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THE BROOKLYN WITCH: The Battle for Brooklyn
HARRY POTTER MEETS THE SOPRANOS IN A MAGICAL BROOKLYN SHOWDOWN.
The Brooklyn Witch, Speranza O’Rourke, operates a spiritual shop amid the bakeries and bodegas of Carroll Gardens. Raised by her feuding grandmothers, Nonna and Grannie Meg, who only agree on their love for her. Speranza is the fiery fusion of Irish charm and Italian drama, armed with spells, street smarts, and an unshakable loyalty to her family and neighborhood that runs bone deep.
Speranza navigates the secret realm of the Never-Never, where faeries lurk just beyond mortal sight. When Queen Mab, the ruthless Queen of the Sidhe, claims her as a vassal, Speranza must choose between power and her family’s legacy.
With a murder mystery, a legendary monster, a magical haunting linked to Al Capone, and a deadly Warlock threatening Brooklyn’s Magical balance, she’s drawn into a battle royale that could tear open the veil between realms.
This is the first in a series chronicling the adventures of The Brooklyn Witch. A gritty, mystical tale where neighborhood loyalty, Old World Magic, and Mafia sensibilities collide.
Come with us on this Wild Ride as we Take the Cannoli and Leave the Magic.
The Brooklyn Witch, Speranza O’Rourke, operates a spiritual shop amid the bakeries and bodegas of Carroll Gardens. Raised by her feuding grandmothers, Nonna and Grannie Meg, who only agree on their love for her. Speranza is the fiery fusion of Irish charm and Italian drama, armed with spells, street smarts, and an unshakable loyalty to her family and neighborhood that runs bone deep.
Speranza navigates the secret realm of the Never-Never, where faeries lurk just beyond mortal sight. When Queen Mab, the ruthless Queen of the Sidhe, claims her as a vassal, Speranza must choose between power and her family’s legacy.
With a murder mystery, a legendary monster, a magical haunting linked to Al Capone, and a deadly Warlock threatening Brooklyn’s Magical balance, she’s drawn into a battle royale that could tear open the veil between realms.
This is the first in a series chronicling the adventures of The Brooklyn Witch. A gritty, mystical tale where neighborhood loyalty, Old World Magic, and Mafia sensibilities collide.
Come with us on this Wild Ride as we Take the Cannoli and Leave the Magic.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2025
About the author
Lisa Dolan
1 book4 followersLisa Dolan is an artist, fashion designer, and Reality TV personality whose life and career have been defined by creativity. Born in Brooklyn to a fireman and a homemaker, Lisa has expressed herself through the arts from an early age, whether writing plays as a child or studying Graphic Arts in school. Her artistic path led her to become a fashion designer, launching a successful clothing line that caught national attention and culminated in starring in her own BBC/TLC reality series, Big Brooklyn Style. Today, Lisa continues to evolve creatively as a novelist, with her debut novel, The Brooklyn Witch—the first in the series.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 28, 2025
The Brooklyn Witch: The Battle for Brooklyn is one of those books that sweeps you up so naturally that you don’t even realize how deeply you’ve fallen into its world until you come up for air. Lisa Dolan has created a magical, street-level fantasy that feels refreshingly grounded while still bursting with faerie politics, ancient monsters, and old-world magic colliding with the grit and rhythm of a real neighborhood. What makes this book special isn’t just the magic, it’s the heart behind it.
Right from the start, Speranza O’Rourke is a someone you want to follow anywhere! She’s not your typical chosen one; she’s stubborn, sharp-tongued, tired in a very Brooklyn way, and fiercely loyal to her neighborhood. She’s the kind of character who’d give someone a protection charm, a cup of coffee, and a stern lecture in the same breath. Dolan captures that blend of everyday practicality and latent power perfectly, making Speranza feel like a real person.
One of the biggest strengths of the novel is how it blends cultures and traditions: Irish and Italian heritage, old family feuds, folk magic passed down through generations. Speranza’s two grandmothers, Nonna and Grannie Meg, practically leap off the page. They’re hilarious, overbearing, tender in their own chaotic ways, and absolutely unforgettable. The magical traditions they represent deepen the world in a way that feels both lived-in and lovingly researched. Their relationship with Speranza adds weight and humor to the story, and honestly, I’d read a whole spin-off novel just about the two of them arguing their way through the supernatural underbelly of Brooklyn!
