Uncharmed Easter Eggs
Blurb here
You’ll often hear authors talking about the curse of book two. It’s second album syndrome - returning to the abject horror of a blank word document after riding the high of finishing the first one. I definitely had my fair share of existential terror when it came to writing Uncharmed, but one part of the writing process that I absolutely loved every second of was slipping in a few subtle references to my first book, Rewitched.
Although they’re standalone stories, both books are set within the same magical, witchy world. The main characters, Belle Blackthorn and Annie Wildwood, even share a coven, and although you definitely don’t need to be familiar with Rewitched to dive into Uncharmed, there may or may not be a couple of Easter eggs which you’ll only be able to spot within Annie’s story if you’ve already met Belle.
If you love spotting connections and foreshadowing in books, and can’t wait until Uncharmed publishes on September 18, here’s a handy index to help you look out for the Rewitched throwback moments while you read Uncharmed.
And just a quick warning that there are, inevitably, some details of what happens in Rewitched here, so if you haven’t read it yet: look out (and maybe click here).
Uncharmed
by Lucy Jane Wood
Andromeda Wildwood is practically perfect. She owns a very successful bakery, Celestial Bakehouse, and dedicates her powers to pleasing other people and doing her best. Then she meets Maeve. This fiery, stubborn teenage witch, who Annie has been chosen by her coven to mentor, throws her life into chaos. Temporarily lodging together with the unimpressed Hal, the unlikely trio slowly start to understand each other. But as outside forces begin to take an interest in Maeve’s extraordinary power, will Annie risk everything to protect the true magic she’s finally found?
Halloween hijinx
The events of Uncharmed exist on a tandem timeline with Rewitched, unfolding at the exact same time a couple of years earlier (it’s technically a prequel).
Just as Belle’s do, Annie’s adventures begin on October 1st when she is first introduced to troubled teenage witch, Maeve. Chaos only grows as the two get closer to the date of Halloween itself, so it seems as though, for Selcouth witches, October can never be trusted to run smoothly. . .
A magical return
With the usual, confusing entry requirements, Uncharmed takes us back to the strange, sorcery-filled headquarters that are Hecate House. Before it was unceremoniously blown up by two twisted sisters and some messy elemental magic, that is.
While Belle is at the start of her endarkenment trial, Annie is a fully-fledged member of Selcouth coven and passed with perfectly flying colours a couple of years prior. She’s well established amongst her magical peers, and visits Hecate House as part of her apprenticeship.
The mystery bookshop
Could it be that Annie and Belle already kind of know each other? At one point, Annie rushes along the streets near Celeste, noting some of the other shops that she passes by. That includes '. . .the local bookshop where she would often drop in samples for the booksellers. . .”
Fun fact – this is absolutely Lunar Books. I love the idea that Annie and Belle would know each other locally for their sweet treats and reading recommendations, long before Belle has begun to properly tap into her magical connections. Little did she know there was a fellow witch nearby all along.
Familiar friends
There are two key returning characters in Uncharmed, and I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but here’s a teaser.
One character arrives early on in the story, when Annie visits Hecate House after an unexpected summons. I was keen to give a little bit of extra, more likeable (maybe) insight into them, to perhaps cast a different light on and add some context to their behaviour in Rewitched.
The other character comes at the very end of the book, when the coven unites against an unexpected enemy. Honestly, there was no real purpose for their appearance, other than the fact that I love to make fun of them (in the nicest, most loving possible way). Both are two of my absolute favourite characters to write across the whole cast, and it was a joy to revisit them for some bonus backstory.
The wicked witch
While not a key character this time, look out for a cameo appearance from Rewitched’s big bad which suggests some people had their suspicions about them long before their villainous antics were revealed.
Witchy predictions
Remember the big twist at the end of Rewitched? Right at the end of Annie’s story we get a hint of where the Gowden sisters may have got their idea from. . .
You’ve met before
Well this is awkward, but did you know that you have actually met Annie before Uncharmed? I won’t blame you for not remembering this tiny detail from your Rewitched read, but while introducing Belle to a few of the jury members present for her trial, Bronwyn mentions in passing one ‘Andromeda’.
Yep, that’s Annie. She was watching the whole ordeal of Belle’s manifestations unfold. I like to think that she would have been trying to work out how to slip her a cinnamon bun laced with a comforting concoction as soon as the trial ended.
