Welcome, book friends!
To listen to my real-time reactions to these books, you can check out the full episode on The Bookmarks ‘n Blankets Podcast on your favorite podcast platform or listen below.
I’d love to know your thoughts on any of these books if you’ve read them. I invite you to hop over to my Instagram or X (aka Twitter), where you can comment.
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With fall just around the corner and Spooky Season approaching, I was in the mood for some popular witchy reads. I picked a mix of books, ranging from cozy fantasy to horror fantasy and young adult (YA) teen drama. Since I’m still fairly new to the witchy genre, I’m just starting to explore it. Here are my real-time reactions as I read through these books!
My Reaction to 4 Popular Witch Books
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Format: Digital ebook
Subgenre: Romantasy | Cozy Fantasy
GR Rating: 4.11 (GR Nominee for Best Fantasy 2022)
My GR Rating: 2
Read more on GoodReads
GR Description: As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules…with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.
But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.
As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn’t the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for…
My Review:
Sadly, this book just didn’t work for me. I feel like it’s been overhyped, and I must have had a different experience than most readers because I don’t understand the rave reviews. The writing came across as immature and unpolished to me. There was an obscene amount of cursing, which felt over the top and ridiculous. Additionally, it’s an open-door romance, which isn’t my preference, so I ended up skipping those parts in the audiobook since I prefer closed-door romances.
The book felt overly focused on ticking diversity boxes and pandering, with a wide array of ethnicities and sexual orientations represented. While diversity is important, it came across as forced rather than natural, which detracted from the story. Also, the messaging about feeling ‘othered’ and not fitting into society felt heavy-handed and preachy. I prefer my entertainment to convey its themes more subtly, without feeling like I’m being lectured to.
Overall, the plot was boring, the characters felt one-dimensional and fell flat, there was zero chemistry between the couple, and the writing came off as too juvenile. While I appreciated the magical elements, they weren’t developed enough to compensate for the rest. Unfortunately, this author’s style just isn’t for me, and I wouldn’t recommend this book. There are way better witchy books and cozy fantasy books.
If you want to listen to all of my thoughts and get my real-time reactions to this book, listen to the episode above.
Cackle by Rachel Harrison
Format: Audiobook: Narrator – Dylan Moore
Subgenre: Horror Fantasy
GR Rating: 3.72 (GR Nominee for Best Horror 2021)
My GR Rating: 3
Read more on GoodReads
GR Description: A darkly funny, frightening novel about a young woman learning how to take what she wants from a witch who may be too good to be true, from the author of The Return.
All her life, Annie has played it nice and safe. After being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Annie seeks a fresh start. She accepts a teaching position that moves her from Manhattan to a small village upstate. She’s stunned by how perfect and picturesque the town is. The people are all friendly and warm. Her new apartment is dreamy too, minus the oddly persistent spider infestation.
Then Annie meets Sophie. Beautiful, charming, magnetic Sophie, who takes a special interest in Annie, who wants to be her friend. More importantly, she wants Annie to stop apologizing and start living for herself. That’s how Sophie lives. Annie can’t help but gravitate toward the self-possessed Sophie, wanting to spend more and more time with her, despite the fact that the rest of the townsfolk seem…a little afraid of her. And like, okay. There are some things. Sophie’s appearance is uncanny and ageless, her mansion in the middle of the woods feels a little unearthly, and she does seem to wield a certain power…but she couldn’t be…could she?
My Review:
Unfortunately, this book didn’t live up to my expectations. It was my first time reading this author, and after hearing so many positive things about her work, I was disappointed. There was also more profanity than I preferred, and I didn’t enjoy the frequent feminist commentary throughout the story. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.
However, I did enjoy the characters of Annie and Sophie. Annie was extremely relatable, while Sophie had a mysterious vibe that made me want to learn more about her. Their dynamic was definitely toxic, and I wished the book had explored their friendship more deeply. Overall, I wanted more from this story—more magic, creepy supernatural elements, romance for Annie with a new guy, and a better backstory for Sophie. The plot felt flat and boring, and I kept waiting for something exciting to happen, but it never did. Some scenes had potential, but it wasn’t enough. This read more like women’s lit or chick lit, not the horror fantasy I was expecting. It wasn’t scary at all—just a few gross moments. I was hoping for more fantastical elements to truly capture the feel of a witchy fantasy horror book.
