3.75 ⭐️
A solid debut novel filled with an eerie atmosphere and the story of a young sheltered woman unleashing her hidden desires.

Things I liked:
- Sapphic Witches
- Setting (The Island and Cross House really felt like their own characters)
- World building & Magic System
- Morally Grey Characters

Things that could have been better:
- Pacing (The setting and eerie atmosphere kept me interested early book, but there were times where it seemed like the plot was picking up just for it to completely slow down again)
- Plot ( The actual plot kind of went all over the place but the characters themselves and the setting made up for the lack of story or plot progression during certain parts of the book)

TW: domestic violence, body horror, child abuse, blood, magic using self harm, alluded rape

A young woman receives a strange summons from the estate of her dead father and arrives on an island that still practices magic though prohibition forbids it. Here she reconnects with her childhood friend and discovers new secrets, friendships and a love that help her uncover who she really is.

A great setting for a lavish but dark story about two young women and the magic that each processes. I enjoyed the overall theme and atmosphere, just kinda wish it was more plot based than character driven.

Mixed basket here…
Pros:
The author’s writing style is very mesmerizing and atmospheric. I could really picture a lot of these scenes well.
The Great Gatsby/Roaring 20’s setting was awesome!!
I loved the idea of Prohibition being about magic instead of alcohol.
Loved the idea of the magic system based on natural elements, like herbs and blood.
Gorgeous cover art!!

Cons:
Lots of plot holes that are never wrapped up
Significant lack of world building. In a fantasy book, I want to know more backstory on how things work. Lots of opportunity for explaining certain things that never takes place and left me feeling unsatisfied.
The plot in general- very unsatisfying for me. The romance didn’t really have a good buildup or chemistry (I am not into insta-love), this “tether” they have never was explained, a lot of other character’s actions weren’t well explained or didn’t make sense, multiple things in the ending seemed super left field…

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Post World War 1, Magic is prohibited. Inspired by the Great Gatsby. Gatsby meets Practical Magic.

Annie Mason's father died, his last wish was for his daughter to go to his home on crow island, pack his things and sell them. When she gets to crow island she soon realizes that not everything is what she expected, why is her best friend here? who is Emmeline and why does she have this magnetic pull? what secrets was her father hiding? and who is the council?

If you are confused throughout almost the first half of this book, good, you should be. KEEP READING. I have to say the beginning was so confusing because you are so lost in what's going on, who are these people, why should I care? but it does eventually get explained, there was never a moment that I wasn't enjoying what I was reading while I was waiting to find out, I didn't want to put this book down. I NEEDED to know. I didn't understand the magic, the blood debts, the parties, the kazam... but it does come eventually, I promise you will find out. The ending of the dilemma in the story was a bit too much of an easy out for me, which is why I didn't give this a 5 star, but, it was still a good ending.

There is definitely some trigger warnings that need to be stated:
-Loss of a pregnancy
-Domestic violence
-Blood (used in magic)
-Sexual assault (very briefly mentioned)

I loved the characters, I felt like I was in this story, I did actually care about these characters. although, I will say Bea is so annoying and selfish but that is how she is meant to be. I loved the magic, the atmosphere, the slightly eerie vibe of the whole story, I love the island and the flashbacks in time, I loved that Annie grew into herself, she was smart and braver than she thought. I loved that there was LGBTQIA+ representation, there was a lesbian main character and a non-binary main character. I had filled my whole page in my reading journal for this book by 25% if that says anything for you about how much happens in this book! (i use a B5 journal so its a big page) Also, the cover is beautiful and I can't wait to have it on my shelves.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes dark, eerie, witchy vibes, but also the 20s and island mysteries.

I received this Ebook arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
thank you to Francesca May and the Publishers for sending it my way.

