I'm all for it. I love to bake and as I read I may or may not have wrote down some new treats I want to try in the near future. Also the kitchens described may or may not have stirred up a lot of kitchen envy as well. There is a clear love for baking in the writing which comes through vividly and made me connect to Anise. She wants this with all that she is and is willing to go through hell to make it happen.

Aside from making me hungry and itch to bake (and seriously step up my decorating game) I enjoyed the way magic was woven in. There are different types and levels to work with. I loved how the little things could impact the overall product. There are still many questions to uncover in this world for sure but it is so full and vibrant. I love the contrast from growing up moving around to keep their secret and the open town that everyone human and witch are out and about normal as breathing. I loved seeing Anise adjust from one norm to another and what being open meant for her not only as a witch but as a teenager. To be yourself and be able to make friends, honest friends, was amazing. A little assassination attempt here or there is hardly worth giving that up.

The characters really lit up the page. I could see Wynn scowling even before I read it after a few encounters. He is very…mysterious. There is a lot more I want to know about Wynn and what drives him; more about Shields in general as the series continues but still as little as he said I totally feel I know him. Same could be said for her new friends and the other ladies of the Syndicate. It is a small town vibe to it and I enjoyed the way Anise was both welcomed in and accepted while on the same side thinking they know you based on the family name. I found that very true of a small town.

Overall this is a great start to a new series and I will be adding it to my auto-buy list for sure because I need to know what happens next. So much has happened in one book but there are so many characters and stories to explore yet. Power to be learned and many many more goodies to be baked! I highly recommend this book…and maybe something for the sweet tooth this will activate!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can also read my review here: https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....

I picked up this book because I requested the sequel on Netgalley without knowing that it was the second in the series. I also had recently seen this on someone's blog as a hidden gem and it really is. I'm so glad that I requested the sequel and discovered this series, because it was everything that I wanted.

I found the world building super unique. I found the logistics of Anise's magic very cool. As a baking witch she bakes enchantments into baked goods, like making a cookie with a happiness enchantment. There were some live spells, but for the most part it involved enchantments. The way magic worked was so much fun to read about.

I did originally think that The Spellwork Syndicate referred to something similar to a magic mafia. The Syndicate was nothing like that, which I did find a little disappointing, but even though it didn't include a magic mafia, it was still an incredible read.

The plot was pretty amazing, but I did have one issue with it. There were times in the book where Anise nearly died, and this happened three times. I felt like it kind of diminished the climax of the novel from being a large event since there were so many dramatic large events. It was still big, but it didn't have as large of an impact as it should have.

I found that I absolutely loved this novel. I love the characters, magic and the writing. I want to follow the rest of this series and Lola Dodge. I'm so glad that I didn't know Sugar Spells was a sequel, because I wouldn't have requested it and discovered this series. I am so glad that this book wound up on my radar because it was amazing, even though it did inspire me to eat lots of baked goods.

[Aimee Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Digital ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This review can also be found here, on my blog!

I didn't really know what I was getting into with this book, it was kind of an impulse request because I liked the cover the premise of a world with magical bakeries. Also the fact that she has this very concrete goal (pastry school) and a very interesting obstacle (rejection because of witchcraft).

I absolutely loved the world. I think I was expecting more of a fantasy style world with some sort of bias against witches? Instead, we were given more of a urban fantasy style real world with witches recently emerging from the shadows. It kinda followed on from the idea of witches in the middle ages, with the idea that until very recently it was criminalised to practise witchcraft, but now they are (very very loosely) protected. This allows exploration of discrimination despite 'acceptance' and was a really really interesting backdrop to the story.

I liked the witch bubble (vortex) that Anise ended up moving to, where the witches collect around a solid supply of power, and tourists and other curious people come to see them. But... I don't know, there was so much potential in the first setting (away from the witches, trying to survive among non magic people) I wish she'd come back to it.

I think I was expecting a slightly older feeling book, with the MC being uni aged, but tbh if I hadn't known how old she was I think she would have read to be more like? 15? I don't know, I mean everyone is different and university doesn't necessarily = maturity, but something about her voice struck me as quite young. I think this mostly came down to her naivety, which may also be due to her upbringing and separation from the witch world...

That aside, I did like Anise as a character for the most part. I really really liked that she had a goal in life, outside of getting a boyfriend, and that this goal was related to a hobby she actually spent lots of time on in the book. It's easy to say oh x character likes y hobby, and then never show it, but I mean this book was all about it. And magical baking was such a cool hobby?? It kinda reminded me of that Spanish book 'Como agua para chocolate' where she bakes her emotions into food, although with a lot more intention and a solid process for how that happens.

Also, Anise was a very real sort of witch, if that makes sense? Like she was a good one, with lots of potential and a talent, but it wasn't some limitless power, or some chosen one thing. She was important because of her great aunt, and she was protected because of it... but she also wasn't the only one deemed important in the book, which is sadly quite uncommon in YA. I get that we want to read about the action, but I'm so sick of the MC being the only person in the world that is important.

