There is just something about magical books set in New Orleans. I thought this was a good coming of age story. We follow Mikaela and her family as she embarks on becoming their coven’s leader. Pulling the Death Card and seeing her own demise starts a chain of events where Mikaela will need to come to terms with her new role.

This was a darker YA story, I loved the inclusion of our main characters being Black and Queer. The story was slower paced but I really liked the conclusion and twisty reveal. I wish there was more whimsical magic to offset the heavier topics, but I still liked the messaging of magical ancestry and being stronger together.

Thanks to G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for the review copy.

Title: Death Card
Author: Jasmine Smith
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Queer
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️