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Practical Potions #3
Practical Potions and Paranormal Proclivities
Sella wants to be helpful. But she keeps messing up.
She and her friends arrived in the land of humans for what should have been a short, simple trip. That is, until a prominent military leader– and wyvern rider– is found dead, burned by powerful fire.
Distrust quickly brews between the town and the soldiers as each side scrambles to find the killer.
But Sella has another worry. She’s determined to find a spell to help Cali, the ghost with a sunshine smile, finally obtain the ability to communicate with the rest of the living. And Sella isn’t going to let a murder get in the way of her goal.
All Sella wants to do is help her friends and craft the perfect “lucky day” blend. But in a land where luck is hard to find, she’ll have to use all the lessons she’s learned to find a way to keep everyone together.
She and her friends arrived in the land of humans for what should have been a short, simple trip. That is, until a prominent military leader– and wyvern rider– is found dead, burned by powerful fire.
Distrust quickly brews between the town and the soldiers as each side scrambles to find the killer.
But Sella has another worry. She’s determined to find a spell to help Cali, the ghost with a sunshine smile, finally obtain the ability to communicate with the rest of the living. And Sella isn’t going to let a murder get in the way of her goal.
All Sella wants to do is help her friends and craft the perfect “lucky day” blend. But in a land where luck is hard to find, she’ll have to use all the lessons she’s learned to find a way to keep everyone together.
- GenresFantasy
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2025
About the author
Wren Jones
6 books106 followersWren 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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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 14, 2025
As soon as I heard that Sella, Cali, Lorna and Beejee were back again - this time taking their adventures on the road to Cali’s home country - I immediately pre-ordered and was excited for the mid-October release. And yes I am reviewing this almost exactly a month after release, during which time I’ve started and finished FIVE other books, so I will quote myself from my review of Practical Potions and Professional Courtesy:
“I can’t really explain why I read these books so slowly - I tend to read multiple books at once, so as a result other books have come and gone while I have slowly read and re-read this book, focusing on how much I enjoy the nuances of each interaction. I have come to truly love the cozy genre, and the way Wren writes her stories and character interactions really makes me pause to focus on being in those moments and savoring the scenes. Love this and can’t wait for the next one!”
Practical Potions and Paranormal Proclivities has our heroes back in action making special magic-infused coffee, tea, and delicious baked goods (recipes at the end of the book, just add your own magic!), this time in a place dominated by humans but also much more open and accepting of witches and magic.
Sella is fulfilling her promise to Sediri to help set up her new shop and develop a signature blend. But she also is seeking to interact with more witches and hopefully find a spell to help Cali speak and be heard by non-witches similar to what she did for Beejee.
Of course there is a murder, of course Sella and Lorna end up embroiled in the middle of things, and of course Cali returning to her home country is not as simple as it might seem. But then again, as a ghost with a complicated family relationship - how could it NOT be a challenging visit!
We get new characters and I enjoyed seeing this other part of the world - as someone who lives in the northeastern US and has had trips to both Arizona and Nova Scotia in the past year or so, I recognize so much of what the characters were feeling! There were no characters who were unwelcome, but since we’ve had two books to fall in love with the original characters these new ones feel temporary. Hopefully we’ll get to revisit some in a future book, as I would love to see this magical world get even larger and more inclusive.
All of Wren Jones books have been around 300 pages, and this falls in line with the others in the series (and also the lovely Damsels & Dinosaurs), but in some ways this felt a bit shorter as the focus was on the characters more than a larger narrative.
The great thing about these stories is that we see growth in every book for each individual, their relationships with each other, and their relationships with the world around them. They are growing as our understanding of them grows. It is a cozy world for Sella and crew, and I am happy for every opportunity to join them!
“I can’t really explain why I read these books so slowly - I tend to read multiple books at once, so as a result other books have come and gone while I have slowly read and re-read this book, focusing on how much I enjoy the nuances of each interaction. I have come to truly love the cozy genre, and the way Wren writes her stories and character interactions really makes me pause to focus on being in those moments and savoring the scenes. Love this and can’t wait for the next one!”
Practical Potions and Paranormal Proclivities has our heroes back in action making special magic-infused coffee, tea, and delicious baked goods (recipes at the end of the book, just add your own magic!), this time in a place dominated by humans but also much more open and accepting of witches and magic.
Sella is fulfilling her promise to Sediri to help set up her new shop and develop a signature blend. But she also is seeking to interact with more witches and hopefully find a spell to help Cali speak and be heard by non-witches similar to what she did for Beejee.
Of course there is a murder, of course Sella and Lorna end up embroiled in the middle of things, and of course Cali returning to her home country is not as simple as it might seem. But then again, as a ghost with a complicated family relationship - how could it NOT be a challenging visit!
We get new characters and I enjoyed seeing this other part of the world - as someone who lives in the northeastern US and has had trips to both Arizona and Nova Scotia in the past year or so, I recognize so much of what the characters were feeling! There were no characters who were unwelcome, but since we’ve had two books to fall in love with the original characters these new ones feel temporary. Hopefully we’ll get to revisit some in a future book, as I would love to see this magical world get even larger and more inclusive.
All of Wren Jones books have been around 300 pages, and this falls in line with the others in the series (and also the lovely Damsels & Dinosaurs), but in some ways this felt a bit shorter as the focus was on the characters more than a larger narrative.
The great thing about these stories is that we see growth in every book for each individual, their relationships with each other, and their relationships with the world around them. They are growing as our understanding of them grows. It is a cozy world for Sella and crew, and I am happy for every opportunity to join them!
April 30, 2026
Practical Potions and Paranormal Proclivities is one of those rare books that doesn’t just tell a story—it wraps you up in it. From the first page, it feels like stepping back into a familiar world where everything is a little magical but also deeply comforting.
What makes this series stand out is its characters. They aren’t just well-written—they feel real. Their friendships, quirks, and struggles come across in such a natural way that it’s easy to forget they’re fictional. Spending time with them feels less like reading and more like catching up with people you genuinely care about. That sense of connection is what gives the book its “coming home” feeling.
The balance between cozy moments and paranormal intrigue is handled really well. The magical elements add excitement and mystery, but they never overwhelm the heart of the story, which is about relationships, trust, and finding your place. There’s a warmth running through the narrative that makes even the tense moments feel safe rather than stressful.
Overall, this book is perfect if you’re looking for something comforting, character-driven, and just a little bit magical. It’s the kind of story you turn to when you want to feel grounded and reminded of what it’s like to belong.
What makes this series stand out is its characters. They aren’t just well-written—they feel real. Their friendships, quirks, and struggles come across in such a natural way that it’s easy to forget they’re fictional. Spending time with them feels less like reading and more like catching up with people you genuinely care about. That sense of connection is what gives the book its “coming home” feeling.
The balance between cozy moments and paranormal intrigue is handled really well. The magical elements add excitement and mystery, but they never overwhelm the heart of the story, which is about relationships, trust, and finding your place. There’s a warmth running through the narrative that makes even the tense moments feel safe rather than stressful.
Overall, this book is perfect if you’re looking for something comforting, character-driven, and just a little bit magical. It’s the kind of story you turn to when you want to feel grounded and reminded of what it’s like to belong.
May 29, 2026
I can’t believe this is the last one!
I love this series so much!
A murder mystery? Gimmie!
This storyline was nicely in line with the rest of the series vibes but with a twist of it being abroad!
It was so cool having multiple witches in this book!
I loved that we got more of Cali’s backstory.
Samantha did an incredible job at narrating it once again! I was tearing up at so many points, she really connects with the characters and the way she uses her voice for different characters is so incredibly cool!
Definitely read this series if you love cosy fantasy mysteries!
But thanks to Samantha Norbury and Wren Jones for this audible copy to review ❤️
I love this series so much!
A murder mystery? Gimmie!
This storyline was nicely in line with the rest of the series vibes but with a twist of it being abroad!
It was so cool having multiple witches in this book!
I loved that we got more of Cali’s backstory.
Samantha did an incredible job at narrating it once again! I was tearing up at so many points, she really connects with the characters and the way she uses her voice for different characters is so incredibly cool!