I diiiiidn't like, though, her relationships with the guys around her. It felt a big middle school the way she rejected someone who literally had his life bound to protecting her, just because he was grumpy about it (I would be too, given how much she complains about being driven places and him needing to follow her around). Her other love interest was gooby, and I wasn't a big fan of his at all. I mean, she hated one guy for one thing and then swooned when the other guy did that same thing. Her huuuge crush on him also read pretty middle school, because she really had no reason to like him as much as she did.

Wynn was my favourite, though I wish we'd gone more into his story. I mean, what is he exactly? His tendency to sleep made me think of him as some sort of cheshire cat esq person but in a human form, which made me more fond of him... but I really don't know. Why did he sleep so much? I get that the book is one of a series so maybe this'll be a future plot?

The villain was sooo easy to see coming that I genuinely thought it HAD to be a red herring. Like, I called it from the moment they appeared and usually that means you're going to be shown more sides to them so you can be either fooled into trusting them or lead wrongly into suspecting them because of a bad first impression but... they just were the villain. And they didn't even have a strong motivation, like I'm still not sure I understand why they did what they did?

That plot, combined with a few confusing points (like the fact that she was pretty cool with just leaving her mum outside now, like after having her life threatened and so much shit happen to her, she's like "this place is my home now" ignoring the fact that this place will never accept her mum? Maybe it's my own relationships coming through but I don't think I could leave family behind like that just meant this book fell a little flat for me. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad book? Just not my favourite, and I've been reading quite a few really good ones recently, which makes it harder to stand out.

Still, if you're in the mood for like cake boss style food envy (I wanted to eat all the food so badly) and a good magic meets real world read, it's a quick, nice read?

[Annemieke / A Dance with Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The number one thing that drew me to this book was that cover. It is sickly sweet and yet there seems to be this sinister feel to it. I had to know what this was about. Turns out it is a magically baking book. Just what I needed.

Do not read this book if you are already hungry. There are so many delicious baked goodies in this and the descriptions and the love of our main character for baking are so good. I wanted to go bake or at least I wanted to eat all the baked goodies mentioned. I mean I am lazy. I’d like an Anise in my life who would bake all the things for me.

While most of this focuses on the magical baking as that is the talent of our main character and the world that she is taken into, there is a lot more to this world. There are various talents out their like necromancy. I felt that this was not developed enough in the background. There seem to be little talk about rules. There seem to be a lot of different talents but little shown of how they work. I just wanted to know and see more of that. We got to see so many witches and yet I got such little idea. The same of this goes for the guardians and their contracts. However I have gathered this is an element of the next book.

I have to say that the plot wasn’t very special. Of course there was a villain that was after Anise. It was also way too obvious who that was going to turn out to be. With this idea of magical bakeries there was just so much more that could have been done I think.

Even so I liked Anise who was really just an ordinary girl who had to work hard to gain any approval. I am glad she made friends but it was kind of sad this was through her mother’s friends to be honest. It would be great to see her make a friend that she made out of her own strength. Her interactions with her guardian were amusing but I did find her angry at him was misdirected. It wasn’t like he had a choice at being her guardian. He was assigned.

[Kris Mauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deadly Sweet was a fun, magical read! Its beautiful cover completely captivated me, and I was happily pleased with the story being surrounded by baking yummy (magical) treats!

"No matter how much people hated me for being a witch, my magic was the most me thing about me."

I really enjoyed reading inside this world where magic is legal but not completely accepted. It was interesting to compare it with our own world and relate to it on a certain basis.. And the characters within were just as great.
Anise isn't your typical YA heroine and for the most part.. this felt refreshing. But there were a lot of times where I was frustrated with her thoughts because *I* personally wanted to know more about something.. So I just wanted HER to know more also and not always accept things so easily based on what others told her was true or false.
There's great girl friendships in this book which is always the best for me! A good mom and daughter relationship, too. And honestly there isn't much romance.. I mean there is but I wasn't for it (you'll see why). BUT there's potential for more romance in the next one so I'm crossing my fingers on that! :)

The only downfall for me was the way the magic was explained throughout the story.. There were some parts where I thought maybe I missed something? Because it felt like it was already explained when it actually wasn't. I needed more detail on things but there wasn't always any. It would have been fun to read more on how the spells worked within the sweets, too.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I'm a huge fan of Lola Dodge's writing and it has only improved since her previous works! I'm invested in Anise's journey and I'm looking forward to where the series goes from here. <3

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

DEADLY SWEET's back copy immediately hooked me. I love cooking shows (there's something profoundly soothing about sitting down and watching someone bake a cake), so combine that with magic, and I couldn't wait to start reading.

DEADLY SWEET kept me enthralled throughout an entire three hour airplane ride. I read it straight through and would have immediately downloaded the sequel if it were available. Anise is a delightful character with a cheerful but realistic voice. All of the cooking scenes were comforting. While DEADLY SWEET did have some flaws, I'll be picking up the next book when it's released at the end of the year.

