Practical Rules for Cursed Witches

July 22, 2024
Seventeen-year-old witch Delilah Bea must break a deadly curse or lose her powers in this warmly rendered sapphic fantasy from Cottingham (This Delicious Death). In Celdwyn, custom dictates that a witch must complete a test of magical prowess, their Calling, to come into their full powers. Taking after her famed but estranged curse-breaker father, Delilah planned to use her Calling to break the curse she inherited from her mother, which ensures that anyone who falls in love with a Bea woman will inevitably forget her. But before Delilah can claim her task, her Calling ceremony is commandeered by Kieran Pelumbra, the son of the richest family in Celdwyn, who is cursed to siphon his magic into his twin sister, with deadly consequences for both. Forced to aid in Kieran’s quest, Delilah sets off on a treacherous journey to find Kieran’s absent twin and break the enchantments of all three before time runs out. Cottingham expertly conjures a story of found family and generational trauma with a charming queer romance at the center, while building an immersive, cozy cottagecore atmosphere. Major characters cue as white. Ages 12–up. Agent: Erica Bauman, Aevitas Creative.

August 1, 2024
A spirited witch tries to break a curse and finds true love along the way. The women of Delilah Bea's family are cursed: Anyone who falls for one of them will immediately forget their beloved. Delilah is determined to break the curse during her Calling, during which she has six months to successfully complete a quest or lose her magic forever. But when a stranger named Kieran Pelumbra turns up and invokes an obscure rite, he compels her to attempt to break his family curse instead. In the influential Pelumbra family, one member of each set of twins drains the power of the other until eventually the weaker one dies--and Kieran is the unlucky twin who's slated for death. He and Delilah set out to find his twin sister, Briar. The two have been separated all their lives. When they locate Briar, she and Delilah immediately butt heads, but over time, forced proximity and their shared goal lead to friendship and eventually romance. In this charming Sapphic fantasy, Cottingham has crafted a believable, unfussy, and enjoyable fantasy world that contains baking magic and a library of curses. The cast of characters is colorful and lovable, from obstinate yet compassionate Delilah to prickly, mysterious Briar to the utterly endearing crew of the aeroship they use to travel. The author balances the romance and fantasy elements well and maintains a steady pace throughout. Major characters are cued white. A magical journey sure to delight lovers of love.(Fantasy. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2024

Gr 8 Up-Delilah Bea's much-awaited calling, her assigned task to prove she deserves to be a fully licensed witch, is highjacked by the sickly, dying Kieran Pelumbra, a secretly cursed member of a prominent witch family. As a result, Delilah must set off to find Kieran's long-lost sister and break a generational curse, or risk losing her magic forever. While she's at it, maybe she can break her own curse, one that prevents her from finding love, and also figure out how to get along with Briar, Kieran's mysterious brooding twin sister. Part cozy fantasy, part mystery adventure, Cottingham's newest novel explores what it means to be family as Delilah, Kieran, and Briar dig deeper into a curse that may have its roots in something even more sinister. As Kieran grows weaker, and Briar and Delilah grow closer, time is running out. Cottingham's writing style captures what it is like to be a young adult awkwardly setting out in the world, the moments when teens realize their parents aren't perfect, and the fragility of finding love in uncertain times. VERDICT This coming-of-age cozy fantasy is recommended for all YA collections, but especially any collection lacking queer-inclusive titles.-Jolie Hanlon

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2024
Grades 9-12 Delilah Bea's family has been cursed for generations never to be loved; as soon as someone falls in love with a Bea woman, they immediately forget them. But Delilah is a witch, and she is determined to break her family curse during her Calling, the magical rite of passage that will allow her to practice magic as an adult. Enter Kieran Pelumbra, son of a powerful magical family, who has inherited a curse that drains him of magic while enhancing and changing his twin sister, Briar. If it keeps going much longer, Kieran will die, and he needs Delilah's help to break the curse. Together with Briar, they attempt to track down the root of the curse while avoiding the Pelumbras, who want to keep the magic intact. But even as Delilah feels herself being pulled towards the prickly, irritating Briar, time is running out for all of them. Plot holes and flat characters hamper this whirlwind adventure, but sapphic romantasy lovers will fall for this cozy fantasy world.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.