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A review by tragedies
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
I started The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches around November last year, but I only got around to finishing it this January while my sister and I were completing a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle for the holiday break. I blame this for my recent, all-consuming affinity for the cozy fantasy subgenre, which I never knew was a thing until I stumbled upon this wonderful novel. It was first pitched to me as The House in the Cerulean Sea meets Practical Magic, and I couldn’t agree more. It has the charming, whimsical tropes reminiscent of The House in the Cerulean Sea, while the magic system and the lore echo that of Practical Magic. I love both, so it’s not entirely surprising why this book captured my heart.
It follows Mika Moon, a member of the Secret Society of Witches (which was not its actual name but Mika likes to pretend it is). All her life, she has lived by two rules — hide your magic and stay away from other witches. “Alone is how we survive,” declared Primrose, head of the society and her mentor. And so Mika does. She moves to a new place every few months and mostly keeps her magic to herself. Operative word being mostly. Sometimes, she shares her magic on the Internet by pretending to be a witch on camera, confident that no one would take her blatant displays of power seriously.
However, someone does. That person reaches out and asks for her help to train three young witches in a place called Nowhere House. Intrigued, Mika agrees and moves to this mysterious estate which, apart from the children she just took under her wing, also houses a retired theater actor, his husband slash resident gardener, a housekeeper, and a grumpy librarian. As she spends more time with this eccentric yet loveable group of people, she begins to realize what it means to have a family and a home. She also experiences what it feels like to love and be loved in return. For once, that familiar chasm of loneliness she'd known since childhood is merely a whisper to the boisterous cheer and laughter of Nowhere House.
Sangu Mandanna has the gift of turning mundanity into moments of pure and utter magic that warms the heart and soothes the soul. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was a witch herself because she has definitely casted a spell on me with this enchanting tale about found families and coming home.
P.S. Anyone else here who's weak for the grump and sunshine dynamic? It's my absolute favorite! I've read my fair share of it, so when I say this book delivered, I mean it DELIVERED. Sangu Mandanna not only understood the assignment, she aced it with flying colors too. Special shoutout to Ken and Ian, who melted my cold cynical heart just as much as Mika and Jamie did.
It follows Mika Moon, a member of the Secret Society of Witches (which was not its actual name but Mika likes to pretend it is). All her life, she has lived by two rules — hide your magic and stay away from other witches. “Alone is how we survive,” declared Primrose, head of the society and her mentor. And so Mika does. She moves to a new place every few months and mostly keeps her magic to herself. Operative word being mostly. Sometimes, she shares her magic on the Internet by pretending to be a witch on camera, confident that no one would take her blatant displays of power seriously.
However, someone does. That person reaches out and asks for her help to train three young witches in a place called Nowhere House. Intrigued, Mika agrees and moves to this mysterious estate which, apart from the children she just took under her wing, also houses a retired theater actor, his husband slash resident gardener, a housekeeper, and a grumpy librarian. As she spends more time with this eccentric yet loveable group of people, she begins to realize what it means to have a family and a home. She also experiences what it feels like to love and be loved in return. For once, that familiar chasm of loneliness she'd known since childhood is merely a whisper to the boisterous cheer and laughter of Nowhere House.
Sangu Mandanna has the gift of turning mundanity into moments of pure and utter magic that warms the heart and soothes the soul. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was a witch herself because she has definitely casted a spell on me with this enchanting tale about found families and coming home.
P.S. Anyone else here who's weak for the grump and sunshine dynamic? It's my absolute favorite! I've read my fair share of it, so when I say this book delivered, I mean it DELIVERED. Sangu Mandanna not only understood the assignment, she aced it with flying colors too. Special shoutout to Ken and Ian, who melted my cold cynical heart just as much as Mika and Jamie did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Cursing, and Death