Most of DEADLY SWEET is well-mixed, but there were some elements that didn't work for me. The villain and their goal will be immediately obvious to readers, even though Anise and her allies couldn't figure out who was trying to kill her or why. Details about the witch world were introduced but never fully explained (such as the rules of their magic), which came across as half-baked. While I'm sure those crumbs will be expanded on in the future, I craved more depth in the introduction to Anise's world.

Sexual Content: None

[lucia meets books · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I want to mention that the thing I enjoyed the most about Deadly Sweet were the strong and powerful females that could kick everyone’s ass if they wanted to. All the women that appeared throughout the book had a special power that they knew how to control perfectly, and everyone was afraid of them. However, the most inspiring thing was that they all took care of each other not only because they knew all of them were important but because after some time they all started to love each other as sisters and that was heartwarming for me.

My favorite character has to be Wynn, so focused and loyal, I know it was his job to take care of Anise, but I could sense he also did it because he knew she was a nice girl. Anise, our main character, was such an intelligent and creative girl, I loved all the scenes where she used her powers although there weren’t many. The antagonist, I won’t say its name, was pretty obvious for me so that took a little bit of the mystery away but no matter what, it was interesting to see how the people looking for it discover who it was.

One thing I didn’t like about the story was that we didn’t actually get to know the secondary characters, I’m honestly so intrigued by Blaire, Gabi and Anise’s mom. I would love to read more about their story specially Anise’s mom’s one because no one said nothing about it and I’m guessing it had to be something big or else the other women wouldn’t be so harsh on her. However, hopefully we get to know more about all of them on the upcoming books.

In conclusion, Deadly Sweet was a book that I enjoyed mainly because of the incredible characters and there were also great things as power and cooking scenes (which were obvious but still really nice to read). The only thing that I didn’t like was that we didn’t get much depth in the secondary characters and it was a little disappointing because I really liked them.

[Angela Jones-Cuéllar · Rating 4 out of 5]

pooled ink Reviews:

I’ve been on a bit of a paranormal binge lately (prompted by my trying to stay cliché with the Halloween season haha) and I have to say that this book really took on its own corner. Urban fantasy, strong female lead, dire situations and distant dreams, somehow it managed to really feel like its own thing. A bit lighter than most paranormal reads, a bit more fun and feel-good. Not to the extent of The Good Witch but it’s definitely no adrenaline and drama-injected The Vampire Diaries or anything like that. It was refreshing honestly. Not too heavy, not too light, Deadly Sweet is just that: dark, intriguing, fun, and tasty. If you’re on the hunt for a witchy read (and have a sweet tooth or adore The Great British Bake-Off) then I absolutely recommend you check this one out!

Read my full review here: https://pooledink.com/2019/10/30/dead...

[Marie -The Reading Otter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review:
3.5 Stars

http://pagestoexplore.blogspot.com/20...

[♠ TABI⁷ ♠]

I am honestly reading this because I fell into cliche instalove with that cover

[Severind Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a lot more fun with this one than I anticipated I would. I'm actually quite impressed. Just based on the premise, I suppose it's not all that surprising that this would make a quick, fun read. But going into it, I guess I was afraid I wouldn't like it. Like...at all. Come to find out, I really loved it.

There are several things that initially drew me to this book. Like it's beautiful cover. I love the purple and black color scheme. And although I'm a bit more likely to reach for the savory food than the sweet, decadent sweets like the cake on the cover had me yearning for it to be real, if only so I could eyeball it in a fancy display case in some beautiful bakery somewhere. Then there's the witchcraft facet. I love a good book about witchcraft, and this one involved FOOD. And not just any kind of food, but all the delicious sweets you could imagine. And finally, there was the fact that, of all places in the world this could have taken place in, the author chose to set the story in Taos, New Mexico. I personally am not from Taos, but I am from other parts of New Mexico, and practically nothing, least of all something in this genre, ever takes place in New Mexico. I mean, we've got Breaking Bad, but that's hardly the same. I admit, my curiosity really got the better of me with this one, because I'd never read a book set in my state before, and I wanted to see how well the author translated the culture here into the story. I'll get to that shortly.

Oddly enough, I'd heard about this on Instagram back when it first came out. Some book influencer had been given an advanced copy or something, and when she posted about it, my eyes were instantly drawn to its cover. I'd thought long and hard about buying it, but I didn't read ebooks much back then, and I was afraid there'd be some kind of love story in here that would make me hate it. So I forgot about it for a while. Until a few months ago when I was looking through my pictures and found a screenshot of the book, bringing it back to my attention. So I finally bought the thing. It took me a minute to actually get around to reading it, but once I did, it kept my attention from the start.

