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Practical Potions #1

Practical Potions and Premeditated Murder

The first in the Practical Potions series.

Sella is tired of being a failure.

She has a lovely, cozy shop—an heirloom from her mother—, a snarky feline familiar, and one, single friend to call her own. It should be enough. But Sella’s magical abilities left a stain on her hometown, and even years away didn’t repair her reputation. The life of a kitchen witch is rough when everyone thinks Sella’s magical blends of coffee and tea will leave them with boils instead of the intended “motivation” or “self-compassion.”

But when a murder shakes the town and Sella’s best friend becomes suspect one, failure is a luxury they can’t afford. Luckily, the murdered woman—a confident ghost with a fiery determination for justice—is ready to help… and she’s more than Sella ever bargained for. With her friends, her familiar, and a bit of magic, Sella is ready to prove herself once and for all.

Although, perhaps she should brew a strong cup of “courage” first.

Just in case.

278 pages, Paperback

First published October 23, 2023

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About the author

Wren Jones

6 books111 followers
Wren Jones lives in the Sonoran Desert with her family and two cats. Like most writers, she has been a storyteller for a long time. After her daughter was born, true crime felt a little too true, and darker fiction felt a little too dark. She started reading cozy mysteries, and after a while, she realized a little dose of fantasy and bi-rep was what she was missing. She figured what better time to research, write, and launch a novel that she’d been procrastinating on than while working full-time and raising a tiny human, so here we are.

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5 stars
164 (24%)
4 stars
260 (38%)
3 stars
181 (26%)
2 stars
54 (8%)
1 star
12 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
Profile Image for Azthia.
123 reviews31 followers
October 13, 2023
Cozy Fantasy murder mystery? YES! Loved this book, can't wait read more about this world. Will be back with a detailed review in a bit. In the meantime, if you see this, THIS BOOK IS OUT TODAY. Get yourself a copy and be cozy.
Profile Image for Meric McWiley.
104 reviews
March 2, 2024
Cute

I'll start by saying, to be completely fair, I picked this up to be a palette cleanser after going through a big fantasy series. It worked well enough for that. I chose it simply by the cover, which is adorable and wonderful, and when I read the synopsis it sounded cute. And it was, it just wasn't quite...enough. This book is obviously first in a series, and served as a good set up for more, so hopefully what follows will get better and better.

Non-spoiler issues: There were a lot of grammatical errors, spelling, punctuation errors, and even entire missing words throughout the book, that simple editing should catch and clean up. There were also a lot, and I mean, a LOT of weird metaphors used throughout. I understand a well placed one here and there, but this seemed a little overdone. The idea of the story was good, and the cozy fantasy vibes were just right, but the writing was a bit lacking.

Spoilers beyond this point!

Spoiler-y issues: First, what race are the people who aren't human? We are told Lohrna is some form of shifter, but we aren't told what, and everyone else is described as either human or not human and having horns. What race is simply "having horns?"

There were moments in the story, where people who could neither see nor hear Cali, would respond after Cali finished speaking, and even respond accordingly as if they heard her, which pulled me from the story as I realized them. The author did a good job of mentioning the trouble Lohrna had "seeing" Cali, but didn't do so great at showing that people couldn't hear her.

The ending was very quick and to the point. The murder happened simply because an untrained witch saw a branding on someone and felt the need to kill them and that's that? It felt very forced and unnecessary.

Lastly, honestly, the whole story could've been told in 150 pages, because nothing truly happened throughout the book. Most of it was just a day by day play-by-play that was kind of unnecessary. It didn't flow well, and there wasn't much to actually keep me engaged as the reader. It took me four days to finish a book that would normally take me two because nothing drew me in. The only thing that kept me coming back was knowing after I finished it, I could start something else.

Overall, 2.5 stars would be my rating. The plot is a good idea, and cute and cozy, it just needed better writing and definitely better editing to reach a higher rating. Perhaps it was the author's first and it'll only get better from here.
Profile Image for Natalie  all_books_great_and_small .
3,359 reviews207 followers
November 12, 2025
I received a gifted audio copy of this book to listen to in exchange for an honest review.

