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The Witches of Thistle Grove #5
Rise and Divine
A magical romantic comedy sparkling with spells and witchcraft.
To save both her town and the woman who loves her against all odds, a witch haunted by loss must reckon with her turbulent past.
Even in a family of chaotic necromancers, Daria 'Dasha' Avramov has always been an outlier. An event planner at the Arcane Emporium occult megastore, Dasha is also a devil eater: a rare witch with a natural affinity for banishing demons and traversing the veil.
Still grieving the loss of her parents and plagued by a dangerous obsession with what lies beyond the other side of the veil, Dasha is both fiery and guarded, an expert at dodging commitment. Her one real regret is a devastating breakup with Ivy Thorn.
When they are forced to work together to plan a festival, Dasha hopes that sparks might fly once again. But as they confront the fault lines and passion lingering between them, Dasha and Ivy must also stand against an otherworldly threat unlike anything Thistle Grove has faced before.
To save both her town and the woman who loves her against all odds, a witch haunted by loss must reckon with her turbulent past.
Even in a family of chaotic necromancers, Daria 'Dasha' Avramov has always been an outlier. An event planner at the Arcane Emporium occult megastore, Dasha is also a devil eater: a rare witch with a natural affinity for banishing demons and traversing the veil.
Still grieving the loss of her parents and plagued by a dangerous obsession with what lies beyond the other side of the veil, Dasha is both fiery and guarded, an expert at dodging commitment. Her one real regret is a devastating breakup with Ivy Thorn.
When they are forced to work together to plan a festival, Dasha hopes that sparks might fly once again. But as they confront the fault lines and passion lingering between them, Dasha and Ivy must also stand against an otherworldly threat unlike anything Thistle Grove has faced before.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 20, 2024
About the author
Lana Harper
7 books1,489 followersLana is the New York Times bestselling author of Payback's A Witch and the forthcoming From Bad to Cursed from Berkley Books. Writing as Lana Popovic, she is also the author of YA novels Wicked Like a Wildfire, Fierce Like a Firestorm, Blood Countess, and Poison Priestess. Lana studied psychology and literature at Yale University, law at Boston University, and is a graduate of the Emerson College publishing and writing master's program. She was born in Serbia and lived in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania before moving to the United States, where she now lives in Chicago with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 370 reviews
September 1, 2024
My sister just told me this is probably the last one of the series 😭
May 6, 2024
Good bye to the Witches of Thistle Grove 🥺
I have loved this series so much, and this one was no exception. This one follows Dasha, a witch whose lineage means she’s both Harlowe and Avmarov. But Dasha is also a death eater who feels the pull of the other side.
This one plays well on the dark vs. light conflict. The romance is a bit more spicy than the most recent books, and that’s a good thing! A good book to end the series.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
I have loved this series so much, and this one was no exception. This one follows Dasha, a witch whose lineage means she’s both Harlowe and Avmarov. But Dasha is also a death eater who feels the pull of the other side.
This one plays well on the dark vs. light conflict. The romance is a bit more spicy than the most recent books, and that’s a good thing! A good book to end the series.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
August 20, 2024
Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC!
I really love Payback’s a Witch and From Bad to Cursed. I didn’t like the next two books in this series nearly as much, and unfortunately, I did not enjoy Rise and Divine at all. I wanted so much more from the romance, and the writing style of this book made it a slog to get through.
Developing the romance was not a main focus of the book, which is not inherently bad, but this is a genre romance book and very different from the rest of the series in this way. Dasha is very concerned with getting Ivy back until she does, then her focus goes elsewhere. The reconciliation between Ivy and Dasha happens very quickly and doesn’t feel earned– it seems like they go from having extremely little to no contact with each other to a very steamy reunion. However, I felt that the chemistry between Dasha and the male demon was given more attention than Dasha and Ivy’s. I do understand that Dasha’s being attracted to the demon was a metaphor for suicidal ideation (representation which I appreciate), but I was disappointed with how much it distracted from the sapphic romance.
This may come off as a grammar-obsessed rant, so feel free to skip this section if that’s not your thing. One of the main reasons I loved Payback’s a Witch so much was Harper’s imagery and ability to stimulate every one of my senses reading about the magical town of Thistle Grove; I feel as though this quality was lost in Rise and Divine and instead get the impression that the author was just trying to meet a word count. My big issue is that if you removed every phrase beginning with the word “like,” the book would be half as short, maybe even more. In Payback’s a Witch, Harper’s use of figurative language was incredibly evocative and added to the witchy fantasy vibe, but in this book it’s distracting and repetitive past the point of overkill. Basically every other sentence excluding dialogue ends in a “like” comparison, which may not bother some but was annoying to me. Here are some examples from the uncorrected eARC:
“Her eyes had flashed mutinously between the two of us like a rebellious teen”
“trapped between the lightning strikes like prison bars”
“[the demon] paused, the smile dropping away like a husk, an awful darkness falling like a curtain across his face”
“his flawless face intoxicating and deathly as a draught of some hemlock-touched wine, those green eyes bright like emeralds. A smile curling the corners of his lips, one hand outstretched to me like a cavalier’s.”