The story follows Anise, a kitchen witch, who can work magic into her food. Happiness cakes, brownies with karma in them, and friendship cookies. Things like that. She's trying to get into some kind of culinary school at community college, but none of them accept witches. Witches are known, but they are not welcome in society, so they are often forced to hide. Then, after something goes terribly wrong at home, Anise gets in touch with her aunt Agatha, who owns a magical bakery in Taos. In Taos, witchcraft is just another part of daily life. It's well known, and it's almost like a safe haven for witches. Anise must work to improve her baking skills if she one day wants to take over for Agatha, but in the process, a warlock sets their sights on Anise, and suddenly things aren't so safe in Taos.

Something I loved about this book was Anise's passion for baking. You can tell this character really feels for what she's doing, and you can see how her determination carries her through, even when everything seems to be going wrong. She's eager to learn, not easily discouraged, and even when wounded, she doesn't let much stop her. She's young and she feels a lot of different things, but you can't help but empathize with her throughout the story. I found myself really liking Anise. She's not trying too hard to be likeable. She's kind of like a regular person, honestly. Which makes her appealing. There's no horrific, tragic backstory. She's not difficult to like. Her favorite shirt is a Strawberry Shortcake one and she hates doing laundry. She's kind of ordinary, minus the magic, but that's what's most appealing about her.

Another thing I loved about the book was the prose. Yes, there were typos here and there. But honestly, the author knows how to write a good description. She throws sugary food analogies in there everywhere she can, but not in an overbearing sort of way. It was actually rather creative. It was a quick read. The pacing was done well. And there really wasn't any time where I was bored. I genuinely had fun reading this and plan on reading the sequel as well. And while I was able to guess the identity of the warlock pretty early on, that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. Even though there's a bit of a mystery in there, this is a light, kind of fluffy read that isn't TOO serious, and isn't meant to make you play guessing games over and over in your head with every page you read.

And then there's the part I was most worried about. The New Mexico reputation. I may not love it here, if I'm being quite honest, but...I've lived here my whole life practically. So I kind of know it well. A lot of people forget we even exist, or else have a completely inaccurate idea of what it's like here in their heads. So without further ado, let me praise the author for her representation of New Mexico. Either she's traveled here before or she did her research, because she actually got a lot of the minor but significant details right. For instance, she happened to mention the correct area code, which I know is something you can easily Google, but a lot of authors won't even go to the trouble of mentioning something like that. Even though she commented on the dry desert air and the summer heat, she didn't talk about NM as though it were Phoenix, Arizona, which everyone seems to assume we are exactly like...just smaller. She got the adobe buildings right. The fact that Taos is a little touristy. Even the dried red chili peppers we like to hang by the entrances to our houses or businesses because why not? Surprisingly enough, she even mentioned the fact that we love green chili on our pizzas. Trust me, you'll love it if you've never tried it. Although I still think there was a suspicious lack of green chili everything being mentioned, because we put it on EVERYTHING. There were some things I feel could have been mentioned to give the book-setting a little more of our real-world culture, but all in all, I think the author did a surprisingly good job of representing New Mexico in a positive light, rather than a negative one.

So here I am giving this book five stars. It took me an age to read it because I've been a slacker. But I loved it. And I highly recommend you also read it.

[Elley Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a really hard time rating anything that makes me immediately go looking for the next book (and yelling "NOOOOO!" like I just found out Darth Vader is my dad when I find out it doesn't come out for almost a year) as anything less than 5 stars. So BAM! 5 stars!

I really enjoyed Deadly Sweet. There is an element of romance but I have a hard time calling it a YA Romance. There's an element of fantasy (witches and magic and familiars) but I have a hard time calling it YA Fantasy. Actually, the main character (Anise Wise) is early college age, so I have a hard time calling it YA (but I don't think it's NA because that seems to be YA with sex scenes...) The only thing I don't have a hard time calling this book is AWESOME.

The Goodreads blurb on this book is horrible. Anise is a witch with a talent for baking enchantments in a world where witches exist but aren't terribly common or accepted. I kept thinking of witches kind of like cosplayers while reading this book. If you see someone in full cosplay randomly in public (in your school, working at the bakery at your local grocery store) they're super out of place and they definitely get the side eye. But there are places (ok, conventions mostly, but humor me) where there are LOTS of cosplayers gathered together, and then it's just par for the course. Non-cosplayers still tend to gawk a bit, take photos and things, but there is a community of like-minded people there and you're way less likely to have some jerkwad come up and start harassing you for the way you're dressed.

Except cosplayers are witches and can do magic, which may or may not be scary to people, especially when Anise feels cornered and threatened and burns down her county fair.

Basically Anise and her mom move a lot, while Anise pretends to be "normal" and tries to hide that she's a witch, and when people do find out they move to another town, and Anise starts over at the bottom of the totem pole decorating cakes at the local Grocery-Mart bakery. Oh, and gets repeatedly rejected from community college baking programs because they don't accept witches.

The blurb says Anise loves baking and potion making, but what she actually loves is baking enchantments into her pastries. (There aren't really any potions involved... but there is magic infused vanilla!) It's cute how she adds a pinch of anise to her bakes as her sort of signature. Anyway, after she accidentally burns down the county fair, Anise's great aunt Agatha finally answers an email Anise wrote her a year ago begging for an apprenticeship in her magical bakeshop (creatively called "Agatha's Bakeshop"). Little does Anise know, Agatha's Bakeshop in Taos is located on what is known as a vortex, a super magically charged area around which whole communities of witches spring up.

Suddenly Anise goes from having to hide what she is and fly under the radar as much as possible, to living in a community full of other witches. She starts making some of her first ever real friends, meets people who have known her family for generations, and learns there are all sorts of things about the witchy world she had no clue about. Including the mystery of what happened to Agatha's last apprentice, Hayley. (Seriously, they need to rewrite this blurb. She moved to Taos, not Sedona; Agatha is part of the Spellwork Syndicate, 13 matriarchs who keep the town safe and are not shady at all; Agatha's last apprentice is missing, not assassinated...)

I enjoyed the world building in this series, and appreciate how witches have particular areas of magic in which they excel, like Anise is good with kitchen witchery, Blair's family runs towards necromancy, Paula has a healing/cleansing magic that is apparently very herbal based, etc. I love Agatha's familiar, Fondant, and need to know more about her. I love Anise's Shield, Wynn, and need to know so many things about him, like where is he from? what does his contract involve? why does he sleep so much? The budding friendship between Anise and the daughters of her mom's old friends is great. OH! I need to know all the things about Anise's mom's past! What happened there? I'm really hoping these answers will be in the next book.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE TO WAIT ALMOST A WHOLE YEAR FOR THE NEXT BOOK?!?! I need it NOW!!

This book does NOT end on a cliff hanger, and could be read as a stand alone, but it definitely left me wanting more and I can’t wait to see what develops for Anise in the second book, Sugar Spells.

*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Sian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet ya witchy book with baking involved. Lola Dodge is an excellent author she kept me on my toes the whole way through. Even if I did figure who the assassin was before it was even revealed. But great MC Anisse you do want to shake her, but you can't help but like her. Wynn I'm not sure how I feel but I like him. And aunt Agatha is a hoot. If you want a good quick read this is for you.

[Melissa Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for some young adult foodie fiction with a pinch of fantasy and a dash of witchcraft then Deadly Sweet is exactly what you need to read! I thought the idea of baked goods having spells attached to them was very cute. I could clearly see the bakery and image all the treats contained behind the counters. There definitely was a bit of whimsy weaved into this story. Now as far as the mystery goes, I was able to identify the whodunit pretty quickly. I prefer my mysteries to be a mystery, so that took away from the story for me. I also felt that the story was more middle grade fiction than young adult. The characters mostly struck me as younger than they were described as being. Overall though, Deadly Sweet was a fun and light read that would be enjoyable to all readers, especially fans of foodie fiction.

This review is based on a complimentary book I received from Xpresso Book Tours. It is an honest and voluntary review. The complimentary receipt of it in no way affected my review or rating.

[Katherine Paschal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review found on https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

I cracked the lid and gaped at the hodgepodge. There was one bottle of water— brown water—along with bunches of herbs, a tube of crackers, jars and jars of pills, a block of chocolate , plastic bags, wet wipes, gauze, earplugs, and a glass of tiny red toads and grass with holes cut in the lid.

I must’ve interrupted Lonnie’s scavenger hunt. Otherwise, why?

Anise wants nothing more than to go to culinary school to bake delicious treats infused with her brand of kitchen witchery- but all she has gotten is rejections. Fearing that she will be forever forced into hiding her witchiness and working in a grocery store bakery, Anise sends a last chance email to an estranged family member who owns one of the most successful magical bakeries. When she hears nothing back, she accepts a rare offer to hang out with coworkers, her night ends up in epic disaster- but Anise also received an invitation she has waited her whole life for.

​Anise and I had a really rocky start for me predominantly due to her lack of confidence. She was a quiet, shy creature, most likely due to her upbringing and most recent rejections, but I just wanted to shout at her to stand tall and be herself. I was as proud as a momma-bear when she learned her own powers and talents as the book progressed, figuring that she would be herself and others could accept her as is or go away. There, my friend, is some woman power!

To be perfectly honest, Wynn, aka Sleeping Beauty, was my favorite character! No he is not the narrator or particularly a main character, but an incredibly important side character who stole my cold heart. He was mysterious, prickly, judgy, suspicious and ever so protective- such a strong, self assured person, pretty much the opposite of Anise really.

​I highly recommend reading this book with some sort of sugar concoction because I can 100% guarantee that you will​ crave cake, pie, candy...any and all baked goods, really! Lola was able to describe the treats so amazingly that not only could I see how drool worthy they are, but I could practically taste them and feel the sensations they were enchanted with. Seriously, I need some cake, STAT! If Anise was a real person with a real bakery, I would be her best client...and probably weigh 500 pounds.

