Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advance copy of this audiobook.

Hecate (Kate) Goodwin and Matthew Cypher, two young witches, both possess the ‘dark and secret magic’ of the title. The big difference is that Matthew was born into the Pacific Gate coven, in which most of the male members have such ‘shadow powers.’ Kate, by contrast, has a lineage going back hundreds of years in the Atlantic Key coven. Its members had long eschewed the dark side and had gone so far as to prohibit its knowledge as well as its practices. Although the covens exist in peace, the schism between them makes for strained relations and little interaction.

Both covens have their members declare themselves to a particular form of witchcraft on their 13th birthdays. As per familial custom, Matthew, eldest boy in his family, became a necromancer. Kate’s future was decided for her, in a departure from custom, when her mother declared for her at birth: she would be a hedge witch, specializing in all that concerns the health and well being of her community, in matters of medicine, kitchen and garden.

As the story begins, Kate is preparing for the Halloween feast, which her eldest sister has has asked her to host. Among witches, Samhain, or All Hallows Eve, marks the new year, the point at which the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest. It is also Kate’s birthday. Because it is her 31st, it will be marked by more than the usual Halloween and birthday festivities. In keeping with her coven’s history, it is also the day of her ‘containment,’ the ceremony conducted by the female elders to ensure that its members do not venture out of the range of powers in which they chose to specialize. This is intended to ensure that the shadow powers or dark magic are also contained. Kate’s choice had been made for her, but she had never questioned her duties, and confirmed it on her 13th birthday. Her mother had since passed on, however, leaving the her friends to provide guidance. But are they telling her all she needs to know? She suspects deep secrets, especially when she finds her mother’s diary, and, shockingly, a grimoire of dark magic that could only have been hers.

Matthew shows up suddenly at Kate’s cottage, where she lives with Merlin, her beloved cat, on her family’s estate in Ipswich, Maine. It is storming and, having just arrived from the west, he insists on sanctuary, which hedge witches are duty-bound to provide. They are not strangers, having met ten years before at a conference of all covens. As young teens, they hit it off, but her mother, fearing his shadow powers, banished him. And now he had reappeared, unannounced, handsome and arrogant, one week before her birthday. Sparks fly immediately, first in anger and resentment, then, very quickly, in renewed attraction. Kate is drawn to him as he is to her, but remains wary, not having known about her mother’s interference. Matthew tries mightily to earn her trust, to convince her she has nothing to fear in his shadow powers, and to make her believe he is there to protect her. He also hints that there is much her mother didn’t tell her, about herself and the coven, and where Kate fit into the larger picture.

Why does she need protection, least of all his? Because ‘the king below,’ master of dark magic, and feared by all witches alike, is stirring, and he seems to have his eye set on Kate. As Matthew guides her in the use of shadow practices, and as she uncovers more unsettling revelations about her mother, and her father’s death while she was very young, she has to contend with a menace she had never imagined.

Considering that everything happens in little more than a week, this is a fast-moving and action-packed story, with plenty of intriguing developments. I listened to the audio version, very capably read by Abigail Reno, who expertly voices male and female, young and elderly. Kate and Matthew are well-matched, exchanging barbs and endearments alike. Matthew, with his striking looks, seeming fearlessness, and unbending sense of what is right regardless of the dangers of defiance, is the perfect romantic hero. Kate is also appealing, but I confess to finding the long and intricately detailed descriptions of her cooking (often with magical healing elements), herb collecting, foraging and potion making a bit tedious. Likewise the narrations of her clothing, hair and make-up choices. These are small things, however, and the novel offers much in the way of mystery, history and magic.

