thereadinghammock's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was an excellent mix of magical realism, wacky hijinks, emotional honesty, and found family I would love to be a part of. I was hooked with Mika's sense of humor in chapter one; her millennial humor was perfect and so, so relatable. Once you add into the mix the delightfully eccentric residents of Nowhere House? You would have needed to pry it from my cold dead hands. This checks so may of my wheelhouse boxes. Witches? Check. Adorable, snarky, sassy, and smart women (and a few men too)? So many checks. A fiercely protective found family? Big ol' check! A not insignificant romantic grumpy/sunshine subplot? A sneaky lil check there too! Diverse cast of characters? Present and accounted for!

I don't know if I could pick any favorite character in the book. I loved them all for different reasons. Ian for his enthusiasm for everything. Ken's calm, solid presence in the household. Mika for her willingness to think outside the box and question the status quo. Lucie's amazing kindness and love. Rosetta for her passion for learning. Terracotta for her fierceness--both loyalty and stubbornness! Altamira for her innocent wonder and the comedic timing that children can effortlessly nail. And Jamie for his loyalty to the people he loves (and a sexy Irish accent to boot, thank you audiobook narrator!)

I loved the characterization of magic in this book as well. While a mostly silent "character", the fact that it had characterization at all was a nice touch the author added. That it was mischievous by nature; that the more witches around, the more magic was attracted to them; and that intrinsically it wants to be utilized. That it truly is an extension of the witches themselves. But that left unchecked or ignored, can get destructive in it's pursuit of attention. 

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ophycore's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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hanz's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0


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aishiteru's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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


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maryellen's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Such a sweet, cozy book! Just what I needed.

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ohheyitskaitlin's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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relin's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

It was sweet and thoughtful with lots of love and kindness

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aseel_reads's review

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funny 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

4.25

Wholesome setting, I liked how the plot finished, wish the love interest was not your stereotypical grumpy man 

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readingwithkaitlyn's review

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lighthearted mysterious 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

4.0


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bringmybooks's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

<<<<<<<<< cozy fantasy
(that's it. that's the tweet)

✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷

(JK - I, of course, have more to say)

Okay, so last year the sub-genre "Cozy Fantasy" starts getting thrown around a whole lot, and I'm intrigued. I then discover that some of my favorite series as a kid fall into this category, and I'm even more intrigued. I then read Legends & Lattes and I'm HERE. FOR. IT.

So on a whim I buy the hardcover UK edition of L&L and while on the site I snag this adorable UK hardcover of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches as well. And I debate waiting until October to read it, but then I don't, which I'm glad for because HELLO THIS WAS DELIGHTFUL.

Okay, but seriously. This book was pure magic. The relationships, the magical system, the plot, the characters, the romance, the ending, just ... all of it. I was hooked pretty much immediately and once Mika Moon (also, the name? I mean? are you kidding me?) gets to Nowhere House I didn't want to put this book down until I finished!

(The absolute. only. thing. that gave me pause was the amount of cussing in it. Well, not necessarily the cussing because I don't really care about that, but more so that there were a number of times that it seemed like the three young children would have been in the room with the cussing just flying around and that wasn't my fav)

That aside - I genuinely LOVED this book and I cannot WAIT for the next book to come from Sangu Mandanna!

(according to her IG, it's A WITCH’S GUIDE TO MAGICAL INNKEEPING and it's coming in April 2024!)

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