Thank you so much to MIRA and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of The Witches of Moonshyne Manor! This book is a little different from the books I normally read, mainly because the witches who live in Moonshyne Manor are older- they’re in their 80s- and I ended up liking it a lot more than I was actually expecting to like it!
The Witches of Moonshyne Manor 4/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads: “Bianca Marais is a genius” — Ann Patchett, #1 New York Times bestselling author
A coven of modern-day witches. A magical heist-gone-wrong. A looming threat.
Five octogenarian witches gather as an angry mob threatens to demolish Moonshyne Manor. All eyes turn to the witch in charge, Queenie, who confesses they’ve fallen far behind on their mortgage payments. Still, there’s hope, since the imminent return of Ruby—one of the sisterhood who’s been gone for thirty-three years—will surely be their salvation.
But the mob is only the start of their troubles. One man is hellbent on avenging his family for the theft of a legacy he claims was rightfully his. In an act of desperation, Queenie makes a bargain with an evil far more powerful than anything they’ve ever faced. Then things take a turn for the worse when Ruby’s homecoming reveals a seemingly insurmountable obstacle instead of the solution to all their problems.
The witches are determined to save their home and themselves, but their aging powers are no match for increasingly malicious threats. Thankfully, they get a bit of help from Persephone, a feisty TikToker eager to smash the patriarchy. As the deadline to save the manor approaches, fractures among the sisterhood are revealed, and long-held secrets are exposed, culminating in a fiery confrontation with their enemies.
Funny, tender and uplifting, the novel explores the formidable power that can be discovered in aging, found family and unlikely friendships. Marais’ clever prose offers as much laughter as insight, delving deeply into feminism, identity and power dynamics while stirring up intrigue and drama through secrets, lies and sex. Heartbreaking and heart-mending, it will make you grateful for the amazing women in your life.
I loved how many parallels there were between 80 year old witches and 20-30 year old witches (the normal demographic of the witchy books I read)- they were making bargains they couldn’t really keep, people who weren’t witches didn’t really want them around, just normal witch-y stuff. I really liked how different all of the witches in the coven were, but how well they got along with each other and their quirks etc. It really showed how long they’d known each other! And I loved Persephone and how she came into their lives and helped them with whatever she could and how she looked up to them. There was so much mystery throughout with what had actually happened 33 years beforehand that had caused Ruby to be gone that long and then you find out and all of it is a lot, but it’s all done so well! I really enjoyed The Witches of Moonshyne Manor and I’m so glad that I didn’t let the fact that it was so different from my normal reads dissuade me from picking it up! I highly recommend you picking it up today too!

Link to be added once post goes live

The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais is fantasy (how can it not be with “witches” in the title?) wrapped up with some modern-day feminism. And it is a mostly enjoyable read. Fair warning: you do have to get through the first few chapters of setup first, and those are a little slow-going. Additionally, the focus of the introductions and the sisters’ personalities is also not how the rest of the story goes. And one last thing – don’t let the “witches” or “magic” aspect turn you off either. There’s a lot of real-world stuff that is good. I liked most of the characters, and the message about family not needing to be blood related. I was less a fan of the “fight the patriarchy” focus of Persephone – it was too much in a book that already screamed girl-power by virtue of the other characters. Still enjoyable though. For more details, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. This review was written based on a digital copy of the book from Harlequin Trade Publishing/ Mira

I love anything with witches in it and this book didn't disappoint me! Marais did a great job creating compelling characters and an engaging story!

I'm so glad I stuck it out with this one. Admittedly the first 100 pages were NOT doing it for me, to the point where I genuinely considered DNFing. While it took a hundred pages for this book to really hit its stride, once it did...I tore through it and even teared up. So, so lovely.

I enjoyed this cozy halloweeny story with this one and the cooky witches. This one gave me Practical Magic vibes but focusing on the aunts.

Mylan Kohler <mvaugeois@gmail.com>

Wed, Jul 20, 2:37 PM

to Donna
The Moonshyne Manor book is part of a tour, so that is to be posted later. The others are from Netgalley, not a tour.


Darling by Mercedes M. Yardley
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Darling-Mercedes-M-Yardley-ebook/dp/B09F1YD9NY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1QZA9T7VL3S37&keywords=darling+mercedes+yardley&qid=1657591325&s=books&sprefix=darling+mer%2Cstripbooks%2C380&sr=1-1
Publication date: August 23
A free copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Cherry LaRouche left Darling, Louisiana at sixteen, but now is returning after her mother's death. She and her children now live in her childhood home, with whispering walls and something on the roof at night. Evil lives in the town, and several children are murdered. Once Cherry's daughter goes missing, she must confront the truth about Darling.

