Strange Familiars by Keshe ChowMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Gwendolynne Chan really needs to make Dux to get that cushy ministry job and help save her family's struggling restaurant. Harrisford Briggs also really needs to make Dux, both because his father expects it, and to provide him an out from working at Magecorp after graduation. The two academic rivals hate the sight of each other... or do they? Either way, they need to work together to figure out the strange magical surges that's causing chaos and threatening their final year exams (and the rest of London).
Strange Familiars was a romp of a read. There's witty banter and snark, academic rivalry with close score-keeping, a grumpy talking cat (and other more exotic familiars), exploding magic, and lots of chemistry.
Chow does especially well in showcasing Gwen's troubles as a second-generation immigrant in the UK - being Manchester-born and raised, and yet expected to know everything about her Chinese ancestry, even rare mythological creatures like the qilin. Gwen deals with both subtle and not-so-subtle racism, plus the problems of being poor and trying to scrape by. She has tremendous drive (and pride), which plays off perfectly against Harrisford's ego.
But whilst Harrisford is rich and proud, he's also rather socially aware, or woke if you want to put it that way. Since Chow also writes in his POV, you get to know the real Harrisford behind the mask that he puts up for the public, getting both the insecurities and blindspots that plague him. And you can't help but like him because he's actually rather earnest and nice. And also rather vulnerable.
At any rate, the TENSION. (Also, reader note: this is firmly very New Adult, so there is on-page sex.)
Before you think this is just a romance, there ARE a lot of things going on in the background - magical surges, political intrigue, government coverups, and exploitation, all in the name of keeping the magic (and the money) flowing. Both mystery and romance have their parts to play and they feel perfectly balanced in drawing me further and further into the story.
I kinda missed this was a duology when I picked it up, so when I got to the end I was like no, nooo why? Oh, there's book 2. So. Now I gotta wait for book 2 *sobs*
Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Ace via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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