Author: Lola Dodge
Series: The Spellwork Syndicate #1
Genre: YA/Magic/Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Ink Monster, LLC
Publication Date: January 16th, 2018
Edition: Kindle Edition
Source: NetGalley
Purchase/Pre-Order: Amazon US | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | iBooks
Synopsis:
Anise Wise loves three things: baking, potion making, and reading her spell books in blissful silence. She might not be the most powerful witch in the suburbs, but enchantment is a rare skill, and her ability to bake with magic is even rarer. Unfortunately, witches have a bad rep, and Anise’s dream of attending pastry school crumbles with each rejection letter.
Then her great aunt Agatha pops out of the woodwork with a sweet offer. If she signs on as Agatha’s apprentice, Anise can have all the training and ingredients she’s ever imagined, and she’ll inherit the family bakery.
The catch? Studying with Agatha means moving to Sedona—a dangerous otherworldly power center where her aunt is a key player in the magical community’s shady dealings. And the last apprentice? Assassinated.
Now Anise is next on the hit list. If she can’t find and stop whoever wants her dead, she’ll be more toasted than a Crème Brulee.
Who knew baking cakes could be so life or death?
Review:
This book was a lot of fun to read. It made me crave sweets more than once while reading.
I love the baking/cooking puns with some of the names. The synopsis is slightly misleading, her aunt didn't "pop out of the woodwork", it was more of a huge misstep on Anise's part that leads her to contact her GreatAunt. But, that's the only thing.
The way the plot unfolds was done really well. There was nothing that I saw that hinted at who it was targeting her. It wasn't hugely shocking when it was revealed, but I didn't expect it to be who it was. There wasn't really any romance in this book, and the flirtation that was going on didn't involve who I thought it would, and that was nice. Though with how the book ended, that might change.
Some of the time, the dialog didn't fit, to me, with how people their age would talk. They are minimum 18-19 years old, because they are in college, but sometimes they talked like they were closer to 15-16 years old. I know that's only about a 3-year difference. But people can grow a lot during that time, especially "young people".
I felt that there was a good balance between the baking and the mystery of who the Warlock was. I also liked how all "bad witches" are referred to as Warlocks.
The only thing I have to say that is remotely negative about this book is that I am a little confused at what Anise's mother did to get kicked out of Taos. I might have missed it, and perhaps I should stop reading in bed when I am tired.
I can't wait to read the rest of this series. It was so much fun to read and the next book's synopsis sounds like it's going to be another great read.
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