Book: The League of Gentlewomen Witches
Author: India Holton
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group (www.penguin.com/berkley-overview/)
Release Date: March 15, 2022
Summary: Charlotte Pettifer is a witch. Allegedly. Or, she would be one if witches existed. The Wicken League — which is led by Charlotte's aunt and also doesn't exist — expects a lot of its members, most of all that they maintain a sense of manners and decorum at all times. But when Charlotte meets Alex O'Riley, a rakish pirate, she begins to question everything she's always been taught. When a legendary magical artifact is stolen, she happens to find herself spending more time with Alex as they try to track it down. The two team up in the pursuit of the amulet (and of each other), leading to a riotous adventure full of pirates, (alleged) witches, magic, and more.
My Thoughts: Last year, I read India Holton's first book, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels. I loved it. Somehow it manages to be a historical romance, a fantasy, and an adventure story in a way that I've only seen successfully done by The Princess Bride. This new release tops its predecessor and then some. This sequel exists in the same world as the Wisteria Society, and Holton does an excellent job of building on the magic system and characters from the previous book while still crafting a storyline that feels entirely new. I was delighted by Holton's writing yet again — I truly believe she has one of the funniest and most distinctive voices in fiction today. Every tiny detail of this book is so unbelievably clever, packed with humor and wit. I frequently found myself laughing out loud at dialogue and narration alike. Charlotte and Alex's relationship is hilariously sweet as they go from bantering about who kidnapped whom to facing their feelings and falling in love. The secondary characters are just as well-crafted as the leads, and the sparring between the Wisteria Society and the Wicken League makes for some of the funniest scenes in the book. Beyond the humor, though, the characters in this book have real thoughts and feelings and deal with legitimate issues like childhood trauma, gender roles, and independence. Chock full of literary references, a sassy butler, flying houses, and good old-fashioned rivalry, The League of Gentlewomen Witches is a wildly entertaining tale that I will recommend to absolutely everyone.
Rating: 5/5
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