The Burial Witch

The Language of Magic #2.5

by Cari Thomas

An enchanting new novella set in the magical world of Sunday Times bestseller Threadneedle and The Times bestseller Shadowstitch

“The unopenable box. A mythical object that appears in fairy tales and folklore across all cultures around the world. Sometimes the box can only be opened by the right person at the right time, such a rightful heir, and in other tales it is considered a warning. A test given to the protagonist who are typically forbidden from opening the box. When they eventually succumb, what they unleash cannot be put back in.”

We follow Miranda Richardson, a highly strung, highly driven member of the covens who discovers a mysterious, unopenable box in her parent’s loft.

Taking place between events in Threadneedle and Shadowstitch, this is a perfect magical read for fans of the series, collectors and all dreamers.

Genres: Fantasy, Magic, Fiction, Witches, Novella, Young Adult, Audiobook

150 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2025

About the author

I grew up in the Wye Valley area of Wales and moved to London in my twenties. I worked as a journalist for various publications and at a creative agency, before finally doing what I'd always wanted to do. I quit my job and wrote a book about magic.

I split my days between freelance work and roaming London, writing in cafés and libraries and any hideouts I could find, eating far too much cake and imagining a magical world hidden within today's London. A world of wild, ancient witchcraft. A world of modern fairytale. A world where libraries made of books breathe dusty pages beneath the city and witch clubs serve up magical cocktails and vintage shops sell memories. A world where magic gleams both light and very, very dark. It was fun. It resulted in my debut novel Threadneedle, the first in my Language of Magic series.

I have now moved back West, to Bristol, with my husband and son. When I'm not reading strange magical books and working on my next book, I like to eat good food, watch movies, dance around the kitchen, write poetry and wander the woods, which I believe is the most magical place on earth.

Reviews

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

Essentially, like her first novella, Hedge Witch, this is a short glimpse into the home life of series main character Miranda. I personally love the Threadneedle series, and up until now, readers have not learned that much about what Miranda's family is like--only that they put lots of pressure on her academically and religiously. So this novella is a nice window into her character. It helps readers to understand how myopically inflexible and narrow-minded her parents are about being accepting of other belief systems outside of Christianity--a rather big hurdle for Miranda's relationship to Wicca. There is a great section in which Miranda's mother discusses how hard it was for her in the UK at first as a child coming from Nigeria. Her mother felt discriminated against and othered. How ironic then that she can't see how she is doing the same thing by targeting anyone in the community (ie. Maya) who is not Christian. Miranda makes many other great big discoveries about her family, especially her grandparents, but I don't want to spoil the book for fans of this series.

If you haven't read Threadneedle and Shadowstitch, this is not the place to start. Both Hedge Witch and Burial Witch need to be read alongside (or after) the main books in the series. They are basically fan service, I think, to tide readers over between main installments--not totally necessary, but great fun if you are eagerly awaiting book 3.

[Kirsty · Rating 2 out of 5]

blah blah blah, god and sin and blah blah. NEXT!!!!

[Rosemary Standeven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novella that appears more and more like a terrifying horror story. The writing is superb, and chills race down your spine:

“Miranda tried to change the channel, to escape the dream, to wake up! Please wake up! But the figure had her gripped. It moved closer. It was formed of a dark density, of wild, open-ended edges as if it had been cut out of the night itself. Sharp glass. Ancient static. Miranda tried to move back but instead the figure moved closer.”

Miranda is a lonely evangelical Christian school girl, who is petrified of disappointing her family and God. Her siblings and parents are perfect and high-achieving, she can’t possibly match them. She has mapped her future life out, and cannot – will not – stray from her path. Possibly on the spectrum, but at the very least, suffering from OCD.
While researching her family history for a school project, Miranda comes across some of her dead Nigerian grandmother’s things – including a box that cannot be opened. That is where the terror starts. Miranda will not allow a box to get the better of her. She tries to ask her mother about her family’s history, and whether they believed in non-Christian gods. Her mother shuts down any such conversation.
But what is really going on? Is Miranda having a nervous breakdown, or is she being possessed by something evil or just not Christian? Are her hateful wishes coming true?
You will never look at dolls the same way again.
Great for both horror fans and for readers interested in family dynamics, belief systems and teenage angst.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by either the author or publisher.

[Natasha Leighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
The Burial Witch, Cari Thomas’s second novella set in the world of Threadneedle, was a quieter, more introspective coming by of age story than the previous instalment.

