A Spell For Change is a new historical fantasy set in 1920s Appalachia. It focuses on three characters who live in the small town of Chatuga, Tennessee, and have different magical abilities. Each character is struggling under the pressure of society at the time, and each character wants to carve their own path.

The first character we meet is Nora Jo. Nora Jo is an independent young school teacher. Both her mother and grandmother were witches, but she doesn't think she's capable of magic. She is soon approached by a man who wants to teach her magic. She loses her job shortly after and realizes that his offer may be her only chance to remain independent. Others in town want her to settle down and let a man take care of her, but Nora isn't interested in men and is not interested in doing what people want her to.

Our second main character is Georgia Kate, the eldest daughter in a large black family who live on the edge of town. Kate learns that her family may soon have to relocate away from Chatuga since white people moving into the area are being prioritized for mill jobs, causing her father to have his hours reduced. She has visions of the future that others think must come from the Devil, but Kate is kind, tough, headstrong, and hardworking. She takes on more work to help her parents while waiting to meet the white boy her visions tell her will be an important figure in her life.

Oliver, sometimes called Junior since he shares his name with his father, is the son of the wealthiest family in town. He recently returned from serving in WWI and is struggling with new, chronic health issues and trauma from the war. His father wants him to start work at the family's mill and prepare to take over the family legacy, but Oliver's illness and new ability to see ghosts make things more difficult.
This book is very atmospheric with sprinkles of Horror and Southern Gothic vibes. This isn't a fast-paced adventure fantasy, this is a slow-moving character study about characters trapped within the confines of the patriarchal, sexist, and racist era (and area) that they are living in. This book is also quite dark with deaths, ghosts, and horrors (both real and magical).

There are two main relationships in the book. Nora Jo has a (Sapphic) love interest, and Kate/Oliver. Both relationships are forbidden at the time, and both pairs know they won't be allowed to be together openly. Though the relationships get some focus and are pivotal to the characters' story arcs, this is not a romance, and a happy ending is not guaranteed.

I enjoyed reading this book. I loved the theme of the powerless in society getting their own power, and I loved to see the three main characters each have a moment to stand up and finally be able to take charge of their own lives. Kate's arc was my favorite in the book, but every storyline had great moments.

I recommend this most to fans of Historical Fantasy and Magical Realism that examine heavy topics in thoughtful ways. Fans of character-focused fantasy may also really enjoy this.

Thank you to Netgalley and Titan books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars

I really loved the writing of this book. It was very slow-paced at the beginning, but you could feel things building up as you kept reading which I loved. The author did a great job setting the tone and atmosphere of the book. I also appreciated the queer representation in the book, and found the queer romance to be sweet, but I did wish it was built upon more. I especially loved Oliver as a character. He was loveable and his heartbreaking backstory during the Great War really hit my heartstrings.

I would have liked to have Nora Jo's POV more intertwined with the other two main characters. She felt like she was very separate during almost the entirety of the book compared to Kate and Oliver whose POVs greatly intersected. The "twist" at the end wasn't that much of a shocker, but that may just be because the foreshadowing to me was pretty obvious. I do wish more action happened earlier in the book, but I did find the ending of the book to be very satisfying and a nice conclusion.

An historical fantasy set in post-WW1 Appalachia.

We following three main characters, each struggling with their places in society and with a supernatural "gift". Nora Jo, who uses small spells learnt from her mother and grandmother, is a schoolteacher who loses her job because the community think it’s inappropriate for her to not be married. Kate, is trying to earn enough money to keep her family from moving away from the increasingly hostile and racist town, suffers seizures that come with visions of the future. And finally, Oliver, the only son of the local wealthy family, has returned from the Great War traumatised, suffering the debilitating effects of breathing in gas, and with the ability to see ghosts. Slowly we delve more into their stories and it becomes clear that something is amiss in their town, and a darkness is lurking.

The setting and atmosphere is excellent, the slow development of the characters stories allows you to get a feel of the time and place. All three of them felt distinct with their own life issues outside of the magic/supernatural elements: racism, sexism, family expectations to make traditional life choices, etc.
However, it took far too long for all three of the characters and their plotlines to come together. This was particularly detrimental to Nora Jo's storyline which feels like it should be the most important but was less engaging than Kate and Oliver's intertwined plot. The ending felt a little abrupt in it's change of pace and focus. I also wasn't keen on the reveal of what was the cause of the danger - it just didn't feel like it quite matched with the magic experienced by our MCs.

