A New Witch in the Northwoods

by Elise Posledni

Small town life in the Wisconsin Northwoords is not like anything Mary expected. 

When Mary Matherson moved into her late grandfather's house in small town northern Wisconsin, she was prepared to deal with the prying locals while digging for clues about her grandfather's curious death. What she was not prepared for was the veil between the supernatural plane practically in her backyard. 

It turns out, Mary is a witch. Her new boyfriend is a demon. The Other world is hard to resist and Mary wants to learn the magic her grandfather kept secret from her. Instead of nosy neighbors and coffee shop gossip, Mary must deal with supernatural politics and a threat that has hunted her family's magic for generations.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 22, 2026

About the author

Elise Posledni's love for writing started at a young age when she wrote a retelling of The Lord of the Rings through the point of view of Bill the pony. Talk about an ambitious first fan fiction! From there, writing just became second nature. Elise is currently a bookkeeper by day and writer by weekend and very early mornings. She has short stories featured in the Creative Wisconsin Magazine and A Wisconsin Harvest of Horror anthology. A New Witch in the Northwoods is Elise’s debut novel.


Having lived in Wisconsin for most of her life, she loves incorporating the lifestyles of the small towns and truly spectacular natural areas into her writing. Elise enjoys hiking with her two rescue dogs, working with horses, gardening, and snowboarding.


Elise Posledni is the pen name for Jenna Dickson. She is a proud member of the Wisconsin Writers Association and the Chicago Writers Association.

Reviews

[Evelina | AvalinahsBooks]

How I read this book: Free ebook copy received through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I really loved this book, and the only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because I've decided 5 stars are only for books that completely blew my mind. But this has been amazing, a cozy book with a very cool world and nice characters. I really hope there is a sequel. I wouldn't mind learning more about this world. It's hard to invent a new magical world when it's one of the most popular things to write out there, but the author somehow managed to make it original all the same. I really loved it and I would like to find such a world myself to explore.

[Lowardy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley


At the start of A New Witch in the Northwoods I was curious and giddy, because it seemed that we'll have a cozy, funny, charming book with an adult woman restarting her life and taking control of her dreams. (Also, magic!)


That went downhill pretty fast, because we got infodumps galore (that didn't really ended up being important to the plot anyway), paper thin characters and not a lot of show for a book about magical powers and learning how to use them.

I am not mad, just expected more than an aged up version of the YA stories where the FMC is super duper special, yet goes from "smart and capable" to "can't communicate" in a span of a romance.

Don't even get me started on her mom, who shows up in a few phone calls and in person only once, but our Mary loves her so much, I honestly forgot she was even alive when she was not in the scene. (Again, show and not tell.)

I did like the little snipets of the lore at the beginnings of the chapters, it's a shame that was not tied in more with the actual story.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A New Witch in the Northwoods is Elise Posledni’s debut novel. It’s a cozy romantic fantasy set in Northern Wisconsin. As soon as I saw that this book was set in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, I was intrigued. I have spent some time “up North” in WI and loved hearing the places I know (Mountain, UW Green Bay, etc.) being mentioned.

Much of the book is about Mary’s journey of self discovery, exploring her abilities and how to navigate her role between two worlds. It’s got such great cozy fantasy vibes - found family, a budding romance, and magical mentoring. The last 20% really picks up with action and a villain, and had me on the edge of my seat!

I took my time with this book and really enjoyed it!

Thank you to Ten16 Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[nodega_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! Finally a FMC in her 30s I felt I could relate to and the MMC 100% book boyfriend was lovely. I would have loved and epilogue with glimps of how future looks like. But overall a nice and cozy fantasy that would totally recomed.

[J. Blake Myersmann · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was so excited for this based on the premise alone! Urban fantasy/hidden world cozy romance set in a midwest town - this is my jam. However, the version that I downloaded from NetGalley reads more like a first draft than an uncorrected proof. Typos and misspellings are expected with advance reader copies, but downright confusing passages and inconsistent narrative flow is not. I confirmed with NetGalley that I had the right version, but still could only make it through two chapters, even after rereading both of them. Because it's so painful to DNF this book and give it one star, I've marked the review with spoilers to provide specific examples of the writing that kept me from going further.

