Bewitching Season

In 1837 London, young daughters of viscounts pined for handsome, titled husbands, not careers. And certainly not careers in magic. At least, most of them didn’t.

Shy, studious Persephone Leland would far rather devote herself to her secret magic studies than enter society and look for a suitable husband. But right as the inevitable season for "coming out" is about to begin, Persy and her twin sister discover that their governess in magic has been kidnapped as part of a plot to gain control of the soon-to-be Queen Victoria. Racing through Mayfair ballrooms and royal palaces, the sisters overcome bad millinery, shady royal spinsters, and a mysterious Irish wizard. And along the way, Persy learns that husband hunting isn’t such an odious task after all, if you can find the right quarry.

Beth says 5 Stars...
This book was adorable. That's the best way I can think to describe it. Set in a magical (literally) alternate London in the 19th century, it was a delight to read. There was just enough history in it to make it feel real, but the story really had a life of its own. Persy was a fantastic main character. I always like the heroines who feel more comfortable reading books than dancing at balls (Hmm... I wonder where that comes from). Her combination of determination and awkwardness made her endearing and strong at the same time. The rest of the characters were equally as interesting. I was particularly amused by Charles, Persy's younger brother. Persy's twin sister Pen wasn't as developed as Persy, but she was still interesting. The plot moved along gracefully, combining romance, balls, magic, and mystery without any apparent effort. I think that this was an amazing debut, and I can't wait to read the sequel Betraying Season which revolves around Pen. Overall, this book was a spectacular combination of history and fancy; a book that I would recommend to anyone!