Thanks to Netgalley, Headline Eternal and J.C. Cervantes for an ARC of this book! ✨

This book felt like a delightful crossover between Ashley Poston and Encanto, and I really enjoyed that combination! ✨ The whimsical, heartwarming atmosphere was paired with a unique magical system that felt fresh and engaging. I loved how the magic was woven into the story—it was creative, fun, and added an extra layer of charm to the book. The characters were well-developed and easy to root for, though I wasn’t a fan of the main character’s cigarette use. It felt like an odd choice that didn’t really add much to the story.

The pacing was incredibly fast, making it a quick and easy read. 📖 While this kept things exciting, it also meant that certain aspects of the story felt underexplored or a little vague. Some moments could have used more depth, especially in the worldbuilding and emotional development. However, I later realized that this was actually the second book in a series, which might explain why I felt like I was missing some context. Even without reading the first book, I could still follow the plot, but I do wonder if I would have appreciated it more with the full backstory.

One of my favorite parts was the second-chance romance. ❤️ The chemistry between the main characters was sweet, and I liked how their history played into their relationship. That said, they did get together very quickly, which made their reunion feel a bit rushed. A little more build-up would have made their romance even more satisfying.

Overall, The Anatomy of Magic is a fun, romantic, and magical read that’s perfect if you’re looking for something light and fast-paced. ✨ While it had a few flaws, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who loves a mix of magic, romance, and heartwarming storytelling!

I'm sorry to say this book really missed the mark for me. Not only was it very magic-lite and slow paced, I wanted to see more of this big, loving, family of witches that it felt like Lily was meant to have. We're introduced to a number of them - her mum, her aunt, her cousins, and her sister, but they're really only bit parts and it's such a shame as the author could have built something truly wonderful here and instead Lily's family were only dropped into the plot occasionally and without building those really great connections I want to see. The romance side of things didn't woo me either. I guess I'm a cynic about such big and enduring love at a young age, and through flashbacks we only saw bits of it, but when we eventually discover what truly happened back then it was frustrating and a cliched I hurt you really badly because I wanted to protect you situation that always enrages me. Sam's version of "protecting" Lily caused her so much pain that she hasn't allowed herself to open up for ten years and this was very much not stressed enough when it comes to resolving their issues. Quick take - I wanted to know more about the magic, feel those strong female family bonds, and have a better romance plot.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

i think alot of magical elements has been introduced to the new genre to kind of use it as an easier way to metaphor things into being to the reader. ive seen alot of tragic topics going on in our world today be used through the fantasy genre to try and make them palatable or work through_able. so i do think they have their place. one place it does lend itself well though is when in author gets it right in this romance genre. because its for me a lot harder! you arent going out fighting sexist daemons are horrid "men" trope via fairies and magic. no, you are having to work it into love. and that aint easy.
this book was all the magic you want. all the seamless woven magic through the book made it believable and still relatable.
the two main characters were written so well. i came to care for them and what happened to them very quickly.
it went alot deeper with some of the storyline. not too much but again it lent itself to the magical element and because it was done well just made you feel all the more involved in the plot.

this story follows lily who after an event at work goes to her ancestorial home for some healing. once their though she runs into her ex Sam. who was her one true love and who also broke her heart. she never got the reason why. shes never healed truly from what happened between them. could this be her chance of answers? and even something more?

lily and sam had me rooting for them all the way through. and i needed them to be together in the end!

🌶️: 5 (mild open door)
Ah what a cozy read! I am a fan of the true feel good romantasy, and this is exactly what this story is. Our MCs were both clearly in love with one another but had had a falling out in the past that was gut wrenching. Their motivations and some of the more reckless decisions were entirely in line with their characters and history and so what we get as a reader is a highly polished, bright second chance romance story with just enough drama to keep you reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the opportunity to read and review The Anatomy of Magic prior to its release.

4.5 stars - magical realism with flower magic

The second book in the series but could be read as a stand-alone. The story follows Lily, the sister of Harlow from the first book. Lily returns to her family’s encanto style home after an incident at her work as a student doctor. Once home, she encounters her ex Sam, who broke off their relationship suddenly when they were young. Will Lily find the answers she needs or is she destined for more heartbreak?

Even though Lily and her family are magical, they are really easy to connect to and deal with real life issues. I believe everyone at some point, wished they could magic their feelings away after suffering heartbreak, and we follow Lily as she deals with the consequences of casting this spell when younger. I was intrigued by Sam from the moment we met him and I just knew he would have to have a good reason for his actions. I was shocked when the reason was revealed as it was all the more tragic.

I really enjoy this series and would highly recommend reading “the enchanted hacienda” first to get a back story of the family and their magical origins. The story is full of growth, female empowerment and a heartwarming romance.

Hoping the author continues the series with the other family members!

For the most part, I enjoyed reading The Anatomy of Magic . It's the third book with magical realism I have read recently and I am discovering that I enjoy reading books like that - set in the contemporary world, but have a hint of magic in them. The writing is certainly beautiful and captivating, and grabs your attention from the get-go. I was planning on pacing myself when it came to reading this book, but somehow I found myself finishing it in one sitting.

The story is centred around Lilian Estrada, an ob-gyn resident, who belongs to a family, where all the women are bound by an extraordinary and powerful secret. They are blessed with a unique kind of magic, one that revolves around flowers. Lilian's powers relate to the manipulation of memories. As she arrives home, she is going through a rocky time in her life. I like the way Lilian was introduced, and how it was revealed, slowly, what happened that made her want to come back home. I don't want to give any spoilers, but the truth got to me pretty good and the revelation was emotionally impactful.

Arriving back in the town she lives in, Lilian bumps into Sam, the one that got away. I am a huge fan of the second chance trope, so I was excited to see how that would be done here. At the start, we don't know why they broke up in the first place (and why Sam chose to leave her), but you could easily tell that Lilian was still in love with him. Again, I won't spoil it, but the actual revelation is heart-aching.

The two had chemistry together, however I felt like we barely got to know their relationship before they were already acting lovey-dovey again. Sam's introduction felt short, and I felt that, as a reader, I barely got to know him before the two start seeing each other again. I would have loved to see more scenes of them getting to know each other again, after being apart for so long. For the most part, I liked Sam, but I so wish we had more scenes and we learnt more about him. I also wanted Lilian to take her time in forgiving Sam, but I do understand why she forgave him so quickly.

But overall, I did enjoy reading The Anatomy of Magic for its beautiful writing and the way it portrayed love (both romantic and familial). I also didn't realise this was a spin-off/sequel of another book, which now, I am definitely adding to my TBR!

The Anatomy of Magic by J.C. Cervantes is one of my favorite read so far! The author is a genious! Loved every single second of this masterpiece!

I didn't realise this was book 2 in a series, but I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything by not reading the first, and felt it also read well as a standalone.
I loved the intricate lore of the Estrada women and I think the close-knit bonds were beautifully portrayed. I actually felt that Sam and Lily's romance was the weaker part of the novel as their chemistry didn't seem to click with me and I did not feel as invested in their relationship.

I will start by saying this is not my genre, but I liked the sound of the blurb, and want to try new things, so decided to give it a go!

The women in Lily's family each have a unique power, and hers is that she can manipulate memory. Lily is a doctor, and when a tragic event occurs, she goes back home to her family in Mexico. Here she sees first love Sam - can they get over their past to have a future?

I felt the first third of the book was very slow, and I thought about giving up, but I stuck with it - I'm glad I did as the rest was faster paced, and had a story I got invested in. It is full of very poetic descriptions, I loved all of the flowers and their magical qualities. As I mentioned, I am not usually a fan of fantasy novels, but realise this is the second in a series. I liked Harlow as a character, who the first book is about, so may indeed go and read that one now!

The Anatomy of Magic is simply beautiful. Each character is warm, real and lovable. Lily is engaging and depictions of her anxiety are realistic but not triggering. Sam is the dreamiest love interest. The language and story are poetic and whimsical whilst dealing with real and emotional topics. Both Lily’s reason for heading home and Sam’s story had me holding back tears. I could live in this world forever.

This was my first read by J.C. Cervantes, but definitely won't be my last. It is a well-written magical realism romance about Lily who comes to her childhood home in an attempt to come to terms with a mistake she believes she made at her work as ob-gyn. Once there, she's forced to face memories of her first love, and then the man himself.

The imagery is so immersive and beautiful, I felt like I was walking through the enchanted garden along with the characters. You can tell the author put a lot into world building, and as I've learned this is a companion novel to a previously published one in this same universe. And what a universe it is! I wanted to stick around there with the Estrada family on their hacienda, with Sam on his beautiful ranch.

But, and this is an it's-not-you-it's-me situation, I couldn't connect with the heroine or the love story as much as I loved the world it was set in. At times I found the inner monologues of the FMC overlong and repetitive. It took me a while to get interested in her life, and once I did, it never truly took off but kind of simmered till the end. There is also a part towards the end where I feel like the author should've been bolder and followed all the way through with a certain plot point. It would've complicated the ending but in the long run would make this a more memorable novel. The elements of a great romance were all there but for some reason they didn't mesh. And for that reason it's a 3.5 read for me, rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

J:C. Always writes the most beautiful and unique stories. I love how she always entertwines love & magic throughout all of her books. I thought it was so cool how she worked the dr. Aspect in this book as well as her love for childhood sweetheart Sam. I love the dose of magic, family, and love. The perfect combo