The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna review

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Blurb:

She found magic in the most unlikely of places.

The House in the Cerulean Sea meets Practical Magic in this cosy, heartwarming, and uplifting magical romance about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family - and a new love - changes the course of her life.

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon has lived her life by three rules: hide your magic, keep your head down, and stay away from other witches. An orphan raised by strangers from a young age, Mika is good at being alone, and she doesn't mind it . . . mostly.

But then an unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches, and Mika jumps at the chance for a different life.

Nowhere House is nothing like she expects, and she's quickly tangled up in the lives and secrets of its quirky, caring inhabitants . . . and Jamie, the handsome, prickly librarian who would do anything to protect his charges, and who sees Mika's arrival as a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika finds her feet, the thought of belonging somewhere starts to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and soon Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect the found family she didn't know she was looking for . . .

Available for preorder here: 

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-very-secret-society-of-irregular-witches/sangu-mandanna/9781399709859

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Very-Secret-Society-Irregular-Witches/dp/1399709852/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1661159955&sr=8-3

I have heard so much about this book that I could not wait to devour it, and I really was not disappointed. If you enjoyed Nanny McPhee's levels of Shenanigans and Miss Peregrine's house for peculiar children and even T.J Klune's The House in the Cerulean Sea then this is the perfect book for you.

Seeing witches as 'normal' people and not violent killers was really refreshing. I got Hocus Pocus-type magic with the cauldrons and potions. This was really fun to read as some witch-based novels follow the same outline for witches and this was entirely different. Seeing the dynamic between the Secret Society was fascinating as well as in other books, witches are very close and rely on one another. Here, it is the complete opposite. 

It was lovely seeing a woman who did not have innate maternal abilities. Beth had to learn how to teach the children. It's a pet peeve in novels when it is assumed every woman has a connection with children. Beth had to work on this. Growing up, she was surrounded by nannies and lacked affection and a 'normal' family structure. This is similar for the three girls, but they have a group of adults that genuinely love them. Beth fit into this dynamic eventually and it was perfect.

Throughout, Lillian, the adoptive guardian of the children was absent for the majority of their lives. The plot twist at the end was definitely unexpected and the conflict solution was written brilliantly. The other caretakers - Ken, Ian and Lucie - were fantastic as well. The small hints at homophobia the two husbands faced were discussed brilliantly. 

The grumpy/sunshine romance was an added treat as well. Jamie's closed-off, protective persona was lovely to read. The little snippets of cracks in his grumpiness when it came to the girls or even the dog Circe was funny to read. He was misunderstood initially I think. He grew up in Nowhere House, was there when each of the three girls was brought home and has protected them ever since. 

One thing I wish was explained further was if there was a way to break the curse that left so many witches orphaned at a young age. Obviously, it was a happy ending, but that plot point was left wide open by the end.

Overall, I loved this book. I think if every plot point was resolved then it would definitely be a five-star read. Regardless of that, it was a fantastic read and the perfect book to read as we approach autumn. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC. I am really grateful for the opportunity.