Practical Potions and Premeditated Murder is the first book in a cosy witchy mystery series with loveable characters, a sassy cat familiar, and magic.
We follow Sella, who's returned to her hometown after leaving several years ago due to an incident that ruined her reputation. Now, with her mother gone, Stella has returned to run the spellshop as a kitchen witch that her mother left her when she passed away.
When a newcomer to town is murdered, Sella finds herself not only needing to prove her innocence but that of her best friend and track down and solve who the real culprit is. Sella is assisted by the ghost of the murdered victim, who only she can communicate with.
The narrator (Samantha Norberry) is absolutely perfect narrating this book. She brings the story to life in a fun and cosy way, and her voice is calming, soothing, and joyful to listen to, which fits the feel of the story so well.
Sella is just so lovely, and you can relate to her frustrations and values so much, and her sassy familiar is just hilarious! There's one scene near the beginning of the book with a sheet that had me in absolute stitches!
Profile Image for Katrina Peed.
563 reviews6 followers
February 27, 2024
The ultimate cozy fantasy-mystery. Filled with sassy familiars, friendly ghosts, and suspicious humans.

I was so excited to hear that this book would get an audiobook version this year because that's my preferred medium for "cozy" stories and I think it will be accessible for a wider audience.

"fun for the whole family" literally because my mom, brother, and dad read it (and loved it) before me!
Profile Image for Ryann Rice.
1,718 reviews13 followers
October 1, 2023
Perfect cozy Fall murder mystery! I really loved Sella and Lorhna! Their friendship was so sweet and genuine. Cali was so funny and had such a great outlook considering she was a ghost and had no problem haunting people til they gave her what she wanted. And Beejee the talking cat had me rolling. So grumpy and cynical and I loved it

👻 witchy vibes 🪄
👻 funny Ghost with a positive outlook
👻 Murder Mystery
👻 Found family
👻 snarky animal familiar that talks 🐈‍⬛
👻 bookshop and bakery
👻Redemption for FMC
👻 Low Stakes and fast paced.

Perfect read for fall or spooky season. It keeps you guessing til the end. I hope this becomes a series bc I would love to read more in this world!

4.5 ⭐️
Profile Image for Danielle's.
Author 1 book169 followers
May 28, 2026
It’s been a while since I read a cozy mystery and I really enjoyed this one. It had all the right vibes and I was fully invested in the story.

Sells is a witch who owns a shop. She isn’t fully accepted by the community around her. When one of her customers turns up dead she finds herself at the centre of a murder investigation. With the help of her familiar she starts to piece together what happened.

This was read beautifully by Samantha Norbury.
139 reviews
October 12, 2023
ARC for honest review

This book is perfect if you like mysteries, fantasy, and especially anything cozy! Make yourself a cup of tea, get cozy under a blanket, and starting reading "Practical Potions and Premeditated Murder". This novel kind of gave me similar feelings to 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch', which is a huge compliment as I love that show!

So happy this is the start of a series!
14 reviews2 followers
October 9, 2023
4.5/5 ARC Copy
A perfect fall cozy fantasy mystery, this was a great feel good read combining cozy vibes with an egaging plot. I love the world Jones showed us, teasing the reader with details throughout without taking away from the plot or deadening the scenes, I can't wait to explore more of this fantastical world in Jones' future books. I loved the character of Cali, and Beejee perfectly embodies the grumpy sassy cat everyone knows! There were twists and turns throughout to keep the reader guessing, but with enough clues scattered that the ending felt satisfying.

If you're looking for a fun read with cozy fantasy vibes and a good plot this is a perfect read.
Profile Image for Jackie.
202 reviews4 followers
October 2, 2023
Thank you so much for letting me ARC read this, it was AMAZING! 🎃🍂

This is the absolute PERFECT book to read during this fall/spooky season. Even though this was a murder mystery that kept me on my toes, it was still SOOOO COZY!!
My absolute favorite character was Beejee, the sassy cat, AKA Cali’s familiar. He was such a mood the whole book.
If I lived near Cali’s bakery, I’d never leave. It sounded PERFECT!!! Please make me a cup of coffee with extra calming and self love!!
If you want to read a cozy murder mystery with a kitchen witch, a werewolf, a ghost, a HILARIOUS talking cat, with some lgbt representation, this is the book for you!!
🐈‍⬛💎🎃🍂🔥🕯️

I hope this becomes a series !! I would LOVE to get to know more about some characters, their backstories and love interests !! 💗