However, its emotionally evocative tone and slow-burn journey (involving secrecy, magic, temptation and self acceptance) was soo powerfully compelling I could’ve easily read 400 more pages!

Set in the London suburb of Richmond, we follow Miranda (who we last saw in Threadneedle) before her friendship with Anna and Rowan. During the summer she finds a mysteriously sealed box in her parents’ loft, and sees her meticulously organised life begin to unfurl in the most unexpected of ways.

With every book of Cari’s I read, the more in awe of her writing skills I become. It’s the perfect blend of magical and moody with an understated contemporary gothic undertone that captured Miranda’s conflicted feelings and struggles soo spectacularly.

She’s one of the characters I really wanted to explore more of in Threadneedle, as I found her role in the coven and her non-magical, (strict) Christian upbringing a rather interesting combination.

And she didn’t disappoint. Her desire to live up to her family’s exacting standards and the internalising of her emotional pain and feelings of “otherness” was really well explored. What’s more, I became soo invested in Miranda exploring her Nigerian heritage and the spiritual practices of her ancestors — which her mother is set on keeping in the past.

I also liked seeing Miranda get support from occult shop owner, Maya, guiding Miranda through processing this new aspect of her life. Though will say,it was Miranda’s interactions with her mum and sister (in the later chapters) that really gave us the most insight into her feelings and the emotional growth we see her undertake.

If you love intimate, character driven storytelling with a powerful message then you’ll definitely really enjoy this one!

Also, thank you Random Things Tours and Harper Voyager UK for the finished copy.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I can explain why this book touched me so much. I think it's mostly because this book touched me on a deep and personal level. Because, this book is about struggling with the faith you grew up with and the world you see around you. This book is about the God people made you picture and the God you picture based on what you see around you. This book is about the clash between God and Magic. It's mostly about a young teen struggling with growing into her own. And it's so beautifully well written!

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A deeper than expected novella fleshing out Miranda's character some more, but including magic, Nigerian beliefs, belonging and the challenges of race and racism.

[Oliver · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel a little bit torn with this book.

The story is heavily focused around religion and magic, which at the beginning I found really interesting as it showed a lot of promise of the story to come. However, as the story progresses and we see more of this 'dark' magic, the main protagonist becomes more rebellious among other things which is seen as wrong and the only way to 'fix' the protagonist is to completely devote herself to God.

Although this could just be her perspective I found it to be a bit pushy that all of the good things in life come from the church which made the book feel more like an advert for religion than a story. However, this may have also been a way in which the author wanted to outline how Christianity overrides other religions which in itself is a negative thing? If so I don't think this was done particularly well.

Overall, although I found that the story was a bit disappointing, the writing style was nice and therefore deserves some recognition.

Thank you to Cari Thomas

[Catalina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Burial Witch. From the very first page, the story pulled me in with its excellent pacing and compelling sense of mystery. The intrigue surrounding the mysterious box was especially well done—it kept me turning pages late into the night. One of my favorite aspects of the book was experiencing Miranda's first brushes with magic and the occult. Her journey felt authentic and grounded, and I appreciated how the author captured her fear and uncertainty. It was fascinating to watch Miranda question her faith and her heritage, trying to reconcile what she’s always believed with the strange new world unfolding around her. That inner conflict added depth to her character and made her story all the more engaging.
The Burial Witch was a gripping, atmospheric read with strong emotional and psychological layers.

[The Addiction of Fiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lovely little novella follows Miranda (one of the characters from Threadneedle) during her summer holidays. I had read that it is set between Threadneedle and Shadowstitch but it reads to me as if it is set before Threadneedle with Miranda just starting to discover all things magical and witchy.

Miranda unearths a creepy box in the attic of her family home that sets off a chain of witchy events. This unearths secrets, folklore, and a little loss of control for the super organised protagonist.

I loved getting to know Miranda and her family background a bit better. I haven’t read Shadowstitch yet but I’ve loved reading the novellas in between the main books to re-immerse myself in that world. This is a quick read — perfect for a little magical fix without diving into one of the longer novels. The writing is beautiful, the pace perfect and the story moreish.

I recommend this if you loved Threadneedle/ Shadowstitch and are into witches, hidden pasts, and a YA magical realism vibe.🌙🔮

Thank you to the author and Random Things tours for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest review. ❤️

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘I’ve never done anything I wasn’t supposed to.’

