I was so scared going into this because it looked like the perfect book for me, but I’ve been let down before by a really good synopsis giving me everything I want and then the book falling flat or being something entirely different.

I was not let down, in fact this book ended up being a 5 star rating based on how much I absolutely loved it every step of the way. Even the scenes that made me have to put it down and take a step back had me completely engrossed in the story and I found myself experiencing the emotions the characters did with my whole heart. I really loved his book.

The characters were so fun and so easy to find yourself wanting them to win, while also reading as realistic characters in a genre where sometimes characters come across as fantastical. I found myself at multiple points relating to almost all the main characters, and unfortunately to some of the characters I really didn’t want a connection to. While mentally planning this review, a thought kept popping up about how I did consider how all the main girls, sans Yates, were so descriptive with their threats of violence in defence of each other was a high positive for me. I think in a world where too often women are pitted against each other that the female friendships in this book just made me so happy, and especially with how much love they had for each other from the very beginning.

I do mention the friendships in this a lot and think about it a lot because without those relationships, this would be a very different book. Their magic and connections all worked well together and I do believe a part of that was how they accepted Sideways as a friend from the start and kept her around much to her surprise. And boy was the magic always good to read!

I’m a person who holds magic and magic based plots very close to my heart, from loving with storylines in movies and tv and books I read growing up to knowing it’s an art I can’t master but really respect, reading about these girls finding their magic and letting it complete them made me feel warm in a sense, reading about the spells and the mechanics behind it, even down to the covens and their book devils, I was in admiration of how they were written throughout this whole book.

All in all, with really good LGBTQ+ representation, mentions of different body sizes and acceptance of it and just absolutely beautiful friendship between people who are willing to fight for the people they love, I’m not surprised I ended up giving this five stars. I am now highly anticipating the next book in this series and can’t wait to see what they get up to next!

This book was a delight to read. It contains everything that I love -- witches, magic, teenage/high school drama and queer POC characters. Talk about representation! This is a perfect prelude to fall and Halloween. Apart from that, the story was captivating, and though there were some parts where I wasn't able to entirely connect with the characters and the plot, I would still give this book a place on my shelves.

Please give Scapegracers a chance! I'm sure you'll find yourself as magically entwined as me in every page.

the more i read the more i was intrigued and captivated by the story and by the end i just!!! need the next book right now!!
this starts as a fun lesbian-witch-sideways-learn-how-to-do-friendship story and then bam! so much stuff being set for the rest of the series and i seriously can't wait to find out what is going to happen next!

I liked the premise of this book. I wanted to enjoy this book, but the way it was developed probably wasn't the best for me.
The thing I loved the most is how diverse this book is, there's a lot of representation which makes me think that many people will relate to "The Scapegracers" in some way.

I really loved the premise of this book. Witches, high school drama, queer and POC rep? Sign me up! If this sounds like something you would be into, I would definitely recommend it! However the major issue I had with it was the pacing. I really wanted to enjoy it but I often found myself frustrated or confused because there were whole sections where nothing was developing. The book started off fast paced but then the story, to me, went really slow and was a bit repetitive. This may be because it’s the first book in a series and hopefully it will pick up more in the second book. Because of this it took me a while to really get into the story.

Despite this, I loved the characters and I found the friendships so wholesome! The girls in the group are amazing, although I felt Daisy was a bit too extra in the beginning with her aggression. Yates was one of my my favourite characters;, she’s soft, cuddly and constantly affectionate, along with Sideways dads, Julian and Boris.

Overall, I really liked this book enough to read a sequel, but I can’t ignore how much of a mess it was. There was no puzzle to solve but many questions, and the only thing that really wrapped up was the parties. I’m hoping we will be given solid answers in the second book.

Scheduled to post 10/3/20.

Where did I stop? 32% in

Why? This should have been a book I loved, in a voice that I loved and connected with. But for whatever reason I didn't and it didn't. I can't quite put my finger on why. I just didn't connect with the characters, the situation, any of it. I think what initially threw me out of the story was the MC, who's supposed to be really knowledgeable about witchcraft, is just flinging spells at the wall and seeing what sticks and doesn't know what she's doing. And since the whole premise is predicated on this spell Sideways did going wrong and she having no idea what happened, it felt contradictory. So with the foundation of the story wavering for me, everything else felt off as a result. It also focused a bit more on the outcast-now-cool-kid trope a bit much for me and made the story feel a little all over the place. Dead deer in the pool over here and the top bitch of the school is painting my nails over here. It just all around felt off.