And speaking of that underbelly, Brooklyn itself is a star of this book. Dolan paints the borough in a way that feels alive: bodegas humming with life, brownstones layered with history and secrets, basement speakeasies that never really let go of the past. The magic woven through these familiar places never feels tacked on; it feels like it’s always been there, just beneath the sidewalk cracks. The combination of modern Brooklyn and old faerie politics is unexpectedly perfect, creating a setting where every corner feels like it might hide a portal or a ghost with a story to tell.
The plot is surprisingly rich for a book with such an approachable voice. There’s a murder mystery intertwined with supernatural forces, a rogue warlock intent on tearing open the veil between worlds, a legendary monster born from Brooklyn’s darkest histories, and the looming threat of Queen Mab, who brings a level of cold grandeur that raises the stakes instantly. But even with all that going on, the book never loses sight of the human core: Speranza’s struggle with identity, responsibility, and the weight of legacy.
Humor, danger, heartache, community, magic, Dolan balances everything beautifully. The action scenes are crisp and exciting, especially the final confrontation, which is both spectacular and emotionally satisfying. And yet the quieter moments are just as powerful. Whether Speranza is arguing with Mab, negotiating with ghosts, or trying to wrangle her family, there’s always a sense that this book cares deeply about its characters and the ties that bind them.
The final act delivers exactly what you want with a payoff that feels earned, a hero stepping into her own power in her own way, and just enough of a lingering thread to promise that Brooklyn’s magical world isn’t done with us yet. It’s the kind of ending that makes you want the next book immediately, not because this story is incomplete, but because you just don’t want to leave this world!
The Brooklyn Witch is a vibrant, heartfelt, and wonderfully imaginative urban fantasy. It’s warm, funny, gritty, and full of charm. Dolan has created something special here: a magical tale that still manages to feel beautifully, unmistakably human and I’m absolutely on board for wherever Speranza goes next.
Right from the start, Speranza O’Rourke is a someone you want to follow anywhere! She’s not your typical chosen one; she’s stubborn, sharp-tongued, tired in a very Brooklyn way, and fiercely loyal to her neighborhood. She’s the kind of character who’d give someone a protection charm, a cup of coffee, and a stern lecture in the same breath. Dolan captures that blend of everyday practicality and latent power perfectly, making Speranza feel like a real person.
One of the biggest strengths of the novel is how it blends cultures and traditions: Irish and Italian heritage, old family feuds, folk magic passed down through generations. Speranza’s two grandmothers, Nonna and Grannie Meg, practically leap off the page. They’re hilarious, overbearing, tender in their own chaotic ways, and absolutely unforgettable. The magical traditions they represent deepen the world in a way that feels both lived-in and lovingly researched. Their relationship with Speranza adds weight and humor to the story, and honestly, I’d read a whole spin-off novel just about the two of them arguing their way through the supernatural underbelly of Brooklyn!
And speaking of that underbelly, Brooklyn itself is a star of this book. Dolan paints the borough in a way that feels alive: bodegas humming with life, brownstones layered with history and secrets, basement speakeasies that never really let go of the past. The magic woven through these familiar places never feels tacked on; it feels like it’s always been there, just beneath the sidewalk cracks. The combination of modern Brooklyn and old faerie politics is unexpectedly perfect, creating a setting where every corner feels like it might hide a portal or a ghost with a story to tell.
The plot is surprisingly rich for a book with such an approachable voice. There’s a murder mystery intertwined with supernatural forces, a rogue warlock intent on tearing open the veil between worlds, a legendary monster born from Brooklyn’s darkest histories, and the looming threat of Queen Mab, who brings a level of cold grandeur that raises the stakes instantly. But even with all that going on, the book never loses sight of the human core: Speranza’s struggle with identity, responsibility, and the weight of legacy.
Humor, danger, heartache, community, magic, Dolan balances everything beautifully. The action scenes are crisp and exciting, especially the final confrontation, which is both spectacular and emotionally satisfying. And yet the quieter moments are just as powerful. Whether Speranza is arguing with Mab, negotiating with ghosts, or trying to wrangle her family, there’s always a sense that this book cares deeply about its characters and the ties that bind them.