Miranda is a good girl. Studies hard, has great aspirations, heavily involved in the church … until one day she went looking in a suitcase and found a box. A box that intrigued her, consumed her. Miranda was obsessed!

I loved the questions Sarah directly and subliminally poised at Miranda. There were times I wondered whether Sarah was real or a manifestation of whatever was in the box, poke and prodding at Miranda’s psyche.

I did enjoy my time with Miranda and I am intrigued to know what happens to this young woman next. Does the box and its contents affect her aspirations in life?

I thought this novella would take me out of my comfort zone and it did push the boundaries. It wasn’t quite as magical and mystical as I was expecting having read the blurbs of the main Threadneedle books however it is a novella and not a full blown novel. It’s a good step in to the grown up fantasy world of magic – definitely not Harry Potter

[Chris Hendrickx · Rating 2 out of 5]

Teleurstellend ! Zat helemaal geen spanning in. Was enkel goed om nog es in het Engels te lezen. ☹️

[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️ Blurb -
An enchanting new novella set in the magical world of Sunday Times bestseller Threadneedle and The Times bestseller Shadowstitch
“The unopenable box. A mythical object that appears in fairy tales and folklore across all cultures around the world. Sometimes the box can only be opened by the right person at the right time, such a rightful heir, and in other tales it is considered a warning. A test given to the protagonist who are typically forbidden from opening the box. When they eventually succumb, what they unleash cannot be put back in.”
We follow Miranda Richardson, a highly strung, highly driven member of the covens who discovers a mysterious, unopenable box in her parent’s loft.
Taking place between events in Threadneedle and Shadowstitch, this is a perfect magical read for fans of the series, collectors and all dreamers.
💜 Review -
Even though the book is part of a series and I hadn't read any of the others, I still enjoyed it. I loved the author's writing style, it had me hooked from the very first page and I kept reading until the end. I loved following Miranda's journey through the book and wanted everything to work out for her. Being a novella, I read it in one sitting as it was so good. It was the perfect mix of whimsical adventure, that sometimes I forgot I was reading. I highly recommend it to other readers and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Random Things Tours, the author and publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Amber A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty sure Burial Witch actually takes place prior to Threadneedle and not inbetween Threadneedle and Shadowstich. More of a prequel-sequel.
Anyhoo, its definitely better to read after Threadneedle, once youve been introduced to the girls.
I enjoyed getting to know Miranda, pre "Manda" and love this series to pieces.

[Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Special Content only on my blog, Strange and Random Happenstance during Summer School (June-August 2025)

It's summer and Miranda Richardson has every second of her time accounted for. She has spent her life trying to live up to the expectations of her parents who already have two perfect children. But she never thinks she's good enough. If she can't even smile right for the family photo how is she going to achieve all her goals? They're laminated and on her wall; GOALS BEFORE THIRTY. Which is why instead of going to the park with her brother she is digging through boxes in the attic for a school project on the Richardson Family Tree. She's learning all about the Smiths and Evans from Shropshire and the local steel industry. Despite her father's enthusiasm she doesn't think she could be more bored if she tried. Yet she chose to look into her father's family and not her mother's. As she shifts the boxes of the past in the attic she finds a suitcase. It obviously belonged to her maternal grandparents. They emigrated from Nigeria to Peckham. Since their deaths her mother never talks about them. They are Richardsons, they can achieve anything they set their minds to. They don't dig into their past, they are a future-facing family. Which would be why Miranda is learning about Shropshire's steel industry. Her mother has made it clear that that part of their lives, her life, is over. The past is the past. But it's about to affect Miranda's present. In the suitcase she finds a box. There is something inside the box. When she moves it there is a clunking sound. Getting it open becomes her obsession. It's like a fairy tale come to life, this is her test. And she's failing because fairy tales don't come with instructions. She starts to slip in her work and she's distracted at church and lashing out. This little coffin shaped box leads her to do the unheard of. She has never disobeyed her parents, she wants to be like her mother when she grows up, and yet she goes to a shop that is off-limits. When A Sense of Craft opened in Richmond Miranda's mother tired to have it shut down. But this store and it's owner, Maya, might be Miranda's only hope. Though Miranda can't help but feel that Maya is a threat. That she's somehow involved in what's happening. Especially when Maya's advice opens the box to reveal a wooden doll. What could this mean? Miranda has to get to the bottom of this. Her summer was written and now she's dealing with magical forces, first loves, demonic dreams. If she wasn't highly strung before the events of the last few weeks she is now. The question is, will she embrace what's to come or bury it in a shallow grave?

