RISE AND DIVINE
by Lana Harper
The Witches of Thistle Grove series concludes with an enchanting queer romance.
It’s time for the Cavalcade, a month-long festival that happens every 20 years and commemorates the four founding witch families of Thistle Grove. Dasha Avramov has lineage from two of those families, but what makes her a rarity is that she’s a devil eater. When a dark magical entity appears amid the celebration, Dasha must access a mysterious land of death on the other side of the veil to uncover more information. This place gives her euphoric feelings, but she has a history of spending too much time there and not wanting to return to the living realm where she’s grieving her deceased parents and regretting breaking the heart of Ivy Thorn, the love of her life. To save her town and win back Ivy, Dasha has to confront her fears, pain, and grief. Harper’s exquisite, descriptive prose once again shines and fully immerses the reader in this alluring, magical world. Although the book is a bit slow to start, the reader’s patience is rewarded with thoughtfully developed depictions of grief, a moving look at meaningful family and friend relationships, and passionate romance. Dasha has hurt her loved ones in the past, and it’s easy to empathize with her as she grows and atones. For fans who have been around since the beginning of the series, the appearance of many familiar characters will be appreciated.
A heartfelt romance with rich lore and richer emotions.