LOVE AND OTHER WICKED THINGS

A light and fantastical Sapphic love story.

Rhiannon Greenbrook is a tradition-loving witch from a close-knit family of witches. Valerie Morgan is the new witch in Oakriver, there to find the truth about her magical mother, who disappeared from town when Valerie was a toddler; her regular human father won’t tell her anything. The two teens’ paths cross, just like Rhia’s grandmother predicted—but she also predicted destruction and danger, with Rhia at its center. Although at first Rhia is appalled by Valerie’s public use of magic, which goes against witch council regulations, the girls eventually connect—Valerie doesn’t know any other witches, and Rhia is a good teacher—and they start to feel magnetically attracted to each other. But Valerie has been having trouble sleeping and is even sleepwalking, and it appears something wicked is coming their way. The girls’ proximity to one another may unleash something dark in the sleepy town. With likable side characters and an engaging and sweet love story at its heart, this novel tracing Rhia and Valerie’s journey together is endearing and suspenseful. The danger they face doesn’t seem terribly dire, and combined with the simple magic system, this makes for an easy read that feels safe and cozy. Rhia and her family are Black; Valerie is white, and there’s a large cast of queer supporting characters.

Sweetly magical.