Fantasy Annotations: The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic by Linsey Hall

 

The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic by Linsey Hall

"That you look like a sunrise after a decade of darkness" (Hall, 2023, p. 175). 

"I might live in the middle of the city, but my flat didn't know it. Plants covered every surface, kept alive by the magic that surrounded me" (Hall, 2023, p. 9). 

Author: Linsey Hall

Title: The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic

Publication Date: 2023

Number of Pages: 327

Edition: Kindle

Geographical Setting: Charming Cove (a fictional location), Cornish Coast

Time Period: 2023 (Modern Times)

Plot Summary: 

Aria is a witch, but one with wonky magic. It's always getting her in trouble by exploding things around her, such as a Bridezalle's wedding cake and her job prospects. Luckily, her grandmother comes around with an offer to come home and save her whole town. All she has to do is win a magical compensation against some old enemies, including one devilishly handsome billionaire mage, Callan Hawthorne. 

Even if her magic was somewhat agreeable, could she win against her old bullies and the next magical messiah, a.k.a. Callan? There's a lot of baggage there, but what really matters is saving her family's business. With the help of her grandmother and her best friend, Tabitha, Aria might win this competition and finally show everyone that she belongs in Charming Cove. 

Subject Heading: 

Fantasy, Witches, Chick Lit, Paranormal Romance

Fantasy Appeals

Definition 

"Fantasy novels explore magical worlds" (Wyatt, 2017, p.123). 

Aria is one of the more apparent signs of magic: a witch. Yet, like Harry Potter, her world also inhibits the world with magicless people who have no idea that magic is all around them. Her world contains magical creatures, casters, and plants, such as a magical plant Aria hunts for: Xyanthia. 

Characteristics of Fantasy

"Detailed settings depict another world, often located on Earth, but almost always set out-of-time, in past times, or invisible to most people. Magic frames the story" (Wyatt, 2017, p.124). 

Aria enters a magical competition to win a magical greenhouse that houses some of the world's most potent and rare magical plants. To win it, she'll have to face magical trials that test her character and abilities. While her world is magical, it is also in the "regular" world. 

Storyline 

"Readers enjoy these books because they tell a great yarn, a rich story full of complications, excitement, danger, loss, and triumph" (Wyatt, 2017, p.126). 

Aria goes through magical trials while dealing with emotional baggage from her past and her future. It has the danger of loss both for her and her close friends and family. Her success will affect multiple people, and her failure will destroy her future. The story unfolds as emotions are unpacked and trials are completed. 

3 terms that best describe this book: sweet, encouraging, self-power

Fantasy Read-Alikes: 

The Witch is Back by Sophie H. Morgan

Morgan, S. (2023). The witch is back. Harlequin Feature. 

Common Appeals: 

Witches, Green Magic, Paranormal Romance

Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot

Cabot, M. (2023). Enchanted to meet you. Avon. 

Common Appeals: 

Small Town, Self-discovery, sweet romance

Witch of Wild Things by Raguel Vasquez Gilliland

Gilliland, R.V. (2023). Witch of wild things. Berkley. 

Common Appeals: 

Magical Realism, Plant Magic, hometown homecoming

References

Cabot, M. (2023). Enchanted to meet you. Avon. 

Hall, L. (2023). The modern girl's guide to magic. Bonnie Doon Press. 

Gilliland, R.V. (2023). Witch of wild things. Berkley. 

Morgan, S. (2023). The witch is back. Harlequin Feature.

Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2019). The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction (3rd ed.). American Library Association.