Potion is the first in a set of planned novels by Dorlana Vann in the Witchy Fairy Tale series. The narrative was assembled from a Kindle Vella offering into a novel for consumers who binge watch an entire series rather than week by week (raises hand).
Melrose is a loner girl in high school who suddenly receives attention from three popular girls—Phoenix, Violet, Star—known as The Bitches. Star befriends her briefly after an argument with the other two in the clique. When someone comes between Star and Melrose, mostly Melrose’s brother Lucas, the other two Bitches swoop in on Melrose to help her become popular. Lucas expects ulterior motives because of horrific events he shared with his sister when they were younger.
Lost memories, disguised enemies, and parental relationships combine to form a witches-among-us narrative that owes to fairy tales, the movie Bell, Book, and Candle, and The Craft. The pacing and writing are solid, pulling the reader along chapter after chapter with one revelation after another. Note that the point-of-view changes in each chapter among three of the main characters, one of which knows more but isn’t telling.
The characters go beyond the stock archetypes you’d expect. I thoroughly enjoyed the shifting alliances, especially when one, at great cost, decides to lie to throw off the others. This character turned out to be one of my favorites at the end of the novel. The brother and sister relationship also struck a genuine chord. At first, Lucas seems like a typical older brother, but then as more is revealed, his loyalty toward his sister becomes more evident.
So what sets Potion apart from other teenage, witch-inspired stories? The way the story incorporates its fairytale roots, for one. The callbacks to popular fairy tales were a great addition. All the characters have a backstory, and it’s not the one you think it is. Their histories played an entertaining part in a major revelation at the end of the book. And the intertwining of witches and teenage life is always fascinating to compare and contrast.
Potion promises more at the end of the novel. With this delightful series, I’m keen to go back to this world and see the further adventures of these characters.