The Hunting Moon by Susan Dennard (audiobook)

Pages: 352 

Publisher: Macmillan Audio 

Released: 7th of November 2023 

The highly anticipated sequel to The Luminaries by New York Times bestselling author Susan Dennard.

Winnie Wednesday has gotten everything she thought she wanted. She passed the deadly hunter trials, her family has been welcomed back into the Luminaries, and overnight, she has become a local celebrity.

The Girl Who Jumped. The Girl Who Got Bitten.

Unfortunately, it all feels wrong. For one, nobody will believe her about the new nightmare called the Whisperer that's killing hunters each night. Everyone blames the werewolf, even though Winnie is certain the wolf is innocent.

On top of that, following her dad's convoluted clues about the Dianas, their magic, and what happened in Hemlock Falls four years ago is leaving her with more questions than answers.

Then to complicate it all, there is still only one person who can help her: Jay Friday, the boy with plenty of problems all his own.

As bodies and secrets pile up around town, Winnie finds herself questioning what it means to be a true Wednesday and a true Luminary—and also where her fierce-hearted loyalties might ultimately have to lie.

What I Have to Say 

I love this series so much. Winnie's humour is everything. The books are witty, funny and with a well thought out plot to boot. 

This was my first time audioing this series and I have to say, the voice actress did an amazing job of capturing Winnie's voice. I sank into this book with so much ease just enveloping myself in Winnie's voice like a blanket and it was so much fun. 

I really liked the interpretation of loyalty in this book. Winnie's family have a motto of loyalty, but Winnie doesn't show it as it would be expected - loyalty to the clan. Instead she's incredibly loyal to her family and friends (especially Jay)  and her absent father who has left her a mystery to solve. 

I really cannot wait for the next book to come out as this one added so much more stuff to the mystery and I really want to know what happens next! 

5 stars 

My thanks go to Macmillan Audio for providing me with this gifted copy for review. 

The Shadow Cabinet by Juno Dawson

Pages: 400 

Publisher: Harper Voyager 

Released: 8th of June 2023 

In the second installment of Juno Dawson's "irresistable" fantasy trilogy (Lana Harper), a group of childhood friends and witches must choose between what is right and what is easy if they have any hope of keeping their coven--and their world--from tearing apart forever.

Niamh Kelly is dead. Her troubled twin, Ciara, now masquerades as the benevolent witch as Her Majesty's Royal Coven prepares to crown her High Preistess.

Suffering from amnesia, Ciara can't remember what she's done--but if she wants to survive, she must fool Niamh's adopted family and friends; the coven; and the murky Shadow Cabinet--a secret group of mundane civil servants who are already suspicious of witches. While she tries to rebuild her past, she realizes none of her past has forgotten her, including her former lover, renegade warlock Dabney Hale.

On the other end of the continent, Leonie Jackman is in search of Hale, rumored to be seeking a dark object of ultimate power somehow connected to the upper echelons of the British government. If the witches can't figure out Hale's machinations, and fast, all of witchkind will be in grave danger--along with the fate of all (wo)mankind.

Sharp, funny, provocative, and joyous, Juno Dawson's sequel reimagines everything you think you knew about her coven and her witches in a story that spans continents and dives deep into the roots of England and its witchcraft. Ciara, Leonie, Elle, and Theo are fierce, angry, sexy, warm--and absolutely unapologetic as they fight for what they believe in, all in the name of sisterhood.

What I Have to Say 

I wasn't sure going in how this book would be as I really loved Niamh in the first book. But I actually warmed to Ciara really quickly considering she was a murderer who made deals with demons. Actually it was really interesting the way that Dawson dealt with all her characters in this book. It showed people as not really good or bad, but that they made choices that were good or bad. Ciara definitely made some bad choices and I certainly wouldn't trust her with anything (especially Theo) but I  really grew to understand her and why she made those choices and began to believe that she could make better ones. 

Theo is my favourite character and I would die for her. Her friendship with Holly is wonderful and adds to the themes of friendship and sisterhood that are abundant in these books. It was interesting to see them changing and developing especially with the things that happen during this book. 

That ending though. If you don't like books ending on cliffhangers, you definitely need to wait until the next book comes out before you read this one. The ending was killer and I need the next book right this second. My advice is to get all three books when the next one comes out, put them in a pile beside your favourite reading chair and devour them all in one go. 

5 stars 

My thanks goes to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for providing me with this copy for review. 

The October Witches by

Pages: 352 

Publisher: UCLan Publishing 

Released: 1st of September 2022 

There’s so much to love about October – Halloween, pumpkin everything and MAGIC. Especially magic. But for nervous young witch Clemmie, this October might see the stars descend on her for the first time, bringing with them a whole month of chaotic new power. She’s spent twelve years watching her mum, aunts and cousin receive their October power and knows that, for the Merlyns, magic can get very messy.

And there are those who want to harness their magic and make it last beyond October. It’s a bold experiment, until Clemmie and her coven find themselves in mortal danger. What price must be paid for magic that never ends? Or for having magic at all? 

What I Have to Say 

I think I went into this in the wrong mood. I wanted something warm and cosy with nice autumnal vibes. Which in a lot of way this was, but I would have liked a smaller adventure. A witch getting used to her powers, not a huge war between the Merlyns and the Morgans. 

