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Rewitched #1
Rewitched
Belladonna Blackthorn hasn’t lost her magical spark . . . but she hasn’t seen it in a while, either.
Balancing work at her beloved Lunar Books with protecting it from her toxic boss, who’s running it into the ground, and all the while concealing her witchcraft from the non-wicches around her – Belle is burnt out. Perfecting the potential of her magic is the last thing on her mind.
But when her 30th birthday brings a summons from her coven, and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle risks losing her magic forever. With the month of October to fix things, and signs that dark forces may be working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get – from the women in her life, from an unlikely mentor figure, and even an (infuriatingly handsome) watchman who’s sworn to protect her . . .
With found family, slow burn romance and an uplifting message about self-love, this is the cosy, autumnal read that you've been waiting for.
Balancing work at her beloved Lunar Books with protecting it from her toxic boss, who’s running it into the ground, and all the while concealing her witchcraft from the non-wicches around her – Belle is burnt out. Perfecting the potential of her magic is the last thing on her mind.
But when her 30th birthday brings a summons from her coven, and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle risks losing her magic forever. With the month of October to fix things, and signs that dark forces may be working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get – from the women in her life, from an unlikely mentor figure, and even an (infuriatingly handsome) watchman who’s sworn to protect her . . .
With found family, slow burn romance and an uplifting message about self-love, this is the cosy, autumnal read that you've been waiting for.
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2024
About the author
Lucy Jane Wood
2 books520 followersI found myself falling into the world of writing almost by accident. My blogging friends at university were applying for swanky magazine internships, and I decided I should probably do something useful like that for myself. It was an obvious decision that almost made itself on my behalf, because writing is just who I am, and reading has always just been what I do.
Since happily stumbling my way into my first paid writing position for teen website Sugarscape back in 2013, I've been lucky and thrilled to find myself working freelance for giant titles like Marie Claire US, Cosmopolitan UK, MTV and Metro amongst others.
I am currently attempting to write my first fiction book. Wish me luck! I'm going slowly insane with it, and I am reassuringly told that's a good sign.
Since happily stumbling my way into my first paid writing position for teen website Sugarscape back in 2013, I've been lucky and thrilled to find myself working freelance for giant titles like Marie Claire US, Cosmopolitan UK, MTV and Metro amongst others.
I am currently attempting to write my first fiction book. Wish me luck! I'm going slowly insane with it, and I am reassuringly told that's a good sign.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,431 reviews
September 18, 2024
Absolutely adored this! The perfect autumnal witchy read, so incredibly well written, funny and full of heart. The message of learning to have faith in yourself hit home with me. I hope there’s more where this came from because I want to move into this world of spellcasting, cinnamon rolls, cozy bookshops and floating cats!! More in depth thoughts will follow on my YouTube channel, Leora Aileen 🔮🕯️🍂🌛
November 2, 2024
✩ 1.75 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Magical Trials
➼ Fate of the FMC’s Magic is on the Line
➼ Mystery
➼ Sinister Forces at Work
➼ Personal Growth & Self-Discovery
➼ A Sprinkle of Romance
➼ Third Person POV
I wanted to love this so much, but sadly it just didn’t deliver. It started pretty strong and honestly had a pretty solid ending, but there were about 250 pages in the middle that were PAINFULLY dull. The romance aspect was almost nonexistent and the trials she went through were either too intense for like 2 pages or drug out for 20. I enjoyed the trial where she interacted with her younger self, and the mystery was somewhat interesting, but everything else felt completely underdeveloped.
Belle’s lack of knowledge about her magic and the expectations associated with them also felt pretty unrealistic to me. She works in a book store, but she never read the book that would teach her about her magic? This detail kind of reminded me of Discovery of Witches, but at least that MC’s reasoning for not learning about her magic made sense because of her trauma and lack of magical ability. By comparison, the explanation this book provided for Belle’s ignorance felt extremely weak.
Maybe this will make me sound like a Yank, but there were also a few British terms and modern phrases that I think should have been removed. It might sound nitpicky, but a witch talking about needing to “hoover” multiple times just kind of killed the magic for me. I think the author was trying to emphasize that she just wanted to be normal, but she didn’t need to try quite so hard.
This book is the perfect example of why I don’t buy books until AFTER I read them. Once I’ve paid for them, I am too stubborn to DNF and I REALLY should have DNF’d this one. I know, I know… you guys told me to. You were right! I hope Spookily Yours doesn’t let me down like this book did! 🤞🏻
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Y’all, I’m really struggling with this one. 😩 I am just so incredibly bored. 😴 Been trying to read it all month and I just can’t get into it. I’m seriously considering letting Alexa read this to me, so you know the situation is dire!
Pre-Read: If this is even half as cute and cozy as the cover promises, I’ll be a happy gal. 🤗✨
What to Expect:
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Magical Trials
➼ Fate of the FMC’s Magic is on the Line
➼ Mystery
➼ Sinister Forces at Work
➼ Personal Growth & Self-Discovery
➼ A Sprinkle of Romance
➼ Third Person POV
I wanted to love this so much, but sadly it just didn’t deliver. It started pretty strong and honestly had a pretty solid ending, but there were about 250 pages in the middle that were PAINFULLY dull. The romance aspect was almost nonexistent and the trials she went through were either too intense for like 2 pages or drug out for 20. I enjoyed the trial where she interacted with her younger self, and the mystery was somewhat interesting, but everything else felt completely underdeveloped.
Belle’s lack of knowledge about her magic and the expectations associated with them also felt pretty unrealistic to me. She works in a book store, but she never read the book that would teach her about her magic? This detail kind of reminded me of Discovery of Witches, but at least that MC’s reasoning for not learning about her magic made sense because of her trauma and lack of magical ability. By comparison, the explanation this book provided for Belle’s ignorance felt extremely weak.
Maybe this will make me sound like a Yank, but there were also a few British terms and modern phrases that I think should have been removed. It might sound nitpicky, but a witch talking about needing to “hoover” multiple times just kind of killed the magic for me. I think the author was trying to emphasize that she just wanted to be normal, but she didn’t need to try quite so hard.
This book is the perfect example of why I don’t buy books until AFTER I read them. Once I’ve paid for them, I am too stubborn to DNF and I REALLY should have DNF’d this one. I know, I know… you guys told me to. You were right! I hope Spookily Yours doesn’t let me down like this book did! 🤞🏻
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Y’all, I’m really struggling with this one. 😩 I am just so incredibly bored. 😴 Been trying to read it all month and I just can’t get into it. I’m seriously considering letting Alexa read this to me, so you know the situation is dire!
Pre-Read: If this is even half as cute and cozy as the cover promises, I’ll be a happy gal. 🤗✨
October 10, 2024
Wow. This book was pure and utter magic. 50 pages in I knew this book would claim a place in my heart. I resonated with Belle SO much in so many ways. The timing of this book releasing and me reading it when i needed the comfort and resonance of its protagonist most, seems supernatural… no pun intended 👀. And the writing!!! Descriptive, beautiful and atmospheric - my favourite writing style. ♾️ stars.
September 24, 2024
This was very fun! It was a lot less small-town-cozy-vibes than I initially expected (and what the cover made me believe) and a lot more high fantasy and moderately high stakes. This book is all about learning to trust in your own abilities & believing you are worthy. There's some loveable characters & a cozy bookstore that sells cinnamon buns. The magic is extensive and is very reminiscent of HP, which made me feel nostalgic. In short: it delivers everything you could want from a cozy fantasy. Yet I couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed by the constant pressure of the plot that doesn't let up at any given time. Our main character is on a time sensitive mission and I could FEEL it. There's continuous tension that made me feel a little stressed, which kind of interfered with my cozy experience. Even I felt like I needed a five day nap after Bella's month of Magical Learning and No Sleep.
Another small issue I had with this one was how the plot (and the *big explanation* for everything) just didn't make that much sense and made the conclusion of the story not as believable. But for books like this I don't care as much as I'm there for the fun experience and immersing myself in a cozy, magical world. And this definitely did that for me. I feel like this book could function as a setup for a lot more stories set within this world, as I feel like so many small things were mentioned but not explored. Other covens? Sirens? I need to know moreee
Another small issue I had with this one was how the plot (and the *big explanation* for everything) just didn't make that much sense and made the conclusion of the story not as believable. But for books like this I don't care as much as I'm there for the fun experience and immersing myself in a cozy, magical world. And this definitely did that for me. I feel like this book could function as a setup for a lot more stories set within this world, as I feel like so many small things were mentioned but not explored. Other covens? Sirens? I need to know moreee
October 9, 2024
**Many thanks to Berkley and Lucy Jane Wood for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**
Remember when Sabrina the Teenage Witch had to get her witch's license?
If you aren't familiar with the show, as she comes of age, she has to pass several tests given by the Witch's Council in order to keep her magic. Now as a teenage witch, Sabrina had a whole OTHER set of adolescent problems to deal with...but suffice it to say, this was a fantastic story arc that kept me invested until the FINAL showdown...and although I hoped for the best, you just weren't quite sure if Sabrina had waggled her last magical finger wag.
Now age the character up into her 30s, put her in the most CHARMING bookstore ever, toss in a true blue bestie, a lovable familiar named Jinx 🐈, and a mysterious, handsome stranger named Rune...and you're halfway to the cozy, mystical, magical, and fantastic read that is Lucy Jane Wood's Rewitched!
Belladonna Blackthorn (which is the perfect witchy name, by the way) is dreaming of running Lunar Books one day...but she's got to get through today first. Her boss is a misogynist and a nightmare, and oh yeah, hiding the small fact that she is a WITCH gets harder by the day. Belle longs to tell her best friend Ariadne, but because Ariadne is mortal, she can't tell her a thing. As she comes from a magical heritage, Belle has always appreciated her abilities, but didn't think she would necessarily have to prove herself to keep living The Magic Life...until the aforementioned handsome stranger shows up one day at Lunar Books...and all bets are off.
Turns out Belle has ONE MONTH to prepare herself for a series of trials presented to her by her coven...and based on her performance, a panel of judges will decide whether or not she gets to keep her magic. All of this, of course, will culminate on the spookiest night of the year - Halloween. Accustomed to using her magic for the perfect cute outfit (and a cleaning spell or two) Belle is terrified as she realizes that losing her magic is a true possibility...and part of finding her magic will mean also require her to be vulnerable, brave, and to find herself, deep in a sea of insecurity. With a possible romantic entanglement with her broody and devilishly handsome watchman Rune brewing in the background, Belle discover that someone is out to sabotage Belle AND steal her magic...but who? How will her family's storied past come into play? And will she finally have the courage to stand up for her magic, her family, her bookstore...and most importantly, herself?
I'm not one to normally gush over a cozy fantasy book normally....but trust me when I say I've been basking in the warm, cozy, afterglow of this CHARMING and pitch perfect witchy read for a week...and I hope this snuggly, sweater weather feel-good feeling NEVER goes away!
I had a hard time even believing this was Lucy Jane Wood's debut - it's just THAT good. From the instantly lovable cast of characters (you'll want to meet and befriend ALL of them, save for those couple of pesky villains!) to the homey Stars-Hollow-but-make-it-British sort of town, to the UNREAL and incredible atmosphere provided by one Lunar Books (and yes, they also serve CINNAMON ROLLS, as if it wasn't good enough already), I was instantly enchanted, bewitched, hexed...you name it, I felt it! I do love a good witchy tale, but this one is so much more than that: from page one to its sugary sweet finish, I was rooting Belle on, falling in love with her kitty Jinx, and fully ENTRENCHED in the emotional journey and exciting plot.
And of course, I would be remiss if I didn't spend some time on Rune. He is SO dreamy, you're going to wish Lucy Jane Wood had given him even MORE page time...he's just THAT type of guy. A bit mysterious, slightly snarky but never obnoxious, a brave and loyal protector...and of course, he's wearing the PERFECT outfit for his character, has the requisite long hair....he ticks ALL of the boxes. As much as I did feel this was one of the only areas of the book that was somewhat lacking, there's also good reason for this having to take a back seat: there is a LOT of plot wound into one book, and a pretty heavy emphasis on the journey of self discovery for Belle. This did lead to the book feeling less like a romance and more like a witchy feel-good cozy...but if that's my only quibble, that isn't saying too much!
On top of this plot that will keep you enchanted and keep you guessing, there are some beautiful and heartbreaking moments thrown in as well, where Belle's journey of self-discovery put a lump in my throat...and as a millennial who often feels unsure of herself, it was SO easy to step into Belle's pointy shoes (Okay, maybe not pointy but it's fun to imagine them that way, am I right? 😂) Although it does take a while to get there, I feel like Lucy Jane Wood did such a beautiful and subtle job of tying all of the points together, of incorporating family history and scandal into the plot, and keeping the book light, fun, and whimsical from open to close, and that's no easy feat. This book manages to feel comfortable and familiar, but exciting and new, much like watching a GOOD reboot of a classic 90's sitcom (yes, Fuller House, I'm looking at you!), where there is something unspeakable and subtly referential, but also so refreshing and new that you can't WAIT to try it. Much like that brand new fall drink you've been waiting for all year long, you shouldn't hesitate - these are the kind of sugary sweet book calories that are worth EVERY sip! ☕
And as it turns out, the only thing better than being bewitched?
Being Rewitched!
4.5 shiny stars
Remember when Sabrina the Teenage Witch had to get her witch's license?
If you aren't familiar with the show, as she comes of age, she has to pass several tests given by the Witch's Council in order to keep her magic. Now as a teenage witch, Sabrina had a whole OTHER set of adolescent problems to deal with...but suffice it to say, this was a fantastic story arc that kept me invested until the FINAL showdown...and although I hoped for the best, you just weren't quite sure if Sabrina had waggled her last magical finger wag.
Now age the character up into her 30s, put her in the most CHARMING bookstore ever, toss in a true blue bestie, a lovable familiar named Jinx 🐈, and a mysterious, handsome stranger named Rune...and you're halfway to the cozy, mystical, magical, and fantastic read that is Lucy Jane Wood's Rewitched!
Belladonna Blackthorn (which is the perfect witchy name, by the way) is dreaming of running Lunar Books one day...but she's got to get through today first. Her boss is a misogynist and a nightmare, and oh yeah, hiding the small fact that she is a WITCH gets harder by the day. Belle longs to tell her best friend Ariadne, but because Ariadne is mortal, she can't tell her a thing. As she comes from a magical heritage, Belle has always appreciated her abilities, but didn't think she would necessarily have to prove herself to keep living The Magic Life...until the aforementioned handsome stranger shows up one day at Lunar Books...and all bets are off.
Turns out Belle has ONE MONTH to prepare herself for a series of trials presented to her by her coven...and based on her performance, a panel of judges will decide whether or not she gets to keep her magic. All of this, of course, will culminate on the spookiest night of the year - Halloween. Accustomed to using her magic for the perfect cute outfit (and a cleaning spell or two) Belle is terrified as she realizes that losing her magic is a true possibility...and part of finding her magic will mean also require her to be vulnerable, brave, and to find herself, deep in a sea of insecurity. With a possible romantic entanglement with her broody and devilishly handsome watchman Rune brewing in the background, Belle discover that someone is out to sabotage Belle AND steal her magic...but who? How will her family's storied past come into play? And will she finally have the courage to stand up for her magic, her family, her bookstore...and most importantly, herself?
I'm not one to normally gush over a cozy fantasy book normally....but trust me when I say I've been basking in the warm, cozy, afterglow of this CHARMING and pitch perfect witchy read for a week...and I hope this snuggly, sweater weather feel-good feeling NEVER goes away!
I had a hard time even believing this was Lucy Jane Wood's debut - it's just THAT good. From the instantly lovable cast of characters (you'll want to meet and befriend ALL of them, save for those couple of pesky villains!) to the homey Stars-Hollow-but-make-it-British sort of town, to the UNREAL and incredible atmosphere provided by one Lunar Books (and yes, they also serve CINNAMON ROLLS, as if it wasn't good enough already), I was instantly enchanted, bewitched, hexed...you name it, I felt it! I do love a good witchy tale, but this one is so much more than that: from page one to its sugary sweet finish, I was rooting Belle on, falling in love with her kitty Jinx, and fully ENTRENCHED in the emotional journey and exciting plot.
And of course, I would be remiss if I didn't spend some time on Rune. He is SO dreamy, you're going to wish Lucy Jane Wood had given him even MORE page time...he's just THAT type of guy. A bit mysterious, slightly snarky but never obnoxious, a brave and loyal protector...and of course, he's wearing the PERFECT outfit for his character, has the requisite long hair....he ticks ALL of the boxes. As much as I did feel this was one of the only areas of the book that was somewhat lacking, there's also good reason for this having to take a back seat: there is a LOT of plot wound into one book, and a pretty heavy emphasis on the journey of self discovery for Belle. This did lead to the book feeling less like a romance and more like a witchy feel-good cozy...but if that's my only quibble, that isn't saying too much!
