3.5 Stars

If you love atmospheric and cozy cottagecore with a slice of defiance and Taylor Swift’s “Willow” is one of your favs, this is for you.

Let me preface this by saying this is my first Rachel Griffin novel and my first introduction to her writing style. While I wanted to love this, and in some ways, I did, it felt as if the story wasn’t fleshed out and left me feeling unsatisfied.

The atmosphere of the story is whimsical and enchanting. The Witchery-the island the witches live on-is full of tiny pastel shops bursting with color, floral vibes, and subtle magic reminiscent of Wonderland. I adored the descriptions of these shops, the magical teas, the enchanting perfumes, that transported me into this incredibly interesting world. At first, I was invested. It was almost like walking into Disney World for the first time, full of child-like wonder and curiosity. The little girl in me who used to pretend to cast spells in the backyard with flowers and sticks was all in. But then, it fizzled out. The world building fell to the wayside. Yes, important things were happening in the plot, yes, there was development elsewhere, but for a way of life and town that the core purpose of the plot was to preserve, there wasn’t enough investment. I wanted way more and it never came.

Parallel to the Witchery is the mainland. There are whole, maybe 2 or 3 scenes describing this place. The mainland was supposed to be imposing and dull in comparison to the Witchery, but we never got to see much of it. Had there been more, the impact of what Tana was going to have to give up-her magic, her town-would have been much more impactful.

One of the most compelling aspects of the story is Tana’s relationship with the sea. This was done beautifully. Tana’s connection is poetic and a source of calm, a way to escape from the duty that she’s been tasked with since birth. I do feel like the role of the currents and the danger of the sea could have been amped up. There was one disturbing scene with a sea lion and then almost nothing until the very end.

Tana, aka Mortana Fairchild, is on the cusp of adulthood and about to enter into the most important ritual for a witch-her covenant. At the same time, she’s tasked with marrying a non-magical mainlander to solidify an alliance between the witches and those who fear them. I liked Tana. Her impulsive need to seek out the sea to escape from reality and lose herself in nature is something I identified with. Her sense of duty to her family and strong, unquestioning belief system defined her character. Her emotions were strong, but at the same time almost fickle. Tana would be introduced to some shocking new truth (no spoilers here) that literally destroyed her entire understanding of what it meant to be a witch and how dark magic should be defined, and she basically accepted it within a page or two. There was no really languishing, or internal struggle to truly deal with her feelings. Yes, it was there and she did work on processing her changing understanding of the world but it was SO FAST. An unbelievably fast turn around in understanding and acceptance of these Earth-shattering revelations. I feel like had there been more push-back and mulling things over, had there been more internal conflict that lasted more than to the next chapter it would have allowed more emotional investment in the storyline. Tana never questioned her life before these revelations. She knew her duty and accepted it because she loved her magic, her home, and her family. It doesn’t fit with her character after decades of single-minded conviction to be converted at the word of stranger who lured with a magical flower. It felt like a huge disconnect.

Side note: the character description is minimal. I mean, like one line or two and is hardly ever revisited after the first introduction. This is for ALL characters except maybe the love interest and much of that is spent on his harsh jawline and unpleasant facial expressions (glowering and broody).

I would have loved to see more development between Tana and her best friend, Ivy. Tana and her parents. Really more relationship development in general.

For the magnitude of this storyline and the world-building, the book was too short to encompass all that was needed to make it feel whole and complete.

Technically there is a triangle, but not a love triangle. There are only two people emotionally invested and one there out of duty to his parents and who “can’t promise love”. Insert Wolfe Hawthorne and Landon, the governor’s son. Wolfe is brooding, angry, passionate, and obviously hot. He’s everything Landon is not; unafraid to take risks, full of forbidden magic, and dangerous secrets that call to the defiance Tana buried her whole life. Of course, Tana wants him. How could she not? He makes her feel alive and like the sea, allows her to escape from the cold reality of a magic-less life that she is destined to spend with Landon. Landon, on the other hand, is romantic in his own way. He’s blunt, honest, attractive, and extremely kind to Tana. Landon mirrors Tana in that he too is committed to his duty and feels like their union is something bigger than just their teeny feelings. Landon openly admits that they’re not getting married for love and sometimes that is off-putting for the romantic in Tana who wants to feel the “dragonflies” in her stomach. You could see them being happy together, but it is not a whirlwind kind of love that is going to sweep Tana off her feet.

If you’re not into instalove, step away. This is definitely instalove and the lusty kind. There are two suggestive scenes if you’re checking into this for a young teen.

The romance between Wolfe and Tana was fast and sudden. If you’re a slowburn love person, also not for you. But if you want a fast-paced romance that is exploratory and awakening, that makes the main character feel alive, question her fate, and ignite her passions, this is 100% for you. I loved Tana and Wolfe. I loved that he opened her eyes and forced her to take control of her own life-to put herself first. I loved that he awoke courage and self-awareness through a fiery romance. I loved some of their lines. What I did not love, was that once this romance was introduced, it became the driving force behind pretty much all actions. The plot was there, but it was left feeling almost like an afterthought with the weight of this heady romance.

All in all, I couldn’t put this book down. I enjoyed reading about Tana and Wolfe, and their combined magic. I adored the Witchery and the small town feel. I loved the connections with nature and everyday life.

This book was one of my favorite reads of 2023! The forbidden love had me hooked all the way through! I usually don't prefer "witch" books, but I really enjoyed this one and it really stood out. I give this an 8/10.

This book blew me away. I applied for this ARC because I love Witchy Fantasy Romance, but I didn’t expect to love it so much. 😍

It has an enemies to lovers trope with forbidden romance and a world building that is amazing. I loved Tana’s story, and how she thinks everything in her life is about family and duty, and she always tries to please others. I related to that so much, and I loved seeing her journey of self-love and self-prioritization.

Wolfe, oh Wolfe, he is such a wonderful character. He saw her for who she really was from the start, and even though he hated that he liked her, he slowly let his guard down and I loved watching their story unfold. And let me tell you, I usually like spicy books, but this fade to black was beautiful. The writing was so romantic that I laughed and cried with the characters. I loved it. 😭

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good Enemies to Lovers, Witchy Fantasy Romance. I rated it five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and five hearts ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS for sending me this Advanced Copy in exchange of my honest opinion.

Tana is a fantastic MC to follow for young girls. A character who understands what is expected of her, sees the benefit but willingly tries to find an understanding to it. I really enjoyed the pacing and the writing. Typically YA books can read very cringy to me, but I felt this was written well in the mindset of a teenager.

3.5 stars
The thing that saved this from being a 3 was the atmosphere.
I think Rachel Griffin is a hit or miss author for me. I liked The Nature of Witches, and I loved Wild is the Witch. This one fell a little flat for me.
I can't say I loved the main character Tana. Her whole personality was this person her parents wanted her to be, to marry the governor of the mainland's son so they can form an alliance with the island, the Witchery. This is the only place magic is allowed. I felt like she had no personality of her own and was constantly saying things like "I only want to make my parents proud" or "I'm so afraid I will disappoint them." I liked Wolfe better, but he was very hot and cold. His story was much more interesting. I think my favorite characters were Tana's best friend Ivy who "saw her for more than her duty" and Tana's dad. While her mom really only cared about her marrying Landon, you could tell her dad wanted her to have what she actually wanted. Landon was very bland and would say things like "I think we can have a wonderful life, but I can't promise I will ever love you" which was annoying.
I didn't really feel chemistry between Tana and Landon (which is the point I think), but I also didn't really feel it between Tana and Wolfe either. It felt like they knew each other for 5 seconds and were in love but without the chemistry. I also hate love triangles.
The writing style was very atmospheric at points, which I really enjoyed, but other times it was super repetitive, especially about Tana's duty and her roll.
The plot was interesting for the most part. Tana and Landon are going to get married to create an alliance between the mainland and the witches. The witches only use low magic, as the higher magic has been declared evil and was done away with. Then Tana meets Wolfe, who lives on a hidden section of the island where they still practice the high magic. The way the witches use their magic, they need to "rush" the excess into the ocean every full moon or they will die. This is harming the environment. Using high magic will stop this and Tana needs to figure out if she wants to go along with her parents plans for her and continue to harm the environment or stop it. The plot is very flowy and slow moving for most of the book. There are a few points where it speeds up, but then immediately goes back to the flowy style.
Overall, I didn't dislike this book, but it was not my favorite by Rachel Griffin.