The first part of the sentence is often descriptive enough to paint a clear picture of what is happening, so most of these piled-on comparisons are unnecessary, annoyingly repetitive, and made me lose track of what was actually happening.
Also at one point the big bad demon says the word “mille-feuille” which is absolutely bonkers.
The most memorable part of this book for me was a hilarious interaction between Emmy, Talia, and Gareth, which got me thinking that it’s about time for a reread of Payback’s a Witch.
I really love Payback’s a Witch and From Bad to Cursed. I didn’t like the next two books in this series nearly as much, and unfortunately, I did not enjoy Rise and Divine at all. I wanted so much more from the romance, and the writing style of this book made it a slog to get through.
Developing the romance was not a main focus of the book, which is not inherently bad, but this is a genre romance book and very different from the rest of the series in this way. Dasha is very concerned with getting Ivy back until she does, then her focus goes elsewhere. The reconciliation between Ivy and Dasha happens very quickly and doesn’t feel earned– it seems like they go from having extremely little to no contact with each other to a very steamy reunion. However, I felt that the chemistry between Dasha and the male demon was given more attention than Dasha and Ivy’s. I do understand that Dasha’s being attracted to the demon was a metaphor for suicidal ideation (representation which I appreciate), but I was disappointed with how much it distracted from the sapphic romance.
This may come off as a grammar-obsessed rant, so feel free to skip this section if that’s not your thing. One of the main reasons I loved Payback’s a Witch so much was Harper’s imagery and ability to stimulate every one of my senses reading about the magical town of Thistle Grove; I feel as though this quality was lost in Rise and Divine and instead get the impression that the author was just trying to meet a word count. My big issue is that if you removed every phrase beginning with the word “like,” the book would be half as short, maybe even more. In Payback’s a Witch, Harper’s use of figurative language was incredibly evocative and added to the witchy fantasy vibe, but in this book it’s distracting and repetitive past the point of overkill. Basically every other sentence excluding dialogue ends in a “like” comparison, which may not bother some but was annoying to me. Here are some examples from the uncorrected eARC:
“Her eyes had flashed mutinously between the two of us like a rebellious teen”
“trapped between the lightning strikes like prison bars”
“[the demon] paused, the smile dropping away like a husk, an awful darkness falling like a curtain across his face”
“his flawless face intoxicating and deathly as a draught of some hemlock-touched wine, those green eyes bright like emeralds. A smile curling the corners of his lips, one hand outstretched to me like a cavalier’s.”
The first part of the sentence is often descriptive enough to paint a clear picture of what is happening, so most of these piled-on comparisons are unnecessary, annoyingly repetitive, and made me lose track of what was actually happening.
Also at one point the big bad demon says the word “mille-feuille” which is absolutely bonkers.
The most memorable part of this book for me was a hilarious interaction between Emmy, Talia, and Gareth, which got me thinking that it’s about time for a reread of Payback’s a Witch.
September 25, 2024
Nov 23/23: SCREAMING... THROWING UP..... THIS IS MY JOKER
can’t wait for August 20th 2024 - this is my top 5 anticipated releases of 2024.
can’t wait for August 20th 2024 - this is my top 5 anticipated releases of 2024.
September 24, 2024
It was ok, I guess.
The beginning was strong and I was enjoying the story, but I felt the middle dragged on a bit. I also think the threat to Thistle Grove was solved quite fast. And while I liked Dash and Ivy's relationship, I also felt that all the issues disappeared almost at the blink of an eye.
According to Harper, this was the final installment of 'The Withches of Thistle Grove' series. I can't say I'll miss this as a series, even though Thistle Grove sounded like a wonderful place.
The beginning was strong and I was enjoying the story, but I felt the middle dragged on a bit. I also think the threat to Thistle Grove was solved quite fast. And while I liked Dash and Ivy's relationship, I also felt that all the issues disappeared almost at the blink of an eye.
According to Harper, this was the final installment of 'The Withches of Thistle Grove' series. I can't say I'll miss this as a series, even though Thistle Grove sounded like a wonderful place.
October 2, 2024
Thanks so much #BerkleyPartner @berkleyromance for my #gifted copies! 🫶🏼 And thanks to @prhaudio for the #free accompanying audiobook.
