This was darker than I expected and more enjoyable. While magic was integrated into the plot, the main focus was on a mystery and the familial relationships involved.
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I was immediately immersed in this book and read it in one sitting. I highly recommend it to lovers of mystery, magic, and/or family drama.

I received a free ARC. I am leaving my honest review.

“A Spell of Rowans” was spellbinding. Unlike the usual book with witches as main characters, the witchcraft aspect of this book was at the edges, but not the main focal point. Byrd Nash weaved an interesting mystery with plenty of twists and turns. It’s darker at times – these characters feel very real and have experienced some traumatic events in their lives – but the plot moves seamlessly between events and leads up to an unexpected finale.

We first meet Vic Rowan after learning about the death of her mother, a mother that Vic really has no love for. Quickly, we learn that there’s some concerns around the death of her mother and her mother’s associate, and before you know it, there is so much more going on than first meets the eye. What I really liked about this novel was that the characters really do feel real – they’re a little bit broken from their childhoods, but we see how they process these things over the course of the novel. Again, this is quite a lot of mystery with a dash of the paranormal, but there’s enough of it to make the story interesting but not so much that it bogs the story down. There's also a touch of romance, which rather than distracting from the main plot, helped to round out the story and made it feel more realistic.

If I could change on thing about the story, at times it felt like some pieces of information might be leading the story in a certain direction and didn’t end up being overly important. While everything was relevant to the plot and helped tie everything together, it sometimes felt like some of the events were a little disjointed. But don’t let this stop you from reading this book – it’s a nice read and didn’t feel predictable.

>>> A  S P E L L  O F  R O W A N S <<<
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
💔💔💔💔/5
🥺🥺🥺🥺/5
😏😏😏😏😏/5
🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎/5

Genre: Contemporary with the right amount of magic

A Spell of Rowans is set in a small town called Grimsby where our protagonist Rachel Rowan belongs to. After hearing of her mother's death Rachel returns to her home town only to end up running into her exes, murders, and small town politics. As the story unfolds we learn how the Rowan siblings were shaped and effected by their childhood conflicts and trauma. Their mother who practically controlled their lives and still continues to do so even after her death sent a thrill down my spine. I'd like to thank the author for including the high school romance rekindled trope as its my favourite 🙈
The writing felt very real in the sense that it successfully made me terrified of Rachel and almost made me believe that maybe I'm one of her victims as well and let us not forget the excellent depiction of emotions.
This book got me hooked up from the very first page and I would overall describe it as captivating, mind blowing and the perfect combo of contemporary with thrilling magic. This may be one of my top five reads this year

Please read the TWs before reading the book.

Rachel Rowan has always been a force to be reckoned with; but now she’s dead and somehow still manages to create havoc amongst her children and the townspeople of Grimsby. Her three grown children have finally had enough.

The story takes place in a town where everyone knows everyone and their business. I know, because I grew up in such place. The story’s perspective is told through Vic, the middle Rowan, who left Grimsby 15 years ago under mysterious circumstances and never looked back. She is a loner, tends to be snarky and sharp like a knife. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Vic at first, but I was quickly won over in just a few chapters. Oh, there’s romance…more than one.

Nash portrays a dysfunctional family cloaked in a family secret. A secret so terrible that people have been hurt and murdered. Everyone in town, including the Chief of Police, knows who “dun it”. This is an open and shut case with time running out for one of the Rowans. The question is, which one?

Nash has created a story that will have you immersed from the beginning to the very last sentence. She is meticulous in the development of each character and the story flows with flair and humor in all of the right places. She’s aced all three elements that I look for in a book; character growth, world building, and story flow with an edge of your seat ending. The town of Grimsby will never be the same again. I’m sure all of them will have lots to talk about over a couple cups of coffee for quite some time. Trust me.

A Spell of Rowans does not have a fair young maiden in distress, no fairies, no wands, no knight in shining armor, nary a werewolf or vampire. Its just a great story with a bit of magic for those of us who refuse to grow up. And that would be me. I loved this story!

Parental Note:
I would recommend this book for teens 16 and above.

There are scenes that some may find troubling. I’m just putting it out there. I was not deterred by this as I thought and felt these scenes were well written and contributed to the story. I did not feel they were added purely for shock value.

A Spell of Rowans by Byrd Nash is an exciting read. It is fantasy but what I liked is that there is no need to understand complicated rules of the world the characters live in before reading the book. The understanding of characters comes easily as you read the book.

The book is about the death of the mother of the three Rowan siblings, and the angst that comes with it, except they are not sad their mother died. In fact, they seem glad. Hard to understand until the story unfolds. I don't really want to give more away except to say that in the small town of Grimsby, where the siblings grew up and everyone knows all the people who live there, the mother's death may make many people in the town happy.