It’s The Craft meets Mean Girls—except more heartwarming and queer. That’s the best way I can describe The Scapegracers, the start of a new YA fantasy trilogy by debut novelist Hannah Abigail Clarke. If you love a good found family trope, but also want to see some teen witches funnel their angst into reckless magic, then The Scapegracers is the book for you! It comes out tomorrow, September 15.

Sideways Pike is the school’s outcast lesbian weirdo, and experimenting with spell books under the bleachers has only solidified that reputation even further. But when the three most popular girls in school pay Sideways to add some extra thrills to their Halloween party, the experience changes all of their lives. After getting their first taste of real magic, Daisy, Jing, and Yates can’t wait to see what they could be capable of under Sideways’s tutelage. For Sideways, it’s her first taste of real friendship—although she can’t quite believe West High’s holy trinity would still hang out with her if it weren’t for her magic. But her insecurities are soon the least of her worries. With witch hunters after their magic, rival covens guarding access to knowledge, and inky devils set loose by their impulsive actions, the girls have their hands full. Not to mention, they need to find a way to outdo themselves for the next party. The four girls form a coven of their own, and they’re ready to cut down anyone who stands in their way. The reign of the Scapegracers has only just begun.

The magic system in The Scapegracers is quite unlike anything I’ve read before—particularly because of the reckless and cavalier way that these headstrong teens approach it. Working off of a mysterious spell book sent to her by a stranger, Sideways intuitively draws sigils and makes up incantations on the fly—some of which are terrifyingly vague, as when she calls on the cosmos to “Douse our revelry with magic. Change the way we are” in the middle of a party. It feels a bit like playing with fire, but if the Scapegracers aren’t willing to bow to the authority of another coven and find a mentor, then the next best way to learn is by doing. As a reader, it’s exciting to be learning about magic and the magical community at the same pace as Sideways and her crew.

Learning magic isn’t the only thing that The Scapegracers approaches from a nontraditional direction. The book does a beautiful job of turning the “mean girls” trope on its head. Daisy, Yates, and Jing aren’t “mean” in the stereotypical catty way—fighting over boys, spreading rumors, and tearing down their friends. Instead, they simply embody traits that we often don’t allow girls to display. They are ambitious, powerful, imperfect, and sometimes even vicious. But they’re also loving, affectionate, and ride-or-die loyal to their friends. At first glance, Daisy Brink appears to be your typical popular cheerleader, but she has a cutthroat, ruthless streak to her that is both terrifying to see and refreshing in its honesty. Jing Gao tends to fill the role of the quick-witted, cool-headed leader of the group, but her affected nonchalance conceals some real vulnerability, particularly as she begins to explore her sexuality. And Lila Yates is the heart of the trio—kind, trusting, soft, and feminine, but every bit as powerful as the other girls. When Sideways rounds out their clique, she learns that the gulf between popular girl and outcast weirdo is not as wide as one might think. Sideways is prickly and rough around the edges, with trauma making it difficult for her to connect with others or believe that she is worthy of being loved. But as she glimpses the insecurities and imperfections of the other girls, Sideways is better able to accept those aspects of herself. The Scapegracers are girls—though they each inhabit femininity in a completely different way—and they’re mean—if that’s what you want to call it when they’re unapologetic about grabbing power—but this isn’t a “mean girls” narrative like you’ve ever seen before.

THE SCAPEGRACERS is a wild ride start to finish - full of lively, edgy characters, vivid settings, and a darkly intriguing plot. This story is all at once unique yet familiar - something like if you mashed Heathers up with Soul Eater and made it 1000% gayer, it is a fresh, whip-smart take on the themes of social outcasts, teen witches, and finding your place in your world. I absolutely loved the main character, Sideways - this book has one of the best first-person voices I’ve ever read, giving me a crystal-clear picture of who Sideways was as a person from page one.

The queer representation in this book is also delightful - the characters’ queerness is explored and celebrated in a very natural way, and while it isn’t the focus of the entire plot, it is a critical piece of many characters’ identities.

The only aspect of this book I found unsatisfying was the ending - I wasn’t aware it was the first of a series, so the ending threw me for a loop because the plot felt like it was rising to the climax rather than winding down for the end, and I felt it could have been wrapped up a little less abruptly.

Overall, this was an entertaining, intriguing read that had me rooting for Sideways and her coven, and I look forward to reading the next book when it becomes available!

Character driven stories are a hit or miss for me. While I can appreciate many elements about this book and can see how others may love it, it didn't quite work for me. The writing is where this book lost me, and not having enough plot to continually pull me into the story. While the characters were ruthless and I wanted to love them, it just didn't work for me.