Just read a snippet of the description and tell me you don's desire this:

There were piles of baklava dripping honey and happiness. Massive meringues puffed up with prosperity spells...
When I managed to suck in little blobs of air they tasted like toffee, mocha, caramel, and fresh strawberry. Every sweet looked like a piece of art, decorated with black gum paste flowers or precision-placed sprinkles.

This is actually my first book by Lola even though I have been eyeballing the Shadow Ravens for a long time and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to jump into her writing with such a fun, yummy adventure! Deadly Sweet is just the start to this world and I am excited for more.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

[Rebecca Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lola Dodge’s Deadly Sweet is a really great and unique first entry in The Spellwork Syndicate series. It’s a quick but fun read with a decent plot and great diverse characters.

Our protagonist is teen baker and kitchen witch Anise Wise who has spent her life hiding her magic. She dreams of going to pastry school but is constantly rejected because people are terrified of witches. After her powers cause a disastrous accident, she escapes to New Mexico to apprentice in her great-aunt Agatha’s magical bakery. After years of seclusion, Anise is finally surrounded by an exciting world of magic. However, there’s something brewing. Agatha’s former apprentice mysteriously disappeared, and now, someone wants to kill Anise!

This book is so unique! Dodge does a great job of shaping this magical world. I know a lot of other readers want more details about the magical world. However, the book is well-balanced and there is enough information to keep me interested but not too much to weigh down the plot. While the plot is a little predictable, the book is fast-paced and entertaining. The delicious descriptions are wonderful and I really appreciate the cute dessert puns.

Anise is a wonderful and well-developed protagonist. I like how relatable and realistic she is. She tries to solve the mystery without going overboard and I really like that she makes mistakes because, after all, she’s just a teenager!

I love that there is little romance in this book. Instead, Anise learns about herself and her magic and tries to fit into this new world. Too often, young women’s storylines are reduced to romantic relationships while downplaying personal growth and platonic relationships and I’m really glad Dodge avoids this here.

I really love that most of the supporting characters are strong and fascinating women. I’m so happy that Deadly Sweet has women of colour playing major roles because YA lit is usually sadly very white. However, I would have liked more depth to certain characters like Anise’s new friend, Gabi, who seems to have a fairly major role but appears too sporadically.

However, I do wish the mystery was better crafted. The villain is obvious and their intentions could have been clearer. Additionally, certain aspects of the mystery are vague and didn’t seem to fit together very well.

Deadly Sweet is a deliciously entertaining and quick read filled with interesting characters. While the plot could have been a little stronger, I still love this book. Although this is a YA book, I think this book is perfect for both teens and adults who love cute and easy reads filled with fun, baking, and magic. I would definitely recommend this book and I cannot wait for the sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ink Monster LLC for this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publish Date: 16th January 2018

Full review can also be found on: Paein and Ms4Tune’s Book Blog

I received this book about 10 months ago in exchange for a review. So I'm just a little bit behind...!
I planned to read it for October, but I considered my recent reading times and TBR pile and came to the conclusion that starting early was perhaps a better idea. And then I happened to read the whole thing before October even started, so now I have to wait for a month for book two! Which I need to read right now because Wynn.

Anise lives in a world where witches are known and feared. After accidentally causing a little bit of bother because of a total CREEP she has to move to live with her great aunt who owns a bakery shop near a vortex - which is something magical that might have been explained....
She finally gets to learn about baking and magic together but there ARE a few problems...she requires a constant bodyguard - a mystery wrapped up in an enigma named Wynn - and someone really isn't happy she's there...

Anise was a nice character. We got some back story without being overloaded, she wasn't whiny or too stupid - though at one point I really thought she was about to be a COMPLETE idiot - but she didn't seem to be terribly fleshed out either. It might be because this was a short book that was only set over a week or two. We had some character growth, though not much, and I'm holding out that book 2 will give us some more meaty Anise-ness (as well as a whole bunch of Wynn).
Perhaps some of the reason Anise seems a little thin on the ground is because she's in a place she doesn't know much about - which is helpful for us as neither do we! But book two is definitely set up for all of us to LEARN stuff. Especially about Wynn...

It was nice her mums friends daughters became her friends, though I was suspicious of them at first. Not just vaguely there was a specific reason, but it might be a thing in book 2 or 3.
Or maybe it's just that kind of society where women look out for women. We need more of that. So yes, I've decided that's what this is. Thanks Lola!

I liked this witchy baking book - though it WAS more about baking than witchy. But that's probably because it was about the family business of a novice bake witch....
I discovered that there will be a book 3, but I can't read the description because it has spoilers for book 2!! I'm finding it hard not to read it anyway, but what if what I hope for doesn't happen?! I'll spend the next month in a possibly false bubble of bliss thank you very much.
I look forward to learning more about this world and Wynn later.
Because he's always a win!
haha! I'm not sorry, he really is.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mix delicious cakes and frosting with spell-binding magic and adventure, add a pinch of intrigue and this is a treat readers won't want to miss.

