Customer Reviews

Girl's Guide to Witchcraft

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I was first introduced to Klasky through her Glasswright novels, a complex fantasy series that got really stunning in the last few volumes. After the publication of "The Glasswrights Master," Mindy was quiet for a while. I was beginning to worry if she wasn't going to write anything else. When I learned that she was going to write a new book, I was ecstatic. When I learned that it was a chick lit novel, I was confused and worried. After all, The Glasswright series had been rather dark and I'm quite picky with Chick lit titles. Still, I decided to pick up the book when it came out and found myself very pleasantly surprised. Although Mindy has given us a much different offering, it's still a very enjoyable read.

Jane Madison is a young librarian who's life is about to get a lot more complicated. When her boss tells her that she is going to face a significant pay cut, she tries to compensate for it by giving Jane a small cottage to live in by the library. Jane soon discovers a large collection of spell books in the basement. After reading aloud spell, she accidentally turns a cat statue into a familiar and discovers that she's a witch. Confused and intrigued by these new abilities, she tries to manage learning witchcraft while dealing with the other challenges in her life. Recently dumped by her long term boyfriend, Jane lives out her romantic fantasies through a young college professor who she calls her "Imaginary boyfriend." On top of that, Jane is forced to reconnect with her bizarre estranged mother who wants to attempt to forge a relationship with her. What's easier to control? Magic or the trails of everyday life?

I don't typically go for chick lit books, but something about A Girls Guide to Witchcraft connected with me. Perhaps it's the supernatural element. Perhaps is the fact that Jane is a very likable and believable narrator. Save the witch part, she is very easy to relate to. Although she doesn't always react the best in situations (especially where alcohol and magic is involved) you can understand and sympathize with her at all times. The rest of the characters are quite interesting as well, and you'll find yourself instantly connecting with Jane's fun and quirky friends and family. Although this novel is not as complex as say, The Glasswright's Master, it doesn't need to be. Instead it's a fun, light read that will make you smile and laugh. As it says at the end of the novel, Mindy has another book planned for the series, "Sorcery and the Single Girl." Unfortunately, we're going to have to wait a while for it (October 2007) but I already know that I'll be buying myself a copy.

I absolutely loved this book. It was light (without being too fluffy), magical (without being too science fiction-y), and romantic (without being too Bridget Jones). The characters are relatable and the story is fantastic. Great read for a chilly fall evening.

Chick lit (as it's called since it's so obviously written and marketed toward women) is still a relatively new genre of novel, but more and more I have been noticing that a large number of these types of books are utilizing supernatural or paranormal story elements with incredibly charming and entertaining results!

"Girls Guide to Witchcraft" is a story that follows a young librarian on a journey that leads her to discover her raw talent for witchcraft (accidentally of course, after she stumbles upon a hidden cache of powerful spell books in the basement of her cottage). Jane Madison never thought of herself as a witch, but she was pleasantly suprised to find that she was ready to fully embrace this new and exciting side to herself. Meanwhile, she inadvertantly awakens her familiar (a statue of a cat that she managed to turn into a man, and an extrovertly gay man at that), while also bringing down the irritated wrath of her new Warder, David, who is assigned to help teach Jane everything she needs to know to safely and expertly practice witchcraft. Along with her love sick friend Melissa, her meddling Grandmother, her newly resurrected mother (don't ask), and her desperate crush on a man who frequents her library, Jane definitely has her witchy hands full!

In chick lit novels, it's easiest to allow the character to stumble upon the discovery of their bizarre and hidden talent, such as witchcraft, and therefore this tends to be a storytelling staple in books such as this. Thats not necessary a bad thing, I only mention it because I know there are some who can't stand that sort of lackidasical way of keeping the plot going. It doesn't particularly bother me though. As long as I'm entertained on some level, I'm happy.

If there was a flaw to the writing style, I would have to say that the book is a little too long. It runs a little on the thick side, which is fine, except that I didn't feel the story itself meritted such a lengthy telling. Sometimes the devil is in the details, and it seems like there are a lot of little tangents that could have been edited down, or removed from the story altogether to give it a better flow.

However, that little hiccup aside, I found this novel very entertaining, and I love all the cool witchy aspects to the story. I think Supernatural chick lit is my favorite kind of chick lit, and you are anything like me then I think this book would be a good investment to add to your own collection!

