Review: ‘the witch doesn’t burn in this one’

Amanda Lovelace’s much-awaited sequel to the princess saves herself in this one arrived in bookstores on Tuesday.

Many have watched as the author posted on social media hints, teasers and excerpts of the book. Similar to the first book, the witch doesn’t burn in this one focuses on the importance of self love, the journey, steps forward as well as backwards, the importance of inclusion and unlearning toxic behaviors.

Like the first book, this one begins with a trigger warning, and while it lists topics that come up in the book it doesn’t tell you how you’ll react to them: This is the joy that comes with reading Amanda Lovelace.

She will shock you, surprise you, inspire you, teach you about yourself, and might even help save you.

Many people (young girls especially) are told self love aphorisms as if simply saying “I can love myself” makes up for all the comments we are bombarded with designed to tear us down and make us feel small.

Throughout the novel the idea of matches and fire is used both for destruction and for creation

In Lovelace’s poetry collection, she makes an important recognition: self love is not a one and done. It is often a daily struggle, but one worth fighting. Lovelace opens up with her own personal struggles and triumphs but above all else, her commitment to loving herself.

Throughout the novel the idea of matches and fire is used both for destruction and for creation. Lovelace writes about the match boys who use fire in an attempt to ruin her. But these were the very fires that sparked her inner fire and helped to give definition to the word ‘survivor’. Trauma can have long lasting effects, but it doesn’t need to control your life forever and Lovelace shows the importance of this lesson. Completed before #MeToo took the country by storm, the two help support the importance of individual narrative within larger movements.

Lovelace not only acknowledges the importance of personal history, but the importance of women’s history which our world has too often heard that it is not important. This history is comprised of real events and people, fictional books and characters, and pop culture references. From historic witch hunts, The Handmaid’s Tale, Wintergirls, The Hunger Games to Hamilton, this is one author who certainly knows the importance of being inspired by those around you.

The final section is called the ashes and remember, the phoenix has to first be ashes before it can be born again. This is something we all need to remember the importance.

Verdict: 10/10 highly recommend.

Stay tuned for information about the third book the mermaid’s voice returns in this one.