On top of this plot that will keep you enchanted and keep you guessing, there are some beautiful and heartbreaking moments thrown in as well, where Belle's journey of self-discovery put a lump in my throat...and as a millennial who often feels unsure of herself, it was SO easy to step into Belle's pointy shoes (Okay, maybe not pointy but it's fun to imagine them that way, am I right? 😂) Although it does take a while to get there, I feel like Lucy Jane Wood did such a beautiful and subtle job of tying all of the points together, of incorporating family history and scandal into the plot, and keeping the book light, fun, and whimsical from open to close, and that's no easy feat. This book manages to feel comfortable and familiar, but exciting and new, much like watching a GOOD reboot of a classic 90's sitcom (yes, Fuller House, I'm looking at you!), where there is something unspeakable and subtly referential, but also so refreshing and new that you can't WAIT to try it. Much like that brand new fall drink you've been waiting for all year long, you shouldn't hesitate - these are the kind of sugary sweet book calories that are worth EVERY sip! ☕
And as it turns out, the only thing better than being bewitched?
Being Rewitched!
4.5 shiny stars
September 26, 2024
I've been a fan of Lucy's YouTube channel for a few years, and I even (correctly) guessed that she was writing a book when the first of her easter eggs were laid in some of her photos and videos. I think that is an important fact to mention before getting into my review, seeing as everything I say is with admiration for the joy, light and love that she's pressed into these pages.
To begin, this isn't what I was expecting, at least not entirely, but that's more on me and my assumptions than the novel itself. I was extremely excited for this novel! But, more than anything, what I struggled with once I got my hands on it was the amount of overwritten prose. It was exorbitantly heavy-handed. Though the author’s descriptions at times sounded lovely, they were either jam packed with adjectives or full of repetition so thick I had to weed-whack myself out of to get to the point. I noticed an inane tendency to over-explain, something that I may see in a young adult novel, wherein the author may feel the need to, but this author wrote in a way that spoon feeds the reader everything, down to every excruciating banal detail. I found, as a reader, there were a lot of instances where I was unable to determine my own version of this world that had been so carefully crafted due to the hyper-specificity of the author's own words. An example of this would be when the author used "dove, fawn and ivory" to describe the colour of something, when a good editor would have told her to decide on the strongest adjective instead of weighing down her sentences like this. I'd guess this has to do with being a debut author, and there is a lot of insecurity that comes with the intention of the work -- hoping each reader "gets it." However, in trying to secure that connection I felt like the true closeness was lost among the prose that so desperately needed room to breathe.
Now, this is not to say that I think this author is untalented. She clearly is creative and has a knack for storytelling, but the editing let down said abilities. I wish there had been greater care taken with the practical aspects as I noticed a few logical fallacies in Belle's story. Early on, Belle and her flatmate/best friend, Ari, are described as having "[grown] up with terrifying determination." Moreover, Belle is a self-proclaimed bookworm who runs a bookshop, so when she was fifteen (and full of determination) and had access to magic suddenly, she decided not to read the historical text of her coven? She's never been interested in reading the very book that is all about her magic in the last fifteen years? That didn't make sense with her character. At all. However, had Belle been someone who didn't think very much of magic, or misused it purposely, or was rebellious in some way, I could understand her lack of preparation or interest. Knowing your characters and writing about them are two different things.
Overall, I will say there was a delightful earnestness to this writing. Even though I found there to be a lack of sentence length variation, which hindered the heavy-feeling prose even more, I felt like I understood why this was happening. The story suffered from a lack of grit, stakes, or any real feeling of adversity, especially in the main character's actions. Even if the novel was intended to be a cozy read, the pacing lacked fervor to keep the story moving in an interesting way. Like I said though: earnest. The writing wasn't bad, but I contest there was a dire need for a seasoned editor. It's even clear in the sheer length of the novel that it needed to have some fat trimmed off, but it had good bones.
I'd be open to reading more from the author and seeing how she grows.
To begin, this isn't what I was expecting, at least not entirely, but that's more on me and my assumptions than the novel itself. I was extremely excited for this novel! But, more than anything, what I struggled with once I got my hands on it was the amount of overwritten prose. It was exorbitantly heavy-handed. Though the author’s descriptions at times sounded lovely, they were either jam packed with adjectives or full of repetition so thick I had to weed-whack myself out of to get to the point. I noticed an inane tendency to over-explain, something that I may see in a young adult novel, wherein the author may feel the need to, but this author wrote in a way that spoon feeds the reader everything, down to every excruciating banal detail. I found, as a reader, there were a lot of instances where I was unable to determine my own version of this world that had been so carefully crafted due to the hyper-specificity of the author's own words. An example of this would be when the author used "dove, fawn and ivory" to describe the colour of something, when a good editor would have told her to decide on the strongest adjective instead of weighing down her sentences like this. I'd guess this has to do with being a debut author, and there is a lot of insecurity that comes with the intention of the work -- hoping each reader "gets it." However, in trying to secure that connection I felt like the true closeness was lost among the prose that so desperately needed room to breathe.
Now, this is not to say that I think this author is untalented. She clearly is creative and has a knack for storytelling, but the editing let down said abilities. I wish there had been greater care taken with the practical aspects as I noticed a few logical fallacies in Belle's story. Early on, Belle and her flatmate/best friend, Ari, are described as having "[grown] up with terrifying determination." Moreover, Belle is a self-proclaimed bookworm who runs a bookshop, so when she was fifteen (and full of determination) and had access to magic suddenly, she decided not to read the historical text of her coven? She's never been interested in reading the very book that is all about her magic in the last fifteen years? That didn't make sense with her character. At all. However, had Belle been someone who didn't think very much of magic, or misused it purposely, or was rebellious in some way, I could understand her lack of preparation or interest. Knowing your characters and writing about them are two different things.
Overall, I will say there was a delightful earnestness to this writing. Even though I found there to be a lack of sentence length variation, which hindered the heavy-feeling prose even more, I felt like I understood why this was happening. The story suffered from a lack of grit, stakes, or any real feeling of adversity, especially in the main character's actions. Even if the novel was intended to be a cozy read, the pacing lacked fervor to keep the story moving in an interesting way. Like I said though: earnest. The writing wasn't bad, but I contest there was a dire need for a seasoned editor. It's even clear in the sheer length of the novel that it needed to have some fat trimmed off, but it had good bones.
I'd be open to reading more from the author and seeing how she grows.
August 26, 2024
There is no question that Lucy was always destined to be an author. I’ve known her a long time, so I appreciate I’m a little biased (and was kindly gifted an early copy from Pan Macmillan!), but I know she’s poured her soul and passion into writing this, and you can certainly tell.
I absolutely loved the story. It’s a perfect witchy, magical, and cosy autumn read. I love a novel about found family, finding yourself, and transitioning into your 30s. There is so much warmth in the story. Belle is very relatable, and you’ll be rooting for her every chapter.
However, I did find the first half slow. I appreciate that it’s necessary for the world-building, but it took me a while to get into it. It’s written in the third person, which might also be why it took me a while, but I didn’t see the ending coming, and the final part of the book is so incredible to visualise.
As a romance novel girly, I desperately wanted more Rune! He is dreamy. I hope we get more romantic moments between them in a future book. This certainly sets us up for the next chapter in Belle’s life, and I look forward to seeing what she achieves next!
I absolutely loved the story. It’s a perfect witchy, magical, and cosy autumn read. I love a novel about found family, finding yourself, and transitioning into your 30s. There is so much warmth in the story. Belle is very relatable, and you’ll be rooting for her every chapter.
However, I did find the first half slow. I appreciate that it’s necessary for the world-building, but it took me a while to get into it. It’s written in the third person, which might also be why it took me a while, but I didn’t see the ending coming, and the final part of the book is so incredible to visualise.
As a romance novel girly, I desperately wanted more Rune! He is dreamy. I hope we get more romantic moments between them in a future book. This certainly sets us up for the next chapter in Belle’s life, and I look forward to seeing what she achieves next!