It starts strong, with evocative descriptions and natural characterization. As soon as the plot kicks in, something felt off. "You're new here," our love interest (Andras) says to our MC (Molly) upon meeting her, followed by "You're not supposed to be here," and finally "Who are you?" These statements/questions are part of a conversation between the two of them, but logically their order is confusing and his words are completely independent of Molly's responses to him.

Later, the forest is described as "unnaturally quiet". "There were no sounds of buzzing insects or scampering squirrels through the leaves. Even the birdcalls seemed muted." Is it silent or not? Are the birds muted, or do they just seem muted?

More of this lack of internal consistency is evident when Molly meets up with Andras (MMC) again. He's described with "a sharp jawline that was clean-shaven, but she was close enough to see the dark stubble that ran all the way up to his thick, untidy black hair." Is he clean-shaven or not?

Molly meets a man who is introduced in the text as a bartender. He works at a bar and serves patrons drinks. Molly later finds out that this man, Josef, is a wizard. When she reveals to Andras that she thought he was a bartender, Andras "...laughs so loudly he rousted a flock of ravens from a nearby tree" and continues "chortling under his breath." Perhaps this is some inside joke revealed later, but pages prior we saw this wizard doing the job of a bartender. Even if there is some compulsion or spell over Josef forcing him to tend bar (as implied), bartender and wizard are not mutually exclusive characteristics. Why is this so funny? Molly certainly doesn't ask.

Andras also explains that the connections between Earth and Other (Faerie) Earth are weakening because modern man cannot accept something the way it is. "That will be a street and I will put buildings there" he says mockingly of modern humans pointing at forests, but we just spent dozens of pages walking up and down streets and alleyways in the Faerie village. The buildings have chimneys and are described as constructed of weathered wood and stone, reminiscent of logging camps, with doors and windows and telephones. How is this any different from the amenities of the cozy little town of Mountain?

At one point, "the trail had narrowed so that they were walking almost shoulder to shoulder between the trees." Three paragraphs later, "[Molly] was so engrossed in categorizing the differences that she nearly ran into Andras when he came to a halt ahead of her." Are they side-by-side or single file? Also, somehow the roughness of the trail makes talk more difficult? I think the author just wanted Molly to stop talking.

Similarly frustrating is the extremely repetitive prose. Molly is constantly reassuring herself that the hunting knife she brought with her is still at her belt, and as Andras begins to reveal the Other world, he ends his sentence the exact same way not three pages apart.

"Andras," he said and gave her an elaborate bow. "Andras the demon."
"The demon?" Mary asked.
"Well, of course," he told her, his eyes swirling darkly. "What else did you think?"

[12 paragraphs later]

"Wizards and demons have a pretty bloody past," he finally explained. "I don't think we will ever trust each other."
"He's a wizard?" Mary asked, feeling that at this point she shouldn't feel as shocked as she did.
"What else did you think?" He asked.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy, though I hope for anyone reading this review that you can't find any of the passages I quote above because the copy you're reading is a polished proof. I look forward to the opportunity in the future to amend this review based on a revised copy.

[Padmavathy Divakaran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewing an Advanced Reader’s Copy/Uncorrected Proof from Net Galley

This novel truly stands out for its epic world-building. I loved how it seamlessly blended magical realism with a fully realized fantasy realm. Both Mary’s human world and the Otherworld felt rich and immersive, and the characters were wonderfully quirky and memorable-they really stay with you long after reading.

The magic system was especially compelling. The idea that witches and demons aren’t limited to a single power, but instead have affinities while still being able to develop other elements, was fascinating. Mary’s training with Cal, Joseph, and Andras was one of my favorite aspects. The imagery throughout these moments was stunning-particularly the scene at the lake, where the water bubble rises from the stream and is later shattered into tiny fragments by air pressure. It was such a beautiful, vivid piece of writing that really highlighted the author’s descriptive strength.

