Through Smoke And Sand was such a fun and fast paced YA fantasy!
This would be a really great beginner fantasy novel. It was fast paced and so engaging. The writing was so enjoyable and so descriptive. and never got bored with the story. There was always something going on and the plot really flowed well together! This is also an extremely light fantasy. There was not a lot of world building reagrding the Fairy Godmothers and their origin story and how all the magic worked, but it made everything very easy to understand.
The characters in this book were absolutely exceptional. I loved ALL the Fairy Godmothers. The way Lexi struggled with trusting herself and coming into her own power was so relatable and felt so real. We love that neurodivergent rep! And, can we just take a moment to appreciate Oliver as the most precious character ever?!
Such a fun read and the cliffhanger in the end is so captivated and i cannot wait for book 2 to come out!

Favorite Quote: What if we could handle the hard things better if we soaked up magic and wonder the rest of the time?

Through Smoke and Sand introduces us to Lexi. Lexi has a near-pathological need to help people. People seem to simply blurt out problems to Lexi so she can fix them. On her birthday, however, Lexi is nearly mobbed by people asking for help. Suddenly, she’s approached by a Fairy Godmother who shares that Lexi is destined to become a Fairy Godmother. In her practicality, Lexi dismisses this notion. It’s not until she’s chased out of her own home that she makes the journey to Spindle Peak to claim her birthright. There, Lexi is awkward, quick-witted, and practical as the other Godmothers try and teach her the ways of blessing. When Lexi blesses the wrong child with the wrong words, she must determine how she’ll deal with the consequences.

I was pleasantly delighted by Through Smoke and Sand. Corrie Hathaway did a great job of infusing real-world pragmatism into a fairy tale concept most of us know. My bar for this book was low when I read the synopsis, but I couldn’t put this book down! Through Smoke and Sand is fun, irreverent, fun, and wholesome. To the best of my recollection, there aren’t any adult themes or language, so it’s a great book for the whole family. I also loved how it ended well, but if there’s a sequel, I’d read it!

Disregard this review! I was unable to open this book. It said some sort of authorization error. However, it’s not a big deal because I realized this book is too young for me anyways. Somehow I keep misjudging the audience of books I see on here! Happy reading! Just gonna give it an even three stars to hopefully not mess up the ratings!

I am usually a lover of all things thriller and suspense, so this type of novel is out of my wheelhouse. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect but whatever it was, this book surpassed it! This magical, other-worldly, story was just the break from reality I needed. Lexi is charismatic and impulsive but you can't help but fall in love with her. I relate so much to her need to help others, and what better way to do that than as a fairy godmother! I enjoyed this story greatly and will look for more works by this author.

A decent middle grade book. I enjoyed it but I think the world building was lacking. It left too many holes in the story. I think there’s a lot of room for improvement in that regard. I hope the second book covers it better.
My main issue was the main character, she is suppose to be 19 but behaves like a 13 year old girl and she comes out as childish and annoying. Of course she is good and all but overall she is not the most likeable main character I’ve read.
A good point is Oliver, Harriet and Gusy, I loved them dearly, great characters, funny, cute and endearing.
It was an enjoyable if inconsistent experience.

Through Smoke And Sand was such a fun and extremely fast paced YA fantasy!

Lexi has always found herself drawn to helping others. It is more than just a desire, but a complete need to help those that request it of her. When this power of helping others increases and grows completely out of control, Lexi is visited by her Fairy Godmother and invited to join her in a magical sisterhood. There is an evil power growing, and the wishes that the Fairy Godmothers grant are the only forces that can fight against the evil.

This would be a really great beginner fantasy novel. It was fast paced and so engaging. I never once found myself bored with the story and instead found it so hard to put down! There was always something going on and the plot really flowed well together! This is also an extremely light fantasy. There was not a lot of world building – something that I actually really missed because I wanted MORE in regards to the Fairy Godmothers and their origin story and how all the magic worked, but it made everything very easy to understand.

