3/5 ⭐️

I felt like I was reading two different books. It started off with the warm cozy fall vibes. It felt a little odd that a witch would celebrate generic Halloween but that’s okay, I like orange and black Halloween like most fall girlies.

What confused me was how the book suddenly felt much more dark towards the end. I guess I forgot it was a very loose Hades and Persephone retelling. I liked the love interest but am not really believing the time it took for them to fall in love.

Unfortunately Kate’s two sisters drove me crazy!!! One seemed like a wishy washy socialite and the other honestly ordered Kate around like she was a servant. The letter she sent demanding she get the entire house ready and just ✨shows up✨ to everything done. It felt so off when they later cared about Kate and what was happening to her.

Overall I did enjoy this book, but I’m not sure if I will continue the series only due to where the end took us. If it stayed more true to being a nice low stakes fall vibes witchy book, I would have probably enjoyed it a little more.

Everything you love about Halloween and spooky season wrapped up in one book! I wanted to live in this world so I could see, touch, taste, and hear everything I was reading about. This truly is an ode to people who thrive during spooky season.

This book is the perfect read for your fall TBR list. It was charming, gripping, romantic, and mysterious all at once and I know this will be a for sure reread during Halloween week.

Blurb: A warm, spellbinding tale about a witch and the secrets her coven has been keeping from her, with echoes of the classic Hades and Persephone story, in the tradition of Practical Magic and Witch of Wild Things.

The gist of this review: I absolutely adored this book. The characters were so beautifully developed and had such realistic and complex feelings. The pacing was perfect and all the plot reveals were so well paced. It wasn't as predictable as I thought it would be, given that it's loosely inspired by Hades and Persephone, so I appreciated the originality in how Wallis Kinney approached their story. Though there were some moments that the writing was a little confusing, it never took away from the intriguing mystery.

The magic system in this book was clear and understandable, and I loved how many unique types of magic could be practiced in these covens. (I would love to be a book witch please! If you know, you know). With the story being set the week of Halloween, the aesthetic of the setting seeped through the pages. The written imagery was gorgeous and I swear I could smell the pumpkin spice and feel the warmth of the fireplace.

There were themes of grief and family/community secrets, and it added a well-balanced depth and darkness to the story that I feel developed so well in the plot towards the end. Everything felt like it tied together seamlessly and when it all fell into place, I felt all of Hecate's grief and rage for not knowing what was truly happening her whole life.

Overall, I think this book could be an essential for a cozy fall reader! If you like a good witchy, magical mystery that has emotional depth, this book is for you!

RELEASE DATE: October 8th, 2024

A Dark and Secret Magic is a cozy modern fantasy. The cover of this book had me hooked right in, and I saved it to read on a wet rainy day on the couch with a hot cup of tea.
The magic system in this book feels very soft and nostalgic, I love a witchy book, and this has plenty of mystery and magic, oh and romance of course!
I really enjoyed the world building in this book, the character development and side characters were fantastic!
Thank you to Net Galley, Alcove Press and Wallis Kinney for the ARC of A Dark and Secret Magic in exchange for my honest review!

Anyone who loves Charmed and cozy fall mysteries will absolutely love this book. A little dash of mystery, a whole lot of magic, the perfect book to snuggle up in your favorite blanket while sipping on your first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season.

This was what warm cozy witchy book dreams are made of. I was so absorbed in the lives of every character we were introduced to and if you’re a Practical Magic or even just an Alice Hoffman fan do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this. I am OBSESSED.

A Dark and Secret Magic is a wonderful seasonal read but truly can be enjoyed anytime. Hecate Goodwin is hedge witch. Her birthday is approaching on Halloween and her older sister has asked her to host the coven Halloween party in their family home. Throughout the preparations she uncovers a secret about her mother which calls into questions her memories. To complicate things Matthew Cypher has shown up on her cottage door step asking for asylum. He is no ordinary guy though because he practices dark magic. While the story has some darker elements involving the King Below, the overall feel is quite cozy. Seeing Hecate uncover a mystery that has affected her her entire life and grow into the witch she was meant to be was nice. Matthew is a wonder book boyfriend as well. I recommend this one if your looking for a book jump start your fall reading.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Perfect Fall setup - load the season with this read
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃
I’ll be extremely honest- I’m not done reading it yet… HOWEVER, the ambience this book brings just from the beginning is the absolute Fall buildup we need.
As soon as I was done with page one I was like, ok, she knoooows what she’s doing. Giving us Fall-core.

I’m at about 60% and will come back to edit once I’m done. But so far would absolutely add this to your fall (or pre fall) TBR!

My Rating 3/5

This book started off pretty slow and I had to trudge through but it did end up picking up towards the middle. I will say what I liked most about it was the fall vibes, everything was so fall and cozy!
The main character talks a lot about food...like a lot. Was a little odd but it's kind of relevant to her character? Idk it just made me hungry sometimes. I love reading green witch stuff so if you love that type of stuff you'll like that aspect of the book.
My biggest gripe unfortunately --the romance. Which in a romance novel not so good. A bit of a spoiler ahead here but the love interest apparently loves her for TEN YEARS based on one afternoon together. It was so unrealistic it completely took me out of the story. Especially considering how much he does for her because of that.
In the end I thought the book was okay, it seems like there might be a second coming? I like it enough to read that one when it comes out .

If you love witchy stuff and cozy fall vibes I think you might enjoy this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC!

A Dark and Secret Magic is somewhere between cozy fantasy and straight up modern fantasy. Cozy elements are definitely there including an opening scene of our protagonist crocheting a pumpkin decoration, and recipes at the end of the book for things such as hot chocolate and banana bread. However, once we get into the story, more elements of the dark underside of the tale are introduced. Of course, there is a love story, but we also explore relationships with parents who have passed, siblings who are both a pain in the a$$ and your best friends, and those whom you have trusted, but may no longer be trustworthy.

Overall a great read. It took me a while to get into the story. Probably because I was attempting to read it at peak summer in 90+ degree weather and the entire book takes place the week before Halloween. It’s definitely a perfect read to get you in the mood for spooky season.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for accepting my request to read and review this book early

Let’s be honest, I fell in love which the cover and absolutely HAD to read it.

The autumnal vibes were poppin.

I would say this book is a cosy fantasy, with the kind of magic and witchcraft that feels nostalgic and soft, I adore witchy books like this they are so comforting.

I also didn’t get bored by the “coziness” which I have found in other books like this.

I really enjoyed Hecate and Matthew, I mean 10 years is a long time, but we love pining!

This is definitely the kind of fantasy I would recommend to romance lovers that want lower stakes and a lot of tension. If you’re after a more crazy story you mind find this a little too slow.

My only complaint personally is that there were a few times I found the lacing a little slow but I know it’s a hard balance.

Overall really enjoyed it and will definitely be looking more into this author.

“You are not what you should be, little girl.”

Reading this book you are flooded with the sensuality of autumn..the wonderful dark orange and brown colors, the smells of cinnamon and rain, the foggy mornings, the mysterious forests and of course the pumpkins..And all of the above covered by a sheet of mystery. .Dark secrets that the protagonist, a powerful witch who did not choose her powers, must discover with the help of a charming and protective necromancer...

It is an atmospheric story, well written and with excellent descriptions. By reading it you will enter the world of witches, a cozy but also mysterious world, you will learn great recipes for hot chocolate, beverages and sweets and you will surely love the love story that develops under many difficulties..

If you are looking for the next book to read this autumn and especially for Halloween, then this should definitely be your first choice!

"We are locked into each other, neither one willing to be the first to break."

I think this cover over sold me on the cozy vibes I wanted for this book. Maybe I should've saved it for October! Overall I just didn't connect with the story. Which is disappointing because it's well written and I enjoyed the world building.