Since I finished Shadowstitch I have been desperately craving anything new in Cari Thomas's The Language of Magic series. So when The Burial Witch novella was announced I was overjoyed. Preordered it from England to get it two months early overjoyed. And then I learned it was about Miranda. And my joy was somewhat tempered. It's not that I dislike Miranda, she's just the least interesting member of this Scooby Gang. Miranda has just been there, doing her thing, being conflicted about her religious beliefs and equally fighting and embracing this new aspect to herself, this magical aspect. She just is. And then The Burial Witch comes out and now I have to reread the whole series because of this new insight I have into her. Her OCD nature, her wanting to please her parents, her fear of the "other," all of this I relate to. Some from when I was her age some from now. It's like she represents the different stages of my life and she's had to have all these changes thrust on her over one short summer. But what really struck me about her book, this book, is that you have to have no foreknowledge of anything else in this series for this book to work. It is a self-contained little masterpiece of a novella. Really, think British Stephen King at the top of his game and that's The Burial Witch. This is a perfect standalone horror novella in the tradition of Carrie. A religious girl is confronted by the unknown, there's temptation in this new knowledge, then, being who she is, she must find out more and goes to a forbidden shop where it's revealed that magic is real. And that dichotomy, that struggle in Miranda that Maya tries to help her with is to show her that not all religion is Christian and not all magic is bad. Which brings in the Vodun religion. Most people just think of rather racist and stereotypical Voodoo tropes. Whereas real Vodun is nothing like the movies would have you think. Yes, it's far away from anything Miranda might have experienced, and let us not forget she's lived a very sheltered life, but it's still holy. It's still divine. And so many books only use Vodun for the tropes, here it's handled thoughtfully. And what I really appreciate is that seeing as this series is set in England there's a certain kind of view of British magic. It's very Anglocentric. Yet England, like the rest of the world, is a melting pot. Therefore it makes sense that there are different kinds of magic. And having Vodun from Nigeria just works. There's a balance here that makes it both terrifying and respectful. Because it's how Miranda handles the changes where all the fear arises. The villain isn't magic, the villain is change. The villain is a future that wasn't planned out and laminated. That's a horror we can all relate to.

[Karolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is my review for The Burial Witch by Cari Thomas

I really enjoyed reading The Burial Witch which had a touch of the mythical unopening box with something inside it. Miranda was a brilliant character, always asking questions about everything and riling everyone up. Then she unearths her grandmother’s suitcase in the attic containing a box that she can’t open. She can hear something inside it though. Her family go to the evangelical church and she feels like she is betraying them when she enlists the help of Maya, who is the owner of the local spiritualist shop. She is caught up in the world of witchcraft and magic. I found this to be a terrific story that I really enjoyed reading. I thought it was superbly written and that Miranda was one of the best characters as she was always ready to let rip at someone. She had no friends at school either. I liked the author’s writing style and I found it very easy to read. The story had been well thought out. I thought it seemed to be well researched as well as there was a lot of detail contained in the story and this made for a better story I think. This is the first time I have read this author but I’m intrigued to read her other books, Threadneedle and Shadowstitch in the future.

Blurb :

An enchanting new novella set in the magical world of Sunday Times bestseller Threadneedle and The Times bestseller Shadowstitch
“The unopenable box. A mythical object that appears in fairy tales and folklore across all cultures around the world. Sometimes the box can only be opened by the right person at the right time, such a rightful heir, and in other tales it is considered a warning. A test given to the protagonist who are typically forbidden from opening the box. When they eventually succumb, what they unleash cannot be put back in.”
At home one memorable summer, Miranda unearths a mysterious suitcase in her attic that once belonged to her late grandmother. Inside, she finds a strange and unopenable wooden box.
Determined to discover what’s inside, she ends up enlisting the help of Maya, the owner of a local spiritualist shop, and is drawn into a world of witchcraft, magic and temptation.
As she tries to keep up appearances as the perfect daughter, her discovery threatens to tear everything apart, putting everyone around her in danger.
Can she find a way to stay in control or would the box have been better left buried?

[Steph Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved the first book in this series, Threadneedle, but Miranda was one of the side characters that didn’t stand out for me as much compared to the rest of that novel, so I was really intrigued to read this novella based entirely in her backstory and find out more about what makes her tick!

