The Witch Hunt is the second, and final installment in author Sasha Peyton Smith's The Witch Haven duology. According to my notes, yes I take notes, this story picks up about 2 years after the ending of The Witch Haven. Even though she and her friends Marlene DuPre and Lena Jamison survived a brutal battle between witches of Haxahaven and the Sons of St. Droun which left major casualties on both sides, 19-year-old Frances Hollowell has settled into a more quiet life teaching young witches magic. The problem is that since she and Finn opened the veil, her magic hasn't been quite the same.

Meanwhile, Frances, Marlene, and Lena have decided to take a much needed vacation to Paris where, coincidentally, Oliver Callahan is living and going to school. Curiously enough, France also decides to make an appearance at her father's place of employment. A father who ran away from her mother Vera, who just happens to be back at Haxahaven, as well as Frances and her now decease brother, Michael. Frances hopes that her father might have some answers to what is happening to her magic. She never thought she would come face to face with Finn again.

Frances learns that there are serious consequences regarding the spell she used to speak to her dead brother - the veil between the living and the dead has been opened. A Veil that certain individuals are giddy about because it gives them a chance for immortality. In order to fix her wrong, Frances must team up with Finn, her father, her mother, Marlene, and Lena in order to not only close the veil, but to gain access to the power that she lost by opening the veil to see her brother one last time.

So, let's begin why my rating is what it is since that is what most publishers like to see. Simply; I wasn't happy with the ending. When a character dies, that character should have stayed dead. Period. Also, I have never quite been a fan of love triangles. While Finn and Frances seemed to have made a compact when they opened the veil to find her brother, it puts Oliver in a bad spot. Oliver who lost his best friend to Finn. Oliver who has steadfastly been in love with Frances for years, and stood on the sidelines until she decided what she was going to do with her life.

I am, however, happy that there was resolution vis-à-vis her mother and father and what happened in the past. Normally, parents don't necessarily play a role in what happens to wrap up the story and series. But both characters did. I am also happy that large parts of this story takes place in Paris. If you have never visited Paris, put it on your bucket list. Visit the Louvre, visit the Catacombs, walk up or take the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Eat some amazing French food. You won't be disappointed!

The Witch Hunt is just as good, if not better than The Witch Haven. We have most of the same characters as before, along with a few new ones. These new characters add depth to the story and suddenly everything that has happened in Frances' life makes sense.
Frances travels to Paris with her friends to see if she is able to determine why her magic is suddenly going haywire. It is going to take all of them working together to unravel the mystery. Working with Finn may be the end of everyone.
I enjoyed all the glimpses into the Paris underground. I feel like I have been on a mini magical vacation!
It is sad to say goodbye to all the wonderful characters we have grown to love; Frances, Oliver, Lena, Maxine and yes, even Finn. I am happy with the ending and do not see a need for another book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my eARC. All thoughts are my own.

The Witch hunt is the sequel to The Witch Haven; The story begins shortly after the end of the first book, Frances now is teaching young witches, her powers are erratic because of what happened in the previous book, she has a quiet life when she has the opportunity to travel to Paris with her friends. It was supposed to be a fun trip and ended up being a source of mystery and adventure. In Paris, the veil has been lifted, and strange things are happening.

Frances is always fun to read, she is a morally gray character, and she doesn't always make the best decisions but you can understand why and she has good intentions.

My favorites are the friends, Maxine and Lena, they are loyal and brave, they always support and listen to Frances and even though they are smarter than her, they have good ideas. They always make me laugh, they are witty and fun young witches. Oliver is so sweet and I think he deserved better, I like him, he is not scared by the dark side of Frances. And Finn is always interesting to read, he is a very magnetic villain.

The story is medium pacing, the prose lyrical and the setting is gorgeous, Paris 1913, is a beautiful city, with a lot of mystery and secrets. I enjoy walking through the alleys and raiding museums at night.

Overall, Although the first part is my favorite, it is a good sequel, The setting and friendship was my favorite part; I would have liked a little more growth in Frances, but it's okay, her mistakes make her human. I will be waiting for what the author publishes, she had lovely prose.