An atmospheric and engaging historical supernatural fantasy, that didn't quite keep me gripped until the end but was still an entertaining read.

Thank-you to NetGalley, Titan books and the author Nicole Jarvis for the eARC of A Spell for Change.
A Spell for Change is a historical fantasy set in post-WW1 Appalachia and we follow the perspective of three society outcasts in small town Chatuga - each with unique magical abilities. The two main characters Kate and Oliver were heavily involved in each other’s storyline, while Nora-Jo, the third main point-of-view, was rarely mentioned in the other perspectives. I would have enjoyed there being more connections between all three characters since two were intermingled and one remained aloof to the others until near the end of the story. Another issue I had with the novel was the pacing. It was extremely slow paced and only started to pick up towards the end but even the climax of the story was lacking tension. This was due to the ending being not only predictable but also broken up by slower paced chapters.

The author was talented at describing the surrounds and situations since I was able to easily visualise the entire novel. There was well established character development as they stayed true to themselves while also growing and being open to change.

Overall, I enjoyed the plot and characters, but the slow-paced novel has not provoked a lasting impact on me as a reader.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me - I just couldn't get on with the writing style. I was intrigued by the plot, but just found that I wasn't engaged. I will try again and update if the timing is right for a read in future. Apologies.

The story takes place in 1920s Appalachia where three young people are each touched with a specific type of magic. Kate, an African American teen, has explosive fits where she sees glimpses of the future. Oliver, a veteran of WWI with lung disease brought on by exposure to mustard gas, sees ghosts. Nora Jo, a teacher who's just lost her job, has the ability to become a powerful witch.

Kate foresees a relationship with Oliver, the son of the town's wealthiest white family. The two meet and slowly develop a close friendship. Now unemployed, Nora Jo is approached by a mysterious male witch who begins to teach her how to bring forth her magic.

All of this moves toward violent and disturbing final chapters in which dark forces are unleashed on the three.

The writing, character development and historical background are all strong in this rather lengthy book. I would have preferred more action sooner, but what we get in those last chapters is very intense and keeps the reader going. The ending is both sad and satisfactory.

Highly recommended.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

I really enjoyed the writing style, it felt very vivid and fit the historical vibe. Definitely recommended for fans of small-town magic and the supernatural. I always prefer a more natural-based danger than demonic, but it worked out well for the plot.

I liked this well enough at the start but Nora Jo quickly began to irritate me.

The writing style was lovely but I was halfway through and had grown so bored I decided to DNF. Thanks for the opportunity to read but this one just wasn’t for me.

I'm always thrilled to find a story that pays homage to the beauty of my home region. Jarvis paints Appalachia in exquisite, loving detail, never neglecting the role of the environment in her this multifacted, historical fantasy. As much as I enjoyed Jarvis' writing, I struggled to connect with the characters. The POV switches and third-person narration made it difficult to stay in one character's head for too long. As a result, some of the romance plotlines felt a bit unmotivated. I wish the focus had remained more squarely on the three girls and their parallel (and eventually intersecting) journeys. Similarly, this is an incredibly slow-paced story that takes time and attention to pay off. It would have been a little easier to read if I had felt closer to the characters, but I nonetheless enjoyed a fantasical take on an incredible region.

A Spell for Change by Nicole Jarvis is a compelling historical fantasy with a hint of darkness that I absolutely loved. Set in the post World War 1 Appalachia the book quickly grabbed me and held my attention from first page to last. I loved the setting and immediately fell for the character of Nora Jo Barker, a young woman who is determined to make something of herself and loves her job as teacher in the small local school. Her grandmother and mother were witches but both died before Nora Jo could learn how to use her own powers and so they have remained undeveloped. When a strange man comes to town and singles her out as someone with power she at first has no intention of taking up his offer of a magical apprenticeship but when her unorthodox teaching methods cause her to fall foul of the narrow minded local community and she loses her job his offer becomes more appealing.
Oliver is the son of the local mill owner and has grown up in relative wealth and privilege but that was not enough to save him from the nightmare of trench warfare, he has returned from his time on the front traumatised, able to see the dead and feeling immense guilt about the death of his best friend.
Kate Mayer is the eldest daughter of a poor Black family whose visions of the future disturb not only her but also her family, especially when so many of them come to pass. When she meets Oliver one night in the woods she realises that he is the mysterious man she has been seeing in her dreams but what kind of future could they possibly have, especially since he is hostile and wary of her intentions.
As the stories of these three characters are deftly woven together by the author I was transported to another time and place and I found myself gripped by the story that was unfolding. The pacing was on the slower side, especially in the first half of the book but never in a way that bothered me, rather in a way that let me acclimatise to setting and warm to the characters. The pace does pick up and things definitely take a turn for the darker in the last third or so of the book, and it times it veered into horror territory, so reader be warned there are some brutal and bloody moments. There are a couple of romance sub plots but neither are particularly well developed, so if that is something you look for in your reading this might not be the book for you. On the other hand if you like character driven story telling with a good sense of place this might be right up your street. I appreciated that the author used three characters who were to one degree or another outsiders to explore trauma, identity and belonging and the importance of community and while this was my first book by Nicole Jarvis, I will definitely be reading more from her in the future.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Three young people with supernatural abilities are caught up in a demonic plot in post World War II Appalachia. Atmospheric with interesting characters and storyline, but the writing is repetitive and holds the characters at arm's length, meaning the reader never fully engages with the. Not one for me.