Anise carries the perfect name—she wants nothing more than to be a baker with her own shop. Too bad, she's a witch and is shunned by anyone who notices. Colleges won't accept her, bakers don't want her. . .the only place she finds a job is decorating sheet cakes. When her silly magic gets the best of her, and she's about to end up in jail, a long silent aunt comes to her rescue. Anise escapes to an all witch area and finds her dream job as an apprentice in the town's most successful cake shop. But things aren't all sweets and dreamy spells as death knocks on her door and someone wants to kill her.

This author is slowly becoming one of my favorites as she adds yet another terrific tale to her list. Unlike the last one I read from her, a compelling science fiction series, this dive into flour and whisks has an entirely new flare. . .and sits. It's a delight to be submerged into a baking world and experience Anise's enthusiasm for cakes. (Who can blame her?) Her disappointments and mistakes make her human, while her excitement and determination make her easy to root for. She does make sometimes bad, gut decisions which aren't always thought out, but then, this is a YA novel.

Although there is action and scenes full of tension when Anise's life really is on the line, it's balanced out with a playful spirit of fun. There's never a boring moment and Anise has to fight for every success, big or small. Her group of friends is a little odd, and it's fitting to the scene. The witches are strange to Anise and presented that way to the reader. Trust isn't instant, but friendship is true and blue. It's just a matter of figuring out whose intentions are good and whose are not, which is not an easy task.

There's a special spice with Anise's bodyguard, and the relationship is refreshingly different. Lots of secrets still need to be exposed in this area as well as many others. In other words, book two promises to be just as intriguing.

I received a complimentary copy through Netgalley and enjoyed it enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but I didn’t love it as much as I had hoped. The concept is fantastic, but I wish there had been more focus on the magic aspect and a little less on the sweets.

Anise is a young kitchen witch with a magical affinity for baking. She has a lot of raw talent but due to societal prejudices she can’t get into any pastry schools in order to hone her craft.

After a magical mishap that could have devastating consequences, Anise goes to live with her great-aunt Agatha who is a gifted baker and maybe more importantly, a powerful member of the “Spellwork Syndicate”.

Once she arrives, Anise thinks her dreams have come true. Unfortunately, bad things start happening to her and she learns there is something more sinister at play than a jealous co-worker at a magical bakery.

As I mentioned, there is a heavy focus on baked goods. Anise is OBSESSED and it’s not a bad thing, I just wish there was a little less about the goodies and more about the “Syndicate”. Particularly, the very powerful witches who make up its membership.

As this is the first book in a series, I think this will be developed more in the next book and I look forward to that. I really enjoy Lola’s books, so I do hope this series gets better with every new installment.

Overall, it was a good book and I hope the storyline continues to develop and become a little more “deadly” than “sweet”.

Rating… C+ (3.5 Stars)

*Thanks to Ink Monster, Lola Dodge, and Netgalley for my copy of “Deadly Sweet” in exchange for my honest review

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anise escapes to Taos where she can finally live out her dream after an incident in New York. She is a witch living in a world that is terrified of witches and so she did what she could to blend in until everything blew up in front of her and she had to leave town. Things fall into place once she becomes an apprentice to her great aunt’s magical bakery in Arizona, but reality is too good to be true and soon Anise discovers that her years of baking is horrendous according to her aunt, she must learn how to bake from scratch by attending college, her fellow coworker who hates her guts happens to be her baking professor, she somehow has to have a bodyguard follow her around 24/7, and apparently her life as at risk every time she leaves the house.

This novel was magical from the world building to the characters and plot, but unfortunately this isn’t a standalone, so many questions are unanswered by the final page. I had many theories about Wynn’s role as bodyguard and why he seemed to sport a permanent cloud of rain over his head, but we didn’t learn much about his character. I picked out the warlock from the beginning so that wasn’t a shock. And I found it annoying and childish when Anise would go on and on over Seth’s appearance. It got to the point where she was comparing him to chocolate mousse and other baked goods. She sometimes made stupid decisions and let her “chocolate mousse” of a crush cloud her judgement to the point where she became careless, but at least she acquired her senses back after a bit.

I received an ARC of Deadly Sweet from NetGalley.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, you guys!

Remember the phrase "sleeper hit"? More like a gem hidden among the sand.

Well, this book is exactly that. This book isn't as flashy and epic as some of the NYT bestseller fantasy but it is so good!

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC and the cover totally bought me in. I mean just look at it! The color and lustre of the cake? If you closely inspect, you can see the deadliness the title suggests.

This book is my second read for the year and I do not regret even one minute of it.

Okay, so let me go into the details.

01) Plot:

From Goodreads, here is the summary:


"Anise Wise loves three things: baking, potion making, and reading her spellbooks in blissful silence. She might not be the most powerful witch, but enchantment is a rare skill, and her ability to bake with magic is even rarer. Too bad no one wants witchcraft on their campus. Anise’s dream of attending pastry school crumbles with rejection letter after rejection letter.

