Name: kayla 's review of Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley
Item: Sweet & Bitter Magic
Rating: 5
Author: kayla

Adrienne Tooley

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.

Sweet & Bitter Magic

Liz Griffin

Sam Pulliam

Maga P

kayla 

okay hi, i recently came out as a lesbian after previously identifying as bisexual for about.. 6 years? i decided to pick up some more sapphic romances (.. more than usual) and everything's been hitting different, including this book, so yes, my review may be influenced by this recent life experience.

"Living with the feeling that the world was on fire, Wren now knew, was nothing compared to watching it burn."

this book was so refreshing - it took me out of a slump, and helped me come to terms with certain aspects of my own life. in my opinion, this was so much more than a 'romantasy', the discussions of selfishness and grief throughout were incredible?? i really didn't expect them but they added so much depth to both the characters and the story itself.. but the romance made me squeal too sorry.

"..the freckles across her nose more pronounced than ever. Tamsin wanted to count every single one, commit them all to memory so that even when she closed her eyes, she would see a constellation of Wren."

i actually cried several times during this book. i adored the writing; it was gorgeous, concise when necessary and flowery in the best way when needed (this coming from someone who actively avoids young adult books because of the writing).

"Was it silly to mourn a place that had ultimately been temporary? Did that lack of permanence make it somehow less of a home?"

i want to add more, and maybe i will in the future, but for now? have more gay.

"Something loosened in Wren's chest. "You feel?"
Tamsin took a step toward her, "When I'm with you, I do." 

*copied from my goodreads review*

I picked this up because I wanted a lighter read that would just serve as pure sweet escapism and since I don't read a lot of YA or fantasy anymore I thought either of those would be a good idea. This turned out to be really fun and actually quite good!

Lauren Nicole

3.5/5 ⭐️

This was cute! I found it to be a little young at first, not necessarily juvenile in the writing, but I just finished Priory of the Orange Tree a few days prior and now a lot of writing isn’t going to compare. But I still really enjoyed Sweet and Bitter Magic.

Gillian Rose

A solid debut. I enjoyed the magic system, how Tamsin and Wren got along, the complicated sister relationship, and it just felt very sweet at its core. There were some predictable moments, but the rest covered it well.

grace richards

3.5,, i think this book would’ve better served as a duology as it would’ve allowed for a lot more depth. the relationship between wren and tamsin seems very rushed and so does the finding/defeating of the dark witch 

there definitely could’ve been a second book where the dark witch wreaks havoc and splits the girls apart so then they realise their love for each other

idk maybe that’s just me but i was expecting more from this book and i was let down

Ana Paula

2.5-3 stars
the main characters were so cute, def. the best part, but the story itself felt very rushed: the "battle", if you can call it that, was so simple and lacking of emotion?; the villain part was so meh and the names of the countries/towns felt like bread without salt (pan sin sal) 
during one of my updates i said this book reminded me of something 13 year old me would´ve read on wattpad and i stand by that

Jill 

this book was beyond amazing, a bit disappointed with the action and description of the book but otherwise, I loved it. The characters were amazing and so was the development, I was always intrigued and I kept reading and reading till I finished. I wish it went on for longer, I'm gonna miss the amazing light romance of this book, I feel like that tied it all together. If you have not read this book, go buy it rn.

Sarahi

Such a cute sweet tale! A perfect standalone novel.

A sapphic YA fantasy with some good twists. The characters seemed wildly impulsive when the plot required them to be (as someone familiar with controlling parents, the idea that Wren would so quickly “grow out” of her father-subservient life felt farfetched). Also I didn’t feel the chemistry between the two MCs at all.

Caitlyn Hagen

** spoiler alert **
           This book was, alright. I might not help that I went into quarantine leaving the book at work 75% done and I think that should be taken into account. 

I thought it started out strong and I liked both Tamsin and Wren throughout the book. I enjoyed their romance. It was a nice slow burn that felt like it progressed nicely and it was satisfying when they came together. 

I also thought the idea of the punishment being banishment and having her love taken away was an interesting concept. 

It was the other stuff that I couldn't really get behind. Like, Okay. Dark Magic is bad. But Tamsin was 12 when she cast the spell that got her banished. 12. I feel like if they had been older then that wouldn't have bothered me. But really. She was 12. YA heroines don't have to all be 17, 18-20 could have also worked. Because its hard to root for people who curse and banish literal children. 

And the memory plague and Marlena coming back. It was like a lot happened and I was still bored. It wasn't for me, I don't recommend this one.

