Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advance review copy; all opinions are my own. While the author and I share a publisher, this in no way influenced my genuine adoration for THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES.

If I loved this book less, I might be able to talk about it more. It's difficult to articulate all the ways I adored this story, but I'm going to do my best!

What a stunning book. Cozy, magical, tender, witty, wise; a little heartbreaking and a lot healing, this is going on my all-time favorites shelf. Sangu Mandanna built such a beautiful, bittersweetly realistic while also fantastical world in the found family at Nowhere House, and Mika's healing as well as self-discovery journey was carefully, lovingly born out. As a neurodivergent person, I felt so seen in many of Mika's thoughts about masking, hiding her full self, feeling like only parts of herself are welcome and accepted, and that to risk revealing her true self is to risk being told that all of who she is either is not enough or too much. As for Jamie, Ken, Ian, Lucie, and the three young witches, it was impossible not to fall head over heels for everyone at Nowhere House, and it meant so much to see a richly diverse found-family cast whose experiences, while touching on hardships and pain that they've experienced, foreground their joy and happiness.

The themes of healing from past trauma, choosing hope and love despite knowing its risks and the reality of heartache, spoke deeply to me, and I'm so profoundly grateful that this book is in the world, affirming the vitality of pursuing self-love and healthy relationships, working through trauma, creating safe spaces, homes, and found family, and being brave enough to reach for the life we want, the love that's ours to have, if only we open ourselves up to it.

Content notes: discussions of parental death (past, off-page), mentions of physical and emotional abuse by family members (past, off-page), brief references to homophobia and racism (mostly past and off-page, but one character, the villain of the story who makes a brief appearance, is racist and homophobic; his bigotry is firmly condemned in the story).

This book is pure ✨magic✨

First of all, I’d love to thank PRH international for providing me an eArc in exchange for an honest review✨

This easily became my absolute favorite contemporary witchy romance! It was basically The House in the Cerulean Sea but only witchy!

Found family trope never failed me. The characters are so refreshing and the found family trope is just on point! This book was full humor and witty banters, a lot of “awww” times, and heartwarming at the very best.

The characters are so refreshing and ones that I very much needed!

🧚🏻‍♀️ Mika Moon — She is a witch who stayed hidden for the most part of her life until an someone sent her an email offering a job to teach three young witches living in the mysterious Nowhere House. I absolutely ADORE Mika! I loved her personality so much and I think she’s so perfect! I loved the connection she developed with the kids, as well as the friendship she found in the most unexpected place!

🧚🏻‍♀️ Jamie — Oh god, Jamie. I just love him, okay? He’s so uptight at first but I understand that because he just wanted to protect the people he cared about. As the book progresses, we get to see an entire new side of him. Loved the way he cares about his family, and I also loved the connection between him and Mika!

🧚🏻‍♀️ Ian, Ken, and Lucy — I love how they are so accepting and I adored Ian the moment I met him! They are just so supportive and fun!

🧚🏻‍♀️ Terracotta, Rosetta, and Altamira — These Kids!!! Each of them have their own personality and I guess that’s what made this experience so amazing! They are really good working together, I loved their connection to each other!

Overall, this is such a charming and magical read! I urge you to pick it up once it was released!

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches brings magic in a joyfully wondrous form from Mika Moon, who is secretly a witch. Except also not so secretly, because she's making videos on IG and assuming everyone will not believe they're real. But someone does. In a world where magic is everywhere and keeping it secret means keeping safe, what does finding home mean for a witch who has never had it?
Mika's social media leads to a mysterious isolated house of beautiful gardens, magical instruction, a grumpy librarian love interest, and found family, It's a cozy sweater of a book that readers will happily be absorbed in. I recommend having tea on hand.

✨”Choose a worthier penis.”✨

Okay this is my favorite contemporary witch romance I’ve found yet! While some modern witchy romances lay heavily into the campy and punny, I found this one to be very gentle and warm.

I’m a major softie for prickly children and found family in my romances, so this one checked all the right boxes. The meddling and mildly chaotic side characters and adorable golden retriever, Circe, swiftly marked off any remaining boxes.