I was not expecting this book to be as disappointing as it was. What is promised to be an atmospheric novel exploring the theme of challenging one's own raised beliefs and conceptions, it fails on all accounts to capture anything meaningful within this regard. The character arcs of Tana, and Wolfe, feel disingenuous as they both frequently flip-flop their own opinions--especially Tana as she easily, and instantly, believes everything Wolfe tells her despite having ideals supposedly ingrained in her since she was a young child. There is no conflict or tension as these matters are frequently resolved (usually in the ways Tana wants), and even as she makes choices that have massive consequences it doesn't feel like she receives any as she is consistently validated even from people she has wronged.

Whilst Griffin's previous books have had decent proses, especially in terms of nature descriptions, this one felt as though it was missing quite a bit. It is easy to forget even what season the characters are in as it is hardly mentioned what the weather is like. There is a ton of telling, even some bits of dialogue not being shown to the reader. This, unfortunately, extends to the world building and magic system as both are filled with major plot holes, making the book dysfunctional as there are several contradictory statements made about the history of the island, the history of witches and even how the magic is supposed to properly function. It is often one has to go back to re-read details, only to find that things are in fact inconsistent--and not just due to the lies of antagonists.

In the same vein, the end doesn't feel as though things are properly resolved, and much of what happens only lends to more questions as opposed to answers. Several plotlines were either dropped or unresolved or, worse, given a resolution that doesn't make sense in view of the rest of the story. The book could have been great, perhaps showing how the two covens and mainland can come to even ground, but unfortunately things only feel even more out-of-balance despite the ending telling us things are now hopeful.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tana's world is bright and cheery, full of love and a subtle kind of magic that makes your day easier and sweeter. More peaceful. if you wish. It's non-threating and easy to love, a tourist attraction. Power, but not too powerful. Present, but never threatening. Her coven has worked hard to make it that way. Every month, they expel their extra magic into the ocean, allowing them to work only the most digestible of magic. Because magic that scares people from the mainland, ordinary people, is dangerous. It makes them a threat. It makes them something to be hunted. So they protect themselves. They charm their tea and spell their perfumes and offer a cozy destination for visitors on their island. And their life is good. It is safe. It will be better when Tana's arranged marriage cements their relationship to the mainland. At least, that's what Tana believes. But the currents around the island are growing stronger and the island has more secrets than Tana could ever have imagined.

Bring Me Your Midnight blew me away. The worldbuilding is intricate and fascinating and the descriptions are cozy and warm and vivid where they want to be and cold and sharp and harsh where that fits better.
My heart hurt for so much of the book because Tana faces dilemmas that are impossible. The book is so much more than a cozy fantasy about witches. It deals with how hard expectations can be to live up to, how we tend to put even more pressure on ourselves than others, how what we are taught can color the way we view the world, how what is right and fulfilling for one person might be wrong for another, how we sometimes keep secrets to protect vulnerable things, how the perception of many can beat the power of few. That love can't be forced, but that it can still cost us.
This book says so many things in such a short story.
Not only the worldbuilding was amazing, so were the characters. I would give ANYTHING for Ivy's story.
And I would give anything to visit the Witchery.

What an absolute delight! This is the first of Rachel’s books that I have read, but her others have been on my tbr for years, and I’m so excited to read more if this is what I can expect! The way she immersed her readers in the feeling of the PNW, the details made me want to live in this book forever.

Tana’s steadfast dedication to her family and duty was, as I expected, difficult at times to read because of the nature of the situation it itself, and sometimes I had to remind myself this is a YA novel and therefore characters are young; however, I never felt as though anyone was acting outside of their age, as I can often find in other books. I loved her relationship with her dad, especially after reading the dedication, and I can see how personal this was to write for Rachel.

All in all, I would absolutely recommend this to others as an easy, but beautiful read, and I can see how successful this will be!

