A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping

by Sangu Mandanna

An enchanting novel about a witch who has a second chance to get her magical powers—and her life—back on track, from the national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches .

Sera Swan was once one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her magical Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and just a bit grumpily) helps Aunt Jasmine run an inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guests' shenanigans, tries to keep the talking fox in check, and longs for the magical future she lost.

When she learns about an old spellbook that holds the secret to restoring her power, she turns to Luke Larsen, a gorgeous historian who might just be able to help her unlock the book’s mysteries. Luke, who has his own reasons for staying at the inn, never planned on getting involved in the madcap goings-on around him and certainly had no intention of letting certain grumpy innkeepers past his icy walls, so no one is more surprised than he is when he not only agrees to help, but also finds himself thawing .

Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and staying one step ahead of the watchful Guild is a lot for anyone, but Sera is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone... and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, Witches, Cozy Fantasy

352 pages, ebook

First published July 15, 2025

About the author

Sangu Mandanna was four years old when an elephant chased her down a forest road and she decided to write her first story about it. Seventeen years and many, many manuscripts later, she signed her first book deal. Sangu now lives in Norwich, a city in the east of England, with her husband and kids.

Reviews

[Ali L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grumpy/sunshine this grumpy/sunshine that how about grumpy/grumpy? How about a woman who just wants to do her goddamn job? She has a lot on her mind — her magic has disappeared, her aunt died and came back, there’s a zombie chicken and a D&D cosplayer at the B&B, and just when you think things couldn’t possibly get worse, a blonde guy shows up. With his sister. My favorite type of conflict in a romance novel is external, requiring the MCs to work together against a common foe and this book is simply filled to the brim with other people causing problems — what a treat! The ending made me cry. With joy, rage, or confusion? I don’t want to spoil it for you. I would die for everyone in this book and twice for Nicholas.

[Rachel Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

so cutie and wholesome I loved it 🥹

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

new dream job alert.

i would recommend this for fans of tj klune.

i am not a fan of tj klune.

i should have known this was destined to not work out for me, due to the fact that i've wanted it too badly for too long and i have long since come to the conclusion that my sins in a past life (or perhaps in this one, which include making rude comments about obnoxious people while they are in earshot and placing too many library holds) have cursed me to never love my most anticipated releases.

this was one of those situations where i enjoyed the author's first book, and i thought, yeah, i'll read the next one.

and then so much time passed that the anticipation just built and suddenly here we are.

still, though, all i really wanted from this book was some cuteness and happiness and magic. this was a lot of suffering! a lot of negativity introduced, even at the 85% and 90% and oh my god 95% mark here we are. more suffering.

this book doesn't HAVE to do everything i want it to do (although it's strongly encouraged), but that just isn't enough time to satisfyingly begin and end storylines. 

never you mind the 900 characters either.

bottom line: i neither loved nor hated this book, and even that disappointment is too much.

(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)

[Brady Lockerby · Rating 3 out of 5]

i wanted to love this as much as i adore Very Secret Society (they are not related in any way! you can read them individually) but this one really drug the whole way for me. when i was in it, i enjoyed it, but when i put it down i found it almost impossible to pick back up. overall, im glad i read it and it gave the cute cozy vibes we all love this time of year!

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, the long wait is over! The brilliant author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is back with another magical, humorous, and heartwarming love story filled with wonderfully developed characters. At its core, this novel celebrates found family and second chances. While Luke and Sera’s slow-burn, opposites-attract romance simmers in the background, the true heart of the story lies in the inn’s lively and eccentric inhabitants:

Jasmine – Sera’s quirky and lovable aunt
Clemmie – A witch who mistakenly trapped herself in a fox’s body
Matilda – A hobbit-like mushroom enthusiast devoted to her goats (much to Sera’s dismay)
Nicholas of Mayfair – A 23-year-old knight at a medieval fair
Theo – Sera’s 11-year-old cousin, who moved from Reykjavik to embrace his magic freely
Roo-Roo – A zombie rooster accidentally resurrected by Sera alongside her aunt
These enchanting misfits are drawn to the magical inn in Lancashire, England, run by Sera Swan and her Aunt Jasmine. Once an aspiring prodigy of the Guild under the ambitious Albert Grey, Sera lost everything when she defied the rules, using forbidden magic to resurrect her aunt (and, unintentionally, a rooster). Betrayed by her best friend Francesca and forced to choose loyalty over power, Sera was exiled, losing her place in the Guild—and her magic.

