🎃 Supernatural romance
🎃 Enemies to Lovers
🎃 Young adult
🎃 Closed door
🎃 He falls first

Hecate Goodwin is a Hedge Witch. Although she is ostensibly accepted, she lives a quiet, isolated life on the fringes of her coven, the Atlantic Key.
She is conscientious about her role, providing healing care and sanctuary but her life is staid and her routine rarely varies. She is grieving the loss of her mother and protection she always felt.
Matthew Cypher, the heir to the dark Pacific Gate coven, may be a threat to Hecate's core beliefs, despite the fact that they bonded when they first met years ago., His practices are forbidden to her coven and she is instantly wary when he arrives on her doorstep right before Samhain.
But something is changing and bad omens abound. Matthew may be the only person who can protect Hecate against the coming battle.
This book is packed with seasonal vibes - perfect for getting into the spooky season. The descriptions of food and the recipes made me want to get into the kitchen and start some magic of my own.
The writing would definitely appeal to a young adult audience - my teenage self would have loved it.
The relationship between Matthew and Hecate (Kate) is innocently sweet. I liked Matthew as a character, but I didn't really connect with Hecate (Kate), so it wasn't obvious why Matthew was so drawn to her.
Kate's sisters were interesting characters and there was a reality to their dynamic which was appealing.
An enjoyable read.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

★★★★★

Is it officially witchy season? Absolutely! Let me introduce a debut that deserves a spot on your TBR this season.

Here’s what you can expect: rival covens 🧙🏻, jack-o-lantern contests 🎃, safety spells disguised as caramel apples for the kids 🍎, a familiar named Merlin 🐈‍⬛, the ultimate autumn setting 🍁, a villainous king of the underworld 🪦, and a forbidden romance a decade in the making 🧡

Meet Hecate (Kate) Goodwin, a hedge witch born on Samhain (October 31st). Her magic was predetermined at birth, denying her the right to choose on her 13th birthday. Kate is a rare type of witch—one not seen in over two centuries. As her 31st birthday approaches and she prepares for the Containment Ritual, where she must sacrifice part of her magic, strange events begin to unfold, including the reappearance of Matthew, a man she hasn’t seen in ten years.

Read this if you love:
🎃 Cozy, autumnal witchy vibes
🎃 A richly atmospheric Ipswich setting
🎃 A MMC (Matthew) who is head over heels for Kate
🎃 Bonus recipes at the end, which were a treat!

Officially out October 8, 2024

[Many thanks to NetGalley & Alcove Publishing for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review]

Cozy, magical, and had great autumn vibes, but the plot was a little slow for me. I guess it's fine for a low-stakes fantasy, but maybe I've been reading too many of those because I didn't find this to be super engaging, not even in that quiet way you expect from cozy fantasies. It was middle-of-the-road for me, but I still think it's a great autumn read to curl up with.

I loved loved loved this book. It has very cozy vibes, Halloween themed, a very cool magic system and obviously, witches.

The action focuses on Hecate Goodwin, or Kate, and her life as a hedge witch (a branch of witchcraft she picked to learn which made her live her life in solitude, mostly, but she doesn't mind because she has many cute hobbies that she can practice in her cottage- if that's not cozy, idk what is). Everything happens around Halloween and there are many preparations to be made, because this event is a huge deal for witches. While preparing the manor for a grandiose party, she discovers clues about her powers and why she had to pick this one. Everything is starting to get a darker turn and my curiosity peaks. Eventually all pieces will fall into place and we get a clear picture of why things had to be this way, and it's quite a sad reason tbh.

While the vibes are very nice and fuzzy, they don't shadow the gravity of everything else, actually they balance pretty well, giving a pleasant experience.

Wallis Kinney’s A Dark and Secret Magic offers a charming blend of witchcraft, mystery, and romance set against the backdrop of the Halloween season. This novel stands out for its cozy, atmospheric portrayal of witchcraft and its seamless integration of personal and mystical conflicts, reminiscent of the beloved classics Practical Magic and Witch of Wild Things.