Rise and Divine
Lana Harper
Available now
📖 The final installment of The Witches of Thistle Grove series is a magical, spicy, second chance sapphic romance in which a woman, haunted by her past, must confront her turbulent history to save her town and the woman who loves her.
💭 This was my first by Harper, but definitely not my last! I was a bit concerned I wouldn't be able to track the story (after all, this is the 5th book in the series), but thankfully that wasn't the case. The book stands alone just fine, thanks to the author's weaving of backstory throughout. At its core, this is a witchy, high stakes, good vs. evil story with a second chance love story at its center. While fantastical, the book also explores many real-life issues, like grief, depression, and self-destructive behavior. Harper beautifully blends heavier themes with lighter ones, and I really enjoyed my time in Thistle Grove.
🎧 I adore narrator Bailey Carr. I've heard her narrate a handful of books and was so excited to see her name on this one! She matches the vibe of the book just beautifully.
Rise and Divine
Lana Harper
Available now
📖 The final installment of The Witches of Thistle Grove series is a magical, spicy, second chance sapphic romance in which a woman, haunted by her past, must confront her turbulent history to save her town and the woman who loves her.
💭 This was my first by Harper, but definitely not my last! I was a bit concerned I wouldn't be able to track the story (after all, this is the 5th book in the series), but thankfully that wasn't the case. The book stands alone just fine, thanks to the author's weaving of backstory throughout. At its core, this is a witchy, high stakes, good vs. evil story with a second chance love story at its center. While fantastical, the book also explores many real-life issues, like grief, depression, and self-destructive behavior. Harper beautifully blends heavier themes with lighter ones, and I really enjoyed my time in Thistle Grove.
🎧 I adore narrator Bailey Carr. I've heard her narrate a handful of books and was so excited to see her name on this one! She matches the vibe of the book just beautifully.
October 11, 2024
You're telling me no one f*cks the god?
August 31, 2024
I've loved this series from the start, but I think this one might be my favorite.
I loved Dasha. She's snarky and loyal and I truly enjoyed being in her head. Her magic and talents that come with it were the most interesting I especially loved her connection with Ivy, the history between them and the openness they had with each other.
Plot wise, it's good. There are a few moving pieces, but all in the name of the main plot thread. The last few chapters were exactly what I wanted, even if I really did want more.
Overall, this has been such a fun magical world. I know I'll be reading this series again.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I loved Dasha. She's snarky and loyal and I truly enjoyed being in her head. Her magic and talents that come with it were the most interesting I especially loved her connection with Ivy, the history between them and the openness they had with each other.
Plot wise, it's good. There are a few moving pieces, but all in the name of the main plot thread. The last few chapters were exactly what I wanted, even if I really did want more.
Overall, this has been such a fun magical world. I know I'll be reading this series again.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
November 1, 2024
A magical romantic comedy in a witchy small town full of powerful witches including necromancers, devil eaters, demon summoners and more.
Rise and Divine is the 5th and final book of Lana Harper's The Witches of Thistle Grove series. I have enjoyed this series and my time spent in the magical town of Thistle Grove with all of its witchy inhabitants.
This book follows Dasha who is both a Harlowe and an Amarov. She is a death eater who can also move on the other side of the Veil and struggles with the affinity for darkness and death within her.
This book was a bit darker (and spicer) than the others in the series but it made for a fitting finale with all the themes of light and dark, life and death and love.
Dasha and Ivy are a very light versus dark couple and I found that I was rooting for them and really felt like they helped balance each other out. I was a bit more into the overall storyline than I was the actual romance but given this was the final book, it had a lot to cover plot wise so not was definitely more front and center.
Loved seeing characters from all the families (and previous books) joining us in this final one for a fond farewell.
Rise and Divine is the 5th and final book of Lana Harper's The Witches of Thistle Grove series. I have enjoyed this series and my time spent in the magical town of Thistle Grove with all of its witchy inhabitants.
This book follows Dasha who is both a Harlowe and an Amarov. She is a death eater who can also move on the other side of the Veil and struggles with the affinity for darkness and death within her.
This book was a bit darker (and spicer) than the others in the series but it made for a fitting finale with all the themes of light and dark, life and death and love.
Dasha and Ivy are a very light versus dark couple and I found that I was rooting for them and really felt like they helped balance each other out. I was a bit more into the overall storyline than I was the actual romance but given this was the final book, it had a lot to cover plot wise so not was definitely more front and center.
Loved seeing characters from all the families (and previous books) joining us in this final one for a fond farewell.
November 2, 2024
4/5⭐️
2/5🌶️
What a fun ending to the Witches of Thistle Grove series. This book, I thought, was a little spookier than the rest of the series! The scene we started at gave me a bit of the heebie-jeebies and seemed like something that might happen in real life. SPOOKY SCARY! The rest of the story was focused on a second chance romance, which I will always love. We got to see a representation from all the families in this story too, bringing about a culmination of the overarching conflict and bringing everything to a happy resolution. This series is such a comfort read for me, and I'm sad to see it end but happy with how it ended.
