This was a charming witchy tale about a sweet. unsuspecting hedge witch who was lied to and betrayed by her coven for her entire life to potentially destroy a dark magic. As she uncovers the truth and meets a handsome but possibly evil witch from her past, she must question all her beliefs and loyalties to save herself. I really enjoyed this!! Thank you for the ARC.

was wanting a cozy book for the spooky Halloween season and this book was perfect. The setting is perfect and so autumnal, the characters are likeable, and the story was pretty interesting and kept me engaged. All in all, I have no complaints as far as a seasonal romance-driven paranormal book goes.

I think what I loved the most was how cozy and warm the settings are in this book. The main plot of family secrets and dark magic is fun and it did keep me reading because I wanted to know what was actually going on, but I was really reading it for the cozy feelings. The cottage with its inviting kitchen was where I wish I could transport. I also loved the recipes and details used; it just made it seem more like "realistic" in a sense and I appreciated that. It seemed like the author took their time and actually did some research! Other than that, this is a super cute story that is perfect for October.

If fall is your season, this is your book! The perfect book to get you in the fall mood! If you loved Practical Magic, this one is for you! With an amazing setting and even better relationships, this cozy read is sure to be a yearly read!

This story is a perfect blend of cozy autumnal things with a touch of spookiness. It's a love-letter to anyone whose favorite season is Fall, and who looks up at the moon on Halloween night. I enjoyed the diversity of the witches’ magic, ancient tomes, and depiction of Samhain celebrations. Kate’s developing relationship with Matthew is well-paced and the resolution was a bit surprising, but so satisfying. Abigail Reno narrates Kate’s journey of self-discovery with the emotional punch it warrants and seamless transitions between characters. Cozy fantasy lovers will adore Kate’s immaculately described hedge-witch lifestyle and the closed-door, thoughtful romance.

4.5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher for providing a free audiobook arc of this novel; all opinions are my own .

This was such a good book. I didn’t know what to expect going into this, especially because in the beginning it was giving cozy fantasy vibes, but I believe this straddles the line of cozy fantasy and romantasy.

This was just a beautifully written, beautifully narrated, wonderful enjoyable read. There were times I was shouting at our main character, I was hoping she would make a different choice, but the narrative always surprised me. Where we ended up was nothing like what I expected.

I’ll also say the hero in this is absolutely down bad for the heroine. This is such a special kind of love to read about.

I absolutely adored this and can’t wait for more by the author.

You may like this if you're in the mood for a cozy, witchy, halloween vibe.

The book overall was fine. I thought the witchcraft was mundane but practical, which could be a pro or con depending on what one would expect out of witchcraft. The romance was lackluster and unconvincing. The audiobook narrator, Abigail Reno, did a wonderful job, but the story itself was hard to focus on... and as I try to remember what happens in the story, its overall pretty forgetful.

It took longer than it would have to finish this book and I never felt compelled to pick it up. I finished a handful of other books before coming back to this one.

I am curious to future works by this author, so will keep eyes out for that.

A fantastic witchy forbidden romance that's full of dark deals, curses and more and sees hedge witch, Hecate Goodwin (Kate), trying to get to the bottom of why her mother went against tradition naming her a hedge witch rather than letting Kate choose her own fate. When Kate's older sister begs her to plan her coven's Halloween celebration Kate finds herself juggling that with being forced to trust the man who has tricked her in the past. With the help of Matthew Cypher, a practitioner of dark magic insists on Kate granting him sanctuary, Kate learns how to shadow walk, commune with the dead and fully come into her powers. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Practical Magic or The Crescent moon tea room. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review. I look forward to more by this talented new author!

**Book Review: *A Dark and Secret Magic* by Wallis Kinney**

*A Dark and Secret Magic* by Wallis Kinney is a captivating tale perfect for readers who love a blend of dark magic, romance, and atmospheric fall vibes. The story follows Hecate Goodwin as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, unraveling the mysteries of her own magic and exploring the boundaries of love.

Hecate's character development is particularly engaging, as she learns not only about her abilities but also about her own strength and resilience. The world Kinney creates is steeped in dark magic, with underworld references, ancient tomes, and spellcasting that make the book an excellent choice for a cozy fall read.

One of the highlights of the novel is the relationships Hecate has with those around her—her bond with her sisters, who each bring their own unique qualities to the story, is heartwarming and adds a layer of emotional depth. Her evolving relationship with Matthew is also a key aspect of the plot, offering a romantic element that feels natural and well-developed alongside the magical adventures.

Kinney weaves together themes of family, magic, and love seamlessly, making *A Dark and Secret Magic* a book that resonates on many levels. The rich atmosphere and dynamic character relationships make it a must-read for the fall season. Whether you're drawn to dark magic or simply want to enjoy a story that blends mystery and romance, this novel delivers in spades.

First, I loved the cover for the book. This is such a good book if you’re looking for fall, witchy, Halloween vibes. The story takes place leading up to Halloween, and made for a cute and cozy read for the season. I enjoyed learning about the different types of magic each witch had, and enjoyed the dynamic between the two main characters. The audiobook is narrated by Abigail Reno who did a great job with the characters. I would recommend the audio!

Read if you enjoy:
✔️Hedge witch FMC
✔️Necromancer MMC
✔️Single POV
✔️Hades/Persephone
✔️Fall vibes

Thank you @dreamscape_media for my copy!

Thank you for the ALC to listen and review. The narrator, for the most part, did an excellent performance for this book. I thoroughly enjoyed her distinct characters and emotion put into the audiobook. Towards the end, there seemed to be a lot of whispering and lowered voice which did make it a little more distracting and difficult as it was the climax of the novel, but overall it was the performance of the character as well and a small part of it.

The book itself was a little slow for me and knowing it was cosy I should have expected a bit of that but there was still parts that I wish had a bit more… especially with it taking place over a short period. I enjoyed the magic and the witchcraft of the book and it taking place over the holiday. I felt the romance a little forced perhaps, it did not really make me feel remotely interested in the two of them together. I do wish the ending was longer, as it fell a little short for me.

Hecate is living her life as a hedge witch in a cottage with her black cat who is her main source of company. Her sister asks her to host a Halloween function where everything has to be perfect for their coven! Her plans are detailed by someone from her past who needs help. Can she pull off this event with an unexpected (handsome of course) guest?

I had SO MUCH fun with this book! I absolutely loved the cozy cottage vibes, the cat, and all of the characters. This is a perfect fall read!

This audiobook was narrated by Abigail Reno. I loved the audio version, she did such a good job with the characters!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Wallis Kinney, and Dreamscape Media for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review. This published on October 8th.

I have posted my review on Goodreads, my Facebook book club, and will make a TikTok to post before the pub date raving about this book!

A Dark and Secret Magic is a cozy fantasy following a hedge witch after her forbidden magic practicing ex shows up at her door and she finds an item of dark magic. This novel takes place during the week leading up to Halloween, and I enjoyed the fall atmosphere of the setting. I loved that the witches had different types of magic. Overall I enjoyed the book, but I felt a little disconnected from the romance and disliked a few of the witches.

I received an ARC and ALC from Alcove Press and Dreamscape Media via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am a sucker for a moody witchy novel. Hecate Goodwin's peaceful and secluded existence is threatened by the appearance of Matthew Cypher- who requests sanctuary from Hecate. Hecate, also known as Kate, is a hedge witch, and is bound by her duty to help those who request sanctuary. As she gets closer to Matthew, everything Kate knows about her life, her past, her deceased mother, and who she can truly trust begins to crumble around her.

This book gave off a lot of Romeo and Juliet mixed with Hades and Persephone vibes. Another excellent autumn read!

Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advance listening copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Great witchy fall read! The audio was very enjoyable. Sweet enemies to lovers, loose hades & Persephone tale. Will make you cry. Standalone.

Oh this was such a cute book. Perfect for fall, with lots of magic, villians, and food. However it's not all completely light hearted, in fact there is some betrayal and introspection as well. Matthew is a perfect doll, protective smart amd helpful. Kate is finally learning about herself and stands up for what she believes. The romance was just perfect!!!

Narration was done well with great intonation and distinction between voices.

#netgalley #ADarkandSecretMagic

A cozy and mysterious book about witches, family, and love.

I very much enjoyed this audiobook - I finished it in one sitting. Hecate (aka Kate) is a lovely character. I found her so relatable while also wanting to be a bit more like her. The magic that is in this book is......well, magical, and I loved the setting. Any book that is set in a small town I'm interested in. Ipswich is actually one of my favorite towns to vacation in - it's so cute and it's close to both Boston and Salem. Being familiar with Ipswich made this feel so familiar. Matthew is the perfect book boyfriend and seeing the friendship (and romantic relationship) evolve between him and Kate throughout the book was something that made me so eager to keep reading.

The family ties in this book and the mysteries that surrounded Kate's mother was interesting. There are some themes that I think a lot of people who have lost a loved one can relate to. Learning more about the coven and Kate being named a Hedge Witch had me wanting to learn all of the secrets as quickly as possible. There are some spooky and exciting scenes throughout the book with the ending really amping up the excitement and had me on the edge of my seat.

While this story is cozy, it's also exciting with the best Halloween vibes. This is a perfect book to read in the fall, especially if you love witches. The narrator did an amazing job bringing each character to life and really making you experience the emotion in each scene.

Actual Rating 3.5

This cozy read is perfect for autumn lovers. It’s got magic with some darker elements, and just about every stereotypically cozy autumn think you can think about related to the season in the U.S. The different types of magic and how they worked were fascinating, especially the book magic. I did want a little more from the worldbuilding, though – it wasn’t until I was well into the book that the setting/world was a bit more clearly defined.

The characters were good overall. While I would have liked a bit more development for the secondary characters, they were good enough to not detract from the story. Hecate was a strong protagonist, and I appreciated that she had a balance of self-doubt and confidence that made her feel realistic. The romance aspect was decent and thankfully didn’t feel rushed, and the author created enough conflict between the two for it again to feel realistic without straying into overused tropes.

If you love autumn, magic, and cozy reads, then you’ll want to check this one out. The narrator did an excellent job bringing the story to life, making the audiobook a treat to listen to. My thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Audio Review: I would recommend listening to this on audio as the leaves are falling outside.

A Dark and Secret Magic is a very sweet and cozy fall read. It. This story has everything cozy you could want for an autumn read. This story fits squarely in the cozy fantasy genre and knows it's audience. There were times were i wanted the story to go a little deeper and say more but I don't think that is what the author intended for this to be. This is a vibe story, read it in October and feel all the feels.

This book is everything you need in a cozy witchy romance. The story line was intriguing and the perfect pace. The fall vibes were definitely there. Hedgewitch x necromancer is quickly becoming my new favorite trope. I also just really loved how the magic system worked. I really can’t say enough. This was a wonderful debut novel and absolute fall must read.

This isn’t fully a cozy fantasy because of all the action, but it is cozy ish. I still enjoyed the world where she’s able to make magical food and heal people while living in her little cottage.

I like that the ending feels full of hope and that the future will be better.

I really like the narrator. Abigail Reno sounded so soothing as she read this. It didn’t take me out of the story at all.