93 pages
Published 2022
Read from September 28 to September 29
Rating: 4 out of 5
A sprightly novella set in and around the margins of an upper crust family in 1920s London, Charm weaves magic, Jewish philosophy, Roaring 20s parties, and dark family secrets together into a beguiling story. Shorter even than many Neon Hemlock novellas, Charm could perhaps have benefitted from 20-30 additional pages to let the narrative breathe and the numerous ancillary characters take on a shine. The tangle of family secrets and magical nets would certainly have benefitted from some extra room. Additionally, I could have spent many pages exploring the half-seen dynamics between our narrator Julia and her school crush Charlotte, or with shy magician Simon and his particular friend Max. That said, this little book is a delight.
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