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The Hemlock Saga #2
The Hearth Witch's Guide to Spite & Spellwork (Deluxe Edition)
Win a free print copy of this book!
24 days and 22:35:08
15 copies available
U.S. only
"I suggest you brush up on your hexes, babes. Sounds like you got a nasty one on your hands."
As the bastard child of the late Erlking, Detective Avery Hemlock is used to being alone. Two-hundred years ago, she preferred it. But after endangering Saga Trygg's life by involving her in a case, Avery must choose solitude for Saga's safety. For once, alone is starting to feel a lot more like lonely.
Following her grandmother's murder, and the discovery of the fey world, Saga is trying to find direction, heal, and figure out where she fits in in this new version of normal. Though she longs to enlist Avery's help, after jeopardizing their last case together and nearly getting herself killed, she knows it's best she stay out of the detective's way.
But when the death of a local witch might be the result of a vicious revenge hex, the enigmatic circumstances and puzzle are too curious to keep them apart. With a case bigger than it appears, the two must uncover secrets even the Winter Council wants to keep.
Nothing is initially as it seems, even the truths they themselves have held for years.
Deluxe edition will include beautiful sprayed edges and internal character art!
As the bastard child of the late Erlking, Detective Avery Hemlock is used to being alone. Two-hundred years ago, she preferred it. But after endangering Saga Trygg's life by involving her in a case, Avery must choose solitude for Saga's safety. For once, alone is starting to feel a lot more like lonely.
Following her grandmother's murder, and the discovery of the fey world, Saga is trying to find direction, heal, and figure out where she fits in in this new version of normal. Though she longs to enlist Avery's help, after jeopardizing their last case together and nearly getting herself killed, she knows it's best she stay out of the detective's way.
But when the death of a local witch might be the result of a vicious revenge hex, the enigmatic circumstances and puzzle are too curious to keep them apart. With a case bigger than it appears, the two must uncover secrets even the Winter Council wants to keep.
Nothing is initially as it seems, even the truths they themselves have held for years.
Deluxe edition will include beautiful sprayed edges and internal character art!
448 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2026
About the author
Kiri Callaghan
11 books500 followersBorn from ink and stardust, Kiri Callaghan enthusiastically prods and catalogues the world around her. She’s driven by questions: the why’s and what if’s of life. Her peers call her fickle, seemingly unable to focus on a singular field of study. She reads, cooks, crafts, and games. Submerged in some new thing, she explores unexplained supernatural phenomena or how to make a proper cake pop. Kiri is a writer, singer, actor, and adventurer. Above all, Kiri is curious.
Kiri Callaghan currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Kiri Callaghan currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Nothing humbles you quite like accidentally starting with book two and realizing everyone already has trauma, history, unresolved feelings, and apparently I was the only person not invited to the meeting.
I went into The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite & Spellwork without reading The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Magic & Murder, which was a CHOICE I did not realize I was making until I was already inside. Avery Hemlock has spent two hundred years imprisoned after killing her father, Saga Trygg is grieving her grandmother while dealing with the discovery that the fey world exists, something deeply intense happened between these two during their last investigation, and I’m standing in the doorway holding my drink going, “Great. Everybody seems healthy.”
Avery and Saga are currently avoiding each other because their previous case nearly got Saga killed. Avery thinks staying away will protect her. Saga thinks staying away will keep her from causing more trouble. They both clearly miss each other. Neither one plans to say that out loud because apparently witches have discovered hexes, fey magic, and immortality before developing basic communication skills.
Fortunately, someone dies suspiciously, giving them an excuse to reunite without having to admit they actually wanted to.
A local witch’s death may involve a revenge hex, and suddenly Avery and Saga are digging through gruesome deaths, cursed objects, old connections, family secrets, and the Winter Council, who react to questions with the soothing transparency of people absolutely hiding something. Avery is extremely good at this. Murder? Fine. Fey politics? Fine. Ancient magical nonsense? Handled. Cell phones and feelings? Absolutely not. This woman can survive centuries of supernatural trauma but modern technology continues to approach her like a personal enemy.
Saga was the one I really wanted to sit down with because this woman has been handed an entirely new reality and apparently nobody thought she might need a minute. Her grandmother has been murdered. Magic exists. Fey exist. Her family history has more hidden compartments than an antique desk. And the deeper she gets into this case, the more it starts tugging on questions about where she came from and what her family kept from her.
I will say, not having read the first book absolutely made me feel like I had arrived halfway through a very complicated conversation. The book gives you enough information to understand what is happening, but Avery and Saga already have an entire emotional ecosystem established between them. There were definitely moments when one of them would react to the other and I could tell it MEANT SOMETHING, while I was over here like the new girlfriend at Thanksgiving trying to determine why Aunt Carol mentioning potato salad just made everyone silent.
But even without all that history, these two got me. Their slow burn is so slow I briefly wondered whether time works differently in the fey realm. Every little moment between them feels enormous because neither one is remotely interested in admitting what is happening.
One quietly shows up when the other needs her, somebody gets vulnerable for approximately twelve seconds, everyone panics internally, and then we return to murder because murder is apparently less frightening.
The actual case gets increasingly tangled once revenge, family history, and magical politics start overlapping. I did begin side-eyeing where things were headed before Avery and Saga got there, so eventually I was less “WHO DID THIS?” and more “Yes, ladies, keep going, you are approaching the thing I have been yelling about.” But I stayed invested because figuring out why all of this was happening ended up being much more interesting to me than simply attaching a name to it.
And then Saga’s family story started hitting harder than I expected. There’s something brutal about grieving someone and then discovering pieces of your own history that change how you understand everything they left behind. Saga wants answers, but answers do not necessarily make grief cleaner. Sometimes they just give it new furniture. That landed.
I’m giving The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite & Spellwork 3.5 stars. Some of my disconnect was absolutely self-inflicted because, hello, I walked into the second book like continuity was somebody else’s problem. But I liked Avery and Saga enough that now I’m tempted to go backward and read The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Magic & Murder, which is deeply annoying because apparently my TBR needed a revenge hex too.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Investigate a Magical Murder AND Figure Out What the Hell Happened in Book One
Huge thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC. You dropped me into witches, gruesome murders, fey politics, generational secrets, and enough preexisting emotional tension to make me check twice that I hadn’t accidentally skipped fifty pages. Turns out I skipped an entire book. That one’s on me.
I went into The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite & Spellwork without reading The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Magic & Murder, which was a CHOICE I did not realize I was making until I was already inside. Avery Hemlock has spent two hundred years imprisoned after killing her father, Saga Trygg is grieving her grandmother while dealing with the discovery that the fey world exists, something deeply intense happened between these two during their last investigation, and I’m standing in the doorway holding my drink going, “Great. Everybody seems healthy.”
Avery and Saga are currently avoiding each other because their previous case nearly got Saga killed. Avery thinks staying away will protect her. Saga thinks staying away will keep her from causing more trouble. They both clearly miss each other. Neither one plans to say that out loud because apparently witches have discovered hexes, fey magic, and immortality before developing basic communication skills.
Fortunately, someone dies suspiciously, giving them an excuse to reunite without having to admit they actually wanted to.
A local witch’s death may involve a revenge hex, and suddenly Avery and Saga are digging through gruesome deaths, cursed objects, old connections, family secrets, and the Winter Council, who react to questions with the soothing transparency of people absolutely hiding something. Avery is extremely good at this. Murder? Fine. Fey politics? Fine. Ancient magical nonsense? Handled. Cell phones and feelings? Absolutely not. This woman can survive centuries of supernatural trauma but modern technology continues to approach her like a personal enemy.
Saga was the one I really wanted to sit down with because this woman has been handed an entirely new reality and apparently nobody thought she might need a minute. Her grandmother has been murdered. Magic exists. Fey exist. Her family history has more hidden compartments than an antique desk. And the deeper she gets into this case, the more it starts tugging on questions about where she came from and what her family kept from her.
I will say, not having read the first book absolutely made me feel like I had arrived halfway through a very complicated conversation. The book gives you enough information to understand what is happening, but Avery and Saga already have an entire emotional ecosystem established between them. There were definitely moments when one of them would react to the other and I could tell it MEANT SOMETHING, while I was over here like the new girlfriend at Thanksgiving trying to determine why Aunt Carol mentioning potato salad just made everyone silent.
But even without all that history, these two got me. Their slow burn is so slow I briefly wondered whether time works differently in the fey realm. Every little moment between them feels enormous because neither one is remotely interested in admitting what is happening.
One quietly shows up when the other needs her, somebody gets vulnerable for approximately twelve seconds, everyone panics internally, and then we return to murder because murder is apparently less frightening.
The actual case gets increasingly tangled once revenge, family history, and magical politics start overlapping. I did begin side-eyeing where things were headed before Avery and Saga got there, so eventually I was less “WHO DID THIS?” and more “Yes, ladies, keep going, you are approaching the thing I have been yelling about.” But I stayed invested because figuring out why all of this was happening ended up being much more interesting to me than simply attaching a name to it.
And then Saga’s family story started hitting harder than I expected. There’s something brutal about grieving someone and then discovering pieces of your own history that change how you understand everything they left behind. Saga wants answers, but answers do not necessarily make grief cleaner. Sometimes they just give it new furniture. That landed.
I’m giving The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite & Spellwork 3.5 stars. Some of my disconnect was absolutely self-inflicted because, hello, I walked into the second book like continuity was somebody else’s problem. But I liked Avery and Saga enough that now I’m tempted to go backward and read The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Magic & Murder, which is deeply annoying because apparently my TBR needed a revenge hex too.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Investigate a Magical Murder AND Figure Out What the Hell Happened in Book One
Huge thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC. You dropped me into witches, gruesome murders, fey politics, generational secrets, and enough preexisting emotional tension to make me check twice that I hadn’t accidentally skipped fifty pages. Turns out I skipped an entire book. That one’s on me.
October 1, 2026
Book 2 in the Hemlock Saga (don't start here; it probably could stand alone, but The Hearth Witch's Guide to Magic and Murder was great so why do that?) wherein Avery and Saga are negotiating the changes arising from Book 1, along with getting stuck into a new mystery.
There's more magical world-building here, which was interesting and well-embedded. This is once again a cosy/hygge story, to paraphrase the author's definition 'cosy like a storm blowing outside but you're safely indoors and warm'. So there's a lot of plot and consequences, but in an optimistic-overall way.
I must admit to skipping the footnotes this time round -- I enjoyed them last time, but wasn't in that mood this time, and can report no harm was done to my reading or understanding ... they enrich to the story, rather than being a critical part of it.
Entirely ready for a third book!
Rating: 15/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance review copy provided by the publisher at NetGalley.
There's more magical world-building here, which was interesting and well-embedded. This is once again a cosy/hygge story, to paraphrase the author's definition 'cosy like a storm blowing outside but you're safely indoors and warm'. So there's a lot of plot and consequences, but in an optimistic-overall way.
I must admit to skipping the footnotes this time round -- I enjoyed them last time, but wasn't in that mood this time, and can report no harm was done to my reading or understanding ... they enrich to the story, rather than being a critical part of it.
Entirely ready for a third book!
Rating: 15/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance review copy provided by the publisher at NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.75/5⭐ (rounded up)
The Hearth Witch's Guide to Spite & Spellwork is the second book in the Hemlock Saga series by Kiri Callaghan. In a world where magic and fey exist alongside yet hidden from the human world, this story continues on from Saga Trygg and Detective Avery Hemlock's magical murder mystery adventure from book one, The Hearth Witch's Guide to Magic & Murder. Saga is navigating a new life where magic exists in a practical sense, not only a religious one following the untimely death of her grandmother. Avery is adjusting to a world in which everything she once knew is different, those she once loved are lost, and now she must adapt to the modern world. When a local witch is found dead by what appears to be an act of cruel revenge, Saga and Avery must work together to solve the puzzle of this mysterious death. However, in their search for answers, more hidden truths about themselves will be revealed.
*cozy fantasy
*murder mystery/detective vibes
*witches and fey plus a whole handbook of magical creatures completely unknown to me
*extra slowburn
*emotional healing from trauma
*revenge
*queer representation
Story and Worldbuilding:
From start to finish, this book had me guessing this, that, and the other, and wondering who the perpetrator was right up until the very last few chapters. When I say that the plot was twisting, I mean it - even though the twists weren’t necessarily as surprising as one might prefer for a mystery novel, they were intriguing and enrapturing, feeling more like a winding path than pure shock factor. I found this speaks well to the cozy atmosphere of the series and it allowed me to feel a sense of warmth and safety throughout the read. The expansion of folklore and the magical judicial system was particularly fascinating, and didn’t feel overwhelming or too confusing at any point. The amusing annotations really helped to fill in any gaps as well. Additionally, mental health, trauma, grief, and healing are all addressed with such reverence that I almost cannot believe it.
Writing:
Kiri Callaghan has done an excellent job in fostering this environment of cozy, fantastical mystery with wit, humour, and banter in balance with true hardships and realistic emotion. It takes a lot for me to cry reading a book, but this caught me completely off-guard when Saga experiences a heart-wrenching moment that is threatening to bring more tears to my eyes even now. On top of that, I felt genuinely gobsmacked, amused, and giddy routinely throughout, and often broke my poker face to express such emotions (again, much like with crying, this is quite the feat). Sincerely, what right does a cozy fantasy have to inspire such emotion within me? That said, I found the pacing difficult at times - there were slower slumps that made it hard to move from one scene to the next, made more manageable with the additions of humour. Much like with the first book, the annotations were hilarious.
One of my critiques of the first book was Avery’s discovery of modern technologies becoming overbearing, often taking from the story and pulling me out of the flow. This was not a problem in this book. In fact, this ended up facilitating one of my favourite scenes in the book when Avery discovers the library.
Characters:
Saga and Avery are both incredible individuals. Saga’s personality feels so comforting and genuine, yet so powerful, even in those moments of self-doubt and anxiety. As we follow along her personal journal, recognising her strengths, overcoming her fears, and witnessing some of the very human traps she falls into, she represents a real and relatable human experience. She’s not perfect, she knows it, and still, she tries so hard to bring a smile to her friends’ faces. Her genuineness and warmth is exactly what I see when I think of a hearth witch, and I adored watching her coming into her power and finding her place in the world. On the other hand, Avery is curious, direct, autism-coded, and comes off a lot sharper than Saga. It’s as if they are two blades, both sharpening the other - they have the same values and core beliefs, and yet, they come at the same problems from such different angles. It’s a balancing act that Callaghan has mastered with these two curiosities.
Additionally, there are so many diverse characters throughout this book. Queer representation is just there. There’s no big deal about it, there are lesbians, trans people, non-binary people, and that’s life. It’s so nice for queer characters to be present in books without it being tokenistic and/or virtue signalling, a point of contention between characters (i.e., discrimination, micro-aggression, …), or even a “big deal”. It’s normalised, and that’s possibly one of my favourite parts of this series.
It would be remiss of me to not mention how amazing Saga’s social network is. Obviously, Saga’s aunt Leigh is wonderful and I love her, and she only improves from book one to two. Saga’s friends - Peregrine, Darcy, and Magdalena - are introduced for the first time, and not only do they have rich backgrounds, cultures, and histories, but they are also hilarious, empowering, and wondrously supportive of Saga.
3.75/5⭐ (rounded up)
“I think you would make good bread. A good bread. You should be bread.”
The Hearth Witch's Guide to Spite & Spellwork is the second book in the Hemlock Saga series by Kiri Callaghan. In a world where magic and fey exist alongside yet hidden from the human world, this story continues on from Saga Trygg and Detective Avery Hemlock's magical murder mystery adventure from book one, The Hearth Witch's Guide to Magic & Murder. Saga is navigating a new life where magic exists in a practical sense, not only a religious one following the untimely death of her grandmother. Avery is adjusting to a world in which everything she once knew is different, those she once loved are lost, and now she must adapt to the modern world. When a local witch is found dead by what appears to be an act of cruel revenge, Saga and Avery must work together to solve the puzzle of this mysterious death. However, in their search for answers, more hidden truths about themselves will be revealed.
“That’s the difficulty with travel. When your body is crossing distances, the mind can’t help but attempt to mirror it.”
*cozy fantasy
*murder mystery/detective vibes
*witches and fey plus a whole handbook of magical creatures completely unknown to me
*extra slowburn
*emotional healing from trauma
*revenge
*queer representation
“It seemed the polite thing to do after nearly getting you killed.”
Story and Worldbuilding:
From start to finish, this book had me guessing this, that, and the other, and wondering who the perpetrator was right up until the very last few chapters. When I say that the plot was twisting, I mean it - even though the twists weren’t necessarily as surprising as one might prefer for a mystery novel, they were intriguing and enrapturing, feeling more like a winding path than pure shock factor. I found this speaks well to the cozy atmosphere of the series and it allowed me to feel a sense of warmth and safety throughout the read. The expansion of folklore and the magical judicial system was particularly fascinating, and didn’t feel overwhelming or too confusing at any point. The amusing annotations really helped to fill in any gaps as well. Additionally, mental health, trauma, grief, and healing are all addressed with such reverence that I almost cannot believe it.
“Death is not a punishment for living; it’s merely the passage into the next world.”
Writing:
Kiri Callaghan has done an excellent job in fostering this environment of cozy, fantastical mystery with wit, humour, and banter in balance with true hardships and realistic emotion. It takes a lot for me to cry reading a book, but this caught me completely off-guard when Saga experiences a heart-wrenching moment that is threatening to bring more tears to my eyes even now. On top of that, I felt genuinely gobsmacked, amused, and giddy routinely throughout, and often broke my poker face to express such emotions (again, much like with crying, this is quite the feat). Sincerely, what right does a cozy fantasy have to inspire such emotion within me? That said, I found the pacing difficult at times - there were slower slumps that made it hard to move from one scene to the next, made more manageable with the additions of humour. Much like with the first book, the annotations were hilarious.
One of my critiques of the first book was Avery’s discovery of modern technologies becoming overbearing, often taking from the story and pulling me out of the flow. This was not a problem in this book. In fact, this ended up facilitating one of my favourite scenes in the book when Avery discovers the library.
“What exactly do you detect?”
“Murder.”
“Really? Do you detect one about to happen now?”
Characters:
Saga and Avery are both incredible individuals. Saga’s personality feels so comforting and genuine, yet so powerful, even in those moments of self-doubt and anxiety. As we follow along her personal journal, recognising her strengths, overcoming her fears, and witnessing some of the very human traps she falls into, she represents a real and relatable human experience. She’s not perfect, she knows it, and still, she tries so hard to bring a smile to her friends’ faces. Her genuineness and warmth is exactly what I see when I think of a hearth witch, and I adored watching her coming into her power and finding her place in the world. On the other hand, Avery is curious, direct, autism-coded, and comes off a lot sharper than Saga. It’s as if they are two blades, both sharpening the other - they have the same values and core beliefs, and yet, they come at the same problems from such different angles. It’s a balancing act that Callaghan has mastered with these two curiosities.
Additionally, there are so many diverse characters throughout this book. Queer representation is just there. There’s no big deal about it, there are lesbians, trans people, non-binary people, and that’s life. It’s so nice for queer characters to be present in books without it being tokenistic and/or virtue signalling, a point of contention between characters (i.e., discrimination, micro-aggression, …), or even a “big deal”. It’s normalised, and that’s possibly one of my favourite parts of this series.
It would be remiss of me to not mention how amazing Saga’s social network is. Obviously, Saga’s aunt Leigh is wonderful and I love her, and she only improves from book one to two. Saga’s friends - Peregrine, Darcy, and Magdalena - are introduced for the first time, and not only do they have rich backgrounds, cultures, and histories, but they are also hilarious, empowering, and wondrously supportive of Saga.
“I will not be accommodating you further.”
---
“What do you think I should do?”
“Cyanide is famously effective.”
---
“Do you think all pink-haired people look the same?”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After loving the first book in this vaguely Sherlockian cozy-ish fantasy mystery series, I was so excited to read The Hearth Witch's Guide to Spite & Spellwork. I am pleased to report that I was not let down! This book starts not long after the last book in this series and does have some continuing plot lines from that book. Avery has been doing some small investigations for the past couple weeks and finally has a very strange one where she might have to break and ask Saga for help. Saga, for her part, is dealing with a good amount of family drama, but also having some good moments with her friends. But! She is quite eager to get into a new investigation with Avery.
I felt like the mystery was super interesting and full of twists yet also brought up some real issues for both Avery and Saga to deal with personally. It was nice to get some additional background information and learn some new facts about some personal mysteries for our characters. I liked learning more about the magical world as well. It is really well thought out and intricate, in my opinion. I also really enjoy the additional development in Avery and Saga's relationship in this installment. I am very excited to see what happens next!
*Thank you so much Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own. Also thank you to Ariel for buddy reading with me!*
I felt like the mystery was super interesting and full of twists yet also brought up some real issues for both Avery and Saga to deal with personally. It was nice to get some additional background information and learn some new facts about some personal mysteries for our characters. I liked learning more about the magical world as well. It is really well thought out and intricate, in my opinion. I also really enjoy the additional development in Avery and Saga's relationship in this installment. I am very excited to see what happens next!
*Thank you so much Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own. Also thank you to Ariel for buddy reading with me!*
September 30, 2026
I had forgotten how weirdly informative yet fun the footnotes of this series were.
This was a long-awaited instalment in the Hemlock Saga. It took me a while to get my bearings in 221 Baker Street, especially as Avery and Saga introduced us to a wider group of friends. But hey, my favourite pair are back, with several murder mysteries to solve while dealing with their own issues. The growing attraction between friends/neighbours doesn’t seem to be helping either😂
Ngl, based on the blurb, I had expected a tad more tension, or maybe some avoidance between the women, but it was heartwarming watching them nurture their relationship tenderly amidst the mess around them. It’s cool to have met someone who gets you; it’s even cooler when both parties constantly put in the effort to respect the other and choose to communicate.