The actual story was very good. I loved the feelings of family it invokes as well as the unlikely alliances. I loved the sense of hope in the bonds of friendship that it brought up. Also Bobby. Bobby was perfect and I want a Bobby of my very own. 

In all, it wasn't what I was looking for but it was still a good book. Perfect for anyone looking for action and adventure and high stakes. Recommended to drink with a nice warm mug of soup by you. Pumpkin flavour optional. 

 

4 Stars 

My thanks go to Netgalley and UCLan Publishing for providing me with this copy for review. 

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (audiobook)

Pages: 336

Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton 

Released: 23rd of August 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....

What I Have to Say 

This was such a cute book. It had a cosy atmosphere that I love in romances. It was very enjoyable to read. I loved the family and their quirks, I loved the descriptions of Nowhere House and I loved the way that the magic was described and used. 

Mika Moon, despite having a really stupid name, is a really great character. She is well rounded and her voice is funny, easy to read and completely right for the story. The narration added to this well and brought her and the other characters to life in a great way. 

There were just a couple of things that bugged me. The first was the plot. It was all hinged around the fact that the girls would have to be at the house when the lawyer came and so their magic had to be kept in control. But during the book they leave the house! Rosetta goes to the bookshop, the other two are taken to the beach at the same time and all three girls go out foraging with Mika. There was no reason that they couldn't be taken out into the woods while the lawyer was there! 

The other thing was explained and it made sense but was confusing for me through most of the book. Despite the witches being orphaned at an early age and it being stated at several times that they can't have siblings for that reason, a couple of witches are mentioned to have sisters!! It wasn't said out loud but it finally clicked why during the finale of the book, but it frustrated me a bit while reading. I think it would have been better if they'd explained earlier that it can happen. 

All in all though, this was a good read and I really enjoyed it. 

(4 stars) 

My thanks goes to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for providing me with this copy for review. 

Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson (audiobook)

Pages: 464

Publisher: Harper Voyager 

Released: 21st of July 2022 

Hidden among us is a secret coven of witches. They are Her Majesty’s Royal Coven. They protect crown and country from magical forces and otherworldly evil. But their greatest enemy will come from within.

There are whisperings of a prophecy that will bring the coven to its knees, and five best friends are about to be caught at the centre. Life as a modern witch was never simple … but now it’s about to get apocalyptic.

Prepare to be bewitched by Juno Dawson’s first adult series. A story of ancient prophecies and modern dating, of sacred sisterhood and demonic frenemies.

What I Have to Say 

Can Juno Dawson write anything I don't like? Well she hasn't yet. Her Majesty's Royal Coven was a bit different from her contemporary stuff and even from her horror stuff, with a well defined society of witches hidden from the rest of society. I found the world building really well done and it was completely believable that witches could exist and that they could have the same struggle and politics that we ourselves face. 

I found it a bit difficult to follow which character was which at the start. I will admit, I had covid when I was listening to it, so that probably didn't help, but I have talked to other people who also found it a bit of a problem. It took me until the 50% mark to figure out who everyone was, so be aware when you read it and maybe take some notes if this is a thing that you struggle with. 

Everything else was fantastic though. The plot and the characters, the way that gender and race issues were addressed was really good. I can't say much about this because it's quite important to the plot, but there some diverse characters involved in the plot and the very binary gender divide between witches and warlocks is very much addressed. 

The narration was perfect. I enjoyed it a lot and was very glad that I had the audiobook to listen to. I especially liked the voice that she put on for Theo. 

Basically, I loved this book and I think it's an important addition to the genre. It just could have done with a character guide in the front of the book!! 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for providing me with this copy for review. 

The Familiars by Stacey Halls

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 400

Publisher: Bonnier Zaffre 

Released: 7th of February 20019 

Fleetwood Shuttleworth is 17 years old, married, and pregnant for the fourth time. But as the mistress at Gawthorpe Hall, she still has no living child, and her husband Richard is anxious for an heir. When Fleetwood finds a letter she isn¹t supposed to read from the doctor who delivered her third stillbirth, she is dealt the crushing blow that she will not survive another pregnancy.

When she crosses paths by chance with Alice Gray, a young midwife, Alice promises to help her give birth to a healthy baby, and to prove the physician wrong. 

When Alice is drawn into the witchcraft accusations that are sweeping the North-West, Fleetwood risks everything by trying to help her. But is there more to Alice than meets the eye? 

As the two women's lives become inextricably bound together, the legendary trial at Lancaster approaches, and Fleetwood¹s stomach continues to grow. Time is running out, and both their lives are at stake. 

Only they know the truth. Only they can save each other.

What I Have to Say 

After a shaky start, I got really into this book. I loved the way the friendship formed between Alice and Fleetwood. I think if it hadn't been for that strong class-defying friendship, I would have trudged my way through the book feeling really disappointed. But as it was, I was completely hooked by the end, desperate to have Alice saved and Fleetwood away from her husband, because let's be honest, she deserved way better. 

I was really fascinated to read the author's note and find out how many of the characters were based on real people. Even though they weren't much more than names, I love how the author took the details of the actual witch trial and mystery of Alice Gray and built so much around it, keeping so many of it grounded in the real people who lived in the area at that time. 

The facts of the witch trials were really interesting too. It was the kind of thing that could have weighed down the plot, and did a little at the start, but once everything started to get dangerous, it was just an extra detail as the plot unwinded and came to the thrilling conclusion. 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Bonnier for providing me with a free copy for review.