Book Review: The Wycherleys by Annaliese Avery

The Wycherleys by Annaliese Avery is a young adult fantasy novel that mixes Bridgerton with magic, perfect for any fantasy and romance readers.

One of my favourite genres to read is young adult literature. As part of my degree, I'm studying writing for young adults, and that involves reading a lot of YA books.

The most recent young book that I've read is The Wycherleys by Annaliese Avery.

I picked this up from my local library as I was on the hunt for some more YA books, and the cover alone intrigued me. The Wycherleys was published last year by Simon & Schuster and is the first in a series.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book when reading it and found it useful to inform my YA literature studies. Therefore, I thought I'd review it and share my thoughts with you.

Review of The Wycherleys by Annaliese Avery

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Tropes:

• Forbidden Love

• Magical Match

• Wiccan Mystery

• Regency Vibes

Rating: 4 Stars

The synopsis of The Wycherleys is:

"For the Kingdom. For the magic. And for love . . .

Seventeen-year-old Aurelia Wycherley is entering her debutante season as a witch. Aurelia should be excited about finding the perfect match to tether her magic to. But her magic is cursed – dark, dangerous, and not the kind that her peers want to match with – and, without a tether, she faces losing her magic completely.

But when Aurelia learns that enigmatic, aloof Jules, a member of arch enemy family the Nightlys, is searching for a way that a witch can keep their magic without tethering, she realises he may be her only hope. A forbidden alliance is formed . . . but as they navigate the Magical Season with its glamoured balls and perilous trials, they uncover dark forces that threaten their families and the magical world they live in.

Expect family secrets, generational curses, forbidden romance, gorgeous ballgowns, bribery, extortion, trespass, magic and kissing . . . lots of kissing."

Credit: WriteWatchWork

Credit: WriteWatchWork

The Wycherleys by Annaliese Avery is a single point of view novel told from the perspective of the female protagonist, Aurelia Wycherley. It follows Aurelia throughout her debut season in search of a magical tether.

From the start, I really enjoyed Aurelia's character. You're put into her head as a reader and get to know her through her distinct narrative voice. She is intelligent, headstrong, and determined not to let her cursed magic ruin her Magical Season.

Aurelia is an outcast because of the curse, but she has close friends in her brother, Vaughn, and Constance, her long-time best friend. It's clear they're worried about Aurelia, but she stands her own, and it's evident from the beginning that she's a good protagonist.

Jules Nightly is an interesting character. He's the male protagonist, and whilst we don't get to see his point of view directly, we get to see how Aurelia views him. This makes him a very likeable character, despite the animosity between the Wycherleys and the Nightlys.

When Aurelia and Jules meet, it's clear that their relationship is not what it seems, and it was very enjoyable joining them on their journey. With Aurelia being headstrong and resilient, and Jules being enigmatic with a broody exterior, their dynamic was great.

I loved the banter between the two of them and the adventures that they went on. I particularly liked how, despite the regency-era of the book, they joined forces and proved others wrong.

But the highlight of The Wycherleys for me was the world Annaliese Avery created.

The book immediately gave me Bridgerton vibes. There are letters throughout like pamphlets, echoing Lady Whistledown, making the reader aware of the events throughout the Magical Season.

The addition of balls and debutantes and matches also gave Bridgerton vibes, but when you add magic and covens and witches, it takes it to a whole new level.

It is cosy and easy to navigate. Plus, the mystery aspect added a lot of complexity to the plot, and I was trying to work it out alongside Aurelia and Jules through each chapter.

The only thing I would say that knocked a point off my rating is that Aurelia's voice at times did very much read as YA, so if you're not a huge fan of YA books, then it might not be for you.

However, that being said, The Wycherleys is well-paced with great characters and an intriguing plot. It does end on a cliffhanger, which only makes me want to read book two more.

If you're in the mood for a YA fantasy romance that blends witches and mysteries with balls and love, then check out The Wycherleys by Annaliese Avery.

You can purchase it from Amazon here.

Until next time...