That said, while the story starts strong, it begins to feel a bit stretched after around the 70% mark. There’s a repeated focus on how extensively the magical community is protecting Mary, with several chapters centered on guarding her rather than progressing the plot. While this reinforces how important she is to the world around her, I felt some of this could have been streamlined to maintain tension and momentum leading into the climax.

Mary as a protagonist was a bit of a mixed experience for me. While her fear and overwhelm are understandable given the circumstances, I found myself wishing to see more active use of her training and abilities in key moments-especially during high-stakes situations like Ruthven’s attack. Given her unique potential as a half-witch, it would have been really satisfying to see her step more fully into her power as the story progressed.

I also would have loved to see more exploration of her rare metal affinity, which felt like a particularly distinctive aspect of her magic. Expanding on this-especially during the final confrontation-could have added another layer of depth to both her character and the magic system.

The climax itself felt a little rushed compared to the buildup. The final battle with Ruthven had so much potential to showcase her growth and the full scope of the magic system, and I found myself wishing it had been more expanded and detailed to match the richness of the world-building.

As for the ending, Andras’s sacrifice was emotionally impactful, but it also felt quite significant in terms of what he leaves behind-especially his connection to Dorian and his role in the Otherworld. I found myself wishing for a bit more balance here, so that the emotional weight of that decision felt more fully matched by Mary’s arc.

That said, this is an incredibly promising debut. The author’s imagination, world-building, and unique approach to magic clearly show her potential. There’s a strong creative vision at the heart of this story, and I would absolutely be interested in reading more from her as she continues to grow into a seasoned author.

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finally, a mature main character, a human who is confronted with the whimsical and doesn’t simply accept it. She asks questions and actively looks for answers. When faced with a man in the woods, she isn’t swayed by how handsome he is, instead, she focuses on finding a way out and away from danger.

I appreciated the elements that were clearly well researched, especially those related to Andras and demons, and how they were woven into the story. The idea that human development led to the loss of whimsy in their world was also compelling.

That said, I struggled to fully engage with the story. The plot felt slow, and for the first 60% of the book, it was almost nonexistent. There was little sense of direction during that stretch, which made it hard to stay invested. The connection with the grandfather wasn’t strong enough to sustain interest, and at some point it felt like the main female character became too easily satisfied with the answers she received about that mystery.

The world-building unfolds gradually but relies heavily on info dumps. We learn about magic and the world alongside the protagonist, with each chapter introducing something new, a place, a character, a magical element, or a creature. While rich in detail, the sheer volume of information about the past and the magic system overshadows the main plot, leaving little sense of forward momentum or purpose.

I did enjoy the cozy aspects of the book, but the slow narrative pace ultimately made it feel dull. The story could benefit from more personal moments that offer insight into the character’s emotions and motivations.

The ending was decent, though it raised some questions. For instance, why didn’t the villain use other portals to reach the main character? Additionally, many characters are introduced throughout the story, but by the end, we don’t get a clear sense of what their lives look like after everything that happened.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

#ANewWitchintheNorthwoods #NetGalley

[The Lit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This whimsical urban fantasy offers a cozy, atmospheric mystery set in a supernatural Wisconsin, though its deliberate pacing may leave some readers wanting more momentum. A New Witch in the Northwoods by Elise Posledni introduces a world where moving home means discovering a heritage of magic and a town full of secrets.
​I’m giving this 3 stars! ⭐⭐⭐
​A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC. As always, all opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
​The Review
​I liked the book overall, but to be honest, I found it rather slow-paced—to the point where I almost gave up and DNF'd it. While I liked Mary and Andras as the lead characters, there wasn't anything particularly "eye-catching" about them or the world that made me feel a strong pull to keep reading. It’s a pleasant enough story, but it lacked that gripping hook needed to make me truly invested in their future.
​The Good:
The setting is beautifully atmospheric, capturing the quiet, slightly eerie charm of the Northwoods perfectly. Mary’s journey of self-discovery as she navigates her new reality is relatable, and her interactions with the local community provide some sweet, cozy moments. For readers who enjoy a "low-stakes" magical mystery that focuses more on vibes and setting than high-speed action, this book delivers a very specific, calming mood.
​The Not So Good:
The pacing is the biggest hurdle; the plot takes quite a long time to truly get moving, which can make the middle section feel like a bit of a slog. Additionally, the character development for Mary and Andras felt a bit safe; they are likable, but they didn't have that spark or unique edge that makes a character stay with you long after the book is closed. If you're looking for a page-turner that keeps you guessing, the slow-burn nature of this mystery might feel a bit too stagnant