2/5🌶️
What a fun ending to the Witches of Thistle Grove series. This book, I thought, was a little spookier than the rest of the series! The scene we started at gave me a bit of the heebie-jeebies and seemed like something that might happen in real life. SPOOKY SCARY! The rest of the story was focused on a second chance romance, which I will always love. We got to see a representation from all the families in this story too, bringing about a culmination of the overarching conflict and bringing everything to a happy resolution. This series is such a comfort read for me, and I'm sad to see it end but happy with how it ended.
October 12, 2024
Cute as always 🩷
September 9, 2024
I did not realize that this was the final book in this series until I finished it and read the acknowledgements section. This world has been one of my favorite escapes, and I am so sad it has come to an end. Of course, I will enjoy going back to it by rereading it. But I feel like there were so many more stories that could have been told. The ending definitely makes sense knowing that now. I really enjoyed Dasha's story. Every MC in this series goes through it, but she had a whole other level of heavy with her challenges. Her choices in the end showed a lot of growth, but that destructive part of me was rooting for her to at least give that other option a try. To hold on to what made her special. So while I am happy with that bittersweet ending, part of me is always going to wonder about the what ifs.
August 21, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Rise and Divine is the fifth and final book in Lana Harper’s Witches of Thistle Grove series and it brings things to a nice conclusion. These books do build on one another across the series, and both Ivy and Dasha appear in earlier books, so I think you will get the most enjoyment out of starting from the beginning.
I have enjoyed this magical town and these characters and can definitely recommend the series for readers who enjoy magical stories and engaging world building.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Rise and Divine is the fifth and final book in Lana Harper’s Witches of Thistle Grove series and it brings things to a nice conclusion. These books do build on one another across the series, and both Ivy and Dasha appear in earlier books, so I think you will get the most enjoyment out of starting from the beginning.
I have enjoyed this magical town and these characters and can definitely recommend the series for readers who enjoy magical stories and engaging world building.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
September 10, 2024
I am kinda sad that I won't go back to Thistle Grove anymore.
I loved all the books of it and while this last one started uncertain for me, it then dipped into the themes I hold dearest, Light and Darkness, Life and Death, losing the will to live life to embrace the death of all things.
Payback's a Witch started with an Avramov in it, and Talia will always be my favorite character, but the inner battle Dasha Avramov goes through in Rise and Divine is as tragic and uplifting at the same time.
The weight of the world is heavy upon one's shoulders, but sometimes your loved ones help you lift it and carry it with you, so that you keep following the light and darkness will only come when it's really your turn.
You can stop eating all the darkness alone, as much as addictive it is, and as much as you crave it as if it were life itself.
Nature and life wins. Perfect ending, but with a malinconic twist and grief.
I loved all the books of it and while this last one started uncertain for me, it then dipped into the themes I hold dearest, Light and Darkness, Life and Death, losing the will to live life to embrace the death of all things.
Payback's a Witch started with an Avramov in it, and Talia will always be my favorite character, but the inner battle Dasha Avramov goes through in Rise and Divine is as tragic and uplifting at the same time.
The weight of the world is heavy upon one's shoulders, but sometimes your loved ones help you lift it and carry it with you, so that you keep following the light and darkness will only come when it's really your turn.
You can stop eating all the darkness alone, as much as addictive it is, and as much as you crave it as if it were life itself.
Nature and life wins. Perfect ending, but with a malinconic twist and grief.
September 23, 2024
I didn't know this would be the last book in The Witches of Thistle Grove series, and I'm heartbroken. I was entirely ignorant of the fact that I'd be saying goodbye to my favorite fictional town of witches.
The themes this book touched upon, grief and addiction were among the best-written in the entire series. And it added so many complex feelings to Ivy's and Dasha's relationship.
Lana Harper managed an incredible feat tying up all the loose ends spread by four prior books and leaving the face of Thistle Grove changed forever.
I've happily been under the spell of this series since Payback's A Witch. And now, with Rise and Divine, I bid the magic adieu, grateful for the wonderfully queer moments of sorcery and craft I've had with this series.
Thank you, Lana Harper <3
The themes this book touched upon, grief and addiction were among the best-written in the entire series. And it added so many complex feelings to Ivy's and Dasha's relationship.
Lana Harper managed an incredible feat tying up all the loose ends spread by four prior books and leaving the face of Thistle Grove changed forever.
I've happily been under the spell of this series since Payback's A Witch. And now, with Rise and Divine, I bid the magic adieu, grateful for the wonderfully queer moments of sorcery and craft I've had with this series.