This was such a great book! Perfect for this time of year. I am so glad that I chose to read it. The characters are relatable abd lovable. It takes place in Ipswitch and is witchy perfection. Don't sleep on this book

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing me with an audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

A Dark and Secret Magic was pure autumn/Halloween goodness! I’ve seen it called a love letter to all who drink pumpkin spice in August and carry Halloween in their heart all year, and I could not agree more. While I’ve seen many call this book cozy I’m not sure I’d classify it that way. There are certainly cozy elements: a black cat named Merlin, tasty fall food, pumpkin carvings, and a witchy Dumb Supper. But the dark magic and higher stakes make this feel less like a cozy fantasy/romance, and more supernatural mystery. Either way I was fully ensorcelled and along for the ride! I loved the atmosphere, the cottage in the small town setting, and all the witchy vibes.

While Hecate and Matthew were both fantastic characters, I wish we had gotten a deeper back story into how they knew each other when they were younger. Something to support their history and make their romance seem a little less insta-lovey. It’s hinted at, but not really explored. However, I still really loved the two of them, their interactions and their sweet romance. This is definitely a book I’ll want to reread at fall time in the future, and I look forward to the next book that Wallis Kinney writes!

A witchy interpretation of Hades and Persephone? Sign me up! This is perfect read for Halloween. It’s a bit instant love but I enjoyed this story so much. Cozy read with some mystery, romance, and fall atmosphere. Narrator was fantastic!

I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher.

In A Dark and Secret Magic, Hecate Goodwin, a hedge witch, finds herself juggling Samhain festivities, her birthday, and an unexpected romance with Matthew, a necromancer from a rival coven. Between carving thirty pumpkins, dealing with her bickering sisters, and the looming threat of the Underking—who seeks her to regain his power—Hecate’s life is anything but simple.

The book shines in its cozy, magical atmosphere. Hecate’s cottage, her familiar Merlin, and the autumnal setting are wonderfully immersive. The romance between Hecate and Matthew is sweet, though it develops a bit quickly. The mystery surrounding the Underking adds tension, but the plot loses steam midway through, making the resolution feel a bit anticlimactic.

While the sibling dynamics between Miranda and Celeste bring some humor, they occasionally overshadow the main storyline. The pacing overall could have been tighter, especially with the mystery taking a backseat to the romance and family drama.

Despite its flaws, A Dark and Secret Magic is a fun and charming read, perfect for lovers of cozy romantasy. Though it’s not groundbreaking, it offers an enchanting escape into a world of witches, love, and magic.

This was a delightful slow burn. As always, I enjoy a charming, cozy small-town witch tale. With romance, familiars, family secrets and a hint of dark magic, what else could you want? This is the perfect book to snuggle up with on a chilly evening.
Can Kate rely on Matthew when he unexpectedly arrives at her doorstep? Can she fulfill her older sister's Halloween demands? All while staying true to herself?

4/5✨

A dark and secret magic

📖 via E Arc

I’d like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy of this before release.

This was such a perfect fall read!! A take on Hades and Persephone with the veil between life and death. Forbidden love, black cats, witches, and pumpkin carvings!

“Hecate (Kate) Goodwin has curated the perfect life as a hedge witch. Living in a secluded cottage with only a black cat for company. Most evenings pass without her speaking to another human being, an arrangement she quite prefers.

Kate’s solitude is thrown into disarray when her older sister, Miranda, reaches out and asks her to host their coven’s annual Halloween gathering. The day marks the beginning of the new year for witches and is also Kate’s birthday. The pressure from her coven to make the evening memorable mounts as the event draws near. To complicate things further, a handsome man from Kate’s past turns up at her cottage, asking for sanctuary. It is Kate’s duty as a hedge witch to honor this request, much to her dismay. Matthew Cypher is no ordinary lost soul–he’s a practitioner of forbidden magic who’s tricked Kate once before, and her guard is up.

As she juggles Matthew’s arrival and the preparations for Halloween, Kate can turn only to Matthew for help. As she and Matthew grow closer, Kate has to reevaluate whom she can really trust.”

🍂Thank you Netgalley,Alcove and Dreamscape for my EARC and Audio ARC🍂

-Witches
-Elemental Magic
-Covens
-Halloween time
-Dark magic
-Cozy fall vibes
-A Calling to be heard or not to be heard
-Lots of Magic Cooking involved

This is the perfect fall book you have Hecate and her snuggly black cat in her cottage as she lives as the only hedge witch in her Coven of the Atlantic Key!

