Member Reviews
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
"Big Little Spells" is the second book in the Witchlore universe by Hazel Beck and it's a solid addition to the series. Our main character, Rebekah, is fleshed out well and is more relatable than her older sister, Emerson, who we followed in the first book. The events of the novel carry the overall story forward and increase the stakes, though, based on how this book ends, I'm curious to see where the plot goes in the future. I enjoyed getting more character progression for the other members of the coven; I'm assuming we would follow Zander and Ellowyn in a third installment. My biggest complaint is that I would have loved to get more information and detail about Nicholas's back story and his feelings about the situation in which we find our characters; there wasn't much about him, which was also the case with Jacob in the first book. 3.5/5 stars
The joy I felt getting my hands of book two of The Witchlore series isn't something I can properly express in words. There was a lot of squealing and incoherent noises, so from that you should understand my excitement.
I can't say too much as this is book 2, and I don't want give away any spoilers for book one. I will say, I love that this story picked up exactly where the last one left off, which I really appreciate. There was no confusing middle space that needed filling in. Even though the MC changed for this book, I still got plenty of the previous one and all the other characters, so I was immensely happy. Rebekah is only suppose to be a year younger then her sister, Emerson, but the way she acted made here feel a lot younger then that, which threw me off at times. I did see the twist at the end coming, so that wasn't a huge surprise. At the same time, this book is a fantasy rom-com and I feel like rom-com's have that predictability that you want and expect.
I love this series so much and will absolutely continue on. I can't wait to see who's story they tell next.
In immensely hugs thank you to Harper Collins for the eArc. All thoughts and opinions are me own.
I loved the first book in this series I was a little wary on whether or not I'd like this book because I wasn't too interested in Rebekah after Book 1.
But quite literally ~15 pages in and I was absolutely irrevocably hooked and was forced to binge.
I did feel disconnected from the main characters this go around. Whereas in Book 1 I was invested on what was happening to them, in this book I was way more interested in what was happening around them.
This book succeeded in getting me sufficiently hooked and on the edge of my seat for Book 3 and overall happy that things worked out for Rebekah in the end.
Witchy, romantic, with a journey of self discovery and healing.
I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review and thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity.
Our story centers on Rebekah Wilde and begins with her being brought back to her hometown of St. Cyprian after 10 years of exile , to be put on trial before her coven. But not everything is as it seems and it is up to her and her friends to maintain the balance of power in their realm, but it may just start a war.
The story was super interesting, i enjoy that it goes through Rebekah’s journey to accepting her flaws and mistakes. Realizing that no matter what , the people who truly matter in life will stick by you. Mistakes happen but it is how we move forward that determines our future.
This story does have some romance but I would not say that is the main theme , it helps Rebekah and our romantic lead , the immortal Nicholas Frost, to overcome their traumas and mistakes but it is definitely a side theme. However romantic love is not the only kind of love we see in the book. Familial /sisterly love and friendship based love are also present and important to Rebekah’s journey.
There isn’t a lot of action to be had in the book but we do get different scenes with magic usage and the different types the world offers. For example Rebekah’s sister Emerson is a Warrior and we get examples of her saving the town on different occasions , Rebekah is a diviner , Jacob is a healer , and many more.
Finally , our story goes through grief and loss but those whose time has come never truly leave us.
If you are looking for your next witchy read, then you will love this one!
I really liked the first book in this series, but as much as I tried, I just could not finish this book! It's a very complicated book, with lots of back story, so I was constantly having to remind myself who everyone was.
The main character in this book, Rebekah, was only a minor character in the first book and showed up only at the end of book one. And there's also the addition of Nicholas Frost, a powerful, immortal witch. Rebekah and Nicholas have a history, and it doesn't seem to be a positive one. Rebekah and Nicolas are not at likeable, and the reader unfortunately only gets tiny glimpses of their motivations. The book is told from Rebekah's point of view, which includes her anger, sarcasm, and disdain for others. I think more details of her backstory, instead of teasers would have made for a more sympathetic character.
And the minor characters, Emerson and Jacob, who were major players in the first book, are reduced to almost nothingness.
The author does a good job with setting and pacing, but more backstory is needed to draw the reader into the characters and the plot.
As a fan of "Small Town, Big Magic," I was really looking forward to "Big Little Spells" and it did not disappoint. Hazel Beck's writing continues to be thoughtful, clever and romantic. I had a harder time connecting to the character Rebekah after growing close to Emerson's POV, but did warm to her and appreciate the change in POV in time. It made me curious as to whether Hazel Beck plans to continue to the series with a POV change to a different character each time, or switch between the two sisters. I thought the pacing was perfect and in keeping with the first book. Very few notes, overall very enjoyable read.
Book 1 left me hooked and anxiously awaiting this book. Just as this one has left me for book 3!! This book and the series is absolutely spellbinding and it hooks you from the very beginning. 6 stars if I could.
I just reviewed Big Little Spells by Hazel Beck. #BigLittleSpells #NetGalley
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This book was a great read! I had read the other title by this author last year and was excited to see another book! I love a good witchy story and this was just that. This really a character driven story so if that's not your jam, you may not be as invested. I like that from time to time so I didn't have a problem with it! This will be a perfect spooky season read!
"Big Little Spells" by Hazel Beck is a gripping fantasy novel that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Rebekah Wilde, the protagonist, was once a member of the Joywood Coven, but was banished from her home and stripped of her magic. After ten long years, Rebekah is forced to return to her hometown, where she must face the Joywood Coven once again. However, things are not as they seem, and Rebekah and her friends are accused of being a danger to witchkind. With an impending death sentence looming over their heads, Rebekah must seek help from the ruthless immortal Nicholas Frost, her former secret tutor in magic and impossible crush.
Hazel Beck has crafted a beautifully complex and intricate world filled with magic, danger, and suspense. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and their relationships are both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The plot is expertly paced, with twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very end.
Overall, "Big Little Spells" is a must-read for anyone who loves a good fantasy novel. Hazel Beck has created a captivating and unique story that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment. Highly recommended!
I'm a huge fan of Hazel Beck, and of the first book in the Witchlore series, Small Town, Big Magic. The series continues in Big Little Spells, and is told from the point of view of Rebekah Wilde, a banished witch who must return to her hometown of St. Cyprian, Missouri, to fight a growing evil. But to reclaim her magic, Rebekah needs help from the infuriating immortal, Nicholas Frost, who tried to train her back when she was a teenager before she failed her magical test and was exiled from Witchdom. Nicholas is everything I want in a romantic hero, and Rebekah is a strong, resilient heroine who navigates danger and falling in love with a morally shady, unknowable immortal armed with sharp sarcasm, bravery and the help of her sister and friends.
Perfect for readers looking for a magical world with a high-stakes war brewing, romance, friendship and sisterhood, all set in a picturesque small town. Hazel Beck's Witchlore series is a sparkling delight with just enough danger to make it spine tingling.
Powerful women, witches, are learning about their strength, what it means, and how to live with and use it without letting it use them. Good feminist themes and a lot of recovery language (as in 12 Step) woven in. I might have put this in the Fantasy genre because, for me, the power and recovery imagery seem the primary focus. But there is a nice little romance in it as well.
A banished witch, Rebekah, is brought home to help her friends, and the immortal witch Nicholas, fight against the vicious duplicitous central governing coven. It will take all the power of the self-actualizing coven of Rebekah’s sister and friends.
Rebekah has had a crush on the immortal Nicholas since childhood. He has secretly helped her along. Until a fateful day in high school, no less, when power testing goes wrong and that evil coven mind-wipes her sister. Rebekah lashes out in anger with the powerful sometimes dark magic she hides. She gets banished and Nicholas repudiates her. What will happen now that she is back? Defeat the monster and get the girl, er, the boy?
The love story is sweet- they are both prickly people, prickly to protect themselves. But Rebekah is finally gaining wisdom about herself and her powers. She makes up her mind to stop ‘protecting’ herself and to give in to her desire for Nicholas. But it is a stiff hill to climb to get around his barriers. And even if they do finally come together they must face the reality that he’s likely to lose his immortal life in the battle.
Again, I’d have put it in Fantasy as I think their coven’s unfolding maturation, getting them ready for the battle are the main story and the romance is secondary but it was a great book on its own no matter what category.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing.
Hazel Beck surpassed expectations with their second book in the Witchlore series. They masterfully weave romance and a genuinely compelling story into something that grabs at your heartstrings and compels you to keep reading. The romance between Rebekah and Nicholas Frost is secondary to the growth of Rebekah and continuing conflict with the tyrannical Joywood Coven.
Feminism, rebellion, and standing up to political bullies are important themes in this book, and it couldn't be more timely.
With shocking plot twists, a delicious romance, and sincere themes about love and acceptance, Big Little Spells is a truly worthy read and a wonderful addition to the series.
Full disclosure: I loved Small Town, Big Magic even though I thought I was done with books about witches. What drew me back into this world of witches was the friendship between the main characters, and the powerful heroine. I have read lots of reviews of this book where people rate it low because they don't like female characters who talk about their feminism. I love these books by Hazel Beck precisely because women should be seen AND heard. They can talk about their feminism all day long. How refreshing it is to have main characters who are powerful witches, who struggle and fall in love, who doubt themselves, who find strength in each other.
This second book in the series, like the first, includes a love story. Yes, there's a lot of yearning and some steaminess, but I appreciate that the love story is secondary to the character development of the heroine. Rebekah made a big mistake when she was a teenager, and then left for ten years. She never told anyone about her mistake, and when she returns to the town she grew up in, and the people she loves, she has to reckon with the truth and the consequences of her past. She also has to learn to forgive herself. She is aided along the way about a very hot immortal witch, her powerful witch sister, and her coven of friends.
I don't know what more you could want in a book.
Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book.