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Windflower #1
Succulents and Spells
Laurel Windflower is a witch from a family of magic workers - but her own life is going nowhere. Living in the damp, sunless side of Aro Valley, she works in a café, unable to produce anything more powerful than the most basic herbal potions. Until, one winter morning, Marigold Nightfield knocks on her door.
Marigold is a scientist, but she knows plenty about magic. There are strange things happening in her house, and her future discoveries require careful negotiation with monsters.
Laurel can’t walk away from a mystery – and she can’t walk away from Marigold either. But what lies ahead could reveal all of her shortcomings to the woman she's trying to impress… or uncover the true nature of her power.
Marigold is a scientist, but she knows plenty about magic. There are strange things happening in her house, and her future discoveries require careful negotiation with monsters.
Laurel can’t walk away from a mystery – and she can’t walk away from Marigold either. But what lies ahead could reveal all of her shortcomings to the woman she's trying to impress… or uncover the true nature of her power.
102 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2020
13 people are currently reading
504 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
February 19, 2021
Kiwi Witches! I was surprised and delighted to find that this book was set in Wellington, New Zealand! Kindle Unlimited Novella.
Not long about an hour and a half, but there's a second installment coming out in March.
I enjoyed learning about Laurel, a witch who is a bit aimless, but hasn't discovered her specialty yet, and thinks maybe she doesn't even have one. She meets Marigold the last in a long line of witches, but who doesn't hold power. She is researching monsters and wanting to look into their genetics and DNA.
It's quite amusing and the two ladies are cute together. We find out more about Marigold's family heritage and the powers her GrandMother had.
It got a tiny bit repetitive in the head hopping and re-hashing toward the end, and I would have liked more time spent on interactions and connection between the two ladies. But it was an interesting story, and I would read the sequel.
Not long about an hour and a half, but there's a second installment coming out in March.
I enjoyed learning about Laurel, a witch who is a bit aimless, but hasn't discovered her specialty yet, and thinks maybe she doesn't even have one. She meets Marigold the last in a long line of witches, but who doesn't hold power. She is researching monsters and wanting to look into their genetics and DNA.
It's quite amusing and the two ladies are cute together. We find out more about Marigold's family heritage and the powers her GrandMother had.
It got a tiny bit repetitive in the head hopping and re-hashing toward the end, and I would have liked more time spent on interactions and connection between the two ladies. But it was an interesting story, and I would read the sequel.
May 17, 2023
I liked the plot and the world but I found some issues with pacing and descriptions.
Witches exist in this world and can have different specialties. They have close knit communities and have the ability to do simple spells. Most of the book took on a cozy feel, watching Laurel navigate her day to day with descriptions of how the world is different as it accommodates for magical beings.
It was not a long read so it did not feel like a waste of time, however I can't give it more than an "okay" rating because of the pacing and over describing of what felt like "useless" things. As with any cozy book, sometimes scenes are placed for vibes, while I appreciated the look into the world, I just wanted them to get on with solving the mystery. Take note that there is a sapphic romance but it is moved along very quickly due to the short length of the book.
Witches exist in this world and can have different specialties. They have close knit communities and have the ability to do simple spells. Most of the book took on a cozy feel, watching Laurel navigate her day to day with descriptions of how the world is different as it accommodates for magical beings.
It was not a long read so it did not feel like a waste of time, however I can't give it more than an "okay" rating because of the pacing and over describing of what felt like "useless" things. As with any cozy book, sometimes scenes are placed for vibes, while I appreciated the look into the world, I just wanted them to get on with solving the mystery. Take note that there is a sapphic romance but it is moved along very quickly due to the short length of the book.
Read
July 8, 2022Hmmm. Was looking for a cozy hedge-witch vibe with diverse characters, and Aotearoan author, but it didn't quite deliver.
Instead of relaxed coffee shop vibes, I got secondhand anxiety over sick leave and bills to pay and housing instability. That's admittedly mostly me, though. It's why I tend to stay away from contemporary and magical realism genres.
I'm glad Marigold is explicitly autistic, and the sapphic storyline is a non-issue. But it also was... a non-issue. Didn't feel any flirtatious spark there.
After a hum-drum start, then the second half switches tacks and then there's a magic battle with monsters? A confusing one. Wait, the monster was flung away, but she's still actively fighting it? Who is fighting which monster? Was there a POV change? You've decided to put the other part of the fight out of your mind, but then jump in to attack?
I do like some of the ideas here, of the resident grumbling monster living under the flat. I like the idea of succulents storing magic inside them like water. I could see that really fleshed out into a cool magic system. In the end though, I just wasn't sure what to make of it all.
Instead of relaxed coffee shop vibes, I got secondhand anxiety over sick leave and bills to pay and housing instability. That's admittedly mostly me, though. It's why I tend to stay away from contemporary and magical realism genres.
I'm glad Marigold is explicitly autistic, and the sapphic storyline is a non-issue. But it also was... a non-issue. Didn't feel any flirtatious spark there.
After a hum-drum start, then the second half switches tacks and then there's a magic battle with monsters? A confusing one. Wait, the monster was flung away, but she's still actively fighting it? Who is fighting which monster? Was there a POV change? You've decided to put the other part of the fight out of your mind, but then jump in to attack?
I do like some of the ideas here, of the resident grumbling monster living under the flat. I like the idea of succulents storing magic inside them like water. I could see that really fleshed out into a cool magic system. In the end though, I just wasn't sure what to make of it all.
June 6, 2022
Cute, but has the same problem that plagues so many novellas of churning through plot points far too fast to be truly meaningful. It did make me want to visit Wellington again though!
March 10, 2022
Laurel is a bit rudderless, toiling her days away in a cafe, a witch without much power, but she has an affinity for plants that brings her joy. Then Marigold shows up at her door, a scientist looking to take a sample from the monster Laurel shares an apartment with (yes, you read that right), because while she isn't a witch herself, Marigold has a witchy ancestry that has led her to interest in scientific applications of the magical world. The two wind up uncovering a mystery from Marigold's familial past, along with some flirtation along the way.
This was just deeply cozy reading, the characters are so relatable it feels like hanging out with friends. As well a cozy mystery without murder is always welcome! My only complaint is at just 100 pages I want MORE, so I will be continuing on with this series.
This was just deeply cozy reading, the characters are so relatable it feels like hanging out with friends. As well a cozy mystery without murder is always welcome! My only complaint is at just 100 pages I want MORE, so I will be continuing on with this series.
April 30, 2023
This was a nice read and start to a series for my unfocused insomnia brain.
It's very slow paced and really feels like an introduction to the world and characters, but that was nice. Will continue with the series for sure.
It's very slow paced and really feels like an introduction to the world and characters, but that was nice. Will continue with the series for sure.
October 16, 2021
Loved the queer and autistic rep, and the MC's type of magic was interesting. The monsters could have used more developing, and the narrative style wasn't my cup of tea. If you're not as fussy as I am, I recommend this wholesome little paranormal romance.
August 18, 2023
I picked up Succulents and Spells recently as it caught my attention. I read the prequel story first and was a bit confused when I started reading this one as it takes place quite a bit later when Laurel is no longer at university. It took a bit of time to adjust to that. I really wanted to like this book more, but there was just something missing and I never got fully pulled into the story.
Let's start with what I liked. The slice of life style story with low stakes was exactly the type of read I like. The New Zealand setting was nice too, even though the location wasn't a big part of the story. I liked the interesting world building and story surrounding the monsters, witches and how there were different types of witches and powers. I liked reading about Laurel's succulents, although there wasn't as much of that as I had expected. And I thought Laurel's struggle to figure out what she wanted out of life and what type of witch she was made her feel relatable and real.
So lots of interesting elements and somehow the book just didn't keep my attention. The writing style felt just a tad off, the pacing not quite right at times and that indefinable something was missing to make it a smooth read for me. I wasn't quite sure where the plot was going for parts of the book, just like with the prequel novella. Some parts felt a bit rushed or lacking depth and then later on other scenes felt almost stretched out in comparison or there was a surprising amount of depth in Laurel's reflections in the later part of the book. The romance builds slowly, but then sort of jumps forward toward the end. And despite that I am still kinda curious about how the series continues.
To summarize: This book had a lot of interesting parts, but something was missing to fully capture my attention. I liked the slice of life vibe of the story. As well as the unique world building surrounding the witches, monsters and their powers. Laurel was an interesting main character and felt relatable and real. There just was something missing for me. Something about the writing style and pacing felt a bit off in places, I wasn't quite sure where the story was going and some parts felt a bit rushed and lacked depth. While other parts slowed down and had more depth. The romance builds slowly and then jumped ahead. Lots of interesting parts, but something was missing for me, I am curious about the rest of the series and might pick up book 2 at some point.
Let's start with what I liked. The slice of life style story with low stakes was exactly the type of read I like. The New Zealand setting was nice too, even though the location wasn't a big part of the story. I liked the interesting world building and story surrounding the monsters, witches and how there were different types of witches and powers. I liked reading about Laurel's succulents, although there wasn't as much of that as I had expected. And I thought Laurel's struggle to figure out what she wanted out of life and what type of witch she was made her feel relatable and real.
So lots of interesting elements and somehow the book just didn't keep my attention. The writing style felt just a tad off, the pacing not quite right at times and that indefinable something was missing to make it a smooth read for me. I wasn't quite sure where the plot was going for parts of the book, just like with the prequel novella. Some parts felt a bit rushed or lacking depth and then later on other scenes felt almost stretched out in comparison or there was a surprising amount of depth in Laurel's reflections in the later part of the book. The romance builds slowly, but then sort of jumps forward toward the end. And despite that I am still kinda curious about how the series continues.
To summarize: This book had a lot of interesting parts, but something was missing to fully capture my attention. I liked the slice of life vibe of the story. As well as the unique world building surrounding the witches, monsters and their powers. Laurel was an interesting main character and felt relatable and real. There just was something missing for me. Something about the writing style and pacing felt a bit off in places, I wasn't quite sure where the story was going and some parts felt a bit rushed and lacked depth. While other parts slowed down and had more depth. The romance builds slowly and then jumped ahead. Lots of interesting parts, but something was missing for me, I am curious about the rest of the series and might pick up book 2 at some point.
October 6, 2020
This was cute and interesting; I'm intrigued by the magic system being set up here and the beginnings-of-a-romance part of the plot was sweet. The Wellington setting really shines, and I'm going to keep an eye out for the next book. This is a little self-conscious in parts but that's about the only neutral-to-negative comment I'd add. (I want to know so much more about the monsters!)
September 18, 2021
Short & sweet witchy romance, with a wholesome vibe.
January 26, 2022
As I have mentioned previously, there has been some delightful fantasy romance coming out of New Zealand recently. One group of authors have banded together to produce Witchy Fiction, a range of light romance novellas about witches set in New Zealand. Of the titles I’ve read so far, my favourite has been Succulents and Spells by Andi. C. Buchanan.
The book is told from the perspective of Laurel, a witch from a large family of witches. She’s not really sure what she’s doing with her life, having not found her magic specialisation and on the verge of giving up on her Masters degree in linguistics. On one of her rare days off from waitressing, she’s visited by Marigold, who asks to take a sample from the monster living under Laurel’s sharehouse.
Marigold is autistic, a PhD candidate in biological science who in her spare time is researching monster genetics. Like Laurel, she is also from a long line of witches, but doesn’t have magic herself, beyond an ability to talk to monsters. What she does have is an abundance of enthusiasm and warmth.
The Witchy Fiction range seem intended as cosy romance, and Succulents and Spells has that in spades. Both of the main characters are charming, friendly people. Laurel is close with much of her large family, who have an online chat to keep in touch and discuss magic problems. She treats her housemates as found family, making sure they sit and have dinner together whenever possible. And she’s constantly helping strangers out with small spells. Being from Laurel’s perspective, we see fewer of Marigold’s connections, though she speaks of her absent family with affection.
There was a bit of class difference between Laurel and Marigold, but although present it was never an issue between them. Conflict is minimal and mostly the result of misunderstandings; tension is brought in by mysteries needing research. Given the current state of the world, this is a welcome approach and was a delight to read. I also appreciated the way the story normalises including one’s pronouns when introducing oneself.
The story is set in Wellington. Having never visited, I’m not in a position to say how well it invoked the feeling of the place. However, I can say that it never felt overwhelming or like I was expected to know a place I’d never been. In fact, the writing style as a whole was excellent, with enough detail to be evocative but without bogging things down. The dialogue felt very natural.
On the whole, I found Succulents and Spells to be light but thoughtful, an uplifting read for difficult times (or any time, really). It’s the first in a series and concludes with a happily-for now, so I’m looking forward to seeing more from these characters.
This review first appeared on Earl Grey Editing.
The book is told from the perspective of Laurel, a witch from a large family of witches. She’s not really sure what she’s doing with her life, having not found her magic specialisation and on the verge of giving up on her Masters degree in linguistics. On one of her rare days off from waitressing, she’s visited by Marigold, who asks to take a sample from the monster living under Laurel’s sharehouse.
Marigold is autistic, a PhD candidate in biological science who in her spare time is researching monster genetics. Like Laurel, she is also from a long line of witches, but doesn’t have magic herself, beyond an ability to talk to monsters. What she does have is an abundance of enthusiasm and warmth.
The Witchy Fiction range seem intended as cosy romance, and Succulents and Spells has that in spades. Both of the main characters are charming, friendly people. Laurel is close with much of her large family, who have an online chat to keep in touch and discuss magic problems. She treats her housemates as found family, making sure they sit and have dinner together whenever possible. And she’s constantly helping strangers out with small spells. Being from Laurel’s perspective, we see fewer of Marigold’s connections, though she speaks of her absent family with affection.
There was a bit of class difference between Laurel and Marigold, but although present it was never an issue between them. Conflict is minimal and mostly the result of misunderstandings; tension is brought in by mysteries needing research. Given the current state of the world, this is a welcome approach and was a delight to read. I also appreciated the way the story normalises including one’s pronouns when introducing oneself.
The story is set in Wellington. Having never visited, I’m not in a position to say how well it invoked the feeling of the place. However, I can say that it never felt overwhelming or like I was expected to know a place I’d never been. In fact, the writing style as a whole was excellent, with enough detail to be evocative but without bogging things down. The dialogue felt very natural.
On the whole, I found Succulents and Spells to be light but thoughtful, an uplifting read for difficult times (or any time, really). It’s the first in a series and concludes with a happily-for now, so I’m looking forward to seeing more from these characters.
This review first appeared on Earl Grey Editing.
July 8, 2024
Cute little novella set in Wellington, New Zealand, it's cozy and low-key witchy. I enjoyed this read but it's one of those essentialy slice of life stories with baked goods being consumed and practically no stakes.
October 24, 2021
Cozy, sweet, and imaginative! The “monsters” are delightful, and so is Laurel’s everyday magic. I kind of wish that the resolution/growth to her difficulties in finding her path had taken a different form than was chosen by the author, but ah well.
November 10, 2023
Always nice to read a book set in Wellington - so lovely to be able to perfectly visualise everything!
December 10, 2023
Cute NZ YA witchy story.
October 1, 2020
I've been making my way through books written by New Zealand authors whom I learned about at this year's WorldCon (I didn't get to NZ in person for that so these books are just gonna have to suffice for my NZ cultural fix... for now). I actually had this author's award-winning book on my TBR list but Succulents and Spells jumped ahead as soon as I saw the cover, filled as it was with succulents. Delightful, delightful succulents**.
So, yeah, this was a really fun dive into a modern witchy Wellington. I enjoyed the witchy community, the witchy-adjacent community, the monsters, and the magic - it was all a light, sweet blend. I'm very much looking forward to reading further books as they're released.
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**I loooove succulents but am seriously lacking in the skillz necessary for keeping them vibrantly alive. Every time the main character talked about not needing to water her succulents for the season, I shed a tear for the succulents I didn't water into a state of desiccation. Mine got so starved for water my neighbor kidnapped my outdoor succulent thinking it had been abandoned (after reading this book, I felt it was slightly ironic that that neighbor was also from the southern hemisphere).
So, yeah, this was a really fun dive into a modern witchy Wellington. I enjoyed the witchy community, the witchy-adjacent community, the monsters, and the magic - it was all a light, sweet blend. I'm very much looking forward to reading further books as they're released.
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**I loooove succulents but am seriously lacking in the skillz necessary for keeping them vibrantly alive. Every time the main character talked about not needing to water her succulents for the season, I shed a tear for the succulents I didn't water into a state of desiccation. Mine got so starved for water my neighbor kidnapped my outdoor succulent thinking it had been abandoned (after reading this book, I felt it was slightly ironic that that neighbor was also from the southern hemisphere).