Fifteen years later, now 30, Sera has settled into life at the inn, casting small protective spells that ensure only those in need find their way to its doors. But when Francesca unexpectedly arrives, revealing that the Guild’s library has been robbed of a spellbook that could restore Sera’s magic, Sera realizes that her cousin Theo and Clemmie may have acted behind her back to help her. Even more surprising, Francesca offers her a chance to see the stolen spell—though it comes with a catch: it’s written in an ancient language.

Enter Luke Larsen, an icy but undeniably handsome magical historian who arrives at the inn with his little sister, Posy. Though Luke insists he’s only staying for one night, something about the inn—and its peculiar inhabitants—begins to soften his rigid demeanor. Despite his initial reluctance, he soon finds himself drawn into their world, growing accustomed to their antics and, against his better judgment, growing fond of Sera.

As Luke and Sera work together to break the curse, Sera must embark on a deeper, more personal journey—one that forces her to question what truly matters in life. If she wants her magic back, she’ll have to confront the Guild’s hypocrisy and stand up to figures like Albert Grey. But reclaiming her power may prove even more challenging than breaking the curse itself.

Overall: This is a highly entertaining fantasy filled with rich world-building, vivid and original characters, and a captivating magical setting. While the romance takes a backseat to the found-family theme, the charm and wit of this story make every moment at the inn a delight. I highly recommend it to fantasy lovers who can’t resist strong-willed witches, whimsical magic, and a touch of mischief.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Sydney Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 I love these characters like they’re my own children

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like a witch for saying this but A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping was dreadful. I hate writing bad reviews, I know authors put a lot of time, heart, and soul, into the writing of their books, but I found no enjoyment reading this book. As you can see from the many reviews, other reviewers loved it. Not every book is for every reader. I am happy that this book is getting some love -just not from me.

I could not get into this book at all, but I kept going as I enjoyed the authors other book, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. I was hoping that I would find this book to be warm, charming, and a fun read. Unfortunately, I did not connect with the characters, the quest to get magic back, the romance, and did not enjoy the 'unique' side characters. I kept reading hoping that this book would get better, but sadly, I never warmed up to this book. It fell flat for me and I was left disappointed.

I cannot recommend this book, but I can recommend one of the author's previous books, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping did not cast its spell on me. We can't love them all. Again, many enjoyed this book so please look for their reviews.

*A Witches Words buddy read with Dorie, Norma, and Carolyn. Please read their reviews as well to see what kind of spell this book cast on them.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Melanie (meltotheany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This was a place stitched together by resistance, by acts of defiance by people who could not or would not go gently down the path the world had decided was inevitable…”

oh, friends, this one really unexpectedly hit me in my feels, and i loved it completely. this story follows, you guessed it, the residents of a magical inn, in england, that is run by a witch. but this inn is extra special, because you can only find it if you are in need of a safe place to spend some time. the book opens up with our main character, sera, losing most of her magic from casting a very powerful spell. and we follow her, with the help of the inn’s residents, both old and new, trying to get her full magical powers back! but the information she needs is being kept away by her old guild that would rather keep her powerless.

if you’re looking for a love letter to family, both blood and found, pick this book up. if you’re looking for a read that involves healing from your past, in all the different and complicated ways, pick this book up. if you’re looking for depictions of people showing up for the ones they love, in all the different ways, and trusting that magical trust you put in people who make you feel safe, pick this book up. if you’re looking for a story about attempting to dismantle systems that have always been in place to keep you feeling lesser, please pick this book up. (also… if you’re in need of a zombie chicken in your literature, also pick this book up lol!)

i will say, seeing other people only talking about this book and how “cute” it is does have me feeling rather insane. because even though that is very true, this is a cute and cozy feeling book, our main character is setting up a safe place for children who feel unwanted and unlovable to know they are very wanted and so worth loving, after she (and the other adults in this story) have been forced to feel that while growing up themselves. there are so many emotional discussions on depression and other mental health conditions throughout this entire story. and also, this book constantly depicts our south asian mc experiencing racism, colorism, and misogyny at the hands of white supremacy and british colonialism throughout the entire book. while the governing powers also are constantly attempting to keep or mc uninformed, uneducated, and without the knowledge she needs to take back her power. again, this is truly a cozy and heartwarming book of healing, and i do think so much of this story is cute, but i just feel like a lot of people are missing some very big, loud, and integral themes that were expressed throughout this one.

