A Magical Masterclass in Fake-Haters
I didn’t think I needed a slow burn until I picked this up. I have heard of this author from a book tuber I watch last year but I didn’t figure this out until after I finished this and realized that this is book three in a series. As someone who did not read the first two books can happily tell you that you can read this as a stand alone and still love it. Why, oh why have I never read an India Holton book before now? From page one, I was completely enchanted by this alternate Victorian England, where antique objects are imbued with unpredictable, often chaotic, magic. Now I plan to go back and read her catalog.
Amelia is a brilliant history professor whose intellect clearly rattles the “boys’ club” of Oxford. To protect their reputations from the faculty’s relentless gossip, she and her best friend, Caleb, stage a spectacular “fake haters” ruse. Their feigned enmity is so over-the-top that it leads to accidental magical disasters, including a rogue teaspoon sparking fires—the spoon’s unpredictable magic was easily my favorite detail in the entire book.
This chaos leads to their exile in the countryside, where they are tasked with cataloging a house teeming with dangerous antiques. This middle section introduces a hilarious cast of characters, from hoarding husbands to a staff that expects a tip for every move they make. Amelia is whip-smart and resourceful, providing a sharp contrast to the “pompous windbags” surrounding her, while Caleb is a total delight—a dedicated clotheshorse who prioritizes his tailoring but would follow Amelia into any disaster.
The shift in setting and the escalation of their “rivalry” made the last 60 percent of the book fly by. Watching them navigate their buried feelings while pretending to be bitter enemies made the pacing feel incredibly quick and fun.
It’s a witty, magical delight that I devoured in two days. 4 Stars.
