Sprinkles and Sea Serpents (Sugar Shack Witch Mysteries, #1)

by Danielle Garrett

Amanda Ronconi (Narrator)

• ISBN13: 9798200197576
• Publish Date: 9 February 2021 (first published 23 September 2020)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Imprint: Tantor Audio
• Format: Audiobook (MP3)
• Duration: 6 hours and 56 minutes
• Language: English

Reviews

[Kim Deister]

This was an enjoyable read! It’s got everything a good witch cozy mystery should have, with a slightly darker edge to both the mystery and some of the characters. And the setting for it was absolutely ideal for sleuthing… a small, magical town where everyone knows everyone else.

Ella is a very complex character, not really sure where she fits in or what she wants to do with her life going forward. She’s at a crossroads in her life, put there through no fault of her own. She’s never been truly comfortable in her own hometown because of how others perceive her magic, but being magical keeps her from fully fitting into the mundane world either. There’s a depth to her character that I really love, even if it is a bit edgier than one usually finds in this genre.

And the mystery… there’s a backstory that has some incredibly dark implications, and it really made the resolution that much more poignant and interesting.

There’s also a hint of romance… a faint hint, but a hint nonetheless. Coming home means seeing her old boyfriend, Jake. That stirred up a lot of emotions for both of them, and it hinted that there might still be feelings there. But there was also Orion, an agent who works for the magical law enforcement, an attractive guy who is clearly into her.

All in all, I can’t wait to read more.

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Sprinkles and Sea Serpents by Danielle Garrett is the first book in the Sugar Shack Witch Mysteries. Earlier in the year I listened to Grimoires and Gingerbread, book 1.5 in the series, which I enjoyed.   Based on that I expected an enjoyable read. The story followed Rosella Midnight, aka Ella.  An accusation of plagiarism and the loss of her job as a result forced her return to her hometown of Winterspell.


Treated like a pariah because of her unique powers she left home to reside in the non magical world.  I didn’t blame for leaving, but I had issues with her cutting off her family. Her powers were considered a curse and persons feared her, but their fears were borne out of ignorance. I thought her powers were cool, especially when used to solve the mystery of three female joggers who disappeared under mysterious circumstances.


I found the mystery underwhelming. It is not the type that will have you biting your nails. The best part of it all was the confrontation with the villain.

I liked Rosella when I interacted with her in Grimoires and Gingerbread. However, in this installment I saw a different side to her. A side which I disliked. She manipulated strangers to get what she wanted. However, she redeemed herself. What I admired about her was her love for animals and her tenacity and determination.

I enjoyed spending time with the secondary characters. It made me happy to see Rosella reunite with her family and friends. Her grandmother added a slice of humour to the story.

Orion, the monster hunter, who was brought in to assist with the case of the disappearing women, intrigued me. He had an air of mystery about him, and I was eager to learn more about him. I sensed a growing chemistry between him and Rosella.

I have to admit I did not enjoy Sprinkles and Sea Serpents as much as I did Grimoires and Gingerbread. Although it did not wow me, I thought it was a solid start to the series.

Amanda Ronconi did a wonderful job of giving life to the story. She enhanced my enjoyment of the story with her tone. She captured the mood of the characters perfectly and her voice for each was on point. One could always tell which character was speaking.



To conclude, Sprinkles and Sea Serpent provided a good escape. I enjoyed the world, and I am looking forward to my next visit to the town of Winterspell.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

[Berls]

3.5 stars

As always with the Danielle Garrett - Amanda Ronconi duo, I had a great time and lots of laughs with Sprinkles and Sea Serpents. I had been waiting to read it for the 2nd book to come out, but I guess it's delayed so I decided to just go for it. And of course, I wish the 2nd book was out so I could keep reading!

I love Rosella (or Ella) and her special ability only endears me further. However, that she considers it a curse and that it's made her a pariah in the magical community seems a bit much. Unless the rumors of it's potential reach are real - in which case, she'd be pretty bad ass. I don't see any signs of that thus far though and she's really one of the weakest in terms of magical ability around actually. I don't want to spoil what her "curse" is, but she's got a soft spot for animals and I love the role animals played in this book.

I also got a kick out of her family - most especially her romance novel reading grandmother. She frequently says slightly inappropriate or unexpected things and is a real hoot. And then there's the love interest(s). No actual romance has happened yet, but you've got an ex-fiance, a first love and the new guy (Orian) each having their moments (to be be fair, I don't expect the ex-fiance to show up in the future) - so there's potential as the series progresses.

The mystery is solid - I did guess it, but in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way that surprised me when it turned to out to be correct. And, perhaps more importantly, I enjoyed the getting to that moment. A small, nosy, magical town is a great setting for sleuthing.

As I mentioned, Amanda Ronconi narrated this book and she's one of my all-time favorite narrators, so it's no surprise that I enjoyed every moment of this listen. I look forward to more.