So, this is one of the books I've read as a manuscript for the Dutch publisher BlossomBooks, to see if it was something to translate and publish. I love this book, so I've campainged a bit for it, but the decision has been made that they will not publish it :( But, not my job, not my call :P But I'm only reviewing it now, when it is published, because that was the deal with BB. (So, 2 more manuscript-reviews will follow, some will take a long time, but they will come. Hold on.)

I knew this book was being published around know, but when I was in the bookstore today and I saw it, I gasped for a breath. I loved this book so much! I decided to buy this, as a physical reminder of the amazing and awesome experience of reading a manuscript. And to be ably to loan it.

And to read it again before THE SECOND BOOK COMES OUT! OMG there is going to be a second book! I've just found out today because it is on the last page of this book! I'm so excited! It did feel like a stand alone, so that makes it a bit less hard to wait untill the next one comes out, and I have no idea when that will be, but YAY!

Let's get down to business, my review of this book.
I;ve grabbed my notes from when I've read this book and my email to the publisher to be able to give you guys an review with content, and not just OMG this book is amazing go read it :)

This book is really different from other YA fantasy books I've read, although I admit I haven't read something close to everything yet. But it feels really different from the big series and stuff. I really like the setting of this book: our time, witches still exist. You get really funny stuff like her grandma contacting her witchfriends via Facebook, I really like this kind of stuff!

The book is really fast paced. This is partly because of some answergiving solution in the book (you will understand what I mean when you read it). Some people might say this is a weak point in the plot, I say it is a strong one. It makes sure the story keeps it's speed. it does not have to slow down for stuff that doesn't really contribute to the plot, and I like that a lot. The world comes together piece by piece, a bit like in the [b:Ruby Red|8835379|Ruby Red (Precious Stone Trilogy, #1)|Kerstin Gier|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312036605s/8835379.jpg|6510846]-series (which I LOVE! Published in Dutch by this publisher and I highly recommend them!)

A lot of stuff is happening in this book. Not to much talking (an other manuscript I've read had A LOT of explaining in talking and it was really boring because of that, hence I noticed in this one). And I really really really liked the ending ;) So that is a good thing to look forward to while reading this!

I really like the main character, Merry, because she is very realistic.

Spoiler

At 2/3 of the book, she no longer wants to save the world for free. I can really imagine you want to be normal again, and have a little peace and quit around you for a moment.

I really like that detail because it makes me able to identify with her and to like her, to see her as a real person.

Another really nice and realistic detail: at a certain point in the book, she wants to overthink some things. She is looking for a good place to do that. She goes to the trainstation and sits on a bench. I really like this, because it is really hard in our world to find a good thinking spot outside of your bed, especially in the city, and this is a great sollution.

Wow this review had gotten really long. But I really like to think so deeply about a book and figure out what it is that made me love it (or not). I should do long reviews more often I think. Agree?