Laying out a plot, developing characters, and captivating your readers all in 206 pages is a tough ask, but Molly Ringle pulls it off. 

At 28, Zaya never expected to be king, so to also learn that magic is alive and well despite laws forbidding it, becomes overwhelming. However, this doesn't stop him from doing the best he can throughout the novel. The more time he spends with Col, the more he understands the magicians' plight and he resolves to help. His character arc was remarkable. His acceptance of magic wasn't rushed, despite the romantic subplot, and its particularly challenged when he has to face the fact that magicians aren't all good or all bad. It's a constant journey to better himself that ends with him being a stronger character for it.
Col was also a delightful character. Measured but deeply passionate about the magicians' cause, he challenges Zaya at every turn while the two grow closer. Unlike Zaya, his character didn't have a profound arc, which I appreciated because of the book's shorter length. 

A note on their romance. In this world, there is no homophobia and that was refreshing. Col is bisexual, with a preference for men whereas Zaya is gay, and neither is ever challenged for what it is. I rarely come across books like that even though fantasy worlds are ultimately at the hands of their makers, so do not need to include homophobia. I commend Ringle for taking this route, and hope to see more of it. 

Finally, the villain. I really enjoyed Orzei as the antagonist because of his attitude. He's convinced he's doing it for the better, yet doesn't hesitate to be exceedingly violent in how he deals with obstacles that come in his way. He's by no means pleasant, or even charming, but he does have a lasting impact on the story. 

My only complaint is the book was too short, I would definitely read more of Cole and Zaya!
CW: violence, body horror (parts turning into plants), and mentions of rape. 

When Henry's arranging his late father's affairs, he doesn't expect to battle a tomato can demon, yet that's how the book opens and how we learn of magic. What follows it a tale of adventure, grief, friendship and plenty of shenanigans as Henry, Enisa, Frank, and Molly race to save Boston from an undead pharaoh. 

At 16, Henry must decide to take on the mantle of paranormal investigator or forsake his magic. This proves an increasingly difficult decision as magic is what killed both of his parents, but it's also something that's part of him. Throughout the novel, he wrestles with his consciousness, his grandparents, and his friends until he is able to come to a decision that he is satisfied with. As a main character, Henry was fun to experience. He punctuates most of his thoughts with a joke or sarcastic comment, but is able to be serious when the situation requires it. 
The secondary characters were just as fun. Enisa, Frank, and Molly all support Henry in his journey, while facing their own struggles as 16yo teens (magical or no) which gives them more depth as characters. While Henry's grandparents appear less, they still hold a special place in the story which comes through whenever any of the gang talk about them. 
The antagonists, however, came off as formulaic. Sophie was the only one with a deeper reason as to why she was doing anything, but even that was flimsy. Not to say that I didn't enjoy them, but more depth would've made them even better. 

As for the plot, it followed a classic murder mystery pattern with an added twist towards the end, which I enjoyed. Most didn't surprise me, but it was well written and the characters carried it forward. I found a couple subplots dragged down the story, especially as they all wrapped up with the central plot's climax, making them feel a tad rushed. 

Friday Nightmares by Corey Edwards was a delight to read and I definitely recommend it if you want something quick but fun.