Item: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Rating: 4.00
Author: quirkycat

by Sangu Mandanna

“This is one of my coziest reads of the last year, and I find myself thinking about its enchanted setting all the time.”−Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author

A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family—and a new love—changes the course of her life.

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 peril 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....

Book Summary:

Mika Moon has spent her whole life being told what is and isn't safe for witches. For the most part, more things are unsafe than safe. According to her elders, Mika should live isolated from other witches, practically carefully and quietly.

But that isn't how Mika wants to live. She wants to be with other witches, sharing knowledge and building a home. So when she's given a unique opportunity to help three young witches, she agrees to help – despite everything she was raised to believe.

My Review:

Oh! I can see why everyone has been hyping The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches up so much! It's a fantastical read (pun not intended, but appreciated). If you're looking for a cozy witch read, this book is perfect!

Admittedly, found family is one of my all-time favorite tropes, so I knew I would fall in love with this book. And I was right! Mika's adventure with this hodgepodge family was so sweet and endearing, even though it had its challenges.

There is a romantic subplot for those wondering. There's also a lot of discussion about the magical world, which I adored. Other cherished bits include character development, a couple of twists, and an adorable puppy (what can I say?).

Highlights:
Witch Society
Family of Witches
Witchy Romance
Found Family

Trigger Warnings:
Familial Estrangement
Death of a parent (off-page)

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The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

by Sangu Mandanna

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on Sep 11, 2023

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