I want to thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers for supplying me with an e-galley of this book to read and give my honest review.
If you've not read the first book in this series, don't pick this one up yet! You definitely need the background from book 1 to understand what is happening and to make sense of what they refer back to.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes, actually much more than the first one, though my rating is the same. I love the idea of the witches. And this one is set in France, which seemed like it would be fun. I will say I stand by my thoughts on this series that it is definitely meant for the younger YA crowd.
The setting: I definitely could have used a more lush description of France. It's Paris after all. And Paris is amazing (I should know as I've been there). There is so much to describe about the streets, the houses, just about anything. Do I understand this was set in a time when I didn't see Paris, I sure do. But I still know there could have been more description to make me feel like I was actually in another country.
The characters: Were the same. Frances as the main. Still kind of whiny, not easy to connect with. But still a good addition to the story. I love her troubles she's having and how she tries to go about figuring out what is wrong. The re-introduction of our "villain" from the first book is a good twist, though expected. And the addition of a few new characters put a nice spin on things. I particularly enjoyed the blossoming friendships between Frances, Lena, and Maxine. They look out for each other and it seems would do anything to keep each other safe. The love story falls short for me. It just doesn't seem true from Frances end. Is she truly in love with him or does she want normalcy and he's it?
The plot: It was a bit short sighted for me. The reintroduction of Finn could have been done better. He was our villain in the first book but this book he seems to want to make some amends, But it doesn't really work and then gets kind of squashed.
Unfortunately this book fell short of developing in the way I would have liked.
There is definitely a set up for a third book here. I'm sure I will read it because I hate to leave series unfinished if I can help it.

3.5 stars. I loved The Witch Haven but this one just fell a little flat and slow comparatively. Francis seemed to have a change of heart in this book. Becoming extra secretive and leaving her fitness behind to go it alone. This was something she learned from in book one, did not do the first half of book two so I was disappointed to see it happening so much at the end of the book. I also wasn’t a fan of the love triangle that was worked out in book one. Bringing up Oliver v Finn again felt wrong to me as did Oliver and Francis together which felt a little forced. They really have no chemistry! I’ve been team Finn all the way even though he was the bad guy. I did really love the writing which was so beautiful! Overall the book was entertaining and easy, fast read but it definitely needed a more critical eye from an editing standpoint.

I'm one of those readers who loved the atmosphere and stakes in The Witch Haven and given the ending of the book, I was immensely excited to see how things fared in the sequel. I'm glad to say that The Witch Hunt serves the same entrancing descriptions of the setting, Paris in this book as there were in the previous book! I loved seeing Frances, Lena and Maxine's friendship blossom into a stronger bond and also learn about Oliver's softer side. I'd say the plot was interesting, it continued the one set up in The Witch Haven pretty well. Basically, I enjoyed the first half a lot.

What fell flat to me was Finn's reintroduction and his supposed "villainy" because it didn't ever seem that serious despite his character having potential. He had the scope to become worse or go through great character development but he was just there stirring things up. I'm not sure how to comprehend the ending, it seems like an opening to a third book and did not completely satisfy me. Also, quite a few filler scenes that could've been avoided to make the book flow smoothly. But then again, this is a personal opinion and I have seen people enjoy the sequel!

Though, The Witch Hunt is about consequences, grief and healing and these themes truly reflected throughout the book.

The Witch Hunt picks up a few months after the events of The Witch Haven, with Frances recovering from what happened to her, Oliver, and her friends. Frances, Lena and Maxine are on their way to France to visit Maxine’s parents and Oliver, who is attending school there. Frances is struggling to figure out what is wrong with her magic when she arrives in France and hopes that she can find answers there. Unfortunately, all she finds at first are more questions.

This is definitely the right time of year for these books. The magic, the setting, and the spooky atmosphere is all there. The female friendships take center stage once again, as the girls try to solve the mystery of what exactly is happening to Frances’ magic and to the boys that are turning up dead. I love the historical setting of Paris in the 20s and all the parties, food and fancy clothing the girls get to experience.

The love triangle is still alive and well although not as problematic as in the first book. Finn is a little easier to read in this installment, now that we know he’s only out for himself. I love Oliver…he’s so sweet and innocent and impossible not to root for.

I wish I could say the same for Frances. Her character is so sullen and always keeping secrets from the people she loves. It’s obvious to the reader that her friends would do anything for her, but she’s so plagued with self doubt that she can’t see it. That makes for a frustrating read and makes it difficult to like her as an FMC.