She has 2 other sisters that take up different forms of Elemental magic! Its her birthday in 7 days on halloween she will be 31 and will finish her birthright of giving half her magic to the coven while strengthening her first and only magic Nature but things take a turn for the worst or the better when her first love comes into the picture and she uncovers a great toll of secrets her mother kept from her

This story has great bones as a lover of anything fall I literally cant wait to go shopping for fall things and make so many the things that Hecate made in her cottage. Collecting pumpkins and decorating for her rituals was truly mesmerizing! This is where i got the Nostalgia of Practical Magic 🧡

The greater calling of the story was very interesting to watch unfold i kind of picked up on alot of context clues so i knew most of what would happen but none the less a fantastic story that i finished in just a few days!

This is the perfect story to read or listen to while carving pumpkins, baking remarkable fall cookies or just walking through the park while the leaves change🥰🎃

4 🌟

Thank you to netgalley for the audiobook arc. This book is the perfect cozy fall read. It has everything I could want from black cat familiars, spooky New England towns, ancient curses, and witchy love. I loved the dynamics between the characters and the tensions that can arise between family. The characters felt like they had a depth to them, there could have been more character growth, but given it's a cozy fall read I was pleasantly surprised. I am so glad I read this book to kick off the fall season, just as the weather is about to get cold. Being from New England I also appreciated this did not take place in Salem, it was a breath of fresh air.

I highly recommend this book, especially during this season, to anyone who is a fan of a cozy, witchy read.

In a coven all about choosing your own path of magic, Kate (Hecate) was designated a hedge witch from the time she was born. Set apart from her coven she enjoys her solitude. But as Halloween and her 31st birthday approach she's confronted with a guest from her past, dark family secrets, and coven obligations. Can she face truths long buried and accept her fate? Or will she crumble beneath expectation?

I loved this read! The narrator did a wonderful job bringing the magic and characters to life. I felt the emotion and struggle the FMC went through.

This is the perfect spooky/cozy read for Fall. I loved learning about the coven's different witches and what was expected of Hecate. The Goodwin family dynamic was especially interesting to navigate and watch upfold. Hecate is a new favorite fictional witch with her quiet strength and loyalty.

I can't wait to read more from Wallis Kinney and eagerly await any new books in the future.

Oh this book was good. I love the magic system in this book, the complex relationships between sisters and mom, and the romance between Matthew and Hecate. This book was both cozy and serious. The description of their holiday and the celebration of Halloween was so cool, and I loved the pumpkin carving competition. I found myself giggling and kicking my feet in parts, then sobbing in others. It was just, perfection.

A spellbinding, atmospheric cozy fall fantasy - I really enjoyed this one! The pacing was perfect for me, and the writing was really beautiful. I loved the fall - witchy - halloween vibes of it, really helped me get into the spooky season mindset.

This book is a he falls first slow-burn fantasy romance. It's definitely more cozy than epic or high fantasy. It has some major Hades and Persephone vibes, which I am always a fan of. I also really enjoyed the different magic specializations Hecate's coven had.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a really well done, cozy, witchy, spooky season audiobook.

This was the perfect combination of spooky and cozy. I listened to the audiobook, and it transported me right into the most magical autumn vibes. The narration was great and did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. The story hooked me in right away and captivated me until the very end.

I particularly loved how all the witches had specialized magics and getting a glimpse into each of their specific powers was so fun. Not to mention all the cozy and delicious sounding recipes mentioned throughout the book. I’ve heard the author includes some of the recipes at the end of the book, and I think it would be worth picking up for that alone!

The love story was low angst, which is what I want in a cozy fantasy, so I appreciated that. That being said, I did feel like the romance could have been developed a tiny bit more. Or maybe I just greedily wanted more. That being said, I did love the story and definitely recommend to anyone looking to get into fall spirit!

