Juniper and Thorn - Ava Reid

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⭐ 7.5/10

(Originally written by Magdalene)

I recently read and really enjoyed this author's debut book, so I was excited to get into her latest. I think this book was actually better than the first, but for reasons I don't understand, it didn't grip me as much as that one did. Probably just a case of the plot and characters not resonating with me as much.

Anyway, it's about Marlinchen and her sisters, all witches in an Eastern European-inspired world where few exist anymore. Their father is a tyrant who keeps them locked up at home, but they start sneaking out to the ballet, and eventually poverty and desperation force them to extreme measures. This is a dark, witchy fantasy with lots of horror elements. This author is really good at atmosphere and vibes, and the world is really immersive. A really good book for the start of spooky season.

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