The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

The last novel I read in 2024, I really wanted something light and cozy to finish up the year and boy did I hit the nail on the head. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, a Goodreads Choice award nominee, was just what I needed. It's a light, easy read and doesn't touch anything with too much seriousness, but it still mentions bullying, child abuse, xenophobia, the death of a parent (or several, or a lot), and abandonment.

Mika Moon is one of a handful of witches left in Great Britain, not that she knows any of them particularly well. It's not safe for them to meet up too often, or be friends, or support each other. As Primrose says, the Rules are there for a reason. But when Mika receives a mysterious request and subsequent job offer, her magic nudges her to make sure she's paying attention, she finds three young witches with power they do not know how to control and no one to teach them. She's never taught anyone before, but how can she say no?

This book oozes charm and comfort. I loved every second of it, and could often be found reading it with a smile on my face. I finished it in three days. Mika has a slew of wonderful supporting characters, all of which are slightly eccentric and delightful in their own way. There is a definite plot to the story, although everything kind of comes together quickly at the end and most of the time you are following smaller subplots as Mika teaches the girls how to control their magic and works through her own childhood trauma. Was this the most thought-provoking book? No it was not. But if what you are looking for is a book that feels like a warm blanket and a cup of tea on a snowy evening, look no further. It is full of found family, with a cheerful protagonist set on breaking generational trauma, and a bit of romance, all wrapped up in a cozy little package with golden sparks of magic.

I'm giving The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna 4.5 stars out of 5, with a spice level of .5. I love a character who knows her own weaknesses, in Mika's case, it's a good looking forearm. I'm excited to read more from this author, I've got my eye on A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping, which is expected to be released in July 2025.

For more from Sangu Mandanna, see her website at https://sangumandanna.com/

Pairs well with creamy mushroom soup and teaching your children that murder is NOT always the answer!