I wouldn't necessarily say this book isn't good though. If you're looking for a character-driven book heavy on description that follows a coven of ruthless teen witches (including lesbian & bi rep), this could be perfect for you. It definitely has some great spooky vibes if you're looking for that. This is one I'm really sad I didn't like, but I'm excited for it to fall into the hands of readers who'll love it.

The premise of this book?

A lesbian teen witch who lives life as a grungey outsider gets sucked into a new friend group with some “popular” girls. Things amp up as a coven is formed and the witchy group get wrapped up with a family of witch hunters.

The Scapegracers centres around a strong female group full of diversity and individuality. The story clearly pushes the idea of redefining popular “mean girls”. This is something that I can always support in YA, but I wish the story had leaned MORE into this trope.

Similar to how I wish the author had leant into the “redefining mean girls” trope more, the story’s plot just left me wanting more.

And while I adore a found family trope, it was very insta-friendship. One second, Sideways is just a random they’ve hired for a party trick. Next second they are the bestest of besties. This really damaged any connection I had to the group as a reader.

Overall, this book has cemented the idea that – for me – young adult contemporary witch stories are often not it. Witches and covens promise a sense of dark grunge that is never quite reached.

If you're interested in gay witches being gay and being angsty, this book is for you.
This took me a little while to get into, but it was worth the hype surrounding it.
I loved the good character driven stories, and this was one of them. Sideways and Daisy and Jing and Yates were all such interesting and multi-dimensional characters, and I loved their dynamics with each other. They were all a little bit in love with each other and I loved that. Friendships between teenage girls are so interesting and these girls were all such well written and diverse and amazing characters, and their friendships were the same.
I could take or leave the plot/story, but the characters were what really made this book such a good read for me.

Atmospheric, spooky, emotional, and completely gripping! The friendships, the magic, the suspense... I loved every moment of it! I can’t wait to see what else these characters have to bring. Highly recommended for ‘spooky season’ reading, or for anyone that loves anything magical all year long!

Thank you for allowing me to read an e-ARC!

*Netgalley arc*

Teenage witches not hiding their powers but showing everyone so they can be known and feared? Fantastic! Loved the sigils, the books, the little details of everyday magic.

I have a very low tolerance for a certain type of character. The one who doesn't care about others as long as it benefits them. You know the type. This is one of the reasons this book isn't getting 4 stars like it should deserve. Sideways was that kind of character to me. A little too much with certain things. Everyone screaming at her not to do a certain thing, and she caring zero about their opinion, being outright rude about it. I would've listened, they seemed to know more than her about stuff. It's my opinion. I have encountered a few characters fitting this description that everyone love but sadly, I just like enough to keep reading the series.

Moving on from that personal tiny dislike, the book has a lot of potential. The magic system was interesting with covens, books having souls and choosing you, being a sort of witch family. I liked how the three already friends girls just took Sideways in and never made her feel left out. The friendship was pretty cute and we need more of that, not only bullies and mean girls. I liked it!

I'm definitely interested and can't wait for more!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t think this is quite the book for me.

Following getting paid to do magic at a party for the popular girls Sideways finds herself swept up by these three girls and together they’re banding together with the strength of female friendship and forming a coven.

I was really into this concept a MC who is a lesbian witch?? Amazing.

But I wasn’t super drawn into the plot and didn’t really get invested. I liked the interactions between the popular girls and sideways and the friendship they created but none of their personas really stood out to me. Certain chapters certainly gripped me more than others particularly towards the end but still felt as a whole like it fell a little short for me.

I managed my way through it but don’t think Ill read the next one.

This book had absolutely no plot. The most boreing thing I have ever read.
The cover is really nice.

This is the book I’ve wanted to read since the first time I watched The Craft when I was like five, since seeing Willow go dark and obsessing over Charmed and Sabrina every night. Witches are top tier, my absolute favourite, they are the bad asses of the mythical world and this is truly the perfect fledgling witch story.

We come into Scapegracers at the very beginning of a coven’s creation. Our protagonist, Sideways didn’t expect to find her coven among the untouchable popular girls, Daisy, Jing and Yates, but that is where our story catches. These girls are just coming into their magic and with Sideways as their guide they begin to uncover the power within themselves and they’re ready for retribution so don’t cross a single one of them.

I am living for this friendship dynamic. Each girl is strong in her own way and I honestly can’t give you a favourite right now because they’re all so interesting and different. Scapegracers shows that teenage girls are powerful, it harnesses that idea and runs with it. The bonds we create as teens are fast and strong when they’re the right people. Add a touch of witchcraft on top of that bond and you’ve got some feisty girls who are ready to do some damage. This group would literally die for one another, the first instinct is to bite back and protect. The fierce love is palpable and I can’t wait to follow them through their journey.