4.5 stars
Profile Image for R. Raeta.
Author 8 books930 followers
December 5, 2023
I really enjoyed this! Super cozy murder mystery complete with a witch and her talking cat, a ghost, and all things magical. Beejee (the talking cat) was absolutely charming, the friendships (both new and old) were sweet and lovely.
Profile Image for Kari.
878 reviews28 followers
September 14, 2024
3.5 This book was cute and cozy, and it had some fun small town, witchy, found family vibes. It was low stakes fantasy, which I liked, but I wish the mystery bit were not so predictable. I enjoyed it but don’t think I’d revisit the book in the future…
Profile Image for Tan.
14 reviews3 followers
October 11, 2023
I was so excited to receive an ARC of this cozy mystery and I was not disappointed. The friendship between Sella and Lohrna was really lovely to read, and Cali was a really fun sunshine character. This book has the perfect cozy feels for autumn and I loved the magic. I wish I could put a dash of hope or calm or confidence in my morning coffee! I will definitely continue on with the series in the future and I look forward to seeing where Wren takes these characters in the sequel!
4 reviews
October 12, 2023
The perfect book to get you out of a slump. ARC review.

The small town cozy vibes and magical mystery led me on a journey that was easy to follow along with and contained characters you’ll grow to love.

Stella, a local witch with some pain points in her past, her sharp-tongued feline companion Beejee, and her best friend Lohrna are compelled to help Cali (a ghost) solve her own murder. As they wander the town searching for answers, we learn more about the magical world they live in and watch as these companions learn more about their pasts and each other.

The book is easy to read and the plot is easy to follow making it a perfect way to reset after a stressful day or recover after reading something heavy. I can’t wait to see where these relationships go in book 2!
Profile Image for Mandy Kool.
484 reviews27 followers
March 14, 2024
This series has some potential, maybe.

I love the premise and the talking cat, but often found myself confused at what was happening and where we were.

Not a lot happened, especially for a murder mystery. Overall just meh.
Profile Image for Ibi.
216 reviews2 followers
October 6, 2024
I picked this book up to read in October after the promise of a cozy, witchy murder mystery, but unfortunately, I was left disappointed. The plot felt boring and the characters were either uninteresting or outright annoying. The pacing was disjointed—while the beginning dragged with too much setup, the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying.

What frustrated me the most was the main character’s lack of agency. She struggled to make decisions for herself and was often pushed into situations by other characters, making her feel passive and disconnected from the story.

Though the premise had potential, the execution left much to be desired.
Profile Image for Kennedy.
28 reviews1 follower
October 5, 2024
I loved the vibes of this book, it was definitely cozy and I love the idea of running a magical tea and coffeeshop

But the writing and plot could use a lot of work... the beginning was very slow and the ending was rushed. The main character was very passive which was frustrating for most of the book; she let a lot of people gossip about her or make rude comments and wouldn't really say anything. And it was also really aggravating how often other characters (especially her friends) pressured her into doing things throughout the book, i was so mad for her
Profile Image for Jules Q.
32 reviews1 follower
October 16, 2023
The takeaway: the setting is charming, and the descriptions will have you drinking way too much coffee, but the mystery and some characters tend to be as wispy as plumes of steam over your mug.

The good: This is exactly the book you want to be reading at this time of year. The ambience, setting, and descriptions of food and people are thick, warm, and rich. Even in the overly warm southwest, this book can transport you to a rainy countryside near the ocean. It’s magic is simple and subtle. Additionally, I liked many of the characters, especially Beejee and Lohrna. They were charming even if I felt like I didn’t really know them by the end.

The bad: I didn’t really like Sella. I kept expecting to like her, but she never quite materialized. What did manifest was often an odd combination of insecure and disdainful that I gave up on ever finding endearing about halfway through.
I also felt like the mystery was a bit vague, but this is more than likely because the story spent more time on the setting and tone, and I can’t argue that in a cozy fantasy that the mystery should fade a bit to prioritize what the book does so well.

The ugly: None.

Recommended? If you like cozy fantasy and a dash of murder with your coffee, yes.

I was sent an advance copy of this work; however, all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Shayna.
26 reviews2 followers
October 1, 2023
Received as ARC: This cozy mystery has the loveliest setting. I loved reading about the different folk in the town and their animal characteristics, it added such depth to their personalities. This book is perfect for Sabrina fans and love cozy reads with a lot of baking! I loved the relationship that grew between Sella and Cali. My dream would be to have someone make this into a cozy, potion making game I could replay forever!
Profile Image for Jennifer Feltman.
29 reviews5 followers
May 22, 2024
An enchanting read!! It’s a mix of magic, friendship, mystery and playfulness.
A kitchen witch who reluctantly tries to help a ghost solve her murder. She also gets help from her shifter friend and her cynical cat familiar. I loved how welcoming and comfy this book felt while reading it, but also had a fun engaging mystery.
If you’re a cozy mystery enthusiast who likes a touch of magic, you will really enjoy this book. Can’t wait to read book 2 when it comes out.
Profile Image for Alyssa.
241 reviews
October 26, 2024
I loved the talking cat familiar and the cozy witch vibes. I do wish there was more world building, I feel a lot of things were told or alluded to but not necessarily shown in full. I liked the plot, I just wish there was more to it? Feel like there is a lot left to explore. But overall I enjoyed it!!
Profile Image for Brianna Gorey.
21 reviews
November 6, 2024
I absolutely loved this cozy witchy read. I will be reading the sequel to this book. As a witch who loves true crime and murder mystery this book was an easy read, though it took me longer than I thought since I didn’t have a lot of time to read these past two weeks.
Profile Image for ghostly_bookish.
1,133 reviews5 followers
December 16, 2024
CAWPILE 6.29
3.5 STARS

