The perfect book to start off the cozy season!
Filled with witchy, cottagecore, romance and mystery. Although there were some higher stakes moments this was mostly a low stakes story.

I loved all of the characters and really connected with them, the world building was also so well done, I wanted to live in this town!

I highly recommend and the recipes at the end were an added bonus!

A nice cozy-ish fantasy that featured some delightful plot and characters. I really enjoyed the FMC / MMC but I wish the other characters were as fleshed out. I also absolutely loved all the recipes included in the back of the book! 4.5/5

Charming. Cozy. Witchy...
with just a pinch of dark magic and romance.

Picture this: fuzzy socks, a flannel blanket, a warm mug of "So Cozy Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate" and a furry companion joining you while you read this book... in a cozy little cabin in front of a crackling fireplace the week before Halloween. Seriously, this book is an ode to everything there is to love about the autumn season.

I enjoyed this story. While the stakes aren't particularly high, the plot is enticing, and you can't help but love Hecate our FMC and Hedge Witch. I was amused by the plot development, the little twists along the way, and the sweet romance within these pages.

Some of the characters did put a sour taste in my mouth with their treatment of the FMC - and although she pardons them in the story - I think they got off a little bit too easily. I did find there could've been a little bit more conflict resolution, and the ending is fairly fast-paced after a slow-building story, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The included recipes and descriptions of the food were just top-notch. I may have drooled a little.

𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸 𝓝𝓮𝓽𝓰𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓐𝓵𝓬𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓷 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓲𝓷 𝓮𝔁𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓶𝔂 𝓱𝓸𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀.

3.5 stars rounded up

A really cute, cozy, fall read that would be perfect to bundle up with as it nears Halloween. This book follows a witch, Hecate (Kate) Goodwin who lives in a witchy town, surrounded by witches that go all out on Halloween. However, as Halloween approaches strange things are occurring and then an unexpected guest suddenly shows up to make matters worse.

It's cute and low stakes despite the author trying to make it seem high stakes at times. You know its cozy so you know nothing bad is really going to happen which is nice. My main complaints with the book are the repetitive words/sentences that are used (I swear to god if she described his warm hand on her shoulder one more time!!) and how its an insta-love story. I suppose we can justify it as a 'soul mates' type situation, but it still is odd to see ppl proclaiming their love after just several days (and even though she knew him 10yrs ago, they only knew each other for a few days then too)

Overall enjoyable but near the end I was pretty over it, but I don't think thats fault of the author, just something I was getting bored with personally.

Thank you for the eARC, Netgalley & Alcove Press

Cute book. I liked it, but it wasn't what I expected it to be. Sorry, it fell a little short, and I was hoping for a little more than what it gave me. Loved the fall vibes and the witchy story. I just wanted more, and I was disappointed 😞

Thank you, Netgalley and Wallis Kinney, for the ARC. It was a beautifully written story.

4.5/5
This book was really great! It had everything you could want in a spooky Halloween centered book. Kate is a wonderful protagonist who didn't realize her life was about to turn upside down. What I thought was going to be a cozy Halloween story evolved into a mystery of Kate's past and finding out who she really is. The connection between Kate and Matthew was so good. It was definitely the perfect book to read to welcome the autumn season.

Unfortunately, it will be a DNF for me. I'm not usually one to not finish books, but sometimes they're not for me and I don't want to force myself because I know I'll finish hating it. I didn't feel that this book had a solid plot at all. Maybe it's the first book of the author and it needs a little bit more work. The writing was not bad, but not the best. I think with a little bit more it would have been better. But at the end of the day, this was not the story I was looking for and I just couldn't past the 45% mark.

I don't think this book was for me. I appreciate what it was trying to do, but it was the story I was anticipating and I found the writing to be juvenile.

I really enjoyed the plot line of this novel, with its different disciplines of magic and secrets that are slowly weakening the coven from within. I also enjoyed the aspect of dark or forbidden magic and the linked underworld that was uncovered as the story progressed.

