Title: Long Lost Magic
Author: T.M. Cromer
Series: Thorne Witches #6
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance, Witches
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019

The first five books of the Thorne Witches series have seriously been gearing up for this novel. Alastair and Aurora are finally reunited and the first big story arc is completed. Don’t get me wrong, Long Lost Magic then starts the next story arc for this family of witches. But the overarching tale of the first six books is seriously intense, and, as such, I didn’t really stop reading them until I got to this point in the series. And then I paused and took a little breather, before diving into the next one. For as fun as it’s been, Cromer is annoyingly good at writing plots which have be reluctant to stop reading, and incredibly emotionally invested.

I really enjoyed that within this romance, it is the internal battles that the couple each have to face before they can come back together. Neither Alastair or Aurora were able to escape their battles unharmed, and both of them find it incredibly difficult to reintegrate into society and their love for one another. A lot of this story is both of them dealing with the anger and disappointment of expectations from the past and abuses. And although they ultimately find their way back together, it was enjoyable to read about them both doing the work on themselves before they tried to reconnect as a couple. It gives me hope in the darker points of my own relationship, and a reminder that I will do almost anything to fight for the love that I have too.

Although one enemy is finally vanquished within Long Lost Magic, it does reveal that there are greater threats working behind the scenes. All of Aurora’s children are happily settled, but none of them are free from the taint of selfishness and evil that is threatening their family. It’s almost as though the first battle of the war has been won, but only now do the Thorne Witches realise that they are in a war to begin with. Other than Alastair, but there’s a reason he’s the somewhat insane, and very entertaining patriarch of the family. I love that it leads into a realm in which none of the witches know who they can trust, but they are willing to take that plunge to protect those that they love.

Now that the first section of the family is settled, I can’t wait until Alastair sets his matchmaking sights on more of the family. The cousins and extended family were revealed throughout this. Plus, the need for revenge is ignited. There were so many threads presented within Long Lost Magic, that, although it was about Aurora and Alastair, I also felt like it was the beginning of something greater. I can’t wait to keep diving into this series to see how all of the threads that Cromer waved temptingly in our faces are going to be woven into the fabric of this fantastic story.

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Title: Rekindled Magic
Author: T.M. Cromer
Series: Thorne Witches #5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance, Witches
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019

Holly is the Thorne sister that I got to know the least throughout the entire Thorne Witches series so far. It’s a second chance romance, but I didn’t realise how much tragic history Holly and Quentin have until I read this. And then, at times, it was just truly difficult to read. I mean, it ends up happily, but where Spring Magic had some violently intense moments, Rekindled Magic was just filled with heart wrenching, emotional turmoil that had me putting this down and picking it back up multiple times.

One of the things I really wasn’t expecting from this story was the idea of time travel. The complexities of this and the different, diverging paths throughout added to the emotional intensity of this story. As well as making me have to really sit back and think about what I was reading. After all, time travel is such a tricky concept, and if it’s done wrong it’s just frustrating. Cromer managed to give the idea of time travel and its consequences a great structure though. One that I really enjoyed, and bent my brain just a little bit.

I love that regardless of the timeline, Holly is incredibly feisty and powerful. However, the bitterness caused by misunderstandings and abuse are removed. Whilst it was easy to have some sympathy for Holly’s lack of trust and choices, it also got to be a little bit painful. The depth of emotional trauma and abuse at the hands of her ex actually created a fairly angry woman who was just a little difficult to connect with on the same level. I love that in any reality, Quentin loves her with all of his heart and soul. And that he manages to balance out her rougher edges.

Although I loved a lot of this story, I do hate how quickly Holly turns to bitterness, in multiple timelines. I can understand having a great love which is impossible to get over, but letting that turn you away from everyone else who loves you. Letting yourself become a shell of a human because of the choices that others have made? It did make me like Holly a little bit less. Now I get to dive into the story of Aurora and Alastair though. And find out what the consequences of reviving Aurora are going to be…

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Title: Spring Magic
Author: T.M. Cromer
Series: Thorne Witches #4
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance, Witches
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

At the beginning of this story (and in parts of the first three Thorne Witches stories), Knox kind of seems like a typical moron. He rejects the woman who loves him out of a misguided sense of justice. And it’s just patronising. But then, as you discover the actual reasoning behind his actions, he becomes someone who is possibly my favourite male love interest in this series thus far. He is noble and kind, and I love how, for once, his rejection is actually something that comes from a good place, not a place of pride.

