Reviews

When some people picture a person reading they see someone curled up all cozy and warm in some blankets, next to a fire, with a hot drink while the weather outside is all stormy and dark and this is exactly how this book feels. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches perfectly sums up the idea of warm and cozy, it hits all the right spots and feelings. The main character is Mika, a 31 year old living in modern England, who happens to be a witch. Witches are not common though and nor is it safe to be a witch especially out in the open. So the witches have adapted to a lifestyle where they keep their distance, most don't tell love ones they are witches and the stay away from other witches lest someone figure out that's what they are. To make matters more sad and depressing witches are always orphans, because of a spell gone bad hundreds of years ago, when a witch is born their parents always die.

With that horribly grim synopsis its probably very difficult to see this book as the warm and cozy read it is but its true and its all because of how Sangu Mandanna writes Mika, and the wonderful cast of characters she comes across at Nowhere House. Despite the seclusion and secrecy Mika is a wonderful bubble of warmth and happiness. I have to wonder though if I met her in person if I wouldn't find her insufferable and be petty and jealous because of her optimisim. She has so many rejections, betrayals, people she should be able to trust keeping her at arms length or blatantly using her and she keeps getting back up and just doing what she loves.

It was a joy to read.

marsalles's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted

moonytoast's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

pay1510's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

clairebartholomew549's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book is, as advertised, very sweet and cozy, and it made me feel warm the whole time I was reading. To me, this is a much better version of The House in the Cerulean Sea, which I found to be trite and way too cutesy. Mika is such an endearing character with deeply sketched trauma and neuroses, and every other character is unique and well-developed. The worldbuilding makes sense, and the twists and turns feel well-earned. I appreciated the book's message about giving people a chance and giving yourself a chance to be loved, and I loved that the book didn't try to suggest that it was positive to dispel deeply held suspicions and stereotypes overnight, but that we could try to make the world a little better little by little.

carmalea's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful fast-paced

Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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