Thank you, Lana Harper <3
November 22, 2024
Não sei o que aconteceu com este livro, mas foi uma desilusão total 😔 Senti que foi mais do mesmo e fico mesmo triste que seja este o desfecho desta série que tanto me apaixonou 💔
Vou pensar nesta série como tendo apenas os primeiros 4 livros 👀😬
Vou pensar nesta série como tendo apenas os primeiros 4 livros 👀😬
November 19, 2024
Love a gay girly witchy book, this one has a demon-eater protagonist and a cozy comfy town. LOVED the first few scenes, plot ended up a little convoluted but I still liked the characters and their romance. 🥰
November 7, 2024
Really liked the idea of the "devil eater". Thought this was a good way to end the series.
March 27, 2024
Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for this eARC. This is my honest review.
I must confess, I'm sad to see this is going to be the last book in the Thistle Grove series. Does that mean we're never going to get books in this universe? I'm certainly not the one to answer that (a book/series about the Fae in Chicago hinted at in the last book maybe?), but we are certainly ending this series on a high note.
This one isn't always an easy read. A lot of Dasha's story hints at suicidal ideation and depression. That alone means it's not going to be to everyone's taste. And while I had no problem with it personally, getting to the romance really isn't the driving force (or maybe 'of equal weight' would be a better way to put it) of this story as it has been with other books in the series, Dasha and Ivy get together really quickly and you never really think that they won't. This is also the first time in I don't know how long since I've read the fifth book in a series, and I forgot how much built up information (not to mention names) you have to wade through the further into a series you get.
However, that said, I think Lana has pulled this one off very well. While the 'mystery' wasn't that mysterious, I still thought it was presented in an interesting fashion. She finally had more than one sex scene within a sapphic pairing, so that was nice. And most importantly, the climax to the challenge was imo stronger than any of the others. I felt the weight of what Dasha has to go through, and to a lesser extent, the way the rest of the town helps out.
This is a second (well, actually third) chance romance between Dasha and Ivy, and as stated above, they get together very quickly...or at least, very easily. There's a little bit of push back from Ivy at the start, but then something happens and from that point they're basically together. I personally had no issue with this, but I could see others finding it annoying. I did love both their characters. I was filled with hope to see more of them after the last book, and this didn't disappoint. I would kind of liked it if we'd have gotten a book from a Thorn's POV, but I guess I'll just have to dream about that. Still, as an upgrade from supporting character to love interest, I still absolutely adore Ivy Thorn. She was wonderful and caring, but didn't let people walk over top of her. Dasha for her part is so incredibly damaged, and I loved how sensitively it was explored. Her flirting with the other side was both like suicidal ideation, and also like an addiction, and for the most part it was treated as such (except when they needed to use her of course).
I won't go too in-depth about the villain except to say that his description, as the most attractive male specimen ever (I'm paraphrasing), brought up a weird thing I noticed that Lana seems to favour. The 'queer woman who prefers women but...'. Now, to be clear, Dasha doesn't actually state what she identifies as, nor does she need to spell it out on page. But I just found that Lana mentioned that in book one (with Talia), book 3 with Nina, and now with Dasha with this one. I don't know that I'm for or against this, it just seemed like a strange thing to continuously point out. I dunno.
Anyway, very few complaints. I really enjoyed this ending to the series, and give it 4.5 stars.
I must confess, I'm sad to see this is going to be the last book in the Thistle Grove series. Does that mean we're never going to get books in this universe? I'm certainly not the one to answer that (a book/series about the Fae in Chicago hinted at in the last book maybe?), but we are certainly ending this series on a high note.
This one isn't always an easy read. A lot of Dasha's story hints at suicidal ideation and depression. That alone means it's not going to be to everyone's taste. And while I had no problem with it personally, getting to the romance really isn't the driving force (or maybe 'of equal weight' would be a better way to put it) of this story as it has been with other books in the series, Dasha and Ivy get together really quickly and you never really think that they won't. This is also the first time in I don't know how long since I've read the fifth book in a series, and I forgot how much built up information (not to mention names) you have to wade through the further into a series you get.
However, that said, I think Lana has pulled this one off very well. While the 'mystery' wasn't that mysterious, I still thought it was presented in an interesting fashion. She finally had more than one sex scene within a sapphic pairing, so that was nice. And most importantly, the climax to the challenge was imo stronger than any of the others. I felt the weight of what Dasha has to go through, and to a lesser extent, the way the rest of the town helps out.
