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

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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

This book was such a good time to read! I adored all of the characters so much, and I just had so much fun falling in love with this found family! These characters complimented each other so well, and all of their relationships to one another were so wonderful to read about. To break down each of the characters, I really liked the three little girls in this book. Rosetta was the one I connected to the most, because as much as I did love Terracotta, I found her to be a bit frustrating at times, and her development felt a bit rushed to me.  I loved what I saw from Altamira, but I felt like it wasn't enough, and I didn't really grasp her character. Ian and Ken were incredible in every way, both as individuals and together. Ian made me smile or laugh every time he spoke, and Ken was just such a kind and wonderful person to hear about. They were also just incredibly cute together, and their relationship will stick with me for a while. If I don't have a love like theirs when I'm that old, then marriage wouldn't have been worth it. Lucie was also a great character, but one I needed more from to really understand as well. I feel like her backstory, which I would have loved to know more about, was glossed over a bit too much for my personal taste. Mika was certainly a favorite, not just in this particular story but overall! I really appreciated everything about her character, even though I was worried in the beginning she might end up being a bit over the top for me. She is such a well rounded character, and I loved every second of what I got from her. I think the main disappointment for me character-wise was actually Jamie, which is such a shame because I do really really like him!! I think, though, that in the end, I really wanted the story to peel back his layers, and it didn't really do that to the extent that I wanted it to. He seems like such a complex character, and I really liked him, but I feel like it didn't really go anywhere, at least not to the extent that I would have wanted. As a result of this, his romance with Mika felt a bit underdeveloped as well, which was a bit disappointing. This is one of the few stories where I would say I honestly wish it was longer! Usually when I complain about length it's to say it was too long, but this book definitely could have benefitted from some more character building scenes. I feel like sometimes we jumped from one plot point to the next in ways that did not feel entirely natural, and a lot of that is because I felt like I was missing something. I think what I was missing was more pages dedicated to in depth character building for Jamie, Lucy, Terracotta, and Altamira. The ending also felt like it wrapped up a bit too neatly a bit too quickly, but I was glad to suspend my disbelief in order to accept the quick fixes that seemed to present themselves. I think my favorite part of this novel (besides the amazingly written found family) was the setting and the magic! The setting was amazing and crafted a perfect cozy atmosphere, and the magic in this book was perfectly done, in my opinion. I loved the way the characters talked about magic and what they love about it and how it impacts their lives in both good and bad ways. I love how Mika loves and cherishes her magic and how passionate she is about it as well. I really do love all of the descriptions of it, and I would honestly reread this book for those parts alone, even if it weren't for the other things I loved about the story!
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