The characters in this book were absolutely exceptional. I loved ALL the Fairy Godmothers. The way Lexi struggled with trusting herself and coming into her own power was so relatable and felt so real. We love that neurodivergent rep! And, can we just take a moment to appreciate Oliver as the most precious character ever? Omg. I love him endlessly.

Such a fun read, I can’t wait to continue the story with the next one! Thanks so much to Corrie Hathaway, Netgalley, and Green Elk Publishing for the eARC and to Tabitha Reynolds for reaching out to me to read this one in exchange for an honest review!

Through Smoke and Sand
By Corrie Hathaway


This was a 4 Star read for me 🤩!

I was able to read this low fantasy book in just a few days. It held my attention due to the plot and my ability to relate to the main character🤍


While reading this book I kept telling myself man this FMC acts just how I would in these situations. Then later I find out that Corrie made her neurodivergent I said okay this makes sense 🤣😂! As someone who is neurodivergent I immediately related to Lexi.


Read this book of you like:

- [ ] Low Fantasy 🪄
- [ ] Spice Free Side Plot Romance 🤍
- [ ] Found Family 👭🏻
- [ ] Strong Women Characters 💁🏻‍♀️
- [ ] Reimagining of Fairy Godmothers 🧚🏼‍♀️
- [ ] Sandman ⏳
- [ ] Quick Reads ✨

I recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to read Fantasy without the crazy world building and info dumps that we sometimes get . (Even tho I still love those types as well)

Oh man. This book started out really strong for me and was so unique. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a story of how one becomes/get called to be a Fairy Godmother. And when I say I am sad that this didn’t work out for me, I truly mean it. It took me sooo long to get through this book - a little over 2 weeks and that is unheard of. I was so close to DNF’ing this book but I figured I should give it a fair chance by reading the book in it’s entirety. This book is nicely written. I think the direction that the story was headed was not for me and it was too young adult fiction for my liking. This is not the fault of the book. Just personal preference.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fun and vivacious Lexi isn't an ordinary teen, but the unknown-heroine-who-must-save-the-world kind of gal. She was unknowingly born into the flock of witches and it's not until the striking of her 19th bday, does she realize her purpose. Read as she slowly realizes she not only has super abilities, but learns how to harness them and use them for good. Excellent for most ages from YA and beyond. Can't wait for a second book in what I hope is a series.
Goodreads description is as follows: "Between learning what they use their powers for and demonstrating her own lack of skill with that power, she wonders if the fairy godmothers picked the wrong girl, especially when compared to her fellow trainee. With nighttime visits from a guy with mysterious magic, increasingly creepy mishaps in her new home, and a less-than-benevolent fairy godmother expecting her to fail, her new reality may not be an improvement over the life she left behind."
Thank you to Netgalley, Corrie Hathaway, and Green Elk Publishing for this great read.
#netgalley #corriehathaway #greenelkpublishing #4stars #yafiction #fantasyreads #scifireads

Through Smoke and Sand had me at the synopsis but through the story I really had a hard time believing Lexi was 19 yrs old. This is a middle grade book and maybe they should have aged her down to better fit with her thoughts and actions. I enjoyed the magic and the supporting characters and will want to continue to read this series. 3.5 stars


Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5

I thought the premise was pretty cute! I can see how someone who likes Narnia or Harry Potter could also enjoy this book. It came across a little young, but I could definitely imagine someone in junior high loving this! In fact, I’m certain if I had read this between the ages of 12-16 I would’ve rated it higher. I thought the characters were cute and loved all their different personalities. The fairy godmother in training aspect was also pretty different than most fantasy books I’ve read, so props to the author for coming up with such a unique concept!

