[Book Review] The Bewitching Hour By Ashley Poston & Steel Mill Coffee Co. Vanilla Cupcake Coffee

The Bewitching Hour is a bittersweet look back at one of the most underrated characters of the Buffyverse, the quietly kind and powerful witch Tara Maclay, in her life before Sunnydale, long before she became part of the Scooby gang.

Book Info

Title: The Bewitching Hour
Series: A Buffy Prequel Novel
Author: Ashley Poston
Publication date: August 1st 2023
Page Count: 352 pages
Age Range: YA (death, blood, gore, violence)
How I got my hot little hands on it: bought at B&N
Publisher’s page: The Bewitching Hour

In this Buffy the Vampire Slayer prequel, fan-favorite and LGBTQIA+ icon Tara Maclay gets the main character treatment … whether she wants it or not.

Tara Maclay isn’t thrilled to be starting her senior year of high school in a new town. She misses her mom, her garden, her magic—and the way her dad treated her before her mom passed. But if Tara can just keep her head down, then maybe she can make it through this year in Hellborne, Vermont without the town living up to its name.

Of course, her plan falls apart immediately, as dead students start turning up around her, and she’s suddenly voted Most Likely To Have Murdered Them by the rest of the senior class. Oh, and the fellow new girl Tara’s crushing on? Turns out to be a witch-hunter. So maybe it’s not the worst thing that Tara’s magic is majorly malfunctioning.

As the body count rises, Tara has to overcome her fears, reconnect with her magic, and cast herself in a more central role to save the town—even if it means putting her new relationship at risk.

Written by New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Ashley Poston, The Bewitching Hour is the perfect blend of ’90s nostalgia, mysterious murders, and star-crossed sapphic romance.

My Review

The Bewitching Hour is the second novel in the Buffy Prequel series, following some of Sunnydale’s fan favorites in their pre-slaying days (if you haven’t read Spike’s story, Bloody Fool For Love, you absolutely should), this time featuring the ever-iconic and wholly underrated Tara Maclay.

Before she came to UC Sunnydale, met a cute red-haired witch named Willow, and lent her emotional intelligence and magical support to the gang, Tara was just a girl grieving her mom, dodging her toxic family, and trying to figure out where she fit in a world that constantly underestimated her.

After the devastating loss of her mother, Tara struggles to navigate her glitching magic alone. Her magic is as much a part of her as it is a painful reminder of what she’s lost. Her father and brother are, as expected, absolutely the worst, and their cruelty adds emotional weight to Tara’s journey toward self-acceptance.

Starting over in a new town and school would be tough enough, but Tara arrives just in time for the town’s annual recreation of a witch burning that took place over 200 years ago. Oh, and students are turning up dead. Welcome to The Hellmouth Hellborne.

On her first day at Hellborne Academy, Tara meets Baz, a popular jock with golden retriever energy who is determined to be her friend whether she likes it or not. His unshakable loyalty, humor, and charm perfectly counter Tara’s reserved nature, and their friendship is a highlight of the story.

Then there’s Daphne, the crossbow-wielding witch-hunter with a tough exterior and a surprisingly soft side. Her cool-girl aura complements Tara’s cautious, sweet demeanor. And she calls Tara “Cupcake,” which is just so cute. Their dynamic is fantastic, with the perfect amount of slow-burn tension (but not too slow) and just enough of a star-crossed lover vibe (a witch hunter and a witch – kinda like a vampire slayer and vampire, some might even say).

I was fully invested in this found family of unlikely friends. Honestly, I’d read an entire spin-off series about Tara, Baz, and Daphne tackling magical hijinks and personal drama.

Admittedly, the story starts off a bit slow, but it becomes utterly engrossing as it finds its rhythm, drawing readers into a compelling, resonating supernatural adventure centered around dark magic and self-empowerment (very on-brand for the Buffyverse). Nostalgic 90s touches and Easter egg references to Sunnydale, Giles, and even Buffy and the Scoobies are peppered throughout, adding charm and fun, though they occasionally verge on being a bit heavy-handed.

My favorite thing about The Bewitching Hour is how it deepens our understanding of Tara’s relationship with magic. Her fears about losing control, being consumed by her power, or becoming something dark hit hard, especially when you think about her future worries with Willow. The exploration of the complexities of intentions and consequences tied to magic is a beautifully written parallel that really adds depth to her character in the series.

Overall, The Bewitching Hour is a spellbinding read that honors Tara’s legacy with a perfect mix of magic, mystery, and quiet strength. It’s a must-read for Buffy fans craving more Tara, but it also stands strong as a heartfelt and magical story on its own. I absolutely loved it and hope for more books in the series. Crossing my fingers for Giles or Cordy to get their own stories told (because Cordy must have seen some wild things growing up in Sunnydale, even before Buffy showed up).

Let’s Talk Coffee

Sweet as vanilla with a core of inner steel, Steel Mill Coffee Co. Vanilla Cupcake Coffee is the perfect nod to the sweetest witch in the Buffyverse, perfectly befitting the “Cupcake” nickname given to her by Daphne.