Set before the events in Threadneedle, The Burial Witch explores the coming-of-age struggles of Miranda Lambert in a deep character dive. Living in a perfectionist, religiously zealous family has left Miranda feeling isolated and inferior, full of both religious doubt and self doubt. So when she finds a mysterious unopenable box and finds she has hidden depths to herself and buried secrets in her family tree, you might think she would be excited to have finally uncovered her own special ‘magic’.

Unfortunately, Miranda’s upbringing and type-A personality ensure that instead of wonder, she reacts with fear and horror to the ‘darkness’ she perceives her magic to be. There are obvious analogies to be drawn here too, in terms of her mother’s desperation to assimilate with Britishness and thus suppress her Nigerian roots, and in Miranda’s plan to get a ‘respectable’ boyfriend and firmly squash any thoughts she has about her new friend Sarah and her beautiful blue eyes.

I really did empathise with Miranda for most of the story, despite the fact she is intentionally difficult to like – she deliberately sets out to ostracise herself from her peers with abrasive behaviour and performed zealotry, rather than risk trying to be likable and being rejected. Not only did I understand that rather illogical logic but it made me like Miranda more and wish she could lower her defences and let someone in to what was happening to her.

I was a little surprised that this novella concluded with Miranda firmly rejecting all of the growth she had achieved and determinedly reverting back to her walled-off, anxiety-wracked state, but then, this is a small part of a wider story and a prequel too, so that further character development I was looking for is likely to be found in other volumes in the series.

I did really enjoy the beautiful writing and the almost-horror vibes of the box, the magic shop and Miranda’s ‘dark’ magic, so I am definitely going to need to read the rest of this series now to see how it all turns out for her (and Anna, Rowan et al!).

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miranda has always fought to be the best. It's what's expected in her family. And yet, compared to her brother and sister, she feels like she's falling short.

While researching a family history project she finds a suitcase she believes belonged to her maternal grandmother. They don't talk about that side of the family history much. She knows they emigrated from Nigeria to the UK. But their African history has always been a sensitive point for her mother.

Inside the suitcase, Miranda finds a box that can't be opened. And it eats away at her. She starts having nightmares and becomes convinced this is a test from God. Raised an evangelical Christian, Miranda has always been strong in her faith and active in her church. But this box has raised questions she's not sure she really wants the answers to.

The Burial Witch is a fun addition to the Threadneedle world. Very witchy and mysterious. I loved the Yoruba and Vodun angle. I especially loved the way Thomas explores faith and practice beyond Christianity.

I should note too, this isn't a religious read by any means. It's witches. Witchy, witchy, witches! Miranda's family and their history and choices are a key part of the story, including raising said family within a Christian religion.

This fits nicely in my latest reading trends to be honest. Beyond How to Kill a Witch, I've also been spending ample time in Angela Slatter's Verity Fassbinder and Sourdough worlds. I also think we're seeing a strong return to witches lately, which isn't unexpected all things considered.

[Elise (Bookpopwonderland) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fab little Threadneedle novella.

The unopenable box. A mythical object that appears in fairy tales and folklore across all cultures around the world. Sometimes the box can only be opened by the right person at the right time, such a rightful heir, and in other tales it is considered a warning. A test given to the protagonist who are typically forbidden from opening the box. When they eventually succumb, what they unleash cannot be put back in...

At home one memorable summer, Miranda unearths a mysterious suitcase in her attic that once belonged to her late grandmother. Inside, she finds a strange and unopenable wooden box. Determined to discover what’s inside, she ends up enlisting the help of Maya, the owner of a local spiritualist shop, and is drawn into a world of witchcraft, magic, and temptation. As she tries to keep up appearances as the perfect daughter, her discovery threatens to tear everything apart, putting everyone around her in danger. Can she find a way to stay in control or would the box have been better left buried?