2.5 stars :/

this one was just ok to me. i normally am a huge fan of slow fantasy stories with purple, flowery writing but this one didn't live up to what i typically enjoy. some examples of what i normally like in this genre is erin morgenstern's writing or uprooted by naomi novik. i'm not comparing the plot of this novel to those by any means, but i am pointing out that those are fantasies that are very slow (and a lot of people don't like those novels because they are too slow).

i found myself not giving a crap about anything that was happening. there needs to be a balance of showing and telling in a novel and i think normally most people critique when there is too much telling and no showing. my issue with this novel is actually the opposite. i have no idea what half of the magic/maybe even more than half is supposed to do. the blood magic is not explained even in the slightest except to say that it is incredibly dangerous. even annie, the main character, asks tons of questions throughout the novel about magic and the response to these questions is almost always "i don't know." ??????????? that's weird??????? explain SOMETHING to me. i can't know nothing and be expected to care about the circumstances that these characters are finding themselves in.

plus, i didn't see the connection between annie and emmeline. there is a literal connection between them, a magic one, and it just kind of didn't mean anything to me. they are forced together through the circumstances of what is going on with bea, but i didn't feel like they actually connected emotionally at all.

idk this one just isn't for me. the writing was, for the most part, really nice. to me, the writing is why you should read it, if the plot is interesting to you.

Wild and Wicked Things is an engrossing story that will delight fans of The Great Gatsby.

Annie was summoned to Crow Island after her father’s unexpected death and she was wary to go to a place where magic and money ran wild. While sorting through her father’s things, she made plans to find her best friend who had run away from home without saying goodbye. After reconnecting with her friend Bea, Annie found herself at the center of glittering magic and murder.

Wild and Wicked Things was an unputdownable, character-driven story that weaved together magic, war, and women trying to find a better life for themselves. The characters resembled those from The Great Gatsby, but Francesca May gave each of her characters a moving backstory that kept them from feeling like caricatures. The mysterious Crow Island was alluring and I was intrigued by the political hierarchy that controlled magic and witches. Wild and Wicked Things’ strongest feature was its characters and while there was an underlying romance, it was not the focal point of the book. Despite that, it was heartwarming to see Annie recognize her attraction to women and acknowledge what she wanted in life.

The audiobook for Wild and Wicked Things was a beautiful production that captivated me from the first chapter. With Marisa Calin, Gemma Dawson, and Ralph Lister making up this full cast, the audiobook greatly enhanced my reading experience.

Wild and Wicked Things is a book for my character-driven friends; I highly recommend that you pick up the audiobook!

Thank you to Orbit books and Netgallery for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Do you love dark, witchy books? Gothic fantasy? Did you read the Great Gatsby in high school and loved the aesthetic but wished it was gayer?

Wild and Wicked Things is a gothic sapphic historical fantasy inspired by the Great Gatsby but much darker.

If I haven't sold you on it yet, do you also enjoy-

Morally Grey characters?

Morally Grey lesbian witches?

Morally Grey nonbinary lesbians?

Queer found family where every member has a traumatic backstory?

Powerful female characters?

Slow burn sapphic romance with lots of pining?

The jazz age aesthetic of glimmering parties, flappers, gossip and laughter shared between stolen sips of prohibited alcohol?

But also of tarot cards, dried herbs, blood, decay, dripping candles, mysterious old books, and freshly turned earth?

This was one of my most anticipated books of 2022 and it did NOT disappoint. It's everything I wanted from a witchy sapphic fantasy and more. It is Great Gatsby inspired, but not a retelling. The plot is almost completely different, which I loved because it kept me guessing.

The writing was beautiful and haunting and atmospheric. I loved the characters. They felt real and raw and imperfect. The representation of having both main characters be lesbians, and one being nonbinary/ gender nonconforming was great. There is also a bi male side character whom I ADORED.

This book is DARK, so I would highly recommend looking up trigger warnings before reading. The author has them on her website. I have also listed/ added my own here.