I knew that this was going to be a tough read before I even got into it. There are too many hints of the tragedies surrounding Spring and her journey to help revive her mother (and find love). Which was good to know, I at least had a warning before I read what could’ve been a potentially triggering book. I mean, her journey is genuinely horrifying. And it absolutely broke my brain and heart in moments. But, there is also this great sense of hope and joy throughout that made it worth it.

Everything about this story is emotionally intense. I knew it was going to be, so I made sure I carved out enough time to read this in one sitting. I’m glad that I did, it was an impossible story to put down. Partly because of how amazing the story actually was, but also because I’m the kind of person who will rush to the end of a tale to find the happily ever after. Which Cromer delivered beautifully to make up for all of the preceding nonsense.

Spring Magic wraps up the story arc for the first four Thorne sisters, and ends the arc with Lin Zhu. It gives a little more context to why the Throne Girls are so heavily targeted, and just rounds out things quite nicely. It then opens up the second part of this first series story arc. But I love how Spring’s journey is the one that also ends Lin Zhu’s reign of terror on the Thornes, and by extension, the Carlyles.

With every Thorne Witches book I read, I can’t wait to dive into the next one. Each story, as with this, round out a storyline. But they also hint at the next couple and the battles that are to be faced in the future. One more step until Aurora is revived, and if this has been the cost so far, I’m intrigued to find out what the cost to the other couples in the future will be.

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Title: Winter Magic
Author: T.M. Cromer
Series: Thorne Witches #3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance, Witches
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

As with most of the books in the Thorne Witches series, there is the hint of the next romance at some point in the previous book. And in the case of Winter and Zane, I loved this hint of something more between them. The fact that they also have a history (just one no one knows about) made me laugh out loud. And, honestly, as much as I loved both Autumn and Summer’s stories, I liked Winter and Zane’s romance even more. There was just something redemptive and fun about the whole thing.

I think that one of the reasons I enjoyed this story so much is that Zane had one of the most intense redemption arcs I’ve read in a while. He was pigheaded and cruel to the point that I almost wanted to stop reading at multiple points throughout this story. I mean, his drive for revenge was completely out of proportion and incredibly ridiculous. And yet, in every moment that I seriously questioned my willingness to continue with his stupidity, there was something that pulled me right back in again. Ultimately, this frustration led to a wonderful redemption arc that completely redeemed his nonsense and left me smiling when I turned that final page.

Winter Magic is the next step in the Thorne sisters quest to heal their mother. It was fun to learn more about Winter’s power and just how formidable she truly is. This novel also expanded on the vendetta Lin Zhu has against the Thorne family and why he is so driven to destroy them in particular. Plus, his sinister plans for just how to use their genetic line to give him what he thinks he wants is kind of gross. It combines to make you even more keen to read the next book in this series, but also a little hesitant. After all, the epilogue in this hints at Spring’s story, and that is going to be a dark and hard one to read… but now I’m also even more intrigued.

Although I really loved this whole romance and was swept away in every moment, much of the interpersonal drama was filled by childish misunderstandings. The inability to talk about just what was wrong and discuss things like adults, the desire for revenge… it all combined to make me want to smack my palm to my face at multiple points. And, although, luckily Zane does see how stupid his actions are, I completely understand how hard it is for Winter to forgive his past behaviours. And to let them find a new way into the future together, without all of the silly behaviour informing their actions.

