Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch by Julie Abe - Spoiler-Free Review

Welcome to my second book review on The Booklore Fairy. If you haven't read my review of A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft, check it out in last week's post.

Short Description

Eva Evergreen's dearest wish is to become a fully-fledged witch, just like her mother. To do so, she must first be granted the rank of Novice Witch by completing her Novice Witch Quest. However, it's not quite as simple as it sounds and Eva is not an all-powerful witch. In fact, almost all the spells Eva has cast since awakening her power have been feeble at best and catastrophic at worst, and to make it more embarrassing, every time she casts a slightly powerful spell she falls asleep as the magic is drained from her body. However, she is determined to earn her place. Her quest takes her to the coastal town of Auteri where she must live for one moon, enriching the lives of its people. With a destructive magical storm approaching, the townspeople want a powerful witch, not someone semi-magical. Eva sets up a repair shop and her semi-magical repairs change the town in ways its people could never have expected. However, will a semi-magical witch last against the danger just beyond the horizon?

(Read the official synopsis on Amazon or Goodreads)

Review

What can I say to describe this book? The words heart-warming and wholesome don't seem strong enough.

Firstly, I must speak about the cover. Isn't it adorable? It fits the story so well.

Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch is a beautiful tale filled with themes of family, friendship, belonging, love, loss, grief, and self-confidence. I heard people say that this book healed their soul and although that is a bit dramatic I understand where they are coming from.

We follow Eva, a nervous yet determined twelve-year-old, as she attempts to take the first step towards her dreams. I loved Eva, she knew her limits and although that made her feel small she never gave up. Eva is sweet, empathetic, passionate, and clever. In fact, Eva's cleverness and resourcefulness are her most endearing traits. It's inspiring to see someone who struggles to do things the 'normal' way stop trying to fit in and instead play to her strengths. And the way she does so borders on genius.

The magic in this tale, or rather, how they invoke their magic is quite straightforward, they chant a spell. However, the creativity in actually constructing a spell that rhymes and does its job, sometimes in mere seconds, is honestly impressive. Even more so for Eva who needs to find ways to amplify her weaker powers using odds and ends she sees around town. The way Eva's 'fixes' change the townspeople's lives is really fun to read about since nothing goes as expected and at times what seem like disasters turn out to be wonderous.

On the topic of the town, the way Julie Abe has described Auteri is breathtaking, it makes you want to join Eva as she goes to live there. At the edge of the Constancia sea, nestled between two cliffs, Auteri seems serene, cut off from the rest of the world, next to a sea housing intriguing lightfish and playful dolphins. Auteri's Festival of Lights is renowned throughout the realm and the writing truly makes you experience its magic and the townspeople's excitement for it.

Speaking of magic, a surprise was the hunger-inducing way the author was able to describe the food mentioned. I found myself salivating with every mention of buckwheat noodles, cloudberry popcorn, cheese sandwiches, smoked salmon, gorgeous sugar creations, and Eva's favorite Yuzu cookies baked by her father. So, if you are a food lover like me, you'll have something more to look forward to.

Although Eva is my favorite, the other characters in this story are also well-written and worthy of admiration. Though this is a middle-grade, the characters are deep and compelling with their limits and strengths. Rin is the kindest and the most understanding, you feel drawn to her from the moment she is introduced. Charlotte is stubborn, prickly yet loyal, and skilled at all odd jobs. Davy is adventurous, sweet, and a dreamer. Mayor Taira is rigid, and intimidating yet cares deeply for the future of her town and its people. The other townspeople are also quite diverse in terms of their personalities but they share a common love for Auteri. Conroy and Hayato are entitled, nasty, and cruel, but I guess no story is complete without characters like them.

If you are an animal lover then you will adore Ember, a troublesome but adorable little flamefox who is just a little bundle of terror. Despite destroying Eva's belongings, devouring her food, and causing her endless anxiety, Ember worms himself into Eva's (and every reader's) heart and becomes as important to her as family. The bond between the two adds to the cozy atmosphere of the story.

The theme of family is a major focus in this sweet story from Eva and her supportive parents to Rin who is no longer on speaking terms with her family and Charlotte and Davy who are desperately searching for their lost family. The, often-overlooked, importance of communication and reconciliation is reinforced throughout this book.

I must admit that the book is quite slow-paced and if you prefer fast-paced, action-packed stories this may not be for you. I love reading middle-grades so the pace was perfect for me. If you love Ghibli movies (especially Kiki's Delivery Service), you'll love this story. Also, some plot points were a little predictable, but it was still a sweet and exciting story.

Lastly, and most importantly, this story makes you think more about your capabilities. Watching Eva struggle to think of ways to channel her magic made me think of my strengths and shortcomings. It makes you think deeply about what you could do to give yourself the best chance at success just like Eva. It was a huge morale, motivation, and self-confidence booster. It truly helps you understand the beauty of being semi-magical.

Rating: 4.5/5 🌟

Emoji Depiction: 🧹🦊🧰

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See you on Wednesday for my review of The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.