I thought A Spell for Change was a good book with an interesting historical perspective woven between the pages. On top of that, there was a hint of paranormal and spooky vibes, which kept me wanting to read more. The story starts slow, with tension building up and introducing the three main characters. From there, things start to unfold, eventually leading to a spectacular finale.

I really liked the writing style, It's very vivid and descriptive: "The taste of licorice lingered on her tongue, heavy as riverbank mud." I loved this!

At times, I wished the historical aspects were explored a bit more deeply, what was life like back then? That said, several historical themes were addressed: the role of women in society, racial segregation and the mental toll on soldiers returning from World War I.

Overall, this book was a refreshing change and I would definitely recommend reading this one.

Thanks to NetGalley, Nicole Jarvis and Titan Books for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review.

I loved the unique setting of this story very much (more historical fantasy set in Appalachia please!) but found the pacing and the characters kept me at a bit of a distance.

A Spell for Change by Nicole Jarvis, was my first historical fantasy book I have ever read. Being a lover of historical fiction and fantasy, when selecting this book, I thought it would be the perfect one, and I was not disappointed.

This book has 3 main characters: Oliver, Kate, and Nora Jo. Each have their own struggles, trauma, and hard decisions to make due to life and societal norms and expectations. Something everyone can relate to in some type of way.

Magic is woven into the character’s lives, something sinister is lurking, and eventually fate comes knocking on their door. While the story’s plot slowly builds throughout the book, you develop a deep understanding and love of the characters. The character development is excellent, and so is the plot development. Nicole Jarvis is a talented writer. I found myself rooting for the characters, hoping they found the strength to claim their happiness despite the odds against them, and was invested in the outcome.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in May. I loved this book but also how very dare. This book destroyed me. The way it woven the impact of a past in which only cishet white men had rights with the supernatural was so interesting.

3.5 stars!

This is a really beautiful book but my feelings are a little more mixed than I expected considering I love historical fantasy, queer characters, and anything set in Appalachia.

Despite feeling like an outsider, Nora Jo is content with her life as the town's schoolteacher until a stranger shows up at her door offering to mentor her in powers beyond her imagination. Everyone knows that Kate has fits, but few know of her prophetic visions and the handsome young man that keeps showing up in them. Oliver returns from the war traumatized and struggling with his new ability to see the dead, crushed under the weight of his father's expectations. Pretty much everything about this book sounded up my alley. As mentioned, I love historical fantasy, queer rep, and Appalachia as well as multiple POVs so I was so ready for this. For the most part, it's a really great book. The characters have a ton of depth and you spend a lot of time focusing on their individual lives and journeys. The setting was also one of my favorite parts, with all of the small-town tension and the imagery of the changing seasons. Having said that, this book is immensely slow-paced. Very little action happens until the last 30%, and even then it feels like a lot of slow scenes momentarily broken up with a lot of action. The twist was also very obvious, so much so that I assumed it was a red herring. I don't feel like I wasted my time, but I don't think the payoff is quite worth the build-up.

If you like deeply character-focused slow-paced stories, this is probably going to be more up your alley. Just don't expect some explosive payoff at the end of the story.

Thank you to Nicole Jarvis and Titan Books for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!

Happy reading!

Three young people with varying supernatural tendencies find themselves in the middle of a demonic plot threatening their small Appalachian town post-WWI.