I was hoping this sequel would be a little lighter than the first book, but the story has a darkness to it that even the lighthearted moments can’t shake. This works in some parts but not in others, and I only wish that the characters were a little more developed. I truly believe this would make a better movie than a book.

If you’re looking for a witchy read full of dark magic, secrets, love, and betrayal set against a beautiful Parisian backdrop, then you should pick this up after reading The Witch Haven, first. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the advanced copy to read and review. Both books are available now.

The Witch Hunt is the second book in The Witch Haven series by Sasha Peyton Smith. This is a young adult paranormal fantasy with witches and lots of magic. What a wild ride! If you loved the first book, the Witch Haven, then this is simply a must-read. And, at such a perfect time of year.

Happy Monday y’all! I hope everyone had a great weekend! We’re really into spooky season now, which I’m a big fan of, and that makes me super excited to be a part of this blog tour for The Witch Hunt with Turn the Page Tours! The Witch Hunt is the sequel to the Witch Haven, which I loved when I read last year, so I knew that this one was going to be right up my alley. Turn the Page Tours also has a giveaway associated with this tour for 1 of 5 finished copies of The Witch Hunt, so make sure you enter today!

The Witch Hunt 4/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:

The lush and pulse-pounding sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Witch Haven follows Frances and her fellow witches to the streets of Paris where family secrets, lost loves, and dangerous magic await.

Months after the devastating battle between the Sons of St. Druon and the witches of Haxahaven, Frances has built a quiet, safe life for herself, teaching young witches and tending the garden within the walls of Haxahaven Academy. But one thing nags; her magic has begun to act strangely. When an opportunity to visit Paris arises, Frances jumps at the chance to go, longing for adventure and seeking answers about her own power.

Once she and her classmates Maxine and Lena reach the vibrant streets of France, Frances learns that the spell she used to speak to her dead brother has had terrible consequences—the veil between the living and the dead has been torn by her recklessness, and a group of magicians are using the rift for their own gain at a horrifying cost.

To right this wrong, and save lives and her own magical powers, Frances must hunt down answers in the parlors of Parisian secret societies, the halls of the Louvre, and the tunnels of the catacombs. Her only choice is to team up with the person she swore she’d never trust again, risking further betrayal and her own life in the process.

Ooo there was so much to love about The Witch Hunt! I really enjoyed that Frances, Lena, and Maxine were in Paris with Maxine’s family and that Oliver was there too (I do love me some Oliver time). I also really enjoyed that we were able to explore more of the backstory with Frances’s father and why he left their family. Her magic acting up being a consequence of what her and Finn did makes complete sense and I liked that Finn came back so they could set things right again (even though you could 100% tell that Frances was the only one who wanted to set things right- Finn was only there because he wanted Frances). There was a fun little section of a heist and there were some cute date moments between Oliver and Frances- all great plot points in a really fun, witchy read! Plot and pacing wise, I thought that things were done really well. I was never bored or trying to figure out what was going on because things moved too fast. And I really liked the way things ended- not a perfect bow, but a slightly lopsided one. Overall, I really enjoyed The Witch Hunt and I highly recommend reading it and grabbing it when it comes out tomorrow!

Thank you Sasha, NetGalley, and Simon Schuster for the advanced copy for an honest review.

We pick up right where we left off in book two of the Witch Haven series. After a brutal battle between the witches of Haxahaven and the Sons of St. Druon, Frances has settled into a more quiet life teaching young witches magic. Until she starts to notice that her own magic hasn't been quite the same since the battle. She gets the opportunity to head to Paris for a much needed vacation and to seek answers about her powers. Frances, Maxine and Lena set sail across the pond to seek answers. Upon her trip, Frances learns that there are serious consequences regarding the spell she used to speak to her dead brother - the veil between the living and the dead has been opened. This has caused powerful magicians to use this opportunity for their gain. In order to fix her wrong, Frances must team up with the one person she swore she would never trust again - the one person to blame for her brother's murder - Finn.

Wow, oh wow. I just loved how easily this story unraveled. It kept be entertained the entirety of it. But, what about that ending?? Part of me doesn't believe there will be another book in the series. Which saddens me because I started actually feeling sorry for Finn. It was so well written, and at times, I felt like this was more like I was reading a movie than a book. So good! I would be curious to see if there was another book written, how Finn's fate would be brought forward. Definitely didn't disappoint!

