Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft: Give me more!

Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft by Mindy Klasky

Jane Madison has always thought of herself as “plain Jane” and — let’s face it — her life does leave something to be desired. A low-paid, overworked librarian of an obscure resource library in Washington DC, Jane fills her days mooning after her “imaginary boyfriend” Jason Templeton, a professor at one of the local universities who does his independent research in her section of the library every week.

One day however, her boss calls her into her office to give her some bad news: the library’s funding is so bad that she is going to have to cut Jane’s pay…by 25%. But there’s an upside! They library has agreed to let her live in the guesthouse behind the main building rent-free, utilities included. Though it might be dull work at times, Jane couldn’t imagine leaving her beloved library (or Jason for that matter) and quickly agrees to the deal.

After moving into the cottage out back though, Jane can’t shake the creepy feeling she keeps getting. After finding they key to the locked basement in an obscure and mysterious place, she decides to check it out. Soon after innocently opening a book and reading a passage out loud, statues are coming alive, there are strange men in her kitchen drinking her tea and pounding down her front door trying to explain to a bemused Jane that she is, in fact, a witch…

First off, props to Mindy Klasky! I emailed her on my editor’s recommendation (Kat knows me so well) and Klasky immediately sent me review copies of not only Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft but the sequel Sorcery and the Single Girl. Thanks so much, Mindy Klasky!

On the downside…Klasky has gotten me hooked on Jane Madison! I want more! I want more of the quirky gal who reads from spell books, hangs out with an insanely funny gay familiar who can’t quite shake off his cat-like qualities, randomly has her handsome warder David show up on her doorstep, indulges in “mojito therapy” with her best friend who owns a bakery, and allows men who wronged her to run around naked in the woods of Connecticut!

I was worried when I first started Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft because Klasky’s writing style is almost more of a diary style — she sort of writes the way we would talk to ourselves inside our heads. It’s hard to describe, but if you pick up the book you’ll know what I’m getting at. I thought it would be annoying at first, but the more I got to know Jane, the less it bothered me, and after awhile, it became endearing. The style allowed me to connect emotionally with Jane — feel her excitement, heartache, remorse, guilt, anger, pain, etc. It’s been a long time since I’ve been that emotionally attached to a character.

Jane and her friends came alive for me. Klasky didn’t focus her story on the magic or the witchcraft; She focused it on her characters — something I feel a lot of authors forget to do these days. A book is only as good as its main characters, and Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft delivers!

Klasky has penned a gem (or crystal, in witchcraft terms)! Perfect for the chicklit lovers out there, with just a little magic thrown in for seasoning. Jane Madison ain’t no Samantha or I Dream of Jeanie — she’s a real girl with real problems…who just happens to have magic powers that she doesn’t know how to work…

Julie Waineo, one of our earliest guest reviewers, earned an MBA at Bowling Green State University. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with a minor in French. Now living in Virginia with her husband and dog, Julie is an avid reader of not only fantasy, but historical fiction, the occasional “chick lit,” and children’s literature.