3.5 stars!

This is a really beautiful book but my feelings are a little more mixed than I expected considering I love historical fantasy, queer characters, and anything set in Appalachia.

Despite feeling like an outsider, Nora Jo is content with her life as the town's schoolteacher until a stranger shows up at her door offering to mentor her in powers beyond her imagination. Everyone knows that Kate has fits, but few know of her prophetic visions and the handsome young man that keeps showing up in them. Oliver returns from the war traumatized and struggling with his new ability to see the dead, crushed under the weight of his father's expectations. Pretty much everything about this book sounded up my alley. As mentioned, I love historical fantasy, queer rep, and Appalachia as well as multiple POVs so I was so ready for this. For the most part, it's a really great book. The characters have a ton of depth and you spend a lot of time focusing on their individual lives and journeys. The setting was also one of my favorite parts, with all of the small-town tension and the imagery of the changing seasons. Having said that, this book is immensely slow-paced. Very little action happens until the last 30%, and even then it feels like a lot of slow scenes momentarily broken up with a lot of action. The twist was also very obvious, so much so that I assumed it was a red herring. I don't feel like I wasted my time, but I don't think the payoff is quite worth the build-up.

If you like deeply character-focused slow-paced stories, this is probably going to be more up your alley. Just don't expect some explosive payoff at the end of the story.

Thank you to Nicole Jarvis and Titan Books for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!

Happy reading!

Three young people with varying supernatural tendencies find themselves in the middle of a demonic plot threatening their small Appalachian town post-WWI.

I enjoyed the story and writing here for the most part, but the characters sometimes felt like they were held at arm's length from me. Nora Jo in particular was a tricky character to pin down and her romantic plot wasn't given the room to breathe given the weight it held in the story. For the majority of "A Spell for Change," Nora Jo is separated from the Oliver/Kate plotline, and despite the relatively long page count, we just aren't given as much time in each of these characters' heads as I would have liked. We are able to get to know Oliver and Kate through their own point of view as well as through each other's eyes, but that balance was lost when it came to Nora Jo and led to a pretty flat portrayal of her love interest.

A Spell for Change by Nicole Jarvis is a sumptuous and atmospheric historical fantasy that weaves together magic, mystery, and the search for identity in a post-World War I Appalachian setting. With its richly drawn characters, evocative prose, and haunting exploration of dark forces, this novel is perfect for fans of Alix E. Harrow, Susanna Clarke, and Kirsty Logan.

The story follows three outcasts, each grappling with their own misunderstood magical gifts and personal struggles. Kate is plagued by visions of the future, which always come true—often with devastating consequences. Oliver, a war veteran, returns home with the ability to speak to the dead, haunted by the loss of his best friend and the trauma of the trenches. Nora Jo, a schoolteacher descended from a line of witches, has long suppressed her own power but finds herself drawn into a magical apprenticeship after losing her job.

As rumours of a dark force stalking their small Appalachian town begin to spread, Kate, Oliver, and Nora Jo are forced to confront their own fears and desires. Their paths intertwine as they search for their place in the world, but each must grapple with the cost of their choices and whether what they seek is worth the price.

One of the standout features of A Spell for Change is its richly detailed setting. Jarvis brings post-World War I Appalachia to life with vivid descriptions of its rugged landscapes, tight-knit communities, and the lingering scars of war. The historical context adds depth and resonance to the story, creating a backdrop that is both familiar and otherworldly.

The characters are equally compelling, with Kate, Oliver, and Nora Jo each bringing their own unique perspective and struggles to the narrative. Kate’s visions and her struggle to control them make her a sympathetic and relatable protagonist, while Oliver’s grief and his quest for closure add emotional weight to the story. Nora Jo’s journey of self-discovery and her embrace of her magical heritage provide a sense of hope and empowerment.

The plot is a masterful blend of personal drama and supernatural intrigue, with the dark force stalking the town adding a layer of suspense and danger. The pacing is excellent, with the tension building steadily as the characters uncover the truth behind the rumours and confront their own inner demons. The themes of identity, belonging, and the cost of power are woven seamlessly into the narrative, adding depth and resonance to the story.

Thematically, A Spell for Change explores issues of trauma, resilience, and the search for meaning in a world that often feels hostile and unforgiving. The novel also delves into the idea of community and the ways in which people can come together to support and uplift one another, even in the face of darkness. These themes are handled with nuance and sensitivity, making the story both thought-provoking and emotionally satisfying.

If there is a minor critique, it is that some readers may find the pacing a bit slow in places, particularly in the early chapters. However, this is a small quibble in an otherwise masterfully crafted novel.

A Spell for Change is a must-read for fans of historical fantasy and stories that explore the complexities of human nature. Nicole Jarvis has created a novel that is as haunting as it is beautiful, offering readers a chance to lose themselves in a world of magic, mystery, and the enduring power of hope.

A sumptuous and atmospheric historical fantasy, A Spell for Change is a properly standout novel.

received an arc from netgalley, consider me disclosed.

this was very, very good. i kind of felt like it straddled the line between ya and adult, but also i wouldn't classify it as new adult? maybe that's because new adult tends to have a more coming-of-age-in-your-twenties feel.
anyways, i was gripped the whole way through, at times i was anxious enough to have to put my phone down while i was reading, it was great. it really did feel like the threat the three main characters faced was grounded in their reality and how their communities understood the world, which i thought was an excellent choice.
i loved kate's determination, and how hard she fights every single day. oliver, my sweet sad war boy, i wish you all the best. to be honest, i felt that nora jo needed to Get Over Herself, but i think that's because there was a whiff of not-like-other-girls. frankly, i don't see how that could have been avoided and i guess when you have magic and most people don't you really aren't like the other girls. i wish her and gloria got more development, they felt a bit rushed. i do love where nora jo was at by the end of the book, and i would love to see more of her story.
honestly though, great book that at times felt threatening (this is a good thing). would recommend!

I was looking forward to this book for aaaaaaaaaaages and it did not disappoint--I think this is Nicole Jarvis's best book yet! The setting was wonderfully lush and the magic was well thought out. I was legitimately spooked in a couple of scenes! But mostly, I did not expect the ending, and I love that Jarvis managed to surprise me in a way that felt true to the story and the characters. Heartbreaking but beautiful.

A Spell for Change by Nicole Jarvis is a masterpiece of a book. I rated it 5 stars because I couldn't put it down for a second. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good.

"A Spell for Change" by Nicole Jarvis is set in Appalachia just after World War I. Jarvis interweaves the lives of three outcasts — people who seem powerless but possess supernatural abilities such as witchcraft, premonition, and seeing the dead. These characters are brought together and must use these strengths to save themselves and their loved ones.

This book is well-written and features compelling characters. Personally, I struggled at times with the pacing/momentum. That said, I enjoyed each chapter and don’t have any changes to the story. It is a slow-building narrative with a stunning final quarter.

I recommend this book to fans of "A Marvellous Light" by Freya Marske, "Sorcery and Small Magics" by Maiga Doocy, "The Lost Story" by Meg Shafer, "The Warm Hands of Ghosts" by Katherine Arden, and "Nowhere" by Allison Gunn. It's also likely to appeal to "Buffy" fans :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the ARC.

I would give it 4.5 stars.

This is a much different book than I’m used to reading but I wanted to branch out and I’m very glad I did! I’m mostly not a fan of historical fiction but I really loved the paranormal aspect of this. It felt very folk scary type but it kept my attention throughout and I devoured this book in less than a day.