And I’m a major FOOL for broody Irish librarians apparently??? And there’s no doubt I’m a fool for interactions like these: <blockquote>He stopped her, his hand tightening around her wrist as she drew her fingers over the line of his jaw. “It’s as hard as it looks,” she marvelled. Jamie cast his eyes heavenward and muttered something under his breath that sounded a lot like <I>It’s not the only thing.</I></blockquote>

As for the romance, I do wish we’d have gotten a few more POV sections from Jamie because Mika definitely dominated the story. Both of their POVs were very strong and I enjoyed them greatly. I did find the burn a little too slow for the pay off we got. I kept waiting for them to kiss and get together but it took sooooo long and I was a little impatient. I do also think other relationships in this book overshadowed the romance. Not a bad thing because I loved the children, but it just felt a bit off balance.

I would’ve also like a bit more from the steam. There was potential for a very solid scene, but it simply ended right when it was getting good. I’m not sure I understand the point of showing us him literally thrusting into her, but not showing us them climaxing?? It jumped straight to “after blah blah blah.” I was left turned on and a little sad. I also read a review that wanted less sex in this book so I was apparently expecting too much lol. No shade but I just thought it meant the book went hard, so I was preparing for a few scenes.

It may be a combination of my mind going immediately to the Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels and the lovely narrator, but this really felt like a historical romance. I kept forgetting that it was set in modern times. The worldbuilding didn’t ask too much of me and I understood the parameters of the world which is RARE for me.

The ending was so fun omg I was not expecting the little twist around 80%! I think I missed a key detail earlier on so I was doubly surprised lol. And then how everything worked out just made me so happy and I loved the poetic justice of it all.

Overall, this was a lovely audiobook and I will be reading more from this author. I’m curious to see if more books will be added to this world!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5 🌶.75*/5

*This could definitely be considered a 2 plus some change on my spicy scale but since it was SO slow burn and neither climaxed on the page I rounded down. We did still get a mildly explicit and detailed scene.

In the mood for a feel good book? Something a little quirky? This is it. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches had me laughing in the first chapter it was that entertaining.

Mika was obviously the star of the show as a witch who dares to question what the Rules and the only "maternal" figure she had growing up. The fact she pretends to be a witch who is actually a witch? Loved it.

But she wouldn't have shown so brightly without the cast of characters that wormed their way into my heart. They were a found family and sometimes that beats out anything. Every member of Nowhere House found a place in the family scheme and I loved it. It's a very homey feel, filled with just enough magic to give it the more witchy vibe.

But don't take my word. Read this yourself. I promise you'll love it.
#TheVerySecretSocietyofIrregularWitches #NetGalley

I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I fell into Mika's story; it felt welcoming and comforting and (even though I am not a witch nor do I live in the English countryside), this story felt a lot like coming home. If Mandanna's goal was to make the reader feel like Mika did when she moved to Nowhere House, then I'd say mission accomplished.

Mika and her newfound home is only a small part of what made this book such an enjoyable read. Of course I loved Mika and her journey to finding her family of choice all while becoming a better witch. Her ability to stand up to her superior - the witch who raised her - and question what it means to be a witch in modern society was a moral more of us should adhere to.

Mandanna created an absolutely fantastic cast of characters for this book. Mika was obviously a star in her own right, but her story would not have been nearly as dynamic if it weren't for the denizens of Nowhere House. Introducing a retired actor, his gardener husband, a housekeeper, and a librarian sounds like the set up to a good joke, but they are in fact the backbone and safety net for three young witches (and also the cause of some meddling when it comes to Mika and the librarian, Jamie).

Right away, it was clear that diversity was not going to be an issue when it came to this story. It's been a while since I've read a story that incorporated so much diversity; I truly loved that there were so many different backgrounds and personalities on display throughout The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

While this story dealt with some tougher subjects (being seen as different, feeling like you can't be accepted as yourself, lack of parental role models), this ultimately became a comforting read for me about staying true to yourself and putting your found family above society's expectations.

A huge thank you to Berkley for sharing an advanced review copy of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

What a delightful read! The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches was a quick, quirky, and joyful stories about witchcraft and the importance of community. Sometimes our families aren't by blood, but rather by the people we choose to surround ourselves with. When Mika Moon finds herself a unique request via social media, curiosity gets the best of her, and she takes a chance. Mika has spent much of her existence feeling isolated, but when she arrives to Nowhere House and sees the "impossible" her life quickly starts to change. The story has the most quirky cast of characters looking out for the three littles witches.

Read if you enjoy magic, wonder and awe. Also read if you enjoy a bit of romance and plots driven by human interactions and relationships. A huge thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Romance, and Penguin Random House for the free copy!