Erin

Synopsis:
Sweet & Bitter Magic is a classic fantasy tale of righting wrongs and saving the world, all while falling for someone unexpected. 
Tamsin is quite the unlikely heroine; she’s a bitter, cold, and cynical witch, who wants no part of the world that has seemingly turned its back on her. Tamsin is cursed to be unable to love. She can certainly still feel - there’s been a lot of pain in her seventeen years - but her ability to show compassion and empathy has been taken from her as punishment for using forbidden magic.
Wren is a source - a girl made of magic, seeing magic everywhere and feeling it in the very earth itself. Wren has kept this incredible gift a secret though, for she has devoted her life to taking care of her ill father. Despite the hardships in her life, she is kind and looks for beauty in everything.
The lives of these two young women are uprooted when a dark witch arises and causes a plague throughout the land. Wren’s father falls to the plague, and Wren must make a deal with Tamsin in a desperate attempt to save his life: in exchange for making the journey to the Witchlands to find and stop this dark witch, Wren agrees to give Tamsin her love for her father.
As they travel, each is forced to step outside of her comfort zone and make sacrifices in order to succeed. Tamsin and Wren must face their pasts - and their feelings - in order to save their futures.

What I Liked: 
Tamsin's character development and backstory
Wren's relentless optimism and selflessness (kind of reminded me of Anna from Frozen)
The plot twists and secrets were so fun and the story was so much richer because of them!
The romance was really sweet, and the timing and buildup mostly made sense

What I Disliked:
It was just a little slow-paced at times, and the climax seemed a little rushed

Rating: 4/5 stars!

Fabiana Neves Miranda

Elena

5/5 stars 

This book was amazing I cannot say it gives all the feels because I was not sad at really any point of the book but it was a really fun book to read. I really loved reading this during the witchy season because it made the book even more autumnal vibes. I really liked Wren I felt like I saw myself a little in her and that made me connect to her even more and Tamsin was also a really fun character to read about. I really liked the letters in the diary it made the book even more entertaining. I also loved seeing Tamsin and Wren's relationship grow it was really cute and made me angry at times. If that doesn't convince you to read the book then here are some tropes in the book: one bed, forced proximity, and forced kiss.

Chiara Vitale Zelaia

Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars

SWEET & BITTER MAGIC is the proof that sometimes the right book finds you at the right time, and even the things that would normally bother you end up not mattering. I was very excited to read this book from the moment I saw its amazing cover and read the synopsis. Witches and sapphic romances are both things I am actively trying to read more, so I was thrilled to have them both in the same book.

The writing and setting of the book completely won me over. I loved the world-building and the magic, so much so that I really wish this wasn’t a standalone, and I completely adored Tamsin and Wren, the two protagonists. The author took her time in the beginning setting up the story and developing these two very different women. Tamsin is by far the darkest of the two, and also my favorite. The nature of her curse and the consequences it has on her life were fascinating to read and I just felt really drawn to her. Wren, however, was no less captivating. She was probably the more relatable of the two in a lot of ways and I really resonated with her kindness and her protectiveness of her family. Now put these two incredible women together, and I was really hooked on their interactions!

The middle of the book was, unfortunately, less thrilling. I’m not the biggest fan of long sections of characters traveling unless something important happens during those pages, and unfortunately I don’t feel this was the case here. We didn’t get to see Tamsin and Wren interacting as much as I would have wanted and we could have gotten more of the magic and the curse in those pages. Even so, I did like the interactions between Wren and Tamsin that we did have, and the plot and resolution were overall well developed and satisfying in the bigger picture.

Normally I might have given this book 3 stars, but I read it with the enjoyment of a 4 star read. I found this book in a time where I needed a quick read with more down time and great character development. It may not have been the most engaging or complicated read, but I found it exactly when I needed it. So I’m settling my rating somewhere in the middle. I really recommend Sweet & Bitter Magic if you like books with witches and are looking for a quick, in-between read with a cute romance.

Caitlin

This book was a fun read! I enjoyed the relationship of the two MCs (queer magical witch beings!), and the story felt very fairytale-like. I wish a lot of the world had been more developed, and that certain plot points and conversations hadn’t just been rushed through or glossed over so that we could see the character development at a better pace, but overall, I enjoyed it.

Toni Turner

3.5/3.75? 

This was a lot of fun! The romance was kind of perfect and the vibes were totally built to reign in spooky/fall season. I also love reading about sisterly dynamics and witches so this was a super fun read! I’m glad it was on my radar and that I finally read it!

Jennifer

Can I just quickly say that Adrienne Tooley is really talented? She wrote great songs and she certainly aced her debut novel. Sweet & Bitter Magic is an engaging story about emotional vulnerability, featuring a slowburn sapphic romance. Written in dual perspectives, Tamsin (who has difficult opening up & feel things) and Wren (who feels everything deeply) - this is a prime example of a compatible opposites attract relationship. 