It's hard for a pregnant teenager to make her way out of a small town, and within the first few paragraphs, we see how determined Cherry is to make it. With a seven year old son that has a genetic disorder resulting in autistic features and toddler daughter, she works herself hard to make ends meet, which others take advantage of. The offer of five years rent and utility free in her childhood home is a mixed blessing, then. No need to scrounge and offer herself up, but she's back where she never wanted to be. And all this in the first chapter!

From there, we see how the other small town people treat her, mostly badly, and how she mistrust the few people reaching out to help her. Then the unthinkable happens and Daisy disappears, leaving her fragile hope for better ruined. It's heart rending, and even though I already had connected with Cherry, this cemented it. The people of the town turn on each other easily, and there's an undercurrent in the book that it's a supernatural entity feeding on anger, pain, and misery. That's never something fully explained, so don't expect a neat answer. I know that's sort of a spoiler, but if you absolutely must have a neat explanation for everything, this isn't the book for you. It explains everything Cherry needs to know, and there are supernatural elements on top of the everyday small town horrors that can be inflicted upon outsiders or those they deem unworthy. It's a story that rapidly reaches its conclusion, and can make you look twice at people you think you know well.



The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Witches-Moonshyne-Manor-witchy-rom-com-ebook/dp/B09SD4NCGB/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=witches+of+moonshyne+manor&qid=1657591795&s=books&sprefix=withches+of+moo%2Cstripbooks%2C290&sr=1-1
Publication date: August 23
Blog Tour date: September 2
A free copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Queenie leads a group of five octogenarian witches in Moonshyne Manor, where they've fallen behind on the mortgage. They assume Ruby, who left thirty-three years ago, will help them, but one man is determined to avenge a family legacy. The witches want to save their home, and Ruby isn't the salvation they had hoped she would be. With help from a young TikToker, the witches work to save the manor. Relationships are tested, secrets exposed, and confrontations will be had.

We start off with short chapters from each woman's POV: Ursula with her Tarot cards and candle magic, Jezebel with her man of the moment, Tabitha with her books, Ivy with her plants and crow familiar, and Queenie with her repairs. They're very different kinds of people, each with their individual style of magic, and all hold onto the hope that Ruby's return to the manor will solve all their problems. A crowd of men drunk on power and beer led by a reverend named Cotton Mather (no, really) is intent on bulldozing the property even before the foreclosure, but Persephone handcuffs herself to the door. It's an impressive standoff in the beginning of the book, and the plot takes off from there.

I was definitely shocked by a few things that were revealed by the one third mark of the novel. The ladies may be older, but they were certainly wild enough back in the day and the spirit remains even if their eighty something bodies can't follow through. We learn why Ruby's return is so important, as well as why that return isn't the salvation it should've been. The man working against them, Brad Gedney, is descended from the man who wanted to inherit the manor, and is more involved in the manor than the ladies would like. As we progress in the novel, we also see what had happened thirty-three years ago and learn the consequences of the deal that Queenie struck, why others have guilt, and see more of young Persephone. Ultimately, the women all form a sisterhood again, as we think they will, their resolves tested by this impending disaster.

Older protagonists aren't usually the subject of books that I read, and these women are in their eighties. They're still mighty forces of resolve, even if their bodies are full of aches and pains. I enjoyed seeing what their lives were like, what aspects their magic took, and even the little recipes from the grimoire that are scattered throughout the novel. Once we hit the halfway mark and we knew more about Ruby and started learning more about the past, I couldn't put the book down. It's beautifully done, and shows women sticking up for each other and pulling through difficult times.

Marais does it again and in a whole new literary space! If you’re a fan of Bianca’s writing then this newest release of her book is worthy of picking up, but know it is quite a different type of story. Witches, age, a lil racy at times this story is worthy of a read.

Loved this one! So perfect for spooky season. Love anything that reminds me of Rules of Magic and this did. I thought the characters were so fun and easy to read and like. I would love to see more from this world, I didn't want to leave!

I love Marais’ books and this one was no different. She has written a book about five witches in their 80s who must band together to save their house from an angry mob that wants nothing more than to tear it down and rid themselves of these ladies, and in order to stay they have only a few days to come up with the full amount owed on their house. They are not getting any younger, their powers are not as strong as they once were, and compounding matters they have another problem to deal with when one man is determined to avenge his family for the theft of a legacy he claims was rightfully his. There are other issues between the women that come to the surface, and to deal with it all they get some help from Persephone, a young and sassy TikToker that is ready to fight the patriarchy.