3.5 stars - This was a really fun and cute read! It is partly a romance, but mostly a novel that looks into one's own fear of abandonment wrapped in a sweet story about a young witch and her found family. What really worked for me in this book is Mika and Jamie's discussions on not trusting people - I thought this was a surprising and developed addition to what was an obvious grumpy/sunshine romance from the beginning. Additionally, I really loved the children whom Mika is hired to teach witchcraft. I think children can come off annoying sometimes in novels and it takes a real skill to make their antics charming (especially Terracotta's). But, where I think I could have really enjoyed this novel more is really with the worldbuilding and magic system. Nothing is really explained and a lot of elements of the plot we are just expected to believe and accept, which is difficult to explain without going into to spoilers. I think if those elements would have been a bit more fleshed out or explained better, I would have enjoyed this even more! It's a wholesome, witchy read and I really recommend it if that is what you are looking for.

It’s a story about Mika Moon (❤️ that name!), a lonely witchy heroine and a houseful of eclectic characters including 3 young, untethered witches. Themes of identity and belonging against the backdrop of impending visit from an unwanted solicitor and a swoony romance with a closed off love interest are the makings of a delightfully cozy and fun story. Plus- there is a found family and that’s my bookish catnip!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

Sangu Mandanna's The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is one of those books that makes me so happy to be a reader.

It’s magic-filled & wonderful & the grumpy & the sunshine relationship at its core—not to mention the found family, the whimsy & the iron—had me squeeing.

I love this book so much!

In The Very Secret Society witch Mika Moon is hired by the residents of Nowhere House to be a magic teacher for three witch children. She takes on what seems like a huge task even though witches aren’t out in the open & aren’t supposed to be together out of set & infrequent social gatherings.

In addition to the children, there are four other caretakers living at Nowhere House, including a striking & very grumpy librarian named James Kelly who is also amazing & gave me heart eyes.

I will say that I fell in love with both leads because they’re both stunning. Mika’s funny & I love how she can laugh at herself, how brave and cheerful she is (without being annoying!).

There’s a caretaking scene & just a sense of care running throughout the pages—I have every feeling that these leads have found true love and family & it makes my heart swell.

This book is enthralling & I loved it from beginning to end. I can’t wait to add it to my shelves.

5⭐️. Out 08/23.

CWs: abuse; previous death of parent. Mothers of witches die soon after having witches.
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ID: an ebook rests on an open hardback. To the left is a bright yellow coat. The coat & the table everything sits on are strewn with sunflowers.

This story follows Mika Moon, an orphaned witch raised in isolation from other witches to reduce the risk exposure, who is no stranger to loneliness and solitude.

Things change for Mika when she’s invited to Nowhere House where she’s introduced to three, young orphaned witches in desperate need of a teacher to help them control their powers.

Mika is such an incredible character. She’s such a bright light in all situations. Mika has unwavering faith in the three young witches and their abilities even when the run amok. She also has tons of patience especially when it comes to sibling squabbles.

I LOVED the chemistry between Mika and Jamie. Jamie is the librarian and tutor who is grumpy and fiercely protective. They have really great banter, but the angst and build up between these two was my favorite.

All of the side characters in this book are amazing because they are all fully developed and feel so authentic. So much of this story just reminded me of one big happy family that loves each other no matter what, and reinforces that everyone deserves to be loved no matter what.

I could go on and on, but I’ll just say that this book is amazing, and I want everyone to read it.

Mika é uma pessoa solitária, tem como companhia sua cachorrinha Circe e seu tanque de peixes. A solidão dela fica clara desde o começo, e também seu medo de amar e ser amada. Essa história é sobre Mika, Rosetta, Terracotta e Altamira, bruxas que perderam suas famílias muito cedo, assim como todas as outras há séculos, e que irão descobrir uma ligação linda juntas.

Claro que tem o romance, Ian e Mika não se dão bem no começo, mas as coisas tomam outro rumo e eles criam uma amizade que vai se tornando algo a mais. Os outros personagens são adoráveis, Jamie e Ken são idosos gays e casados, que são muito diferentes e apaixonados, e Lucie que é como uma mãe para todos e muito amorosa.

