Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches
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4.3 • 12 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
A witchy, atmospheric lesbian contemporary romance set in Salem—from the acclaimed author of Fans of the Impossible Life. Perfect for fans of Nina LaCour and Becky Albertalli.
Seventeen-year-old Eleanor is the last person in Salem to believe in witchcraft—or to think that her life could be transformed by mysterious forces. After losing her best friend and first love, Chloe, Eleanor has spent the past year in a haze, vowing to stay away from anything resembling romance.
But when a handwritten guide to tarot arrives in the mail at the witchy souvenir store where Eleanor works, it seems to bring with it the message that magic is about to enter her life. Cynical Eleanor is quick to dismiss this promise, until real-life witch Pix shows up with an unusual invitation. Inspired by the magic and mystery of the tarot, Eleanor decides to open herself up to Pix and her coven of witches, and even to the possibility of a new romance.
But Eleanor’s complicated history continues to haunt her. She will have to reckon with the old ghosts that threaten to destroy everything, even her chance at new love.
Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches is an atmospheric and romantic coming-of-age about learning to make peace with the past in order to accept the beauty of the present.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Following a disastrous falling-out with her girlfriend Chloe, which left her a social outcast, 17-year-old Eleanor Anderson—"easily the least witchy person" in Salem, Mass.—busies herself with taking care of her mother, who lives with Lyme disease; working at a family friend's kitschy witch-themed gift shop; and smoking weed to help manage her anxiety. Then she meets Pixie, who invites Eleanor to join a coven seeking to "save the soul of this town." Despite initial reservations, cynical Eleanor accepts, and soon starts dating more exuberant, open-minded Pix, as interstitials taken from a mysterious book sent to Eleanor reflect the story's progression and explain the tarot's major arcana. Employing a tongue-in-cheek first-person narrative and using flashbacks to shed light on Eleanor's complicated previous relationship, Scelsa (Fans of the Impossible Life) explores public opinion and self-perception alongside themes of forgiveness, relational toxicity, and commercialism. Symbolic magic lends an underlying sense of enchantment as Eleanor opens herself up to new ideas and possibilities, and a sweet, gentle central chemistry sells the central romance. Across the largely queer cast, protagonists are white; secondary characters are portrayed as racially diverse. Ages 13–up.
Customer Reviews
one sec, wiping tears
i have never read a story that showed my own heart before this. i have had severe anxiety disorder for YEARS. my poor eleanor i yearned for your dark cloud to go away every single page. my sweet pix thank you for bringing sunshine to the dark cloud. absolutely heart melting love story. i hope to be as gentle as pix one day, and as brave as ellie 🖤🖤🖤
It’s Super Cute and Too Relatable
I really enjoyed reading this book and found the characters and the plot to be interesting and engaging. I loved the structure of the novel being centered around tarot. The romance was super cute and the book didn’t feel melodramatic for a YA book.