Author: Sarina Dorie
Date: 2018
ISBN: 978-1986003605
Quote: "Magic wasn't real--because if it was--that would mean I was a witch."
Clarissa is a witch. Her magical affinity may be sex, or interpersonal relationships. She may never find out because her magical destiny is so horrific. Brought up by a nice suburban garden witch, she's actually the daughter of Loraline, alleged to be the most wicked witch ever; if she ever uses her magic it's likely to kill people who are close to her. She spends her childhood wondering why she's drawn to magic and witchcraft when her family discourage her interest, then hanging out with a wizard friend who thinks she might have some magical powers beyond just enhancing his, and then--when her older sister, the water fury, tries to kill her and the wizard helps her escape and they confess their crushes on each other, so Clarissa's emotional energy is high--summoning a tornado that...well...fulfills a prophecy Clarissa has heard about earlier in the book.
The cover of this book is the disappointment. It promises to be about a School for Wayward Witches. It's not. Clarissa is told that the school exists, but she's not allowed to go there. However, the school is part of a longish series. If you like the fantasy world in which this novel is set, you'll want the series and you'll undoubtedly read about the school there.
This is a series written primarily for adults who can still relate to young adult characters. The author promises at least one story about Clarissa as an adult, but this is a story about her childhood and high school years. There's no explicit sex in this book, though there is an explicit scene where teenagers snuggle up in bed resolutely not having sex. There may be some in other books in the series. Sympathetic characters die. There's no clear alliance of good witches against bad ones; there are lots of different witches, most more or less ethical, each serving per own interests. There's good and bad, but Clarissa is clearly told that she can't simply choose to be a good witch or a bad witch, but must meander through life making one choice at a time.
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