What do you do when you have always known your own fate? Tana Fairchild has known that she was the marry the governor’s son, Landon, for as long as she could remember. Doing so will help secure an alliance between the witches of the island, and those on the mainland. Tana’s coven has been keeping the mainlanders happy for years by releasing much of their power into the ocean every full moon. Then the unthinkable happens, and Tana misses the ritual, running into a boy named Wolfe. A boy who shouldn’t even be on the island. He claims he is from the coven that practices dark magic, meaning that he can help her stay alive and keep the magic she has within in from burning her up – by teaching her forbidden magic. Magic that makes her feel alive, fully, for the first time. That makes her feel powerful. And as she learns this magic, she sees that the ocean is growing more violent, that the coven doesn’t have everything under control, and perhaps there is more at play than she ever realized. But how can she choose between love and loyalty? Between her fate, and what her heart desires? She should marry Landon and do the right thing… but that would mean losing Wolfe, the wild magic, and everything that makes her feel free.
Rachel Griffin has become a must-read author for me. I was so delighted to receive an early edition of this book and devoured it in a single day. Once again Griffin has delivered on her magic system, her world, strife, and romance. It is a wonderful coming of age novel, showing how hard it can be to follow your heart, and do what you truly know is right – what will make you happy.
The characters and worldbuilding within this novel make it a 5-star book for me. Tana has been a devoted daughter all of her life, but when she faces marriage to a boy she barely knows, she wonders if there isn’t more to her life. Can she really give up her island home and way of life? When she meets Wolfe, a dark and mysterious boy who should be there, she finds out there is more to her life than she ever knew possible. Tana’s character development is well paced, and wonderful to follow. Seeing the family dynamics (her mother is the leader of their coven), and the conversations that play out because of it is a rich part of this story. Their family is happy, but there is also evidence that not everything is paradise – and I appreciate Griffin’s ability to show the bond between Mother/Daughter, Father/Daughter, and Father/Mother throughout the book.
Worldbuilding is something that often makes or breaks a story for me, and three books in, Griffin has never disappointed. Even though every book has been different, the way the magic is always rooted in nature, and developed within the story is perfection. I cannot explain how the magic works in this story (because Spoilers!), but just know that it’s unique. The tried-and-true idea of people fearing what they do not understand plays well here for the plot as well, as the mainlanders have driven the witches out, but still seek them out for help. The island is beautiful (though I had a hard time picturing its layout and size exactly).
But with the characters and worldbuilding comes romance! This one is more of a good girl meets bad boy romance. Tana cannot admit to anyone that she is seeing Wolfe at night. Yet, in this hidden relationship, where he teaches her all the power she can hold, they find themselves falling for each other. First love is a magical thing (even without magic!), and the heady realization that Tana is in love with Wolfe plays havoc with what she has always known to be her fate.
Her mother is worried something is happening and tries to move things forward with the wedding to Landon. The tension between the family grows. As Tana learns more about the secrets that have been kept from her, she faces tough decisions about what her future will hold. Who will she trust? As Tana makes rushed decisions, she learns more about her family, her friends, and the coven she was giving her life. She sees more about the damage they are doing to the world they love, and the lies she has been told. As we follow along with her, we see the battle to become who she wants to be – and who she thinks she needs to be. There are also a few nice surprises along the way.
If you want to read a book that captures everything from family tension and loyalty, to duty, friendships, love and passion, pick up this book! It is well paced throughout. Yes, there is teenage angst (but not too much), and it is one of my top reads for 2023 so far.
I do deeply wish we’d get a follow up book in this world (same for the other two books) – but I also cannot wait to see what Rachel Griffin writes next!
NOTE: If you love special editions, make sure to buy this in its first edition. All of Rachel Griffin’s books have had beautiful hardcover prints, and this has been officially announced too as well! Google it to see the beautiful hardcover.

I knew I had to read this as soon as I saw that Rachel Griffin had released another ya witchy book.

This was so beautiful and descriptively written like her other works. I could see the grey, windy skies and the foam on the sea and the currents on the seabed and the salty mess of Tana's hair as I was reading it.

I really did like the choice of names for the main characters of Mortana and Wolfe they definitely suit the wild theme of the book.

The descriptions of the difference between the low magic and 'black' high magic being cast was just wonderful.

The relationship between Mortana and her parents and their expectations and even how her best friend reacts to her magic was very well done.