How could I resist reading a book about magic? While never explicitly saying they're witches, each Rowan sibling has their own different powers. Phillipa can charm anyone, Vic is an empath who can detect emotions and consume them while Liam can recall history from touching objects. Told from Vic's perspective this dark tale is one of magic, blackmail and murder triggered by the death of their mother and returning to the home town of Grimsby.
It took me a few chapters to realise the location was not Grimsby in England but in America which changed things completely when I visualised it.
With high tension, I found myself struggling to put this book down because of the twists and secrets revealed. It's clever, imaginative and a good example of how magic and suspense can blend with contemporary fiction. It deals with tough issues such as abuse in childhood and the effects this has in later life and has the theme of forgiveness and healing once secrets revealed.

The Rowan family is special. Each of the Rowan children have a gift: Philippa, the oldest has a talent for winning people over; Victoria the middle child, an empath who can feel everyone’s emotions clearly; and Liam, the youngest, who can uncover the story of objects.

Victoria Rowan hasn’t been home to Grimsby since she left for the city. She spent years trying to get away from the abuse of her mother. She had no intention of ever coming back, except her narcissist mother, Rachel Rowan has died, leaving her the family home. Now she’s back and having to face not just her past, but also the past of her siblings and he high school boyfriend.

This is such a unique blend of family drama, mystery, with just a touch of magic. The magic aspect is very light and more a supporting characteristic of the family rather than being the central plot of the story. Instead, our plot is focused more around the Rowan family dynamic and the lingering effects of their child abuse at the hands of their mother.

I thought that Byrd did a great job of developing our main characters throughout the story, and felt that each of our main characters were fully flushed out and brought plenty of personality to the story. I felt completely invested in our character’s lives and would actually love to read an additional story about the Rowan siblings.

This was just an interesting and unique story. It does have a few topics that could be triggering for some people, but overall Byrd does a great job of portraying the events without being overly graphic. Highly recommend for anyone looks for a good fall mystery.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: CHILD ABUSE, DROWNING, SUICIDE.


A Spell of Rowan’s comes out October 26, 2021. Huge thank you to Rook & Castle Press and Netgalley for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof_books.

To be honest, I was not sure that I was going to like this book. But I promised myself that I would read every ARC book provided by a publisher, author, or Net Galley. As it turned out, finishing A Spell of Rowans was not a struggle. I really enjoyed this book. The plot was complex and with many layers of truth hidden inside. There were times when I really did not want to put this book down. Reading Byrd Nash's novel was a bit like peeling an onion. So much was hidden and in need of discovery. The characters were interesting and the mystery had many red herrings. I do not normally read books about the supernatural or about magic, but A Spell of Rowans was very well done. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing this opportunity to read an ARC of Byrd Nash's novel.

I was expecting a different kind of novel with this one.

Three magic wielding siblings - Vic aka Victoria, Phillipa and Liam - gather in their small home town after the death of their detested, abusive mother. Once home a series of unfortunate events triggers a reckoning for the siblings.

To begin, this story progressed way too fast for me. I felt like I wasn’t given an opportunity to gather my bearings or to feel invested in any of the characters before big things started happening.

Furthermore, based on the description and title of the book I thought magic would be an overarching theme; yet, it’s so subtle at times I wondered whether it was truly magic they possessed or just sensitivities rooted in their abusive upbringing.

I also expected the house to play a larger role in the story, to be a living, breathing character in its own right and serve as a way of connecting past trauma with their magic and their present day predicament. I was disappointed that it was only a simple background piece and nothing more. Same thing goes for the town.

Typically I enjoy a simple, to the point writing style but for this I really wanted more exposition and world building. I think for magic to work in a story you really need to feel it and I wasn’t feeling it in this story.

The murder mystery aspect of the book was interesting but felt disjointed. It seemed to start and stop repeatedly throughout rather than just flowing smoothly. It felt like at different points I was reading different types of stories that weren’t meshing well together.

Overall, my expectations for what this novel was going to be like were not met, unfortunately.

3.5 stars. I liked this book.

Vic Rowan gets a call from her sister that her mother is dead. And Vic's reaction (relief? joy?) immediately drew me into this story. She returns to her hometown to meet with her sister and brother for the necessary arrangements and all hell breaks loose. She also runs into her ex and they have unresolved business with each other.

The pace of the story was quick and I liked that it moved along nicely. My only wish was that we had a little more of Vic's mother's back story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rook and Castle Press for this ARC. All reviews and opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher for the digital ARC of this book, it has not affected my honest review!