November 12, 2024
3.75
Fajne połączenie cosy fantastyki z magią i akcją
Fajne połączenie cosy fantastyki z magią i akcją
October 26, 2024
« It’s never the right time. Ever. If you’re waiting for all of the stars and planets to align before you make decisions that’ll make you happier, you’ll be waiting forever »
Cozy Fantasy is definitely a winning genre for me this year.
This book is an oath to believing in yourself. Let go of self doubt, stop comparing, stop waiting for things to happen to you… Mixed with a dash of inner child healing.
I loved everything about this cute book. The whole set of characters (and the cat) were absolutely lovable.
This book also made me realize that we rarely see an accurate representation of a nervous breakdown - this was well depicted in this story.
I read this in one sitting and didn’t want to stop reading it. If you love Cozy Fantasy - this will hit a mark for you.
PS : I bought the Waterstones copy and it has a cat on the sprayed edges 🥹😸😻
Cozy Fantasy is definitely a winning genre for me this year.
This book is an oath to believing in yourself. Let go of self doubt, stop comparing, stop waiting for things to happen to you… Mixed with a dash of inner child healing.
I loved everything about this cute book. The whole set of characters (and the cat) were absolutely lovable.
This book also made me realize that we rarely see an accurate representation of a nervous breakdown - this was well depicted in this story.
I read this in one sitting and didn’t want to stop reading it. If you love Cozy Fantasy - this will hit a mark for you.
PS : I bought the Waterstones copy and it has a cat on the sprayed edges 🥹😸😻
September 17, 2024
A cozy fantasy perfect for book lovers, uncertain millennials, and those seeking Autumn vibes.✨
Bella works in a bookshop in London and stays clear of anything magical unless it’s small spells to clean up the books and make cups of tea.
Then, she fails a trail to keep her magic and is given until the end of October to change the Coven’s minds, by undergoing a series of magical trials or risk losing her magic forever.
Overall, this is a tale of self-love. It is okay not to have a set plan for yourself. To be scared to planning for your future. To find joy in your friends and connections!
I just feel like I have read this story before with different characters and different scenes. I loved the message, but it wasn’t anything new, albeit touching!
I did love the audiobook as the accents made me reminisce of my time in London braving the blustering winds.
Similar book recommendation - Threadneedle by Cari Thomas.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for providing me the arc in exchange for a review!
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Bella works in a bookshop in London and stays clear of anything magical unless it’s small spells to clean up the books and make cups of tea.
Then, she fails a trail to keep her magic and is given until the end of October to change the Coven’s minds, by undergoing a series of magical trials or risk losing her magic forever.
Overall, this is a tale of self-love. It is okay not to have a set plan for yourself. To be scared to planning for your future. To find joy in your friends and connections!
I just feel like I have read this story before with different characters and different scenes. I loved the message, but it wasn’t anything new, albeit touching!
I did love the audiobook as the accents made me reminisce of my time in London braving the blustering winds.
Similar book recommendation - Threadneedle by Cari Thomas.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for providing me the arc in exchange for a review!
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October 13, 2024
—— 𝟻 ✰ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ. 🔮💫
📖: 𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★
ꜱᴇᴀꜱᴏɴ: 🍁🍂🎃
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴄᴜᴘ ᴏꜰ ᴛᴇᴀ & ᴄɪɴɴᴀᴍᴏɴ ʙᴜɴ
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ꜱᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀꜱ ♪ ꜰʟᴇᴇᴛᴡᴏᴏᴅ ᴍᴀᴄ
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🔮 ꜱᴇʟꜰ ʟᴏᴠᴇ
💫 ꜱʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ
🔮 ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ
💫 ᴄᴏᴢʏ ꜰᴀɴᴛᴀꜱʏ
🔮 ᴀᴜᴛᴜᴍɴᴀʟ ᴠɪʙᴇꜱ
✎﹏ I went into 𝙍𝙚𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 expecting just another witchy romcom, but it is SO much more than that. I haven’t had a book give me this feeling in a long time. 🥹 And I can’t believe this is just the author’s debut novel! This is the perfect Halloween, autumnal witchy read that I’ve been waiting for this season. It’s so incredibly well written, funny, & heartwarming. The message of self love & learning to have faith in yourself really hit home for me. As soon as I started reading, I had a feeling this would be a five star read. I found myself instantly immersed in this world. This book feels like a hot cup of coffee on a chilly fall day, a warm hug by a loved one, fuzzy socks & a cozy blanket.
✎﹏ I loved the unique concept that a witch had to complete a series of trials to prove why she deserves to keep her powers in front of a coven jury. The magic system is very detailed & reminiscent of Harry Potter, which gives all the magical, nostalgic vibes. Our main character, Belle, is a such a lovable, relatable character who you want to root for on her journey of self discovery. I loved hyping her up to be the bad ass witch I knew she can be. Not only did I love Belle, I loved ALL of the side characters. Especially Rune. Actually, that’s my only complaint about the whole book: more Rune pls. I want Rune lore. And of course I want more of Belle & Rune together. I could really see the potential for this book to become a series. I hope there's more where this came from.
❝ 𝑀𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝓊𝓃𝒹𝒶𝓃𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒷𝑒 𝒹𝒾𝒻𝒻𝒾𝒸𝓊𝓁𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒹, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝒾𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝓌𝒶𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓁𝓎 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒, 𝓈𝓃𝓊𝒻𝒻𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓆𝓊𝒾𝑒𝓉𝓁𝓎, 𝒸𝓊𝓇𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝓊𝓅 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶 𝓈𝓁𝑒𝑒𝓅𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝓃𝒾𝓂𝒶𝓁 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 𝒷𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝓈𝑒𝒶𝓇𝒸𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒹 𝑒𝓃𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽. ❞
📖: 𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★
ꜱᴇᴀꜱᴏɴ: 🍁🍂🎃
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴄᴜᴘ ᴏꜰ ᴛᴇᴀ & ᴄɪɴɴᴀᴍᴏɴ ʙᴜɴ
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ꜱᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀꜱ ♪ ꜰʟᴇᴇᴛᴡᴏᴏᴅ ᴍᴀᴄ
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🔮 ꜱᴇʟꜰ ʟᴏᴠᴇ
💫 ꜱʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ
🔮 ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ
💫 ᴄᴏᴢʏ ꜰᴀɴᴛᴀꜱʏ
🔮 ᴀᴜᴛᴜᴍɴᴀʟ ᴠɪʙᴇꜱ
❝ 𝐼𝓉’𝓈 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒. 𝐸𝓋𝑒𝓇. 𝐼𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊’𝓇𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝑜��� 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓃𝑒𝓉𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝒶𝓁𝒾𝑔𝓃 𝒷𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒹𝑒𝒸𝒾𝓈𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉’𝓁𝓁 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓅𝒾𝑒𝓇, 𝓎𝑜𝓊’𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇. ❞
✎﹏ I went into 𝙍𝙚𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 expecting just another witchy romcom, but it is SO much more than that. I haven’t had a book give me this feeling in a long time. 🥹 And I can’t believe this is just the author’s debut novel! This is the perfect Halloween, autumnal witchy read that I’ve been waiting for this season. It’s so incredibly well written, funny, & heartwarming. The message of self love & learning to have faith in yourself really hit home for me. As soon as I started reading, I had a feeling this would be a five star read. I found myself instantly immersed in this world. This book feels like a hot cup of coffee on a chilly fall day, a warm hug by a loved one, fuzzy socks & a cozy blanket.
❝ 𝒴𝑜𝓊’𝓇𝑒 𝒻𝒶𝓈𝒸𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒶 𝓌𝑜𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝓌𝑒𝒾𝓇𝒹. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒷𝑒𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒾𝒻𝓊𝓁. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝓂𝓅𝑜𝓈𝓈𝒾𝒷𝓁𝑒. 𝐼𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝐼’𝓋𝑒 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝒷𝑜𝒹𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒. 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊. 𝐸𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔. ❞
✎﹏ I loved the unique concept that a witch had to complete a series of trials to prove why she deserves to keep her powers in front of a coven jury. The magic system is very detailed & reminiscent of Harry Potter, which gives all the magical, nostalgic vibes. Our main character, Belle, is a such a lovable, relatable character who you want to root for on her journey of self discovery. I loved hyping her up to be the bad ass witch I knew she can be. Not only did I love Belle, I loved ALL of the side characters. Especially Rune. Actually, that’s my only complaint about the whole book: more Rune pls. I want Rune lore. And of course I want more of Belle & Rune together. I could really see the potential for this book to become a series. I hope there's more where this came from.
❝ 𝐹𝒶𝓉𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓃’𝓉 𝒷𝑒 𝓉𝓌𝒾𝓈𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝓊𝓇𝓃𝑒𝒹 𝒶𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒, 𝐵𝑒𝓁𝓁𝑒. 𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉’𝓈 𝓂𝑒𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒾𝓈 𝓂𝑒𝒶𝓃𝓉. 𝒩𝑜 𝓂𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓌𝒽𝒾𝒸𝒽 𝓉𝓊𝓇𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝑜𝓇 𝒽𝓊𝓇𝒹𝓁𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓈𝓉𝓊𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒 𝒶𝓉, 𝓎𝑜𝓊’𝓁𝓁 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝑒𝓃𝒹 𝓊𝓅 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝒶𝓉𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉’𝓈 𝓂𝑒𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊. 𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒, 𝓁𝑒𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓈𝑒𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝑜𝓃 𝒸𝒽𝑜𝒾𝒸𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊’𝓋𝑒 𝓂𝒶𝒹𝑒 𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒹𝒾𝒹𝓃’𝓉 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒. 𝐿𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝒹𝒾𝒻𝒻𝑒𝓇𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝒽𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓅𝑒𝒶𝒸𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝑜𝓃𝑒. 𝒯𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻, 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝓈 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓂𝓎 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓎 𝒾𝓈 𝓈𝓊𝓅𝓅𝑜𝓈𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝑔𝑜, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝐼 𝒶𝓂 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑜 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓌𝓇𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝒾𝓉 𝒶𝓈 𝒾𝓉’𝓈 𝓈𝓊𝓅𝓅𝑜𝓈𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒. ❞
October 9, 2024
Cosy fantasy season is here and I'm welcoming her with open arms. Rewitched was driven by our man character's journey of self-worth and self-love.
I really loved the idea that a witch would have to fight for why she deserves to keep her powers in front of a coven jury. To check that your nurturing and using your powers for good? How fun. And our main character has been neglecting her magic just like she neglects her dreams and herself.
If you're someone who loves to see your character grow in such a human way that we can all relate to, you'll love this. The modern working world is so hectic and life is so busy, sitting with this book felt like taking slow calm breaths. I can't explain it better than that. The slower pace with the character driven story and light humour throughout was just what I needed.
We need more fantasy books with older characters! The conversations about feeling like you're running out of time, that you have accomplished enough, that you haven't hit your potential, were all things that resonated with me.
Pre-reading (15/04/2024)
I need this cosy fantasy book so bad. The cover feels like it's giving me a hug.
Cosy, slow burn romance, small town witches, found family. Please... someone... hear my pleas.
I really loved the idea that a witch would have to fight for why she deserves to keep her powers in front of a coven jury. To check that your nurturing and using your powers for good? How fun. And our main character has been neglecting her magic just like she neglects her dreams and herself.
If you're someone who loves to see your character grow in such a human way that we can all relate to, you'll love this. The modern working world is so hectic and life is so busy, sitting with this book felt like taking slow calm breaths. I can't explain it better than that. The slower pace with the character driven story and light humour throughout was just what I needed.
We need more fantasy books with older characters! The conversations about feeling like you're running out of time, that you have accomplished enough, that you haven't hit your potential, were all things that resonated with me.
Pre-reading (15/04/2024)
I need this cosy fantasy book so bad. The cover feels like it's giving me a hug.
Cosy, slow burn romance, small town witches, found family. Please... someone... hear my pleas.
September 30, 2024
I had very high hopes for this and although it was definitely an enjoyable read, it unfortunately didn't quite live up to my expectations. A large reason for this is the pacing just didn't work for me.
The 'big' events happened within a blink of an eye and yet there were chunky paragraphs of interior descriptions and inner ponderings that, whilst they painted a vivid world, meant the plot, characters and relationships seemed to take a back seat. There were so many exciting plot elements that, at over 400 pages, I wish had been explored further.
That being said, Rewitched definitely delivered on the promise of 90's witch vibes and the characters, although somewhat lacking in depth, were endearing. I also thoroughly enjoyed the overall message of self love, the fear of failure not always having to have everything 'worked out'.
Despite not wholly working for me, I'm looking forward to see what Lucy Jane Wood writes next, as her ideas and writing show a lot of potential.
The 'big' events happened within a blink of an eye and yet there were chunky paragraphs of interior descriptions and inner ponderings that, whilst they painted a vivid world, meant the plot, characters and relationships seemed to take a back seat. There were so many exciting plot elements that, at over 400 pages, I wish had been explored further.
That being said, Rewitched definitely delivered on the promise of 90's witch vibes and the characters, although somewhat lacking in depth, were endearing. I also thoroughly enjoyed the overall message of self love, the fear of failure not always having to have everything 'worked out'.
Despite not wholly working for me, I'm looking forward to see what Lucy Jane Wood writes next, as her ideas and writing show a lot of potential.
October 21, 2024
Is this fan fic? Terribly amateurish writing.
October 28, 2024
oh no the hot bisexual man with an impeccable sense of style and a tendency to announce himself in the worst possible way is tasked with keeping an eye on me!! whatever shall i do??
this was quite simply the coziest fall fantasy with a dash of romance to round it all out
the character dynamics were some of my favorite and the dialogue was dialoguing!!!!
"Because I was busy returning my heart rate to a normal level after you emerged from the shadows like a sewer rat. And then you conjured chips, and we've been arguing ever since."
"We're not arguing."
this was quite simply the coziest fall fantasy with a dash of romance to round it all out
the character dynamics were some of my favorite and the dialogue was dialoguing!!!!
"Because I was busy returning my heart rate to a normal level after you emerged from the shadows like a sewer rat. And then you conjured chips, and we've been arguing ever since."
"We're not arguing."
Read
September 14, 2024As I’m chairing an event with the author in mid-October, withholding my review until after said event xx
September 23, 2024
Hand on heart, this just might be the most comforting, cosy, magical book to ever exist. It’s like curling up with a hot chocolate, and a cat, on a chilly autumn evening. It’s a long hug from a friend you haven’t seen in a while. It’s a reassuring pat on the shoulder, telling you that it’s never to late to try. It’s practically everything I love distilled down into book form, and I’m about to rave about it, so buckle up.
Belle Blackthorn is about to turn thirty, and is drifting along in her life. Too scared to take over the bookshop she’s worked in for years, and never truly delving into the magic she was bestowed with at 15, she’s approaching the big 3-0 with the usual mix of emotions. Until it turns out that her coven tests witches on their 30th birthdays, to see what magical feats they’ve achieved, and if they’re ‘worthy’ of keeping their magic. Belle, who tends to use her magic to exclusively tidy up the children’s section of the bookshop, and whip up cups of tea while she sits on the sofa, is suddenly confronted with the real possibility that she might lose her magic…but thanks to a magical loophole, she’s granted the month of October to try and set things right, rediscover her sense of self, keep hold of the magic that she holds so dear, and just maybe grow closer to the watchman who’s been assigned to protect her from danger….
Every single page of this book felt infused with magic and love. I cannot overstate how heart-warming it is. It has the same warm, funny, and comforting feelings that media like Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Gilmore Girls, and Practical Magic have.
It’s got sparkly magic, a cosy bookshop, handsome (immortal) love interests, eccentric older characters, a thread of strong friendships, and a reminder to always believe in yourself and your own personal magic. What more could a person want in a book? (Note: I don’t know what you, personally, would want more of in a book, but if you’re anything like me the answer is nothing, and this book is practically perfect)
It’s also laugh out loud funny. I could so easily visualise the settings, characters, and the jokes, and it just brought me so much joy, frankly. This is probably the sappiest review out there, but genuinely, I cannot overstate how happy this book made me.
Now, Lucy Jane Wood may be a debut author, but I have to admit that I’ve followed her online content for years. Sometimes, when reading a debut book from someone with an online presence, there can be a bit of trepidation (I’ve been burned before) - but I trusted Lucy, as I knew that she is someone who also truly loves books, and was already a writer for a living, alongside her content creation. Plus, it didn’t hurt that this book sounded right up my alley. I’m so happy to say that my trust was well placed. I truly think she’s achieved what she’s set out to do with this book, and she should be incredibly proud.
Now…I’m off to push this book into the hands of everyone I know. If you’re after something to warm your cockles this autumn, with a large sprinkling of cosy magic, you HAVE to pick this book up. Seriously. Please, do yourself a favour and run to the bookstore as soon as it’s out.
Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the copy to review.
Belle Blackthorn is about to turn thirty, and is drifting along in her life. Too scared to take over the bookshop she’s worked in for years, and never truly delving into the magic she was bestowed with at 15, she’s approaching the big 3-0 with the usual mix of emotions. Until it turns out that her coven tests witches on their 30th birthdays, to see what magical feats they’ve achieved, and if they’re ‘worthy’ of keeping their magic. Belle, who tends to use her magic to exclusively tidy up the children’s section of the bookshop, and whip up cups of tea while she sits on the sofa, is suddenly confronted with the real possibility that she might lose her magic…but thanks to a magical loophole, she’s granted the month of October to try and set things right, rediscover her sense of self, keep hold of the magic that she holds so dear, and just maybe grow closer to the watchman who’s been assigned to protect her from danger….
Every single page of this book felt infused with magic and love. I cannot overstate how heart-warming it is. It has the same warm, funny, and comforting feelings that media like Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Gilmore Girls, and Practical Magic have.
It’s got sparkly magic, a cosy bookshop, handsome (immortal) love interests, eccentric older characters, a thread of strong friendships, and a reminder to always believe in yourself and your own personal magic. What more could a person want in a book? (Note: I don’t know what you, personally, would want more of in a book, but if you’re anything like me the answer is nothing, and this book is practically perfect)
It’s also laugh out loud funny. I could so easily visualise the settings, characters, and the jokes, and it just brought me so much joy, frankly. This is probably the sappiest review out there, but genuinely, I cannot overstate how happy this book made me.
Now, Lucy Jane Wood may be a debut author, but I have to admit that I’ve followed her online content for years. Sometimes, when reading a debut book from someone with an online presence, there can be a bit of trepidation (I’ve been burned before) - but I trusted Lucy, as I knew that she is someone who also truly loves books, and was already a writer for a living, alongside her content creation. Plus, it didn’t hurt that this book sounded right up my alley. I’m so happy to say that my trust was well placed. I truly think she’s achieved what she’s set out to do with this book, and she should be incredibly proud.
Now…I’m off to push this book into the hands of everyone I know. If you’re after something to warm your cockles this autumn, with a large sprinkling of cosy magic, you HAVE to pick this book up. Seriously. Please, do yourself a favour and run to the bookstore as soon as it’s out.
Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the copy to review.
August 26, 2024
A heartwarmingly cosy, fantasy debut whose autumnal, witchy aesthetics will have fans (nostalgic for 90s faves Charmed and Practical magic) completely spellbound!
Set in the UK (which pleasantly surprised me as I was expecting a Gilmore Girl esque- US town) we follow Belladonna Blackthorn, who, after the disastrous trial to prove herself worthy of her Coven’s magic); is given until the end of October to change their minds, by undergoing a series of magical trials (which she must pass) — or risk losing her magic forever.
But with dark magic and a mysterious saboteur working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get— from both her magic wielding mother, coven appointed mentor and frustratingly handsome watchman, who is sworn to protect her…
I adored every second of this! It’s the perfect blend of The Ex Hex and Sabrina The Teenage Witch (except our protagonist is a just turned 30 bookseller trying to work through her magic and life based insecurities.) It does start a little slow, but did quickly pick up once Belle started using her magic.
I really loved the heartfelt sense of whimsy and emotional reflection that Lucy Jane Wood managed to weave into her prose. Allowing us to explore the themes of identity, self love, connection and the fear of failure in such a tender,nuanced and empowering way.
I definitely feel a lot of readers are gonna relate to Belle’s conflicted emotions surrounding the pressures that life and all its important milestones can have —particularly if you’ve recently (or a close to) entering your 30s and still don’t feel like you’ve checked all the socially expected boxes.
But the compelling cast of characters and their endearing support of Belle as she learns to reconnect with magic, and rediscover everything that makes her soo amazing, was what really made this a standout out read. The romance was also really good; slow-burn and swoon-worthy without taking away from the rest of the plot. I also loved our drool worthy love interest, Rune, (who we definitely didn’t get nearly enough of!)
Life affirmations and magical coziness aside, we also meet some adorable furry companions in Belle’s cat familiar,Jinx and her mum’s Irish wolfhound, aptly named Wolfie —both of whom I also need to see more of.
Overall, a wonderfully uplifting, warm hug of a read that cosy fantasy lovers and fans of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches should definitely check out. But do check the TWs.
Also, a huge thank you Book Break UK for the proof.
Set in the UK (which pleasantly surprised me as I was expecting a Gilmore Girl esque- US town) we follow Belladonna Blackthorn, who, after the disastrous trial to prove herself worthy of her Coven’s magic); is given until the end of October to change their minds, by undergoing a series of magical trials (which she must pass) — or risk losing her magic forever.
But with dark magic and a mysterious saboteur working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get— from both her magic wielding mother, coven appointed mentor and frustratingly handsome watchman, who is sworn to protect her…
I adored every second of this! It’s the perfect blend of The Ex Hex and Sabrina The Teenage Witch (except our protagonist is a just turned 30 bookseller trying to work through her magic and life based insecurities.) It does start a little slow, but did quickly pick up once Belle started using her magic.
I really loved the heartfelt sense of whimsy and emotional reflection that Lucy Jane Wood managed to weave into her prose. Allowing us to explore the themes of identity, self love, connection and the fear of failure in such a tender,nuanced and empowering way.
I definitely feel a lot of readers are gonna relate to Belle’s conflicted emotions surrounding the pressures that life and all its important milestones can have —particularly if you’ve recently (or a close to) entering your 30s and still don’t feel like you’ve checked all the socially expected boxes.
But the compelling cast of characters and their endearing support of Belle as she learns to reconnect with magic, and rediscover everything that makes her soo amazing, was what really made this a standout out read. The romance was also really good; slow-burn and swoon-worthy without taking away from the rest of the plot. I also loved our drool worthy love interest, Rune, (who we definitely didn’t get nearly enough of!)
Life affirmations and magical coziness aside, we also meet some adorable furry companions in Belle’s cat familiar,Jinx and her mum’s Irish wolfhound, aptly named Wolfie —both of whom I also need to see more of.
Overall, a wonderfully uplifting, warm hug of a read that cosy fantasy lovers and fans of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches should definitely check out. But do check the TWs.
Also, a huge thank you Book Break UK for the proof.
October 13, 2024
Rewitched is a slow, cosy, magical witchy journey that follows Belladonna, who has recently turned 30, where unbeknownst to her, she has to attend a trial that tests her worthiness of being a witch.
Although her magical powers may have taken a backstep in recent years, with the help of some people along the way, including a dashing coven Watchman named Rune, Belladonna is well on her way to finding herself again.
Though some would describe this book is slow I thought it was exactly the kind of pace needed for a book all about self love, learning to appreciate yourself and the people around you. That's something that takes time and it's precisely because this book isn't ridden down with action and plot, that I found myself thinking along the way and savouring each word.
Rewitched is everything autumn lovers want October to be: cosy, warm, bookish and with a dash of spice. Although there is a romantic element here it doesn't really get given the chance to flourish, hence the 4 star review. The spark between Belladonna and Rune seems to appear out of nowhere, lay dormant for a while and then suddenly burst into life.
However, I appreciate the fact romance wasn't a huge part of the book because it made the theme of self love stand out even more. You get to see Belladonna not only grow as a witch, but grow into herself with every page.
This book is charming, cosy and gentle, not disimilar to a warm hug on a cold day, but also carries with it a special message about self love and growing into the person you are - and that it's okay if that takes time and youre only just starting to 'know yourself' at 30. Another aspect I loved, as SO many fantasy books have super young main characters who seem very self assured.
Overall - I loved my time with this book and can't wait to see what Lucy Jane Wood writes next 🌜✨🧹🍂
Although her magical powers may have taken a backstep in recent years, with the help of some people along the way, including a dashing coven Watchman named Rune, Belladonna is well on her way to finding herself again.
Though some would describe this book is slow I thought it was exactly the kind of pace needed for a book all about self love, learning to appreciate yourself and the people around you. That's something that takes time and it's precisely because this book isn't ridden down with action and plot, that I found myself thinking along the way and savouring each word.
Rewitched is everything autumn lovers want October to be: cosy, warm, bookish and with a dash of spice. Although there is a romantic element here it doesn't really get given the chance to flourish, hence the 4 star review. The spark between Belladonna and Rune seems to appear out of nowhere, lay dormant for a while and then suddenly burst into life.
However, I appreciate the fact romance wasn't a huge part of the book because it made the theme of self love stand out even more. You get to see Belladonna not only grow as a witch, but grow into herself with every page.
