yes yes yes! this fantasy-adjacent(?) witchy story was perfect for spooky season and i read it in one day!!! i love the writing and will absolutely be reading more from her, and the love story had me in absolute shambles, they are perfection

The Circle of Uncommon Witches is pure magic. Paige Crutcher’s writing pulls you in with its lush, atmospheric style, making every page feel like you’re walking through a misty, enchanted forest. The emotional depth is breathtaking; Doreen’s loneliness is palpable, and Ambrose’s simmering vengeance adds layers of complexity to the romance. The backdrop is stunningly crafted, from Scottish castles to mystical realms, creating a world that feels both real and otherworldly. This is the kind of book that grips you with its heart and refuses to let go. Absolutely mesmerising!

I requested this book from Netgalley and the publisher, as I love reading books with witches. I read until the end, but. I was a little disappointed as it did not grab me and draw me in as I wished it would. It was a very slow read for me as I just couldn't find any of the characters, to me liking. Casting spells to compel someone to love you, and then punishing witches from other families for not allowing a love match. Both families are punished, One witch imprisoned for 300 years and the other for interfering.

A perfect fall read. Well written and captivating. The relationship unfolded well and the writing was lush and easy to read. Pick this one up and settle in for an awesome witchy read!

Exciting, suspenseful and the characters are well rounded. The journey that Doreen and Ambrose embark on is fantastical and harrowing at the same time. I thoroughly enjoyed going along with them both.

Ok I want to say I enjoyed the book. I kept putting it down due to what felt like an extreme info dump from the beginning, hoping to pick it back up and be drawn more in. I loved the storyline and idea of what was on the page but feel this needs to be tightened up a bit. I can feel where this book wants to go but it isn’t quite there yet. A lot of confusing moments in the book as I felt like I was eavesdropping on a conversation I arrived at halfway through.

I also really loved the idea of the characters so I wanted to be able to feel more connected and invested in them. A lot of parts could be shortened too. The setting of the book was very beautifully worded! Looking forward to reading the final publication edition!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin New York for this opportunity!

I really loved this read!
When it first started I felt like we were thrown in a bit abruptly and wasn't sure how I felt about the writing style but as I learned about the characters and the magic system I connected more with the writing and ended up really enjoying the way Paige Crutcher wove the story.
I loved the development of the characters and the relationships between them! Margot and Doreen had such a great relationship and it was nice to see an author put emphasis on that sisterly connection. Ambrose and Doreen were both such well written and enjoyable characters. Their interactions and banter had me devouring this story and I adore the way things progressed as the story went on. I do wish there had been more of a resolution between Doreen and Stella but I understand that the focus of the story wasn't on that relationship.
Ada as a character was so incredibly interesting and I think the dynamic between here and the other characters in the novel was my favorite part. The plot development made it so difficult to put this down!
Highly recommend if you are looking for a good romantic and witchy novel for fall!

For fans of romantasy, A Circle of Uncommon Witches might be right up your alley. I enjoyed the overall storyline, and the McKinnon family. I struggled a bit with the switching POV, and I wish that the author had delved a bit more into why Stella was the way she was and why she treated Doreen and Margot the way she did. Overall, this was an enjoyable story, and a good entry into romantasy if you're not familiar with the genre.

I love anything witch related and this was no different! This was such a great read - you have witches and friendship and romance and just the perfect cozy fall read. Will be adding to our library 100%!

A Circle of Uncommon Witches had its moments, but overall, it was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I loved the concept of a secret society of witches living among us and the potential for magic and adventure. The found family trope was heartwarming, and the characters had a certain charm to them.

However, the plot felt a bit predictable and formulaic at times, and I struggled to connect with the main character. The pacing was uneven, with some sections feeling rushed while others dragged on. The ending, while satisfying in some ways, left me wanting more closure on certain plot points.

Overall, A Circle of Uncommon Witches is a decent read for fans of romantasy. It's a light and easy read with some enjoyable moments, but it didn't quite leave a lasting impression. If you're looking for a quick and fun escape into a world of magic and sisterhood, this book might be for you.