October 6, 2021
If you are looking for a cozy read, this is one you should for sure pick up! Modern day witches in Wellington, NZ, working together to solve magical mysteries is just what I needed. I have a video review for the books out so far in this series, and I highly recommend it!
Content Warnings:
illness
Content Warnings:
illness
January 28, 2021
Laurel Windflower comes from a family of witches but so far her real powers evade her. Sure, she can cook up some potions and stuff but feels rather like her life is going nowhere.
Read the full review @https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
Read the full review @https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
June 7, 2024
Everything I needed and more - witches, awkward lesbian romance, historical research, humour and really evocative descriptions of Wellington. Brilliant combination of the scientific and the magic, plus an interesting system of witchcraft. Can’t wait for the next instalment!
March 6, 2023
Full review / all my reviews available on my blog
> Marigold took a deep breath. “My name is Marigold Ann Nightfield. I use she/her pronouns. I’m a PhD candidate in biomedical science.”
>
> Laurel offered her hand across the table, and Marigold took it.
>
> “Laurel Windflower. She/her as well.” She didn’t mention the incomplete MA she’d been postponing, for one reason or another, for the past two years. “So, is your PhD in monster biology or something?”
That was delightful. It’s a cozy urban fantasy, light and cute with just enough touches of something bigger and more dangerous out there.
Well worth a read. And at a novella length 100 pages, it’s worth trying just to see if you like it. And if you do, there are a handful more to dig deeper! (I haven’t yet).
A bit deeper, at it’s heart the strength of the story is in the characters. We have a young (20 something?) woman from a large family of witches who hasn’t quite found her way (and at that age, who has) runs into another young woman from a much smaller, wealthier family–also with witches, if less–who studies the Monsters that hide under your bed academically.
It’s such a fun premise and watching the two find their way through life (and eventually towards each other) is just… fun.
> “No need. She put her phone number in with the gingerbread.”
>
> Connor got to his feet in mock outrage. “Her phone number? Laurel Windflower, you’re seriously telling me she gave you her phone number and you don’t know if she’s interested in you?”
>
> Laurel could feel herself blushing. “Enough.”
I like the variety of witches, even if we don’t get many details at all about them, and the thought that went into making Monsters more ‘real’. Well done that, if light.
> “I’ll be twenty-four in November. I know I come across young. It’s because I’m autistic, and enthusiastic about things, and also because of my skin.”
It’s nice to have autistic characters. Especially when it’s who she, but not all who she is.
> Marigold took a deep breath. “My name is Marigold Ann Nightfield. I use she/her pronouns. I’m a PhD candidate in biomedical science.”
>
> Laurel offered her hand across the table, and Marigold took it.
>
> “Laurel Windflower. She/her as well.” She didn’t mention the incomplete MA she’d been postponing, for one reason or another, for the past two years. “So, is your PhD in monster biology or something?”
That was delightful. It’s a cozy urban fantasy, light and cute with just enough touches of something bigger and more dangerous out there.
Well worth a read. And at a novella length 100 pages, it’s worth trying just to see if you like it. And if you do, there are a handful more to dig deeper! (I haven’t yet).
A bit deeper, at it’s heart the strength of the story is in the characters. We have a young (20 something?) woman from a large family of witches who hasn’t quite found her way (and at that age, who has) runs into another young woman from a much smaller, wealthier family–also with witches, if less–who studies the Monsters that hide under your bed academically.
It’s such a fun premise and watching the two find their way through life (and eventually towards each other) is just… fun.
> “No need. She put her phone number in with the gingerbread.”
>
> Connor got to his feet in mock outrage. “Her phone number? Laurel Windflower, you’re seriously telling me she gave you her phone number and you don’t know if she’s interested in you?”
>
> Laurel could feel herself blushing. “Enough.”
I like the variety of witches, even if we don’t get many details at all about them, and the thought that went into making Monsters more ‘real’. Well done that, if light.
> “I’ll be twenty-four in November. I know I come across young. It’s because I’m autistic, and enthusiastic about things, and also because of my skin.”
It’s nice to have autistic characters. Especially when it’s who she, but not all who she is.