Elements I loved:
30 Year old FMC
Cozy + Spooky vibes
Low angst romance
Fade to black romance
Specialized witch magics
Practical Magic meets Hades x Persephone

A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney
Narrated by Abigail Reno

Heartfelt thank you to netgalley, alcove press, and Wallis Kinney for providing me with the audio arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book gave me those cozy fall vibes that I was looking for! Kate is a hedge witch, her mother predetermined her magic so she didn't get to choose her path. However, her mother has kept some dark secrets to her past.

One day a man named Matthew seeks shelter at her cottage. As a hedge witch, she can't say no. However Matthew practices dark magic and has betrayed her one in her past, so she is weary of him.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the pumpkin carving contest! Carving pumpkins was one of my favorite things to do as a child. The pumpkins were so descriptive that I could imagine them in my head easily. I love the way that Matthew's pumpkin won and it was such a touching piece to Kate.

Hell Hounds and otherworldly things are starting to come after Kate. Matthew is there to protect her, or is he? Her sisters don't trust him since he practices dark magic. One of the sisters sings a siren song on him that doesn't work so the sister claims that the songs don't work on those who have such dark souls. However, it also doesn't work on people who are already in love.

Kate and Matthew's bond grows throughout the book. I think they get along really well and I enjoyed their interactions.

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and Wallis Kinney for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. What a debut novel!

Pub Date: October 8,2024
This cover might be my favorite fall cover EVER!
This book screams fall vibes and spooky season I loved every minute of it! If you love witchy vibes, Halloween cozy feels, and spooky season, this book is a must read!
Hecate Goodwin loves alone in a seclude cabin with her black cat and practices as a hedge witch while mixing tinctures and collecting herbs for her apothecary. She is quite content with her life of solitude when her older sister Miranda convinces her to host their annual Halloween celebration which also falls on Hecate's birthday. As if she isn't busy enough, she is visited by a man from her past she doesn't trust, but due to the nature of her craft, she must help him and offer him a place to stay. Matthew Cypher has fooled Hecate before, so she keeps him at an arm's length until she comes across an old tome of her mother's shrouded in dark magic. She must turn to the only person she feels is in her side, Matthew to find out more. What she uncovers is a dark secret magic and so many things her mother hid from her.
I absolutely loved the magical feelings of fall that this book gave me.

IM NOT SOBBING YOURE SOBBING!!!

This was by far the coziest book I’ve ever read. The descriptions of the food, the environment, the magic, it was all so damned cozy and wonderful, like a giant hug in the middle of autumn with pumpkin spice in the air. 🎃🍂

It was also simultaneously eerie, with the spooky mystery looming over the characters. I know, cozy AND eerie? But trust me, it was a perfect mix. 👻

Also, can I just say that every single book from now on needs a kitty sidekick??? 🐈‍⬛

I adore this book so so much. The ENDING? The JUST BEFORE THE ENDING?? This book had me on the edge of my seat, swooning and biting my nails and “aww”ing and screaming at my headphones to tell me what I just heard wasn’t true. Lots of emotions haha! 😅

Overall I cannot recommend this book enough!!! It’s perfect for this time of year, so so cozy yet just enough mysterious mystery to keep you on your toes. This book has magic, heart, and a cat that will make you feel all the feels.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

this book comes out October 8, 2024, so get ready. 😉

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book early!

--Review contains mild spoilers about premise of the book--

Narration: By Abigail Reno
Whenever I listen to an audiobook, I always try and imagine how reading the physical copy of the book would be compared to listening to it, and ask myself how it would be different. I am admittedly very picky about audiobook narration, and Abigail Reno did not disappoint with her performance. She really brought the story to life and I can say without a doubt that the audio version really elevated the story for me. She brought Hecate and her home to life and I can't think of much else to say except that I adored her performance.