TWs: abuse, violence, attempted sexual assault, suicide,

This is my first Byrd Nash book and I'm so glad that I read it. The characters of the Rowan family, in particular the siblings Vic, Philippa and Liam, are incredibly well written and believable. Their mother, Rachel Rowan, was abusive to her children and to the people of their hometown Grimsby. Her impact has left lasting scars on her children into their adult lives even after she dies- as well as influencing how they use the "gifts" they were born with. This is a difficult book to read in places, while not particularly graphic it doesn't need to be; each section focusing on their mother emphasises the horrible things she did to traumatise her children. The fantasy in "A Spell of Rowans" is exceptionally light, the focus of this novel isn't what the Rowan siblings can do but rather how they deal with the impact of their mother's death. The small amount of romance in this book is sweet, though moved too quickly for me towards the end. I enjoyed the mystery aspect more towards the beginning but it wrapped up tightly at the end (and with a cause I'd never suspected.) I read this book so quickly, it was easy to read and enjoyable, and I can definitely see it going down well with readers.

Loved this book. It is more of a dark novel but full of magic feelings. The cover of this book is absolutely stunning. I would love to see this book become a series.

Wow!! This was great! I really enjoyed how fleshed out the characters were in this book. I felt like I really had a connection with each and every one. I was amazed at how the author made Rachel such an ever present person in the book. I could see her influence throughout. I loved that this book showed Vic's demons and how she faced them head on. The pace of this book was perfect and I never felt myind wander.

Many thanks to both the author & Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I say this book was a page turner, I mean I was physically incapable of putting it down. I found myself so deeply intrigued by the Rowan siblings, their parents, and the mystery surrounding what happened to the family that I devoured the entire book in a single day.

I read a lot of fantasy, but this book is definitely darker than most, full of magical realism and fascinating, multi-faceted characters. There are definitely parts that are hard to read, specifically to do with childhood abuse and mental health struggles, but overall I definitely enjoyed the story, particularly the ending.

Towards the 70% mark it seemed like everything was going to wrap up in a nice little bow which made the entire plot seem a bit shallow, but the final chapters added some well needed layers of depth that really rounded out the plot.

I would definitely explore more books from the author, and have rated this 4/5 stars.

Gosh darn cute seems like an odd way to describe such a dark book, but that was my take-away feeling.

The story is about 3 siblings who each have some magical power. They come together after the death of their mother, and mysteries abound.

I have very mixed thoughts about this book.

It is really cute, but it dealt with such dark subjects as abuse and murder
I loved the characters, but felt like I needed more background on them to get to know them better
I loved how each sibling had a different talent, but I was confused as to what the sister could do exactly - make people like her?
I loved the brother, but sometimes thought he was mentally challenged, then thought he was very bright and able to care for himself. His descriptions were not consistent.


Regardless of my mixed thoughts, I kept the pages turning because I LIKED this book and wanted to know what happened next and thats the most important thing, right?

I want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review

This was a “new to me” author who usually writes straight up fantasy I believe. The story is about 3 adult siblings who all have some kind of paranormal power. Their abusive mother, who many believed was a witch, has just died and the kids are trying to settle the estate. Their mother left behind danger, secrets, and trauma which the siblings have to solve/navigate.

Several people have compared this to Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman. I see the similarities but this one is darker because of the parental abuse and the witch element, to me, wasn’t developed as broadly. I would have liked to have deeper character development for all the siblings, had more flashbacks to childhood or maybe a dual timeline to give the reader more background. Also, I just really didn’t like the main character Victoria. She was just unpleasant and I didn’t really understand why until almost the end of the book but I would have liked to see her have some moments of emotional vulnerability earlier on to help temper that or more peeks into her past history.

Overall I just wanted more development of the magic/witch aspect of the book. That’s what drew me in and it was tepidly used there.

I liked this enough that I would be interested in trying some of Byrd Nash’s other work.

An electronic copy was supplied by NetGalley for review purposes.

Trigger warnings: childhood abuse, attempted sexual assault, drowning, murder, suicide. Not very graphic but read at your own discretion.

Byrd Nash created a family that I wanted to dive into and investigate in 'A Spell of Rowans'.

I wanted to understand the motivations of Rachel Rowan. I needed to know why Victoria Rowan abandoned Grimsby. I had to see how Liam was involved. I desired a picture of who Phillipa was and had become. I wanted answers about the murder in Grimsby. I needed to unravel the mystery of witchcraft and the Rowan magic.

Some of my demands were met and others have been sadly disappointed.

'A Spell of Rowans' dives straight into murder, conflict and mayhem when the cruel Rowan matriarch dies and her children reunite to manage the estate. It is quickly clear that Vic is returning to more than she bargained for when she encounters her childhood love, Reed Easton, on the train home and her brother is taken in to be questioned over the murder of their Mother's business partner. Worse, Reed, now FBI, is sitting in on the interview and witnesses both Liam and Vic use their powers.

A magical murder mystery, 'A Spell of Rowans' dives into the murder of Patty Maxwell, it's links to the death of Rachel Rowan and the unsolved cold case of Victor Rowan, unsolved for fifteen years.

Nash unravels the investigation slowly and carefully, revealing family secrets, dangerous magic and painful memories. As the past comes to light, the bonds between the Rowan siblings are tightened and love blossoms despite the danger.

I was completely drawn in by the characters, the mystery and the magic in 'A Spell of Rowans' but I am disappointed by how magic was managed. Their is no explanation of the mechanics of magic and a lot of it was just accepted by characters who existed outside the magic - I was desperate to understand how it worked and it was a very small part of the story despite being integral to the plot and characterisation.

I was most disappointed by the resolution - the events of the epilogue seemed to come out of nowhere, were set eight months after the conclusion of the main story, and was neatly tied-up outside the narrative which made it feel forced and incomplete.

That said, if there is another story about the Rowan family and their adventures in Grimsby - I will definitely add it to my to-read pile.

Thank-you for the opportunity to read A Spell of Rowans, a fantasy come murder mystery tale about three siblings using their abilities to deal with the aftermath of their mother's death, the scorned town and their past. The book is an easy read, with plenty of twists to keep you guessing and likeable characters. If anything I wanted to see more of Liam's ability, the history of the items in Rosemary Thyme and the stories behind the characters hounded by Rachel Rowan for years.

4.2 Stars

Trigger Warning: Nonsexual child abuse, suicide, attempted sexual assault.

Vic, aka, Victoria is called home to Grimsby by her elder sister Philippa. Their mother, the infamous narcissist, Rachel Rowan has died, and her three children have to settle the details. Vic agrees to her Philippa and their younger brother Liam in the town.
She’s been away for too long, trying to escape the suffocating life with their mother. However, she knows that nothing involving Rachel will ever be easy.
As an empath, Vic has spent her life trying to block’s emotions for messing with hers. Philippa was her opposite and charmed people around her. Liam could tell the history of whatever object he touched. And their dead mother, Rachel, had the knack of finding secrets and controlling others.
Things take a turn for worse the moment Vic enters Grimsby. Though she’s not surprised, Vic realizes that she didn’t know a lot of things because she kept it that way. Liam seems to have suffered the most, and Vic feels torn between wanting to help and wondering if she should.
The past, too, has been left dangling when Vic left, and it looks like Vic has no choice but to face her fears. With her siblings to support her, Vic finds alleys in two men with powerful positions. With one of them being close to her heart, can Vic survive the intensity of complicated emotions piling on top of one another?
A Spell of Rowans is my first book by the author, and I'm impressed by her writing. The book really isn’t sci-fi or fantasy even. It’s more on the lines of a little paranormal here and there. Most of it is a family drama with some suspense and uncertain romance thrown in.
Since I pretty much forgot the genre, I could enjoy the book without wondering about the lack of fantasy elements (on a large scale). Also, I tend to like books with just a little touch of fantasy, so this fits my reading preferences rather well.
Another plus point is the writing flow. After ending up with a couple of slow books, this one relieved me. My pace got back to normal, and I added the extra 0.2 stars for the same.
The story intrigued me from the first page and kept me hooked throughout. Vic is our narrator, and we see things from her perspective. She’s the kind of character I like to read- a bit vulnerable, a little headstrong, a bit impulsive but sensible, determined, caring, and capable of carrying the story on her shoulders.
The other characters, Philippa, Liam, and Reed, were also well etched, though Hunter needed a little more. That said, I loved Liam’s character. He’s an endearing young man, who’s been through a lot, carries a lot of baggage, and yet is a compassionate man.
Though Rachel is dead, we feel her presence throughout the book, just the way the author intended it. Her character is defined from the first. Yet, it’s only later that we begin to see the full extent of it.
I wished some of it was shown earlier, kind of alternating with the present. That would have better sustained the momentum at the end. Also, this book isn’t high in atmosphere or descriptions. It has some and is easy to visualize, but those looking for the high atmospheric effect will be disappointed. I should’ve been too, but, guess I picked it up at the right time. This is what I needed now, and it worked for me.
To sum up, A Spell of Rowans is not an easy book to read (refer to the triggers), but a worthy one.
Thank you, NetGalley and Rook and Castle Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved the premise of A Spell of Rowans, I was intrigued and loved it. Byrd Nash did an excellent job with A Spell of Rowans.