Slouch Witch (The Lazy Girl's Guide to Magic, #1)

by Helen Harper

[llamareads]

This was a lot more fun than I'd expected. It's a lighthearted urban fantasy, with some pretty strong romantic elements. Ivy's, well, laziness, is written with a deft touch, so even when the author or other characters are making jokes at her expense, you feel more like you're laughing with her than at her. Underneath all the demands for naps and lie-downs and taking the lift instead of the stairs, Ivy's got a heart of gold, and it just takes a little polishing to show that off.

I loved her relationship with Rafe, a military-minded, orderly, ambitious Order witch, who she ends up stuck with after a case of mistaken identity. As their investigation of a stolen magical item progresses, it was fun to see how well they worked together, once they both got over their initial impressions. The world building was pretty light, but I liked what was there, and I also liked the Oxford setting.

Overall, this was a quick, enjoyable read, and I'll be picking up the next book in the series for sure!