Definitely read this series if you love cosy fantasy mysteries!
But thanks to Samantha Norbury and Wren Jones for this audible copy to review ❤️
May 19, 2026
4.75⭐
I loved the conclusion of this trilogy and seeing the characters all come into their own, chasing down their aspirations and working together to solve yet another mystery, this time with help from some new friends along the way.
Whilst I did miss the familiar cosy town of Mara, and some of its beloved background characters, I thought having Sella and co. interact with witches and wyvern riders in a brand new setting was a great way to add new stakes to the story, with the group already having established trust among the residents of their home town. This time the wider cast of characters featured other powerful figures, and threats, meaning that the gang had to work harder than ever to prove themselves as the best detective consulting agency/magical coffee shop owners around!
I'm so sad that this will be the end of the story (for now...), but I thought it came to a lovely and satisfying conclusion. I'm certain I'll find myself going back to these cosy tales for a pick-me-up in the future!
Praise, as always, for the fabulous narration from Samantha Norbury. Her characterisation of the cast is brilliant, with each character having a distinct and recognisable voice of their own. Thank you to both of you for the review copy of this audio book. I can't wait for more from Samantha and more from Wren Jones too! (Pretty please!)
I loved the conclusion of this trilogy and seeing the characters all come into their own, chasing down their aspirations and working together to solve yet another mystery, this time with help from some new friends along the way.
Whilst I did miss the familiar cosy town of Mara, and some of its beloved background characters, I thought having Sella and co. interact with witches and wyvern riders in a brand new setting was a great way to add new stakes to the story, with the group already having established trust among the residents of their home town. This time the wider cast of characters featured other powerful figures, and threats, meaning that the gang had to work harder than ever to prove themselves as the best detective consulting agency/magical coffee shop owners around!
I'm so sad that this will be the end of the story (for now...), but I thought it came to a lovely and satisfying conclusion. I'm certain I'll find myself going back to these cosy tales for a pick-me-up in the future!
Praise, as always, for the fabulous narration from Samantha Norbury. Her characterisation of the cast is brilliant, with each character having a distinct and recognisable voice of their own. Thank you to both of you for the review copy of this audio book. I can't wait for more from Samantha and more from Wren Jones too! (Pretty please!)
January 25, 2026
The third Practical Potions book did not disappoint and reminded me of why I love the series so much. Allowing the cast to travel opened up so many worldbuilding opportunities. While we were introduced to several new characters in this installment, all of them fit seamlessly into the narrative - including a very important one who I did not expect. There is, of course, a mystery for our detectives to solve.
One thing I really appreciated from this book was how no plot points from the previous books went unaddressed. It was a wonderful conclusion while still leaving plenty of space for future adventures.
The struggles with family and their expectations was a particularly poignant theme that carried into this book and was elevated by Cali's storyline. I loved seeing Sella's confidence grow as she accepted her power and started to firmly find her place in the world. The relationships between characters are also adorable and fitting the cozy themes - the friendships, romance, fellow witches and familiars, the townsfolk. There are stakes, but not so daunting that the book loses sight of its genre home.
The plot twist and resolutions were perfect. I think I was as surprised as the characters.
I'm looking forward to the author's future works.
One thing I really appreciated from this book was how no plot points from the previous books went unaddressed. It was a wonderful conclusion while still leaving plenty of space for future adventures.
The struggles with family and their expectations was a particularly poignant theme that carried into this book and was elevated by Cali's storyline. I loved seeing Sella's confidence grow as she accepted her power and started to firmly find her place in the world. The relationships between characters are also adorable and fitting the cozy themes - the friendships, romance, fellow witches and familiars, the townsfolk. There are stakes, but not so daunting that the book loses sight of its genre home.
The plot twist and resolutions were perfect. I think I was as surprised as the characters.
I'm looking forward to the author's future works.
December 28, 2025
The entire series has been a delight and the third book is no exception. Beeji is my absolute favorite!
January 3, 2026
I love this series so much! I think this third book is my favorite so far though. I found myself reading all three slower than usual, to soak the cozy vibes in even more.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews