I loved diving back into this world where the magical wicche world sits quietly (most of the time!) beside the real world. It’s a very cosy kind of magic – very cottagecore with low stakes, aside from the moments of high tension battle towards the end.
Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood publishes today!
We’re back in the same world as Rewitched, but this book could easily be read as a standalone novel – you don’t need any prior knowledge of the characters, although some from the previous book do crop up. Annie runs a bakery where a pinch (or more!) of magic is included with every slice of cake or cupcake, and she also dishes up her time and advice for anyone feeling less than 100%, all the while trying to rise to the top of The Sorciety, a hidden magical underworld for the rich and powerful. So when the Coven asks her to step up and take a rogue teenage witch under wing to help her control her magic, she really has no choice but to say yes. The two are sent to a secluded cottage where Annie begins to mentor her unusually sharp powers, until the owner of the cottage, a warlock wearing a Stetson, turns up wondering why they’ve taken over his home.
Read more: Cosy Romance Book Review: You Had Me At Pumpkin Patch by Anita Faulkner
I have to admit that I liked this book way more than Rewitched. I’m not sure if that’s because I read Rewitched as a physical copy and I’m far more used to reading on a Kindle nowadays, but where Rewitched dragged in the middle section and felt a lot more like a first novel, this one had much better pacing, no slump in the middle, and was just that bit more polished.
I also much preferred the romantic storyline in this one. Where I thought the romance in Rewitched was a bit stilted and contrived (it felt like it was added just so it could be sold under romance), in Uncharmed, the romance was far more realistic and had a lot more chemistry. I always love a grumpy sunshine romance, although I’d say it wasn’t all that grumpy! It’s a clean romance, so low spice levels.
Read more: The Best 99p Amazon Kindle Book Deals
Uncharmed had a fun narrative on what being perfect really means – flipping it on its head with a dark twist, but with everything turning out right in the end. Look, if you’re looking at reviews of this book, I know you’re the type of person who’s probably wanting a happy ending, and you won’t be disappointed!
Read more: Autumn 2024 Mini Book Reviews
The characters were so well fleshed out and fun: Annie, all perfectly pink and polished, but with dark secrets; Maeve, a typical teenage outcast, but for more magical reasons, who is so straight talking and brilliant; and Hal, who starts off grumpy at his unwelcome houseguests but turns out to be a ray of sunshine. It’s the cutest little found family, and you’re rooting for every character to overcome their problems. That’s one thing the author does very well: builds wonderful characters who you get to know inside out during her books.
It’s a gorgeous, cosy, cottagecore read that I would highly recommend. The cover might scream spring vibes, but it’s perfect for the autumn season!
Read more: Fall Romance Book Review: The Cinnamon Spice Inn by Harper Graham
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for a review copy of this book.
