This was SOOOO GOOD!!!! I definitely should have read it earlier 👀 But for some reason I got an ARC of the sequel in the mail last week (an excellent surprise), so that was great motivation to start this one. And tbh maybe it was good I waited because omg that cliffhanger!!! Now I don't have to wait to find out what happens 😈

Anyway, I loved both Clem and Cris and their story arcs (together and separate) and their different relationships with magic. I also loved that this was more urban fantasy (I think that's the term?) rather than full-on second world fantasy (I don't know if that's a real term either, I could just be making things up here). Like, it's our world that everyone is familiar with, but there just happens to be magic. My brain barely has the capacity for epic, sweeping fantasy these days, but I still love the genre, so when I don't have to use my limited brain power to learn a whole new made up world/language/culture, it's much more enjoyable for me.

And all this was really well done--mixing real southern culture and politics with magic and family drama was so much fun! The setting felt like its own character in the book (and also made me more excited for my upcoming trip to New Orleans in January!).

I also was fully invested in the characters. I was frustrated right along with the kids when the adults were keeping all their secrets, I was very into the mystery and Cris's attempt at figuring out what was going on, and don't even get me started on Clem and Yves. I would like to have some words with you about all of that, Terry 👀

And now that I've written all that, excuse me while I go start book 2 🏃🏻‍♀️💨