This book is charming, cosy and gentle, not disimilar to a warm hug on a cold day, but also carries with it a special message about self love and growing into the person you are - and that it's okay if that takes time and youre only just starting to 'know yourself' at 30. Another aspect I loved, as SO many fantasy books have super young main characters who seem very self assured.
Overall - I loved my time with this book and can't wait to see what Lucy Jane Wood writes next 🌜✨🧹🍂
September 27, 2024
This cozy fantasy story with just a hint of romance was a fun and heartwarming read. There were a few bits that were hard to believe, but overall it was fun. Belle is about to turn 30 and little does she know that is a very important date when you are also a witch. After an unpleasant delivery she is summoned to the coven to be judged and ensured she’s worthy of her magic because only a finite amount in the world exists. After stumbling she’s given a second chance, but after always letting fear hold her back she’s not sure if she’s truly ready for this fight. I liked the side characters a lot (especially Ari) and felt like they truly enhanced the story a lot. Rune was ok but their interactions all felt a bit forced to me. Arty was amazing and overall it was a fun story. Definitely a good choice as October hits us.
September 24, 2024
“The library, of course. Anything of importance is always in the library.”
Thanks for the free book PRH International
This is the perfect cozy book for autumn, but I had high expectations based on the premise, and it left me disappointed.
The pacing is weak, it often feels slow, and then suddenly jumps to scenes that seem to lack development or seem to have had an off-page development, making them feel forced. It’s very obvious that this is the author’s first book, as it suffers from pacing issues, long paragraphs that don’t lead anywhere, a plot twist that feels too convenient and forced, and a disappointing ending. There was a lot of potential, but it didn’t quite work out for me.
What I liked about this book is that the story focuses on self-love and self-discovery, creating a comforting experience. I loved the fantasy elements, the trials, potions, and all the witchy aspects. The relationships, especially between Belle, her mother, Ariadne and Arty, were beautifully portrayed.
In the end, I would recommend this book because it’s an entertaining read, perfect for fall, especially with the beautiful vibes of a London in October.
Thanks for the free book PRH International
This is the perfect cozy book for autumn, but I had high expectations based on the premise, and it left me disappointed.
The pacing is weak, it often feels slow, and then suddenly jumps to scenes that seem to lack development or seem to have had an off-page development, making them feel forced. It’s very obvious that this is the author’s first book, as it suffers from pacing issues, long paragraphs that don’t lead anywhere, a plot twist that feels too convenient and forced, and a disappointing ending. There was a lot of potential, but it didn’t quite work out for me.
What I liked about this book is that the story focuses on self-love and self-discovery, creating a comforting experience. I loved the fantasy elements, the trials, potions, and all the witchy aspects. The relationships, especially between Belle, her mother, Ariadne and Arty, were beautifully portrayed.
In the end, I would recommend this book because it’s an entertaining read, perfect for fall, especially with the beautiful vibes of a London in October.
November 11, 2024
4,5 stars
Witches get their powers when they’re 15 and are pretty much left to their own devices after that, as is custom. Belle is almost 30 and as witches are getting rarer and rarer, the only other witch in her life is her mom.
Belle only uses her magic in small every day ways and she absolutely loves working at Lunar books. But when the owner is about to retire and asks her to buy the bookshop from her, she feels too insecure to do so.
A magical letter, brought to her by a male which, who seems a bit too sure of himself, changes everything. Belle is about to fail one of the biggest challenges of her life and it’s the start of a journey full of heart, magic, mystery and self discovery and maybe even love.
Thank you Pan MacMmillan and NetGalley for providing me with an arc of Rewitched and thank you Lucy Jane Wood, for writing this magical comfort read, a new favorite of mine.
Rewitched was so much more than I expected. The fantasy part is so good, it’s not just a comfort read. And there’s so much love woven into this magical story.. Belle has such a fun roommate/best friend and the mother-daughter relationship is chef’s kiss! I did feel like the portrayal of the supposedly warm and amazing relationship between her and her mentor was a bit lacking, I didn’t completely feel what was told.
There’s a blossoming romance and although it was pushed into the enemies to lovers corner a bit too forcefully at the start (especially her overreacting to him barely saying/doing anything), once that was over and especially when we got to see how he really was, I loved it!!!
This was the perfect autumn read and I just know you will fall in love with this book too if you love a good story where you slowly get to discover a magical community and lots of different kinds of magic, while still mostly staying in the real world and where a lot is at stake and several mysteries are being unraveled but there’s always the support and love from family, friends and even a new romance.
Witches get their powers when they’re 15 and are pretty much left to their own devices after that, as is custom. Belle is almost 30 and as witches are getting rarer and rarer, the only other witch in her life is her mom.
Belle only uses her magic in small every day ways and she absolutely loves working at Lunar books. But when the owner is about to retire and asks her to buy the bookshop from her, she feels too insecure to do so.
A magical letter, brought to her by a male which, who seems a bit too sure of himself, changes everything. Belle is about to fail one of the biggest challenges of her life and it’s the start of a journey full of heart, magic, mystery and self discovery and maybe even love.
Thank you Pan MacMmillan and NetGalley for providing me with an arc of Rewitched and thank you Lucy Jane Wood, for writing this magical comfort read, a new favorite of mine.
Rewitched was so much more than I expected. The fantasy part is so good, it’s not just a comfort read. And there’s so much love woven into this magical story.. Belle has such a fun roommate/best friend and the mother-daughter relationship is chef’s kiss! I did feel like the portrayal of the supposedly warm and amazing relationship between her and her mentor was a bit lacking, I didn’t completely feel what was told.
There’s a blossoming romance and although it was pushed into the enemies to lovers corner a bit too forcefully at the start (especially her overreacting to him barely saying/doing anything), once that was over and especially when we got to see how he really was, I loved it!!!
This was the perfect autumn read and I just know you will fall in love with this book too if you love a good story where you slowly get to discover a magical community and lots of different kinds of magic, while still mostly staying in the real world and where a lot is at stake and several mysteries are being unraveled but there’s always the support and love from family, friends and even a new romance.
May 26, 2024
In Rewitched, Belladonna Blackthorn is balancing her job at Lunar Books, shielding her co-workers from a toxic boss, and hiding her witchcraft from non-witches, leaving her exhausted and detached from her magic. On her 30th birthday, she’s summoned by her coven for a trial that could strip her of her magic if she fails. With Halloween as her deadline, Belle must rekindle her magic with help from friends, a surprising mentor, and a charmingly irritating watchman. This cozy, autumnal tale beautifully blends found family, slow-burn romance, and a heartwarming message of self-love.
I loved this book and binged it all in one day. The writing style was incredibly descriptive; I could vividly visualize the locations and understand the magic system. The author clearly enjoyed building this world and took the time to set everything up properly, which made me fully committed to Belle and her development by the time her trials began. It also felt like a really realistic story in the middle of this paranormal world - life just gets in the way of your dreams and hopes sometimes, and before you know it, life is completely different to what you'd planned.
I don't want to spoil any details of the plot, but I thought it was all really clever. The trials weren't just there for the sake of it but were linked to the main story so well. As well as a strong plot that just hooked me (and also ramped up in tension as the countdown ticked down), I also loved the side characters - Belle's new mentor was definitely a highlight, but Belle's friend Ariadne, her mother Bonnie and her Watchman, Rune, were all great characters. The slow-burn romance felt like an added bonus to the story. I loved it, but I did really appreciate that the story was more about Belle's relationship with herself, and with her magic, and her relationship with Rune was like a lovely addition to the story but not the main focus.
I definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves heartwarming and cozy paranormal stories. Although trial-based stories are quite common now, this one felt really fresh and original. It wasn't a trial or competition against other competitors but I still felt the tension of that race against time. I can't believe this is a debut to be honest - I thought it was pretty flawless! Although it's undoubtedly perfect for a cosy autumn read, I could read this at any time of the year!
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
I loved this book and binged it all in one day. The writing style was incredibly descriptive; I could vividly visualize the locations and understand the magic system. The author clearly enjoyed building this world and took the time to set everything up properly, which made me fully committed to Belle and her development by the time her trials began. It also felt like a really realistic story in the middle of this paranormal world - life just gets in the way of your dreams and hopes sometimes, and before you know it, life is completely different to what you'd planned.