At the heart of the story is Hecate "Kate" Goodwin, a hedge witch who thrives in her tranquil, solitary life. Her peace is disrupted when she’s asked to host her coven's annual Halloween gathering, a responsibility that forces her to confront not only her own insecurities but also the secrets her coven—and her family—have kept from her. The plot thickens when an old flame, Matthew Cypher, arrives seeking refuge. His presence, coupled with the discovery of a dark, troubling tome inscribed with her late mother’s handwriting, sends Kate spiraling into a web of ancient magic and personal revelations.

Kinney excels in creating a richly atmospheric setting that captures the essence of autumn and the witching season. The descriptions of Kate’s cottage, the Ipswich forest, and the Halloween festivities bring a tangible, almost tactile quality to the novel, making it a perfect seasonal read. The book’s charm lies in its low-key, introspective approach, focusing on Kate’s personal growth and the mysteries surrounding her rather than high-stakes conflicts or dramatic twists.

However, while the novel’s cozy vibe is a major strength, it also means that the plot unfolds at a leisurely pace. Some readers might find the lack of a more dynamic narrative arc a bit underwhelming. The romance between Kate and Matthew, although sweet, sometimes feels underdeveloped, particularly given their past and the intensity of their current interactions.

In summary, A Dark and Secret Magic is a delightful, atmospheric read that will appeal to fans of witchcraft and autumnal settings. It’s a gentle, introspective story with enough mystery to keep readers engaged, even if it doesn’t always hit the emotional highs or dramatic lows of more intense fantasy novels. If you’re in the mood for a cozy, witchy escape, this book is worth your time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

"A Dark and Secret Magic" is a captivating read that truly embodies the spirit of autumn. With its enchanting blend of witchcraft, dark secrets, and a touch of romance, it’s a perfect book to enjoy as the leaves fall and the air turns crisp. The atmospheric setting and intriguing plot make it an ideal companion for cozy autumn evenings. Highly recommended for anyone looking to embrace the season with a spellbinding story.

Full of fall nostalgia, witchy lore, and cautious acceptance, this was a great way to start off the fall season! I loved watching her try and figure out what Matthew really wanted, and it was great seeing her go back and forth on it.

Rating: 4 stars
Spice: 🌶️

Tropes:
🎃“Childhood” (they were 21, but it was 10 years ago, so…?) sweethearts
🎃Slow burn
🎃He fell first, and fell harder
🎃Witches and wizards (called “hexans” here)
🎃Perfect Halloween vibes
🎃Cozy cottagecore fantasy
🎃Some tension, but overall low stakes
🎃Some creepy, horror elements
🎃Hades/Persephone myth parallels

“A Dark and Secret Magic is a celebration of the Halloween season and a love letter to anyone who drinks pumpkin spice in August and carries the spirit of a witch inside their heart all year long.”

This book definitely lives up to its intent. It’s an ode to one of the most beautiful times of year, and that love is felt through every word and passage. It’s a very cozy, low-stakes, almost cottagecore fantasy vibe, with some elements of horror woven throughout to keep the stakes at a low simmer and hold the reader’s interest.

Hecate, Kate to her friends, was always going to be a hedge witch at her mother’s insistence, the first in over two hundred years. No one knew why her mother went against their coven’s conventions and picked Kate’s craft for her, but Kate herself is happy with the choice and resonates with it despite the solitude the role calls for. As Halloween draws near, Kate finds herself tasked with hosting their coven’s annual gathering—and almost simultaneously finds an old flame on her doorstep asking for sanctuary. As she slowly encounters more and more secrets of the past that her coven would see buried, she’s forced to confront some dark truths even about herself.

There’s not a whole lot going on in this book, and sometimes that’s exactly what we all need. This functions beautifully as a simple, witchy read for the holiday. The plot is straightforward and interesting enough, the characters lovable and feasibly well-fleshed-out given the brevity of the novel. The romance is adorable, though it’s a tiny bit hard to grasp that after such a short encounter ten years prior, Matthew has held a candle for Kate this entire time?? I also loved the sister side characters. There’s no huge crescendo of a climax or gut-wrenching emotion, instead we just sort of coast through the entire novel floating on those cozy vibes. If that’s what you’re into, you’ll love this like I did.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

*Actual rating is 4.75 stars*

A Dark and Secret Magic is a standalone cozy fantasy that is the perfect fall read, as it has peak witchy vibes and Halloween atmosphere. It’s a loose Hades and Persephone retelling, filled with everything I love from my cozy fantasies. The main character Kate is soft yet strong and willful, while the love interest Matthew is a golden retriever man helping her find her true potential and grow as a witch. He could just breath and I would swoon over him. There’s long buried family secrets, sisterly love, and lots of cooking of delicious sounding food (and the recipes are at the end of the book, so extra points there). There’s death and darkness, but it only adds depth and some stakes without taking away the cozy vibes. My biggest complaint is that the book could have been longer, because I just wanted to keep reading about Kate and Matthew. Because reading about them made me happy.

This is the perfect read for the time leading up to Halloween (or whenever you want the Halloween vibes), when you want a nice book to relax with without too much complexity or high stakes. I'm looking forward to the authors next book.

This book is everything and more that I want in a cozy autumn read. It takes you and wraps you up in a soft, warm blanket while it bakes cinnamon and spice cookies in the next room. It snuggles on the couch with every beloved Halloween movie you have ever known while drinking warm apple cider out of your favorite mug. It scoops out all the pumpkin guts for you because it knows they give you the ick, but you still enjoy the carving part. I adored absolutely adored this book.

This book was so cozy and warm and fun! From the first page, it provided those perfect autumn vibes. The magic system was unique and easy to understand and the atmosphere managed to be both cozy at times and creepy at others. I loved the romance and felt like the tension and barricades between them being together were really believable. The recipes in the back were also a charming touch. I would highly recommend this for an October/spooky season read that’s on the lighter side!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rating: 4.5/5
A wonderful, engaging read, that had me hooked from the beginning. "A Dark and Secret Magic" is the perfect mix of dark and cozy, with loveable characters and great worldbuilding. The magic system and the societal structure of the witches was really interesting, and the main characters fit into it so perfectly. A great witchy read.

A Dark and Secret Magic follows Kate, a hedge witch who recently finds a grimoire filled with dark, forbidden magic and seemingly belongs to her recently deceased mum. On top of that, a handsome, mysterious man from her past arrives at her door.

This is such a perfect autumn read and just the most perfect cozy fantasy to get me out of my reading slump. The romance in this was quite fast and slightly too quick for it to be believable but still cute nonetheless and I really enjoyed watching them fall in love.

The plot itself was okay, there were definitely a few plot holes and I had more questions at the end than answers. I wish we got to learn more about the other types of witches and other covens etc. but I guess there’s only so much you can fit in a 300 page book.

I also found that the villain in this was too easily defeated and the happy ending was too easily achieved. But I’m not too upset about it as this is more of a cozy autumnal fantasy than some 6-series complicated fantasy series.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. It was such an easy read and captured me straightaway. Definitely took me out of my reading slump and now I want to read more cute autumn books.

A Dark and Secret Magic is such a cozy fun little Halloween read! I loved the magic, the witches, the romance, the mystery, it all felt so cozy and whimsical. I am a huge fan of the goddess Hecate, so I absolutely loved this story being vaguely about her in its own write. My favorite part was actually the recipes at the end! This book was just a lovely read through and through and it truly got me in the spirit of the season.

Rating: 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for the autumnal vibe

🍂✨ Cozy cottage in the woods
🎃👻 Samhain and Halloween celebrations
🧙‍♀️🕯 Witches, potions, and magical cooking
🐈‍⬛ Merlin, the black cat companion
🍎🥧 Enchanted recipes like Pass Out Pie and Careful Caramel Apples
🍁🍂 Vibrant fall festivals and Jack-O-Lanterns

A charming autumn read with a touch of mystery and just the right sprinkle of magic, A Dark and Secret Magic is perfect to cozy up with. The book is a loose retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth, (you don’t have to know that tale to enjoy this) so it won't necessarily feel like an all encompassing standalone witch fantasy. It offers a warm mix of witchy fun, ghoulish surprises, and enchanting storytelling.

From the start, the atmosphere wraps you in everything I love about fall. Hecate Goodwin lives in a snug cottage by a forest, with her black cat, Merlin, always nearby. The story opens in the days leading up to Samhain, or Halloween, which also happens to be Hecate’s 31st birthday. (See what I mean? The vibe is vibing.) The description of autumn in the town is perfection—you can practically feel the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot and see the glow of Jack-O-Lanterns lighting up the cool October night. Hecate spends her days preparing for fall festivals, brewing potions, and creating enchanted dishes like Pass Out Pie and Careful Caramel Apples (which btw are recipes included at the end). It’s the kind of world that makes you want to grab a mug of hot cider and settle into the season.

For most of the book, you’ll enjoy a lighthearted, cozy atmosphere full of witches, magical cooking, and autumn celebrations. But as Hecate prepares to turn 31, she finds herself questioning why her path in the coven was chosen for her, unlike other witches who picked their own at age thirteen. Then, a mysterious guest from her past shows up, bringing secrets and suspense into her peaceful world.

As the story nears its end, the pacing speeds up, and the story is quite different. There is action, full of spooky twists, dark magic, tension, and betrayal. While the sudden shift from cozy to eerie might feel a bit jarring, it reflects Hecate’s personal journey of self-discovery. The side characters, including the other witches, could have been fleshed out more, but the book’s focus on Hecate’s growth makes up for it.

Overall, the real magic of A Dark and Secret Magic is in its autumnal charm. It’s full of warm, inviting descriptions of food, scents, colors, and magical moments that feel like the spirit of fall itself. While the end feels a bit different from the rest, the journey to get there is a delightful seasonal escape.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Wallis Kenney for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is truly the most perfect autumnal read. The vibes are immaculate! It's the perfect combination of cozy, yet dark. This book is like a love letter to witchcraft. It pulled at my witchy heart strings from beginning to end. It filled my heart with joy, it had me screaming and kicking my feet, and of course, it had me in tears. I loved this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel!

I've always been a big Halloween person, so naturally, I love witchy, autumnal reads. When I read the description for A Dark and Secret Magic, I knew it was something I wanted to check out. The story follows Hecate, a 30 year-old hedge witch whose magic allows her to provide healing and sanctuary to those who visit her cottage. Still grieving the recent loss of her mother, she receives short notice that she must set up her coven's annual Samhain celebration all on her own; at the same time, a necromancer from her past, Matthew, shows up seeking shelter at her home. Matthew is willing to jump in and help Hecate with all of her Halloween preparations, but while they are digging out her family's decorations, they uncover a hidden book with some dark secrets. Hecate must determine what the book means and why her mother kept it hidden - a mystery which will affect Hecate's magic and possibly even her life itself. The book is full of fall imagery, delicious food, interesting magic, and a sweet romance.

I would say you'll probably enjoy this book the most if you go into it expecting a cozy fall read that's also a reimagining of Hades and Persephone. For me, I appreciate it more if I view it as something similar to a fairy tale or mythology story, rather than a fantasy book on its own. There are a number of plot points that aren't fully developed and don't quite make sense, in the same way that fairy tales can often be confusing with details that aren't always completely explained. If you want to read a fun, spooky story featuring all things related to Halloween, you'll probably have a good time with this. However, if you are looking for a fantasy witch novel with fully developed worldbuilding, you may want to skip this book. I did enjoy reading it, but I also had a few major critiques.

I'll start with the positives. First and foremost, if you're looking for a book with a fantastic fall atmosphere, you will not be disappointed by the vibes in this one! There are so many cute descriptions of Halloween decorations, pumpkin and cinnamon treats, and other autumn-related things. It's executed really well - I could picture Hecate's cottage, her cat, Merlin, and all of her jack-o'-lanterns so clearly. I also enjoyed all of the Halloween-related activities that Hecate and Matthew did together. There's a fall festival, caramel apple making, pumpkin carving, and so much more. This book advertises itself as a celebration of Halloween, and it certainly follows through on that. The warm atmosphere was my favorite part of the novel.

Additionally, I like that the author tried to add a deeper plot to the story. These cozy Halloween books featuring witches have gotten pretty popular in the past few years, and some of them are too light without much of a plot beyond Halloween and witches and cute towns. I appreciated that this novel had a lot more going on. I especially liked the way that each witch practiced a different kind of magic. It was fun to read about book witches, sea witches, etc. I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding Hecate's powers. I also liked that Matthew's intentions were not clear for most of the story - it was fun to dissect his words and actions to try to figure out whether he was being honest.