This is a second (well, actually third) chance romance between Dasha and Ivy, and as stated above, they get together very quickly...or at least, very easily. There's a little bit of push back from Ivy at the start, but then something happens and from that point they're basically together. I personally had no issue with this, but I could see others finding it annoying. I did love both their characters. I was filled with hope to see more of them after the last book, and this didn't disappoint. I would kind of liked it if we'd have gotten a book from a Thorn's POV, but I guess I'll just have to dream about that. Still, as an upgrade from supporting character to love interest, I still absolutely adore Ivy Thorn. She was wonderful and caring, but didn't let people walk over top of her. Dasha for her part is so incredibly damaged, and I loved how sensitively it was explored. Her flirting with the other side was both like suicidal ideation, and also like an addiction, and for the most part it was treated as such (except when they needed to use her of course).
I won't go too in-depth about the villain except to say that his description, as the most attractive male specimen ever (I'm paraphrasing), brought up a weird thing I noticed that Lana seems to favour. The 'queer woman who prefers women but...'. Now, to be clear, Dasha doesn't actually state what she identifies as, nor does she need to spell it out on page. But I just found that Lana mentioned that in book one (with Talia), book 3 with Nina, and now with Dasha with this one. I don't know that I'm for or against this, it just seemed like a strange thing to continuously point out. I dunno.
Anyway, very few complaints. I really enjoyed this ending to the series, and give it 4.5 stars.
August 19, 2024
I really wish Goodreads would allow for half stars! I'm feeling very mixed about this addition to the Thistle Grove series, especially as the series ending. On the one hand, I still want to move to Thistle Grove. On the other hand, I did not care all that much about Dasha and Ivy...so much so that I skimmed through portions of this book in the middle. Maybe it would have benefitted from a dual POV, because Ivy seemed very one-dimensional, and Dasha is quite a heavy character to read about. I could have done with a little lightness in this book, especially since it's closing out the series.
I also wish the big baddie was introduced earlier in the series. There have been allusions to something coming - seemingly just weather-related issues, but to introduce and then resolve what seems like such a large conflict in one book made it feel not entirely fleshed out. It almost felt like Lana Harper was coming up with ideas as she went along, but looking back, it makes the series seem slightly all over the place. It felt to me like she wanted to change lore as she wrote each book, and had to cut corners to find the logic.
All in all, this was a fun series, I give so much credit to Lana Harper for creating such a lovely world that I know a lot of people would love to be made real!
I also wish the big baddie was introduced earlier in the series. There have been allusions to something coming - seemingly just weather-related issues, but to introduce and then resolve what seems like such a large conflict in one book made it feel not entirely fleshed out. It almost felt like Lana Harper was coming up with ideas as she went along, but looking back, it makes the series seem slightly all over the place. It felt to me like she wanted to change lore as she wrote each book, and had to cut corners to find the logic.
All in all, this was a fun series, I give so much credit to Lana Harper for creating such a lovely world that I know a lot of people would love to be made real!
September 26, 2024
This series would not exist if the elders of the town just….informed everyone of the full history of said town.
August 14, 2024
I love the Witches of Thistle Grove series and this latest paranormal sapphic romance was no exception!! A demon eater witch who is battling an addiction to the dark side is tasked with saving her town and friends from an evil God. Great on audio narrated by Bailey Carr, this book had spice, heart and depth plus great mental health rep. HIGHLY recommended for fans of Hazel Beck and Erin Sterling. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
August 28, 2024
I liked this novel a lot. I like this whole series quite a bit. I think of the five novels this is the second-best one, after the first one, and I was so happy to see the author recapture whatever “magical” element that made the first one so good. The world of Thistle Grove is one of my favorite fictional places so any story exploring it automatically gets a lot of points from me. I am sad that this series is over, despite the inconsistent quality of the novels. This series should be read in order for the best experience.
I have so many complaints about this series, yet somehow, I would still recommend it to absolutely everyone because I simply love it. There is some special spark in Thistle Grove that can’t be explained.
Highlights:
-This novel was expansive in scope, wandering through a lot of Thistle Grove, showcasing a lot of characters, including plenty of lore and fantasy elements, and overall being a satisfying experience. These novels were are their best when they showcased the incredible setting and this one thankfully leaned into it (side-eye’ing you In Charm’s Way).
-This one was spicy, and it was some high-quality spice.
-Both protagonists were very well done, for very different reasons. Ivy was simply delightful, and I don’t think I could get enough of that character. She was well balanced in ways that characters usually aren’t; she is sweet and sensitive while also being strong and unexpectedly sensual.
-They managed to hit all the emotional notes across this novel with scenes that were funny, sad, serious, tense, heartwarming, and anything else you want in a novel. It certainly wasn’t one-note.
-This novel explored addiction issues in an interesting and original way. It was a clear parallel without being too heavy-handed. The experience of going through these sorts of issues and the impacts that they can have on your loved ones was showcased and handled very well. The deus ex-machina solution at the end was a bit simplistic, but it worked for this novel.
