The aura of Magic surrounds us. It exists in the air we breathe, the land we walk upon, and the depths of our imagination. It is a force that transcends the boundaries of the physical world, weaving its way through the fabric of existence, leaving traces of wonder and mystery in its wake. Magic is not just confined to the realm of fairy tales and fantasy novels. It manifests in the everyday moments that make up our lives. It can be found in the warmth of a smile, the touch of a loved one, and the beauty of a sunset.
ISBN: 9781368069120
The story fizzles at the very end with the setup for another installment, however readers will relish the character-building as they get to know these young witches. When newcomer Iris who is just doing her best to manage her anxiety and sensory processing disorder arrives, Greta the levelheaded leader , Binx the technomancer rebel , and Ridley the studious and artistic one make plans to recruit her before the rival coven does.
It can be found in the warmth of a smile, the touch of a loved one, and the beauty of a sunset. It is present in the laughter of a child, the melody of a song, and the amazement of discovering something new. But perhaps the most enchanting aspect of magic is its ability to ignite our imaginations and open our minds to infinite possibilities.
Review: B*Witch by Paige McKenzie and Nancy Ohlin
What would you do if you received a book written by a witch who was killed in a late 1800s witch purge, and you found out that you could learn her craft, in a world that seeks to bring witch-hunts back, no less? B*Witch by Paige McKenzie and Nancy Ohlin aims to answer just that.
The year is 2016 and the new government is extremely suspicious of witches. The so-called law 6-129, which forbids witchcraft, has gradually relaxed over the years, but the prejudice has remained. Most teen witches practice secretly, but if they are found out, expulsion from school or being grounded is usually the worst they can expect… things are about to get bleaker though. With the government’s increased prejudice against witchcraft and an emerging hate group, called Antima (Anti-Magic), many young, self-taught witches practicing in secret, now have reason to believe their lives are in danger.
When Iris, a secret witch who lives with Sensory Processing Disorder and frequent panic attacks, moves to small town Sorrow Point, she hopes to be free of the witch-hate she witnessed in New York. Little does she know that her new high school, is home to not one, but two secret covens, and, most horrifyingly, to several Antima members. When witches from both covens start receiving threatening messages with anti-witchcraft content, yet strangely charmed that implies a witch’s hand in their distribution, coven leader Greta and her friends, Ridley and Binx, must solve the mystery. This also may mean working with Greta’s once coven mate and now rival, Div, who follows a darker branch of witchcraft and leads a coven of her own.
Despite their common enemy, cooperating isn’t always easy: the covens have conflicting interests as both seek to recruit the gifted Iris and another new student and suspected witch, Penelope. Even within Greta’s generally benevolent coven, signs of discord increase as the stakes get higher: Greta, whose magic is as traditional and ethical as possible, often finds herself at odds with the more mischievous Binx. The latter is a cyber-witch who prefers to practise magic through technology, creating her own apps and being active in an online videogame called ‘Witchworld’, where she has befriended a rare male witch. When Binx trusts her new friend a bit too readily and comes to believe that a more aggressive approach is needed to fight the Antima, Greta feels her friend’s actions might expose the coven. But as the threats against the witches become more and more frequent and terrifying, the girls must work together if they want to solve the mystery on time and survive.
B*Witch is a very readable, with short chapters that don’t tire the reader. A lot of chapter titles are intertextual references, which is a nice touch. At the beginning of each chapter we get a passage from The Good Book of Magic and Mentalism by Callixta Crowe, the 1800s witch whose book the girls use to learn their craft. These passages nicely foreshadow each chapter’s content without revealing too much, as the authors do a good job at maintaining suspense until the last few chapters. The ending did feel a little abrupt, with a new plot point being introduced without much foreshadowing, but the plot twist was still an interesting one I had not seen coming, and the openness of the ending leaves room for more to be written about these very endearing witches.