Jane Madison is a librarian at the Peabridge Free Library in Washington, DC. She has spent the previous year getting over an engagement broken over the phone while her fiancé was in London cheating on her. Feeling that her heart is finally mending, she sets her sights on Jason Templeton, a professor who often visits the library and accepts her help with his research. Jane's grandmother, Sarah, raised her. Unbeknownst to Jane, Sarah has been keeping a secret that will turn Jane's life upside down.

Melissa, Jane's best friend and confidant, owns a bakery, and is on a quest for Mr. Right using a rather interesting dating method whereby she takes her pick of dates from several different groups, and dates as often as she can.

When Jane moves into a cottage that is on Library property, she never expects to find a basement full of books on witchcraft. However, that is exactly what she finds. After opening one of the books and reading a bit, a cat statue turns into a man; this is how she meets her familiar, Neko. It is all down hill from there, because as soon as she utters the first spell, which also happens to be a love spell, another man shows up. David introduces himself as her Warder. He is determined to keep her from practicing magic, but Jane is just having too much fun. All the extra attention from the men in her life does not hurt either. But when other things begin happening, strange things, Jane begins to wonder if this business of witchcraft is really something she wants to continue with. Will Jane continue learning to be a witch, or will she decide it is more trouble than it is worth?

Ms. Klasky has penned an engaging romp of a book that I could not put down until I had read the very last page. Jane's mishaps with her magical powers were often funny, and sweet. Girl's Guide to Witchcraft is written in the first person, which made relating to Jane's predicaments, both with men and magic, highly enjoyable. Jane's feelings are conflicted sometimes, making her more real to me as well. Anyone can relate to the love a grandchild feels for their grandmother, or the feeling of abandonment one might have with regards to a parent that gave them away, or the feelings of anger over the deception of a lover. These are only a few of the emotions showcased in this book. There were scenes that made me laugh out loud, and others that made me want to cry, but then these are the things that a make for a great book. I look forward to Ms. Klasky's next book, a continuation of Girl's Guide to Witchcraft, entitled Sorcery and the Single Girl.

Regina
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books

"Girl's Guide to Witchcraft"
By
Mindy Klasky

Jane Madison has always thought of herself as "plain Jane," and let's face it, her life does leave something to be desired. A low-paid, overworked librarian of an obscure resource library in Washington DC, Jane fills her days mooning after her "imaginary boyfriend" Jason Templeton, a professor at one of the local universities who does his independent research in her section of the library every week.

One day however, her boss calls her into her office to give her some bad news: the library's funding is so bad that she is going to have to cut Jane's pay...by 25%. But there's an upside! They library has agreed to let her live in the guesthouse behind the main building rent-free, utilities included.

Though it might be dull work at times, Jane couldn't imagine leaving her beloved library (or Jason for that matter) and quickly agrees to the deal. After moving into the cottage out back though, Jane can't shake the creepy feeling she keeps getting. After finding they key to the locked basement in an obscure and mysterious place, she decides to check it out...

Soon after innocently opening a book and reading a passage out loud, statues are coming alive, there are strange men in her kitchen drinking her tea and pounding down her front door trying to explain to a bemused Jane that she is in fact, a witch...

First off, props to Mindy Klasky! I emailed her on Kat's recommendation and she immediately sent me free copies of not only "Girls' Guide to Witchcraft," but the sequel "Sorcery and the Single Girl." Thanks so much Ms. Klasky!

On the downside...Klasky has gotten me hooked on Jane Madison! I want more! I want more of the quirky gal who reads from spell books, hangs out with an insanely funny gay familiar who can't quite shake off his cat-like qualities, randomly has her handsome warder David show up on her doorstep, indulges in "mojito therapy" with her best friend who owns a bakery, and allows men who wronged her to run around naked in the woods of Connecticut!

I was worried when I first started "Girl's Guide to Witchcraft." Klasky's writing style is almost more of a diary style; in the idea that she sort of writes the way we would talk to ourselves inside our heads. It's hard to describe, but if you pick up the book you'll know what I'm getting at. I thought it would be annoying at first, but the more I got to know Jane, the less it bothered me, and after awhile, became endearing. The style allowed me to connect emotionally with Jane. Feel her excitement, heartache, remorse, guilt, anger, pain, etc. It's been a long time since I've been that emotionally attached to a character.

Jane and her friends came alive for me. Klasky didn't focus her story on the magic or the witchcraft, she focused it on her characters something I feel a lot of authors forget to do these days. A book is only as good as its main characters, and "Girl's Guide to Witchcraft" delivers!