The highlight of this book was definitely Ralph, the adorable fuzzy spider who behaved more like a pet dog than an insect. I kept picturing him as an animated or CGI character with loads of personality. He brought some much-needed comic relief, especially in a few fun scenes toward the end.
Personally, I wouldn’t recommend this book. There are plenty of better witchy reads out there without such an overt feminist tone. However, if the premise appeals to you, it might be worth a try—you may enjoy it more than I did. While this one didn’t work for me, I’m still interested in checking out a few more of the author’s books and hoping those will resonate better.
If you want to listen to all of my thoughts and get my real-time reactions to this book, listen to the episode above.
The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin
Format: Audiobook: Narrator – Laura Knight Keating
Subgenre: YA Romantasy
GR Rating: 3.82
My GR Rating: DNF (Did Not Finish)
Read more on GoodReads
GR Description: For centuries, witches have maintained the climate, their power from the sun peaking in the season of their birth. But now their control is faltering as the atmosphere becomes more erratic. All hope lies with Clara, an Everwitch whose rare magic is tied to every season.
In Autumn, Clara wants nothing to do with her power. It’s wild and volatile, and the price of her magic―losing the ones she loves―is too high, despite the need to control the increasingly dangerous weather.
In Winter, the world is on the precipice of disaster. Fires burn, storms rage, and Clara accepts that she’s the only one who can make a difference.
In Spring, she falls for Sang, the witch training her. As her magic grows, so do her feelings, until she’s terrified Sang will be the next one she loses.
In Summer, Clara must choose between her power and her happiness, her duty and the people she loves… before she loses Sang, her magic, and thrusts the world into chaos.
My Review:
Sadly, I was really disappointed with this book, especially since I loved Bring Me Your Midnight by this author. Unfortunately, this story just wasn’t my cup of tea and didn’t unfold the way I had hoped.
I decided to stop reading this book around the 30% mark. The story just wasn’t drawing me in, and the characters felt one-dimensional and flat. I couldn’t connect with Clara, the main character, and the writing felt a bit too juvenile for my taste. I also didn’t enjoy the political messages about climate change and anti-industrialization. Overall, this book just wasn’t for me.
If you want to listen to all of my thoughts and get my real-time reactions to this book, listen to the episode above.
How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather
Format: Audiobook: Narrator – Adriana Mather
Subgenre: YA Fantasy
GR Rating: 4.05
My GR Rating: 5 (4.5)
Read more on GoodReads
GR Description: Salem, Massachusetts is the site of the infamous witch trials and the new home of Samantha Mather. Recently transplanted from New York City, Sam and her stepmother are not exactly welcomed with open arms. Sam is the descendant of Cotton Mather, one of the men responsible for those trials and almost immediately, she becomes the enemy of a group of girls who call themselves The Descendants. And guess who their ancestors were?
If dealing with that weren’t enough, Sam also comes face to face with a real live (well technically dead) ghost. A handsome, angry ghost who wants Sam to stop touching his stuff. But soon Sam discovers she is at the center of a centuries old curse affecting anyone with ties to the trials. Sam must come to terms with the ghost and find a way to work with The Descendants to stop a deadly cycle that has been going on since the first accused witch was hanged. If any town should have learned its lesson, it’s Salem. But history may be about to repeat itself.
My Review:
I absolutely loved this book! It had everything I was looking for in a witchy read—conflict, drama, romance, supernatural elements, like witches and ghosts, and fascinating historical details about Salem, MA. The story was fast-paced, gripping, and impossible to put down. It also delivered all the cozy fall vibes, making it the perfect read for this time of year.
I loved the way the author narrated this audiobook—she did an amazing job! It was also really interesting to learn that she’s a real-life descendant of Cotton Mather, a historical figure from the Salem Witch Trials. Hearing the author’s note at the end, where she shared her inspiration for the book and her writing process, added an extra layer of fascination.
If you love historical facts woven into fiction and enjoy learning about the Salem Witch Trials, this book is a must-read. Fans of movies and shows like Mean Girls, Gossip Girl, The Craft, and Hocus Pocus will absolutely adore this story—it carries all those vibes throughout. It was an exciting, wild ride, and I had such a blast listening to it. Highly recommend! I can’t wait to dive into the sequel and read more from this author!
If you want to listen to all of my thoughts and get my real-time reactions to this book, listen to the episode above.
