I really enjoyed the first book in the Eva Evergreen series but the sequel lacked the same charm. It was far more generic and action based, without the lovely character and world building of the first.

I really enjoyed venturing back to Rivelle Realm in this follow-up to Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch. The book begins with Eva and her mother sharing key information about the Cullings and then takes off swiftly from there. What unfolds is a dark adventure into worlds unknown.

Overall this was a satisfying read with plenty of heart and determination, but it lacked a bit of the charm and much of the coziness we got from the first book. I don't know that they should be directly compared, though, because they explore different issues. I also thought this book moved along quickly and some of the events at the end wrapped up neatly but without a lot of explanation as to how.

In any event, I hope there's a third Eva book in the works! Please note that readers should not skip book #1 as that sets up the world building and context for this book.

An adventurous and high-stakes follow up to book one! Eva faces dark and worrisome problems here as they discover the culprit behind the Cullings, who turns out to be a terrifying and hard witch to catch. Eva is such a plucky and lovely heroine, always putting others first and working tirelessly at any job she's given. I do feel bad for her having to work so much (THE BABY IS LIKE 12), and I did wonder what the adults were actually doing. But no one can save the world like Eva Evergreen can 😪👌🏻I did miss the soft and chaotic magic of book one, as the adventure here is more serious with the risk of people Eva loves being hurt. It was fast-paced and punchy, with plenty of clues for Eva to solve and loveable friends to support her (let's not forget her super cute firefox, Ember!!)

I interviewed Julie Abe about this book on Lit CelebrAsian: https://litcelebrasian.wordpress.com/2021/08/03/julie-abe-eva-evergreen-interview/

I've been looking forward to this sequel ever since the ending of Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch! And I loved every moment of it! Eva is passionate, loyal, and loving. Immediately beginning with action, Eva Evergreen and the Cursed Witch is a story about doing the right thing. About making difficult decisions and sacrifices for the community and the people we love. Continuing threads from the first, Abe has only introduced more intrigue and magical creatures!

“It may seem impossible, but I’ll show them I am an impossible possibility.”

I really think this series is so fun! I wish I had had these when I was growing up. Not that I don’t like them now, but I would have appreciated Eva Evergreen as a kid. Would definitely recommend to young readers.

Eva Evergreen and the Cursed Witch starts off close to where the first finished. Eva and her friends have discovered the truth about the Culling, but that truth leads to devastating events. It is now up to Eva to prove herself and solve the mystery once and for all.

Julie Abe has a way of bringing the reader into the story. The world and character building are really phenomenal. I think that Abe is able to connect to the reader and allow them to become a part of the story, without it being overwhelming. For a younger reader, I think they will appreciate the style and amount of detail that is given by the Abe.

I said this in my Semi-Magical Witch review, but I really love Eva. She’s someone who girls can look up to and relate to in some way or another. Eva may not have the most magical ability, but she is brave, creative, and determined. She does not let her “pinch of magic” go to waste.

Really enjoyed the sequel. It was a bit darker than the first, but I enjoyed that. This releases August 3rd, so if you haven’t read Eva Evergreen Semi-Magical Witch yet, would recommend doing so, to be ready for The Cursed Witch.

Abe's writing style is descriptive and easy for readers to imagine the setting where this story takes place. There is a good balance of suspense and adventure. Readers will find the characters relatable as most people would find in their own communities. The positive and upbeat attitudes among most of the characters makes this a story worth diving into for any upper elementary and middle grade reader.

Even though this was #2 in the series and I hadn't read the first one, I still didn't feel out of place or lost. It was a cute story and the characters definitely had their own voices.