Unless you live under a rock or are new the the blog, you probably know that I have a long running series where I review books that feature magic, fae, and fantastical elements. Edition SIX went up last week, and, inspired by Ava’s own book bracket excursion, I wanted to do my own.
While writing the fifth update, I was thinking about how I can see my favorite and least favorite books within one post, but I rarely compare them from post-to-post. Slewfoot was my highest rated from article five, but how could it hold up against part four’s MVP, Arcana Academy? How will books I read last month fare against books from a year ago? I had to know.
So, that brings us to the bracket! Brackets work best in multiples of four, and with now 30 reviews in my series, I was two books short from a perfect 32. So, two of the books here are ones I have read, but have not previously been featured in this specific set of reviews on the blog. I have talked about them elsewhere on the blog, so when they’re mentioned, they will also be hyperlinked, even if the link isn’t to one of the main sets of reviews.
Since I’ve talked quite extensively about all of these books before, I’ll keep my thoughts kinda brief here. If there’s a book you want to hear more about, click the full review! I have long winded thoughts in the previous posts.
Without further adieu, here’s round one!
The Honey Witch versus Don’t Let the Forest In
Winner: Don’t Let the Forest In
This was a hard one. Starting with two four stars against each other? Rude. I enjoyed both of these books, both had good queer representation to them, and I think they fit a unique aesthetic that I found impactful. But I think that Don’t Let the Forest In had a bit more challenge and plot to it that I actually enjoyed and was compelled by. It was darker, more disturbing, and unsettling. The relationship in The Honey Witch was obviously less complicated and wholesome, but the plot itself wasn’t as high stakes and interesting.
Arcana Academy versus Rose in Chains
Winner: Arcana Academy
While Rose in Chains isn’t a bad book, it is on my ‘thin ice’ list. I’m waiting to see if the second book keeps me going with the series. Arcana Academy, meanwhile, has me very excited for the next book. I think the latter did a better job at showcasing its magic system and the world at large. Rose in Chains felt very limited due to the nature of the main character’s imprisonment, and the relationship had way too much of an imbalance going on. I’m ready for both sequels to come out later this year, but for now, Arcana Academy takes the cake.
Wings of Starlight versus Slewfoot
Winner: Slewfoot
I was not a big fan of Wings of Starlight, and I gave Slewfoot a 5/5, so this shouldn’t shock anyone. I think Slewfoot nailed the atmosphere it was going for very well. It wanted to be dreary but charming, dark but still magical. I was missing that from Wings of Starlight, which failed to capture the magic of Pixie Hollow. And honestly, Slewfoot had a better romance, despite it not being a romance book. Wings of Starlight was forgettable, but Slewfoot will stick with me for a very long time. Enough said.
The Knight and the Moth versus Wooing The Witch Queen
Winner: The Knight and the Moth
This one was hard. While I do think that Wooing the Witch Queen is a near perfect romantasy novel, I have to go with The Knight and the Moth! It was just such a great read. I enjoyed the atmosphere and story more, like the mystery of Sybil and her upbringing as a Diviner, and was invested in the romance. Wooing the Witch Queen does also have many of these elements, but it’s stuck with me a little bit less. Maybe this is also a bit of recency bias. Regardless, this was a close one, and both are ones I would readily recommend.
The Rose Bargain versus The Binding
Winner: The Binding
The Rose Bargain overall is a good book, but it did a few things at the end that really bothered me. You can check the OG post for more on that. While it’s more good than bad, and I’m excited for the sequel, it still has a bit of a sour taste to me when I think back on it. The Binding, on the other hand, pretty much exceeded all of my expectations. A unique magic system and world, a well-written queer romance, and an emotional arc that was worth all of the drama throughout the book. It gets the win.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea versus Half a Soul
Winner: Half a Soul
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea fall flat on almost every aspect I was wanting. The world felt strangely empty instead of whimsical and magical. The romance was sudden and barely touched on, and the plot was very confusing and simple at the same time. Meanwhile, Half a Soul gave me everything I wanted. Regency romance, magic and whimsy, well developed characters who fit perfectly into the world. This one was a pretty easy choice.
