Book Review: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
by Sangu Mandanna
First published August 23, 2022
A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family--and a new love--changes the course of her life.
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....
My Review
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches introduced me to a genre I hadn’t known before, or at least hadn’t known by name: Cozy Fantasy. I’ll admit, I was drawn in by that gorgeous cover, and the positive reviews piqued my curiosity. I wasn’t familiar with the author’s other books, so I went in just based on those impressions—and I don’t regret it at all!
This is the story of Mika Moon, a witch who’s used to living in solitude. One day, she receives an unexpected message offering her a job teaching three young girls to control their powers. From that moment on, her adventure begins as she tries to be a teacher, despite the fact that most of her own knowledge was self-taught, and she adjusts to the "family" life offered by the quirky inhabitants of her new home.
I’ll admit that, when I started reading, it took me a little while to get hooked, and I even considered taking a break. I was juggling several books at once, and it made it difficult to get back into this one. The initial pacing and introduction to this world of magic and secrets may feel slow at first. However, as I continued, I fell in love with the characters that author Sangu Mandanna has so carefully crafted. In addition to the girls, there are several other residents of the house, and each of them brings a unique and different perspective, which enriches the plot and makes it infinitely more enjoyable. I loved that the protagonist was in her 30s and that the rest of the characters were so diverse, both in age and personality.
Of course, the romance element was fantastic. It was a relationship developed with subtlety and authenticity, enhancing the main storyline without overshadowing it, but adding something extra special. The romantic moments bring sweetness and even a few sexy moments, while also deepening the characters’ growth, showing how love and trust can be a powerful force, even amid adversity. This romance adds a charming touch to the story, making every shared scene between the characters feel significant and memorable.
I was pleasantly surprised by the unexpected twist toward the end—a detail I didn’t see coming, which elevated my appreciation for the book even more. This surprise, along with the well-deserved, well-crafted happy ending, left me delighted.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a story that, even though it took a bit of time to fully draw me in, easily became one of my favorite reads this year. I don’t think it’s part of a series, but it would be wonderful to learn more about Mika’s life, her new family, and all the other witches.
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