I enjoyed the story and writing here for the most part, but the characters sometimes felt like they were held at arm's length from me. Nora Jo in particular was a tricky character to pin down and her romantic plot wasn't given the room to breathe given the weight it held in the story. For the majority of "A Spell for Change," Nora Jo is separated from the Oliver/Kate plotline, and despite the relatively long page count, we just aren't given as much time in each of these characters' heads as I would have liked. We are able to get to know Oliver and Kate through their own point of view as well as through each other's eyes, but that balance was lost when it came to Nora Jo and led to a pretty flat portrayal of her love interest.

A Spell for Change by Nicole Jarvis is a sumptuous and atmospheric historical fantasy that weaves together magic, mystery, and the search for identity in a post-World War I Appalachian setting. With its richly drawn characters, evocative prose, and haunting exploration of dark forces, this novel is perfect for fans of Alix E. Harrow, Susanna Clarke, and Kirsty Logan.

The story follows three outcasts, each grappling with their own misunderstood magical gifts and personal struggles. Kate is plagued by visions of the future, which always come true—often with devastating consequences. Oliver, a war veteran, returns home with the ability to speak to the dead, haunted by the loss of his best friend and the trauma of the trenches. Nora Jo, a schoolteacher descended from a line of witches, has long suppressed her own power but finds herself drawn into a magical apprenticeship after losing her job.

As rumours of a dark force stalking their small Appalachian town begin to spread, Kate, Oliver, and Nora Jo are forced to confront their own fears and desires. Their paths intertwine as they search for their place in the world, but each must grapple with the cost of their choices and whether what they seek is worth the price.

One of the standout features of A Spell for Change is its richly detailed setting. Jarvis brings post-World War I Appalachia to life with vivid descriptions of its rugged landscapes, tight-knit communities, and the lingering scars of war. The historical context adds depth and resonance to the story, creating a backdrop that is both familiar and otherworldly.

The characters are equally compelling, with Kate, Oliver, and Nora Jo each bringing their own unique perspective and struggles to the narrative. Kate’s visions and her struggle to control them make her a sympathetic and relatable protagonist, while Oliver’s grief and his quest for closure add emotional weight to the story. Nora Jo’s journey of self-discovery and her embrace of her magical heritage provide a sense of hope and empowerment.

The plot is a masterful blend of personal drama and supernatural intrigue, with the dark force stalking the town adding a layer of suspense and danger. The pacing is excellent, with the tension building steadily as the characters uncover the truth behind the rumours and confront their own inner demons. The themes of identity, belonging, and the cost of power are woven seamlessly into the narrative, adding depth and resonance to the story.

Thematically, A Spell for Change explores issues of trauma, resilience, and the search for meaning in a world that often feels hostile and unforgiving. The novel also delves into the idea of community and the ways in which people can come together to support and uplift one another, even in the face of darkness. These themes are handled with nuance and sensitivity, making the story both thought-provoking and emotionally satisfying.

If there is a minor critique, it is that some readers may find the pacing a bit slow in places, particularly in the early chapters. However, this is a small quibble in an otherwise masterfully crafted novel.

A Spell for Change is a must-read for fans of historical fantasy and stories that explore the complexities of human nature. Nicole Jarvis has created a novel that is as haunting as it is beautiful, offering readers a chance to lose themselves in a world of magic, mystery, and the enduring power of hope.

A sumptuous and atmospheric historical fantasy, A Spell for Change is a properly standout novel.

received an arc from netgalley, consider me disclosed.

this was very, very good. i kind of felt like it straddled the line between ya and adult, but also i wouldn't classify it as new adult? maybe that's because new adult tends to have a more coming-of-age-in-your-twenties feel.
anyways, i was gripped the whole way through, at times i was anxious enough to have to put my phone down while i was reading, it was great. it really did feel like the threat the three main characters faced was grounded in their reality and how their communities understood the world, which i thought was an excellent choice.
i loved kate's determination, and how hard she fights every single day. oliver, my sweet sad war boy, i wish you all the best. to be honest, i felt that nora jo needed to Get Over Herself, but i think that's because there was a whiff of not-like-other-girls. frankly, i don't see how that could have been avoided and i guess when you have magic and most people don't you really aren't like the other girls. i wish her and gloria got more development, they felt a bit rushed. i do love where nora jo was at by the end of the book, and i would love to see more of her story.
honestly though, great book that at times felt threatening (this is a good thing). would recommend!

I was looking forward to this book for aaaaaaaaaaages and it did not disappoint--I think this is Nicole Jarvis's best book yet! The setting was wonderfully lush and the magic was well thought out. I was legitimately spooked in a couple of scenes! But mostly, I did not expect the ending, and I love that Jarvis managed to surprise me in a way that felt true to the story and the characters. Heartbreaking but beautiful.