What a cute story! I went in expecting a fun and sweet contemporary fairy tale adaptation. I’d read some of Mueller’s other fantasy works and enjoyed her sweet style. She definitely does family dynamics very well.
An Unexpected Brew is, of course, the tale of Cinderella. All the beats and references are there: Young woman under the care of an overbearing step-mother who doesn't really care about her at all, preferential treatment for the step-mom's own daughter, and a prom/ball situation that is the key event of the story. What I didn’t quite expect was the world-building. Arnessa is a smart and capable young woman, forced to put up with an overbearing step-mom and step-sister Diamond who constantly perceive Arnessa as an inconvenience and sometimes actually go out of their way to remind her of that on a daily basis.
I loved the casual role of magic in this urban fantasy world. Arnessa uses spells to enchant the teas she brews at the cafe where she works (much like another urban fantasy heroine I enjoy very much!) and she’s taking magic classes to improve her skills at illusions. Along comes the handsome and talented Vincent, and suddenly Arnessa has someone besides her best friend Callie who makes her feel like she’s actually worth something in the world. But will it be enough, or will her step-mother’s bullying overwhelm her?
Of course, knowing the story of Cinderella as deeply as I do, the plot twists were about as deep as a Disney Channel movie. But, like a beloved, campy fantasy film, I felt entertained even though I could reasonably predict what would happen next. It’s a fast read, the scenes are simple, but they’re packed full of heart and you definitely want to keep reading all the way to the very end!
An Unexpected Brew wins the whole *****5 STARS***** rating because it’s just so adorable I can overlook any pacing or plot flaws, and I’ll throw in an Upstream Writer certified WHOLLY RECOMMENDED endorsement because it’s a clean read and perfect for someone who just wants a quick, light fantasy retelling that hits all the right notes and doesn’t cut too deeply. (Definitely read Mueller’s other works for that kind of experience!)
-Fire's Song
-Spirit's Lullaby
-A Drop of Dream
-A Dash of Fiend
-A Splash of Truth
-A Promise Due
-Scales
-Submerged
-Salt
-Surfacing
-Red The Wolf Tracker
-Belle The Beast Tamer
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