Magic + rebellion = 'Toil & Trouble.' Standouts include 'The Truth About Queenie' (bisexual pirate witches!) and 'Daughters of Baba Yaga' (Eastern European folklore with a knife-sharp twist). It’s the kind of book you dog-ear to death.
Ever stumbled upon a book that feels like a witchy hug on a chilly autumn night? That's 'Toil & Trouble' for me—a YA anthology edited by Jessica Spotswood and Tess Sharpe, packed with 16 stories celebrating witchcraft through diverse, feminist lenses. Each tale reimagines magic in modern or historical settings, from rebellious Victorian mediums to contemporary Latina brujas reclaiming their roots. What hooked me wasn’t just the spells but how it frames witchcraft as empowerment—whether it’s queer love in 'The Moonapple Menagerie' or Indigenous resilience in 'The Legend of Stone Mary.' It’s less about cauldrons and more about marginalized voices finding power.
Honestly, I wept over 'The Heart in Her Hands'—a sapphic retelling of 'The Little Mermaid' with sea witches—and cackled at the chaotic energy of 'Death Preferred Her.' The range is wild! Some stories are cozy; others bite like hexes. If you crave magic with depth—where folklore, identity, and rebellion collide—this anthology’s your coven. Bonus points for the gorgeous cover that looks even better under moonlight.
If you’re into witchy vibes but tired of the same old tropes, 'Toil & Trouble' flips the script. Imagine a mix of 'The Craft' meets 'her body and other parties'—but for teens. My favorite? 'Starsong' by Tehlor Kay Mejia, where a bruja’s magic clashes with her mom’s expectations. It’s got that immigrant-family tension wrapped in starlight and cinnamon. The whole book’s like a sampler platter: bite-sized, potent stories where magic isn’t just sparkly—it’s survival. Also, the audiobook narrators? Chef’s kiss.
I lent my copy of 'Toil & Trouble' to my niece, and she wouldn’t give it back—which says everything. It’s not just about witches; it’s about girls who refuse to be silenced. Take 'The One Who Stayed' by Nova Ren Suma: a ghost story where the haunted house is literally patriarchy. Or 'Brew' by Brandy Colbert, where a Black girl’s ancestral tea magic stirs up small-town racism. The anthology doesn’t shy from heavy themes, but it balances them with humor and hope. Perfect for fans of 'the gilded wolves' or anyone who wished 'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' had more nuance.
2025-12-24 14:28:19
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Beneath The Steel And Silk
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Sage Whitmore’s world is turned upside down when her beloved Bluebird Café—her late mother’s legacy and the heart of her hometown—falls into financial ruin. Desperate to save it, Sage finds herself making a dangerous deal with billionaire Damian Cross, a man as ruthless as he is enigmatic. The terms: work as his personal assistant for one year, and she’ll earn the chance to reclaim her café.
Damian is a master strategist, a man who rules New York’s corporate empire with unrelenting control. To him, Sage is a puzzle—unpolished, stubborn, and brimming with passion. As Sage steps into his high-stakes world, she discovers that behind Damian’s cold, calculating exterior lies a man haunted by secrets and driven by more than just power.
Their undeniable attraction sparks a battle of wills as Sage refuses to be a pawn in Damian’s games. But with each passing day, the line between business and desire begins to blur. When betrayal and long-buried truths come to light, Sage is forced to decide: trust the man who could ruin her, or walk away from the one thing she can’t deny—her heart.
Beneath the Steel and Silk is a story of ambition, redemption, and a love powerful enough to shatter walls—or build something unbreakable.
Samantha has it all, a flourishing career, wealth and everything she wants and desires. She had been hurt in the past multiple times by men she loved. Samantha decided to not fall in love ever again, but having all the wealth she desired was not enough, she knows something is missing, but choose to ignore it. She has been single for too long and is now ready to give love a chance. She falls in love with her new next door neighbour, but there is one problem, she had a one night stand with him in the past and worst of all, she doesn't remember! Now she has an ex boyfriend who wants her back and won't take No for an answer, and a new man vying for her attention. Will Samantha let her self be loved by this new man? Will the memories of their one night stand, destroy her chances at happiness and make her give up on love again? Read on to find out what happens!