The final act delivers exactly what you want with a payoff that feels earned, a hero stepping into her own power in her own way, and just enough of a lingering thread to promise that Brooklyn’s magical world isn’t done with us yet. It’s the kind of ending that makes you want the next book immediately, not because this story is incomplete, but because you just don’t want to leave this world!
The Brooklyn Witch is a vibrant, heartfelt, and wonderfully imaginative urban fantasy. It’s warm, funny, gritty, and full of charm. Dolan has created something special here: a magical tale that still manages to feel beautifully, unmistakably human and I’m absolutely on board for wherever Speranza goes next.
April 7, 2026
Review: The Brooklyn Witch: The Battle for Brooklyn by Lisa Dolan
Lisa has a unique way of writing, it was quite different from what I expected.
Basically, Speranza O’Rourke, who is raised by her feuding grandmothers in Carroll Gardens, is a sharp-tongued female in the hidden world of the Never-Never. Lisa Dolan manages to blends old-world magic, along with her Irish and Italian heritage, plus the grit of Brooklyn into a story. And it doesn't disappoint There's alot going on!
The plot that weaves a murder mystery, warlocks, monsters, and Queen Mab’s threat (which is the bit I particularly enjoyed). All balanced with humour and family dynamics. Nonna and Grannie Meg are unforgettable,and sometimes funny, adding their view and heart and a little chaos to Speranza’s adventures. Brooklyn itself becomes full of secrets and magic just beneath the streets. The ending leaves you eager for the next book, which I believe she is currently writing.
Overall The Brooklyn Witch is a warm, gritty, and imaginative urban fantasy you won’t want to leave.
Lisa has a unique way of writing, it was quite different from what I expected.
Basically, Speranza O’Rourke, who is raised by her feuding grandmothers in Carroll Gardens, is a sharp-tongued female in the hidden world of the Never-Never. Lisa Dolan manages to blends old-world magic, along with her Irish and Italian heritage, plus the grit of Brooklyn into a story. And it doesn't disappoint There's alot going on!
The plot that weaves a murder mystery, warlocks, monsters, and Queen Mab’s threat (which is the bit I particularly enjoyed). All balanced with humour and family dynamics. Nonna and Grannie Meg are unforgettable,and sometimes funny, adding their view and heart and a little chaos to Speranza’s adventures. Brooklyn itself becomes full of secrets and magic just beneath the streets. The ending leaves you eager for the next book, which I believe she is currently writing.
Overall The Brooklyn Witch is a warm, gritty, and imaginative urban fantasy you won’t want to leave.
October 16, 2025
Every Neighborhood Has a Birdie
I really enjoyed this new novel. As a former Brooklyn girl, I recognize many of the characters. Every neighborhood has a Birdie who will mind your business for you. The Brooklyn stuff is great, and the Faeries and the Never-Never are really fantastic. Not to spoil anything, but now I will always look over my shoulder when I visit the cemetery. Highly recommended for both adult and young adult readers.
I really enjoyed this new novel. As a former Brooklyn girl, I recognize many of the characters. Every neighborhood has a Birdie who will mind your business for you. The Brooklyn stuff is great, and the Faeries and the Never-Never are really fantastic. Not to spoil anything, but now I will always look over my shoulder when I visit the cemetery. Highly recommended for both adult and young adult readers.
October 26, 2025
Great effort for a first book!
For me, there were too many Italian and Irish idioms and 80s references, but others might not agree.
The ending left me wanting more information, but not necessarily enough to read a future book.
It was, however, easy and enjoyable to read.
For me, there were too many Italian and Irish idioms and 80s references, but others might not agree.
The ending left me wanting more information, but not necessarily enough to read a future book.
It was, however, easy and enjoyable to read.
October 14, 2025
This Brooklyn-based novel blends magical twists, sharp humor and unforgettable characters. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
October 11, 2025
This novel is a delightful mix of magic and the mob. Speranza O'Rourke travels to the magical dimension of the Never-Never to protect her family and the earthly realm from the demands of the Queen of the Sidhe. Faeries, monsters, and mobsters all combine to make an engrossing tale full of humor and incident. A slice of neighborhood life combined with a visit to the land of the faeries. Highly recommended for fans of witches, magic, and fantasy.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews