Homegrown Magic: 04/04/25

Homegrown Magic by Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos (2025) is a fantasy romance with a friends to lovers HEA. Yael Clauneck is the scion of the banking family that can make or break the financial well-being of entire towns. Margot Greenwillow is a talented plant witch who is doing everything she can to save her town from the Claunecks.

The romance unfolds in alternating chapters, starting with Yael and switching to Margot. Yael has a reputation as a wild one and a lover of many a noble lady. They want nothing more than to be rid of their family obligations and to be their own person. Their first step in that journey, stealing a mechanical horse.

Margot was a minor noble lady and grew up in a family estate, one that has been reposed by the Claunecks. They are threatening the same to her village if she can't finish her grandmother's potion. Meanwhile her parents are in a coma from a magical accident.

The romance between the two is about a medium burn. They haven't seen each other in years but they still remember their chemistry. Yael, though, has to prove themselves before Margot will open up to romance.

The setting has an interesting magical steampunk cottagecore aesthetic. Fans of Kay O'Neill's graphic novels would probably enjoys this book (despite the lack of illustrations). Backing up the romance is an interesting mystery of an unfinished potion and underhanded business dealings.

Five stars

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