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.