Tangled Roots by Denise D. Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tangled Roots marks the first entry of Denise D. Young’s Tangled Magic series. It tells the story of Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Gearhart, a witch who is thrust forty-five years into the future to an unfamiliar 2019 with no recollection as to how or why. Suddenly finding herself without the support of her coven, Cassie finds solace in the arms of one Nicholas ‘Nick’ Felson— the grandson of her dear friend and the last witch left in Willow Creek after mysterious events that Nick is reluctant to disclose. For a story centering around witches and the mystical, a deep and rich magic system is key, and ‘Tangled Roots’ nails this aspect. Young explores the intricacies and rules of the magic that the witches wield in a way that isn’t just mere, dull exposition— she takes the time to actually show readers how their powers work through, for instance, the characters performing magic themselves, rather than outright telling the audience. Through the use of vivid and striking descriptions, Young establishes a creative and imaginative world thrumming with life— it almost inspires me to whip out an essential oil or two just to try my hand at some of the spells depicted. Her detailed world-building goes beyond the sphere of the magical and to the mundane as well, as she captures the feel and character of a tight-knit, small town like Willow Creek so well, it and its residents could be real.

The biggest draw of Tangled Roots, however, are the characters that Young has crafted and the relationships that exist between them. The heroine, Cassie, for instance, is a strong, stubborn and powerful witch with such a compelling background and personality, you’d be hard-pressed not to want the absolute best for her. A female protagonist being rendered into a waif damsel-in-distress is an issue that I’ve encountered in many books similar to this one, but Cassie couldn’t be further from this. Yes, she is distressed, and yes, she is vulnerable, but she herself has the strength to overcome the obstacles in her path and to take charge and take matters into her own hands. There are also many other fleshed-out female characters, such as Ginny, Nick’s grandmother and Cassie’s mentor, and the elusive and cryptic Guardian of Willow Creek, who seemingly has big plans in store for Cassie and Nick. The relationships between these women are complex and profound— ridden with things both said and left unsaid and heavy with a sense of foreboding and intrigue.

The most captivating relationship, however, is between Cassie and Nick themselves. What struck me the most was how healthy their romance was when this genre is often plagued with relationships bordering on dangerous. Nick is a gentleman through-and-through— always ensuring that Cassie is comfortable with their level of intimacy before proceeding and putting her feelings and needs above any misgivings he may have. The two connect and support each other like a real loving couple would— lifting each other up when the other falls. It was truly sweet and heartwarming to read about how much they cared for each other.

In conclusion, if you have a hankering for a story filled to the brim with magical destinies, supernatural enigmas and fascinating characters, I cannot recommend Tangled Roots enough. It will satiate this need and then some.

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