TW:
blood, murder, self harm, panic attacks, violence (knife, gun, physical), child abuse (physical, emotional, attempted drowning),
emotional abuse/manipulation/ neglect by a parental figure, rape/ sexual assault,domestic violence, death (of a parent, of a loved one) pregnancy, abortion, alcohol, lesbiphobia, discrimination (negative attitude to masculine dress/ gender nonconforming, forced name change) dysphoria (body image, gender/apperance) posession, ghosts, necromancy, audio/visual hallucinations, animal death

Thank you to Redhook and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First of all, what a gorgeous cover! Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May is a sapphic magic book that will appeal to fans of Netflix's Sabrina or Midnight Girls. The story revolves around Annie, who has arrived on the magical Crow Island after World War I. Her father has just died, and she's back to reconnect with her former best friend Beatrice. One day, she meets the mysterious Emmeline, who is rumored to be a witch. Is everything as lovely as the parties on the island, or is there something more sinister beneath the surface?

Here is an exciting excerpt from the Prologue:

"There is a new witch at Cross House.
Perhaps it is the girl I have seen at the last few gatherings, silently lingering at Priscilla’s feet like a ghost, her dark eyes watchful and her angular face solemn, but I cannot be sure. I don’t trust my judgement after what I have seen tonight.
I suppose I don’t have the taste for any of this anymore. Since the fighting began Priscilla’s nocturnal soirees have grown vicious and wild; I should have known better than to be tempted to attend another, but I have always been weak when it comes to wanting to be around my own kind. Still, I couldn’t stomach the debauchery for long, all that cowardice in one room, and I fled onto the beach beyond the house, where the sand was pale under the prickle of autumn starlight."

Overall, Wild and Wicked Things is a lovely adult fantasy featuring LGBT characters. One highlight of this book is the worldbuilding. I felt like I had been transported into another world, and I didn't want to leave. If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would say that I had some trouble differentiating some characters and telling them apart when I first started reading the book, but then, it all came together and I understood it. If you're intrigued by the excerpt, or if you're a fan of adult fantasy books in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in March!

Sapphic Gatsby witches? A creepy island? Parties? Magic? Absolutely losing my mind at this book. It hit every spot, and I'm so glad. Thank you for the chance to read this!

2.5 for me
I wanted so badly to love this book, but I just didn’t. The writing was good, I just didn’t care for the characters and the story didn’t really grab me either.

Magic was a trap and I had let myself be snared.

ARC provided by the publisher Redhook and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wild and Wicked Things is an atmospheric witchy retelling of The Great Gatsby that failed to cast its spell on me.

It is March and it is time to dive deep into some of the new releases for this spring. Thank you to Hachette Book Group my TBR is a fresh conga line of anticipated releases. The first book that caught my eye because of it’s beautiful cover is Wild and Wicked Things by debut author Francesca May. What made me want to read the book even more is the unique synopsis that interested me to pick it up first for my “mARCh Madness”. Before I start my review I would like to shed spotlight to the artist that designed the cover art Lisa Marie Pompilio. Seeing the picture of the cover doesn’t give it justice really because in real life it is so much better with the gold embellishment on the black background further emphasizing the expensive Gatsby art deco vibe of the book.

Wild and Wicked Things is a The Great Gatsby retelling with a witchy magical realism twist. The story starts with Annie travelling to Crow Island, an island that is famous for its lavish parties and their rich residents, after she receives a letter informing of her fathers death. Tasked to settle her father’s estate she decides to spend her summer on Crow Island to uncover things about her estranged father and maybe reconnect with an old friend. What Annie thought to be an uneventful summer turned sinister after she is entangled in her neighbours shady business of magic sold in bottles of dreams, pacts made in blood, and unpaid debts lurking in the shadows. And in its core is one individual, the mysterious Emmeline Delacroix.

Maybe I’m not what everybody thinks. Maybe I like danger and that’s why I’m here.