First off, I’d like to thank Tabitha Reynolds and Netgalley for the honest review of “Through Smoke and Sand” by Corrie Hathway. This book was advertised for fans of “Harry Potter” and the “Chronicles of Narnia,” and made good on those promises. While the magical system is not as fleshed out or expansive as Harry Potter, it fits the advertisement of “Chronicles of Narnia” quite well. “Through Smoke and Sand” was marketed as YA and I would agree with that assessment. Despite the protagonist being nineteen years old, this book reads as lower YA in my opinion.
Now about the story, writing and characters. The story was quite engaging and fun to read! The twist on Fairy Godmothers was intriguing and if not for the publisher- Tabitha Reynolds, reaching out, I probably would not have read this book. Our main character of Alexanderia, “Lexi” felt immature and a standard YA lead at times. However, I believe this was the author’s first book, and for being a first book, it was written well. This could have been due to my age-mid 20’s, and being more accustomed to older YA and adult fantasy books. For all young readers and their parents, I would definitely recommend this book!

If I said “oh my gosh, what a delightful book!” It would simply be an understatement of the grossest, most negligent variety. This book was an absolute joy to read from page one, and I already can’t wait to read it again.

Lexi has a talent for helping people with their problems. Not just a talent, but a deep-rooted need to help. What seems like a mildly inconvenient quirk is actually the awakening of her gift—the gift of being a Fairy Godmother. In training. Sort of.

I don’t even know where to start with this story; it was so incredible! I found myself laughing out loud at Lexi and her snark. The Fairy Godmothers and their grandmotherly (god-motherly?) charms were thoroughly comforting. And Oliver? Don’t even get me started. All of the characters were so wonderfully unique and enjoyable that, even when there wasn’t a lot of action I enjoyed just being around them. Lexi is, for me, an incredibly relatable FMC in that she has no ability to stop talking even when she should, and she was enjoyable to read about because she recognizes (and tries to learn from) her own failings and flaws. She has *no* filter whatsoever, so there are definite cringe moments, but they didn’t detract from either her or the story.

As far as the actual plot goes, I loved it. It’s not a long book, but there was progress, there were emotions, and it kept me entranced for the entire story. This book was published in September of 2022, but I am so very ready for a sequel. It’s a delightfully whimsical tale, and you can feel the almost child-like wonders woven throughout. I don’t know how to describe it; it just feels like magic.

This is one that will stick around in my heart for a long time. Also, can we appreciate that cover art? Absolutely stunning!

{Review also posted to Goodreads, Insta, and Amazon}

This was such a cute and cozy fantasy book! I loved that this book was so close to home for me in Washington!
The writing was so enjoyable and so descriptive.
I love the unique way Corrie wrote a story about Fairy Godmothers. I adored Lexi and Oliver 😍 such great characters and really good banter between the two! I also really enjoyed the different personalities of the Fairy Godmothers and getting to know them.
The cliffhanger got me and I cannot wait for book 2 to come out!

4.5 stars for me!

Thank you to @netgalley for the book! And thank you to Tabitha Engel for reaching out and offering the book to me through NetGalley!

A fun and engaging YA fantasy!

You can expect:
▪️A relatable, sassy FMC
▪️A unique fantasy premise
▪️Fairy-godmothers and fairy-godmothers in training
▪️A classic battle between good and evil
▪️A light sprinkle of romantic potential
▪️Found family

Some of my thoughts:
📍The first couple of chapters in this book were incredibly gripping! They had an almost apocalyptic feel, the writing had me able to vividly picture the town residents rabidly swamping the FMC for ‘help.’

📍Telling a story from the perspective of a fairy godmother in training was a very unique take! I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quite like this one!

📍I think I would have rated this book higher if I were younger. As a reader in her 30’s, I enjoy more adult themes but I would happily recommend this book to readers 12-16. It’s age appropriate for YA readers, I would have loved it at that age!

📍The book opened with a bang and ended with a bang! I thought the pacing slowed through the middle and my interest waned a couple of times. However, the ending redeemed it! The plot was well thought out.