Picked this one up as I wanted something 'cozy' and it is cozy despite murder!
I loved all the different representation, the vibes were really good and I loved our main character Sella. I felt the ending was a bit flat but I am interested enough to pick up the sequel.
Profile Image for Matt Fitzgerald.
39 reviews
October 3, 2025
This fall seemed like the perfect time to read this cozy fantasy mystery. Quite enjoyed the witty banter between the characters and all the fun chapter titles (seriously, this was a fantastic feature that I also loved in Damsels and Dinosaurs)! Excited to read book 2 in the near future.
Profile Image for tory.
100 reviews1 follower
September 3, 2026
idk maybe more like 2.5⭐️

i don’t think this author’s writing is for me, which sucks bc the story itself was a really good idea!!
Profile Image for Katie.
41 reviews7 followers
September 26, 2023
This cozy mystery was amazing. Wren paints this magical world you wish you could exist in while simultaneously pulling you into a murder mystery. It also made me crave scones lol I adored the characters and can’t wait to hopefully see more from them again one day!
Profile Image for Sarah.
85 reviews7 followers
October 26, 2024
A beautiful cozy read, fantastic for the fall.
Profile Image for Ambur B..
79 reviews
September 28, 2023
ARC for honest review:

Pack your bags and get ready to move to Marra as Wren invites you into the wonderfully crafted lives of Sella the Kitchen Witch and her friends.

I generally don’t read mystery novels but this one had me hooked from the start. Every time I opened the book felt like visiting a friend and I found myself wishing I really could sit in Sella’s loft by the fire enjoying a scone and sipping her magic infused teas.

The characters are thoughtfully made with unique names and you get to know them all fairly well.
You can absolutely feel the sarcasm of her sassy familiar Beegee as he bellows his soon to be infamous line “I have grievances”!

It has definite Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets Supernatural vibes and the mystery had me guessing until the end.

I don’t have any negatives to share, it was good…
read it, get a good laugh and make some new fictional friends. I know I’ll be going back to reread. Save me a seat next to Lohrna and Cali <3
Profile Image for Morgan.
21 reviews30 followers
October 8, 2023
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! A cozy mystery with a kitchen witch, a ghost, and a talking cat? Yes, please! ❤️

This is the perfect book if you want a cozy fantasy with a touch of murder mystery full of vivid magical moments. The characters and setting are lovable & memorable, and the plot is fairly straightforward.

I’m looking forward to the next book. I’d love to spend more time with Stella, Beejee, and the rest of the town!
Profile Image for Dorothy.
11 reviews4 followers
October 28, 2024
Who says it's too late for a Halloween review? There's still plenty of time to dive into this enchanting murder mystery and add some cozy witchy vibes to your autumn reading lineup!

I was so excited to read Practical Potions and Premeditated Murder and it definitely doesn't disappoint! Wren Jones has crafted an incredibly cozy cast of characters and the books reminds me a little of Shady Hollow by Juneau Black (another amazingly cozy murder mystery). Sella has recently moved back to town after an extended period away and is still trying to overcome the little magical mishap that happened in her youth—known to the locals as, “The Incident”. Her feline familiar, Beejee is the sassiest cat I've had the pleasure to read and I loved all of his witty little quips. When a murder happens in their quaint little town, Sella is haunted by the ghost of the victim and it’s up to her to solve the murder!

There’s a quite beautiful portrayal of grief in here that really tugged on my heartstrings. I lost a parent young so I felt I really related to Sella in that respect. I think it’s a sign of a good book when the author helps you tap into your own emotions that way. In a happy sad way of course!

Pick this one up for the cozy murder mystery but stay for the quirky characters and wholesome vibes!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews