I love books about witches, so I naturally gravitated toward this one. While the book is an enjoyable blend of magic, trials, and an enemies-to-lovers romance, I found it stumbled a bit - especially in the areas of pacing and plot clarity. Despite these issues, I still found it to be a fun read that reminded me of a lighter version of "A Discovery of Witches" sprinkled with a little "Practical Magic".

 

The novel follows a twenty-nine-year-old woman named Doreen MacKinnon. Doreen is a witch burdened with a centuries-old family curse that dooms her and her descendants to heartbreak and loneliness. No man will ever truly love them, but if they don't marry by the time they are thirty, they will die.

 

The origin of this curse is rooted in a forbidden love story: Ambrose MacDonald, a powerful male witch, fell in love with Lenora MacKinnon three hundred years ago, only to be separated and banished from her by the MacKinnon family of witches. In his grief and rage, he cast a curse upon their family, ensuring that none of them would ever find true love. But the curse came at a price: Ambrose was imprisoned, doomed to be forever alive and eternally alone.

 

Doreen, as the 13th-generation MacKinnon witch, is not only one of the most powerful in her bloodline but also desperate for honest companionship. Doreen is coming up on her thirtieth birthday, and she doesn't want to marry just anyone to ward off the curse - she wants real love or no love at all. But she also doesn't want to die, so she does what any headstrong witch would do - she sets out to break the curse. Doreen releases Ambrose from his magical prison, hoping that he will help her, but he sees this as an opportunity for revenge - setting the two on a journey filled with danger and love that neither could have imagined.

 

The concept of the book is definitely fun, and I really liked the characters. Doreen is strong-willed and determined but also extremely lonely. Her connection with her cousin, Margot, is one of the strongest aspects of the book, offering moments of warmth and loyalty that ground the story emotionally. I also liked Ambrose, even if he did tend to fall into stereotypical "broody bad boy" territory.

 

The trials that Doreen and Ambrose must endure together in an attempt to break the curse are another fun part of the novel. These challenges inject excitement and adventure into the plot, keeping the momentum moving even when the romance feels uneven. The magic system, though not particularly unique, is enjoyable enough, with its spells, enchantments, and familial lore adding a rich texture to the story.

 

That said, there were several elements that felt underdeveloped or unclear. One major point of confusion for me was Doreen's aunt Stella's decision to prevent her from forming romantic attachments as a teenager, despite knowing that marriage was essential to Doreen staying alive. Did she want Doreen to die? Was there an alternative plan that was never explained? Why did she stop her from building a relationship but not Margot? Did I miss something?

 

Another thing that felt off was that the romance between Doreen and Ambrose leans heavily into the enemies-to-lovers trope, but the execution felt a bit rushed. While it's clear from the start that a romance will develop between them, the transition from adversaries to lovers happens abruptly. It seemed that one moment, Doreen and Ambrose despised each other and the next, they were in love. The emotional build-up was lacking, which might disappoint readers who enjoy a slow burn.

 

My only other complaint with this one was the pacing felt really off. We are dropped into the action within a couple of pages, and I never felt fully grounded before we were off on the adventure. I also felt like there were some chapters that could have been edited down and others that could have used a bit more exposition.

 

Despite these flaws, the book is still an enjoyable read, especially for those looking for a lighter fantasy romance. The trials and adventure elements are engaging, and Doreen is a character I had no problem rooting for. The romance, while abrupt, has its charming moments, and Ambrose makes for a compelling - if somewhat underdeveloped - love interest. If you're looking for a fun, magical romance that doesn't take itself too seriously, this book might be for you.