★Gilliland, Raquel Vasquez. Witch of Wild Things. Berkley. Sept. 2023. 336p. ISBN 9780593548578. pap. $17. PARANORMAL ROMANCE

A family curse has passed magic down through generations of the Flores family, including sisters Teal, Sky, and Sage. Sage’s magic focuses on plants, allowing her to hear their voices, encourage them to grow, and identify them from seeds. When Sky dies in an accident, Sage leaves home, haunted by her sister’s ghost. Now, eight years later, Sage has come home to Cranberry, VA. Tennessee Reyes, Sage’s first love and first heartbreak, has also moved back to town. When Sage and Tennessee are thrown together to search for heritage plants, their attraction is immediate and powerful. But Sage isn’t sure she can risk her heart again, and she has secrets that could drive Tenn away. This engrossing, lyrical romance pulls readers into Sage’s world, where the supernatural is everyday, yet still mysterious. A secondary plotline about broken familial relationships shares importance with the romance, adding depth. Magic and Mexican American culture are woven throughout the book, as are references to ecology and the preservation of nature. VERDICT Gilliland’s (How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe) adult fiction debut is a beautifully written, entrancing novel that is a must-buy for all collections.