CHAOS MAGIC

Abuse victims conquer their fears with equal parts magic and friendship in this occult-tinged feminist revenge novel.

After getting her jaw split open by her abusive evangelical husband, Trent, Lissa pours her savings into procuring a stay at The Lavender Center, a safe haven for domestic abuse and human trafficking survivors. Situated in the scenic woods outside Cleveland, Ohio, the tranquil mansion boasts all manner of unconventional healing services: “reiki, shamanic healing, akashic record retrieval, hypnotherapy, yoga, life coaching, hydrotherapy, massage, heat therapy, therapeutic dance, somatic breathwork, and weekly treks to a salt cave to detox with a gong bath.” She’s driven there by her mother, Pauline, a psychologist whose unconcealed disapproval of TLC’s “woo-woo” ethos doesn’t outweigh her love for her daughter. Lissa is greeted by TLC proprietors Doreen and Glenda, whose warmth and kindness set her immediately at ease. Things get even brighter when Lissa meets her roommate, Annika. Their friendship is bolstered by the fact that the new roomie can read minds and cast spells; she’s a witch, and so are Doreen and Glenda. With Annika’s help, Lissa learns to actualize her beloved late father’s refrain, “Allow yourself a little magic.” But before she can cast a spell to banish her abuser, she has to cast aside her own self-doubt. “Anxiety is a magic killer,” Annika’s wise teacher, Inga, warns. An omniscient narrator floats among characters, allowing each their own arc. Looking past the novel’s moralistic tone (which makes for occasionally unnatural dialogue) and the main plotline’s formulaic structure, Knox offers a lucidly written, well constructed, and affirming story of friendship and recovery. Young adult readers in particular are sure to enjoy its neat ending and positive message. It’s a fun, redemptive read, even if it rarely strays outside the lines.

A character-driven, entertaining, albeit unsurprising tale where evil forces get the boot.