Sweet & Bitter Magic

Sweet & Bitter Magic follows Tamsin, a witch banished from her community for breaking magical laws, who can now only experience feelings by stealing them from others. She encounters Wren, a source - a person who naturally produces magic but cannot use it herself. A deadly magical plague spreads through the land, threatening Wren's family and the wider population. The two form an alliance to find a cure, with Tamsin agreeing to help in exchange for taking some of Wren's love for her sick father. Their quest takes them across a kingdom filled with witches, magic, and danger as they race against time to stop the plague. The partnership between stoic Tamsin and optimistic Wren evolves as they face challenges and learn about each other's pasts. The novel explores themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the complex nature of love - both its power to heal and its potential to destroy. Through its fantasy elements, it examines what people are willing to give up for those they care about.

Readers found this YA fantasy romance to be a slow-burn story with strong witch lore and LGBTQ+ representation. Readers appreciated: - The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between main characters - Detailed magic system and world-building - LGBTQ+ romance that felt natural and well-developed - Exploration of grief and family relationships - Atmospheric writing style Common criticisms: - Pacing drags in the middle sections - Plot feels predictable - Some found the romance development too slow - Character motivations sometimes unclear - Magic rules can be confusing Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (500+ ratings) BookTok: Mixed reception with praise for representation but criticism of pacing Several readers compared it to "These Witches Don't Burn" but noted this book has a darker tone. One frequent comment was "beautiful writing but needed more plot momentum."

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🌟 Author Adrienne Tooley began her career as a singer-songwriter before transitioning to writing young adult fiction 🌿 The novel explores themes of sacrifice and love through a unique magical system where witches must steal feelings from others to experience emotions themselves 💫 The story features a rare "enemies-to-lovers" romance between two female protagonists in a fantasy setting 🔮 The magic system in the book is partially inspired by folktales about witches stealing years from people's lives 🌙 The novel's setting draws from Slavic mythology and Eastern European folklore, particularly in its portrayal of forest spirits and curses