[Morgan Hearns · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started this debut novel by Elise Posledni I didn’t know what to expect, but it quickly pulled me in. The FMC, Mary, was instantly likable to me. Classic trope of city girl moves to the small town to start over but mixed with magic and mystery. This book was whimsical, cozy, fun and honestly, light. It was just a simple fun read.

I gave this book 4 ⭐️ because I truly enjoyed reading it! I have more positive things to say than negative.

I think the author describes the scenery and background with the perfect amount of details. Enough that I can see the woods, Katrina’s(Tavern) and Mary’s coffee shop in my head but not overdone where I start skimming the page. I think overall the characters all lack real depth, but tbh I liked it that way. It was part of what made the book a light easy read and a perfect break from the heavier darker books I usually read. I did find all of the characters likable and interesting. I especially loved the female friendships, my only complaint is that her human friend and witch friend were basically the same character and personality (I still love them tho).

I loved her romantic interest, he was sweet, romantic, thoughtful and I was swooning. The pacing was a little unpredictable, there were some time jumps, a few days here, a few weeks there etc. so I feel like we missed out on seeing some of the building of their relationship.

The conflict was something I was not expecting. At the time I was mad bc it made my cozy fun book a little darker but in the end it did add to the story and give another element of mystery to it. The book ending felt complete but open ended.

Thank you Ten16 Press, Orange Hat Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

[Abby Allcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy
3.75 rounded up to 4.0

First off I love books set in Wisconsin because as a life long native there is something about me being able to easily visualize the surroundings or where the town over is located that makes me happy.

This book follows Mary who arrives in Mountain, Wisconsin after her grandfather's death to open her very own coffee shop. She is staying in her Grandfather's old house when she wanders into the forest where she was always warned to stay away from. She stumbles into the Other where she learns that she is a half-witch and finds Andras a very attractive demon who she has a lot of chemistry with. She begins to learn more about her powers, but also why her grandfather tried so very hard to keep her away from the magical world in her backyard.

I absolutely adored the characters in this book including many of the side characters both her magical friends from the Other and her friend/employee Beth who works at the coffee shop. I will say that the first half of this book is focused on developing the magical world and exploring Mary's relationship with the Other. It felt a little slow early on especially as it was unclear what the main conflict was. However the second half of the book we learn that there is a creature her grandfather was scared of and is now hunting Mary, I was sucked back in. This is a very cozy book with a few eerie elements that keep you on the edge of you seat towards the end of the book. I would definitely recommend if you want an cozy supernatural read.

[Kelly Moolenaar · Rating 1 out of 5]

(English below)
Dit boek begon heel interessant. Met het idee een cozy fantasie te gaan lezen was ik al snel enthousiast.
De hoofdpersoon werd achtervolgd door een vreemdeling en de interesse was gewekt. Zo bleef het een tijdje interessant, maar helaas ben ik maar tot de 30% gekomen.
Ik vond het erg snel gaan dat de hoofdpersoon werd geaccepteerd, en vrij snel heel vriendelijk werd met de demon Andras.
Daarna werd het meer een info-dump dan een lopend verhaal. Ik heb het idee dat de schrijfster zelf nog niet wist waar het verhaal heen gaat.
Een hoop oppervlakkige personages in het boek, die alleen worden omschreven door hun haar en/of een enkel kenmerk.

Netgalley bedankt dat ik dit boek mocht lezen, helaas niet heel ver gekomen.
-----------
This book started off very interestingly. With the idea of ​​reading a cozy fantasy, I was quickly excited.

The main character was being chased by a stranger, and my interest was piqued. It remained interesting for a while, but unfortunately, I only made it to the 30% mark.

