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Book: “The Fate of Magic” by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis
Publishing Info: Sourcebooks Fire, October 2024
Where Did I Get this Book: Netgalley!
Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound
Book Description: Fritzi is a champion. After escaping the clutches of Dieter Kirch, the sadistic leader of the witch hunters, Fritzi and Otto have taken refuge among the witches of the Black Forest. Fritzi is finally ready to assume her place on the council as the coven’s goddess-chosen champion. Plagued by distrust and self-doubt, Fritzi throws herself into her duty to serve the goddesses . . . until she uncovers a powerful secret that could mean the very undoing of magic itself.
Otto is a warrior. He swears himself to Fritzi as her bonded protector, certain the peaceful unity of a witch and hunter will heal the wounds he helped make. But as the horrifying plot that threatens the Black Forest’s magic comes to light, Otto will have to face his both his past and what it means to bind himself to a magic he does not fully understand.
Shadows loom. Truths are revealed. And as dangers new and old arise, Fritzi and Otto must stand together against everything that threatens magic—even if the biggest threat might be the very bond they share.
Previously Reviewed: “The Night of the Witch”
Review: As promised, December is full of back catalog titles that released earlier in the year but that I hadn’t gotten a chance to read yet. “The Fate of Magic” has been on my radar all year (so much so that I tried to snag an ARC at ALA, but apparently everyone else had the same idea, so alas for me!). The first book was a great read, full of magic, romance, and an interesting blend between witchy/fantasy elements and historical elements, especially religion in Germany during this time period. While the book ended with the revelation that the big bad hadn’t actually died, it also finished in a vary satisfying manner. That being the case, I went into this one with only one wish: don’t un-do any of the great work that had already been already completed!
And I’m pleased to report that this was an excellent sequel! It built on the concepts that were introduced in the first book and expanded on the world and plot in a way that added to the entire experience. I particularly enjoyed learning more about the three goddesses and their history with the way that magic has interacted with and been available to the human world. There were some interesting twists and turns added, and I loved getting a better understanding of these goddesses as actual characters, something I was definitely not expecting going in. I also appreciated that the book introduces what felt like a significant choice that needed to be resolved by the end of the story. There were no obvious or easy answers, and I liked the way the characters were forced to truly grapple with the trade offs either way.
I also really appreciated the way the romance played out. Other authors take note! It IS possible to continue a romantic plotline after the characters have gotten together without inserting stupid, unnecessary drama. If I never read another last scene in a romantasy book where the couple is immediately broken up by the discovery of some secret or another it will honestly be too soon. Fritzi and Otto are facing real challenges, but their relationship ain’t one of them!
Not only is it nice to see perspective kept in check (again, I hate it when characters obsess over personal problems, often that can be solved with a simple conversation, in the middle of world crises), but it was also nice to actually get to see an established couple work together for an entire book! Honestly, I’m struggling to think of another book/series like this, where the couple is just straight-forwardly together through an entire book and just, you know, goes through the plot without interpersonal drama. Instead, the conflict in their relationship was based around learning how to work together, how to best use the new magical bond between them, and how to balance their own approaches to dealing with problems. You don’t need unnecessary drama and constant bouts of distrust and indecision to keep a romantic plotline interesting!
As far as the plotting and pacing, I think the overall story was good. However, there were moments throughout the book that felt like leaps, with the author simply needing to get the characters from point A. to point B. without much room for exploring how this would really work. There was one moment in particular in the middle of the book where the characters jump through so many logical hoops to get to the right choice that it was honestly a bit baffling. I wish there had been a more graceful way to tie in clues to some of these mysteries, rather than the characters seeming to just pull the solution straight from a bag.
Overall, however, I really enjoyed this book! It was a refreshing read in many ways, especially how the duology approached its romantic plotline. Both Fritzi and Otto were incredible characters on their own, which made the balance between their perspectives work perfectly, and the further deepening of the magical system was very intriguing. There were, perhaps, a few odd moments with some of the plotting points, but nothing that was truly immersion breaking. If you enjoyed the first book, I’d definitely recommend this one! And if you’re a fan of YA fantasy, I think this duology on the whole is an excellent return to form for a genre that often feels a bit tired and thin.
Rating 8: With expanded world-building and increasingly high stakes, this book wraps up an excellent fantasy duology!
Reader’s Advisory:
“The Fate of Magic” can be found on these Goodreads lists: Witchy Season and Baroque Fantasy.
The Library Ladies 