It was a very easy to read story and is definitely a 5 star book in my eyes.

Thank you to Sourcebooksfire and NetGalley for gifting me my arc wish for this! I do have the hardback on pre-order for when it comes out and hopefully I get one of the first editions with the beautiful design under the jacket.

This book was such an amazing read. I fell in love with not just the story but with the main character Tana. There were so many things in Tana where it was like I was looking in a mirror and it definitely made me feel all sorts of emotions. The first book I've read from Rachel but definitely not the last. Thank you to Rachel @netgalley @sourcebooksfire for this ARC!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️ (fade to black)

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy via NetGalley for an honest review.

4.5 stars

This was such a beautifully written story, and I was captivated by it. It’s a slower feeling book that doesn’t have a lot of action, but I thought the characters were fantastic. The secrets that Tana was uncovering were interesting, and I was excited to see what would happen. The pacing was really good, and I thought the author did a good job of creating the attraction between Wolfe and Tana, and also showing the struggles Tana was facing. The slow-burn was sweet and satisfying. The discovery of truths and lies was done well. There was a part just past the middle that had me almost screaming, and I was flipping pages quickly and easily as I devoured this book.
Tana was an excellent character. She was easy to relate to, and I was really rooting for her to be able to make her own choices for her life. Her sense of duty is admirable even when the future doesn’t look more than fine. I loved seeing her begin to question things after she met Wolfe, and I loved seeing her begin to let her true self show.
I really loved the magic in this book. The witches practice low magic during the day so that the mainlanders don’t get frightened. The coven has adapted to having their island be a tourist spot in order to protect themselves, and Tana is to marry the governor’s son and forge an alliance between witches and mainlanders. I would have liked to see more of the mainlanders, but I really loved the island and the way that magic worked. I liked learning about the different types of magic.

My very first ARC! Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks! I am very grateful for receiving this ARC and I am not disappointed!

Bring me your midnight was one of my most anticipated read of 2023!
This book is full of everything I love, it’s beautifully written and a real pleasure to read.
I was enchanted by the romance. The tension was on point just like the scenery and the atmosphere.
Tana is a really likeable character thorn between love and duty and she did not disappoint!

Hard to talk more about my excitement for this book without spoilers! I highly recommend this book for any fantasy and romance lover, I promise it’s a really good read that will not let you down!

I already preorder a physical copy of this book and now I just want to read every book written by Rachel Griffin!

💙🖤 Bring Me Your Midnight ARC Review 🖤💙

Thank you so much to Rachel Griffin and netGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!!

Bring Me Your Midnight is a standalone YA fantasy novel. Tana’s life has been planned out for as long as she can remember. She will marry the governor’s son to secure an alliance between the clans of witches and those who see her power as a threat. Everything is going as expected until one day when she meets a mysterious young man who shows her how to use her magic in ways she never imagined

This book was such a fantastic witchy read! Tana finds herself in impossible circumstances and I loved her character development throughout this story. Wolfe was a great character too and I loved the relationship they built together. The world building and magic system were beautiful and super unique. I personally would have loved to have seen more of Wolfe’s coven and more of his PoV, but that’s because I enjoyed it so much - I just wanted more of the witchy goodness!

Overall this was a solid 4 star read for me! I loved the story, the world building and the characters! This book had a lovely romance plot line, but it was definitely YA and light on the smut - so one flame for spice

If you’re a fan of witchy lore, forbidden romance, and the choice between desire and duty, then absolutely pick this book up!