Although the figure of the teen witch has been used a lot in the past few years, both as an aesthetic and as a political statement, Paige McKenzie and Nancy Ohlin offer us a fresh take on contemporary magic. Each of the main characters interprets Callixta’s book differently. From Greta’s traditional, sustainable magic and trust in feminist deities, to Binx’s use of mobile apps and even Pokemon cards, the reader is immersed in a fun, playful microcosm. We are constantly reminded, however, that the magical safe space Greta, Binx and Ridley have created for themselves is fragile, threatened by both external forces and their own families, even their own coven. Knowing what is at stake, makes it easy to care about them.
The book is very diverse, with the witches coming from many different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, and from all across the LGBTQ+ spectrum, as well as a main character struggling with her mental health, an issued addressed with honesty throughout the novel. All these different identities are part of the characters, but they aren’t all we get know about them: each has her own quirks, preferences and compelling backstory. Some characters, such as Mira and Aisha from Div’s coven, as well as Penelope, could have been a little more developed, but, in general, the authors manage to convey who each character is, and most importantly, what she wants. Since we get to know a bit about each witch’s home life and personal struggles, the ending could have dwelt a little more on the ways their experiences throughout B*Witch might influence their future decisions about their problems, but, once again, the openness leaves room for readers to draw their own conclusions. Fighting for their right to be themselves and practice their magic in love and peace, definitely teaches Iris, Greta, Binx and Ridley a lot about themselves – and each other.
B*Witch is an inclusive, fun, and suspenseful book that teenage witch fans will enjoy, and many of them might identify with at least one main character. All in all, this is a story about identity, belonging, loss, and girls supporting one another. A very interesting collaboration with a lot of potential, that left me hoping we haven’t seen the last of the two covens.
B*Witch is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of July 7th 2020.
Will you be picking up B*Witch? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
It invites us to look beyond what is visible and tangible and to explore the realms of the unknown. It encourages us to question the boundaries of reality and to embrace the extraordinary. Magic comes in many forms. It can be the solace we find in a good book, the thrill of witnessing a breathtaking performance, or the awe-inspiring wonders of the natural world. It can be the spark of creativity that ignites our passions, the serendipitous encounters that change our lives, or the unexplainable coincidences that leave us in awe. In a world often governed by logic and reason, the presence of magic reminds us that there is more to life than what meets the eye. It serves as a tantalizing reminder that there is still much to be discovered and understood. It encourages us to embrace the unknown and to cultivate a sense of wonder in our lives. This aura of magic is not limited to a select few. It is freely available to all who are willing to open their hearts and minds to its presence. It is a reminder that we are part of something greater than ourselves, connected to a vast and intricate web of existence. So, let us not dismiss the magic that surrounds us. Let us celebrate its presence in our lives and allow it to inspire us, to ignite our passions, and to fill our hearts with wonder. For in doing so, we will not only enrich our own lives but also contribute to the greater tapestry of magic that exists in the world..
Reviews for "Captivated by the Aura of Magic"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really excited to read "The aura of magic surrounds us" based on the reviews and accolades it received. However, I was sorely disappointed. The plot seemed promising at first, but it quickly devolved into a convoluted mess that was difficult to follow. The characters were poorly developed and lacked any depth or relatability. The writing style was also quite clunky and disjointed, making it a struggle to get through the book. Overall, it just didn't live up to the hype for me.
2. Sarah - 3/5 - While "The aura of magic surrounds us" had its moments, I found it to be overly predictable and clichéd. The story followed the typical formula of a protagonist discovering their magical abilities and embarking on a grand adventure. There were no surprising twists or innovative ideas to set it apart from other fantasy novels in the genre. Additionally, some of the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, causing the characters to come across as flat and uninteresting. Overall, it was an average read that didn't leave a lasting impression.
3. Michael - 2/5 - The aura of magic surrounds us turned out to be a lackluster read for me. The world-building felt incomplete and underdeveloped, leaving me with more questions than answers. The pacing was also quite slow, making it difficult to stay engaged with the story. I expected a grand and immersive magical experience, but instead, I found myself bored and disinterested. The potential was there, but it fell short in execution. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book to avid fantasy readers.