Bernadette “Ber” Crowley comes from a long line of witches. They do magic by pricking their fingers to draw a drop of blood as they say a spell, and a demon appears to do their bidding. When Ber is diagnosed with Type I diabetes, however, she must prick her finger regularly to monitor her blood glucose level–causing demons to appear and cause chaos in the human world.
Ber (who describes her body as “big”) and her older sister Maeve (who has a girlfriend) come up with a solution, however: They’ll conjure a demon to monitor her glucose. But the demon who appears, Finley MacIntire (who says they are “beyond gender”) is more powerful than expected, has goals of their own, and has a history with Ber’s great-great grandmother. Their relationship with Ber is fraught, even as they are bound to help her. As if that wasn’t enough, Ber’s family finds itself at odds with a nearby coven, and soon the magical chaos that Ber has created might endanger them all, if she can’t figure out a way to stop it.
The main premise of blood-related magic and a witch with diabetes is clever; informed by author Claire Edge’s own experience as someone with diabetes, however, it also offers a thoughtful look at living with diabetes and how that is sometimes misunderstood by others. Another underlying theme is that of the beliefs and prejudices we learn from our families, and which we may later come to realize are misguided or wrong. The messages are lightened with plenty of adventure and magic, and Ber and Finley’s relationship is snarky and fun. The queer representation is secondary but evident (and includes Ber’s Grandma Orla; her spouse Grandma Dot is mentioned in passing; it’s clear she died some time ago). All told, it’s a recommended and delightful read.
Ber and her family are White.