Desperate to escape her dead-end future, Anise contacts the long-lost relative she’s not supposed to know about. Great Aunt Agatha owns the only magic bakery in the US, and she suddenly needs a new apprentice. Anise is so excited she books it to New Mexico without thinking to ask what happened to the last girl.

The Spellwork Syndicate rules the local witches in Taos, but as “accidents” turn into full-out attacks on Anise’s life, their promises to keep her safe are less and less reassuring. Her cranky bodyguard is doing his best, but it’s hard to fight back when she has no idea who’s the enemy. Or why she became their target.

If Anise can’t find and stop whoever wants her dead, she’ll be more toasted than a crème brûlée.

Who knew baking cakes could be so life or death?"



The summary hooked me right in. I always loved books with baking being mentioned a lot *cough* Heartless *cough* and hearing how this book incorporates both baking and witchcraft, two of my favorite things in any book, I jumped right in.

And I was not disappointed!

Not even a bit!

Anyway, the plot is beautifully weaved, and the events are, though not totally unique and all, were refreshing due to the concept and the setting. I loved every moment of it. The book gave a fresh perspective to witchcraft and also a plot where both the teenage life of a girl and a witch and an aspiring baker is portrayed wonderfully. Wish I could gush more about this book without spoilers.

02) Characters:

Anise:

She's the protagonist and I love her so much. Unlike lots of young adult female protagonists, she doesn't brood or act melancholic and all. She struggles with her witch identity in front of humans, swoons over hot guys, binge eats and goofs around with friends at sleepovers and bonds strongly with her mom. Her passion and dream to become a baking witch and own a magical bakery is so endearing.

She is a teenager and acts like one, making impulsive decisions and later learning from it, a refreshing breath of air after reading brooding protagonists like Katniss, Tris and Laia.

Wynn:

He's Anise's bodyguard and a grumpy grandpa type character. His angry young man attitude clashes hilariously with Anise's outgoing, perky and charming personality. His overprotective nature is shown hilariously and his banter with Anise is really LOL. He doesn't speak much and if you wanna picture him, imagine the gigantic, Scottish bodybuilder from Brave and the crystal unicorn loving brute from Tangled. Though he's at the opposite spectrum of Anise, in the end they come to tolerate each other.

And no, they aren't love interests. I cannot picture him with her.

Agatha:

She's Anise's grand aunt and though she isn't much like typical Granny characters, she's still lovely and adorable in her own way. I love the way she addresses her grand niece as cupcake and owns a demon cat and wears earbuds to zone out.

Blair and Gabi:

They're Anise's witch best friends and both have their own personalities to adore. They also have their own importance in the book and the plot without being cardboard cutout.

03) Concept:

I had to acknowledge this part because this book gives quite a refreshing view of paranormal fantasy. You won't find darkness and blood and gore here (only teeny tiny but because it was absolutely mandatory for the plot advancement) and I loved it! What a fresh take on witchcraft and magic! Anise and other baking witches can make you feel happy or sad or confident with the dessert they make for you with their spells, and everything in their prep, from choosing the right spoon or utensils to measurement and decoration. Everything is important.

But this book isn't only about baking magic. Blair is a necromancer who parades around an army of undead bodyguards and whose family thus works as funeral parlor and takes care of the burial and other death related stuff. Gabi is a witch whose family works as vets because they're good with animals. Another character, Jane, is a healing witch who works as a nurse. Also, did I mention Anise goes to a community college for witches in a witch centric town? And the jewelries they wear can store magic and spells?

G.E.N.I.U.S.!

04) Voice:

Seriously, Anise has such a great voice! She isn't angsty or brooding or sarcastic (unless needed to). She's awkward and shy and embarrassed and indecisive and funny and makes mistakes but never ever does she lament or whine. I loved being inside her mind and reading her thoughts. One example:


"Next time I baked for Wynn, I was folding in wasabi and a spell to give him hotdog farts."


I cry-laughed at this!

So there you have it, my review of Deadly Sweet. I'll be waiting eagerly for its sequel, Sugar Spells, coming out in October, 2018.

For you information, this book is only available in eBook format.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me an ARC for an honest review.

[Sameena Jehanzeb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun to read! If you have a sweet tooth you'll love all the baking in it. I really don't know how I will survive waiting for book 2 of this series. Some parts of the story are very predictable but it didn't bother me because I liked our stubborn and yet mostly reasonable Anise a lot - despite her stupid decisions now and then - and even more I loved Wynn. I so so so want to know his secrets and see him more fleshed out in the next book. The small hints we are given about him seem to hide some sad truths and I felt sorry for him without even knowing the least bit of his contract.

Deadly Sweet is one crazy cool book if you are into modern witches and bakery stuff - with a hint of romance. It's not flawless but I enjoyed myself so much my cheeks turned red with excitement.

*** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book.***