Oh no! Didnt realize this was a sequel. However i am intrigued enough to go look for the first book. I revist this soon :)

I requested this book before realizing it was a sequel. Thankfully, I was able to read the first book in the duo before reading this one. While reading both books made the most sense, the second book gives just enough backstory that it could stand alone. This was a cozy fantasy with good queer rep and without graphic sex scenes. I would recommend it to my high school students.

It took me a stupidly long time to figure out that this was a sequel to another book which I should've researched beforehand. Not to say that I didn't enjoy the book, I just didn't take the signs that the book was giving SEQUEL. The fact that the characters seemed already established for the most part is usually a sign that there is a previous book but that went over my head and that the pacing was the much more relaxed feeling of a sequel. With that out of the way, I enjoyed the adventure-yness of it with the magic, intrigue, and videogame questness of it all. There were times I wasn't the biggest fan of Kieran, but he grew on me. I of course, loved Sebastian and his dark past. I'm a sucker for a broody character with a past.

I loved Kayla Cottingham's previous book and was looking forward to this one. It didn't disappoint. I loved getting to spend more time with Kieran, Briar, and Delilah. The characters are fun and there's just the right blend of romance and adventure. Some parts in the middle went on for a bit too long, but overall, it was very enjoyable.

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