📍There is a dash of potential for romance present. Oliver was a sweet inclusion. He had a unique magical presence that certainly added interest. For anyone wondering, there is zero spice in this book (keeping it age appropriate for YA readers).

📍Quirky characters, a unique magic system, vivid imagery and a classic good vs evil battle made for a fun read!

Fun clean fantasy and really good debut novel looking forward to more from this author. Will be interesting to see what else comes along for sure

Okay, let me start by saying this took me incredibly so long to read because I have been in such a bad reading slump, and picking up any book has been a struggle.

This was cute, it was fun and it was different than anything I have or usually read. I think I really would have enjoyed it so much if I wasn’t in a slump. It’s a little more YA than my normal read, but I think Corrie Hathaway did a great job from making it too young of a read! Like I would for sure recommend it to my adult fantasy readers.

I did struggle with the first half (because reading slump), but once I got 50% in, I found myself not wanting to put it down. I just had to know what was going to happen next! I was super thankful to be pulled in, and the ending definitely made me wish it wasn’t over. I need to know what happens next!

I loved Oliver! He was definitely one of my favorite characters, and the baby romance that we get glimpses of between him and Lexi was so sweet. I want her to accept love so bad.

This book was for sure a ride, and I’m glad I pushed through because I did like it! I can’t give half ratings, but solely because this was a tad young for me I would rate it closer to a 3.75!

Thank you Corrie Hathaway, NetGalley and Green Elk Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really like this book a lot!

it was epic
dangerous
mysterious
and fucking awsome!!!

I didnt know, that i love fantasy THAT much

OKAY WOW. I received this ARC on NetGalley, and I went into this not knowing what to expect, and I learned this is the type of fantasy I love!

I felt like I was inside this world while reading, and I loved everything about this story. Lexi, our main character is neurodivergent and she doesn’t always think before acting. She is trying to learn how to be a fairy godmother, but he brain just can’t stop from acting out sometimes and saying everything she thinks.

I think the thing I liked most about this book was how there was no unnecessary fluff. Every word in this book lead to the end of the story, and there wasn’t a second wasted! This plot was intriguing, thrilling, heartwarming, gut wrenching, and adorable all at once.

If you like contemporary fantasy and want to follow a cozy story about fairy godmothers, first loves, found family, and saving the world, this book is for you!

Wasn’t expecting this to be a 5⭐️ read & I can’t wait to continue this series!

I read an eARC of this so thank you to Net Galley, the author and the publisher for allowing this.

Through Smoke and Sand is a refreshing new entry to YA fiction. I think this might be the first book I’ve read where Fairy Godmothers are the central focus rather than supporting cast. This was a fun topic and I enjoyed reading about the history and goals of the Fairy Godmothers.

Our main character Lexi is working in a job that’s not going so well. She’s good at helping people with their problems and it gets in the way of her work. On her 19th birthday, suddenly everyone around her starts obsessively demanding her help, to the point that they’re breaking windows to get to her. Whilst hiding, Gussy appears to ask Lexi to join the Fairy Godmothers. In her desperation to escape Lexi travels to a mountain to find them.

I found Lexi’s feelings of being overwhelmed by so many people needing her help really relatable and it made me surprised that I haven’t seen this in more books. This really resonated with me. Lexi really wants to help others but it makes her vulnerable and people do take advantage. When she joins the Fairy Godmothers, she takes some toxic habits with her and has to learn to listen and trust others. At times Lexi was frustrating in how she acts without thinking, but this was part of her growth as she learns to work with others and consider their opinions.

The writing did feel like it was aimed for younger readers, however that didn’t detract from an enjoyable and interesting tale on fantasy.

Certain supporting characters really made this book. Harriet who is so sweet and kind and really shows the value of working hard and trying your best, Oliver who is so supportive, and lovely Gussy who bridges the past and the future in the Fairy Godmothers.