I felt it moved very quickly that the main character was accepted and became very friendly with the demon Andras quite fast.

After that, it became more of an info-dump than a flowing story. I get the impression that the author herself didn't yet know where the story was going.

There are a lot of superficial characters in the book, who are only described by their hair and/or a single characteristic.

Thanks Netgalley for letting me read this book; unfortunately, I didn't get very far.

[Abbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC as an e-book through Netgalley.

This one was a mixed bag for me, I think because the author wasn't sure where to take the book. We have elements of cozy fantasy (learning she's a witch and how to use her powers, found family), romantasy (brooding demon boyfriend, jumping into bed at the first chance without really getting to know each other, miscommunication tropes galore), or political/murder fantasy thrilling (the vampire).

I think the best part was the world-building. The history, the portals, the hints of other things in the world... I would have loved the focus to be more on Mary learning about the world with a bit of romance. Instead, we ping pong around without getting too deep into anything. We took a long time to really get to the thriller part of the story, which mean that the ending was abrupt and disappointing. I kept watching the page numbers tick down as I read, knowing there wasn't enough time for a really satisfying conclusion.

The best character, and the one who stole the show when he was in the scene, was Dorian, followed by Beth and Beatrice. And I think it says a lot that the best characters were not the main ones.

I'd love to see this book revised. I think the concepts are there in the worldbuilding, and that's why I gave it as many as three stars, Tone down the romantasy tropes and either lean into the cozy fantasy found family aspect or lean the other way into the fantasy murder vampire.

[icantcomeimbooked · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.75 stars)

This was such a fun read I enjoyed this, anything with Witches or Demons I will read it instantly as these are my favorite tropes.

We follow Mary, who moves to a small town after inheriting her grandfather’s house, thinking she’s just starting fresh and then finds out she’s a witch and there’s a whole supernatural world around her.
I really liked the overall vibe of this it’s very small town, cozy, a little bit magical, but with some mystery and danger mixed in everything was easy to follow I wanted to keep reading and I didn't find myself being bored or uninterested, I really liked the characters I thought they were fun and fit the story well, I thought the story line was different from all the other cozy demon/witchy books I have read which is refreshing.

The world-building was simple but still added enough knowledge that you understood and were not confused throughout.

overall, just a really enjoyable read that I flew through in a couple of sittings — 3.75⭐ for me

if you love:
🖤 cozy fantasy/paranormal
🖤 small town settings
🖤 witches & supernatural drama
🖤 easy, comfort reads

you’ll enjoy this one

thank you to netgalley, the publisher & elise posledni for the arc

[Sara Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

This was such a cute book that was a hybrid between fantasy and magical realism. It holds elements of both that just work. As a Wisconsin girlie, I loved that this was set in the Northwoods and some characters frequently visited my neck of the woods.

I really admired Mary (also, Mary Matherson is the most Midwest name ever!) and how she was able to adapt to all the things that were tossed at her. I don’t want to give spoilers, but let’s just say I wouldn’t have handled any of this well. She embraces her destiny and finishes what her Grandfather started.

Andras was the perfect man (demon) for her. They complimented each other and the sacrifice he made was one I didn’t see coming.

I also didn’t see the overall conflict coming. At first I thought it would be a Wizard Demon war since the previous ones kept being brought up, but no.

I took off 1.5 stars because there were some choices I didn’t quite believe, I thought the council was pretty useless (unless that was the point), and the ending was complete but abrupt. I also wanted a little more depth.

I loved this story and can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next!

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

[Cerys Kayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Ten16 Press, and Orange Hat Publishing for providing me with an ARC of The New Witch in the Northwoods.

I absolutely loved this book. It felt incredibly realistic, and I found the main character so relatable and easy to connect with. Watching her discover the Otherworld and learn about its creatures was such a fun experience—the descriptions gave me a blend of Halloweentown and Harry Potter vibes, which I really enjoyed.

The author’s setting descriptions were outstanding. Each location was brought to life in such vivid detail that I felt completely immersed in the story, as if I were right there alongside the characters.

