Book 9, 2023

[chez_jae]

Arts and Witchcraft by Dakota Rebel

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I read an ebook novella last night. I thought it would be more substantial and keep me occupied for at least two evenings, alas. However, it was chaptered, and I'm counting it as a book read. Arts and Witchcraft is the first in the "Midwest Monsters" series by author Dakota Rebel. Point of view is in first-person, narrated by main characters Mindi LeFey and Booker...er, what was his last name? Eh.

Mindi is one of a set of triplets. She and her sisters escaped to a small town in Michigan when they were run out of Salem for being witches. Mindi has taken up a position as the kindergarten teacher, and she enjoys her job. That is, until the new principal arrives. Booker is handsome, charming, and otherworldly, and Mindi knows he's going to be trouble.

On the run from a curse that has plagued him nearly his entire life, Booker has moved to this small town in MI in hopes of keeping ahead of the curse. He hadn't reckoned on meeting Mindi. She's smart, beautiful, and not fully human, but Booker can't stay away from her, even if his soul depends on it. Will Mindi be the one to help him break the curse?

The story itself was pleasant, but it was overly simplistic and trite. Not only did the length lack substance but so did the plot. There wasn't much back story provided except that we learn both of them are orphaned. I was taken aback that Salem is still literally chasing witches out of town with pitchforks and burning the witches if they can catch them. Um, wouldn't that be murder? Moving on. The solution to Booker's curse was inane. Here was a chance for some drama and substance, but the author just derped her way out of it. Maddening. Also, the fact that Mindi and Booker fell in love in, like, two days was so unrealistic as to be a huge turn-off.

Favorite line: "Harry Potter could have taught you that much."

If you're in the mood for sweet, simple fluff, give it a read. As for me, I found it disappointing. Two stars.