When I read the blurb, this book seemed right up my alley. I love anything to do with magic. However, I did not love this as much as I hoped. While I understood Doreen's motivation to break the curse, I wasn't pulled in (as evidenced by the fact that this took me five days to read and I read three other books while reading this one). The constant shift of POV felt disjointed. I wanted more explanation about why her aunt treated her and Margot the way she did and what she hoped to accomplish with the treatment. Their relationship still felt very up in the air at the end. The relationship between Doreen and Ambrose felt very rushed. Why would he fall for her? Why would she fall for him?

I loved the premise for the book, but the execution just seems lacking in something that I can't quite articulate.

A Circle of Uncommon Witches is a fantasy with romantic elements. A young witch sets out to break a family curse with the 300 year old male witch who cursed her family. So much of this story felt like it was part of a series that I went and looked up all the authors other books to see if it was a continuation. It is a standalone novel. So much of the premise sounded familiar that it leaves the story feeling like you have been dropped into the middle of a timeline. The characters are likable enough and the romantic elements felt inevitable. The story just left me feeling like I was missing something. The book was an okay read over a but feels somewhat rushed over or just incomplete overall. My unbiased, voluntary, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Unfortunately, this one is not for me. I was excited about the premise, but it just didn’t do much for me cause I am just not in the right mood for this! Might try again with the audiobook! Sorry!! The premise was great, the characters seemed fun, and I got like 30% way through and just wasn't in the mood for it anymore!

Get swept into a world where magic, history, and lies intertwine in a race to love.

Doreen MacKinnon, a witch bound by a generational curse to never find true love, seeks to break the spell. The curse was cast by Ambrose MacDonald, a male witch imprisoned in a tempest after his love was cruelly hidden by the MacKinnon witches. Doreen's quest leads her to release Ambrose, who harbors his own vengeful agenda. As they navigate treacherous trials, their uneasy alliance ignites sparks of romance. The novel weaves a tale of adventure, love, and destiny, questioning the true cost of finding one's heart’s desire.

The plot is more intricate than anticipated, revealing a labyrinth of trials and challenges that Doreen and Ambrose must navigate. Their journey is filled with magical creatures, spirits, and traps, which add a layer of complexity to their quest. The narrative does an excellent job of showcasing Doreen's pure heart and the transformative power of honesty, goodness, and love. Readers will be eagerly solving each puzzle alongside the characters, racing to uncover the next clue and advance the plot. Secrets and lies about family dynamics, love, and the very nature of magic itself create a complex web that keeps readers on edge. Each revelation adds depth to the characters and their relationships, making the story as much about uncovering truth as it is about the magical adventure.

Each witch possesses unique abilities and connections to different elements, making their magical powers as varied and intriguing as the characters themselves. This diversity enriches the story, offering fresh perspectives on traditional magical lore and keeping the reader engaged with its originality.

Character relationships are a highlight of this book, particularly the depiction of sisterhood. The bond between Doreen and Margot, as well as Stella and Kayleen, is portrayed with such sensitivity and depth. Their ability to communicate without words and connect across time and worlds is a powerful testament to the strength of female friendships and the impact of close, supportive relationships.

The romance between Doreen and Ambrose adds another layer of intrigue to the story. Their relationship unfolds in a classic hate-to-lovers arc, driven by a mix of instinctual attraction and historical animosity. As they face their trials, their feelings for each other evolve, creating a dynamic tension that adds emotional depth to their interactions.

Overall, this is a spellbinding read that delivers far more than its synopsis suggests. With its richly developed magical world, intricate plot twists, and deeply emotional character relationships, this novel is a must-read for fans of witchy romance.

This was a very solid 3 star read for me. I enjoyed the premise and characters, but wish there had just been a little more development of the world. I think this could have benefitted from being a duology.