Story: The premise of the story centers around a young hedge witch - the only of her kind in recent past - and her discovery of the truth behind her magic and the secrets of her family and her coven, sprinkled with elements of a star-crossed romance.
I absolutely adored the story. From the first chapter I felt like I was wrapped up a warm sweater with a hot mug of something in my hands. The writing evokes feelings of warmth in what often feels like a love letter to autumn months in New England. I almost had the sensation while listening that it was a book I'd read before - not in the a way that its story is common, but in a way that it just feels nostalgic. It brought to mind Practical Magic and Halloween movies as a kid and I found that I could not stop listening.
I immediately liked the protagonist, Hecate, feeling some kinship with her preference for living alone with her cat in a small New England home. At times the writing does feel perhaps a little heavy handed with the cozy vibes, however I ended up thinking that this only added to the charm and did not detract. The cooking scenes in particular came alive in a way that evoked thoughts of Simply Irresistible (1999) and once again just brought warmth to the story.
I won't say too much about the plot so as to keep the review as spoiler free as possible but I was pleasantly surprised that it was driven mostly by the main character and her personal growth. There is a strong subplot of romance, but not so strong as to overtake the main point. I did not find myself predicting the plot reveals, and simply enjoyed letting the story whisk me along. If you are looking for a spicier romance, this may not be for you, however the amount felt just right for my preferences.
My one complaint is hardly a complaint and it's that I wish the ending had been drawn out a little more! I wanted to revel in the ending in the way one relishes every bite of a good dessert, and I feel like it was gone too quickly. I did not want to say goodbye.

Overall thoughts: I really adored this book. I found myself listening as often as I could - during chores, while driving, before bed. A perfect Fall read that's got me putting on old romance movies and baking. While I can't claim it's the best book I've read, my five star rating comes from just pure enjoyment; a truly fun read.

This cozy witchy tale is perfect for the fall season, offering a delightful mix of dark magic, family secrets, and light romance. The atmospheric setting, with its Samhain traditions and magical elements, draws you in, while the relationship between the main characters is charming and filled with growth. Hecate’s journey from an isolated hedge witch to confronting her past and family dynamics is engaging, though her sister Miranda’s harshness can be frustrating. Fans of Hades and Persephone vibes and cozy fantasy will love this story, especially paired with a crisp autumn day. A must-read for Halloween lovers!

This cover caught my eye. It screamed Halloween vibes and it wasn't wrong. I loved the immaculate Fall atmosphere this story gave. The Samhain traditions were fascinating and a total vibe. I loved all the witchy magic from tarot, earth, to necromancy and shadow. Usually Hades and Persephone isn't something I enjoy but this worked. It felt just inspired without being a direct comparison. I enjoyed the sister dynamics and the family secrets at play. The romance had good chemistry with no spice which was nice. I loved the receipts and wonder if the physical book has some included, that'd be a fun tie in. My only complaint was the audio narration. I wish this had been duel cast. Other than that, definitely an October read MUST. 4.5 STARS.

Nothing is more perfect for the fall and spooky season of the year than a great witchy book with a bit of romance, dark magic, and mystery about hidden powers and malevolent forces lurking in the night.

This book truly captured each of those elements and still seemed to hold on to the coziness of the season with references to baking and cooking, the glow of pumpkins illuminated on the side of a porch, and the crisp fall air as the leaves are turning.

Hecate Goodwin was assigned to be a hedge witch by her mother at birth, even though the rest of her cover got to chose their course of study when they turned 13. As she's grown, she's settled into her life making tinctures and foraging herbs and healing, never asking much of others but also keeping a bit of a distance from her sisters. However, 4 months ago, her mother passed and now it is her responsibility to welcome in the Halloween season and her sisters as they prepare for the holidays.

A man from her past shows up on her doorsteps a few days before the events of the year are intended to take place and his arrival also brings about questions of her own past and secrets which have been kept from her.

This book is so incredibly good and I loved every minute of it... minus how poorly her sister Miranda treats her. Right up until Miranda gets a bit of what she's asking for. Sure, it's a bit of overkill but she treats Hecate like a servant and not like a sister in any respect and it's rude and uncalled for... so, she had it coming.