“...his history might be a legacy of power, but hers was a legacy of resistance.”

overall, i loved this and i think it was the perfect blend of warm and hard-hitting that i am yearning for in my cozy fantasy. and i would protect sera and jasmine (and everyone who has been made to believe they were at one time unlovable) with everything i am. i also really appreciated that upon closing this book, i was really left with the reminder that you’re never too old to discover new ways to love yourself, to allow yourself to love new people, to love old people harder, and to unapologetically love the life (and safe places) that you have magically created yourself.

trigger + content warnings: abandonment, depression, a lot of talk of shitty parents, grief, anxiety, racism, xenophobia, colonialism, misogyny, ableism, talk of loss of a loved one

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♡ buddy read with penny + maëlys

♡ The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches ★★★

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredibly heartwarming and whimsical story with a diverse and unique band of characters. I absolutely loved them, they were the heart of this story.

Sera, a young and powerful witch loses most of her power when she resurrectes her great-aunt, the only family she cares about, from the dead. Exiled and with little power, she spends the next fifteen years running her inn. A magical inn that's always there for those who need it. Some of the people who found it, never left.
But now, there is a chance for her to restore her power, a spell in a language she doesn't know.
Enter Luke, with his adorable sister, who's a magical historian. He's there to help, albeit reluctantly at first. They, along with the rest of the inn family, will embark on a mission to figure out and find everything she needs for the spell.

The found family aspect of this book is what captured my heart. While the romance blossoming between Sera and Luke was a delightful addition, one I liked very much, it was all the occupants of the inn that were the center of this story. Each of them unique in their own special way, trying to be the truest version of themselves. I really loved the representation. And of course, let's not forget Roo-Roo, he might be my favourite.

The story was so beautifully written and I absolutely loved the setting. I laughed, I cried, I fell in love.

The only thing I didn't like is that one moment at the end. I won't spoil it, but it will never sit right with me when authors do that. I understand the story sometimes warrants it, but I don't have to like it.

This was was my first book from this author, but let me tell you, it will not be my last. Can't recommend it enough!!

*Thank you to Netgalley and to Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an ARC.*

[Quirine · Rating 4 out of 5]

COZY. FANTASY. SHOULD. NOT. HAVE. SEX. SCENES!!!

Other than that, utterly delightful x

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my most anticipated reads for this year, Sangu Mandanna’s follow-up to The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches was well worth the wait!

Though they share a witchy theme and a focus on magic and found family, these are two standalone books with separate characters. The biggest thing they shared though? Charm.

Synopsis:

Sera Swan was a fifteen-year-old prodigy discovered by the most powerful witch in the British Guild of Sorcery, Albert Grey, when he saw the powerful magic she used to enchant her parents’ inn. Perceiving her as a threat, he mentored her to control how much she could learn.

After using a resurrection spell one day to bring her beloved great aunt Jasmine back to life (and oops ... a dead rooster!), Sera loses most of her magic and is exiled from the Guild and its resources, allowing Albert to exert his influence unfettered.

Fifteen years later, Sera is running the inn with Jasmine and using what little magic she has left to maintain it. Her long-ago enchantments ensure that the inn will only appear to good people who genuinely need something.

The inn’s non-magical tenants are a young wannabe knight named Nicholas whose ardent devotion to Sera is hilarious and Matlida, an outspoken 50s-ish woman who loves gardening and just can’t resist well-intentioned meddling! The magical tenants are Sera’s bright young nephew Theo, Clemmie - a witch whose rebounded curse on Albert Grey turned her into a petulant talking fox, and Roo Roo, the skeletal resurrected rooster!

When Sera’s inn attracts an old crush from her school days, magical historian Luke and his adorable nine year-old autistic sister Posy, she finds out that her magic may be bringing her what SHE needs too, and possibly some romance on the side!

After she acquires a spell that can restore her magic and allow her to undo Clemmie’s curse, she needs help to make it work. Can she trust Luke and the others to help her get back the magic she loves and to put Albert Grey’s unchecked power back in its place?

My takeaway:

If you love a heartwarming ‘found family’ story with an overarching theme of magic and the things we sacrifice for those we love, this is a wonderful choice. There’s a touch of romance, but it’s the love between these characters that have chosen each other that really shines, and they were an absolute joy to spend time with. Even the inn with its magical misbehavior was a delightful character! Put them all together and you have a group that’s in turns quirky, awkward, hilarious, sarcastic, bumbling, sweet, humble and clever!

The autism rep with Posy was so refreshing since it brought back memories of my son when he was that age. Everyone’s gentleness with her was so sweet. It also had nice LGBTQ rep with two same-sex relationships (both MM and FF) and a non-stereotypical FMC with Sera who was half-Indian and half-Icelandic (and thank heavens, no MCs with red hair and green eyes, unless you count Clemmie the red fox! 😆)

This was an immersion read for me with my Kindle and the audio narrated by Samara MacLaren, which was the *chef’s kiss*! She differentiated the character’s accents and personalities with so much skill and humor. Whether by itself or along with the book, I strongly recommend the audio for this, as it’s a story whose characters almost demand to be brought to life with a voice!

My only complaints, which is why this is four stars rather than five, is that there was one brief sex scene whose tone didn’t match the more innocent feel of the rest of the book and the ending which can only be described as bittersweet and left me feeling a little divided. All-in-all I loved it and will again wait patiently for Sangu Mandanna’s next book!

★★★★ ½

Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and author Sangu Mandanna for this digital ARC to honestly review and to my library/Libby for the audio. This is out now.

[Alexandra (Lexi) Roselyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Before the book
Me: “oh this looks so cute and cozy, yay!” 😊

*After the book
Me: “😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭”

This is the second Sangu Mandanna book I’ve read that has managed to feel both like a warm cup of tea, and a hug at the end of a bad day.❤️ What a sweet story about patching yourself up together, the power of found family, and the ability to believe in yourself even when you feel you’ve lost your magic. It’s beautiful, it’s heart warming, and yes I did cry. Five stars!! 😊😭🥰❤️

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A cozy fantasy about a witch who tries to grab a second chance at getting her powers back. Wonderful and mostly whimsical characters, funky magic, great diversity, good storyline, and a satisfying ending. BUT the “cutesy-ness” feels a bit forced this time and the book contains two things that I don’t prefer in cozies: cursing and spice. Still, a good option for fans of the genre, especially if they enjoy twee adult stories. I liked this, but I loved the author’s earlier novel much more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Plot Preview:

Lancashire, England. Sera Swan used to be one of the most powerful witches in the country. But when she resurrected the only parent-figure in her life, her great-aunt Jasmine, immediately after her death, Sera lost almost all her powers and was exiled from the Guild for indulging in illegal magic. Now, fifteen years later, thirty-year-old Sera, grumpy and frustrated at the loss of her potential future, still stays with Jasmine, Sera’s young cousin Theo, and a talking fox (Long story!) named Clemmie at an enchanted inn that Sera helps Jasmine run. This inn magically attracts only those who need it. (And it seems like only quirky characters ever need it!)
When Sera hears of an old magical compendium containing a spell that could restore her powers, she wonders how she can get her hands on it, considering her banned access to all magical resources and her status as an outcast among witches. Around the same time, the inn fortuitously brings magical historian Luke and his autistic sister Poppy to its doorstep. Tada!
The book comes to us in the third-person perspective of Sera, with some chapters coming from Luke’s third-person POV.

When I read this author’s debut adult cozy fantasy, ‘The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches’, I was utterly enchanted and knew I would read everything she wrote. My expectations from this second cozy fantasy were hence quite high. It does deliver on most counts, but a couple of the plot inclusions and a part of the approach weren’t to my taste.

The author clearly knows what ingredients clicked in the earlier book and retains the same here. Unfortunately, the shortcomings also make a reappearance.


Bookish Yays:
🐓 Sera. A complicated character who isn't picture-perfect and hence the perfect lead. I loved her coconutty portrayal – grumpy outside, gooey inside.

🐓 Sera’s ethnic heritage being half Indian and half Icelandic – What a combo! Love how both these factors weren’t forced into the narrative and used just as much as necessary without making the book seem like a clichéd advert for India or Iceland.

🐓 A strong plot where characters and storyline and magic get equal weightage.

🐓 Great use of the found family trope, but oh my, what a family! 😅 All the secondary characters are utterly quirky, the likes of which we might never encounter in real life. I loved almost all of them, but Great-Auntie Jasmine is probably my favourite.

🐓 A nice range of characters, going in age from child to senior citizen. There is one cute geriatric same-sex couple. Oh, can't forget the talking fox! AND a rooster who isn't exactly a rooster! (Also a long story! Read the book to know more.)

🐓 The magic – the perfect balance of nature and fantasy. Loved its use in the plot!

🐓 Ever since I read Charlie Holmberg’s Whimbrel House series, I have a soft spot for magical houses. You get a touch of that in this book. That’s all I’ll say.

🐓 A cute, slowburn romance track that mostly doesn’t overpower the core plot. It’s a grumpy vs grumpy trope this time, so quite fun to read.

🐓 Excellent exploration of the theme of power vs responsibility, and also of talent vs. maturity.

🐓 A satisfying finale – realistic, sweet, action-packed, a bit reflective. To be honest, I don’t think it will be a satisfying finale for everyone, but I loved it for its unexpectedness.


Bookish Mixed Bags:
🦊 For some reason I cannot pinpoint, I got the feeling that the book was trying too hard to be cutesy. ‘The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches’ was also a bit twee, so I was prepared for a sugary sweet story to some extent. But the cuteness doesn’t feel genuine this time around. Of course, it’s not badly written, and it is a cozy read, so it might just be my mood that was grumpier than needed for such a story.

🦊 There are quite a few characters to keep track of and most are defined fairly well. Some of them needed a bit more detailing. For instance, the big age gap between thirty-four-year-old Luke and his nine-year-old sister Posy isn't clarified, nor does any character remark on it, which felt strange to me, especially considering there were no other siblings in between and both have the same parents. (not impossible in real life, but definitely unusual enough to need at least one clarifying/querying remark from someone.) The depiction of Posy’s autism is not as usually shown in fiction, which I appreciate. However, the tougher challenges of dealing with this level of the spectrum are glossed over.


Bookish Nays: (Both these points stem from my preferences for cosy fiction. YMMV.)
🐐 Way too much cursing. F-bombs spoil the fun of cozies.

🐐 Some steamy content, with one scene being totally superfluous. That scene could have safely been kept close door without any damage to the plot.


All in all, though this didn’t match the high I had after reading, ‘The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches’, I still enjoyed it quite a lot. The characters, the storyline, the magic, the pacing, the writing and the ending all were strong enough to make me mostly forgive the F-bombs.

Recommended to those who enjoy Twee-with-a-capital-T cozy fantasies with whimsical characters and are okay with profanities (and some spice) in this genre.

4 stars.



My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Hodderscape for providing the DRC of “A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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[Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

just a woman and her live chicken skeleton, her friend cursed into the body of a fox, her resurrected aunt, the dungaree wearing aspiring hobbit in love with said aunt, a 20-something cosplaying as a knight, two small children, and a stoic historian. that’s family

this was so worth the wait! sangu mandanna has done it again!

Read my review

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing this advance review copy.

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[kitkat (semi-hiatus ♡︎)]

ִ ࣪ 𖤐 currently reading 𖤐 ִ࣪
⤷ eeekkkk!

ִ ࣪ 𖤐 preread 𖤐 ִ࣪
omg??? i just got the arc!!

>> thank you to netgalley and berkley for an arc ~ all thoughts are my own <33

[✨Julie✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

✩ 2 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Slow Burn
➼ A Powerful Witch Who Lost Her Magic
➼ Chosen Family
➼ Mystery
➼ Enchanted Inn
➼ Cozy Fantasy
➼ Narrated by Samara MacLaren
➼ Third Person POV

“his lonely and her lonely fit perfectly into the empty spaces at the other’s side.”

It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly went wrong here. Based on the description, the “recipe” for a cozy and even interesting slow burn romance is there, but I didn’t feel any warmth or connection towards the characters or the story. To put it bluntly, this book had no soul.

The romance had zero chemistry, the side characters weren’t particularly likable, the ending was unsatisfying, I could go on... The whole book just kind of fell flat for me.

Don’t be fooled by the cover like I was, this is definitely one to skip. I should have DNF’d.

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Pre-read: I honestly wasn’t a huge fan of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, so I’m not sure why I feel so compelled to read this… probably about 90% because the cover is so cute. 😆

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

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[Srivalli (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.7 Stars

One Liner: Nice vibes but tries too hard

Sera Swan went from being one of the most powerful witches in Britain to being exiled from the Guild after resurrecting her great-aunt and losing her magic. She runs an inn in Lancashire, dealing with quirky quests and hoping to get her magic back.

Then Sera finds a book that has the secret to restore her power. However, she needs help from Luke Larsen, the historian she has a history with. As they work together, Sera realizes that magic was with her all along!

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Sera and Luke, with random switches to omnipresent POV.

My Thoughts:

After enjoying The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches (adult fic) and loving Vanya and the Wild Hunt (MG fic), I was excited to read this one. While the book has all the vibes you need for a cozy witchy feel-good fiction, they don’t translate to a wholesome novel.

What I Like:

• The setting of the inn, its descriptions, and the magic around it. The place gives safe and homely vibes, which is exactly what it is.

• The collection of misfits who made the inn their home. Quirky, sweet, and a bit OTT, but good people (with a huge gray area in the case of Clemmie).

• Jasmine, the FMC’s great-aunt. A bit surprised by her backstory, but I guess that was the intention.

• Posy and Theo, the two kids, make the book easier to read.

• The concept of the restoration spell and the final ingredients that worked.

• A few scenes here and there with some laughs and the narration that suited the scenes.

What Didn’t Work:

• The slow pacing should have added to the intrigue but failed to create a proper hook. This is not a book where I can say the story started with a bang. It sadly didn’t.

• The loose plot is pretty thin and depends entirely on vibes to create the required impact. I stopped my first day’s reading at 55% and could sum up everything in a single line.

• The romance was supposed to be a slow burn, but ended up lacking chemistry and emotion. All the right words are there, but the feel is missing.

• A book with nice diversity and varied themes like racism, immigration, bias, etc., should have been good. Sadly, it doesn’t feel natural but more like ticking off a checklist to please the audience.

• Loads of assurances and ‘you are good as you are’ speeches that don’t do the job. I’d rather they all helped come up with ideas for the spell. That would have been more fun.

• The climax and ending. After all the struggle and everything, you end up doing this? Duh! Come on! There has to be a loophole to fix it.

• The villain is also all vibes and snobbish with little substance. Give him some meat. Even if it is a cozy fantasy, he can play the part better than this.

To summarize, A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping has its moments, but it doesn’t meet my expectations. The best way to mess up something is to try too hard. Looks like that’s what happened here.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodderscape, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley # AWitchsGuideToMagicalInnkeeping

[Norma ~ The Sisters · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
Expected Publication Date: July 15, 2025
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy / Cozy Magical Fiction
Format: Digital ARC

Muddled, odd and magical-ish!

This book had all the ingredients I usually love: a magical inn, an exiled witch with a sarcastic streak I did not quite click with, a semi-sinister talking fox, and a brooding magical historian who is absolutely not here for nonsense… until he is. The charm is definitely there, and the setting is pure comfort, with cosy fantasy vibes that make it easy to settle in and stay a while.

While I appreciated the whimsy and warmth, I found myself slightly at odds with the tone. The emotional messages about self-worth, second chances and the magic of simply being yourself are lovely in theory, but they came through so often that it felt more like I was being coached than told a story. Normally, I enjoy that kind of encouragement. It can be comforting and even healing. But I just was not in the right frame of mind for all that positivity this time around. I kept finding myself distracted and thinking about my next, better book. That is never a great sign.

That said, I did make it to the end, though I stayed more out of curiosity than connection. There is a lot of heart in this story, and I can see it being a great fit for readers looking for a soft, hopeful escape with low stakes adventure, quirky charm and found family. It just did not quite work its magic on me.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy. I recommend this to readers looking for cosy fantasy with gentle humour, found family and a touch of whimsy.

A Witches Words read that I had the pleasure of buddy reading with Dorie, Debra and Carolyn. Be sure to check out their reviews!

[Chloe Liese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every moment of this book. Witty, compassionate, wise, and touching, A WITCH'S GUIDE TO MAGICAL INKEEPING is a stunning portrayal of loving community, mental health struggles, grief and self-healing/discovery/growth.

“Your magic knew exactly who you were. That’s why your spell was a shield, not a sword.”

It's the books that I adore most which I find the most difficult to talk about, but that's because I think the best books are best experienced for themselves, their magic shown in the reading not in a reviewer's telling, so I'll leave it at this: pick this one up and prepare your heart to be utterly charmed.

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a cozy and magical fantasy about family, second chances, finding your passion again and love. A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping follows Sera, a witch who lost her power after she resurrected her great-Aunt Jasmine and was exiled from her magical Guild. Sera now runs an enchanted inn and learns she can restore her power when she discovers a spell. Luke, a historian might be the key to helping her unlock the spell.

Thoughts
I enjoyed this book immensely. The plot was engaging and the pacing was fairly well done, but it was slow in the middle. I loved the descriptions of the setting and the fall vibes especially the cinnamon rolls and the rainy weather. The writing was witty, engaging and descriptive. I appreciated the inclusivity in this book especially the autism representation and the lesbian representation. The found family in this book was awesome, I loved how close most of the characters were and how they treated each other like family. This book felt like drinking a warm cup of tea in the fall. I enjoyed most of the characters. I loved Sera, she was gruff at first but underneath she was determined, loyal, hardworking, caring and protective of the people she cares about. Sera's character development was excellent, I loved watching her become kinder and realized magic isn't everything. I also loved Luke, he was intelligent, reliable, kind, and protective of everyone he loves. I love how much he cared about Sera and his sister, it made my heart melt. I really enjoyed the side characters as well especially Matilda, Jasmine, Nicholas, Theo and Posy. I loved Sera and Luke's relationship, the chemistry was great and they treated each other well. I'm glad that this book also focused on family love and friendship. The ending was so heartwarming and I'm glad it ended on a happy note.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy fantasy, wonderful characters and engaging writing.

[Aisvarya (Semi-hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it!!!🥹 rtc

✨Pre-read -
Buddy reading this with my booksta bestie, and we're so excited cuz we loved the first book in this world sm. Hope this doesn't disappoint🤞🏻

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars - Just like the authors previous “Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches” this latest witchy fantasy “A Witches Guide to Magical Innkeeping”, has lots of cozy vibes, diversity and the cutest “found family”. There is also a slow-simmering romance, but it is not the primary trope - that said, I could really do without the sex scene which was both unneeded and kinda ruined the charming & whimsical feels. The real focus of this story are the various quirky and eccentrically magical residents of the Inn and the many years long plot revolves around stolen spells. The characters are really super original (I loved “Roo-Roo”the zombie rooster so much!) and the fantasy here is very whimsical and not scary or dark. I enjoyed it and will continue to read these charmers if there are more.

[Ricarda · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say? I expected witchy coziness and I got witchy coziness. But to be honest, something would have to go terribly wrong in a book with a magical house and a quirky found family for me not to like it. Fortunately, this book did many things right. The story is about the 30-year-old witch Sera Swan who made one mistake when she was a teenager and is paying the price ever since. To be fair, her mistake involved resurrecting her recently deceased aunt (and a not so recently deceased rooster), cost her most of her magic and got her exiled from the Guild of Sorcery. Now she lives at her magical inn and while it's a lovely place and things could be worse, it's just not the life Sera imagined for herself. So she jumps at the first opportunity to get her magic back, although it seems pretty impossible to achieve. But fortunately, she has a whole inn of people who are more than willing to help her with this task.

First of all, I have to praise the characters and the magic. I liked Sera a lot. She's grumpy but has a heart of gold and she's a deeply caring person. She created the inn as a place for people who need a safe space or who just need a break, and where everyone can fully be themselves. She uses the little magic she has left to help everyone around her, and I loved the way how magic was described as some kind of personal reflection of the witch casting it. The inn was full of odd but charming guests and lodgers, like the modern-day knight or the witch trapped in a fox's body, and everyone was thoughtful and understanding. I just love books that create a cozy atmosphere through the characters, and this one did it pretty well. The side characters were not necessarily super complex, but everyone got a little backstory and had their own thing going on. Sera's love interest, Luke, got his own POV and I liked that it really added something to the story, because he works for the Guild that Sera is exiled from. That doesn't mean that he agrees with the views of the Guild, and he too has his own problems with it. He was a well-developed character. The romance was cute, and I got the feeling that Sera and Luke truly understood each other. But the sex scene felt completely out of place for me, I'm sorry. It just didn't match the cozy vibes of the rest of the book, same with the swearing. I mean, cozy fantasy doesn't have to be suited for younger readers, but some things just disrupt a story like this. I also wasn't a fan of the time jump in the beginning, because it felt a little clunky how only the first two chapters were set 15 years ago. And I think that that's too big of a time jump, because 15 years is a long time to be at the exact same place in life, especially since Sera was a child when she lost her magic. I couldn't really grasp what she did in all the years in between and what her plans for the future were, and yes, now she gets a chance to restore her magic, but not thanks to her own doing. It is mentioned that she got depression and had to learn to ask for help first, though, and I appreciate the representation. The ending was not my thing for multiple reasons, so I put some spoilers: I know it's a cozy fantasy, but everything was terribly convenient in the end. Sera gets her magic back and then she goes to the Guild and gives all the stuck-up people a talk that things have to change now, and then they just do, come on. And the way how Sera loses her big magic again, for the greater good? Thanks, I hate it. I know that the point is that she doesn't need her magic to be happy in life, but she spent the last 15 YEARS sulking over it, and now it wasn't so bad? Worst trope ever. So yes, I do have some complaints, but I can still call this a good book and I would recommend it to everyone who's looking for a quick and wholesome read.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hodderscape for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

How lucky are we that we can find books that make us sad to be over, but so incredibly happy that we got to read them in the first place?