The mystery in this instalment wasn’t too complex, though it involved an interesting cast of characters. That said, I loved watching Avery grow more sympathetic and honest with herself in this book.
Am already looking forward to the next book in the series!
This was a long-awaited instalment in the Hemlock Saga. It took me a while to get my bearings in 221 Baker Street, especially as Avery and Saga introduced us to a wider group of friends. But hey, my favourite pair are back, with several murder mysteries to solve while dealing with their own issues. The growing attraction between friends/neighbours doesn’t seem to be helping either😂
Ngl, based on the blurb, I had expected a tad more tension, or maybe some avoidance between the women, but it was heartwarming watching them nurture their relationship tenderly amidst the mess around them. It’s cool to have met someone who gets you; it’s even cooler when both parties constantly put in the effort to respect the other and choose to communicate.
The mystery in this instalment wasn’t too complex, though it involved an interesting cast of characters. That said, I loved watching Avery grow more sympathetic and honest with herself in this book.
Am already looking forward to the next book in the series!
September 29, 2026
This is an excellent follow-up to the first book! I loved diving more into Saga and Avery's characters this time around, and how they each had to grapple with the events that concluded book one. The mystery was interesting and I liked the main reveal at the end, and the building of the plot and characters really pulled on my heartstrings at the end! I would love to continue to read more about Saga and Avery's adventures in the future.
A huge thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and to Colleen for buddy reading this with me!
A huge thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and to Colleen for buddy reading this with me!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Kiri Callaghan's The Hearth Witch's Guide to Spite & Spellwork is a clever and heartfelt mystery and an excellent new addition to the Hemlock Saga. Set just weeks after the final events of the first book, we find our main characters trying to find normality after the trauma of that case. I don't say this often for second books in a series, but the humor and the heart and the character development in this novel made me love it even more than the first.
Charged by the Winter Court to help solve magical crimes as a condition of her parole, Avery Hemlock is handed a new murder to solve. Meanwhile Saga Trygg is dealing with her PTSD and her grief following her grandmother's passing. It doesn't take long for the two to join forces again, partnered up to chase down a murderer who is somehow compelling their victims to grievously harm themselves.
One of the elements I loved most from the first Hemlock Saga mystery was Callaghan's incorporation of such a wide array of creatures and beings from various myths and cultures, so it was a delight to see this continued. Callaghan expands on her world-building, this time giving more information about the Winter Court and its counterparts, as well as the roles within the Court's justice system, and some of the mythical creatures who populate it. Callaghan clearly has a passion for folklore and fantastic beasts, incorporating such a wide variety into her stories and enriching this fantasy version of London with such a colorful variety. I appreciated getting a deeper look at this fantasy version of a justice system as well as it took a creative spin on familiar institutions.
I also deeply appreciated the humor woven into this story. Callaghan makes use of footnotes to impart explanations of buildings and mythical creatures (to the delight of my scholarly heart) but also to insert additional notes of humor. The voice of the footnotes has a little more wit and snark than the main text and a few of the notes had me laughing out loud. But the footnotes weren't the only place for humor and charm, Avery finds a nemesis in this book, taking offense at the perceived arbitrary rules of the public library and a librarian named Susan who enforces said rules. Her plans for spite and revenge involving Susan also had me cackling while quietly appreciating anyone who feels that much awe and reverence stepping into a library.
Most of all, though, I loved the continued character development shown in this second installment. Callaghan clearly cares for her characters and allows them to learn and grow. Saga is actively working through her trauma and fear from the last book, while Avery continues to learn about the modern world and works to put her incarceration behind her. Both characters are supportive, building a friendship to aspire to. While it's clear where this partnership is heading, I appreciate that Callaghan is taking her time, allowing bonds to form naturally. They're building a foundation and it's heartwarming to watch.
It was a genuine delight to return to this fantasy world and, given some clues dropped at the end of this mystery, I'm already itching to read the third book! There are some heavier moments in the story, but as Callaghan writes in her thoughtful author's note in the introduction, it will all be okay. This was a perfect book for the start of autumn and pairs very well with a warm, cozy beverage, soft, comfortable clothing, and ample time to get immersed in the story for a while.
*I received a copy of the book from NetGalley and the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press; this review is entirely my own opinion.
Charged by the Winter Court to help solve magical crimes as a condition of her parole, Avery Hemlock is handed a new murder to solve. Meanwhile Saga Trygg is dealing with her PTSD and her grief following her grandmother's passing. It doesn't take long for the two to join forces again, partnered up to chase down a murderer who is somehow compelling their victims to grievously harm themselves.
One of the elements I loved most from the first Hemlock Saga mystery was Callaghan's incorporation of such a wide array of creatures and beings from various myths and cultures, so it was a delight to see this continued. Callaghan expands on her world-building, this time giving more information about the Winter Court and its counterparts, as well as the roles within the Court's justice system, and some of the mythical creatures who populate it. Callaghan clearly has a passion for folklore and fantastic beasts, incorporating such a wide variety into her stories and enriching this fantasy version of London with such a colorful variety. I appreciated getting a deeper look at this fantasy version of a justice system as well as it took a creative spin on familiar institutions.
I also deeply appreciated the humor woven into this story. Callaghan makes use of footnotes to impart explanations of buildings and mythical creatures (to the delight of my scholarly heart) but also to insert additional notes of humor. The voice of the footnotes has a little more wit and snark than the main text and a few of the notes had me laughing out loud. But the footnotes weren't the only place for humor and charm, Avery finds a nemesis in this book, taking offense at the perceived arbitrary rules of the public library and a librarian named Susan who enforces said rules. Her plans for spite and revenge involving Susan also had me cackling while quietly appreciating anyone who feels that much awe and reverence stepping into a library.
Most of all, though, I loved the continued character development shown in this second installment. Callaghan clearly cares for her characters and allows them to learn and grow. Saga is actively working through her trauma and fear from the last book, while Avery continues to learn about the modern world and works to put her incarceration behind her. Both characters are supportive, building a friendship to aspire to. While it's clear where this partnership is heading, I appreciate that Callaghan is taking her time, allowing bonds to form naturally. They're building a foundation and it's heartwarming to watch.
It was a genuine delight to return to this fantasy world and, given some clues dropped at the end of this mystery, I'm already itching to read the third book! There are some heavier moments in the story, but as Callaghan writes in her thoughtful author's note in the introduction, it will all be okay. This was a perfect book for the start of autumn and pairs very well with a warm, cozy beverage, soft, comfortable clothing, and ample time to get immersed in the story for a while.
*I received a copy of the book from NetGalley and the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press; this review is entirely my own opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you SO much to Kiri Callaghan and The Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted NetGalley widget of this book!
I so enjoyed Kiri's first book in this series, The Hearth Witch's Guide to Magic and Murder, and have been very much awaiting the next installment. And it most certainly did not disappoint.
Much like the first book, you have fey and folklore and tidbits of history (that may have been slightly skewed to suit this alternative London that Avery and Saga reside in) alongside quite the string of murders that Avery is tasked with solving. I still enjoy very much watching Avery and Saga work to piece together the puzzle that is in front of them to solve the crimes and bring about justice. It was certainly an intriguing set up that kept me guessing for most of the book.
This story deals with the topic of revenge, and what you would do for those you love, as well as the idea of home and how it can be a person instead of a place.
I enjoyed learning a bit more about both Avery's and Saga's pasts, and how both of our main characters evolved from their separate circumstances. A lot more of the overarching story starts to make sense as you begin to connect parts of each character to their histories and learns why they are the way they are today, and I really appreciated the new depth this brought to both Avery and Saga.
On that topic, with this new installment, while you still get that cozy hygge feel, but you also get some of the darker sides of life - the pain and sorrow and grief and anger. The crimes at hand focus on revenge, and some of the additional background you get on both Avery and Saga also contribute to the feelings that are much more heavy than one might typically expect from a typical cozy fantasy. Parts of this book nearly had me in tears because of how heartbreaking they were. But as Kiri notes in her content warning at the front of book, not including these darker aspects would be a disservice to the characters, and having now read this book in it's entirety, I would wholeheartedly agree. These heavier vibes are necessary for much of the character growth, and are well-balanced with the humor and comfort and warm feelings that I have come to associate with Kiri's writing for this series.
Part of that balance also comes from the romance aspect: in the first book, Avery and Saga start to have feelings, but never really act on them as we delve into this ultra slow-burn sapphic romance of theirs. But in *this* book? We finally start to get a proper taste of their romance, and I absolutely LOVED the delightful flirtations and intimate moments and yearning and banter between these two as they become closer and start to open up more with one another.
I also adore that Kiri takes the extra time to include recipes in her books that featured within the story, and I'm very excited to try my hand at some of these now that autumn is upon us - they sound absolutely delicious!
All in all, I loved this 2nd book in the Hemlock Saga, and I am very excited to see where book 3 takes us (and for these two to finally KISS ALREADY!)
I so enjoyed Kiri's first book in this series, The Hearth Witch's Guide to Magic and Murder, and have been very much awaiting the next installment. And it most certainly did not disappoint.
Much like the first book, you have fey and folklore and tidbits of history (that may have been slightly skewed to suit this alternative London that Avery and Saga reside in) alongside quite the string of murders that Avery is tasked with solving. I still enjoy very much watching Avery and Saga work to piece together the puzzle that is in front of them to solve the crimes and bring about justice. It was certainly an intriguing set up that kept me guessing for most of the book.
This story deals with the topic of revenge, and what you would do for those you love, as well as the idea of home and how it can be a person instead of a place.
I enjoyed learning a bit more about both Avery's and Saga's pasts, and how both of our main characters evolved from their separate circumstances. A lot more of the overarching story starts to make sense as you begin to connect parts of each character to their histories and learns why they are the way they are today, and I really appreciated the new depth this brought to both Avery and Saga.
On that topic, with this new installment, while you still get that cozy hygge feel, but you also get some of the darker sides of life - the pain and sorrow and grief and anger. The crimes at hand focus on revenge, and some of the additional background you get on both Avery and Saga also contribute to the feelings that are much more heavy than one might typically expect from a typical cozy fantasy. Parts of this book nearly had me in tears because of how heartbreaking they were. But as Kiri notes in her content warning at the front of book, not including these darker aspects would be a disservice to the characters, and having now read this book in it's entirety, I would wholeheartedly agree. These heavier vibes are necessary for much of the character growth, and are well-balanced with the humor and comfort and warm feelings that I have come to associate with Kiri's writing for this series.
Part of that balance also comes from the romance aspect: in the first book, Avery and Saga start to have feelings, but never really act on them as we delve into this ultra slow-burn sapphic romance of theirs. But in *this* book? We finally start to get a proper taste of their romance, and I absolutely LOVED the delightful flirtations and intimate moments and yearning and banter between these two as they become closer and start to open up more with one another.
I also adore that Kiri takes the extra time to include recipes in her books that featured within the story, and I'm very excited to try my hand at some of these now that autumn is upon us - they sound absolutely delicious!
All in all, I loved this 2nd book in the Hemlock Saga, and I am very excited to see where book 3 takes us (and for these two to finally KISS ALREADY!)
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of Advanced Copy received from Netgalley
We return to the London of Avery Hemlock and Saga Trygg; detective and consultant, changeling and witch, definitely not in love with each other. With this book, there is another spate of murders to solve, and a deeper dive into the fey society and what they’ve been up to all this time.
I thoroughly enjoy our two POV characters, and I appreciate that the fallout from the first book is not swept away but has profoundly affected each of them.
I particularly enjoyed Saga’s growth in this book. While Avery and Saga do serve their roles as equivalents to Conan Doyle’s Holme and Watson, Watson’s role was often reduced to standing there and gaping ‘my word Holmes, you’ve done it again’ (all the while, presumably, yearning to kiss Sherlock). Saga meanwhile absolutely refuses to be the sidekick, seeking to better herself through learning self defence and developing her magical abilities (presumably while still yearning to kiss Hemlock…hopefully). One part of her story in book two - without giving any spoilers - I took as a proper gut punch, and re-contextualises a lot of what has gone before.
I really enjoy the worldbuilding in these books; it reminds me a touch of my favourite urban fantasy, Seanan McGuire’s October Daye, with a splash of Pratchetty whimsy thrown in as well (though this is most prominent in the narration, especially the footnotes). This is a vast world which we’ve only scratched the surface of, and book two delves a lot deeper than the first did. There are brilliant and beautiful fey folk, drawn from many cultures and each returning character - such as Avery’s brother Gideon or the dragon Fiore - is given more depth. One thing I’m finding really interesting is the focus given to how poorly changelings are treated in this society, as well as how low and insignificant humans (Mundanes, as fey society refers to them) are considered; to bring up Pratchett once again, “No one ever said elves are nice.”
I do have some small nitpicks with this book, but far from any dealbreakers. The first is that in the first book there were a few instances sprinkled (for anyone that’s read this book, that was an excellent pun and you should all appreciate me) throughout hinting at some subtle differences between our world and that of the book, but I didn’t noticed this as much this time around. The second, and admittedly this may be due to the publisher’s house style and/or may actually just be part of what I said above, was that I was sometimes taken out by English characters using frequent Americanisms. Honestly, both are very small qualms in a really enjoyable book.
I finished book two with the same feeling I left book one with - a keen desire for me. While it doesn’t end in a cliffhanger, there are some very clear unanswered questions and plot threads leading us forward. I’d love for both Avery and for us the readers to get some answers, and I get the feeling they might just be on the horizon.
Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for this review copy. The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite and Spellwork releases October 6th - get your preorders in!
We return to the London of Avery Hemlock and Saga Trygg; detective and consultant, changeling and witch, definitely not in love with each other. With this book, there is another spate of murders to solve, and a deeper dive into the fey society and what they’ve been up to all this time.
I thoroughly enjoy our two POV characters, and I appreciate that the fallout from the first book is not swept away but has profoundly affected each of them.
I particularly enjoyed Saga’s growth in this book. While Avery and Saga do serve their roles as equivalents to Conan Doyle’s Holme and Watson, Watson’s role was often reduced to standing there and gaping ‘my word Holmes, you’ve done it again’ (all the while, presumably, yearning to kiss Sherlock). Saga meanwhile absolutely refuses to be the sidekick, seeking to better herself through learning self defence and developing her magical abilities (presumably while still yearning to kiss Hemlock…hopefully). One part of her story in book two - without giving any spoilers - I took as a proper gut punch, and re-contextualises a lot of what has gone before.
I really enjoy the worldbuilding in these books; it reminds me a touch of my favourite urban fantasy, Seanan McGuire’s October Daye, with a splash of Pratchetty whimsy thrown in as well (though this is most prominent in the narration, especially the footnotes). This is a vast world which we’ve only scratched the surface of, and book two delves a lot deeper than the first did. There are brilliant and beautiful fey folk, drawn from many cultures and each returning character - such as Avery’s brother Gideon or the dragon Fiore - is given more depth. One thing I’m finding really interesting is the focus given to how poorly changelings are treated in this society, as well as how low and insignificant humans (Mundanes, as fey society refers to them) are considered; to bring up Pratchett once again, “No one ever said elves are nice.”
I do have some small nitpicks with this book, but far from any dealbreakers. The first is that in the first book there were a few instances sprinkled (for anyone that’s read this book, that was an excellent pun and you should all appreciate me) throughout hinting at some subtle differences between our world and that of the book, but I didn’t noticed this as much this time around. The second, and admittedly this may be due to the publisher’s house style and/or may actually just be part of what I said above, was that I was sometimes taken out by English characters using frequent Americanisms. Honestly, both are very small qualms in a really enjoyable book.
I finished book two with the same feeling I left book one with - a keen desire for me. While it doesn’t end in a cliffhanger, there are some very clear unanswered questions and plot threads leading us forward. I’d love for both Avery and for us the readers to get some answers, and I get the feeling they might just be on the horizon.
Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for this review copy. The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite and Spellwork releases October 6th - get your preorders in!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ✨️
Thankyou Netgallery & Poisioned Pen Press for my advanced e-reader ARC inexchange for my honest review
* Cosy vibes
* detective, mystery
* murder
* emotional
* a real slowburn between two FMC's
* The FBI of magical creatures
* revenge, trauma, healing
For a cosy vibe book i didnt expect the amount of emotion to be in this book, it brought up many hard topics and yet handled them very well. It stood out to me because of this.
This book still had its quirky charm of witches, that is modern day herb using family witches instead of crones and evil. It had humour all the way through and made a very enjoyable read. Extremely well balanced with fun and serious.
There is the two fmc's working as partners, detectives for the winter court. Basically FBI of magical creatures. When a crime/ murder involved a super natural being. Avery was called in to solve it for them. She teamed up with saga as a consultant.
The mystery though easy to solve was enjoyable to watch unfold, you got the supernatural clues and elements right infront of humans eyes, i found this to keep my attention but the book is completely stole by Avery & Saga.
Avery has a very Autistic genuis personality. She wasnt rude or thought herself better in anyway she was confused and wanting to learn the whole book but she followed her own process. Remebered so many facts and her mannerisms and the way she spoke stood out for it. I loved her very much. The sheldon cooper - sherlock holmes changeling fey female.
then comes saga, a human, newly learned shes from a witch family. Shes incredibly kind, caring, generous. Shy, clever, cooking lover. She sees good and has a special sight to see past glamours She also has the uncanny ability to read avery completely.
They are opposite. They worked so incredibly well! Is the slowest burn ive ever read. Without a kiss for the entire book, but there emotional journey together speaks volumes and i really started to route for them. For me, there personalities stole the show
Now coming to the slow start, it took me a long time to get into this and there is soo much that is very slow paced and dragged out. For me personally i needed much action and harder clues, bigger reveals.
The author has written a quirky witch detective series for sure. But this is the book and i felt it didnt need so many interactions and joining up scenes, paragraphs that repeated themselves or werent needed
All in all, cosy readers that like mystery in a relaxed way, perhaps super natural lovers will very much enjoy this book but but its just tooo slow for me. I did have a fun time reading though.
( I read this book without reading book one and found that i could follow along easily and most questions got answered eventually. So you dont need to, but to get a bigger picture of their relationship and the trauma they went through , i would say its best to read book one first and get the full experience )
Thankyou Netgallery & Poisioned Pen Press for my advanced e-reader ARC inexchange for my honest review
* Cosy vibes
* detective, mystery
* murder
* emotional
* a real slowburn between two FMC's
* The FBI of magical creatures
* revenge, trauma, healing
For a cosy vibe book i didnt expect the amount of emotion to be in this book, it brought up many hard topics and yet handled them very well. It stood out to me because of this.
This book still had its quirky charm of witches, that is modern day herb using family witches instead of crones and evil. It had humour all the way through and made a very enjoyable read. Extremely well balanced with fun and serious.
There is the two fmc's working as partners, detectives for the winter court. Basically FBI of magical creatures. When a crime/ murder involved a super natural being. Avery was called in to solve it for them. She teamed up with saga as a consultant.
The mystery though easy to solve was enjoyable to watch unfold, you got the supernatural clues and elements right infront of humans eyes, i found this to keep my attention but the book is completely stole by Avery & Saga.
Avery has a very Autistic genuis personality. She wasnt rude or thought herself better in anyway she was confused and wanting to learn the whole book but she followed her own process. Remebered so many facts and her mannerisms and the way she spoke stood out for it. I loved her very much. The sheldon cooper - sherlock holmes changeling fey female.
then comes saga, a human, newly learned shes from a witch family. Shes incredibly kind, caring, generous. Shy, clever, cooking lover. She sees good and has a special sight to see past glamours She also has the uncanny ability to read avery completely.
They are opposite. They worked so incredibly well! Is the slowest burn ive ever read. Without a kiss for the entire book, but there emotional journey together speaks volumes and i really started to route for them. For me, there personalities stole the show
Now coming to the slow start, it took me a long time to get into this and there is soo much that is very slow paced and dragged out. For me personally i needed much action and harder clues, bigger reveals.
The author has written a quirky witch detective series for sure. But this is the book and i felt it didnt need so many interactions and joining up scenes, paragraphs that repeated themselves or werent needed
All in all, cosy readers that like mystery in a relaxed way, perhaps super natural lovers will very much enjoy this book but but its just tooo slow for me. I did have a fun time reading though.
( I read this book without reading book one and found that i could follow along easily and most questions got answered eventually. So you dont need to, but to get a bigger picture of their relationship and the trauma they went through , i would say its best to read book one first and get the full experience )
September 24, 2026
I settled in with my coffee and Kiri Callaghan’s The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite & Spellwork, because apparently autumn is my excuse to read about witches, murder, and a little magical revenge. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the gifted digital copy. Who else loves a cozy mystery that turns out to be considerably darker than its charming title suggests?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We’re back in magical London with Detective Avery Hemlock and Saga Trygg, two women who desperately need each other but have apparently decided that avoiding their feelings is an excellent life strategy. Naturally, a dead witch and a vicious revenge hex have other plans.
Avery is still my kind of detective. She’s sharp, sarcastic, stubborn, and considerably better at solving murders than navigating relationships. Saga, meanwhile, is grieving her grandmother, discovering her magical heritage, and trying to figure out where she belongs.
And these two together? THE YEARNING! Seriously, ladies, I’m going to need someone to make a move before I finish another 448 pages.
What surprised me was how emotional this second installment became. Beneath the witchcraft, folklore, and suspicious deaths is a story about loneliness, family secrets, revenge, and learning that accepting someone’s love doesn’t make you weak.
I particularly enjoyed discovering more about Avery’s mysterious past and watching Saga find her confidence. Their banter provides some much-needed humor when the investigation takes a decidedly unpleasant turn.
My one complaint? It takes a while for the mystery to really get moving, and I occasionally wanted to give both women a gentle shove toward each other.
And can we discuss the recipes? Murder, magic, and baked goods. Apparently, that’s all it takes to convince me to visit a fictional London.
This sequel is darker and more emotional than the first, but it still has those comforting moments that make this magical world so inviting. Now I’m waiting for book three because these women have unfinished business!
Which fictional couple has tested your patience with an unbelievably slow-burning romance?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We’re back in magical London with Detective Avery Hemlock and Saga Trygg, two women who desperately need each other but have apparently decided that avoiding their feelings is an excellent life strategy. Naturally, a dead witch and a vicious revenge hex have other plans.
Avery is still my kind of detective. She’s sharp, sarcastic, stubborn, and considerably better at solving murders than navigating relationships. Saga, meanwhile, is grieving her grandmother, discovering her magical heritage, and trying to figure out where she belongs.
And these two together? THE YEARNING! Seriously, ladies, I’m going to need someone to make a move before I finish another 448 pages.
What surprised me was how emotional this second installment became. Beneath the witchcraft, folklore, and suspicious deaths is a story about loneliness, family secrets, revenge, and learning that accepting someone’s love doesn’t make you weak.
I particularly enjoyed discovering more about Avery’s mysterious past and watching Saga find her confidence. Their banter provides some much-needed humor when the investigation takes a decidedly unpleasant turn.
My one complaint? It takes a while for the mystery to really get moving, and I occasionally wanted to give both women a gentle shove toward each other.
And can we discuss the recipes? Murder, magic, and baked goods. Apparently, that’s all it takes to convince me to visit a fictional London.
This sequel is darker and more emotional than the first, but it still has those comforting moments that make this magical world so inviting. Now I’m waiting for book three because these women have unfinished business!
Which fictional couple has tested your patience with an unbelievably slow-burning romance?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Hearth witch's guide to spite and spellwork has a wonderfully sharp, witchy energy — the kind of story that blends emotional vulnerability with dark magic and a touch of spiteful charm. Avery Hemlock’s loneliness sits at the centre of it all, and the book captures that ache beautifully. As the bastard daughter of the late Erlking, she’s always kept herself apart, but now solitude feels less like safety and more like punishment. It gives her chapters a quiet, compelling tension.
Saga’s journey runs parallel in a way that feels deeply satisfying. Still reeling from her grandmother’s murder and the shock of discovering the fey world, she’s trying to rebuild herself piece by piece. Her longing to reach out to Avery — tempered by guilt and fear — adds a lovely emotional thread. Both women are navigating grief, identity, and the consequences of their last case, and the book lets those wounds breathe.
The new investigation pulls them back together with perfect timing. A local witch’s death, possibly tied to a vicious revenge hex, is exactly the kind of mystery that refuses to let either of them stay away. The case is layered, eerie, and threaded with political tension from the Winter Council, whose secrets add an extra chill to the story.
What stands out is how nothing is straightforward. Every clue feels slightly off, every truth has a shadow behind it, and even Avery and Saga’s own long‑held beliefs begin to crack. Their dynamic — prickly, loyal, and quietly tender — gives the book its strongest heartbeat, grounding the magic in real emotional stakes.
Atmospheric, sharp, and full of fey intrigue, The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite and Spellwork delivers a compelling blend of mystery, magic, and messy, meaningful connection. A rich, engaging read that deepens the world and the characters in all the right ways.
With thanks to Kiri Callaghan, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Saga’s journey runs parallel in a way that feels deeply satisfying. Still reeling from her grandmother’s murder and the shock of discovering the fey world, she’s trying to rebuild herself piece by piece. Her longing to reach out to Avery — tempered by guilt and fear — adds a lovely emotional thread. Both women are navigating grief, identity, and the consequences of their last case, and the book lets those wounds breathe.
The new investigation pulls them back together with perfect timing. A local witch’s death, possibly tied to a vicious revenge hex, is exactly the kind of mystery that refuses to let either of them stay away. The case is layered, eerie, and threaded with political tension from the Winter Council, whose secrets add an extra chill to the story.
What stands out is how nothing is straightforward. Every clue feels slightly off, every truth has a shadow behind it, and even Avery and Saga’s own long‑held beliefs begin to crack. Their dynamic — prickly, loyal, and quietly tender — gives the book its strongest heartbeat, grounding the magic in real emotional stakes.
Atmospheric, sharp, and full of fey intrigue, The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite and Spellwork delivers a compelling blend of mystery, magic, and messy, meaningful connection. A rich, engaging read that deepens the world and the characters in all the right ways.
With thanks to Kiri Callaghan, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.25/5)
Returning to Saga and Avery’s world felt like slipping back into a favorite magical London.
One of my favorite aspects of The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite & Spellwork is how naturally the world continues to expand. Rather than relying on constant action, Kiri Callaghan lets the mystery unfold through layered world-building, folklore, and character relationships. The magic system feels richer, the stakes grow steadily, and every new revelation adds another piece to a much larger puzzle.
What continues to set this series apart for me, though, is Saga and Avery. Their relationship remains the emotional heart of the story, and I found myself just as invested in their quieter moments together as I was in the central mystery. They balance one another beautifully, and watching their trust and partnership deepen made the journey especially rewarding.
The prose is elegant and immersive, creating the perfect atmosphere for a cozy magical mystery. Even during the slower sections, I never felt disconnected because the world itself was so enjoyable to spend time in.
The ending is clearly designed to lead into the next installment. While it leaves several larger questions unanswered, it still provides enough emotional resolution that I finished the book feeling excited for what’s to come rather than frustrated by the open threads.
If I had one small criticism, it’s that the deliberate pacing and open-ended conclusion kept this from reaching a full five stars for me. I wanted just a bit more closure before turning the final page.
Overall, this is another enchanting installment in the Hemlock Saga that blends magical mystery, folklore, and heartfelt character development into a wonderfully immersive reading experience.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Kiri Callaghan, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Returning to Saga and Avery’s world felt like slipping back into a favorite magical London.
One of my favorite aspects of The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite & Spellwork is how naturally the world continues to expand. Rather than relying on constant action, Kiri Callaghan lets the mystery unfold through layered world-building, folklore, and character relationships. The magic system feels richer, the stakes grow steadily, and every new revelation adds another piece to a much larger puzzle.
What continues to set this series apart for me, though, is Saga and Avery. Their relationship remains the emotional heart of the story, and I found myself just as invested in their quieter moments together as I was in the central mystery. They balance one another beautifully, and watching their trust and partnership deepen made the journey especially rewarding.
The prose is elegant and immersive, creating the perfect atmosphere for a cozy magical mystery. Even during the slower sections, I never felt disconnected because the world itself was so enjoyable to spend time in.
The ending is clearly designed to lead into the next installment. While it leaves several larger questions unanswered, it still provides enough emotional resolution that I finished the book feeling excited for what’s to come rather than frustrated by the open threads.
If I had one small criticism, it’s that the deliberate pacing and open-ended conclusion kept this from reaching a full five stars for me. I wanted just a bit more closure before turning the final page.
Overall, this is another enchanting installment in the Hemlock Saga that blends magical mystery, folklore, and heartfelt character development into a wonderfully immersive reading experience.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Kiri Callaghan, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 23, 2026
Absolute fantastic follow-up to the first book. The author has called this a "hygge" mystery instead of cozy, and I agree that it really hits the nail on the head there. The stakes are still stakes, someone's life is still very much in danger, but it isn't a thriller mystery, and the characters have time to go relax over a cup of tea. I'm someone who can watch a police procedural and pretty quickly call out, "That's the killer" or "they're not surviving the cold open." This book finds balance between keeping you on your toes and not making the reader feel dumb for not figuring out WhoDunIt (I did have a moment where I did in fact shout at my copy, "Oh, they're the killer!" but it felt fun and exciting, not like an "aha, I solved your murder puzzle mwuahaha").
The characters as a whole are just so delightful and complicated and all the better for it. Part of Saga's emotional journey this book hit so painfully close to home, and it brought me joy to see she had people on her side, just as I did. One of my only complaints in book one was that Saga felt a little isolated from the human world, and Spite & Spellwork resolves that in a natural feeling way. The budding romance between Saga and Avery? Get ready for some YEARNING, y'all. I'm not mad in the slightest at where it leaves off because the yearning is so good.
And the recipes? Top notch. I whipped up the cardamon coffee cake and will be adding it to my annual bakes from now on. And chai-infused cream is going to be a staple in my house, too.
Overall, absolutely fabulous read. I went through just about every emotional spectrum you can imagine while reading it. I laughed, I cried, I raged - all the good stuff. Easily a book to be devoured in a day, or treat yourself to a few chapters here and there on your lunch break.
This review is based on an early review copy I was sent by the publisher, but this didn't affect the content of my review that I am voluntarily providing.
The characters as a whole are just so delightful and complicated and all the better for it. Part of Saga's emotional journey this book hit so painfully close to home, and it brought me joy to see she had people on her side, just as I did. One of my only complaints in book one was that Saga felt a little isolated from the human world, and Spite & Spellwork resolves that in a natural feeling way. The budding romance between Saga and Avery? Get ready for some YEARNING, y'all. I'm not mad in the slightest at where it leaves off because the yearning is so good.
And the recipes? Top notch. I whipped up the cardamon coffee cake and will be adding it to my annual bakes from now on. And chai-infused cream is going to be a staple in my house, too.
Overall, absolutely fabulous read. I went through just about every emotional spectrum you can imagine while reading it. I laughed, I cried, I raged - all the good stuff. Easily a book to be devoured in a day, or treat yourself to a few chapters here and there on your lunch break.
This review is based on an early review copy I was sent by the publisher, but this didn't affect the content of my review that I am voluntarily providing.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Kiri Callaghan and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Do you like witchcraft? Fey (the spooky, 'steal babies' kind, not the other kind) and magic? Murder and intrigue? Delicious recipes that accompany the novel, described so beautifully you can almost smell them on the page? Okay, so the last one is a bonus, but the recipes ARE good.
Spite & Spellwork is an excellent follow-up to Magic & Murder, and a perfect continuation of the series that continues to mix cozy, classic Sherlock Holmes, and fantastical crimes that cross the thin border between our world and that of folklore and wonder. There's no sophomore slump here. Saga and Avery continue to yearn, but it's more pointed, more clear. Their developing relationship was so lovely to read, especially with how much more we got to see of Saga's past. The characters are complicated, real, and lovable in their own ways, and you want to see more of their lives, not less.
The mystery in S&S was, in my opinion, not as interesting as in M&M; it was easier to solve, a bit more clear-cut in motive if you're familiar with the genre or are good at solving mysteries. BUT!! The consequences and results, the way it was presented, and the resolution kept me entertained even as I started to put the pieces together. Not only that, but it truly showed how complicated this world is, the London which Saga and Avery occupy, especially when it comes to how Mundane and magic meet. There is no perfect solution to the problems presented, but that's life.
S&S introduces new characters and concepts, reenforces old, and it's a fantastic time all around. Perfect for the coming fall months, I'd recommend a heavy blanket, some warm lighting, and a robust cup of black tea with cardamom syrup as you dive back into this alternative London and all its continued magic.
Do you like witchcraft? Fey (the spooky, 'steal babies' kind, not the other kind) and magic? Murder and intrigue? Delicious recipes that accompany the novel, described so beautifully you can almost smell them on the page? Okay, so the last one is a bonus, but the recipes ARE good.
Spite & Spellwork is an excellent follow-up to Magic & Murder, and a perfect continuation of the series that continues to mix cozy, classic Sherlock Holmes, and fantastical crimes that cross the thin border between our world and that of folklore and wonder. There's no sophomore slump here. Saga and Avery continue to yearn, but it's more pointed, more clear. Their developing relationship was so lovely to read, especially with how much more we got to see of Saga's past. The characters are complicated, real, and lovable in their own ways, and you want to see more of their lives, not less.
The mystery in S&S was, in my opinion, not as interesting as in M&M; it was easier to solve, a bit more clear-cut in motive if you're familiar with the genre or are good at solving mysteries. BUT!! The consequences and results, the way it was presented, and the resolution kept me entertained even as I started to put the pieces together. Not only that, but it truly showed how complicated this world is, the London which Saga and Avery occupy, especially when it comes to how Mundane and magic meet. There is no perfect solution to the problems presented, but that's life.
S&S introduces new characters and concepts, reenforces old, and it's a fantastic time all around. Perfect for the coming fall months, I'd recommend a heavy blanket, some warm lighting, and a robust cup of black tea with cardamom syrup as you dive back into this alternative London and all its continued magic.
September 11, 2026
This book was, in some ways, a rollercoaster ride for me. All the qualities from the previous book that made me enjoy it are still here, just with some small adjustments.
I still love how the author writes the dual POV. As I mentioned in my review of the first book, I tend to struggle with dual POV because there’s usually one perspective I like less than the other. That wasn’t the case here either, I had a blast with both storylines.
The mystery and investigation in this book, while less intriguing than in the last one, still kept me curious enough to keep turning pages, sometimes faster than I could actually read.
That said, this book felt more focused on the relationship and life of Avery and Saga than on the mystery itself, which isn’t a problem on its own. It was fascinating to uncover more of the Hudsons’ past and their possible secrets, and to learn how Avery ended up killing her father and the means she used to do it.
Where the book struggled, though, was its pacing at the start. The first 30% felt like a slog, and I had to push myself to keep reading. The story and details at that point felt overly descriptive and lacked any real stakes, so I never got that “can’t stop turning pages” feeling that hit me later on.
As for the writing itself, I still found it hard to keep track of everyone’s names and surnames; at one point I genuinely had no idea who someone crucial to the case even was. That didn’t make the reading less enjoyable overall, just a bit harder to follow. Though, this could easily be a personal quirk rather than a flaw in the writing.
I would’ve rated this book higher if not for the slow start. Even so, it was an enjoyable read.
I still love how the author writes the dual POV. As I mentioned in my review of the first book, I tend to struggle with dual POV because there’s usually one perspective I like less than the other. That wasn’t the case here either, I had a blast with both storylines.
The mystery and investigation in this book, while less intriguing than in the last one, still kept me curious enough to keep turning pages, sometimes faster than I could actually read.
That said, this book felt more focused on the relationship and life of Avery and Saga than on the mystery itself, which isn’t a problem on its own. It was fascinating to uncover more of the Hudsons’ past and their possible secrets, and to learn how Avery ended up killing her father and the means she used to do it.
Where the book struggled, though, was its pacing at the start. The first 30% felt like a slog, and I had to push myself to keep reading. The story and details at that point felt overly descriptive and lacked any real stakes, so I never got that “can’t stop turning pages” feeling that hit me later on.
As for the writing itself, I still found it hard to keep track of everyone’s names and surnames; at one point I genuinely had no idea who someone crucial to the case even was. That didn’t make the reading less enjoyable overall, just a bit harder to follow. Though, this could easily be a personal quirk rather than a flaw in the writing.
I would’ve rated this book higher if not for the slow start. Even so, it was an enjoyable read.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
ARC REVIEW ⭐️
The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite and Spellwork
I loved this book every bit as much as the first one, but this time around, the story felt deeper and a little more emotionally complex.
Saga is wrestling with her identity, her family history, and what it means to step into her own power without losing the parts of herself that make her her. That is one of my favorite things about her as a character. She can be incredibly fierce, loyal, and protective, but she never loses sight of her kindness or her humanity.
I also loved seeing Avery continue to grow alongside her. Her relationship with Saga has changed the way she sees the world, and getting more of Avery’s history added so much depth to a character I already adored. And don’t worry, she is STILL hilarious. Her wit might genuinely be one of my favorite things about this series. 😂
We also get to dig deeper into the histories of these characters and their families, which brought so much more emotional weight to the story. There were moments that genuinely had me tearing up right alongside moments that had me cackling.
That balance is what makes these books feel like such a breath of fresh air. They are cozy mysteries full of witches, magic, humor, and charm, but underneath all of that are these really beautiful themes of grief, healing, identity, family, and friendship, and maybe something a little more than friendship. 😍
At this point, Saga and Avery feel like friends I get to catch up with over tea and cake, and I would happily read an entire series of their adventures.
If you are building your fall TBR, The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite and Spellwork absolutely belongs on it. 🍂🔮☕️
Thank you to The Poisoned Pen and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite and Spellwork
I loved this book every bit as much as the first one, but this time around, the story felt deeper and a little more emotionally complex.
Saga is wrestling with her identity, her family history, and what it means to step into her own power without losing the parts of herself that make her her. That is one of my favorite things about her as a character. She can be incredibly fierce, loyal, and protective, but she never loses sight of her kindness or her humanity.
I also loved seeing Avery continue to grow alongside her. Her relationship with Saga has changed the way she sees the world, and getting more of Avery’s history added so much depth to a character I already adored. And don’t worry, she is STILL hilarious. Her wit might genuinely be one of my favorite things about this series. 😂
We also get to dig deeper into the histories of these characters and their families, which brought so much more emotional weight to the story. There were moments that genuinely had me tearing up right alongside moments that had me cackling.
That balance is what makes these books feel like such a breath of fresh air. They are cozy mysteries full of witches, magic, humor, and charm, but underneath all of that are these really beautiful themes of grief, healing, identity, family, and friendship, and maybe something a little more than friendship. 😍
At this point, Saga and Avery feel like friends I get to catch up with over tea and cake, and I would happily read an entire series of their adventures.
If you are building your fall TBR, The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite and Spellwork absolutely belongs on it. 🍂🔮☕️
Thank you to The Poisoned Pen and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I couldn't be more thrilled to have gotten my hands on the ebook ARC for the Hearth Witch sequel, thanks to Netgalley. The first book was one of my favorites last year, and I'm so happy it did well enough that we get more stories in this world. Everything I loved about the first book is still present and expanded on, such as Saga's own magical identity, her family history, institutional discrimination and magical gatekeeping, the absolutely DELIGHTFUL footnotes, and just the delicious slow burn that is Saga and Avery's growing friendship and professional partnership. Kiri pulls off something that I often get annoyed by so many fantasy authors, which is actually digging your heels into the world building and allowing the characters and the reader to really enjoy it. Whether it's Saga's discovery of the magical legal system and its impressive Palace, or Avery's discovery of public libraries and the horror of book checkout limits. The Author's note for both books clarifies how the story is channeling Hygge, and it's on the mark because it really was a safe haven from stressful life happenings, and I couldn't wait to get back to the book wrapped in my comfiest blanket and reading couch. I can't say too much about the plot itself because it's just such a joy to experience as it unfolds because so much life and growth happens as it moves along. There is tragedy and death and heartbreak and disappointment, but there is SO MUCH kindness and compassion as the characters unpack trauma and find their way forward. There is no one dimensional bad guy and even the seemingly unsympathetic ones are portrayed as full and flawed people who are products of their circumstances. Easiest 5 stars of the year. I cannot wait for more of this!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
5⭐️ 0 🌶️
What an amazing follow up to her debut novel A Hearth Witch’s Guide to Magic and Murder! This book brought back all the cozy vibes from book one while also managing to add, as the title implies, spite and malice, in addition to one of the most emotionally devastating scenes I’ve read in a long time. I was full on ugly crying one moment only for Kiri to coax a bark of laughter out of me moments later. So to say I loved this book would be an understatement.
I love Avery and Saga both so much. Their character development and growth has been amazing. The changes in both of them have happened so gradually and realistically that it isn’t until I think back to the characters at the beginning of book 1 that I realize how far they have come.
This might be the slowest burn romance I’ve read in a long time. And while I of course would like to jump a head to them being head over heels in love with each other. I wouldn’t trade all of this delicious tension for anything. Because what they are building right now is so much more important than romantic love. They are setting the foundation for an unshakable friendship. I love how they support each other and don’t hold back from the hard truths.
I adore the world building in this series. The way that Kiri allows for folklore from so many cultures to coexist appears effortless but I know it couldn’t have been easy.
I already can’t wait to read this book again. I have the audiobook preordered and have plans to listen to both back to back as soon as I can. And don’t get me started on how I can’t wait to try out the recipes in the back of the book!
Thank you so much to Kiri and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.
What an amazing follow up to her debut novel A Hearth Witch’s Guide to Magic and Murder! This book brought back all the cozy vibes from book one while also managing to add, as the title implies, spite and malice, in addition to one of the most emotionally devastating scenes I’ve read in a long time. I was full on ugly crying one moment only for Kiri to coax a bark of laughter out of me moments later. So to say I loved this book would be an understatement.
I love Avery and Saga both so much. Their character development and growth has been amazing. The changes in both of them have happened so gradually and realistically that it isn’t until I think back to the characters at the beginning of book 1 that I realize how far they have come.
This might be the slowest burn romance I’ve read in a long time. And while I of course would like to jump a head to them being head over heels in love with each other. I wouldn’t trade all of this delicious tension for anything. Because what they are building right now is so much more important than romantic love. They are setting the foundation for an unshakable friendship. I love how they support each other and don’t hold back from the hard truths.
I adore the world building in this series. The way that Kiri allows for folklore from so many cultures to coexist appears effortless but I know it couldn’t have been easy.
I already can’t wait to read this book again. I have the audiobook preordered and have plans to listen to both back to back as soon as I can. And don’t get me started on how I can’t wait to try out the recipes in the back of the book!
Thank you so much to Kiri and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Poison Pen Press for an advanced copy of this book.
I was concerned that this series may fall into the trap of becoming a procedural case study. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it very successfully avoided this pitfall. This story feels less like a Sherlock remake, and is more inspired by it. This allows the story and world room to breathe and really live on its own.
This story continues to build the magical world and this alternate version of modern London. I am really impressed by how the author has balanced the world building between what Saga is learning about magic, and what Avery is learning about modern life and what she has missed. Both are competent, intelligent women and the story allows them to be intelligent and competent even when faced with things they are ignorant of or don't understand. Ignorance is never treated as unintelligence and opportunities to educate or share information are never handled with condescension or superiority.
I appreciate that while the story focuses on Saga and Avery, they are not siloed off. They each have life history before they met each other and the world around them did not cease to exist when they met each other. They are allowed to do things on their own, and be apart from each other and the story feels richer for it.
I can't wait for more from this series as we continue to learn more about the magical world, as Saga learns more about her family and her magic, and as Avery uncovers more about her own recent past and how things may not be as cut and dry as she initially thought.
I was concerned that this series may fall into the trap of becoming a procedural case study. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it very successfully avoided this pitfall. This story feels less like a Sherlock remake, and is more inspired by it. This allows the story and world room to breathe and really live on its own.
This story continues to build the magical world and this alternate version of modern London. I am really impressed by how the author has balanced the world building between what Saga is learning about magic, and what Avery is learning about modern life and what she has missed. Both are competent, intelligent women and the story allows them to be intelligent and competent even when faced with things they are ignorant of or don't understand. Ignorance is never treated as unintelligence and opportunities to educate or share information are never handled with condescension or superiority.
I appreciate that while the story focuses on Saga and Avery, they are not siloed off. They each have life history before they met each other and the world around them did not cease to exist when they met each other. They are allowed to do things on their own, and be apart from each other and the story feels richer for it.
I can't wait for more from this series as we continue to learn more about the magical world, as Saga learns more about her family and her magic, and as Avery uncovers more about her own recent past and how things may not be as cut and dry as she initially thought.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Where magical contracts change the game when death is involved.
Shout to Netgalley for this ARC. Release date is October 6, 2026.
The duo today is Saga Trygg and Avery Hemlock. Saga is dealing with the reality of her family’s secrets, introduction to magic as a whole and finding herself after Hugh left her. Avery’s a fey from 200 years in the past who’s working on a new case. The case being the mysterious death of a witch that involves self harm.
I didn’t know or read the 1st book, but it does sprinkle details to give you an idea about what transpired. It sounds pretty hectic.
The focus of Saga’s development and the dynamic with Avery was nice, they work well together and it's clear they enjoy each other’s companionship. The descriptions of outfits and locations were good.
The deductions they made and the process of gathering more information was well done.
This part has spoilers.
The side characters didn’t really stand out to me and magic felt underused.
The villain’s motivations made sense, showing the consequences of the justice system in the fey world.
I am a bit confused about the third act, when a certain trial is reviewed and some people are quite vulnerable when doing so. Seems like an oversight to them being so wide open and made me question where the guards were. The Hugh sideplot didn’t leave a satisfying conclusion and it feels like Saga should’ve wanted to research other ways to help the sundered, seeing how her life was turned upside down because of it.
This one feels targeted for Callaghan fans, Fairy Tale and Mystery enjoyers.
Shout to Netgalley for this ARC. Release date is October 6, 2026.
The duo today is Saga Trygg and Avery Hemlock. Saga is dealing with the reality of her family’s secrets, introduction to magic as a whole and finding herself after Hugh left her. Avery’s a fey from 200 years in the past who’s working on a new case. The case being the mysterious death of a witch that involves self harm.
I didn’t know or read the 1st book, but it does sprinkle details to give you an idea about what transpired. It sounds pretty hectic.
The focus of Saga’s development and the dynamic with Avery was nice, they work well together and it's clear they enjoy each other’s companionship. The descriptions of outfits and locations were good.
The deductions they made and the process of gathering more information was well done.
This part has spoilers.
The side characters didn’t really stand out to me and magic felt underused.
The villain’s motivations made sense, showing the consequences of the justice system in the fey world.
I am a bit confused about the third act, when a certain trial is reviewed and some people are quite vulnerable when doing so. Seems like an oversight to them being so wide open and made me question where the guards were. The Hugh sideplot didn’t leave a satisfying conclusion and it feels like Saga should’ve wanted to research other ways to help the sundered, seeing how her life was turned upside down because of it.
This one feels targeted for Callaghan fans, Fairy Tale and Mystery enjoyers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to read this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts are my own. This is a spoiler-free review but may contain some spoilers for book 1:
I loved jumping back into this world and it feeling like no time has passed since I read book 1, even though I was an arc reader for that book as well and it has been over a year since I read it. It’s really interesting seeing how Saga is handling the events from book 1. The trauma from the ending, the grief regarding her grandmother, and how she is trying to deal with it is quite realistic. I also love seeing more of the fae legal system and how it is similar and different to the real legal system it is meant to mirror.
The case itself was well done, even if it was not the most imaginative. There was a predictable twist but it was a good time and Saga and Avery’s dynamic was so sweet throughout. I loved the care Avery showed for Saga and everyone around them seeing their dynamic even when the girls don’t. Some of the Saga family subplot genuinely made me tear up and I loved this expansion on her character. I also am really intrigued by the questions with Avery that are introduced and hope we will get more in the next book. I wish I could gush about everything I loved, but I don’t trust myself to without accidentally giving some small spoilers and I truly believe this book should be experienced in context. Overall, this book may not be have a lot of big twists, but the care into the fae and godly natures/practices as well as our main characters made this a 5 star for me.
I loved jumping back into this world and it feeling like no time has passed since I read book 1, even though I was an arc reader for that book as well and it has been over a year since I read it. It’s really interesting seeing how Saga is handling the events from book 1. The trauma from the ending, the grief regarding her grandmother, and how she is trying to deal with it is quite realistic. I also love seeing more of the fae legal system and how it is similar and different to the real legal system it is meant to mirror.
The case itself was well done, even if it was not the most imaginative. There was a predictable twist but it was a good time and Saga and Avery’s dynamic was so sweet throughout. I loved the care Avery showed for Saga and everyone around them seeing their dynamic even when the girls don’t. Some of the Saga family subplot genuinely made me tear up and I loved this expansion on her character. I also am really intrigued by the questions with Avery that are introduced and hope we will get more in the next book. I wish I could gush about everything I loved, but I don’t trust myself to without accidentally giving some small spoilers and I truly believe this book should be experienced in context. Overall, this book may not be have a lot of big twists, but the care into the fae and godly natures/practices as well as our main characters made this a 5 star for me.
October 4, 2026
*Thank you so much to Sourcebooks, NetGalley, and Kiri Callaghan for the ARC!!*
KIRI CALLAGHAN HAS DONE IT AGAIN!! 🤭 This book was amazing, and I am so happy to be reading the second book in this series about a year after I read the first one.
Saga and Avery were my favorite characters in the last book, and this book only cemented that feeling!! I love how we saw their relationship grow in this, and I loved how we got to learn more about both of them. They’re such complex characters, and reading from each of their perspectives really makes you feel super immersed into the story.
One of my favorite things that Kiri Callaghan does in her books is the voice and language she uses throughout. Truly it makes you feel like you’re wrapped up in a soft blanket, drinking tea with the characters, and feeling all warm and fuzzy inside even though this is a murder mystery lol. Like I feel like that most of the time, but then Callaghan brings the story together with so much suspense in the last 30 to 50 pages and then I’m reminded of how serious the things they’re dealing with. It honestly is why I loved this book so much, and the previous one, because of the duality of the author’s writing we see throughout it.
I could keep talking about this book for ages lol, but overall I absolutely loved it and I cannot wait until the next one comes out!! Highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a murder mystery with a side of cozy found family 🙂↕️
KIRI CALLAGHAN HAS DONE IT AGAIN!! 🤭 This book was amazing, and I am so happy to be reading the second book in this series about a year after I read the first one.
Saga and Avery were my favorite characters in the last book, and this book only cemented that feeling!! I love how we saw their relationship grow in this, and I loved how we got to learn more about both of them. They’re such complex characters, and reading from each of their perspectives really makes you feel super immersed into the story.
One of my favorite things that Kiri Callaghan does in her books is the voice and language she uses throughout. Truly it makes you feel like you’re wrapped up in a soft blanket, drinking tea with the characters, and feeling all warm and fuzzy inside even though this is a murder mystery lol. Like I feel like that most of the time, but then Callaghan brings the story together with so much suspense in the last 30 to 50 pages and then I’m reminded of how serious the things they’re dealing with. It honestly is why I loved this book so much, and the previous one, because of the duality of the author’s writing we see throughout it.
I could keep talking about this book for ages lol, but overall I absolutely loved it and I cannot wait until the next one comes out!! Highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a murder mystery with a side of cozy found family 🙂↕️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It was an amazing sequel and, honestly, I enjoyed it even more than the first book. It has everything I love in a fantasy, mystery, magic, suspense, great characters, and plenty of emotional moments.
The relationship between Saga and Avery continues to develop slowly, and I loved every minute of it. Their connection feels natural and realistic, with lots of small moments that show how much they care about each other. The slow burn romance never feels frustrating because it fits their personalities and journeys perfectly.
The mystery kept me interested from start to finish. While I had some guesses about what was happening, the way the story unfolded was still exciting and entertaining. The magical world feels rich and unique, blending folklore, witchcraft, and detective work in a way that makes it hard to put the book down.
What stood out the most for me was the emotional depth of the story. The characters feel real, with their own struggles, hopes, and complicated histories. Some scenes were genuinely moving and stayed with me long after I finished reading.
The writing is warm, engaging, and often funny, balancing darker moments with humor and heart. Returning to this magical version of London felt like coming home. If you enjoyed Magic & Murder, this sequel is a must read. I can't wait to see what happens next in the series.
The relationship between Saga and Avery continues to develop slowly, and I loved every minute of it. Their connection feels natural and realistic, with lots of small moments that show how much they care about each other. The slow burn romance never feels frustrating because it fits their personalities and journeys perfectly.
The mystery kept me interested from start to finish. While I had some guesses about what was happening, the way the story unfolded was still exciting and entertaining. The magical world feels rich and unique, blending folklore, witchcraft, and detective work in a way that makes it hard to put the book down.
What stood out the most for me was the emotional depth of the story. The characters feel real, with their own struggles, hopes, and complicated histories. Some scenes were genuinely moving and stayed with me long after I finished reading.
The writing is warm, engaging, and often funny, balancing darker moments with humor and heart. Returning to this magical version of London felt like coming home. If you enjoyed Magic & Murder, this sequel is a must read. I can't wait to see what happens next in the series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Spite & Spellwork is the second book in this cozy, sapphic, magical reimagining of Sherlock Holmes. I enjoyed the first book so much, and thought this one was very nearly as good. The mystery doesn’t pick up until almost 40% of the way through, so that was a struggle for me. However, what this book lacks in action it more than makes up for in emotional depth.
We get perspectives from both FMCs and they could not be more different.
Saga: the med-school dropout and newly-minted witch with an estranged mother and strained family dynamic after her beloved gran passes away.
Avery: the bastard daughter of the late Earlking who is figuring out modern-day London after 200 years in a magical prison for patricide.
A new investigation brings these women back together to unearth who or what is responsible for some very macabre deaths in the Mundane world. Mixing folklore and contemporary life, this book weaves a London I wish I could visit. It’s one full of life, intrigue, and more than one otherworldly being with nefarious intentions walking the streets with the mere mortals.
