Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by kp_hobbitreads
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
5.0
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches: ★★★★★ | 5 stars
This is a hug in book form. It is wonderfully cozy and full of diverse characters with all the found family feels you could hope for.
Mika Moon is one of the few witches in Britain which can be rather lonely. Due to a curse many years ago all witches are orphaned at a young age, and they can't regularly gather in large groups because too much magic in one place can lead to trouble. But, when Mika's "fake" videos about being a witch get seen by someone who recognizes what she can actually do, she finds herself traveling to the remote Nowhere House to teach a group of young witches how to control their powers. And, if she can protect them from the danger that comes knocking, she just might find home she's been searching for all this time.
I loved every moment of reading this. It was exactly the kind of book I needed. Mika is such a wonderful main character. You can't help but feel for all she's been through, and you're rooting for her to find her place. There is side of romance (it is definitely not the main point of the story), but it adds some wonderful tension. I mean, who doesn't love a grumpy x sunshine pairing when the grump is a handsome librarian who is just wanting to protect the children he loves as his own? And, the side characters are so full of life and depth; they all feel like fully developed characters who truly add something to the story. Ultimately this is a story about recognizing what you need (and that it's okay to need things) and then asking for it. It's about finding people you love who love you back and making a home and a life with them even if its different from what you expected or were told it should be.
Three Thoughts:
1. Can I spend some time at Nowhere House? Because I would very, very much like to.
2. I would kill for a book about Ian and Ken and their life together. “'I could have another hundred years with Ken and still want more,' Ian said simply."
3. This kids were written so well in this - they actually felt like children rather than miniature adults.
I know this was written as a standalone (and as far as I can tell, the author has no plans to write a sequel), but I would absolutely read more books in this world. It was fantastic, and I recommend it to literally everyone. Go read this. Now.
content warnings: loss of parents (in the past), loneliness, emotional neglect/abuse, grief, physical abuse (off page, in the past), sex (brief, not graphic), xenophobia/homophobia/racism (all challenged/viewed negatively)
This is a hug in book form. It is wonderfully cozy and full of diverse characters with all the found family feels you could hope for.
Mika Moon is one of the few witches in Britain which can be rather lonely. Due to a curse many years ago all witches are orphaned at a young age, and they can't regularly gather in large groups because too much magic in one place can lead to trouble. But, when Mika's "fake" videos about being a witch get seen by someone who recognizes what she can actually do, she finds herself traveling to the remote Nowhere House to teach a group of young witches how to control their powers. And, if she can protect them from the danger that comes knocking, she just might find home she's been searching for all this time.
I loved every moment of reading this. It was exactly the kind of book I needed. Mika is such a wonderful main character. You can't help but feel for all she's been through, and you're rooting for her to find her place. There is side of romance (it is definitely not the main point of the story), but it adds some wonderful tension. I mean, who doesn't love a grumpy x sunshine pairing when the grump is a handsome librarian who is just wanting to protect the children he loves as his own? And, the side characters are so full of life and depth; they all feel like fully developed characters who truly add something to the story. Ultimately this is a story about recognizing what you need (and that it's okay to need things) and then asking for it. It's about finding people you love who love you back and making a home and a life with them even if its different from what you expected or were told it should be.
Three Thoughts:
1. Can I spend some time at Nowhere House? Because I would very, very much like to.
2. I would kill for a book about Ian and Ken and their life together. “'I could have another hundred years with Ken and still want more,' Ian said simply."
3. This kids were written so well in this - they actually felt like children rather than miniature adults.
I know this was written as a standalone (and as far as I can tell, the author has no plans to write a sequel), but I would absolutely read more books in this world. It was fantastic, and I recommend it to literally everyone. Go read this. Now.
content warnings: loss of parents (in the past), loneliness, emotional neglect/abuse, grief, physical abuse (off page, in the past), sex (brief, not graphic), xenophobia/homophobia/racism (all challenged/viewed negatively)