Short Synopsis:
Mayhem flees with her mother from small-town, boring Texas back to her mother’s family home in Santa Maria, California where secrets live and maybe magic too. There’s a murder of crows, murder to be solved, a serial killer to expose, and a family to rediscover.
Rate: 4 out of 5 Stars
Recommend: Definitely
Review:
The Feline Familiars: Appreciate the cat, she was obviously star. Smart hooman. Also like the flying snakks in book.
The Bibliophile: *sigh* I swear, I have no control of them. Just let them believe Millie, the cat, was the star of this book and all the crows were there to be snacks. Anyway! Before I get any further, I should mention the Trigger Warnings in this book, which the author will have included at the beginning of the finished copies.
Trigger Warnings: This books mentions drug abuse, depicts drug use, physical abuse, sexual assault, and murder. While I personally did not find any of these things explicit or used too much, everyone should go into this book knowing these things are mentioned/depicted in the book.
What I Liked:
Okay, so this book was really interesting and I truly enjoyed it! The Brayburn women for generations have been protecting the citizens of Santa Maria, but to find out how you’ll have to read this book ;). I will tell you that there is magic, but not the kind you’re used to reading about in books. This magic reminded me more of sirens and vampires, but it worked and it was a great new concept.
I also really liked how this story was told, though there were a few times that I found myself confused due to formatting issues. This book takes place in the 1980’s, so be prepared for payphones and VHS tapes! But it’s also told in the form of journal entries from the Brayburn women of the past and Mayhem’s own flashbacks. Personally, I just really enjoyed getting to learn how the family came to be what they are from the women of the past, learning about what it means to be a Brayburn along with Mayhem, and also just how the story flowed.
I love how strong the message of family was in this story. Besides the story constantly reminding you that this family’s survival depends on the women passing on what they know of their magic and how it works, there’s also the family love between Mayhem and her mother, Elle and Roxy, and Elle with her foster children. A major theme in this story is how strong family is, how deep family bonds run, and how found family is just as important as blood.
There LGBTQ characters! Elle is a confirmed lesbian and I suspect one of the other main characters is pansexual, but that’s not confirmed. I just loved how this book, which takes place in the 80’s, included queer characters.
The Lost Boys references. I loved them! I mean, they might be something only a minority of readers pick up, but they were great and made me laugh.
What Didn’t Work For Me:
I didn’t like how the serial killer plot of the story wrapped up so quickly and cleanly. I get how part of the reason it was so easy is due to their powers, but it was kind of built up and seemed like it would be an epic discovery and then it just…wasn’t. I don’t know, I just hoped more would happen than actually did.
There wasn’t much action. I get this book focused a lot more on family and Mayhem’s story, but I wish there would’ve been more action and shocking twists. Personally, there were no points in this book that I was shocked. I like books that shock me and give me twists on top of twists.
The ending kind of petered out? Considering where the book was going, I was all pumped and prepared for an incredible ending, but instead I got one that was kind of just…happy? Which I know sounds weird, but this happy ending was kind of just a 180 from what was happening right before it. I don’t know, I just feel like this book didn’t pack the punches I wanted.
Final Thoughts:
I really did enjoy this book and thought it was a fun take on magic. I liked a lot more than I disliked and truly enjoyed the characters as a whole. Honestly, if there’s a sequel I will pick it up.
I highly recommend you guys go pick this book up and tell me what you think!
That’s all I’ve got for you this week my lovely bookworms! I hope you are all staying safe, wearing your masks, and enjoying some incredible books. Please tell me what you’re currently reading down below!
-The Bibliophile
