I enjoyed this contemporary fantasy full of fierce female characters and unique magic. I thought the world building was very interesting and rich. It was well paced and kept my attention. I would love to read more books in this fascinating and fabulous world the author created!

Books about fantasy racism can be tricky but I felt this one did a lot of things well. I found the beginning a bit confusing at first (lots of characters and names/acronyms up front) but I ultimately admired the author’s strong, emotion-driven plot. Gave me a lot to think about. Oh, and LOVED the "potion" recipes!

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I really really liked this book, and literally could NOT predict the last 60% of it. I liked the characters, and the premise, however I think I was expecting more from the MC and her "deviation". It felt like we very lightly touched on the subject, and I would love to see a sequel where it was expanded on more. Everyone kept mentioning it as this big bad thing, but I couldn't really feel that invested in that angle because I feel like it wasn't fully developed. I personally was expecting something similar to the take on an "inner demon" like the one in One Dark Window, and ended up being disappointed with that aspect. Everything else I really liked, I just wanted a touch more on that. The story wrapped up well, but I would love to see the opportunity for a second, with a little bit more time spent building up the explanations for the smaller things. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS fire for this opportunity to read rate and review this arc which will be available March 5,2024!

Talk about a book full of magic, feminine rage and a giant middle finger to the world from the dedication to the very last word. Whomever made the author mad needs to apologize. I was thoroughly engaged from the start. Strong fleshed out characters, amazing world building, explained magic system. Loved it

Venus is a young woman brewing illegal love potions to survive in a world that hates her. She works for her mother as a love Witcher for rich and powerful clients. Venus has resentment for her mother because she is critical of her and her little sister Janus. When her mother is killed by a human, Venus is full of grief and seeking vengeance. She strikes a deal with the Grand Civen Matrika to avenge her mother's murder. It leads her down a path of lies, blood, and retribution. I did like Venus as a character , although she makes a lot of mistakes in the book. I thought the complicated relationship with family was complex and relatable. Janus and Venus relationship as sisters was beautiful, as they would do anything for each other . The world building was pretty good. However, the book was a little slow at times so it didn't keep my attention sometimes. I thought that she was selfish for most of the book. And the decisions she made was questionable at times. I still like venus as a character for the most part. The twist and turns were a little surprising, some I saw coming. So I'll give this book a 3 5

It took me a few chapters, as I found it a little slow in the beginning, BUT Vee! You grew right on me. Just when Venus thinks she has it all figured out, Sister Nature and Sister Magick throw her a curveball. Venus is trying to navigate coming of age while navigating grief and anger from losing her mother. I enjoyed the parallels (historic and current) that Baptiste draws with the story line. I loved Venus' character development, but I would have loved to see a little more on the other characters. I'm sure this isn't the last we will hear of Venus & friends...what will they get into next?

Such a complex premise requires a lot of nuance, and unfortunately the execution was ultimately lacking to me.

This was such a great book! Black witches in a contemporary setting was so well done. I loved all the world building and the characters were fierce and fabulous! The recipes/potions/glossary at the end was such a great touch!! I look forward to what Bethany Baptiste does next.

Venus Stoneheart, 18-year-old witcher in the DC area, brews love potions for a fee, following in her mother Clarissa's footsteps. She struggles with her deviant calling, a sentient magic within her that wants to unleash anger and devastation, and she tries to steer clear of the growing conflict between witchers and the humans who want to suppress them. But life as a witcher is fraught with danger, and when Clarissa is killed, the grief Venus feels is merged with a rage to protect her family and to find justice. And that desire leads her to make a dangerous blood oath with a powerful woman -- with consequences that Venus learns too late.

This new YA fantasy offers a new perspective on magic with a system that gives a little but takes so much more. Venus is a well-developed character with the usual teenage angst wrapped up in the consequences of past mistakes and the wariness of living in a society that hates your very being. Her story shows that the stereotype of the "strong Black woman" hides the truth of someone doing as much as possible for her family but failing to care for herself and needing the help of others to thrive. The author makes no bones about how this story is inspired by what she experiences as a Black woman in today's America, and the parallels with today's society clearly delineate how there are still people who want to oppress others. The side characters added so much to this picture: her often critical mother Clarissa, her younger and more passionate sister Janus, her stern but supportive Uncle Bram, her friend (and more) Presley, and others who added to the reader's understanding of magic.

The writing is often atmospheric, conveying the silky threats of various characters throughout the book, but there are also a number of spots in the book where the awkward phrasing stopped me short and could have used better editing. The plot is wonderfully twisty and echoes how a teenager might make momentous decisions without seeing the full picture. Pacing can be a little erratic at times, but overall it was a compelling read. 4 stars.

Thank you, Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.