Sydney Sage + surely books can solve any problem
The spellbooks Ms. T had Sydney unknowingly learn from for "research"
3/5, the fire amulet didn't stop the Strigoi, but it may have kept Adrian alive long enough for the calvary to arrive
The Amberwood Yearbook she threw at Lee so she and Adrian could make a run for it
For solving the mystery: 2/5, she solved it the second it didn't matter anymore
For throwing at a serial killer: 2.5/5, it did distract him, the Strigoi arrival was terrible timing
The books on kissing and dating she got when she went out with Brayden
"I’d feared dating for years but was again pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to talk to him. It was a lot like the Shakespearean outing: an endless source of topics that we both knew lots about. It was the rest of the experience that still left me unsettled—the “date” stuff. The dating books I’d read since our last outing mostly advised on when to have sex, which was completely useless since I had yet to figure out holding hands."
"None of the advice I’d gotten from the books or my friends really prepared me for how to handle discussions about alternative energy sources. One of the books—one I’d chosen not to finish—had a decidedly male-centric view that said women should always make men feel important on dates."
1/5, not very useful. (Maybe if she'd gotten a book on the asexuality spectrum and demisexuality)
The HR department book for teachers
For claiming Ms. T making her research spellbooks counts as inappropriate behavior: 0/5
For getting Angeline out of being expelled after she punched a motivational speaker who tried to physically pull her up to the stage and throwing a speaker at another: 4/5
The Invisible Dagger: Practical Spells for Offense and Defense
For self-defense: 5/5, heavily used to escape the vampire hunters
For Ms. T's goal of using Sydney's curiosity and interest in self-defense to tempt her into willingly study magic on her own: 83/5
"“We’re here for you if you do,” I said. I technically meant it, but if Jill came sobbing to me afterward, I wasn’t entirely sure what I should say. Maybe I could find a book on appropriate breakup counseling techniques before she did the deed."
?/5, unclear if bought or helpful
For distracting her from Adrian in a plane: 0/5, became the topic of conversation, got them to make up
For battling Alicia: 4/5, knocked herself out using spells that were too advanced, but won
Bad Boys and the Women Who Love Them
"My preferred theory was that I’d simply been caught up in how serious Adrian had been about his art, how the emotion and passion had seized hold of him. Girls liked artists just as much as bad boys, right? Even now, something stirred in my chest when I thought about the enraptured look on his face. I loved that he possessed something so powerful in him.
But, as I told myself constantly, that was no excuse for climbing all over him and letting him kiss me—on my neck. I’d bought and downloaded the “bad boy” book online, but it had been completely useless in advising me. I finally decided the best way—if not the healthiest one—was to act like the moment had never happened."
"My body doesn’t know any better. I’m as susceptible to lust as anyone else.” There was probably a book about that or at least an article in Cosmopolitan."
"Some part of me—nearly as snarky as Adrian—suggested I pick up a book on denial the next time I was in the self-help section."
-97/5, absolutely useless, irrelevant topic
Summonings and Conjurations
100/5, excellent for becoming the co-parent of a tiny protective dragon with the boy you're totally not in love with, very cute. HOPPER!!!
For stopping Adrian's heart: 5/5
For picking her new witchy coven name: 4/5, very reasonable, not sure if she actually chose from it
Inez's mechanics of charm making books
5/5, Sydney successfully broke and sealed Alchemist tattoos
Unspecified number of sex how-to books
12/5, got an impressed “Where did you learn that, Sage?” from Adrian Ivashkov, can't argue with results
An embellished book with metal corners used to unscrew a ventilation panel in her room in re-education
4/5, not as good as a screwdriver but did the job, successfully turned off the knock-out gas
Unnamed book of spells gifted by Ms. T after Sydney's rescue
5/5, aided their escape, terrified some Alchemists, should've killed them painfully but you can't have everything
"some parenting book she read about kids learning a second language"
4/5, Declan seems to be learning Spanish well
Happy birthday to my darling Sydney Sage Ivashkov, I may have gone overboard on this one