This Spell Can't Last

These Witches Don't Burn #0.5

by Isabel Sterling

Hannah and Veronica battle a Blood Witch in the thrilling, heartbreaking prequel to These Witches Don't Burn.

Turns out, New York City is kind of a nightmare for a witch.

Hannah's not exactly loving her trip to the city, considering the huge crowds and layers of concrete blocking her connection to the elements. But a weekend away with her best friend, Gemma, and her girlfriend, Veronica, still has its advantages. After all, it's hard to complain when you're making out with the Statue of Liberty in the background.

With Veronica's graduation on the horizon, Hannah is determined to enjoy every second of their time together, even if that means hanging out with Veronica's new friends, a group of Caster Witches determined to stir up trouble with a local Blood Witch.

Thrust into the middle of a terrifying magical feud, Hannah begins to question if she can really trust Veronica, especially with her heart. And with a vengeful Blood Witch on their trail, she'll have to use every ounce of her powers to make sure she gets back to Salem alive.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBT, Queer, Lesbian, Witches, Romance

102 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 28, 2020

About the author

Isabel Sterling is a master coach and author of sapphic romance for teens and adults. Their novels include These Witches Don’t Burn, This Coven Won’t Break, The Coldest Touch, and the forthcoming With All My Haunted Heart. She lives with her spouse and fur-babies in Central New York, where the winters are frigid, the summers are too hot, and autumn is perfect.

Reviews

[Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking to read the series in the order it was published, read: These Witches Don't Burn, This Spell Can't Last, then This Coven Won't Break.

If you're looking to read the series in chronological order, read: This Spell Can't Last, These Witches Don't Burn, then This Coven Won't Break.

This novella delivers on exactly what it promises: filling in what happened between Hannah and Veronica during the trip to New York. While this isn't an absolute vital part of the series, I thought it was a good bridge after finishing These Witches Don't Burn, before beginning This Coven Won't Break.

Update (7/12/20): After finishing the series, I'm glad I read this between TWDB and TCWB. I'd recommend reading these books in the order they were published.

[giulia ✿ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A prequel novella to explain what went down between Veronica and Hannah, with the Blood Witch and the Casters. It definitely shows why the two girls were wrong for each other, or at least, they weren't right anymore. My heart hurts for Hannah, but I know she found her road now.

[jut · Rating 4 out of 5]

"i’ll get over it, but i’ll never forget.”

this novel just confirmed what i already knew: veronica is toxic and i hate her. hannah is better is her new path, finding what is really good for her, this book really hurt me because i felt just like i was hannah and i dont i wish to nobody to go through an abusive relationship, it's better finished than hurting.

[Zoë ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yup I hate Veronica even more now

[Mandy (Bookishlove85) · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I’ll get over the way she ripped out my heart without realizing how much she was hurting me.
I’ll get over it, but I’ll never forget.”


That quote...too real.

Can’t stand V. Hope I’m book 2 she’s not as horrible as she is here.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is short and sweet. It gives you the details of the NYC trip and let’s you get reacquainted with the characters if your reading this after book 1. If your reading this before the first book, it’s still a good intro to the characters without getting overwhelmed.

The world build is minimal but it does not hinder the plot progression for this little short story. It’s just the right amount to wet your appetite about what the first book is all about if your reading this chronologically.

Well off to continue my marathon with a re read of Book 1.

Happy Reading y’all

Jo

[Francesca 🇵🇸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to beat the shit out of Veronica

[Mackenzie - PhDiva Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella actually was published after the first book in the series, These Witches Don't Burn and provided some much needed context to the events that preceded the series. I really felt that this enhanced how I understood and felt about the first book, which I noted in my review felt as though I started halfway through a book.

When the first book picks up, Hannah and her ex-girlfriend Veronica are in the midst of the wreckage of their breakup. The pain was so raw, but I admit I had struggled to fully connect with it because I never saw them when things were good. I struggled to understand what could have possibly happened to their relationship to leave them in the state they were in with one another--full of both love and hate.

Now, I got to see the notorious Manhattan trip that sparked the beginning of the end for Hannah and Veronica, and led to Hannah's paranoia over the events happening in Salem in the first book.

If you are just planning to start, I highly recommend reading this first before the others!

[exorcismemily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Spell Can't Last is the prequel novella to These Witches Don't Burn and This Coven Won't Break. Although this story happened before both books, it plays a role in the background of both stories, and I really enjoyed getting to see what actually happened leading up to the two novels.

This book made me so relieved that Hannah got out of the toxic relationship with Veronica. Veronica sucks more in this book than the other two books.

I've had fun reading this series, and if more books ever come out in this universe, I'll definitely check them out.

[ashlyn ˚✧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was everything to me. it is truly the prequel i needed! every single second was insane but i loved it so so much. it’s a tad bit better than the actual first book in my opinion. it just gave so much more context for the first book and especially for hannah and veronica’s relationship. it helped me understand why they broke up, which i’m so proud of hannah for doing so!! it made me hate veronica a lot, like it was just so upsetting how she acted. i was so emotional throughout it all, but this book was absolute perfection!