The Bane Witch versus Alchemised
Winner: The Bane Witch
Considering that I DNF’d Alchemised, this shouldn’t shock anyone. What’s interesting is that I almost DNF’d The Bane Witch, too! I could say quite a bit about what I didn’t like about each book, but that’s what the original articles are for. So I’ll be brief and just say that the one I managed to finish is the one that deserves to go on. I imagine The Bane Witch will be the lowest ranked book to move on to the next round…
A Study in Drowning verses Where the Dark Stands Still
Winner: A Study in Drowning
I didn’t mind Where the Dark Stands Still, but it wasn’t something that super wow-ed me. I liked the atmosphere and the Polish mythology it used, but that’s mostly it. The characters were fine, the romance stereotypical, and the plot decent. Not a bad book by any means. Meanwhile, A Study in Drowning had it’s own magical atmosphere, a compelling main character, and a mystery to the plot that I was engaged with. It doesn’t win in a landslide, but it is our clear winner here.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries versus Enchanting the Fae Queen
Winner: Emily Wilde
Enchanting the Fae Queen is a fun read, and did live up to the expectations I had for it as a fun, flirty romance, but as an overall book, it pales compared to Emily Wilde, which checks pretty much all of my boxes when it comes to books in this series. Great usage of folklore and magic. An academic vibe that is magical all on its own, great characters that are easy to love. Of all the books on my list, this is the book that I would want to live in the most. Of course it takes the cake.
Spells for Forgetting versus Legends and Lattes
Winner: Legends and Lattes
This one was a little interesting. Both books really rely on their settings to bring the magic here. The former is a gloomy PNW island town with a mystery, and the latter is a cozy cafe in a fantasy town. But while both have well developed vibes, I have to say that Legends and Lattes is the better overall book. The plot was simple but enjoyable, the ending wrapped things up well, and I didn’t feel like much was missing. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of Spells for Forgetting, which had a rushed and not super satisfying ending. Both pretty good, but one overall better than the other.
Heartless Hunter versus Children of Blood and Bone
Winner: Heartless Hunter
Heartless Hunter was a pleasant surprise. I read both of the books in the series pretty quickly and thought they were enjoyable. Unique take on witchcraft and magic, decent romance, and some good politics all around. Children of Blood and Bone had much of the same, actually, but it wasn’t quite enough for me to continue the series. I liked the book, but felt that it was a bit too YA for my taste. It deserves a look into, but it didn’t have me wanting to continue like Heartless Hunter did.
Hemlock and Silver versus Homegrown Magic
Winner: Hemlock and Silver
Homegrown Magic was not long for this world. It was a decent book, don’t get me wrong, but my read of it was somewhat tainted after hearing about the many examples that point towards antisemitism present within in. Check the OG review for more. Even without that, I recently read and enjoyed Hemlock and Silver, which had a unique premise, an intriguing mystery, and a protagonist that was refreshing and different from most. It’s going to win when put against a tropey book, even without the potential antisemitism.
The Teller of Small Fortunes versus The River Has Roots
Winner: The River has Roots
It may seem a little unfair that a novella is the winner here, but that just shows how effective The River Has Roots is as a story. It was beautifully written, had both a beautiful romance and an unforgettable bond between two sisters, and used music and grammar in a way I hadn’t seen before. And while The Teller of Small Fortunes isn’t bad by any means, it is a little more simple, reads more like a D&D adventure, and didn’t leave as much of an impact on me.
The Thirteenth Child versus The Cruel Prince
Winner: The Cruel Prince
Tonally, these books are a bit similar. Both have some darker themes and female protagonists who are torn between what they want, and what their magical adopted father wants for them. Daddy issues abound. I think that The Cruel Prince does a better job with the world building, I liked Jude more as a character, and the romance didn’t grind my gears like the one in The Thirteenth Child did. So The Cruel Prince lives another day.
The Enchanted Greenhouse versus This Fatal Kiss
Winner: The Enchanted Greenhouse
This Fatal Kiss was doomed to lose against almost everything on this list, unfortunately. Not because it was atrocious or anything, but it just isn’t anything to write home about. Mediocre romance, clunky setting, disappointing ending. The Enchanted Greenhouse wasn’t the best book ever, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do: cozy adventure, lots of plants and magic, and a pretty solid romance. It gets to move on.
Upon a Starlit Tide versus The Spellshop
Winner: Upon a Starlit Tide
The Spellshop was one of the first books I reviewed on the blog, so it hurts a bit to say that it does not move on. It was very enjoyable, had some fun magic, and scratched the urge to live as a spellcaster, but it’s up against some tough competition. I think that Upon a Starlit Tide handled both the magic better, as well as the romance and the overall setting. For much of The Spellshop, I felt like I was missing out on most of the things happening in the world. But in Upon a Starlit Tide, we get to see so much of what’s happening, and I didn’t get a sense of FOMO while reading. Plus, mermaids. How could it lose?
Wow guys. I now understand why Ava was in agony over her own bracket endeavor. This was hard to do, and I still have four more rounds to do! Here is the bracket after these 16 match ups:
Stay tuned for part two, which should be out in two weeks, then the final installment two weeks after that! May the best book win.
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