Buddy Read for Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

[Amy]

This is the Buddy Read and Discussion Thread for Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young. Four of us Tenacious Trailblazers are reading it (Hayley, JenK, Melanie, and I) and I think KateNZ just started it. It has (obviously) both an S and a Y and something like over 600 tags for Fantasy Romance. Its been on my TBR for a while, so I am thrilled to get to it. But.... Its also my Steeplechase Spooky Book, and my Unicorn is getting antsy that we haven't moved much recently on the track. She feels a little miffed that I have left her to nap in the sun. She did enjoy the seven year slip, but now she is anxious to get her wings a little wind a fly a little. I told her she could take us to the library today. But she was very happy with this start with Spells for Forgetting.,

I am 25% through. So far it is a atmospheric and charged. But not just with spooky, with electricity that comes from grief, from enduring love that was cut off, from loss, from hope and expectation, from magic in the air, from secrets and history, and fear. I think so far this is my kind of book. How are other people liking it? Start whenever, and no spoilers. I think this is going to be a fun month.

[Amy]

Forgive me - it was Hayley who wants to read this too! How could I have forgotten? Its been far too long since we've had our regular buddy reads. Its just that it was on JenK's List as well.

[KateNZ]

I’ve got it and am definitely keen!

May be a few days before I can start, though. I’m still finishing a CoA book in my remaining 11 hours of March, lol. And then my first buddy read is with Jen K (‘Ship of Magic’, which we’ve both been wanting to get to for ages).

[NancyJ]

Adrienne Young has several books that fit next month’s tag. I have a hold on this one and The Unmaking of June Farrow. It could be a long wait. Fable was immediately available and I’ll try to at least preview it (one or two chapters) sometime this coming week.

[Jen K]

I'm definitely in for the this Buddy Read. I just need to sort out my reading schedule. So many good books to read!

[Amy]

I'm 60% through.

[Jen K]

Amy wrote: "I'm 60% through."

Are you still enjoying?

[Amy]

Very Very much.... I wish I could just have tea and finish it today, but alas the taxes are my sole priority.

Just one thing I noticed, which will not be a spoiler, is that I wish I didn't know this was fantasy romance. Because its tagged hugely that way, and while its out there that this is a witchy spooky island. the story is atmospheric enough and building, with enough "magic done well" that you know stuff is brewing. And yet it doesn't read fantasy yet. So it leaves you with wondering you shouldn't ordinarily have plus the regular what is going on, to who or what are they? Is someone or everyone on the island going to turn into something? Because right now its not reading fantasy at all yet. I wish I hadn't known the strength of the tag. Its making me anticipate more than I wish. But I am very into it no matter what happens.

Serious amount of multiple authors. Which adds to the spooky eerie feel.

[Jen K]

OMG, every time you mention taxes, I just a much needed shock because I really need to do mine and keep forgetting!! Goal for tonight...

Really glad that you are enjoying and also looking forward to starting soon!

[Amy]

Well I am the first to post my review. I really want to hear what others think. I did enjoy it - once again, I feel like expecting it to be heavy on fantasy was a little disappointing in terms of expectation, but perfect for me who appreciates magic done well but not necessarily fantastical new worlds. So I liked that. I guess I would have just appreciated not waiting for more. Great story though.

I really enjoyed this. A love story separated by fourteen years since a murder and a fire, and one that broke the town, and more than a few hearts. Saoirse Island is a tight knit community of witches and friends, a magical one, where herbs and magic are passed down through the daughters. At the heart of the industry of the island (other than some tourism) is the working Orchard, the site of the fire years ago, the night Lily Morgan was murdered.

Emery and August (and Dutch and Lily) were the four inseparable friends who grew up together, as did their families before them. The island holds magic, but also secrets, and violence, jealousy, prophecy, and always love. The magical elements are quite subtle here, and less powerful than the love story and the community story. If not for tagged fantasy, or fantasy romance, one would just consider this a regular story with a quirky edge. My feeling, is the story works better when one isn't looking for the fantastical to occur, and to let the quirky stuff just be the quiet music underneath. The real story is Emery, August, and the Island.

[Jen K]

Finally reviewed and getting a chance to respond. The story was fine. I really liked the island and her grandmother with the spell book and was less excited by the love story. :)

Like you Amy, I would not consider this a fantasy at all, maybe magical realism. The touch of magic is important but subtle as you say.

[NancyJ]

I liked the story overall, but Subtle is right. The writing was long winded on some topics, but maybe too subtle in the way some of the events were described. There was actually one major act of magic (view spoiler)[ it was the real cause of the girl’s death (hide spoiler)] but it was kept a secret from almost everyone. It was almost a secret from all of us too because it was described in only a couple of lines in the text. (view spoiler)[ one of the women on the town board used a lot of magic in the past on the board (and for personal gain) and it was all taken away from her. Magic has rules. It was her fault that her granddaughter stole a peek at the other woman’s spell book, and tried a spell that backfired on her. This was all underplayed in the writing. (hide spoiler)]

[KateNZ]

I haven’t got to it yet - so much for good intentions! Still four reading days in my month though, so it might happen. Positive reviews help!

[KateNZ]

Finished it and reviewed it. It started really well - I liked the slow burn and the gradual reveal of the characters and their place in the story. And it finished strongly (though suddenly). I loved the little twist right at the end too. But the middle sections meandered a bit and went over the top at times and I wasn’t convinced by the island itself. I’m really glad I read it though and I’d happily read other things by her.