This was such a delightful story that was endearing and so much fun to read. I loved these witches and the addition of Persephone was brilliant. I loved the relationships between each of them, their backstories, and how they looked out for each other as well as new individuals that came into their lives. I highly recommend this one goes on your list, you won’t be disappointed. The audio for this is fantastic as well and it is a perfect spooky season read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mira Books for the digital copy to review.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

If you ask me to tell you some of my favorite books I will tell you without the shadow of a doubt that If you want to make God laugh is one of them for sure. Bianca Marais has become an auto buy for me and boy I was really surprised with this novel!! So so different from the other novels! Absolutely loved these witches and their relationship, the magic, everything! Perfect for Halloween.

The five old women who live at Moonshyne Manor are not necessarily local favorites. While they wait for their good friend Ruby to be released from prison, and hopefully help with their money troubles, an angry mob gathers and threatens to tear down the manor and the attached distillery to make a male-focused even center.  One man is desperate to bring down the powerful witches who live at Moonshyne Manor, and avenge what he thinks is a theft of his family's legacy. The key to saving Moonshyne Manor might just be revisiting the horrors of a museum heist 30 years before.   

The witches of Moonshyne Manor are absolutely delightful, hilarious, POC and LGBTQ+ friendly, sex positive, and so much fun that you'll wish this book was longer.  You've got a wonderful blend of witchcraft styles, and women who have agency and flaws that make them so much more interesting. The pages also include recipes for drinks, incense, and brief rituals.  It feels like Practical Magic mixed with your grandma telling her racy stories. 

If you're looking for a fun Halloween read, I definitely recommend picking up Moonshyne Manor this weekend and falling headlong into it. 

Moonshyne Manor is now available from Harlequin Trade Publishing.

I seriously cannot tell you how much I loved this book! I've been gushing about it to all our customers.

This book is The Golden Girls with magic + a kickass teen with an awesome dog named Ruth Bader Ginsberg working together to defeat the men trying to destroy their home. I loved EVERY minute of it. If you are an older woman looking for books with old women kicking some ass while discovering how strong they truly are…this is the book for you!

I enjoyed it. It did also explore some serious topics such as racism and ageism. I have already recommended it to a coworker, and will recommend it to some of our adult patrons who I think will love it.,

Sisterhood. Octogenarian witches. Bucking the patriarchy. What more could you possibly want or need? I cackled and chuckled and laughed out loud as I followed the Witches of Moonshyne Manor and you will too.

A wonderfully story focusing on the life of a coven of witches who's town wants to destroy their home. Bianca Marais did a fantastic job of creating these wonderful characters and entwining their stories so tightly. I was hooked on this book from the line "Why were we taught to fear witches and not the men who burned them?". This was a fantastic book about witches and I loved every second of it, especially how it slowly unraveled to reveal a few different twists and surprises.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

“The Witches of Moonshyne Manor” is a fun, witchy, slow-burn mystery about six 80 year old witches trying to save their home from being destroyed by an angry mob of men.

The witches are an absolutely delightful group of older women who rely on and support each other through all the major moments of their lives and are willing to go to extreme measures to take care of their own. As more details were revealed about each character and the mystery of how they ended up in these circumstances, the more I was drawn in to the story. The slower pace of the book allowed for a lot of depth in characterization and relationships to be developed over time. I especially loved the inclusion of real world problems with a magical twist. There were definitely some characters I liked more than others, but I appreciated how all of their personalities came together to form their sisterhood.

Throughout the book there is a strong message of feminism and acceptance which blends very well with the story being told. While there are certainly some more serious moments or themes in the book, it does maintain a predominantly light-hearted tone and approach these issues from the perspective of allies and loved ones.

I would have loved to have a little more magic throughout the book and a bit of a longer ending to really wrap things up properly, but overall I really enjoyed “The Witches of Moonshyne Manor”.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this atmospheric feminist Golden Girls-esque seasonal read. It was a bit long and the potions and brews didn't really add to the story in my opinion but overall it was a good read.

This book wasn't what I expected, but it was a really fun read. Full of interesting and well drawn characters, I think this book would appeal to anyone who wishes there were more fun literature focused on older women.

I absolutely LOVE paranormal , Witchy books.

But The Witches of Moonshyne Manor fell flat for me.
The characters really didn't work well for me.