I love when a sequel picks up where the previous book left off. This story follows Frances to Paris so we get a new setting for this book. I enjoyed all of the scenes and character development. Frances searches for more information about her magic and the consequences that can come with it. This story will draw you in and is an enjoyable read.

Rating: 4/5
Pub: 10.11.22
I was gifted eARC for my honest opinion

In this book you will get to follow Frances and her fellow witches on a mission to figure out what is going on with magic. You will get thrown into a world with secrets, loss, romance, and magic.

I really enjoyed that in this book we get a new setting. Sasha still does an amazing job with her attention to details, and really brings to life 1913 in Paris vibes for me. I thought the plot was well done, having Frances go with friends to Paris to get away and of course because her love Oliver is over there. I enjoyed that when they were in Paris, we kept getting little twists in the story and where I thought it was going it turned and went in a new direction. This book for me was more character driven then plot and you really can see how much the main characters grow, even the side characters grew as well.

I had a hard time connecting to Frances in the first book but in this one I was able to relate to some of her decisions. I like that we get to see her character growth in this book. She goes from being a person who just jumps into things without thinking about the consequences, to someone who takes the time to process things out. I didn’t like that she was hiding her secrets from her friends and from Oliver, I think after everything they went through, they would have understood, but I get it and everything worked out in the end.

I really did not like Oliver and Frances together, I felt that their relationship was kind of forced. I didn’t get any chemistry vibes from them like I did with Frances and Finn. I am still Team Finn; I know he did horrible things, but I still think inside of him he is a good guy. Maybe, I am just team villain kinda girl lol

I did enjoy the banter between friends in this book and I really like how Sasha highlighted the closeness of friends in this book and in the first one as well.

Overall, this book was done beautifully to follow The Witch Haven. It's full of twists and turns, mystery and surprises, love, and loss. I would recommend this book to fellow historical fantasy lovers, and I can not wait to see what else Sasha will bring us.

I want to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Witch Hunt
by Sasha Peyton Smith

The lush and pulse-pounding sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Witch Haven follows Frances and her fellow witches to the streets of Paris where family secrets, lost loves, and dangerous magic await.

Months after the devastating battle between the Sons of St. Druon and the witches of Haxahaven, Frances has built a quiet, safe life for herself, teaching young witches and tending the garden within the walls of Haxahaven Academy. But one thing nags; her magic has begun to act strangely. When an opportunity to visit Paris arises, Frances jumps at the chance to go, longing for adventure and seeking answers about her own power.

Once she and her classmates Maxine and Lena reach the vibrant streets of France, Frances learns that the spell she used to speak to her dead brother has had terrible consequences—the veil between the living and the dead has been torn by her recklessness, and a group of magicians are using the rift for their own gain at a horrifying cost.

To right this wrong, and save lives and her own magical powers, Frances must hunt down answers in the parlors of Parisian secret societies, the halls of the Louvre, and the tunnels of the catacombs. Her only choice is to team up with the person she swore she’d never trust again, risking further betrayal and her own life in the process.

Secrets, mysterious, old enemies and complicated relationships. Picking up where the first book left off, its been months since the battle between the Sons of St. Druon and the witches of Haxahaven. Frances has gotten together with Oliver and has begun teaching witches at the academy, yet she is consumed with the thoughts of the letter from Fin telling her he is waiting for her in Europe and that he loves her. There is also the fact that ever since she binded her magic to Fin’s her magic is now not under her control and she needs to fix it. She also discovers the spell she use to summon her dead brother has opened up the veil between the living and the dead and has been torn and she must find a way to close it and get her powers back before its too late. However once she is in Paris she runs into the one person she doesnt want to but has bene haunting her thoughts, Fin and she will need his help if she is to close the veil. Can she trust the boy she once loved or will he betray her again? Unfortunately for me I found that I disliked Frances even more in this book than I did the previous book, and the constantly love triangle between Fin and Oliver was just getting tedious and boring, the whole plot of this book felt like a drag of the previous book and I honestly felt like I was bored the entire time just trying to get to the end of this book, In the end the book series could have just ended with the first book but here we are. So while this one didn’t work for me, maybe it’ll be better for you.

*Thanks Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

In the Witch Hunt we return to the witches of Haxahaven and travel along with them to France facing a new threat and old foes.

