A review by just_one_more_paige
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

emotional 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? No

5.0

 
With a title like this, how can a person not want to read this book? The answer is: they can't. And so, here we are. 
 
Long ago, a curse ended in all witches being orphaned as children. And between that and the rules in place to protect any witches that remain from the...consequences...of being found out, they live mostly isolated lives. It's safer to live apart, because magic is drawn to them, and in groups, their power is too hard to hide. Even with these protective practices in mind, Mika Moon agrees to a very odd request that comes across her DMs - an invitation to travel to the remote Nowhere House to teach the three young witches who live there to control their magic. Both curious and concerned, Mika agrees to meet. And even before she realizes it, she is swept up into the chaotic but loving household that is Nowhere House: the absent archeologist who "gathered" these three witches together, the grounds keeper, the house's caretaker, a retired (and very dramatic) actor, and the librarian, Jamie. This group is willing to do anything to protect the three young witches, to the extent that Jamie's is downright unwelcoming to Mika, an outsider. But over time, Mike not only wins their trust, but also their hearts (even Jamie's!), and they provide the loving home and sense of belonging she's always wished for. So when some final secrets come out, ones that were kept to protect the girls but are nonetheless hurtful to Mika, she has to decide if the potential pain of love for her newfound family is worth the risk, or if the "safety" of isolation is what she needs to maintain to protect her own heart.    
 
Readers, this was a tender, witty little story of magic and found family and a little bit of romance. The writing style had that quintessential dry British tone, of irreverence and snark, similar to that of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels and My Lady Jane. It made reading this fast, easy, and fun - exactly the kind of cozy escapist literature I've been craving lately. Mandanna balances just enough emotional intensity, the fierce protectiveness of family and the difficult journey that is overcoming childhood trauma to live a more fulfilled adult life, to give depth to an otherwise lighthearted read. Because the found family aspects are comforting AF (I loved the adult caretakers of Nowhere House for their loyalty and sense of the melodramatic) and the three young witches are the most (accurately) fearsomely charming depiction of sibling interactions and what it's like to work with precocious youth. And then there's Mike and Jaime. These two softie souls, hardened by past experiences but just waiting for someone to crack through their defenses, were so sweet. This was a slow burn and very low spice romance (though it did have a quality focus on forearms), but that fit the story so well. It was all about the feels - the fear and connection and healing - that the two shared, hitting the reader right in the emotions. And while a few moments were more difficult to read about, lonely and abusive childhoods always are, the way these two hurt and cautious people are together brave, taking the leap of faith that is loving/being loved....well, oh my heart! Plus, there's a bonus "softening" of a third character right at the end that was unexpected, but so heartwarming. 
 
Look, I love witches, like so much. So one should probably take this next piece with a slight grain of salt. But I thought the magic system in this book was simply delightful. The way magic just floats like glittery gold particles, gathering around and wanting to be used by the witches who can see it, giving it a sort of low-key mischievously anthropomorphic vibe, really appealed to me. Also, the way that spells and potions come from instinct, from asking the magic to do what you want, strengthened by natural anchors or more powerful times of the year, felt intuitively right to me. The other thematic aspect that I thought was great was Mika's delineation between "nice" and "kind." That exploration is a beautiful and nuanced look at what true caring for others looks like, versus that of surface propriety. There's a lot to be learned from that, if one is willing to acknowledge it. I also loved the way everyone protects the people they love. And even though sometimes, the ways they try to do that don't always turn out as expected, the good intentions behind the decisions are highlighted in the end, when they come together to take steps to a better future together. Finally, the somewhat ridiculous twist at the end (that maybe I should have guessed at but actually didn't see coming), was a humorous sort of macabre that I thought fit the rest of the story really well. 
 
This is the kind of book that warms a reader's heart from the inside out. It was exactly what I needed in the same way that Mika’s teas always help/heal the drinker in whatever way they need. Just lovely.  
 
“We’re part of the earth below us and the sky above us. Our veins echo the patterns of rivers and roots. There’s sunlight and moonlight in our bones.” 
 
“People are usually like the sea, a constant, unerasable part of something bigger, but I’m more like a single wave that washes over the shore, ebbs away, and doesn’t leave a single trace behind.” 
 
“It’s not always enough to go looking for the place we belong […] Sometimes we need to make that place.” 
 
“Danger rarely wore a monstrous face and wielded a pitchfork. No, danger came most often in the form of […] the nice people whose niceness only went so deep, who saved their niceness for people exactly like them, who believed they were more deserving of power and respect than anyone who was a little bit different. […] There were people right here with her who were not necessarily nice, but they were all without exception kind, which was far more important.” 
 
“We can grow together instead of apart.” 
 
“Jamie had said it was a leap of faith to love people and to let yourself be loved. It was closing your eyes and stepping off a ledge into nothing and trusting that you’d fly instead of plummet to your tragic and poetic demise.” 
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