Unfortunately this one is not for me. It fell flat and was a bit disappointing. I was excited for the premise, but it just didn’t do much for me. Sorry!!

If you like practical magic this will be decent. However it is unnecessarily complicated and the characters are not super lovable.

Spoiler warning:


There is a curse, but that curse isn’t as bad as this other curse you didn’t even know about. There are trials but these are different from those and you’ll still have to do those trials after these trials.

It’s the ghost of “-____”, but they look don’t like anything like themselves, but I’d know them anywhere! oh but actually it’s not them it’s someone else entirely.

I hate you, but now I love you, actually I’ve loved you from the first moment, even when I hated you.

Ugh. I almost quit reading so many times.

Add this to your spooky holiday reads, a great story with full rich characters to dive into for the 2025 season!

Based on the premise alone, A Circle of Uncommon Witches had me sold. Unfortunately, while I enjoyed reading this. I didn’t love it the way that I wanted to love it. The story itself felt disjointed the entirety of the novel. It felt almost as though I were dropped into the middle of a story already being told, which could be intentional given the long-standing curse that the MacKinnon’s have been contending with, but without a decent amount of exposition, I found it difficult to parse what exactly was happening and at what point in the timeline we were on.

Because the overall plot structure was off from the jump, the pacing the book also felt out of line with the story that was being told. There were moments that I found dragged on forever, and others that felt like a momentary blip that needed to be expounded upon a lot further.

That isn’t to say, however, that the premise of the novel wasn’t good because it was. However, the execution was severely lacking compared to this novel’s contemporaries. I think with a drawn-out plot and story-telling structure, paired with an enriched diligence in expressing the lore of the MacKinnon’s, we could have had a tale that withstood the test of time. A Circle of Uncommon Witches, in its current form, is not that. And I think that’s where my primary grievance lies. This felt almost like a rough draft of a grander tale. Something that needed to be spot-checked and polished before being read.

I also found our main character, Doreen, supremely unlikeable, because it didn’t feel as though she had much depth, beyond a driving urge to unpack and understand the curse put on her family so that she can undo it and go about her life as she desired, rather resigning herself to a cruel and loveless fate as the other women in her line before her. Ambrose, too, was equally unlikeable and it felt as though the two were playing a continuous game of hot and cold throughout the greater part of the book. An equally stunning notion when paired with the fact that the two were prone to the insta-love the moment they lay eyes on one another.

I won’t say that the book wasn’t enjoyable, because it was, in its own way. Like I said, I liked this book, but I didn’t love it. I think this book would have been phenomenal were it designed more as a slow burn epic of curse breaking and undeniable romance, rather than the quick conflict resolution that we received. All in all, this book read more like a palate cleanser after reading such a tale, rather than the epic that it seems to be at first glance.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Paige Crutcher & St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Overall, I’d give this a 2.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up to 3 for its potential.

✨ARC Review✨

I love a witchy book no matter the season, but this past weekend felt distinctly fall-ish here in Michigan. Time to embrace it.

This is not a cozy, cottage core witchy book. There are high stakes and life-threatening adventures.

Doreen MacKinnon’s family has been cursed for three hundred years to never know true, romantic love, but if they’re not married by thirty, they’ll die. Yikes! So, Doreen is determined to break this curse because she won’t settle for anything but love and obviously, she doesn’t want to die.

Clearly this means she has to rescue Ambrose MacDonald, the very witch who cursed her family and has been kept in a torture tornado for three hundred years. Let’s see how this works out!

Ambrose tells her he cannot break the curse. They have to seek out this creepy thousand year old witch creature who says the curse can only be broken by taking part in the trials, a series of things supposedly impossible to do. I think you know how this is going to go.

There’s actually a lot more to this story and I appreciate how it’s all layered in. We have family dynamics, spellcasting, romantic and non- romantic love and perilous situations.

Thanks to #netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC. All thoughts are mine alone.

#romance #romancebooks #witchyromance #contemporaryromance #arc #acircleofuncommonwitches #paigecrutcher