-This novel touched on some of the most serious topics of the series, had the darkest tone, and as a result I found it to be one of the most satisfying novels. It was surprisingly “human” despite being firmly a fantasy novel, and I think that is why it evoked some of the strongest emotions in the series. Dasha had some of the most genuinely realistic (and intense) issues of any character in this series.
-Best climax in the series (hard to compare to the first novel as there wasn’t really a single climax there).
Nitpicks:
-The romance was relatively basic. The love interests apparently started the novel with a big hill to climb in order to have another chance together but then suddenly it was like “poof” and its all good. Almost like magic, lmao. I didn’t like how Dasha’s romantic redemption took place without her actually having to really do anything to earn it. The saving grace for the romance in this novel was that there were some other equally important and satisfying (or more) plotlines which carried the novel.
-I also didn’t think that the explanation for the strife between Ivy and Dasha lived up to the severity that was foreshadowed by the previous novel (and the start of this one). This is a minor point though because feelings can be complicated. It was noteworthy to me mostly because this (underwhelming motivations for conflicts) seems to be a trend in this series.
P.S.
-This isn’t specific to this novel, more of an overall series gripe, but how did we never get a novel from a Thorn POV??? The affiliations of the various protagonists was unfortunately unbalanced.
-Great job to the author for fixing certain issues from previous novels (looking at you non-binary representation), they were clearly listening to the critics.
-This author can’t write a mystery to save their life, but thankfully that has never been an important part of any of these novels. Once again it was incredibly clear right from the start who the “trouble maker” was and what was going on, but it still worked so its all good.
I have so many complaints about this series, yet somehow, I would still recommend it to absolutely everyone because I simply love it. There is some special spark in Thistle Grove that can’t be explained.
Highlights:
-This novel was expansive in scope, wandering through a lot of Thistle Grove, showcasing a lot of characters, including plenty of lore and fantasy elements, and overall being a satisfying experience. These novels were are their best when they showcased the incredible setting and this one thankfully leaned into it (side-eye’ing you In Charm’s Way).
-This one was spicy, and it was some high-quality spice.
-Both protagonists were very well done, for very different reasons. Ivy was simply delightful, and I don’t think I could get enough of that character. She was well balanced in ways that characters usually aren’t; she is sweet and sensitive while also being strong and unexpectedly sensual.
-They managed to hit all the emotional notes across this novel with scenes that were funny, sad, serious, tense, heartwarming, and anything else you want in a novel. It certainly wasn’t one-note.
-This novel explored addiction issues in an interesting and original way. It was a clear parallel without being too heavy-handed. The experience of going through these sorts of issues and the impacts that they can have on your loved ones was showcased and handled very well. The deus ex-machina solution at the end was a bit simplistic, but it worked for this novel.
-This novel touched on some of the most serious topics of the series, had the darkest tone, and as a result I found it to be one of the most satisfying novels. It was surprisingly “human” despite being firmly a fantasy novel, and I think that is why it evoked some of the strongest emotions in the series. Dasha had some of the most genuinely realistic (and intense) issues of any character in this series.
-Best climax in the series (hard to compare to the first novel as there wasn’t really a single climax there).
Nitpicks:
-The romance was relatively basic. The love interests apparently started the novel with a big hill to climb in order to have another chance together but then suddenly it was like “poof” and its all good. Almost like magic, lmao. I didn’t like how Dasha’s romantic redemption took place without her actually having to really do anything to earn it. The saving grace for the romance in this novel was that there were some other equally important and satisfying (or more) plotlines which carried the novel.
-I also didn’t think that the explanation for the strife between Ivy and Dasha lived up to the severity that was foreshadowed by the previous novel (and the start of this one). This is a minor point though because feelings can be complicated. It was noteworthy to me mostly because this (underwhelming motivations for conflicts) seems to be a trend in this series.
P.S.
-This isn’t specific to this novel, more of an overall series gripe, but how did we never get a novel from a Thorn POV??? The affiliations of the various protagonists was unfortunately unbalanced.
-Great job to the author for fixing certain issues from previous novels (looking at you non-binary representation), they were clearly listening to the critics.
-This author can’t write a mystery to save their life, but thankfully that has never been an important part of any of these novels. Once again it was incredibly clear right from the start who the “trouble maker” was and what was going on, but it still worked so its all good.
August 29, 2024
What an absolutely fitting end to a great series?!
I'm so sad to say goodbye to arguably one of the spiciest, sexiest, diverse, coziest Witch-lit series around. (yes yes I know you'll refer to Juno Dawson but those books are intense and messy in the best way and not as as soft as a cashmere sweater on a cold evening).