Esse é um livro com representatividade, muitas lições sobre amor, confiança, sobre ser diferente e não ter medo disso

What a totally delightful feel good piece of fluff. I’m rounding this one up for getting me to get up from bed after reading a chapter or two to sneak out to the couch to finish it in a single night. Definitely a romance with fantasy trimmings more than a fantasy and pretty silly in parts but the author has such a charming writing style the pages just flew by. It would be a good one if you just want a feel good read that asks very little of you.

Eu adoro uma boa história de bruxa e quando vi esse lançamento não poderia deixar passar.

Mika é uma bruxa que foi criada com regras: nada de se apegar, é mais seguro ficar sozinha. E é assim que ela leva a vida, pouco tempo em um mesmo lugar, tendo encontros esporádicos com as bruxas de seu clã, mas nada de amizades e muita intimidade. Muito poder em um só lugar pode vir a ser um problema. A única indulgência que Mika faz a sim mesma é seu canal de vídeos e é aí que o pessoal da Nowhere House acaba a encontrando. Acontece que uma bruxa quebrou a regra e está criando três jovens bruxas em um mesmo lugar, mas Lilian, a bruxa em questão nunca está em casa e as crianças precisam de um tutor e é assim que Mika acaba na propriedade conhecendo Jamie, o bibliotecário que acha que eles não precisam dela.

Eu não sei bem se eu gostei desse livro tanto assim, acho que ele cumpre o que promete, é uma história divertida e com escrita fluida, mas eu não gosto muito de crianças e de crianças que não tem educação menos ainda.

Eu não consegui comprar o romance entre Mika e Jamie, acho que eles tem a química de um chuchu, então o romance entre eles não funcionou para mim. A autora também deixou uma grande ponta solta sobre a geração de bruxas e o fato dos pais morrerem logo depois do nascimento das filhas bruxas. E isso não faz sentido pra mim ao pensar nesse romance aí. Eles vão passar a vida sem construir uma família?

Dito isso, vamos ao que me agradou no livro que foi o crescimento de Mika com relação a ela mesma e seu poder e a Primrose, a mulher que ela tem como uma espécie de mãe. Foi bem legal como a autora trabalhou isso e como Mika e Primrose são na verdade produto de uma sociedade que não aceita bruxas.

Acho que essa relação foi bem trabalhada e a maneira como a autora abordou a questão da família foi bem bonito e fez muito sentido dentro do universo criado.

Para quem gosta de crianças temos três que são bem ativas, mas como esse não é bem meu caso eu acabei só ficando entediada com as cenas delas. É importante dizer que esse livro não é juvenil e tem cenas mais sensuais ao final entre Jamie e Mika, que foi outra coisa que para mim não encaixou no tom do livro, mas eu achei melhor avisar para que vocês não indiquem como infantojuvenil.

Enfim, foi uma experiência com altos e baixos.

First of all, I LOVE witchy reads! This was a cute and cozy witchy story that hit all the right points for me. It was sweet, a little heartbreaking, and a little spicy that created a perfect book combination. I loved the diversity in the both the MC and the other supporting characters. I loved Nowhere house and its mischievous and lovable (and one group) occupants that create such a wonderful found family. It was ultimately a feel-good mystical and magical ride that I took and thoroughly enjoyed. I read it this book in one day and I look forward to reading more from the author.

If you’re looking for a cozy, sweet, fun fantasy book then I absolutely recommend you check out The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. I can’t believe how much I adored this!
Witches don’t tend to associate with one another too much for fear they’ll be discovered. This means, especially since every witch is an orphan thanks to a nasty piece of magic gone awry, that being a witch can also mean a very lonely life. This is what brings Mika Moon to post videos on the internet where she pretends to be a witch. This is her safe outlet until someone contacts her begging her to come teach three young, out of control witches to contain their magic and use it safely. How could they possibly know she’s a real witch?
Mika sets off in her magicked car to Nowhere House where she discovers a quirky, lovable cast of characters (even if a few aren’t too keen on having her around). The three young witches were all adopted by the mysteriously absent owner of Nowhere House and they desperately need help learning to contain their magic before the solicitor shows up right after Christmas to snoop around. Not all the folks at the house are happy about her presence though- particularly Jamie, the house librarian. He sees her as a threat to the safety of the girls and doesn’t condone any outside interference. As one might expect in what is ultimately a cozy, sweet novel the two of them go from enemies to lovers by the end of the book.
I loved this and I thought it was a super sweet, well written story that would be the perfect pick-me-up novel. For me it provided a great palate cleanser after a hefty, serious fantasy novel. I enjoyed the magic (wish I had a magic car!), the boisterous and memorable side characters, and the beautiful friendships formed by the end of the story. If you’re a fan of the found family trope or the enemies to lovers (but in a non-stabby, contemporary way), I would highly recommend checking out The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches!

I love stories about found families, throw in some magic and you’ve got a winner! Mika doesn’t particularly like the rules witches have to live by, and finds fun ways to step just a bit offside of them enough to not get completely in trouble. That is until she finds out she hasn’t been careful enough. Meet Mika and Jaimie Nowhere House! Two people who couldn’t be more different, yet find each other- that’s magic indeed!
*Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this early!*

Sangu Mandanna brings warmth, diversity, and humor to a magical realism novel with romance, danger, and suspense. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is one of my favorite books of 2022. Witch Mika Moon has been taught that she needs to hide her magic and stay away from other witches to avoid drawing attention to their magic. As an orphan raised by a stranger, she’s used to being alone and following most of the rules. However, she is a bit of a rebel. She posts videos online pretending to be a witch and assuming no one will believe it.

However, someone does. They message her, asking her to come to Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. Breaking the rules she’s grown up with, Mika accepts and gets involved with the odd assortment at the house. There’s the absent archaeologist, the retired actor, the librarian, the housekeeper, the gardener, and three witches ranging in age from seven to ten. Mika learns that there are secrets, and soon, danger and suspense come into play.

Mika has a great personality. She is likeable and relatable. Her loneliness and lack of connection to others is palpable. I loved her sense of humor. The other main characters have great depth as well. The author does a great job of showing readers each character’s feelings as well as their unspoken thoughts. Terracotta, the middle child, was fantastic, but all three children had distinctive personalities. It was fascinating to watch them discover new aspects of themselves. These unique characters made the book much more enthralling to read.

This is a wonderfully executed story with extraordinary and diverse characters and a setting that came alive. The writing and dialogue flow well. The chemistry between Mika and Jamie creates an added layer to the storyline. There are unpredictable moments in the story that provide some unexpected twists at the end of the novel. I did not want this book to end. My only quibble is that I wanted more suspense in the novel. Themes include loneliness, lack of belonging, friendship, connections, love, community, trust, and family.

Overall, this is a warm, uplifting and feel-good novel that brought me a lot of reading joy. It captivated me from beginning to end. If you like charming and heartwarming stories with humor, romance, secrets, and some danger, then this is definitely a book to check out. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.

Berkley Publishing Group and Sangu Mandanna provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for August 23, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

This book is simply delightful and I am so happy this was the kickoff to my witchy reads!
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Mika Moon knows the rules of witches. She needs to stay to herself and not mingle with other witches or their magic will set each other off. She’s been alone the majority of her life and to combat some loneliness she posts videos online of herself “pretending” to be a witch and attracts the attention of the inhabitants of Nowhere House who needs help with their three young charges.
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Mika becomes caught up in their lives and finds the one thing she didn’t expect to find, a family. This book is charming and an interesting take on a witchy tale.
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Huge thank you @prhaudio @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read several of this author’s YA releases, so when I heard she was coming out with an adult romance – and then saw THAT COVER – I was desperate to read it. Add in a slow burn grumpy/sunshine romance? Pure comfort. It’s the book equivalent of sitting by a crackling fire with a hot drink on a rainy day, all warm and cozy under a blanket with a book close by. It’s also got so many found family feels that my heart felt like it was bursting.

“An absent archaeologist, a housekeeper, a librarian, a gardener, a retired actor, and three unlikely witches. As backstories went, it was one of the weirdest Mika had ever heard.”


Mika was raised by Persimmon, the leader of the witch group in England, to believe that spending time with other witches was too dangerous. Magic naturally collects around a witch and too much magic in one place could lead to unintended effects – and their discovery. Instead, they make do by meeting for a few hours every three months. Mika chafes at this restriction and the loneliness it causes and, in order to share some of her love of magic, she has an online witchy channel where she does obviously fake magic. When someone messages her offering her a position teaching magic to three young witches, she’s hesitant, but agrees. Nowhere House and its residents are nothing like what she expected, but one thing is clear: her charges need to learn to take care of their magic, and fast.

“This is either going to be the miracle you hoped for or it’s going to be an absolute fucking disaster.”


Mika is the heart of the story. Raised by a revolving door of sometimes abusive and always emotionally aloof nannies and caretakers, no one would be surprised if she was cold and cynical. Instead, she’s a warm ray of sunshine incarnate who quickly charms most of the house’s residents. Each one of them has their own backstory, role and reaction to Mika and before she knows it Mika’s been folded into one of the most charming found families I’ve ever read. Jamie is the house’s librarian, but more importantly, he’s the most protective of the girls. It’s no wonder he stays suspicious of Mika! In true stern and grumpy fashion he’s flummoxed and annoyed by Mika’s relentless cheerfulness. The three girls – Rosetta, Terracotta and Altamira – are absolute agents of chaos and I loved them, even when one or more of them was threatening to murder Mika (especially then?). Mika’s unphased by most of it, and shows a depth of empathy towards them, and the other occupants, that was so tender that it made me deeply emotional.

There’s a romance between Mika and Jamie that runs through the story. It’s very slowburn due to, well, a boatload of trauma on both sides. Mika’s spent her whole life teaching herself not to care, moving constantly and never able to share her full magical self except for a few measly hours a year. Jamie’s gruffness and lack of social niceties are frankly refreshing for someone who’s never been particularly good at them. The sense of home and family she finds at Nowhere House is overwhelming and frankly frightening, and what she starts to feel for Jamie? Even worse. Jamie’s distrust melts away as he watches Mika interact with the girls and the feelings underneath slowly sneak up on him. There’s even a nice hand clenching easter egg for us P&P movie fans! Add in some meddling from the other residents and you’ve got everything to make a ridiculously sweet romance.

“Nowhere House was shifting in Mika’s mind. The new Nowhere House was messier than the first, a place made up of fractured pieces that, somehow, had come together to make something whole and wonderful.”


The worlbuilding is lovely. The magic is described with enough Mika’s particular speciality is potions and teas, mixed with various plants and other more esoteric items like moonshine and stardust. Mika’s love of her magic is so joyful and transcendent that I couldn’t help smiling. It’s a bit bittersweet, though, too, as part of its attraction to her is that it’s something that’s always with her, even at her most lonely. Much like Mika’s magic, the story is hopeful, not in an epic way, but more of an everyday way; that making life better for all of them doesn’t require a seismic change but a gradual one. The writing is simply lovely as well, sprinkling humor and devastatingly insightful bits throughout. I highlighted so many passages that the word count of all those quotes was triple the size of this review! There’s a lot going on, but the book skillfully handles several big topics. Of course there the issue of family, of the ways families of origin can hurt people and the ways found families can heal. There’s the difference between being “nice” and being “kind.” And, most importantly, the difference between loving and being loved.

Now – with the caveat again that I’m a White American woman – it’s not surprising that a book that covers dealing with family trauma also deals with colonialism. Due to a curse, all witches are orphans. Mika was originally from Southern India and was raised in England by a White woman – or rather the nannies she hired. Mika’s three young charges are Palestinian, Black and Vietnamese, plucked out of their countries after their parents’ deaths by another White woman who leaves them in the care of mostly-White adults (one is Japanese). They’re given new names, and in at least one case the child was old enough to have already known her birth name. The girls’ daily caretakers are not unaware of the problems with this, though they’re a bit clueless how to handle it. At one point, Mika tells some of them, with an amazing lack of acerbity, that while she’s been hired to teach them to become Witches in Society, she can’t teach them to become BIPOC Women in Society since she’s not from any of their cultures. So while all of this was done with good intentions, well, so was colonialism. It’s a bit like Mika’s explanation of the differences between “nice” and “kind.” I mean, it is true that they’re saving them, so that’s nice – they were all orphaned and without question it made sense for a witch to take care of them until they mastered their magic. But is it kind to remove them completely from their cultures? I don’t know, and it was something I chewed over while reading the book.

“I can’t transform the world, Jamie. The world’s too big and too messy and too stubborn.”
“Who said anything about transforming the world?” He shrugged. “What about just making it a little better? And then a little better? And then a little more, until, one day, maybe long after we’re gone, it has transformed? You deserve more than what you’re allowing yourself to have.”


Overall, this was a magical story about found family and love. I’ve already preordered the physical book and an ebook because I immediately knew this would be a comfort read I’d come back to over and over. I have no idea what the author plans to write next, but I am desperately hoping she writes more adult romance!

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.