[maría · Rating 5 out of 5]

acabado mientras me hago las raíces 🥳

[Marti (Letstalkaboutbooksbaybee) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this novella to help me remember the characters and the world before moving onto book 2 since it’s been a while since I read book 1.

However, this was a pretty good little story on its own! A lot was packed into 82 pages.

[marika · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice to see what actually happened after the countless mentions of this trip throughout the first book but i was expecting something more exciting and terrifying, and generally it didn’t get me much invested.

[Poshita Khare · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m really glad that this book was written, I can properly hate Veronica now

[Dylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a prequel that absolutely didn’t need to exist. That being said, I had a fun time with this mini book, and the author does a really good job writing about complex teen emotions.

[Billy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This makes me want to re-read These Witches Don’t Burn so bad

[frannie.qb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn, Veronica..

This is the proof of how queer relationships can unfortunately be toxic or manipulative, too.
Sometimes loving someone is not enough. Love must go both ways, must be nurturing and healthy for whomever is involved, must be kind and selfless.

So happy Hannah found Morgan <3

[W.A. Ashes · Rating 5 out of 5]

for the win!

I LOVED this story. This Spell Can’t Last is the prequel to These Witches Don’t Burn and it helped fill in some gaps. It’s a shorter work, but have a clear picture of the trouble that lead to Veronica and Hannah’s distaste for each other. After reading this I dislike Veronica even more and need to get my handed on the second book on the main series.

We get to see all three types of the magic in Sterling’s world and I have to say that blood magic is so underrated. Sterling uses its reputation in the fantasy literature world and combines it with a character that leaves you feeling conflicted, just just blood magic should.

[james ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

that last line? aaabsolutely felt that with my whole chest. this story is an ESSENTIAL incredient in this series and in understanding the scope of hannah's narrative in the novels.

also, veronica can choke

[Aina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[lola :D · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was fun but also a bit of a mess

[rafis · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐3,5.

Meu deus o quanto eu quero socar a Verônica não tá escrito, puta que pariu que garota chata e sem noção. E o prêmio de pior namorada vai para... Fora ela e a Tori serem umas chatas, gostei.

[Alex | | findingmontauk1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fresh off finishing These Witches Don't Burn, I instantly connected with this prequel novella like no time had passed at all. I think that helps when reading prequels and sequels. But this story makes me realize just how putrid and selfish Veronica is. She is the worst girlfriend ever, so emotionally leechy and snake-like. SO TOXIC! UGH! OK, so I do not like her at all! Lol - but that makes the Hannah growth arc in TWDB so much more powerful and resilient to me. It was good seeing all that went down, which was briefly summarized in TWDB, on this daunting school trip to NYC. But now I just have even more empathy and understanding for Hannah and I am rooting for her love life here!

It was also super cool to get so entwined with a group of Casters, one of the three witch clans we are introduced to in this world. Following along with them in this story really amped up the pace! All their potion work was a lot of fun and it was just cool seeing a different side of the magic that Starling has created in this new magical universe!

I really am enjoying this universe and will definitely be reading the sequel soon! I want this to be a big series as it definitely has SO MUCH potential for expansion and storylines! There are so many options at new plots when you compare the three Clans and how they interact and operate... I can't wait for more!

[Hira Chaudhary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This prequel novella tells the story of what happened in New York with the blood witch that's talked about and referenced in These Witches Don't Burn. I really liked getting to read this because we got to see what Hannah and Veronica were like as a couple, which really informed my reread of These Witches Don't Burn and gave me a much better understanding of the issues between the two of them.

I loved seeing Hannah here and how she refused to be taken in by the Caster witches despite how easily Veronica was convinced to work with them. I liked how she stood up for herself even when her girlfriend was trying to manipulate her into agreeing. Veronica's actions and words and reactions in this novella really showed how wrong she was for Hannah.

It was also enlightening to see more of the relationship between Caster and Blood witches before reading This Coven Won't Break to get a better understanding of the animosity and prejudices between them all.

TW: Manipulative partner, violence, blood

[Samantha Welbergen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been everything that I wanted. I read These Witches Don't Burn quite a while ago and was very happy that the sequel had come out. Somehow I had completely forgotten that this prequel was a thing and I was very happy to finally do so. I was beyond curious to know what had happened in NYC when they encountered the Blood Witch and the other Caster witches. Especially because this has played quite a big part in the 2nd book, This Coven Won't Break. I certainly DO recommend to read the prequel before starting the sequel, just so you have a better perspective of what these characters have been through before being (re)introduced in this book once again! Definitely worth buying the ebook.

[April Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella was a good way to give some of the backstory between Veronica and Hannah. It definitely explains Hannah's feelings in the beginning of These Witches Don't Burn. I didn't realize how bad Veronica was for Hannah until reading it, and now I fully understand why they shouldn't be in a relationship.

[▪ Dayanna ▪ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me gustó ver un poco más detallado lo que pasó en New York, pero en si no aporta mucho a la trama por qué te lo cuentan en los otros libros.

Este extra solo me hizo confirmar lo mal que me cae Verónica :)

Y Tori pues, perdió mucho si pero wey no era la manera .–.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad to finally know what happened in New York!

[Maggie Cavanaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was super cute! Very excited to dive into These Witches Don’t Burn