As I read Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge, her style and playfulness reminded me of Mary Janice Davidson's Undead and Unwed series. Both authors have wonderfully flawed and fun female protagonists thrust into the supernatural world, even though all they want to do is escape to the mundane tasks that bring them joy, like making decadent cupcakes and buying glorious shoes. I will say I prefer Doidge’s protagonist, Jade, as she is more down to earth and not so self-focused as Davidson’s protagonist, Betsy. SECTION 2: MOST POWERFUL THEMES REPRESENTED IN CUPCAKES, TRINKETS, AND OTHER DEADLY MAGIC One of the most powerful themes in Meghan Ciana Doidge's book, Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic, is withholding the truth. Whether that be the truth of the main character's identity, magical lore, or individual desires, the story is full of characters blocking one another or themselves from uncovering the truth of their full potential. It builds up suspense and simultaneously reveals the layers of the story just starting to unravel in book 1 of the series. SECTION 3: WHAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT CUPCAKES, TRINKETS, AND OTHER DEADLY MAGIC If I had to pick something I didn’t like about Meghan Ciana Doidge's book, Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic, it would be that I felt the main character, Jade, was far too naïve about what was going on. Her levels of denial and innocence sometimes took me out of the story. I found it hard to believe that she didn't realize something was going on for the 20-something years of her life, especially knowing the rest of her family practices magic. I can excuse it as a plot device, but I still found it frustrating. SECTION 4: WHO WILL LOVE AND HATE CUPCAKES, TRINKETS, AND OTHER DEADLY MAGIC People who enjoy in-depth magical communities, mystery, and highly flirtatious situations will adore Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge. Readers who either hate romance or crave more R-rated scenes, as well as readers who prefer plot-driven to character-driven stories, will most likely not enjoy this book. You can also support your local library and rent this and other Urban Fantasy stories through the Libby app. Section 5: L. Rigdon’s star rating of Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic I award Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge with four stars! I picked it up thinking it would just be brain candy, but I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the storyline. I was also madly impressed by the author's ability to push flirtatious, passionate desire up to the breaking point without crossing the smut threshold. That alone takes talent, and in this genre was a risky move for book 1 of a series. Kudos to Doidge!
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