Top positive review
4.0 out of 5 starsAn Enticing and Gothic Tale!
Reviewed in Canada on April 1, 2022
“Wild and Wicked Things” by Francesca May is an enticingly gothic and witchy tale full of mesmerizing magic, forbidden romance, and elaborate parties. This bewitching tale is one that readers won’t want to miss.
Annie Mason’s position on magic is simple: she has no interest in meddling with something dangerous and forbidden. Until her father’s death brings her to Crow’s Island to settle his estates, an island known for its supernatural power.
Having a known witch living next door who throws enticing and elaborate parties doesn’t help matters. Though Annie has sworn to stay away from magic and everything that comes along with it, her stance changes when an old friend, who mysteriously disappeared from back home, shows up at one of these parties arguing with the witch herself: Emmeline. Drawn into a world of deadly magic, damning secrets, and unlikely romance, Annie finds herself caught up in a world of illusions and deception that threatens to put many in danger unless she can find a way to stop it.
Fans of the gothic genre, witchcraft, and supernatural thrillers will enjoy “Wild and Wicked Things.” It’s full of enticing, dark magic that has serious consequences but will draw characters and readers into its magnetic pull of promises and possibilities. The LGBTQ characters add depth to the time period and the story, providing realistic hardships and relationships that feels tangible and relatable. The characters are very much at the centerpiece of this story; wild and chaotic in their own rights rather than pawns moved across a narrative chessboard. They are hugely a part of what makes this gothic tale one of mystery and interest.
The beginning was a bit slow going, and there were moments of suspense and high action that lost a bit of traction due to too much detail or was clouded by the character’s thoughts. This created difficulty in being gripped by the tale the whole way through. Even still, the wildly imaginative moments of magic and illusions generated enough interest to be enthralled by the story and its characters.
Readers should be on the lookout for this novel on its expected publication date of March 29, 2022.
Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for providing me with a free e-arc of this story and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.