I felt that the book could have been condensed to make it more readable and increase the pace of the plot. It was somewhere between a cozy fantasy and a dark mystery and may have been more cohesive if it stuck to one of these moods.

This is definitely a cosy read with minimal plot progression. The romance aspect was set up well, but felt that it could have been expanded in a bit. I enjoyed that the ending wasn’t conventional and it was fitting if a little bittersweet.

If you like cosy witchy reads, then this is the book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

The perfect fall read to get into the Halloween spirit. This book employs the witch trope beautifully and features many different types of magic. It’s a cozy read that I think makes a good palate cleanser between more intense books. The prose is elegant. The only thing that fell a little short for me was the romance aspect. It was a slow burn, but lacked as much tension as I would have liked. It almost burned a little too slow? Either way I still really enjoyed it and would recommend it to friends.

This felt like the perfect witchy, cozy fantasy for the autumn season! 🍁 although there was a major conflict throughout, this was just the coziest lil thing. If you’re a fan of any fictional witches across all media types, you’ll find that a ton of the names of the witches in the Atlantic Key coven are familiar to you. The major conflict was fun to follow, however all of the in-between with our main characters was what had me all giddy with this novel. Definitely the perfect book to pick up if you don’t want anything too spooky this Fall! Thank you NetGalley & Alcove Press for the advanced copy. ❤️

Hedge Witch and solitude-loving Hecate “Kate” Goodwin has her peaceful life upturned when her sister asks her to host their Coven’s annual Halloween gathering. The task comes with a huge amount of pressure to impress, and Kate’s still dealing with the loss of her mother. To further complicate things, a former friend, who just happens to dabble in forbidden magic, shows up on Kate’s doorstep and despite her own misgivings, as a Hedge Witch Kate is duty bound to take him in. When she uncovers secrets about her late mother and herself, Kate will have to confront her own past and carve her own future.

This book balances macabre and cozy while still putting in the time to make the characters believable. The Halloween-y atmosphere, which is seemingly the standard in these types of books, worked very well as the author wasn’t afraid to lean into the darker aspects of magic and death but also kept things grounded. The themes of family and duty were explored in a unique and fresh way, and though there were characters who I can’t say I agreed with, a lot of effort was made to explain their actions and portray them as three dimensional people.

In addition to the overall interesting characters, the romance was so well fleshed-out, and suited the “cozy but dark” atmosphere of the rest of the book perfectly. Much like the book overall balances between the two moods, the romance balances between sweet and sexy in an equally satisfying way. Hecate’s journey of self-discovery was also wonderfully written, and as a reader I felt very connected with her from start to finish. I would highly recommend this book for fans of witchy romance. Many thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC. This is my honest review.

5/5 Halloween-y, mysterious, and perfect for anyone who waits all year for Autumn.

A cozy fantasy story with a witch, black cat, perfectly Hallmark Halloween town, and a few mysteries a-brewing while she cooks up a storm. The description of the town and the apothecary are perfect. I personally identify with a lot of these cozily-inclined heroines, but the pacing is a bit slow. It’s not clear to me what Hecate personally wants or what the tremendous change she needs in her life, so I find it hard to connect to her. The descriptions of emotions with Matthew in the scene were a lot of outright telling vs. showing, which made it hard to visualize their interaction. I read a few chapters and skipped forward in the book, but wasn’t hooked enough to keep going. The cover is on point and the premise definitely caught my interest. Perhaps a good book for other cozy fantasies (Legends & Lattes), the Spellshop etc.

This is my witchy pick for fall! It has all the small town cozy magic you could want with a plot that actually MOVED!! I loved the romance and atmosphere.

This was exactly what I needed. I was pulled into those cozy & witchy Autumn vibes from the first page and reading this story felt like reading a love letter to Halloween. Beautifully descriptive and imaginative it has me yearning for October. The eerie witchy vibes were on point-my heart raced-and I was turning pages late into the night!
Kate has that quiet strength you admire while Matthew will drive you the good kind of crazy. The banter and swoon worthy moments were just..*insert wistful sigh*. I loved this book and can’t wait to read it again!

🎃 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.

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.