Kristin's Bookshelf

Earlier this week I finished Danielle Garrett’s Nine Lives Magic Series. I started listening on January 28 and closed the final chapter last night, which honestly feels like saying goodbye to a group of chaotic and somewhat messy friends.

I am a huge fan of Garrett’s leading ladies, but Cora Hearth might be the most relatable yet (at least to me). She felt grounded in a way that made the magic believable. She was kind and cared about others almost to a fault. Selene, on the other hand, while offering solid comedic relief, tested my patience more than once. I wanted to love her. I just did not. At least not consistently. She felt selfish and cruel in many moments throughout the series.

Amanda Ronconi absolutely delivers as narrator. The cast of characters in this series is no small feat, and she handles it well. Every now and then she slips into a voice that feels very reminiscent of Paulette Bonafonte from Legally Blonde, especially for Aunt Lavender and a few other minor women, and once you hear it you cannot unhear it.

A few standout moments for me:

• Clint getting his magic. Since the moment he was introduced I was hoping for this.
• Selene referring to her body as a “meat suit” during the body swap with Cora. Disturbing. Hilarious.
• Cora’s best friend being single and ready to mingle. I need more of her story. I would absolutely read what happens next with her and Callum. I am fairly certain that is his name and I am sticking with it.
• Being previously introduced to Cora, Selene, and Lilly in the Sugar Shack series. It made the world feel connected in the best way.

I loved how the first few books functioned as standalone mysteries while still weaving into the larger thread of Aunt Lavender’s disappearance. That slow build kept me invested without feeling repetitive.

I wish Evan had been more involved and his wife seemed to fade into the background more than she should have. I also think a book from Selene’s perspective might have shifted my feelings about her.

Overall, I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves light reads with cozy mystery vibes and just enough magic to keep things interesting.