I don't want to spoil any details of the plot, but I thought it was all really clever. The trials weren't just there for the sake of it but were linked to the main story so well. As well as a strong plot that just hooked me (and also ramped up in tension as the countdown ticked down), I also loved the side characters - Belle's new mentor was definitely a highlight, but Belle's friend Ariadne, her mother Bonnie and her Watchman, Rune, were all great characters. The slow-burn romance felt like an added bonus to the story. I loved it, but I did really appreciate that the story was more about Belle's relationship with herself, and with her magic, and her relationship with Rune was like a lovely addition to the story but not the main focus.
I definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves heartwarming and cozy paranormal stories. Although trial-based stories are quite common now, this one felt really fresh and original. It wasn't a trial or competition against other competitors but I still felt the tension of that race against time. I can't believe this is a debut to be honest - I thought it was pretty flawless! Although it's undoubtedly perfect for a cosy autumn read, I could read this at any time of the year!
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
October 16, 2024
This was one of my most anticipated reads this fall and it did not disappoint!
Rewitched centers around Belle Blackthorn, a witch working at a bookstore who is out of practice using her magic. On her 30th birthday, Belle is summoned by her coven and her magical abilities are put to the test. If she passes the trial, she keeps her magic and solidifies her place as a witch in her coven. If she fails, she loses her magical abilities forever. After being given a second opportunity to fix her magic and sensing dark forces working against her, she must work alongside her family, a new mentor, and a handsome watchman tasked with keeping her safe as she attempts to fix her magic by October 31st.
This cozy, witchy novel has all of the fall and Halloween vibes I was hoping for when picking it up. I loved the romantic subplot and really enjoyed Belle's character development as she wrestles with feeling confident in her own skin. Although this book had a bit of a slower pace, I absolutely loved every minute of it! Once I hit the 40% mark, I finished the rest of the book in one sitting!
I'm excited to check out more of Lucy Jane Wood's future releases!
Rewitched centers around Belle Blackthorn, a witch working at a bookstore who is out of practice using her magic. On her 30th birthday, Belle is summoned by her coven and her magical abilities are put to the test. If she passes the trial, she keeps her magic and solidifies her place as a witch in her coven. If she fails, she loses her magical abilities forever. After being given a second opportunity to fix her magic and sensing dark forces working against her, she must work alongside her family, a new mentor, and a handsome watchman tasked with keeping her safe as she attempts to fix her magic by October 31st.
This cozy, witchy novel has all of the fall and Halloween vibes I was hoping for when picking it up. I loved the romantic subplot and really enjoyed Belle's character development as she wrestles with feeling confident in her own skin. Although this book had a bit of a slower pace, I absolutely loved every minute of it! Once I hit the 40% mark, I finished the rest of the book in one sitting!
I'm excited to check out more of Lucy Jane Wood's future releases!
October 1, 2024
Let me start this off with the only positive things i have to say, i love lucy’s videos, i have done for years so this is nothing to do with her as a person.
The Cover is also really really cute!!
Now, the list of reasons why i really really didn’t enjoy this:
1. Third Person - i don’t enjoy third person, as i cant get into personally
2. Over-Description - things were explained in so much detail to the point i couldn’t even remember what i was tryna visualise to start with so it became a blue
3. Long Chapters paired with slow pacing = dragggggggg
4. Blocky writing - it was really hard to take in anything
5. Lack of character & world building - it was hard to understand a lot of things like the magic system as there was never any building or context
6. The Pacing - it was 90% very slow pacing but in random points it would be rushed like crazy
7. The Bore - the entire book was a battle, i resisted the urge to DNF the whole time in hopes the ending would be good (spoiler alert it wasn’t)
8. The Romance - it’s about as bland as a just ham sandwich in a meal deal from tesco
9. The Plot & Ending - i found it all really really predictable and underwhelming
Going into this book i was really excited for a cute cosy fantasy, but it just fell sooooo flat for me i’m really disappointed unfortunately 🫠
The Cover is also really really cute!!
Now, the list of reasons why i really really didn’t enjoy this:
1. Third Person - i don’t enjoy third person, as i cant get into personally
2. Over-Description - things were explained in so much detail to the point i couldn’t even remember what i was tryna visualise to start with so it became a blue
3. Long Chapters paired with slow pacing = dragggggggg
4. Blocky writing - it was really hard to take in anything
5. Lack of character & world building - it was hard to understand a lot of things like the magic system as there was never any building or context
6. The Pacing - it was 90% very slow pacing but in random points it would be rushed like crazy
7. The Bore - the entire book was a battle, i resisted the urge to DNF the whole time in hopes the ending would be good (spoiler alert it wasn’t)
8. The Romance - it’s about as bland as a just ham sandwich in a meal deal from tesco
9. The Plot & Ending - i found it all really really predictable and underwhelming
Going into this book i was really excited for a cute cosy fantasy, but it just fell sooooo flat for me i’m really disappointed unfortunately 🫠
September 28, 2024
MUST READ DLA WSZYSTKICH JESIENIAR I MIŁOŚNIKÓW MAGICZNYCH KLIMATÓW✨✨✨✨
August 23, 2024
Rewitched by Lucy Jane. This is my first time reading anything by Lucy Jane, and it hopefully won't be the last.
Wow, I love the storyline! This book is spellbinding and a cozy read about a burned-out witch (Belladonna) who needs to find the magic in herself again. I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. Lucy Jane 🧹🕷🐦⬛🎃🎱🔮🪄🪦🤎🖤
Wow, I love the storyline! This book is spellbinding and a cozy read about a burned-out witch (Belladonna) who needs to find the magic in herself again. I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. Lucy Jane 🧹🕷🐦⬛🎃🎱🔮🪄🪦🤎🖤
September 19, 2024
If you’re in the mood for a cozy, witchy read that has magic and gives all the fall vibes then this is the book for you! I read Rewitched in one sitting and found the amount of emotion in the book to be heartwarming. I went into this one thinking it would be just another romcom featuring witches but its so much more than that. This is a book about self-love. It’s a book that will resonate with any reader who has self-doubt and a fear of failure. It’s also a book about overcoming that doubt and finally believing in yourself. Belle is a wonderful character, and I think a lot of readers will relate to her character which is why I can’t recommend it enough. It did start off a tad bit slow for me but once I pushed through a few chapters I was enamored and couldn’t put it down.
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
October 24, 2024
Hätte nicht erwartet, soviel Spaß zu haben! Und erfrischender Weise steht hier nicht die Lovestory, sondern Freundschaft und Selbstfindung im Mittelpunkt 💖
September 25, 2024
This is like Harry Potter meets Buffy for women in their 30s that enjoy curling up with a book and a hot cup of tea on an autumn day. So it’s very on brand for me!
I’ve followed Lucy Jane Wood on Youtube and Instagram for years now. Her online bookish content is incredibly cozy and that same vibe definitely comes through in her debut novel. It’s not at all a bad book, which was my worry (so many influencers’ books are a bit of a let down), but it wasn’t my favorite either. You could kind of tell it was a debut novel, as the story’s plotting felt a bit haphazard at times. Almost as if parts of the story that would connect different elements didn’t make it onto paper and got left behind in the author’s brain, maybe? But overall it’s not a bad book at all. The characters were very warm and the story very creative and unique. Not at all cookie-cutter.
I liked that the protagonist, Belle, was both your average thirty year old — a slightly burnt out woman, working in a bookstore and struggling with regular problems, like having a terrible boss— as well as a witch that is being tested by her coven to see if she’s allowed to keep her powers. It’s a book about finding your path in life, I guess. There are elements of romance and family drama, but the bulk of it is just simple cozy fantasy.
3 stars!
I’ve followed Lucy Jane Wood on Youtube and Instagram for years now. Her online bookish content is incredibly cozy and that same vibe definitely comes through in her debut novel. It’s not at all a bad book, which was my worry (so many influencers’ books are a bit of a let down), but it wasn’t my favorite either. You could kind of tell it was a debut novel, as the story’s plotting felt a bit haphazard at times. Almost as if parts of the story that would connect different elements didn’t make it onto paper and got left behind in the author’s brain, maybe? But overall it’s not a bad book at all. The characters were very warm and the story very creative and unique. Not at all cookie-cutter.
I liked that the protagonist, Belle, was both your average thirty year old — a slightly burnt out woman, working in a bookstore and struggling with regular problems, like having a terrible boss— as well as a witch that is being tested by her coven to see if she’s allowed to keep her powers. It’s a book about finding your path in life, I guess. There are elements of romance and family drama, but the bulk of it is just simple cozy fantasy.
3 stars!
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