Note: Review will be posted to Amazon upon publication

Despite the dramatic name, Bring Me Your Midnight by Rachel Griffin, is a quiet yet powerful coming of age fantasy. It centers on Tana Fairchild, a young woman whose betrothal to Landon Yates, the governor’s son, an alliance that has been planned since the day she was born, makes her the hope of her entire coven. Generations ago witches were banished from the mainland to a remote island and, in order to survive/seem non-threatening to the mainlanders, they have only practiced a low form of magic (think calming teas and extra delicious food rather than controlling the elements), instead feeding most of their magic into the sea surrounding the island. When Tana misses the monthly ritual, she turns to an unlikely source for help—Wolfe Hawthorne, a mysterious young man who is part of the old coven, those that continue to practice high magic in secret. The more Tana learns about Wolfe and the high magic she was taught to fear her whole life, the more alive she feels. Soon she has to choose between a life of her choosing and a life that will protect her people.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. While forbidden love is not usually my favorite trope, I thought Tana and Wolfe’s relationship worked really well. If it had been a true romance (vs. fantasy with romantic elements), I would have wanted them to be on page together a bit more and to see Wolfe’s character further fleshed out, but given that this is really Tana’s story, I think it largely worked. I also appreciated that there was no love triangle, a YA staple that I generally do not enjoy. While Landon is presented as a genuinely decent person (honest, wants to build a partnership with Tana even if they both know it isn’t a love match), I appreciated that it was very clear that there were no romantic feelings involved for either of them.

The book packs an emotional punch. I think I was on the verge of tears for at least the last 1/3 of the book as Tana struggles with the choices before her. She loves her island and people so much and wants to do right by them but at the same time the life stretching out in front of her—one of a pleasant but loveless political marriage on the mainland where she can’t be her true self—makes her feel so empty and alone. And it was absolutely gut-wrenching to read about the people who supposedly loved her most pushing her toward this life knowing how unhappy she would be even as she tried to put on a brave face. At a certain point in the plot, it feels as though she is treated as a means to an end by absolutely everyone in her life—her best friend, her parents, Landon, and even Wolfe. I was relieved that it ended on a hopeful note even if it felt bittersweet. This was my first Rachel Griffin book but it won’t be my last.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the complimentary ARC—all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Let’s take a walk before midnight shall we? 🕰️

First we can stop at the Mouse Trap to pick up some delectable cheese for our picnic tomorrow. Next, we can find a scent that holds our favorite memories from Tana’s family perfumery. After that we definitely need to grab a cup of warm tea with Ivy at Eldon’s tea shop. Finally, if we are brave enough, maybe we can find a moonflower floating in the sea. Oh, and don’t forget a trip up to the sky to capture all of the stars because that is what this book deserves! 🥹 This island was like coming home, and I was fully immersed into this story never wanting it to end.

LOVES:
🌊 If you love House of Salt and Sorrows this is the next best thing!
🐺 Wolfe…
🧙🏼‍♀️ The witchy magic was cozy and fantastical
🍂 The autumn setting felt perfect
🪄 The magic system was unique and I love the intensity of it.
🤫 The secrets… oh how they unfolded like my favorite cardigan.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

4.5 stars.

Loved this and read it in one sitting. The atmosphere and the world building were a delight. I enjoyed the characters, their relationships, and how Tana progressed throughout the book.

Bring Me Your Midnight cements Rachel Griffin as one of my favorite authors. It’s a beautiful story about a young woman choosing whether to play things safe by doing what’s expected of her or follow her heart by fully embracing her power.

This included everything I’ve come to love about Rachel Griffin’s writing: gorgeous prose, nature-infused magic, difficult choices, a visceral journey, and complicated love. Though it starts off slow, Wolfe’s arrived had me hooked, and from that point on I couldn’t put the book down. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten so thoroughly lost in a fantasy book.

The low and high magical systems were fascinating, as were the conflicting ideologies of living openly but subdued vs. living fully but in secret.

A worthy follow up to The Nature of Witches and Wild is the Witch, I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the author’s other books or are looking for a wonderfully witchy read to sweep them away.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.

I loved the magic of the currents and symbolism of flowers in this book. Forbidden love and cottage core vibes made it fun. There's a bit of queer rep! Tana's parents made me really mad. If you're looking for a YA romantasy book I'd recommend

Thank you so much NetGalley and Source Books Fire for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

When I talk about fantasy romance, this is what I mean!

This book is amazing! Even though it wasn't about mermaids at all it gave me some Little Mermaid vibes. This book is all about choosing your own path and not the path others want you to walk.

This book was such a fun and fast read for me. It is cozy fantasy with some romance. The romance was so beautiful. Everything about is was just perfect.

This book is also perfect for this summer. The setting is on a small island surrounded by water and beaches. The little village in town also sounded so cute! I needed to go there. I also don't think I ever read a book about witches but this book made me excited to read more books about witches!