I am a huge fan of Sangu Mandanna and have been since I read her first book. Her writing is beautiful, her plots are everything I need and more and her characters feel like family. This book, above all, felt exactly like coming home - and gave me so much more excitement to keep working on my own little stories. (and isn't it beautiful how art does that?)

Sera was my hero. She's a grumpy little witch with many dreams and much more love for all the people in her life. She's strong, she's smart, she's hilarious and she will go to the ends of the earth for the people she loves. Luke is just like her and yet so different. A cold, slightly detached man who just wants what is best for his little sister but ends up finding what's best for him in the most unlikely place: a little, magical inn in the middle of nowhere.

Matilda, Jasmine, Nicholas, Posy, Theo, Roo-Roo, Clemmie... All these characters are so loved by me. The found family, the cosiness, the love in this book just made it one of my all time favourites. Every once in a while I'll be fortunate enough to find a book that I fee is just right for me and this book is all that and so much more.

“Meanwhile, across the country, a certain innkeeper was about to discover that when you hold tight to the little magic you find, when years go by and the world loses much of its colour and still you refuse to forget the magic, magic will go out of its way to show you that it remembers you too.”

[emilybookedup · Rating 3 out of 5]

liked this but didn’t love, deff enjoyed her other one more 🧙🏼🥹 i think this was either hyped up in my head orrrr an unfortunately side effect of reading this after a 5-star read.

simply put, heading into Halloween week i was wanting some more magic vs the found family vibes that we got in this book. the backhalf picked up for me with the magic front but the first half was a bit slow.… it took me almost a week to get through which is unusual for me.

it was funny at parts (the fox lollll) and i really liked the ending, but overall i’d recommend A VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES more! ps they are not related and can be read as standalones :)

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why are these so good?!

Perfectly cozy romance with a hint of mystery and a lovable found family.

I don’t really know how to explain it, but these books sooth my soul. I’d happily dive right into this world and live out my years with these fabulous characters.

My Favorite Things…
- NICHOLAS
- THE FOUND FAMILY!
- swoony romance
- laugh out loud funny
- diverse cast of characters, in both personality and whimsy and representation!

I love everything about this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

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Thank you Berkley for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Muffinsandbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lire ce livre, c'est comme enfin rentrer à la maison après une loooongue journée de travail. C'est une couverture chaude quand il fait froid en hiver. C'est une bonne boisson bien fraiche après des heures de marche en plein été. C'est tellement réconfortant que j'ai du mal à trouver les mots pour vous dire à quel point ce roman m'a touchée, émue, happée, ré-enchantée. C'est une petite pépite avec un found family comme on en voit peu, un roman loufoque, si addictif, si simple et pourtant si beau... C'est pile poil ce que j'attendais et c'est un roman qui m'a fait un bien fou !

[jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

sangu my beloved …. whyyy????? it’s not too late to write in a little epilogue or something to fix that ending …

i’ll circle back at a later date. did overall enjoy this A LOT!!!! love love love my quirky little family <3 i’m just feeling very conflicted because that ending was so ….. bleh and unsatisfying after everything.

thank you thank you Berkley for the free eARC!!!

[✨⚡ Kelcey (felinebooktrovert) ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"My name is Sera Swan. My magic is a galaxy. I belong in the sky, but I stopped being able to fly. And maybe that would have been okay if I could have become a creature of the earth instead, but this world, down here, it doesn't want me."

4.5 stars

This was such an unexpectedly emotional and beautiful story.

A lot of this book ended up being unexpected for me. There ended up being a pretty great ensemble of characters, some that took some time getting used to and others that were great from the start, but they all worked together well.

Sera and Luke were so entertaining and I loved watching their relationship slowly bloom. But the heavy hitter here was 100% Sera. Her journey to not only get her magic back but also her mental health was 🤌 I was tearing up several times as she struggled with herself and her past and it was just so similar emotionally to what I've gone through in my life so I was connecting to her on several levels.

This is a very character driven story with not a lot of action to speak of. More cozy fantasy vibes with the main storyline leaving a lot of space for character developments and I enjoyed it so much 🩷

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!