Klasky has penned a gem (or crystal in witchcraft terms)! Perfect for the chicklit lovers out there, with just a little magic thrown in for seasoning. Jane Madison ain't no Samantha or I Dream of Jeanie, she's a real girl with real problems...who just happens to have magic powers...that she doesn't know how to work...

Rave reviews! GIVE ME MORE!!! '

This one didn't suck me in right away. At first, I thought it might be a little on the fluffy, silly side, and perhaps just another "slightly geeky librarian finally blossoms and finds a guy". While it has elements of that, overall, I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the humor in this book. I absolutely adore Jane's gay familiar, Neko. This book was just plain fun.

I will definitely be following this series, and looking for more from the author.

Mindy Klasky's GIRL'S GUIDE TO WITCHCRAFT is a nice mix fun, humor, and a young woman dealing with life issues. It doesn't hurt that she uses a bit 'o magic to make it happen. I mean, who wouldn't want that conundrum?

Jane Madison is just like any other woman. At least one that has a few problems--a job that has her wearing a costume to help library patrons and make coffee at the same time, being passed over for a raise, and having no where to live. But that's just the work and housing situation. Add in the Imaginary Professor Boyfriend? Well, then now we really have a problem.

This book is just plain fun. I mean, really, who wouldn't want to be in their twenties, get free housing (even though it is a little spooky), and find a secret library of books in the basement that has spells. Real spells. And then find out that you have a familiar (It's a magical someone/thing that "helps" you with spells. Jane's familiar is sorta cat like. And he can mix a mean drink-or three. And... well, read the book.)? The story is a magical ride. And it gets better. Much better. And I haven't even told you about David--the head of the local coven.

Mindy does a fabulous job of weaving the magic into a believable real life scenario. It just makes you want to have a spell book of your own. And really, a girl can't get too much magic! Can't wait to read the next in the series.

I liked the characters in this book. I liked the story a lot. It was easy to read and I didn't really want to put it down. My only problem is that I could tell from the beginning that Jane's love interest was a schmuck. He had all the signs so I felt that the author made Jane's character a little too dumb. Other than that this is a very good book.

Who would have thought that finding a hidden stack of old books could lead to such changes? Jane Madison works at a small, private library and dreams of her Imaginary Boyfriend, Jason Templeton, a regular patron. Suddenly, she finds herself in a world where witchcraft and spells are part of reality. Now, men seem to be falling at her feet and she has a warder, David Montrose, showing up every time she does any sort of magic. Meanwhile, she has to keep an eye out for her new familiar, Neko, a cat in human form. What's a girl to do when life takes such a strange twist?

GIRL'S GUIDE TO WITCHCRAFT is a fun read. Mindy Klasky has successfully put a paranormal twist to the chick lit genre that is quite entertaining. Jane's transformation throughout the story is wonderful to behold and inspirational in many ways. Her ability to find a positive even in the most horrendous circumstances is certainly admirable. However, it is Neko who steals the show! Neko is an absolutely fantastic character. Who can't help but love a cat in the guise of a man? His little quirks make him endearing and I certainly hope to see more of him in the upcoming sequel.

Mindy Klasky is a fantasy author who has taken a unique approach to the chick lit genre. After reading GIRL'S GUIDE TO WITCHCRAFT, this reviewer will certainly be looking for some of her previous books as she has a real gift for creating likeable characters and putting them in unusual situations. The ending did leave me a bit frustrated but overall GIRL'S GUIDE TO WITCHCRAFT is an enjoyable story.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Girls' Guide to Witchcraft is about plain-Jane Madison, a librarian who doesn't get a lot of attention from men. Things in her life start to change when, due to budget cuts, she doesn't get a raise and is forced to move into a library-owned cottage to save on rent. The cottage is more than meets the eye, especially the basement, which has a creepy cat statue and tons of books about witchcraft.

Poking around in the basement one night, Jane accidentally reads a spell and awakens her powers. And her familiar - a black-clad, wisecracking gay man named Neko. Jane also meets her warder, a sexy but forbidding guy named David. The warder's job is to make sure she uses her powers safely and teach her more about her abilities.

This book was a fun and fast-moving look at what happens in a girl's life when she discovers she's a witch. A lot of books about witchcraft focus heavily on how spells can go wrong; this story was more light-hearted. I'm looking forward to the sequel in October 2007 (timed, no doubt, to coincide with Halloween).