Threadneedle is one of my favourite books, and I love that we're given these little novellas to tide us over until the next instalment in the series. I like how they go deeper into the four main characters backstories. This one was about Miranda and her struggle with her Christian faith and belief in magic. It was fun and magical and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Angela Maher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this out to read because of the name of the main character (as well as the title and gorgeous cover). I haven't read any of the other books in the series yet, but often a novella from a series can be read on its own.
I do think this reads well without reading the earlier/other books. I didn't feel like I was missing context or background information. It leads forward without leaning on what's come before.
It did, however, strike me as being a long backstory more than it's own tale. My impression is that a lot of the first half could be condensed without losing the feel for who Miranda is and where she is in life. And I was frustrated at her lack of growth. There were plenty of opportunities, but she either closed those paths off, or they weren't her to take anyway. There was some character development, but at the end she didn't seem much different to how she was at the start. And the event mentioned in the blurb didn't propel the story forward the way you'd expect. Instead you mainly get Miranda's day-to-day church life.
I didn't dislike this novella, but it didn't leave me feeling satisfied.
It feels like this is leading into the next full story in the series, giving some background context, but if that's the case this could have been shortened and make the beginning of the next book, instead of a novella between installments. As a novella, it does spark curiosity about what happens next, but lacks any satisfying progression or conclusion.

[Anna Erb-Liddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve loved this whole series, and this novella is no exception. I enjoyed delving deeper into Miranda’s character and family and learning how she is connected to her ancestors’ traditions. I appreciated that Thomas used real people as resources and had a sensitivity reader. I also enjoyed getting to know Miranda’s mother, Esther, Sarah, and Maya. Also loved the maybe queer rep! I also enjoyed the look into Miranda’s mind and the exploration of her mental health. I love Thomas’s writing style — it’s just the right amount of descriptive and beautiful for me. I think Thomas has built an amazing world in this series, though I wish it could’ve gotten to shine through a bit more in this book, but I kind of understand why it couldn’t. I also wish we could’ve gotten a touch more from Miranda’s mother at the end and I was sad that Miranda decided scrapbooking was childish, but both of those things did feel very in character. I thought this novella was a fascinating examination of the grip that evangelical Christianity can have on people and how it can close them down to other beliefs and experiences. I really appreciated how Miranda’s encounters with the doll set her up for the happenings in the main novels in the series. I also think the book is well paced and I was gripped the whole time. Can’t wait to see more from this world!

[Joanna Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars


The Burial Witch is an absorbing, magical novella set in the world from the Thread Needle series.

In the Burial Witch we follow Miranda as she tries to survive in her perfect, ultra religious family who expect perfection at every turn. Her perfectly planned out summer comes unstuck when she accidentally finds a mysterious box in her parents attic and accidentally unlocks a hidden part of her family's history.

I really enjoyed this book and read it over a couple of days. Miranda is an interesting character who I felt equal sympathetic to and frustrated with. She's been having a hard time of late as she tries to keep up with her siblings and pushing herself too much so it was great to see her let herself go a bit. The descriptions of the Yoruba religion were very interesting to read about as I hadn't known anything about it before so it was fascinating to learn more about it.

I thought this book had a great pace to it and I soon found the book very hard to put down. It was fun following Miranda on her journey and seeing her become more hopeful about her future.

The ending was interesting and while I wished it had ended in a slightly different way it was in keeping with Miranda's character. I definitely want to go back and re-read Thread Needle.

[Swooz · Rating 3 out of 5]

🖊 Book:The Burial Witch by Cari Thomas
🖊 Can be read as a standalone or part of the Threadneedle series
🖊 Genre: Witches, fantasy, YA
🖊 Themes: Religious conflict, identity and heritage
🖊 Story summary: Whilst researching her family history, Miranda Lambert gives into temptation after discovering her Grandmothers suitcase in the attic. Curiousity leads devout Christian Miranda on a quest to reveal the hidden contents of a sealed wooden box. Inner conflict consumes her as she discovers her Nigerian witchy heritage, whilst keeping up expectations of her strict Christian upbringing.
🖊 Personal thoughts: This book might be best suited for a younger audience who can relate to Miranda and her stage of growth. Character relationships, particularly those with family, provided insight into inner thoughts and feelings, detailing Mirandas emotional development from start to finish. The historical and witchcraft aspect of the story added depth and intrigue throughout. Overall a great short read, perfectly paced with a resolved ending.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plus a half star.... or even three quaters if I hadn't got a bit impatient towards the end and had to force myself not to skip. Not sure how Goodreads can introduce it as "an enchanting new novella": there's enchantment of various kinds but it is a thoroughly uncomfortable read.
Institutions come out really badly, both school and church and despite my loathing for a lot of religion, I do have friends with faith who are not so damaged and controlling as pictured here. And schools aren't necessarily such bad places either. So my take has to be my hope that after the rather grim childhood of the protagonist and her siblings, they can blossom as they move away into adulthood and away from their mother's cult. I wish all three a future of piercings, tattoos and pregnancy - that is if they want it.
And there is some poerty written by the protagonist/author - usually I squirm but in this case I liked it.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novella that tells the tale of Miranda, known as a "goody two-shoes" who never does anything wrong, studies hard, attends church, runs Bible study groups, but has no real friends. She is driven and appears very confident, so why is she doubting herself now?

