A mesmerizing tale of love, loss, and the inherent magic in everyday life, "Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet" takes readers on a wondrous journey through a mysterious and enchanting world. The story follows the life of Maire, a woman with amnesia who possesses the extraordinary ability to infuse her baked goods with feelings and emotions. As she bakes her magical treats, Maire unintentionally becomes entangled in a dangerous web of dark forces that seek to exploit her gifts for their own nefarious purposes. Maire's journey is a captivating exploration of self-discovery and the power of resilience. As she embarks on a quest to regain her lost memories, Maire encounters a variety of characters, each with their own secrets and motives. From a silent giant to a cunning merchant, these characters add depth and intrigue to the story, leaving readers eager to uncover the truth behind Maire's past.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Offsetting those whimsical fairy tales as Maire discovers her true identity, is a dark tale that is reminiscent of both Mary Shelley s Frankenstein and the Book of Genesis in the Bible. The story takes a dark turn at this point because Allemas is a cruel and unpredictable master and Maire does not fare well working for him, especially once he realizes that Fyel has also found Maire.
From a silent giant to a cunning merchant, these characters add depth and intrigue to the story, leaving readers eager to uncover the truth behind Maire's past. Throughout the book, the author skillfully weaves elements of magical realism with themes of love, sacrifice, and the bittersweet nature of life itself. Maire's ability to infuse her pastries with emotions lends a touch of whimsy to the narrative, while also serving as a powerful metaphor for the way our experiences shape us.
Book Review: Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet
TL;DR: Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet is a fantasy story that features magic and a hundred pages of Sisyphean punishment that made it a tough read that was not redeemed by a quick and clean ending.
I received a copy of this book through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet opens with the tale of Maire, who is able to enchant magical treats in her bakery, but Maire is more than she appears. Four years ago she appeared in town as if dropped from the heavens with no memory of who she was besides her name. Soon, Maire finds herself a slave, sold to a strange and primitive master who forces her to create magical treats while holding her wholly under his control. To be free and find her true identity, Maire must trust otherworldly beings and escape the clutches of her captor.
When I saw Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet on Net Galley, I was incredibly excited. I have Holmberg’s Paper Magician series on my to-be-read pile and thought I would love this based on the description, but I found MBMS to drag horribly and I nearly gave up around 30%.
The majority of the book is mostly Maire suffering at the hands of her captor. It reads like Sisyphus pushing his boulder up hill only to have it roll back. Maire gets instructions from the mysterious, ethereal Fyel on how she can possibly escape, and instead, she doesn’t do it, which leads to more suffering. I read through all of her tasks, cursing her for her stupidity and feeling very little sympathy for her. Poor battered, maimed Maire is a glutton for punishment, and I was completely over it by the halfway point. At the very end, when Maire is putting the pieces together from her memory, all of her tasks seem to have a purpose, but every pointless task is made relevant and done with within a few paragraphs. It was too clean and not worth the hundred pages of drudgery for the reader.
The other incredibly off-putting aspect of MBMS is that the antagonist appears to be a mentally handicapped man. He’s violent, called stupid by Maire, and is treated like a freak and a horrible person for at least 80% of the book. It just didn’t feel right. In the end, his handicap makes sense, but it made me incredibly uncomfortable. Can we really hold a mentally handicapped person responsible for their actions? Should we judge them like they’re normal? Maire tries to understand, but it reminded me of Lennie from Of Mice and Men. The handicapped hulking killer trope shouldn’t be revived.
In the last three chapters, everything comes together so neatly and quickly. It would have been a better experience for me if the beginning had been shorter and the info/flashbacks had been sprinkled in throughout the story. The relationship between Maire and her captor makes me wonder if the author was trying to grapple with a personal experience. I won’t mention what because it could give the ending away, but its deeply personal message hindered the story. Holmberg simply spent too long punishing Maire and the reader.
Share this:
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
- More
Charlie N. Holmberg’s Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet was a much darker story than I was expecting. I think maybe that pretty cover fooled me into thinking I was heading into a light, fluffy, and whimsical read. While I did find the read to be whimsical, instead of the light and fluffy, however, I found myself immersed in a tale full of weighty themes and relevant life lessons, the dominant one being that you have to take responsibility for choices that you make because actions have consequences.
As the story progresses, readers witness the transformative power of Maire's baking, both in her own life and the lives of those around her. At its core, "Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet" is a story about the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of love. As Maire's memories slowly begin to resurface, she must confront the painful truths of her past and find the strength to forge a new future. Along the way, she discovers that even the bitterest of experiences can be transformed into something magical and sweet. Overall, "Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet" is a spellbinding tale that will transport readers to a world where love and magic intertwine. With its beautifully crafted prose and captivating characters, the novel invites readers to embrace the inherent magic in everyday life and find solace in the power of human connection..
Reviews for "The Role of Magic in Identity Formation in Magic Bitter Magic Sweet"
- Emily - 2 stars - I did not enjoy "Magic Bitter Magic Sweet" at all. The plot was confusing and lacked coherence. The characters were poorly developed and I found it hard to connect with any of them. The writing style was also very dry and uninspiring. Overall, I was disappointed by this book and would not recommend it to others.
- John - 1 star - "Magic Bitter Magic Sweet" was a complete waste of my time. The story was slow-paced and nothing really happened. The magical elements felt forced and out of place. The main character was extremely unlikable and I couldn't sympathize with her at all. I struggled to finish this book and was left feeling unsatisfied and frustrated.
- Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Magic Bitter Magic Sweet" but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The plot was interesting in concept, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was off, with slow parts dragging on and exciting moments passing by too quickly. The writing was also overly descriptive and heavy-handed, which made it difficult to immerse myself in the story. The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. Overall, I was disappointed by this book.