Publishers Weekly
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Making good use of the grumpy/sunshine trope, Krempholtz's cozy romantasy debut pairs a formerly evil witch on a quest for redemption with the handsome new landlord who tests her ability to stay kind. Once known as the fearsome Thornwitch, Violet Thistlewaite sheds her wicked ways and heads to small-town Dragon’s Rest, where she hopes for a fresh start and to use her plant-based magical abilities to open a flower shop. She finds the perfect spot when she meets Pru Marsh, who offers her retail space, living quarters, and use of half the greenhouse at the back of the property. The catch is that Pru and her twin brother, Nathaniel, an alchemist, live and work in the other half of the building—and Nathaniel didn’t sign off on his sister’s offer for Violet to share his greenhouse. Worried about his own flagging business and reticent to let a stranger into his space, Nathaniel is initially rude to Violet, but she vows to break through his grumpiness. When the pair are forced to work together to rid the town of a terrible blight, an opposites-attract romance blossoms. It’s incredibly satisfying to watch as Nathaniel’s resistance to Violet’s charms crumbles. This is a fun, feel-good romp. (Nov.)

Library Journal
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DEBUT The Thornwitch, once the right-hand minion of the late evil wizard Guy Shadowfade, has returned to the village of Dragon's Rest as a florist named Violet Thistlewaite. Under her new identity, she's hoping to brighten a town she once blighted and to get a fresh start by helping the town with its own. But just because Violet has turned over a new leaf, that doesn't mean that her past will let her go or that the evil she once served isn't ready and waiting for her to pick up her old, thorny powers to solve an even thornier but more personal fight to save the people she has come to hold dear. Krempholtz's novel, a mostly cozy fantasy with just a touch of grumpy/sunshine romance, takes a story of redemption and second chances and mixes it delightfully with a town full of secrets, creating a tale about surviving dysfunctional family to become the person you were meant to be. VERDICT Readers of cozy fantasy will adore Krempholtz's debut, and fans of Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis, The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong, and the "Wicked Years" series by Gregory Maguire will find a new home in Dragon's Rest.—Marlene Harris

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Dragon's Rest, a cozy town with mythical inhabitants, is the perfect place for Violet Thistlewaite, a powerful Thornwitch, to make a fresh start. After years of working alongside a dark sorcerer, all Violet wants is to be “good.” She wants to settle down and make a name for herself that isn’t feared. With her flower shop and enchantments drawing people to her new hometown, she starts to see a way forward despite a thorn in her side, her grumpy but handsome neighbor, alchemist Nathaniel. When a dark shadow from Violet’s past comes through, it will be up to Violet and Nathaniel to work together to make sure their second chances are not completely lost. However, secrets may derail their success. Can a villain who wants to be good have a happily ever after? This debut title is a solid fit for fans of Travis Baldree's Legends & Lattes (2022) or Amanda Flower’s Magic Bookshop mystery series as well as for those who grew up with Disney's The Descendants. If anyone deserves a redemptive arc, it's Violet. Cozy and whimsical, this is an fun dive into a fantasy world.