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Title: Autumn Magic
Author: T.M. Cromer
Series: Thorne Witches #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance, Witches
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

After reading Summer Magic, I couldn’t wait to dive into Autumn’s story! I mean, there is so much history between Autumn and Keaton, and he is actually the more atrocious of the brothers in Summer Magic. He treats Autumn horrifyingly, and makes her literally flee her town to escape his wrath. Of course I wanted them to find their happily ever after and let the horrors of the past go. Don’t get me wrong, there were moments in which it was hard to even like Keaton, but this ended up being an adorable story. One that I seriously enjoyed diving into, even in those sad moments when I worried that their story wasn’t going to have a happily ever after.

With all of the hints that were given in Summer Magic, I’m really glad that this story started with a flashback to ten years ago. When both Autumn and Keaton made some questionable decisions with their youthful brains. It provided a relationship with far more at stake than I first realised right from the get go. And, it also made Keaton a little less hateable. He might still have made many boneheaded decisions (funnily enough, much like Coop), but it also became a little more understandable when the flashbacks occurred. Plus, there’s the creation of his daughter, Chloe, and their beautiful relationship together.

Not only is this a paranormal romance which allows Autumn and Keaton to move forwards together, it is also one in which the fight to ensure the Thorne Witches’ mothers survival. Autumn and Keaton are able to uncover the first artifact required to potentially save Aurora. Same with Summer Magic, this romance introduces an overarching story that I want to keep diving into. It also perfectly dovetails into Winter Magic, the next in the series. Plus, the Witch Hunters and Lin are also introduced, just raising the stakes yet again for this family of powerful witches. The romance might have been what drew me in, but the action and adventure is what keeps me coming back.

Chloe is a great addition to Autumn’s budding family. I love that she is the “daughter of her heart”. This idea touches so beautifully on the idea of soul mates as I see it – a collection of souls who find each other in each life. Not just a romantic couple, but children, friends and family. Chloe and Autumn are able to have a wonderful mother-daughter relationship which kind of helps to make up for the losses that they’ve both suffered in that area. An adorable relationship that I hope to see more of on the periphery as I dive further and further into the Thorne Witches series.

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Title: Summer Magic
Author: T.M. Cromer
Series: Thorne Witches #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance, Witches
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

I may have read the happily ever after for this story, Enduring Magic, a long time before I actually got my hands on Summer Magic. Mostly because Enduring Magic was in a boxset, and Summer Magic was stalled out on Kindle Unlimited (which I now have because I’m fed up with missing out). However, even though I knew parts of the happiness in this story, I absolutely adored this journey. I mean, I almost always know that the couple is going to get their happily ever after, so reading Enduring Magic before Summer Magic didn’t really give anything away. It’s always the journey that is enjoyable and worth spending the time with anyway.

Coop was kind of an ass to Summer growing up, and, honestly, throughout most of this book. He just makes decision after decision in fear and selfishness. But, what I really liked about him, is that for every bonehead move and decision he makes, he does actually learn. He was just a little bit slow on the uptake at times. It made someone who does some kind of unforgiveable things, completely likeable. Normally men who make this many decisions that hurt the women that they love would be a total write off for me. But, somehow, Cromer is able to make Coop loveable and forgivable, in every silly instance.

As much as I loved getting to know the Thorne Witches and their future love interests, I actually think that it was the matriarchs of the Thorne family that I wanted to know all that much more. I mean, there are three siblings with some very heavy and intense histories between them. The fact that the two brothers have both loved (and fathered children with) the same woman. That is a lot of drama. Plus, where Preston is originally portrayed as the “good guy” his actions show that there is a whole lot of grey within these relationships. Now I just want to know more of their backstory, and if the Thorne sisters will be able to actually save the life of their mother. So much drama and history introduced within this story, which makes me desperate to read the rest of this series!

Saul and his many moments, particularly at the end of this story are absolutely hilarious. In fact, all of Summer’s many rescues and animals are kind of laugh out loud funny. Cromer is able to highlight the different attitudes and personalities of each of the animals, alongside each of the “Season Sisters”. I love how she is able to create such dramatically different characters that are unforgettable and make you love them with every turn of a page. Honestly, there isn’t much about this romance that I didn’t love. And it also feeds perfectly into the next few books into the series. With some very intriguing character arcs to come I’m sure.

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