Kieran wants so badly to have found his one true love. He and Ash are similar and seem like a good fit. When Kieran accidentally casts a curse on Ash, he has to find a solution. On this quest, he is joined by his twin sister, her girlfriend, and Sebastian. Sebastian joins their group as a slight unknown. Kieran and Sebastian find an attraction, but Kieran doesn't know if he can trust Sebastian or himself, after Ash. This was a fun adventure story. The different characters were fun and interesting. There is a book that comes before, but you don't have to read the previous book to enjoy this book. I enjoyed this story for its merit. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a review.

I am a big Kayla Cottingham fan--from before their debut was even published since I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC of that beautiful novel as well. In this newest novel, Extraordinary Quests for Amateur Witches, Cottingham continues to thrill readers. This is a wonderful sequel to Practical Rules with all the same loveable characters (plus some new ones), the perfect cozy YA feel, and an equally exciting adventure. This time, Kieran is on a quest to complete his Calling (and undo a little accidental curse) and win back his boyfriend. Of course, he brings the whole crew along on what is truly an epic journey. While Cottingham's plot is, as always, engaging and well constructed, I am even more impressed with Kieran's character development throughout the novel. It feels authentic and relatable as he explores who he is, who he wants to be, and what that means for his future. Yes, it is a romance, but more than anything, this novel felt like a love letter to all the queer kids who are trying to find themselves and the beauty in the stumbles along the way.

Rating: 3.5 stars

I recently read Practical Rules and Cursed Witches, so I was excited for Extraordinary Quests for Amateur Witches and seeing where Kieran's story leads. While this book is can be read as a standalone, I think reading the first book does provide some helpful context around the relationship between some of the characters, particularly the family dynamics. But this doesn't appear too much in the book, so I think readers can still get the general idea without having read Practical Rules for Cursed Witches. It does include previously featured characters, so for readers that want to know more about the crew members and such, I'd recommend checking out the first book!

I actually enjoyed Extraordinary Quests for Amateur Witches more than I did the first book. I think I was able to connect more to the characters here, especially after having read one book with them. I felt like the relationship between Kieran and Ash was too instalovey, so I liked how that was addressed and how his relationship with Sebastian was more developed. Sebastian was an interesting character, and I hadn't predicted his reveal. I liked the twist it brought to the story.

I didn't love Cottingham's writing style in the first book, but I think it grew on me here and my enjoyment of the characters also helped. I do like the overall theme of the story about self-acceptance/belonging and self-confidence, and it was nice to see Kieran's character development. I like how the plot conflict was resolved regarding this. I thought the plot pacing was done well, and I enjoyed reading about all the different quests and challenges that Kieran experienced.

This was a cute and entertaining read. I recommend reading it publishing date order still, just for the extra context, but it's not entirely necessary. I would recommend it for folks that enjoy quests, YA fantasy, and a bit of coziness.

I did not realize this was a sequel, which was my fault. I actually went into kindle and ordered the first one because I liked this one so much. Love!

I didn't realize this was the second book in a series. While reading the first book is not necessary to understand the plot, I think it might have provided more context for the MC who is just really, well, pathetic for the first half of the novel. He does improve (thank goodness), but story is more a romance than an adventure story with a whole lot of pathos about his first teenage love not working out (does it ever?!). The decision to somehow upend this trope (something the author complains about in her notes) by having him fall in love, presumably forever, with the *second* guy he ever is interested in seems like a weird attempt at rebellion that just doesn't pay off. The writing is fine, just not my cup of tea with the focus on angst and grand romance