About the Book
-
Author:
- Sangu Mandanna
- Genres:
- Adult
- Adult Romance
- Fantasy
- Man-Woman Romance
Cover Story: Duplicated
BFF Charm: Yay
Talky Talk: Curled Up By The Fire
Bonus Factors: Witches, Found Family, Loyal Pets(ish)
Relationship Status: Book Me A Room
Cover Story: Duplicated
The colors are cheerful and soothing and it brings to mind exactly what this is: a story about a woman and her inn. The colors are totally different, but it almost feels a bit TOO similar to Sangu’s first book in this “universe”.
The Deal:
As a teen, Sera Swan was on track to surpass one of the most powerful witches in England when her aunt Jasmine dropped dead in the garden. Faced with a future alone and guided by a tricksy fox, Sera did the unthinkable and brought Jasmine back to life at the expense of almost all her magical abilities. Her mentor, Albert Grey, the most powerful witch she would’ve surpassed and, thus, the man who secretly couldn’t stand her, banished Sera from the magical Guild for her transgression, denying her access to the one spell that could potentially restore her magic.
Fifteen years later, Sera and Jasmine run their home as an inn for lost souls, using what tiny magic Sera has left to keep the chill out and the eaves from leaking TOO much. Sera has never stopped trying to find a way to access the Guild’s archives to find that spell, so when it unexpectedly falls into her lap, she plans to do everything she can to decode the ingredients, including accepting the help from prickly Guild witch, Luke Larsen.
BFF Charm: Best Witches
Sera is kind to everyone but herself, and although she’d gladly do it again, she had no idea what she was giving up when she used too much of her power to resurrect dead aunt Jasmine. She mourns the loss of her potential and the comfort of the stars (what she saw when she interacted with her magic), and it’s kept her in this kind of frozen state of being. She enjoys the safe haven of their inn while chafing at the cost of the upkeep, which would be nil if she could use her magic to fix a roof or keep the fires magically going all night long. I’d gladly be her friend, as her inn sounds like a great place to relax and rest up.
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
I do love me a Scotsman, and Luke is a smart, grumpy witch historian who takes care of his autistic younger sister, Posy (also a witch), when his non-magical parents got too embarrassed by her behavior. I mean! The two are initially at odds, but in a fairly gentle sort of sense, and really the biggest thing keeping them apart are their personal hang-ups with feeling abandoned by their families. The book gets a little spicy but in general it’s more of a wholesome, slowly falling in love while you read together by the fire kind of burn.
Talky Talk: Curled Up By The Fire
Sangu’s writing is like receiving a warm hug. There are problems for the characters and old hurts and complications, but there’s a through-line of care and coziness and humanity that prevails, and you know that things are going to turn out for the best, whatever that may be. This was the perfect book to read on an eight-hour plane ride (though I probably should’ve put it down to get more than 1 hour of sleep). It’s not the kind of story that will stick with you for months, but it’s a nice break from reality and gives you cozy without being treacly.
Bonus Factor: Witches
Like Sangu’s The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, this book takes place in the same modern-day England where witches are very present but secretive about their abilities with non-magical folk. They’re run by a group of the most influential witches called the Guild, which we learn more about in this novel. It’s not a sequel, but rather set in the same world, which gives the story a lot more room to play. I liked this version of magic as a kind of elemental energy you tap into, like the Force, versus being something coming from wholly within you.
Bonus Factor: Found Family
A loyal and protective found family is always an instant win for me. There’s something special about the family you choose despite having no discernible ties. Sera inadvertently placed a spell on the inn when she was younger that only allows those who desperately need to stay to find them, so while most are random travelers, they HAVE amassed a group of semi-permanent residents, like Sera’s young, witchy cousin from Iceland, a young man who cosplays as a knight (both IRL and at a Medieval-Times-like job), and an meddling older woman who may have the hots for Aunt Jasmine.
Bonus Factor: Loyal Pets(ish)
Clemmie is a witch who got cursed and turned into a fox, and she initially showed up years ago hoping Sera’s powerful abilities would help break her free. As she’s mostly to blame for Sera’s banishment (she was the one who showed Sera how to save Jasmine), she stays to help Sera find the spell to get her magic and eventually help Clemmie. Sometimes she acts more fox than woman.
Then there’s Roo-Roo, the un-dead skeleton of a rooster that Sera accidentally animated back to life when she touched the ground while resurrecting Jasmine. Give me ALL the lovably weird pets, the weirder the better!
Relationship Status: Book Me A Room
I would give a lot to stay at a cutesy cottage in the countryside of England filled with magic and cozy mayhem, Book, so thank you for letting me rent a room, giving me a cuppa by the fire, and letting me in on the action.
Literary Matchmaking
There’s strong cozy and found family themes in The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong.
If you prefer a bit more murder in your cozy, then read The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner
I adored Something Close to Magic by Emma Mills.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from Berkley. I received neither money nor peanut butter cups in exchange for this review. A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is available now.