I feel like we've gotten to know all the key witches and the Harper definitely kept the best until last, devil eater Dasha. Her story is so sad and I love that the book doesn't shy away from the fact that the deaths of her parents royally messed her up and had an impact on everything AND the addiction is something she still struggles with. Same for Ivy being open and honest about her feelings - so many romance books (queer or straight) position relationships as the thing that will 'fix you' but Harper's book all position relationships as the thing that happens when you're ready to put in the work. It's a joy to read tbh.
I'm debating going back and reading the series end-to-end again, that's how much I've loved it. And honestly I know some authors want to avoid obvious cultural signposts that will date a book but you know what, it's 2024 and I love reading about Taylor Swift or a marvel movie or any other snippets of pop culture!
Can't recommend this series enough!
I'm so sad to say goodbye to arguably one of the spiciest, sexiest, diverse, coziest Witch-lit series around. (yes yes I know you'll refer to Juno Dawson but those books are intense and messy in the best way and not as as soft as a cashmere sweater on a cold evening).
I feel like we've gotten to know all the key witches and the Harper definitely kept the best until last, devil eater Dasha. Her story is so sad and I love that the book doesn't shy away from the fact that the deaths of her parents royally messed her up and had an impact on everything AND the addiction is something she still struggles with. Same for Ivy being open and honest about her feelings - so many romance books (queer or straight) position relationships as the thing that will 'fix you' but Harper's book all position relationships as the thing that happens when you're ready to put in the work. It's a joy to read tbh.
I'm debating going back and reading the series end-to-end again, that's how much I've loved it. And honestly I know some authors want to avoid obvious cultural signposts that will date a book but you know what, it's 2024 and I love reading about Taylor Swift or a marvel movie or any other snippets of pop culture!
Can't recommend this series enough!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2024
3.5, rounded up
Listen, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, BUT I have some bones to pick...
First of all, Dasha says there is a contemporary dance group performing at one of the spectacles, then while they're performing, she says the dancers go en pointe. *Technically*, they could be performing a contemporary pointe routine, but then they wouldn't be referred to as a contemporary company. They would be a ballet company. JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE DANCING DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN THROW IN "EN POINTE" FOR EXTRA FLAIR.
Anyways, onto my next (more egregious) point. Dasha tells Ivy that she and her sister are starring in a community theatre's production of Wicked the next month. Nope. Nada. Could never happen. Unless they're producing this show illegally, there's no way a community theatre could be doing Wicked- the rights are not available. PLUS, if Dasha was the ****lead**** in ****Wicked****, don't you think she'd be in rehearsals almost every night THE MONTH BEFORE THE SHOW????? She would not have time to be frolicking around Thistle Grove, eating demons.
Someone please explain to this editor how the arts work.
With that being said, so long, Thistle Grove! It's been a wild, spooky ride. May Belisama's power live on for generations to come.
Listen, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, BUT I have some bones to pick...
First of all, Dasha says there is a contemporary dance group performing at one of the spectacles, then while they're performing, she says the dancers go en pointe. *Technically*, they could be performing a contemporary pointe routine, but then they wouldn't be referred to as a contemporary company. They would be a ballet company. JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE DANCING DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN THROW IN "EN POINTE" FOR EXTRA FLAIR.
Anyways, onto my next (more egregious) point. Dasha tells Ivy that she and her sister are starring in a community theatre's production of Wicked the next month. Nope. Nada. Could never happen. Unless they're producing this show illegally, there's no way a community theatre could be doing Wicked- the rights are not available. PLUS, if Dasha was the ****lead**** in ****Wicked****, don't you think she'd be in rehearsals almost every night THE MONTH BEFORE THE SHOW????? She would not have time to be frolicking around Thistle Grove, eating demons.
Someone please explain to this editor how the arts work.
With that being said, so long, Thistle Grove! It's been a wild, spooky ride. May Belisama's power live on for generations to come.
September 9, 2024
3.75 | Liked but didn’t love - it was cool to see the series culminate in a way that brought together all of the town’s lore we’ve pieced together through 5 books, but I wasn’t totally captivated by the leads of this one. I always loved the writing and world building, and I’ll continue to follow the author to see what she does next!
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October 13, 2024dnf 35%
.. just kinda bored idk maybe i'll pick it up another time. i love the cover though.
.. just kinda bored idk maybe i'll pick it up another time. i love the cover though.
October 14, 2024
I actually finished this a few days ago and just forgot to put it in
A very satisfying conclusion to the series, dasha is a really compelling character
A very satisfying conclusion to the series, dasha is a really compelling character
October 17, 2024
I loved this cute witchy series and I don’t normally enjoy when each book picks a different character to follow but the Thistle Grove witches were the best and I’ll miss their whimsical little town.
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