Perfectly threading the needle between cozy and suspenseful, Callaghan’s book will make the perfect autumn companion with a good cuppa. I’m looking forward to her next installment!
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, NetGalley, and Kiri Callaghan for the ARC of this book!
We get perspectives from both FMCs and they could not be more different.
Saga: the med-school dropout and newly-minted witch with an estranged mother and strained family dynamic after her beloved gran passes away.
Avery: the bastard daughter of the late Earlking who is figuring out modern-day London after 200 years in a magical prison for patricide.
A new investigation brings these women back together to unearth who or what is responsible for some very macabre deaths in the Mundane world. Mixing folklore and contemporary life, this book weaves a London I wish I could visit. It’s one full of life, intrigue, and more than one otherworldly being with nefarious intentions walking the streets with the mere mortals.
Perfectly threading the needle between cozy and suspenseful, Callaghan’s book will make the perfect autumn companion with a good cuppa. I’m looking forward to her next installment!
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, NetGalley, and Kiri Callaghan for the ARC of this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✨ 𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕙 𝕎𝕚𝕥𝕔𝕙’𝕤 𝔾𝕦𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕊𝕡𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕜 ✨
Whenever I pick up the next book in a magical realism series, I’m always a little nervous. What can possibly live up to the magic of discovering that hidden world for the first time?
Well, have no fear, because The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite and Spellwork absolutely delivers.
Not only is the magic of discovery still very much alive, but we also get a puzzling whodunnit, new mysteries to unravel, and an emotional pull that kept me enchanted the whole way through.
I loved following Avery and Saga as they dug deeper into the murders and uncovered connections to cases from the past. And while the mystery kept me guessing, it was the emotional journey and the truths they were forced to confront that really pulled me in.
And in case you’re wondering, the slow burn simmers on! There’s something absolutely toe-curlingly sweet about watching someone work through their own healing and open themselves up to the possibility of not only loving someone new, but being worthy of their love. When these two finally kiss, you’ll hear me cheering. 🤣
If you love magical worlds, mysteries, complicated characters, and a little bit of romance woven into the spellwork, this is definitely one to add to your TBR. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Pub Date: October 6, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Whenever I pick up the next book in a magical realism series, I’m always a little nervous. What can possibly live up to the magic of discovering that hidden world for the first time?
Well, have no fear, because The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite and Spellwork absolutely delivers.
Not only is the magic of discovery still very much alive, but we also get a puzzling whodunnit, new mysteries to unravel, and an emotional pull that kept me enchanted the whole way through.
I loved following Avery and Saga as they dug deeper into the murders and uncovered connections to cases from the past. And while the mystery kept me guessing, it was the emotional journey and the truths they were forced to confront that really pulled me in.
And in case you’re wondering, the slow burn simmers on! There’s something absolutely toe-curlingly sweet about watching someone work through their own healing and open themselves up to the possibility of not only loving someone new, but being worthy of their love. When these two finally kiss, you’ll hear me cheering. 🤣
If you love magical worlds, mysteries, complicated characters, and a little bit of romance woven into the spellwork, this is definitely one to add to your TBR. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Pub Date: October 6, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5*
The Hearth Witch's Guide to Magic & Murder is one of my favorite reads of the past year so this book is a highly anticipated sequel for me, and it lived up to that!
I will say that this one took me a decent bit longer to get into than the first book, but once I did, it was well worth it. Same cozy vibes but that underlying tension and emotion that I loved in the first book. This time, with Avery and Saga continuing to grow from where they left off in the first book. Their relationship is so lovely. The way that they each communicate how much they care for each other through their actions just really gets to me. I love how each of them has their own character arc that impacts the story but isn't exclusive to their relationship. I can tell that these are characters with full lives outside of each other and not everything revolves around their growing relationship and that's something I love to see in writing.
The mystery in this book was so good as well! It kept me guessing right up until the last act. Very excited to see where this series continues to go and especially excited to see more of Avery and Saga's relationship in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-arc for an honest review.
The Hearth Witch's Guide to Magic & Murder is one of my favorite reads of the past year so this book is a highly anticipated sequel for me, and it lived up to that!
I will say that this one took me a decent bit longer to get into than the first book, but once I did, it was well worth it. Same cozy vibes but that underlying tension and emotion that I loved in the first book. This time, with Avery and Saga continuing to grow from where they left off in the first book. Their relationship is so lovely. The way that they each communicate how much they care for each other through their actions just really gets to me. I love how each of them has their own character arc that impacts the story but isn't exclusive to their relationship. I can tell that these are characters with full lives outside of each other and not everything revolves around their growing relationship and that's something I love to see in writing.
The mystery in this book was so good as well! It kept me guessing right up until the last act. Very excited to see where this series continues to go and especially excited to see more of Avery and Saga's relationship in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-arc for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Cozy vibe with a complex murder mystery and magic! What’s not to love?
Plot Summary
Picking up right after the events of The Hearth Witch's Guide to Magic and Murder, this sequel definitely requires reading the first book first. This book follows both Avery and Saga as they navigate their lives in London. It has been a month since the old case in Book 1 was solved, and we are again embroiled in a murder mystery where people are dying and Avery is assigned the case, with Saga assisting her. In this book we get to uncover many parts of Saga’s and Avery’s lives and families.
Writing
I loved the writing and the cliffhangers that the POV changes left us with. The book was well-structured and written in third person. The references to Jane Austen and Shakespeare made me fall in love with the writing a little more. Surprisingly the book started with a POV from Audrey that I loved and also concluded with baking recipes.
Characters
The characters felt relatable. Situations like Saga not knowing what to wear for ‘business casual’ or Avery tracing a word back to its origins to figure out its modern meaning felt so grounded. The romantic angle is subtle but filled with tension. I loved how they interacted by skirting around the topic without directly addressing it.
I fell into the category of readers who were able to guess the murderer, but the way the plot unfolded still gave me chills.
Things that didn't work
The only minor downside for me was the world-building surrounding species categorization. I found myself wondering about the specifics: how many iele can there actually be, or is there only one? Are all Archfey members of the council, and is that what separates them from standard Fey? While I loved learning about the world's justice system, the introduction of the Zana species left me with a lot of unanswered questions.
Recommendation
I would recommend it for readers who love a slow-paced supernatural murder mystery with cozy vibes.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Netgally for giving me an ARC of this book for my honest review.
Plot Summary
Picking up right after the events of The Hearth Witch's Guide to Magic and Murder, this sequel definitely requires reading the first book first. This book follows both Avery and Saga as they navigate their lives in London. It has been a month since the old case in Book 1 was solved, and we are again embroiled in a murder mystery where people are dying and Avery is assigned the case, with Saga assisting her. In this book we get to uncover many parts of Saga’s and Avery’s lives and families.
Writing
I loved the writing and the cliffhangers that the POV changes left us with. The book was well-structured and written in third person. The references to Jane Austen and Shakespeare made me fall in love with the writing a little more. Surprisingly the book started with a POV from Audrey that I loved and also concluded with baking recipes.
Characters
The characters felt relatable. Situations like Saga not knowing what to wear for ‘business casual’ or Avery tracing a word back to its origins to figure out its modern meaning felt so grounded. The romantic angle is subtle but filled with tension. I loved how they interacted by skirting around the topic without directly addressing it.
I fell into the category of readers who were able to guess the murderer, but the way the plot unfolded still gave me chills.
Things that didn't work
The only minor downside for me was the world-building surrounding species categorization. I found myself wondering about the specifics: how many iele can there actually be, or is there only one? Are all Archfey members of the council, and is that what separates them from standard Fey? While I loved learning about the world's justice system, the introduction of the Zana species left me with a lot of unanswered questions.
Recommendation
I would recommend it for readers who love a slow-paced supernatural murder mystery with cozy vibes.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Netgally for giving me an ARC of this book for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of The Hearth Witch's Guide to Spite and Spellwork!
This queer and cosy magical murder mystery has a lot to like about it, from the enchanting world it portrays to its well-defined characters, fun footnotes, and exploration of grief and family dynamics. The recipes at the end of the book were also a charming touch.
All the same, I regularly found myself bored. The murder mystery plot was too easy to solve, to the point where I felt frustrated with the characters for not once suspecting the very obvious villain with their clear motive and methods.
The relationships were sweet. But, I felt that some scenes with secondary characters bogged down the storyline, and dialogues at time seemed contrived. There was also a fair amount of telling rather than showing.
I think a lot of readers will still enjoy The Hearth Witch's Guide to Spite and Spellwork, however. I'd recommend it if you're interested in a cosy, magical world that also tackles unjust systems, heartbreak, and grief. Read it for the worldbuilding and the characters, not the murder mystery.
This queer and cosy magical murder mystery has a lot to like about it, from the enchanting world it portrays to its well-defined characters, fun footnotes, and exploration of grief and family dynamics. The recipes at the end of the book were also a charming touch.
All the same, I regularly found myself bored. The murder mystery plot was too easy to solve, to the point where I felt frustrated with the characters for not once suspecting the very obvious villain with their clear motive and methods.
The relationships were sweet. But, I felt that some scenes with secondary characters bogged down the storyline, and dialogues at time seemed contrived. There was also a fair amount of telling rather than showing.
I think a lot of readers will still enjoy The Hearth Witch's Guide to Spite and Spellwork, however. I'd recommend it if you're interested in a cosy, magical world that also tackles unjust systems, heartbreak, and grief. Read it for the worldbuilding and the characters, not the murder mystery.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC received on NetGalley. Book 2 in the Hemlock Saga is just as witty as the first with deeper intrigue, slower burn, and those reliable cozy moments so you always have a comfortable place to breathe in between the darker themes.
In The Hearth Witch's Guide to Spite & Spellwork, readers learn how Avery and Saga’s meeting has set a whole series of events into motion, and it continues to unravel in a way that keeps you hooked. Even with those broader strokes happening, Avery and Saga drive the story on their own merits as well. They have their own journeys to travel that all masterfully intertwine into one epic saga (pun intended). And as always, Callaghan artfully weaves life into her writing, making it easy to step into the world and never want to leave.
So far I’d say this series is one you can read over and over again and enjoy finding new details in every re-read. I’ve got my own suspicious on which moments could be foreshadowing for the next book, but I know I’ll still have plenty to be delightfully surprised about. Callaghan really knows how to plot a series, and I cannot wait to see what mysteries Avery and Saga will be uncovering next.
In The Hearth Witch's Guide to Spite & Spellwork, readers learn how Avery and Saga’s meeting has set a whole series of events into motion, and it continues to unravel in a way that keeps you hooked. Even with those broader strokes happening, Avery and Saga drive the story on their own merits as well. They have their own journeys to travel that all masterfully intertwine into one epic saga (pun intended). And as always, Callaghan artfully weaves life into her writing, making it easy to step into the world and never want to leave.
So far I’d say this series is one you can read over and over again and enjoy finding new details in every re-read. I’ve got my own suspicious on which moments could be foreshadowing for the next book, but I know I’ll still have plenty to be delightfully surprised about. Callaghan really knows how to plot a series, and I cannot wait to see what mysteries Avery and Saga will be uncovering next.
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