This is how the doubts and insecurities can creep in; understanding your past can help prepare you for the future. Coming from a Christian background, Miranda has never wavered, but it is during a history project that she discovers something from her grandparents' pasts and a box.

This is how doubt can change how you see yourself in the world and how you think others see you. Analysing every action, planning to the nth degree and having total control over your life can take over to a point where things spiral.

This is around 150 pages long, so it doesn't take long to read. It is a YA, coming-of-age novella and one that I would be very happy to recommend.

[Tyler Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a fun short story!

After devouring The Hedge Witch in my summerween TBR challenge I just had to pick this newest edition the series up. While this novella definitely had a different feel to the previous novella it still had that cozy fall witchy feel that kept me hooked. This time were following Miranda, a character that I instantly felt connected to with her tendency to people please and push her own feelings to the side. Just like my last read from this world Thomas does some amazing character development and you truly get to see this fmc flower.

I really enjoys this authors writing style, she has a way with words that just keeps you hooked in her reads. Tons of spooky gothic undertones and fall vibes sprinkled in through out this read, this series is definitely the perfect fall / summerween read to get you in the mood. I will now be reading the rest of this series.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miranda is trying to work out her family history but when she stumbles across a box that won't open her interest is piqued. She needs to know what it is and where it came from and why suddenly, strange things are beginning to happen.

The Burial Witch is a Threadneedle Novella and prequel to Threadneedle. It centres around god-loving, hardworking, Miranda, one of the four of the misfit coven from Threadneedle.

This book is a good insight into how and why Miranda is the way she is; introducing her family and heritage to her story. It also shows how she first came across magic and the struggle between her religion and the whimsical.

If you enjoyed Threadneedle and want to learn more about Miranda then I would recommend this book. It definitely helped me to define her a little more and I liked the exploration of her role within the family but also the coming-of-age narrative too.

[Alessia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this spin-off novella about Miranda, probably more than the one about Rowan.

It was great to return to the world of the Language of Magic series but seeing it from the perspective of a girl that doesn't know she's a witch yet, and that's firmly against everything that strays from the religious path that is her life.

Miranda is a character that — in the main series — is not as transparent as Rowan; we don't know almost anything about her life outside of school hence it was great to discover where she comes from and her family dynamics. It added depths to the character and increased my appreciation for her.

It is also set in Richmond, where I live, so it was great to be able to recognise the places mentioned in the story!

Now I can't wait to read the one about Effie and Attis!

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I looove this series and Threadneedle itself has been amazing. And I also love the side novels so was eager to get into this one. For me, this one was a little slower than the others so I wasn’t quite set up for the pace. But my love for this author and her previous novels will always see me through so I can never see them as anything other than a gift.

I loved Miranda, shes a great character and it was nice getting to know her more and her origin story from when we first encountered her in Threadneedle. I think I may also benefit from a reread of this series for more connection but it is a fab addition to the series.

As ever, I can’t wait for more!

[Rudrashree Makwana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a character driven story and author’s storytelling is exquisite. Miranda finds a mysterious box kept in her parent’s loft. The unopened box contains magic and secrets. She takes help from Maya, the occult shop owner. Miranda learns about the Nigerian heritage, magic, and spiritual practices carried on by her family.

And now we are ready for the sequel of Shadowstitch so no more short stories. Please release book 3

Book 1: Threadneedle
Book 1.5: The Hedge Witch
Book 2: Shadowstitch
Book 2.5: The Burial Witch
Book 3: I need it

[Liz Bryne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this author. I’ve read so many of her books and most of them are now like best friends. This one sadly bucked the trend for me. I just did not like Miranda at all and that made it a tough read. Maybe she was meant to be. Between that and the religious overtones (which is really not for me) I just couldn’t get on board. I wanted to know more about Maya and her occult shop!

However, really well written and realistic of the tensions, expectations and pressures we all feel as we’re heading to adulthood.