A wonderful blend of cozy and spooky magic, with the story set in the lead-up to Samhain and giving me all the witchy content I had hoped for when I read the synopsis.
Hecate Goodwin is the only hedge witch, thanks to her mother choosing that for her at birth. After her mother’s passing, the lead-up to Samhain comes with warning dreams, unwelcome guests, and dark magic.
The characters and story felt mature and included a nice dash of romance without venturing into the spicy adult content. The story was somewhat slower-paced, but still progressed fast enough to capture me and keep me hooked until the final pages. Overall, a well-written seasonal fantasy that delivers all the essential magic with an intriguing plot.
As a lover of all things witchy, spooky and Halloweeny, this was a wonderfully enjoyable read I very much recommend.

This is an eARC review.

This. Was. So. Good.
I am so ready for fall, and this was the perfect cozy, magical, witchy book for it. The writing was so descriptive that I could see everything playing out in my head like a fall movie you want to watch every fall season. The story was so well introduced and executed. The magic system was so creative. I loved the characters that I was supposed to love and hated the characters that I was supposed to hate. I immediately need more books like this in my life.

A Dark and Secret Magic is set against a cozy, autumnal atmosphere and will make for a fantastic read upon its October release.

I enjoyed the combination of Hecate’s practicality and emotions as a character, as well as her complex relationships with her sisters and fellow witches. While I enjoyed the overall mood of the book, the initial pacing of the story and smidge of an insta-love backstory was lost on me. Regardless, this is a great addition to an evening spent with a hot chocolate and a soft blanket.

Thank you, NetGalley and Alcove Press, for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I loved the atmosphere of this book! It was very easy to picture Kate's cottage and woods and all the Halloween decorations.
I do wish there had been a bit more backstory and history between Kate and Matthew. One day spent together ten years ago didn't seem like much history to build on. Other than that, I loved the interactions between them!

A Dark and Secret Magic is the perfect fall cozy, witchy read.
The story takes place in the days leading up to Halloween and the author nailed the atmosphere of it all to T!
Hecate (Kate) Goodwin is a witch of the Atlantic coven, and oy tradition, the witches of that coven choose their magic on their 13th birthday. Unfortunately for Kate, her magic was chosen for her at her birth. She is a hedge witch, one of the rarest of witches, for there has not been one in two centuries.
One night, Kate has a dream of another coven witch telling her to find her mother's book, and there, she will find her answer. We follow Kate on her journey to find the answers she's long wanted, but of course, there are several obstacles along the way.
This book is the perfect cozy fall read, especially for those who enjoy magic, romance, mystery, and of course all things Halloween! I loved the mystery itself and the questionable characters that added to this mystery. I am a lover of all things Halloween so I was thrilled to read a book that incorporates Halloween, rituals, witches, pumpkin carving, candied apples, cemetery visits, a spooky forest, a death king, a necromancer, and of course, a black cat! Huge plus for the recipies at the end!

Hecate is a hedge witch, from the Atlantic Coven. As such, her duty is to protect and heal people from her town, and offer a refuge to those in need. After her mother's passing, she found refuge in her cottage, with her cat Merlin, spending her days looking for medicinal herbs and cooking healing meals for her fellow witches. But her peaceful life is turned upside down when Matthew, a shadow wizard from a rival coven, appears on her doorstep asking for sanctuary. She has no choice but to accept, even though dark visions and nightmares begin to haunt her and family secrets start to unravel...

I loved this book so much. Even though I read it in August, it took me right to Halloween, with its witches, pumpkins, cemeteries, and cottages lost in the woods...The entire book felt like a hug, charming, well -written, and easy to read. I'll definitely return to it this fall, with a cup of hot chocolate on a rainy evening.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC.

Ok maybe it’s only August, but I read this on a dark and stormy night, so close enough - Happy Halloween.

This was everything I wanted out of a witchy novel. It was spooky, and cozy, and romantic, and magical, and every possible positive adjective you could imagine.

It felt like drinking a hot apple cider in the autumn sunshine. I’ll most definitely be rereading come October.

Also, the descriptions of the FOOD. I was so so glad to have all the recipes included - that was an amazing touch