The best thing about Sweet & Bitter Magic is definitely the main characters. Through the dual narratives, both Tamsin's and Wren's headspace are fleshed out in great detail. I find the writing really emotionally engaging because both of them have really nuanced outlooks and worldviews as they approach various challenges throughout the novel. I would also give an extra shoutout to Tamsin. I really relate to what she's been through and her headspace: having had being wronged in a toxic relationship I firsthandedly understand where Tamsin's coming from with regards to the difficulty of opening up and expend the emotional energy to feel the love. I think the complex emotions: both from their upbringings and through the development of their romance, show tremendous character growth.

I also think the writing is pretty consistent throughout. Tooley definitely nailed it with the pacing (thanks to great characterisation the romance felt pretty natural to me) and I also loved the way she described the magic in the story. It really shows the different forms of magic: some good, some bad, some ugly in a visual way - hence enhances the messaging that you can't get away from the grave consequences if you misuse your power. This is great because I see one too many YA books that allow stuff to slip through without consequences so I'm glad that Tooley managed to address these with her characters!

While I'm certainly pretty emotionally invested reading Tooley's debut, I do think there are a few minor drawbacks to be aware of. The most obvious being the portrayal of the villain. I personally found the villain a tad underdeveloped (comparing to Tamsin and Wren) so the way certain sections unfold didn't entirely wow me. But this isn't a very big issue because Tamsin and Wren's solid characterisation more or less made up this slight deficiency in the novel.

To sum it up, Sweet & Bitter Magic is an emotionally touching debut featuring an excellent example of opposites attract romance done right (slowburn sapphic version)! If you are looking for a book that features nuanced characterisation and f/f romance, this is certainly worth checking out!

N.B. This novel contains following content warnings: grief / loss of loved ones, illnesses, physical violence, and emotional blackmail

Candyce Kirk

I have to start off by saying that it did take a bit getting used to reading about a plague (even though it's a magical one) in this day and age. That being said it was definitely easy to separate the real world from this magical one and Sweet & Bitter Magic turned out to be quite the amazing ride.

One of our main characters Tamsin is a very powerful witch, but after certain events take place she is exiled and cursed. Tamsin can't feel love or really much of anything. I thought this was really interesting. Especially when reading from Tamsin's POV. Her character was pretty complex though. There's so much more to her than just her curse, but also anger and even grief about everything that took place. Her development through this book was amazing and I really came to care about her.

On the other hand we have Wren. She's a source and basically made of magic and is able to see it everywhere. I can't imagine how scary it must've been to see the plague taking over the place you call home. Wren seems a bit insecure in the beginning, but I loved how strong she turns out to be. Her mission is to save her father and is determined to make that happen no matter the cost. Even if that means giving away some love. Wren is also very curious and it's clear that even though she's doing this for her father she knows she hasn't really lived life the way she dreamed of. This internal struggle was very interesting while also seeing her come face to face with other sides of herself.

While Tamsin and Wren go on this adventure together to help beat this plague it's interesting to see their relationship develop. They're the total opposite of each other. Even though they don't start off friendly they slowly start getting to know each other and have to lean on the other. They truly start getting to know the other side of the story. It was nice that we got more and more about them as we went, because the build up felt so natural. Also, the romance made my heart melt. It wasn't too much, there was development and it was everything I hope for in a romance. Add some family dynamics and this book had me hooked. I don't want to go into too much detail, because this is one you really need to read for yourself.

Sweet & Bitter Magic is the first fantasy standalone that I've read in a long time that's so good. Adrienne Tooley really managed the perfect balance of world building and character development. I feel like I got to know both pretty well. The side characters fit the story and the ending left me satisfied. Of course I wouldn't say no to more in this world, but the author definitely didn't leave us hanging. This is definitely a fantasy standalone done right!!

Hasmik Gyulumyan

3/5🙂

I expected more of this book. Though it wasn't bad actually, but definitely I'm not going to re-read it.

Some of the pacing felt a little off but I really liked the premise and the atmospheric for this story. There are also some cute moments between the main characters, Tamsin and Wren.

Marie

laura

I really enjoyed this book. This book screamed buffy and willow to me. I also was super invested in both POV and really loved the world buildings that was at the heart of this read. I also loved that this book was solid standalone. It was super engrossing and fast pace read. The LGBTQ romance def captured me and really grew on me. This story does also include a plague elements as well, but I really enjoyed this read, def a new fav for me!

Maga P &
Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley

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