This has been a very talk about book ever since it was released a few years ago. I think I personally have owned this book for at least a year with full intentions to get to it “soon”. Well, I finally made time for it thanks to an unused Audible credit and no other books being on the top of my mind. I am honestly surprised it took me this long to read but I do think it is a bit overhyped…
“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.”
Sangu Mandanna, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
About The Book
Author: Sangu Mandanna
Publisher: Berkley
Published Date: August 23rd, 2022
Page Count: 318 Pages
Main Genre: Magical Realism
GoodReads Rating: 4.07
Format: Audio Book
Synopsis
As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules…with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.
But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.
As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn’t the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for….
Synopsis From GoodReads
“Trust is earned.”
Sangu Mandanna, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
“It is. But that’s only possible if someone’s willing to give you a chance.”
Rating
Vibes Rating
Dynamic Rating
“It’s a leap of faith to love people and let yourself be loved. It’s closing your eyes, stepping off a ledge into nothing, and trusting that you’ll fly rather than fall. I can’t step off the ledge for you. It’s something only you can do.”
Sangu Mandanna, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Review
I listened to this book via audio and I do think that I would have liked the book more if I had physically read it. The narrator was good just not for me.
I think this book was written really well! It was beyond cozy and kept me entertained which I really hope for when I read an audio book. In fact I almost finished this book in one whole sitting which is really rare for me and audio books.
I think I may have an unpopular opinion about this book but I kind of wish it was more young adult or even middle grade. I would have really enjoyed this book if we saw it from the girls perspectives or if we didn’t have the romantic connection between out FMC and MMC. The romance took a back seat in this book which I appreciated but honestly I felt like it just wasn’t needed. Either I blocked most of the romance out or their was so little of it that there was really no point in having it there? I think what I am trying to get at is that it could have been a cute found family story without the romance sub plot.
I think the character growth was really prevalent in this book and I think that was what I appreciated the most from it. You saw pretty much every character that was mentioned throughout the story change and grow which was done in a cozy way that left you feeling so happy and relieved for everyone involved.
I thought the magic system was easy to follow and grasp which is what I would expect from a cozy fantasy book. However, I always do struggle with magic realism books as I am trying to imagine this happening in our world and finding a lot of things that come up just so unrealistic. This is for sure a me problem as you are supposed to suspend your disbelief for these books anyways.
Overall, I do recommend this book if you are wanting a quick and cozy read in between all of your romantasy books as a much needed pallet cleanser.
“It’s not always enough to go looking for the place we belong. Sometimes we need to make that place.”
Sangu Mandanna, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
QOTD: DO you have a favorite book about Magic Realism?
“Niceness is all about what we do when other people are looking. Kindness, on the other hand, runs deep. Kindness is what happens when no one’s looking.”
Sangu Mandanna, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
World of Bai 