The Art of the Craft (The Summoning #1)

Castro’s whimsical debut blends art and magic to unspool the tale of a student trying to find her path. Claire, a self-taught witch who specializes in enchanted paintings, hopes to get accepted into the exclusive training program at Ridgewood Coven, even though her foster mom, a protective Eye Beast, urges her to seek a solo apprenticeship instead. The Coven application comprises three magical trials, and the competition is fierce. Claire and her familiar, a snack-loving cat named Edgar, are particularly intimidated by Swan, a popular potion-making influencer who seems to breeze through life. “I’m just the weird homeschooled one who doesn’t really know how to use a wand,” Claire sighs. Castro’s ink-washed art starts out wobbly but develops an affable children’s-book vibe, with the characters visiting charming locales like a tree-house coffee shop, a magical farmers’ market, and a mushroom forest as they fret over their artists’ statements. Though Claire’s mystical world contains hints of darkness, it’s mostly filled in with amusing details like a poetry-spewing spider and a spell activated by sacrificing a jelly donut. Those looking for cozy fantasy with a cute goth touch should take note. (Oct.)