When my mother asked me who I wanted to marry, this time, I chose none of them. Instead, I decided to go to the Northwest and serve my country.
In my previous life, both my childhood friend, once a captain, and my educated fiancé courted me. I had feelings for both.
But while I was still struggling to decide who I wanted as my husband, both accidentally ingested something.
In a dazed state, I spent a chaotic night.
After that, my parents asked one of the men to marry me.
On the wedding day, the first love in both their hearts, the woman they had always truly loved, found out the truth. Out of spite, she accepted a local thug’s proposal.
After marrying him, she was forced to give birth to ten children, one after another, until she died tragically.
After her death, both men grabbed me by the throat and asked, “Why did she have to die such a miserable death, while you’re still alive and well?”
They strangled me to death.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day when my childhood friend and my fiancé had been drugged.
She is just a good girl trying to impress her parents.
He is a bad boy who only joined this website so he could get a couple of bucks. He has tattoos, a bad attitude, smokes, has no care in the world and has a horrible past back in England. He can't stand her because she is a little spoiled brat who listens to everything her parents tell her. She can't stand him because of his mockery and stupid sarcastic comments. It's hard to hate someone who has a panty dropping smile, someone who awakes all your sexual desires, someone who changes you into the best version of yourself. Live your life like everyday is the last and one day you will be right.
Previously Known as Rent a Christian boyfriend.
High school freshman JiJing 'Jay' Devin is an honor student, but she kept hearing the rumor "Jay is a trouble maker", which annoyed her to no end. Well, Jay isn't the only Jay in her high school. There's another Jay who's a handsome senior and well-known delinquent. Their lives are tied together when they joined hands to kill a teacher. That secret sparked a slow romance between them.
.
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Five years later, newbie detective TianHua Zhang looked into a case of a missing person, who just happened to be her little cousin Jay's high school teacher during the time he disappeared.
Even though Jay isn't the good girl she used to be, and Jay is more than a bad boy now, can they keep their secret? What happens when the secret gets out?
Liam closed the door behind and walked closer, step by step, striking fear in the girl. Nora backed away, her body hitting the icy wall. He stared at her, his deep cello voice resounding in the room.“Nora Shahan, have you forgotten what I told you three years ago? Don't provoke me. But time and time again you kept testing my patience.” He picked up her jaw harshly and continued. “Tell me, how should I punish you?” Nora met his eyes, which were filled with a coldness, making her hair stand on end. This was the real Liam, cold and heartless. She was foolish to think he had changed for the better. A pang of bitterness welled up in her heart and she closed her eyes, letting the memories from the past flood into her mind.-Three years ago, Liam had warned her to never appear in front of him and Nora had been well behaved, staying as far as away from him. Whenever he'd go north, she'd go south. Even when they were in the same class, she'd stay at the opposite end. But fate played a cruel joke on her when she got locked down at his place. He assumed it was one of her tricks to climb into his bed. But she was certain she has fallen into an elaborate trap. With his family using despicable means to destroy everyone around him, can Liam successfully get her out of that hell house? How will Nora survive living under the same roof with the person who's been nothing but a nightmare all her life while learning his darkest secrets that would entangle them together and bring their entire world crashing down with it?
I was completely hooked by 'Toil & Trouble' from the first chapter, and the ending did not disappoint! The final showdown between the protagonists and the ancient coven was intense, blending magic, betrayal, and a surprising twist about the true nature of their powers. The author wrapped up lingering mysteries beautifully—like why the protagonist’s visions were always fragmented—revealing it was her own subconscious trying to protect her from a past trauma.
What really stuck with me was the emotional resolution between the two sisters. Their strained relationship finally healed when they combined their magic to break the curse, symbolizing how their differences made them stronger together. The epilogue hinted at a new adventure, leaving me desperate for a sequel!