May 21, 2023
I'm rounding up from three and a half stars. This was a pleasant read, but it could have been more. I don't mind character-driven stories, but this had a nice plot along with a little subplot, either of which could have been more developed to make this into a really nice novel. Not to mention that there's a romance that could have been brought out front more: though it did have a nice organic development to it, there wasn't terribly much focus on it. And, while the secondary characters don't exactly feel fake, I would have enjoyed it if they were fleshed out a little more. The protagonist was fairly solitary when not working with her romantic interest and even then they mostly did all their work on their own and then compared notes. It's a bit of a comfy introvert's tale, I suppose, but the author tells about all these other interesting characters and the protagonist seems to like them but she seems to stay away from them and we don't learn that much about them. This could have been a really good cozy mystery and/or romance, but failing that, it was still a nice way to kill a couple of hours. The characters and setting are nice enough that I'm going to check out the second novella to see if it has a bit more of a fleshed out story.
May 25, 2021
This was super fun and I had such a good time reading it. Witches! Wellington! Wlw! 🤩🧙♀️👭🌱
This has some really effective and efficient world building to create the context for witches and their powers in this world - it also brings you into Laurel's life with a very lovely touch. There's a cool subplot with monsters and science that I believe will be further explored in the sequel. I really appreciated how normal and real Laurel's characterisation felt, despite the magical slant to the world in this book and how the modern and magical worlds were woven together.
Thinking about how much ground was covered in 90 pages, I'm really impressed - it never felt rushed, overly dense (something that completely takes me out of fantasy/speculative fiction writing), the prose was clear and natural, and the entire story was paced really nicely, with time to breathe in character moments and descriptions of Wellington.
I'd highly recommend this to anyone looking for fun, well executed stories with diverse representation, anything to do with witches, or a cool wee nod to the millennial preoccupation with succulents.
This has some really effective and efficient world building to create the context for witches and their powers in this world - it also brings you into Laurel's life with a very lovely touch. There's a cool subplot with monsters and science that I believe will be further explored in the sequel. I really appreciated how normal and real Laurel's characterisation felt, despite the magical slant to the world in this book and how the modern and magical worlds were woven together.
Thinking about how much ground was covered in 90 pages, I'm really impressed - it never felt rushed, overly dense (something that completely takes me out of fantasy/speculative fiction writing), the prose was clear and natural, and the entire story was paced really nicely, with time to breathe in character moments and descriptions of Wellington.
I'd highly recommend this to anyone looking for fun, well executed stories with diverse representation, anything to do with witches, or a cool wee nod to the millennial preoccupation with succulents.
October 21, 2020
Succulents and Spells got on my radar after I saw Andi talk at a recent convention and I'm so glad it did. It was the perfect read to get me in the mood for a cosier Halloween this year.
The novella really shines in the supernatural world building as well as tying in specific locations around Wellington to bring the story to life. Witches have really unique spheres of magic they are particularly competent in that impact how they cast their spells - a side character witch with a specialisation in metal made my head absolutely sing with possibilities.
And on the more real side of the setting, I grew up in Wellington and absolutely agree that Aro Valley is the best place for a budding witch to live.
The two main characters are both really fun and their interactions felt genuine throughout. I also really enjoyed the mystery and action elements in the story.
The story is fast and fun and I look forward to seeing it continue in Microscopes and Magic next year :)
The novella really shines in the supernatural world building as well as tying in specific locations around Wellington to bring the story to life. Witches have really unique spheres of magic they are particularly competent in that impact how they cast their spells - a side character witch with a specialisation in metal made my head absolutely sing with possibilities.
And on the more real side of the setting, I grew up in Wellington and absolutely agree that Aro Valley is the best place for a budding witch to live.
The two main characters are both really fun and their interactions felt genuine throughout. I also really enjoyed the mystery and action elements in the story.
The story is fast and fun and I look forward to seeing it continue in Microscopes and Magic next year :)
March 31, 2022
3.5 Stars
A supremely cozy story about witches and monsters, set in modern day New Zealand. I liked nearly everything about this, despite it being messy on a sentence level, because I loved the spirit and ideas behind the words.
There was one jarring spot:
"That explained where Marigold’s family got their money from. Not that Laurel was under any illusions that there were ethical ways of being rich, but still."
Well, that's certainly a position. No ethical ways of becoming rich? Not a single one? Hmm.
I'm very much looking forward to the next two books in this sweet series, and I'm incredibly grateful Nashville Library bought them as soon as I recommended them 🖤🖤🖤
***
GR Personal Rating System:
★★★★★ 5 Stars ~ LOVED
★★★★☆ 4 Stars ~ ENJOYED
★★★☆☆ 3 Stars ~ LIKED
★★☆☆☆ 2 Stars ~ MEH
★☆☆☆☆ 1 Star ~ NOPE
A supremely cozy story about witches and monsters, set in modern day New Zealand. I liked nearly everything about this, despite it being messy on a sentence level, because I loved the spirit and ideas behind the words.
There was one jarring spot:
"That explained where Marigold’s family got their money from. Not that Laurel was under any illusions that there were ethical ways of being rich, but still."
Well, that's certainly a position. No ethical ways of becoming rich? Not a single one? Hmm.
I'm very much looking forward to the next two books in this sweet series, and I'm incredibly grateful Nashville Library bought them as soon as I recommended them 🖤🖤🖤
***
GR Personal Rating System:
★★★★★ 5 Stars ~ LOVED
★★★★☆ 4 Stars ~ ENJOYED
★★★☆☆ 3 Stars ~ LIKED
★★☆☆☆ 2 Stars ~ MEH
★☆☆☆☆ 1 Star ~ NOPE
September 4, 2023
Challenges: Shorty September 2023 - 90 pages/witchy; Reading Goal Posts/Stacking the Series - Categories 3 & 22/You Own It, Read It/New series started in 2023. An installment by one of a group of authors in New Zealand who write 'witchy' stories. A lover of succulents, I just had to read this book to see how these plants worked with spells. Through her two main characters, the author explores how magic brings with it great responsibility and obligations. Being a vessel of power could be a metaphor for how all of us use what gifts we have in us to brighten the world as well as how we come to know who we are. Monsters and witchy humans are mixed together, but it is not clear why. I look forward to finding out more about this relationship in future books. A nice short read. A nice budding romance.
September 28, 2020
A joyous read! The prose had a way of making feel right at home in it, like I was a welcome flatmate at the damp Aro Valley flat. I loved the characters of both Laurel and Marigold. The magical plots were well balanced with the mundane: I think many of us can relate to Laurel's dilemma of "what am I meant to be?", and the undercurrent plot of understanding those who can't necessarily communicate with us in a way we know how to. I loved this book very much.
November 12, 2020
Such a sweet read and a joy to curl up with this story. The author crafted a very interesting story that I was curious to know more about. It was a quick and easy read that was just nice to curl up and enjoy these characters. I liked Marigold and Laurel a lot and there was a good balance between the magical things and the mundane cares of normal life. The plot was sweet and the setting came alive. I liked this novella a lot.
November 1, 2022
I love browsing my public library’s queer ebook collection, because I end up finding indie and lesser-known books to try that I would have never found otherwise. Succulents and Spells is one of those books, and I’m happy that I gave it a try, because it was a nice cozy read that incorporates a lot of things I like, including queer witches, left-leaning values, autistic representation, and details about the characters’ day-to-day lives. It does have a tone that I can’t really explain other than to say it sounds like it was written by someone who spends a lot of time on tumblr and/or AO3, but that didn’t bother me, as I am definitely of the tumblr demographic. Planning to read the rest of the series and check out some of the other Witchy Fiction project authors, too.
January 1, 2023
Really enjoyed this Kiwi witch cozy. Loved reading a book set in Wellington, loved the magic system, the characters and the sapphic romance. Only thing I would cut was the odd and jarring ‘my pronouns are—‘ at the meet cute. This exchange wasn’t repeated anywhere else when characters met for the first time and really threw me out of the book. Otherwise, I’ll definitely be reading on in the series.
November 12, 2020
Laurel and Marigold are two descendants of ling lines of witches who each need to find their own way.
Skills, romance and training might be a bit different for these two, yet their unique connections to each other seem strong
This is probably a good thing for the monsters under their beds or in their walls
Fun growing and finding their way story- with some teeth and claws thrown in
Skills, romance and training might be a bit different for these two, yet their unique connections to each other seem strong
This is probably a good thing for the monsters under their beds or in their walls
Fun growing and finding their way story- with some teeth and claws thrown in
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews