The Vanishing Bookstore (ARC)

#NetGalley #ARC #TheVanishingBookstore

The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Pfifer was my first ARC (advanced reader copy) ever, and I will always be grateful for that. This does not mean I will not be critical in my review, however. After all, why bother reviewing a book if you're not going to be honest? So don't worry, dear reader. Everything in this post is my honest opinion. It was also my first book from Helen Phifer, but hopefully not the last, as I am rather interested in some other works by her.

I must confess, I wasn't really sure about the book in the beginning. The story opens in 1692 and right there, in Salem, America, the family of definitely-not-witches has a pet raven named... Hades? That name just threw me off. It's edgy, and I am really not sure if the Greek gods were known in 17th century America, so even though it is possible (I really, really don't know this one, though my better learned friends support me in my disbelief, please let me know if you know better), it felt like a pointless anachronism to me. As you might be beginning to gather, I can really get stuck on tiny details like this and it hurts my final review, usually. Btw, pro tip, if you don't want to be persecuted for being a witch, maybe don't keep pet ravens? And don't name them after gods of underworld? That should be common sense, right? And don't go "Oh he told them that was his name," because if they _spoke_ with him, they have no right to claim they were not witches then and it beats the entire point. The fact this never gets adressed was kind of meh to me.

Which is a pity, because for the next several hours I was listening to the audiobook I was very much buying what the author was selling. A curse through time, fated love that doesn't jumpscare you in the first chapter, a very reasonably explainable mystery of a "vanishing", or rather vanished, bookstore... A very pleasing listen to be sure. Creepy witch hunters always a plus, apparently! And even though Gucci was namedropped so many times they better be sponsoring this book, it felt plausible (unlike a certain ravens name, sorry...)

The intimacy was tasteful, but placed in a really, really distasteful place. I mean, sure, given the info the heroine had she didn't have a sense of urgency, but still, wouldn't it be better to wait after the looming evil was dealt with? How was she in the mood, knowing there was a lunatic after her and her aunt(s)? And how did he get it up, when he oh so loves her and she was still in constant danger?

All that being said, the atmosphere was on point, the tiny looks at the sad history of Salem interesting but not patronizing or shallow. The magic wasn't too indepth, but I felt like that was not the point of the book - family, love and bonds crossing time, but also the need to let go and let things end was. And those themes were lovely in the way the author decided to present them in.

All in all, I very much enjoyed the book, even though it wasn't my all time favourite. A solid 4/5 stars, and a great first read of this year.

Hope you pick this book up and enjoy it as I did.

Stay kind

Cyan