The story of Wild and Wicked Things follows two perspectives Annie, the innocent and meek island visitor looking to settle her fathers estate, and Emmeline, the rumored witch of Crow Island that is shrouded in darkness. Francesca May weaves magic into a classic story The Great Gatsby and retells it with the flare of a modern voice enriching the world with parallels with the well loved classic. I would like to clarify that I have not read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. For readers that live in countries where this book is deemed as a required book to read in school you all might be familiar with the story. But for me coming from a country in which english isn’t the first language I’ve never heard of Gatsby until the movie was out. I’m writing this review without prior knowledge of The Great Gatsby so I’ll write my review with just Wild and Wicked Things in mind and I will probably not understand the parallels with the classic.

May’s writing is intricate, dark, and deeply emotional in this story about the dangerous magical hedonistic lifestyle observed from the eyes of an innocent stranger. What makes Wild and Wicked Things interesting is the world building, May’s version of reimagined 1920s England during the prohibition era when magic is ruled out to be illegal. The setting that is Crow Island is a place that is literally a magnet for witches from its shape and the vibes of the island. May’s atmospheric writing that is descriptive and sensory filled pushes the immersion slightly over the edge. I flew through the first one hundred pages easily as I enjoyed everything about the world and the building mystery surrounding Crow Island. Since it is a historical fiction fantasy the world offers ambiance for the story making Wild and Wicked Things the perfect book for readers that focuses more on character instead of world building that is a big part in fantasy. The pacing for Wild and Wicked Things I would like to point out is very slow. Though I am a reader that don’t mind reading slow stories this book takes the cake for the slowest I’ve ever read. This very slow pacing made the second half of the story much less interesting and completely drags the narrative. I understand that May tries to build the suspense slowly to achieve that satisfying release from the frustrating anticipation of the reveal but the twist ended up being pretty lacklustre.

I do it, she added softly, because magic is all I know.

Sadly, the gripe I have with Wild and Wicked Things are two of the main components of the story which are characters and magic. For magic I find that it leans towards magical realism instead of a hard magic system. It took me a while to grasp the magic part as it takes a while for readers to figure how it works in this world. If you are a reader that likes a clear magic system you might find the magic lacking and too vague which what happened to me. I understand that May refers the magic to be witch craft but something about it is a little too abstract for me because it isn’t to the point. It is a though May is beating around the bush instead of concretely asserting what you can do with this magic and how it works. What made it even more confusing is that the characters who are experienced in using magic they seem to beat around the bush. Readers will have to figure out as they read throughout the story. One thing about the magic that is hard to understand is the ‘connection’ part that is repeatedly mentioned by May. Though it was explained later on in the story it wasn’t believable enough for me and it became to be some sort of insta love tool in my eyes.

Magic is a monster. It takes and it takes—and if you’re not careful there wont be any of you left. The whispers in these walls are proof enough of that.

Continuing on to the characters which is my biggest gripe. I’m sad that I did not get attached to any of the characters. May’s characterization didn’t leave a strong impression on me. The presence of the characters in general are weak and one dimensional. This can be strongly found in the main character Emmeline who is the focus of Wild and Wicked Things. Emmeline as a character gave a strong first impression when she first appeared on page. But as I continued reading and getting to know Emmeline further I slowly become detached from her character. I didn’t see versatility in Emmeline that I had hoped to see. Emmeline has such good character background but she reverts back to the same thing over and over which makes the other sides of her character seem less believable. What I mean by other sides is the relationships Emmeline has with the side characters Isobel and Nathan. Their relationships are built up to be a found family that is established beforehand but there is no depth besides the snippets from the behind story. I understand it is part of Emmeline’s character arc to isolate herself but I just couldn’t wrap my head around it because Nathan and Isobel seems to manifest as a plot tool instead of a rooted part of the story May has written them to be.

There are some things that should be left alone.

Annie as a character is much stronger and versatile in action compared to Emmeline in my opinion. The growth that Annie showed is slightly better and believable. Yet Annie is one noted in the impression she gives. The innocent girl act can go so far. It felt repetitive when after reading three hundred pages Annie keeps using the same defense for her actions which made me draw the conclusion that Annie didn’t grow at all as a character. Emmeline and Annie’s relationships can only be described as abstract insta-love which makes it hard for me to believe in their romantic moments. Then there’s Annie’s relationship with Bea and their overarching conflict between them. Bea is the root cause of the this hurricane of a mess the characters got themselves involved in. Her characterization absolutely did not make sense and it is clear she is just a tool for the whole plot of the story to move forward. It is just exhausting reading about Bea as her characterization is shaped to be a pot stirrer. Not to mention Bea’s background that did not make sense on why she decided to change the trajectory of her life.


You make me want to be reckless.

Final thoughts, Wild and Wicked Things is a promising fantasy retelling of a classic that sadly did not live up to its full potential. Francesca May is wonderful writer that is talented in creating an immersive story that blends sensory descriptions into their atmospheric writing style. Sadly, the characterization didn’t live up to written expectations in terms of growth and believability. I still recommend this book for readers who have read The Great Gatsby and wants to see a fantasy twist mixed into it with a bit of slow burn sapphic romance. I would like to point out that there is a rape scene in this book that wasn’t necessary to the plot contained in the flash back that readers should be aware of before reading. For readers who are like me that doesn’t like insta love and never read The Great Gatsby definitely proceed with caution as I’ve come to the realization that Wild and Wicked Things could’ve been more enjoyable if I read the classic. For those who are curious about the book my review is subjective and could differ if the right people reads this book because I think this book targets a specific audience that can enjoy it fully.

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

I was counting down the days until Gatsby entered the public domain, so I'd like to start by thanking Francesca May for taking FULL advantage of that little event and giving me the ~sapphic/Gothic Gatsby vibes~ of my dreams.

Because WILD AND WICKED THINGS really is all about the vibes. It's about yearning and gilded veneers and laughing through pain. It's about summertime dreams and a bruised-up postwar world. And (duh) it's also about witches.

The first chunk of the book feels most Gatsby-esque. We have Annie (Nick) arriving at a cottage in order to manage her father's affairs; except her neighbor Emmeline (Gatsby) throws ridiculously lavish parties in order to attract the attention of Bea (Daisy).

Then, enter the witchery.

The rest of the book delves into very different territory, involving murder and blood debts and CROWS and I must admit, the exact "rules" of the world started to slip away a bit. This is one of those stories that could be 100 pages shorter if the characters just TALKED to one another instead of assuming the worst, and the repetitive nature of Annie/Emmeline/Bea's bickering (combined with the ??? worldbuilding) did get tiresome at times.

However, all is forgiven because damn, can Francesca May ever write. Crow Island's vividness hasn't faded from my mind, even now I've finished the book. It's A+ atmosphere + pining + lyricism, which is all I really want from life. Yes, the characters frustrated me, but I enjoyed following their messy, spiraling journey just the same. I'd return to this world in a heartbeat and can't wait to see what May writes next.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Redhook Books, & the author Francesca May for this eARC copy.

My daughter (a junior in HS) just read, "The Great Gatsby" for the first time. You are either a fan or you are not when it comes to that classic beauty and I think it is the same sort of deal with, "Wild and Wicked Things." Around the same time as my daughter was reading the classic for school, I was provided this book as an advanced release. So naturally her and I talked about what she was reading, and I became eager to read this book; especially after reading other reviews and learning that there were elements of the classic book to be found within this one. Not only was there the Gatsby angle, but also a post war story in which elements had been changed to fit a world with magic (both real and faux). I was really liking all these angles. Unfortunately, I might have been too eager and that added to my disappointment as I read. I just didn't see much of what I was expecting in the story. Sure there was romance, murder, and that sense of rich decadence for the people inhabiting the island, but focusing on a love triangle and the fact that I HATED Beatrice and can't abide by people THAT selfish...I don't know it just went flat.

I HATE giving any book less than three stars, especially when I was very intrigued after reading Welcoming the Dark R. Crowther in the beginning, but I have settled on a two star because while the elements all seemed to be there I just couldn't throw myself into the story. I admit that this could've been because the story wasn't exactly geared specifically towards me as a reader. I was finding it hard to relate to ANY of the characters and when that happens it is hard for me to get on board with any story...no matter how good the premise sounds or the landscape allures (loved the setting of Crow Island). I have to find myself in a character–even a minor one. It was not the case here. I also had a hard time with the flow of outside world to the one on the island and how it all related. While the author's writing was flowing and beautiful, I struggled with finding a point–an overall message–in the book. Additionally, while I loved the elements of magic added to this world, I found it hard to follow. I think it might have been easier to make the magical elements for this particular story limited only to the habitants of the island as it was suggested in the beginning part that I loved so much.

I know this is a bit of a short review, but I hate holding judgement on any book since every book has the right reader. If anyone reads the description and find themselves intrigued...BUY IT! I have found myself loving books that others rated poorly.

I wish the author all the very best as she continues this story. In fact, I sincerely hope May will! To the right readers, I believe this could be the perfect book to shelf in a collection. I just wasn't that reader.

Annie secretly just wants to be free, free of her mother, free of the memory of the boy who loved her but went away to war and never came home, and free to live life on her terms. But freedom always comes at a cost. When Annie’s estranged father dies and she gets a letter saying that his last wish was for her to come to the mysterious Crow Island to take care of his estate, she jumps at the chance. While coming to terms with her new found freedom, she gets tangled in the schemes of the witch next door and her childhood best friend who is also running away from her problems. All three of them discover just how dangerous real magic can be.

First some content warnings. The magic system in this book is based around blood magic so self-harm is prevalent throughout the whole story. There are also numerous abusive relationships, physical abuse, sexual abuse and psychological abuse present in this story. Also casual homophobia.

The atmosphere in this book is probably it’s biggest selling feature. Crow Island is a mysterious place, somewhere in England in the 1920s, but this isn’t the England we know from the history books. Magic is real and it has been banned following it’s use in a horrific world war, faux magic is considered all in good fun, but women who practice the real thing are in constant danger of the authorities (though unsurprisingly it seems the men who use magic don’t have nearly as much to worry about). Other than the presence of magic everything else is familiar, and if you are familiar with The Great Gatsby it may seem even more familiar as the book is a loose retelling.

The characters are deeply flawed. Annie is painfully meek, and Emmeline, the mysterious neighbour is stubborn beyond belief and would rather die than ask for help. And don’t get me started on the best friend Bea who is manipulative and ultimately shallow. But the story doesn’t work without their flaws, and the author takes us on a fun ride as we see how these flaws create problem after problem for the characters.

The plot itself is very nebulous in the first part of the book, but once the main characters stop circling each other and decide to actually talk to one another things really pick up. The way that the three women at the centre of the story work together with magic to try and fix past mistakes made me think of Practical Magic, if Practical Magic was much darker and the women were in love with each other instead of being sisters.

Overall I think this book will land best with people who love historical fiction with a touch of fantasy as that’s what this really is.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER FOR A FREE EARC IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW

Wild and Wicked things really had me with the depiction of magic and the channels through which it was practiced. May also incorporated another facet of the rich being able to enjoy certain prohibited practices with little to no consequences, while those less fortuned were more likely to be punished.

I loked the bond between Emmeline, Nathan, Isabella, it felt true to hiw siblings cared for and disagreed with each other. The use of magic through herbs and blood was also very intriguing and I enjoyed learning just how they created their mixtures and applied their craft.

Where the book did not satisfy me was with the characters themselves, especially Annie and Bea and their relationship with Emmeline. For Annie, the insta-love, insta-loyalty really grated and both her and Emmeline's inability to impress upon Bea her selfishness was frustrating. At times I found them whiny and their overall understanding of just what price magic would extract for the larger spells cast, was lacking and yet they continued. If this was just a story that didn't need these three I would have enjoyed it more.

DNF.

I tried SO hard to get into this story—the writing was beautiful—I just couldn’t connect to the characters.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book. Opinions are my own.

This sounded so good to me. A Great Gatsby retelling, with witchy vibes. Sadly, it was not for me. I loved the atmosphere, but I was so bored! The only characters I liked at all were Nathan and Isobel and they aren't MC's. I didn't like any of the other characters at all. If this wasn't a review copy, I would not have finished it.

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Wild and Wicked Things is a sapphic Gothic historical fantasy retelling of The Great Gatsby. I still haven’t read the original, but based on what I know about the plot and characters, I’m glad this one did its own thing, compared to others I’ve tried, making it easier to judge it mostly on its own merits. I will note that there is a common thread of fatal decadence, albeit executed in a much more mystical way.
As such, the characters are deeply flawed, and I definitely feel like you’re not necessarily meant to like them, although they are sympathetic. Annie is particularly so, in her naïveté. Meanwhile, Emmaline has a mystical, dangerous allure and massive amounts of baggage, which I did find somewhat intriguing in its own way over time, especially as I got to know her.
One of the standouts of the book is the world building. The island is well-drawn, feeling super creepy, yet also imbued with a magical, dreamlike quality.
The plot is dark, and although it does take its time building up to these dark moments, it only makes them feel earned. It is a bit on the intense side at times, so please be advised as to the content warnings if you need them.
This is a wonderful fresh take on a classic and an inventive blend of historical and fantasy. If you’re a Gatsby fan and/or are looking for dark sapphic fantasy,
I would recommend checking this out.

3.5 stars

Wild and Wicked Things is a Practical Magic meets a sapphic version of The Great Gatsby.

The story takes place on Crow Island. Magic is forbidden, but people turn a blind eye to it on Crow Island. We follow Annie who goes to the island at her late fathers wishes to go through his things and settle his estate. Her best friend, Bea, moved to the island a year prior (moved without a word to Annie). Annie rented a small cottage by the water where she is drawn to her neighbor Emmeline. Emmeline and her adoptive brother and sister (Nathan and Isobel) throw lavish parties every weekend.

The story flips between Annie and Emmeline's POV's. Emmeline was strong and tried to be selfless (although unsuccessful). Annie was very meek and boring. She just wanted to be included regardless of the costs. They develop a relationship but it's slooooow.

Bea was the most selfish character I've encountered in a long time. She wanted everyone to do what she wanted and wouldn't take no for an answer. When everything would go to crap, she would never assume any blame and pull the 'woe is me' card. I couldn't stand her.

Nathan and Isobel were my favorite side characters. They were deep and complicated with a great backstory (that we saw).

I don't want to give any spoilers, but I did enjoy the read.

So, I have a few mixed feelings about this book. For me, it took way too long for the story to really get going. I wasn't fully invested until a little more than halfway through the book and a lot of what the author did to create mystery fell flat for me. Generally, when information is withheld from the reader, it's because the narrator also isn't privy to it. However, through a large portion of the story, the reader doesn't know most things because the author just won't tell us, though the narrators are fully aware. At a certain point, it began to feel annoying rather than add a sense of mystique to the plot.
On the other hand, some aspects of this book were really interesting. I love that the book has a very witches-meet-Gatsby vibe, which is really fun to explore. I think the characters are all very interesting and relatable, and we love us some magic lesbians.
I think that all together, this is a good book. It just wasn't for me for a few reasons. I would still definitely recommend it if the plot and aesthetic appeals to you!