Is this real life? AM I REALLY PARTICIPATING IN THIS BLOG TOUR? Pinch me, I must be dreaming. Catch me, I'm falling.



We all know I am obsessed with Archie Comics and its many series both on page and on screen. I've made it a habit to recap Chilling Adventures of Sabrina as its airing and, of course, I reviewed the comics years ago. I'm a lifelong Sabrina Spellman fan. So, it should come as no shock to you that I am completely in love with this book. We're talking, I've reached CAN I GIVE THIS BOOK MORE THAN FIVE STARS? levels of excitement and joy.

(I may or may not have squealed receiving a copy. I also may or may not have squealed when Sarah Rees Brennan tweeted me. It's fine, guys. I'm not crying. You're crying.) 

That being said, Season of the Witch is so good. Sarah Rees Brennan was the best choice to write up this prequel because she actually understands these characters and their voices. You can easily see the story play out in your mind. While some prequels and novelizations that play companion to television series can feel, at times, unnecessary, Season of the Witch is essential.

If you've watched the Netflix series and found yourself mentally trying to fill in the gaps, the before, the characteristics that we've yet to understand, this book will answer many questions for you.

(It also sets a clear path to where the series may go in the future, RE: Mrs. Wardwell now that Madam Satan has resurrected her and seemingly left Greendale, Father Blackwood, Nick Scratch, etc.) 

Season of the Witch is a highly character driven read with that bleak sense of dark comedy and horror you've come to love in the show. Rees Brennan breaths life into the characters we've grown to know and love and fleshes them out further for us.

If you've ever felt like there was a bit of blank space in these characters development, this book fills it in for you. Season of the Witch utilizes its multiple POV in a way that is engrossing and fully understood--we walk away from the novel with a sense of having more knowledge about them than ever.

I thought the spookiness was at a minimum but it still creates a nice balance and ties back into the weeks leading up to the pilot episode. It's impossible to put down and just plain fun. I loved seeing the distinct voices (Sabrina, Ambrose, Harvey, Tommy, Hilda, Zelda, Nick, Prudence, etc) and the varied dynamics (Sabrina/Ambrose and Harvey/Tommy have so many good moments in Season of the Witch and it made me appreciate their bonds even more) from the series.

What I loved most about Season of the Witch was how everything tied together by the end. There was so much that happened in such a modest novel and it all played into the bigger picture beautifully. There were even a few moments that reminded me of the sitcom (re: a spell gone array) and that made me smile in pure nostalgia.

Other things to look forward to: an interaction between two characters that is soon forgotten, Tommy Kinkle character development that makes you appreciate him more/mourn his death from the first season, flashbacks to Sabrina's childhood from the POV of other Spellman family members, Zelda Spellman's narration (!!!!) and so much more.

While the show thrives in its creepy setting and tones of pure empowerment, and destiny, Season of the Witch takes these traits and emphasizes the importance of the familial bonds in the series, as well as the many types of complexities in the human (ahem, or witch) mind.

Overall, I think that Season of the Witch is one of those rare prequels that just works with what we've already known is canon. In short, it is brilliant and thrilling and definitely a great read for fans of the show. If you love the quick wit, creepy atmosphere and tone of the television series you're going to love Season of the Witch with every bit of your heart.

July 24th

July 25th

July 26th

July 27th

July 28th

July 29th

July 30th