Review of Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz

This debut cozy novel showcases many of my favorite elements--magic, banter, a grumpy-sunshine hard-won romance, and a quest--within a charming, surprising story that I loved.

The powerful dark lord Shadowfade is dead, and Violet Thistlewaite is determined to shed her identity as the Thornwitch, Shadowfade's right-hand woman, and start anew.

She decides to settle in the nearby town of Dragon's Rest and open a flower shop, attempting to use her magical powers for good and to create beauty and inspire joy.

But it's tough to tame her power when she's been trained since childhood to be expecting attacks and enacting dastardly deeds. Another new arrival to town seems bent on hooking Violet to her past. And Violet is really distracted by the handsome, grumpy alchemist who's renting her the space for her shop.

Violet Thistlewaite has lots of my favorite elements: magic, a grumpy-sunshine matchup, a fresh-start promise, and a quest.

This is charming, funny, and adorable. Violet has a secret that seems destined for revealing, but the sequence of events surrounding it and the reactions were wholly unexpected. I loved every bit of this book!

I listened to Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore as a library audiobook.

About This Author

This is Emily Krempholtz's first novel. I'm in for alll the rest. More Violet, please!

The tone and the cozy-magical-mystery focus reminds me of A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping.