Garden Spells is a magical realism novel about two sisters who learn to love each other after a difficult childhood. At the start of the novel, the women have been estranged for over a decade before the prodigal sister returns home with her daughter. This is the first book in the Waverly Family series.
This novel is my first venture into magical realism and I admit, I wasn’t blown away. The Waverly Sisters, Claire and Sydney, are believable and their relationship blossoms naturally. Despite a lot of anxiety on both sides, there’s very little conflict between them and that lends the book a cosy atmosphere which I did find enjoyable.
Their tragic backstories would make a compelling read without the addition of magic and most of the time, it felt superfluous. However, the magic was weaved into the narrative well and avoided detracting from the story. It comes across as a quirk rather than a plot device, like having an unusual hair colour or a nose piercing. The apple tree which provides magical insight is the only magic central to the story.
This is my main gripe. The story trundles along with occasional magical accents but in the end, magic saves the day. The characters themselves become helpless. There’s no heart-warming message. It could have been a book about how family makes us stronger or how we’re all potential heroes when disaster strikes. It could have been a fantastic insight into domestic violence and the struggles people face to escape. Instead, unless you have a magical apple tree handy, the world is terrible and there’s no escape. Our protagonists are not heroic, they are victims.
The most odd part about this is that the message is completely contradicted in the sub-plot. A man desperately tries to fix his marriage with magic, only to be forced into accepting that magic isn’t a cure for everything. Which is it?
The book redeems itself by featuring an exceptionally well written gay relationship. I’m happy that the author chose to make this the main sub-plot and that it was done with panache. There isn’t much else in the way of representation but I’ll take quality over quantity.
Overall, I mostly enjoyed Garden Spells but I wouldn’t rush to buy the sequel. Despite the juxtaposition with the message, I’d give another magical realism book a go. I’ve definitely read worse.
Written By: ivetafox
Favourite Game – Long Live the Queen || Favourite Film – Sweeney Todd || Favourite Book – Wuthering Heights
About: Ivy is a disabled, autistic writer from the UK, passionate about inclusive gaming. When not reviewing, she can be found writing short stories and micro fiction or reading the latest gothic novel.
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