However, there were also a couple of things that did not work for me. I found the writing to be inconsistent. The beginning of the book was especially clunky. I think it got better as it went along, but even then, the dialogue often felt unnatural. The author had a few words she repeated too frequently, and the tone often shifted unnecessarily (sometimes the characters were overly casual and other times they used more traditional language). This made it hard to grasp the characters and their personalities. I did like how easy to read the writing was, though. Even though there were so many descriptions of food and decorations, I never felt bogged down by purple prose. I just think it could have been more polished and consistent overall, although maybe this will be improved before publication.

Additionally, besides the atmosphere, everything else felt a little underdeveloped to me. All of the characters (except maybe Matthew) were a bit too shallow and one-dimensional. I could never even get a grasp of Hecate's personality, despite the fact that we were in her head the whole time. Similarly, the plot could have been expanded more. Even though I liked that the plot was more complex than that of other books in this genre, I still thought too much happened too quickly, particularly in the second half. It needed more breathing room. I wanted to see Hecate react more to all of the wild information she was discovering. And don't even get me started on the romance - I liked Matthew and I could see chemistry between him and Hecate, but it wasn't believable at all that they would fall in love after just a few days (and an afternoon ten years prior). The book also had one of my pet peeves that often comes up in underdeveloped stories: the characters mostly just meandered back and forth between a couple of set locations, which always makes the setting itself feel vague.

Even with my critiques, though, this novel is still enjoyable if you're looking for a cozy Halloween read. Sometimes, I want a relaxing seasonal book that I can read in an afternoon and not think too much about. This novel is exactly that. It would be perfect for a cold October day with a cup of pumpkin chai tea. I would be open to reading other books by this author in the future, especially since this was just a debut.

2.75 stars, rounded up to 3 stars because it did make me feel all warm and cozy at times.

If you like me are aching for Halloween and cozy spooky fall vibes this book is for you. I adored our MC Kate and her cozy hedge witch cottage. I resonated a lot with her and her story, but damn would I have folded a lot faster when a dark and mysterious hunk from my past showed up. This book was fun, it had great sibling love, romance, and dealt with complicated parental relationships. The all around paranormal witchy spookiness was so well done. Everything flowed and made sense, it was the perfect book to keep me in my summerween feels.

ARC Review: A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney

Expected Publication Date: October 8, 2024

My rating: 4.5 stars⭐️

If you’re looking to add a witchy story that is a blend of cozy and dark for Halloween, I recommend this!

Hecate Goodwin, a hedge witch living in a charming cottage with her black cat, enjoys a peaceful life filled with foraging and managing her craft. Her days are simple, centered on helping other witches and wizards with their troubles. But when she stumbles upon a tome of black magic, her serene world is shattered. As a sinister family secret begins to surface, Hecate finds herself thrust into a mystery that forces her to confront the truth about her coven and her own abilities. With the reluctant help of a banished childhood friend—now an enemy, yet fiercely protective of her—Hecate must unravel the dark secrets she's been shielded from since childhood.

The author skillfully weaves together a layered plot, transitioning from the cozy charm of Hecate's daily life to the thrilling adventure of uncovering hidden truths.

I adore Hecate's soft side and her character development as she unravels each mystery. I also love the star-crossed lovers romance aspect to this. Matthew was just dreamy. The allusion of Hades and Persephone was also a lovely touch.

My only wish for this is we could have seen more "interference" of the conflict. While I adored witnessing how Hecate grew and also fall in love with Matthew, I would have loved to see how she would have fended herself from the King but ah, I understand the limits of how a single book could show this.

Overall, well, well done. Will definitely purchase the physical book to add to my collection!

Much love to NetGalley, Alcove Press and Wallis Kenney for the ARC. I leave my review voluntarily :)

I finished this book in 1 sitting! Honestly one of my favourite reads of the year.

This is a beautiful witchy, sacrificing your life for love story.

There is a mysterious past man that rocks up into Hecate life unexpectedly. She finds out truths that have been kept from her about her powers and her coven. She doesn’t know who to believe, or what to believe as her life is thrown upside down.

It’s about the FMC finding herself, accepting betrayals from the people she loves and overcoming her own self doubts and limits.

This book is heart retching but yet empowering is one’s own self confidence and control.