witches | Book Girl & Little Bear

The Reimagining of Thornwood House by Jaleigh Johnson

This is a cozy (though not too cozy) fantasy worth settling down to read and savor. Thornwood House needs a new caretaker as it’s grieving longtime caretaker Amelia, but is picky about who it will accept. The house is sentient, though it doesn’t exactly talk, mostly expressing its moods. And despite the feet shown on the book jacket, the house very rarely travels. This is definitely not Baba Yaga’s hut.

Evie Sharpe is a land witch used to dealing with natural disasters for ECRA. She wants to adopt her foster daughter Ruby, now 11, and needs a less dangerous job. Rub also has a magical talent and ECRA doesn’t want to let them relocate. Evie and Ruby take the train to Iskendra. The caretaker job also includes caring for the villagers of Iskendra. Evie is like an apothecary with magical plants. The house, which is not an inn, is in bad shape, especially after some recent traveling. A helpful neighbor, hard work, and a little magic all help Evie and Ruby settle in, though Evie hasn’t yet bonded with Thornwood House. The house won’t let her into Amelia’s study, either. Some villagers, including one or two with magical talents, aren’t very welcoming, though others are.

Evie and Ruby bike around the town and walk through the Thornwood. Evie’s not much of a cook, but delicious meals are still enjoyed. There are secrets and wonders to be found, as well as great dangers. Ruby makes friends with two kids her age, as well as a neighbor’s dog.

There are many cozy fantasy novels currently available that are just middling in quality and rather forgettable. This book is in the top tier. While their stories are not very similar, Sarah Beth Durst is among several authors to write blurbs for this book. I haven’t read anything else by Jaleigh Johnson but look forward to reading more.

Brenda

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Mandanna’s first book for adults, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, has been very popular with cozy fantasy readers since it was published in 2022. Fans will rejoice with this new book, not a sequel, but set in the same version of England. The British Guild of Sorcery in Northumberland has a council packed with conservative white witches from the top ten British witch families. They run a school for young witches, but fortunately also offers a homeschooling option.

We learn more about magic and witches, including some from Iceland. Witches have varying amounts of power, curses may backfire, and magic can be lost. Some old books of spells are in a restricted section of the Guild’s library, and Sera Swan has lost access to it.

Sera and her formerly late great-aunt Jasmine run the Batty Hole Inn, and the inn is largely held together with Sera’s magic. A recent spell lets only those who need the inn find it. Currently lodging with Sera and Jasmine are two non-magical guests: Matilda, who is obsessed with mushrooms and Nicholas, who works as a Knight at the nearby Medieval Faire. Theo, a young relative, is living there while homeschooling. Luke, a witch scholar, unexpectedly arrives with his young sister Posey, who has magic and autism. Roo-Roo, a zombie rooster, and Clemmy, a fox, also live at the inn. Found family is a major theme, and Sera tries to make the inn as welcoming as possible when apple tea may rain down on any given Sunday.

There are two possible romances developing, an ex-friend seeking forgiveness, a power-hungry wizard who will do anything to thwart Sera’s plans, and some adventure and danger in store. A delightfully creaky old house and a charming cast of characters greatly add to the story’s appeal.

Brenda