Scapegracers is a dark atmospheric urban fantasy (with a touch of teen sapphic angst) that grips you in from beginning to end. I came for the magic but I stayed for the layered and complex characters and the insane storyline. Clarke allows the characters to live the story rather than outwardly lay it out for you so some of the worldbuilding and plot isn’t fully realised but that’s forgiven because it’s made up for in the feeling it evokes.

Has tons of action,peril and a very strong heroine.
I think that the writing style is very different.Book has lots of adventures and supernatural elements.

Many thanks to Erewhon Books for sending me an e-ARC of this book!

Sideways Pike is a witch. When three popular girls hire her to cast a spell at their Halloween party, the formerly outsider and lesbian finds herself becoming part of a bond with them, forming a coven. Sideways is an interesting character to me, and the book truly hooked me. I loved the play of its words and the way Sideways communicated telling this story in first person. These aren’t cardboard teenagers, but people you like to get to know, while you get paranormal elements, magic, and scary stuff.

This paranormal YA to me is if Mean Girls, Tim Burton, and The Craft had formed a coven and conjured a demon, The Scapegracers would be the result. Not just a paranormal horror story, but characters drive this book. It will be perfect read for the coming Halloween season in this Covid year.


(I actually gave this book 4 1/2 stars.)

<i> ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own! </i>

You ever read a book that just scratches all your itches when it comes to an entertaining piece of media? That’s what Scapegracers was for me! This novel follows your local goth lesbian witch who calls herself Sideways (because she’s not straight? GEDDIT?? XD) as she navigates her way through the world of witchcraft as a fledgling witch. She does this really weird, captivating piece of magic for a halloween party, but events that are bigger than that are set into motion, and Sideways ends up in a LOT of trouble. But, it’s okay, because she also finds her...umm, coven, if you will, along the way.

My favourite thing, outright, about this book is that it’s just so unapologetic about EVERYTHING! It’s unapologetically gay, it’s unapologetically weird, it’s even unapologetically supportive when Sideways does stupid shit. It’s unapologetically feminist! It’s just so authentic and free and amazing and I loved that SO MUCH!!!!

The next best thing about this book is the found family! At the beginning, Sideways Pike is just at the party to do a trick or two, but then she ends up on the inside of this elite trio of girls at her school, and honestly? THAT WAS SO CUTE?? These girls are their own brand of fucked up, and they’re as close to the “Mean Girls™” as anyone can be in this small town, but not once did I find myself disliking them or hating them or judging them or anything like that. They’re all kinds of insane, but they’re also honestly insane, you feel? Also Jing, Daisy and Yates are basically Blossom, Buttercup and Bubbles, if the girls were taller, human, witches and also a little psychopathic xD

And then there’s Sideways. Oh, SIDEWAYS!!! I loved her so, so, so much! She was so awkward and idiotic and just so very….teenager-y. But, like, in the best way! She was silly, but she also valued the right things. She was selfish, but she knew when to put her family- found or otherwise- first. She did stuipd things, but she owned up to that shit and did what she could to make things right when she could. She did the randomest things, but she also made the unthinkable sacrifices. You’d probably dislike her a bit maybe, but you’d love her anyway! She was so dramatic, too! OH MY GOD, SO DRAMATIC!!!! But, like, if you’ve ever known/met/been a sapphic teenager, you’ll know that this is the most accurate thing in the whole wide world! XD

The plot of the novel is like...The Craft meets Supernatural, but we’re not on the side of the hunters this time around. There’s also devils, which are like the spirits of books or something? There’s so much fun, weird shit dude! Like I don’t even want to say anything because I don’t want to spoil anything! It’s all just a weird delight to read about, really! My only gripe with this book was that I really couldn’t figure out what the plot was for almost over a third of the novel. I was enjoying what was going on, but I didn’t get where we were going, you feel? So I knocked off a star, oop!

But honestly, this was one of the most fun reads of the year for me!!! It was just so damn entertaining and I really can’t wait for the sequel!!!!! Definitely check this one out if you’re able!!!

"Teen lesbian witch finds her coven/high school clique" sounds extremely my jam, so I admit I was disappointed not to like The Scapegracers more. I can easily imagine it will appeal more to other readers, but the over-worked linguistic style wasn't to my taste, and I found the story to be weakly paced, with a (seemingly) significant plotline just abandoned for a long period of time.

Though it really wasn't for me, it might appeal to readers in search of sapphic, witchy-dark YA, with all the drama of high school, mean girls, the complexities of friendship and dating as a teenager...all of it given a queer, gothy twist, like the rainbow-shine gleam on top of a black oil slick.

Thank you to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the advance review copy!