Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley
Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books on March 2021Genres: Young Adult
Pages: 368
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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In this charming debut fantasy perfect for fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Girls of Paper and Fire, a witch cursed to never love meets a girl hiding her own dangerous magic, and the two strike a dangerous bargain to save their queendom.
Tamsin is the most powerful witch of her generation. But after committing the worst magical sin, she’s exiled by the ruling Coven and cursed with the inability to love. The only way she can get those feelings back—even for just a little while—is to steal love from others.
Wren is a source—a rare kind of person who is made of magic, despite being unable to use it herself. Sources are required to train with the Coven as soon as they discover their abilities, but Wren—the only caretaker to her ailing father—has spent her life hiding her secret.
When a magical plague ravages the queendom, Wren’s father falls victim. To save him, Wren proposes a bargain: if Tamsin will help her catch the dark witch responsible for creating the plague, then Wren will give Tamsin her love for her father.
Of course, love bargains are a tricky thing, and these two have a long, perilous journey ahead of them—that is, if they don't kill each other first..
Magic and dark power are plentiful in this debut novel by Adrienne Tooley. Tamsin, the most powerful witch, was banished when she did some dark magic long ago. Now a plague is sweeping through the land and her only chance at redemption is to find the dark witch who cast the magic and destroy her. Leading us to Wren, a naive and sweet Source for magic who is hunting the dark witch as well. Her father has fallen ill and she teams up with Tamsin to hopefully save their lands.
Of course nothing goes according to plan.
My favorite part about this book is Tamsin. I love love love her. I love how flawed she is, how bitter and sharp. I love how you don’t want to like her but cant help feel compassion. Tooley does an amazing job with her character as she moves through the story. She begins as an outcast and as her story unfolds, the layers multiply. I love characters who aren’t all good and all bad and Tamsin is just the right blend of grey. You know what they say, the road to hell is paved with good intensions.
Also, the world building is very rich and entertaining. I like how small and insignificant characters had a lot of life (townspeople), creating a very murky and tension filled atmosphere. The danger is heightened as they travel and even when they get to where they have to go, it doesn’t let up. The tone of the book really pulled me in, enhancing the sickness and urgency for Tamsin and Wren to seek answers and find the dark witch.
Which leads me to the romance. I like these two characters together. Wren softens Tamsin in ways that Tamsin doesn’t want to be softened, or doesn’t remember how to be. To be honest though, this is Tamsin’s book and Wren is a supporting character. She is maybe a little too naive for me, but along with Tamsin, she balances them out and as a couple they are fierce! The romance was very organic and lovely, unfolding as the young women got to know each other and got to know themselves and their boundaries with the dangers approaching them. I enjoyed seeing a different side to Tamsin as she thawed, and as Wren found her strength.
Overall, Sweet & Bitter Magic is a solid debut that drew me in at first with magic and darkness. Lots of imagination and good writing kept me planted in the world for hours.
Kimberly majored in Songwriting and currently works full time in the music industry. When she's not listening to music, knitting or writing, you can find her outside reading her favorite genres: Young Adult, Adult Fiction, Mystery, and Romance.