I loved stepping into the world of the Haxahaven witches again! I absolutely devoured its predecessor, the Witch Haven, and opening the pages of this novel was like coming home. It was interesting to see where the time between the two novels had taken our cast of characters and learn about what new things they would get up to in France. I think setting the sequel in an entirely new location was a great idea as we got old plots with a splash of new!

Positively witchy, I had a great time reading this novel! I loved that we got a chance to see the main cast of characters more fleshed out and learn more about their lives. I was also absolutely eating up every scene with a certain character that we all know and - against our better judgement - love.

I feel like the Witch Hunt is a worthy sequel to the Witch Haven and will delight all fans of the first book!

Thank you so much to Simon and Schuester for Sending me an early copy in exchange for a review.

We pick up about a year or so after the events of WItch Haven and let me tell you things get crazy pretty quick. the setting in paris took my breath away and it was so cool seeing some of the story take place in the catacombs!
There's secret societies, found family, and a parisian backdrop? what else could you want?

the ending did make me cry in some parts and i do feel that the ending did wrap up a bit fast but i really enjoyed it overall.

Thank you to NetGalley & the author for this ARC! This review may contain some spoilers so read at your own risk!

Tropes/topics: Death, magic, travel, struggle, love, hate, friends to lovers

The story picks up with Frances’ powers acting out. While this is going on Oliver is studying in Paris while Lena is back at home & Maxine is still at Haxahaven with Frances. They hope on a ship to visit with Maxine’s family but while there Frances finds her father. We find out the reasoning he had for leaving & I was so sad while reading about it.

While in Paris I think we can all guess who we run into again.. It was obviously that’s who we were going to see again but I really loved it! Finn is back & really trying to win Frances back but of course fails because uhm hello he murdered her brother.. :/

You meet new people & a whole new men’s club that are obsessed with the Veil that Frances & Finn’s magic is tied to when they merged in the first book.

This book truly was so fun to read & I really hope we get a 3rd book the ending really leaves a little bit open to the imagination.

Thank you again Sasha Peyton Smith for writing such a good book!

CONTENT WARNING: grief, murder, blood, violence

After all of the excitement in book one, Frances has settled into a quiet life. She’s teaching a new group of witches, gardening, and rebuilding relationships with the women who mean the most to her. But there’s one problem for her—the magic that she has grown to love is not acting right. So when she’s invited to visit Paris, she jumps at the chance. Even though she knows that she runs the risk of running into Finn.

We already know that Finn is going to appear, but she also runs into another complication when she learns that the spell they used to speak to her brother has damaged the veil between the living and the dead, and a group is trying to use that to their own advantage.

I loved seeing the character growth in Frances in this book. She’s already broken out of the mold of what was expected of her, and built up a found family in book one. But in this book, she gets a deeper understanding of what that family really means. She’s been closed off from her emotions for so long, and the first book was packed full of traumas for her. In this book, the pace is still relatively quick, but she also has some time to process those traumas and decide what it is going to mean for her. In addition, she’s struggling with what the loss of her magic means for her, since she’s come to rely on it so heavily.

In addition, we get to see one of my favorite side characters in the series, Oliver. He’s such a sweetie, but we also see his prickly side, which had me ready to jump up and cheer. The side characters, including Lena, Maxine, and yes, Finn, are all so central to the story, and I love the way that they interact with Frances and each other. The banter in the story kept me hooked, and almost had me forgetting that they’re fictional characters.

The setting was so gorgeous, and I could almost feel myself walking around the streets of 1920s Paris with them, watching the scenery, the sunsets, and smelling fresh-baked bread and croissants.

Overall, this book was a beautiful follow up to Smith’s debut, full of lush and poetic writing and an intriguing plot that I couldn’t stop reading. This was the kind of book I could lose myself in, and wanted to wholeheartedly. It’s full of plot twists and intrigue, as well as action, mystery, and surprises. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on Smith for future books.

I received this ARC from Net Galley. This second in the series addition gets you right into the witchy spooky vibes you need this Halloween season. The magical realism transports you and makes this a quick enjoyable young adult novel.

I wasn't too keen on this one, especially the hinted love triangle. Compared to the first one, this book had less of an actual plot and more of a familial setting, which is quite lovely considering everything Frances went through. But this meant there wasn't anything exciting to keep me on my toes, and I was trying hard not to skim through the boring dialogue exchanges. However, love love love the dark academia vibes the school gave!! I kind of wish I went to a big magic school and learnt big magic.