I especially loved the different layers woven throughout the plot—her journey in discovering her own powers, the blossoming relationship, the secrets surrounding her grandfather, and the constant tension of the vampire hunting her. All of these elements combined to create a truly captivating and engaging read.

The cosy atmosphere made it an easy and enjoyable book to sink into, while the characters were all so lovable and memorable. The world itself is one that will definitely stay with me.

Overall, this was a magical and unforgettable read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Kpowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I would like to give a thank you to NetGalley for this read.

A New Witch in the North Woods is a cozy, engaging fantasy that blends small-town charm with magic, mystery, and just the right touch of danger. The story follows Mary, who moves to a quiet town after inheriting her grandfather’s house, expecting a fresh start. Only to discover she’s a witch and that an entire supernatural world exists around her.

One of the book’s biggest strengths is how clearly the supernatural realm is explained. The magic system is easy to follow and thoughtfully developed, making the story feel immersive without ever being confusing. It allows you to settle into the world quickly and stay engaged throughout.

Mary is a strong adult female lead who is both relatable and compelling. Watching her navigate this unexpected new reality while growing into her abilities adds depth to the story. The supporting characters are also thoroughly explained and genuinely enjoyable. They feel purposeful, fun, and well-suited to the story rather than just background figures.

While this is a shorter read, it’s incredibly satisfying. The story wraps up nicely without leaving unanswered questions, which makes it feel complete and well thought out.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Thank you to Netgalley and Ten16 Press (an imprint of Orange Hat Publishing) for the ARC! All opinions are my own.***

A New Witch in the Northwoods is a whimsical magical romance that gives off mostly good vibes. We follow the story of Mary the half witch and Andras the demon as they navigate the switch between worlds.

Mary has inherited her grandfather’s house and is surrounded by secrets that he kept from her. She is determined to get to the bottom of the intrigue she finds in the woods behind his house and falls in love in the process.

The climactic conflict hit like a freight train (you could hear it coming and then it slammed into the story), and I did have some issues with the way the council tried to “protect” Mary while protecting themselves.

Pros: Mary, Andras — they were good characters to follow through alternate worlds, and their relationship was satisfying to follow.

Cons: The pacing was quite slow, and as stated above, the climax hit like a freight train.

Overall: a good read that I would recommend to friends looking for a magical romance with a well-built supernatural/other world

[CWilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4

I enjoyed many elements of this story, including the cozy feel of a coffee shop in a mountain town, the imagery of the magic village, and some of the nuances shared on each individual’s magic. That being said, I felt like much of this book’s potential was left unexplored and I was often confused by the main characters’ decisions.

One example of this is the switch from being scared of the MMC at first to being willing to let him walk her home only maybe an hour later gave me whiplash. Also, I’m so confused by the course of action they chose. With what they discovered, I would think they could have pooled resources and came up with a few alternate solutions for the problem. The use of third person made me not feel as connected to the characters, and I would have liked more insight in her feelings on the MMC, as her thoughts tended to be shared mainly during moments with bigger reactions where my focus is split.

All of this said, this was NOT a bad story. It was an enjoyable read. But with seeing the potential for it to have been an epic read, I was left disappointed.

[Nikita ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.5/5 (rounded up)

This was such a cosy magical fantasy and I had a lot of fun reading it. I am surprised it is a debut novel because the plot was well thought out and there was a lot of development. I really liked Mary's relationship with the side characters such as Beatrice, Cal and Beth and I would have loved more of their interactions.

For me, I didn't love the paragraphs at the start of each chapter from a book from The Other. Most of them didn't link to the plot and I didn't find that they added much to the story. Perhaps a small quote or something would have been better, but that's just a personal preference. I also would have loved an epilogue chapter because I had so many questions! Did Andras manage to adapt to human life? Did he start helping her at the coffee shop and go on double dates with Beth and Josh? What about the characters from The Other? Did Mary see them again? Perhaps the author has left things unanswered because there is a sequel in the pipeline - I would be happy to go back to this world!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions regarding this book are my own.

[Elena Lavanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book that feels like a warm blanket on a snowy evening, A New Witch in the Northwood is a must-read. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of the Wisconsin mountains, this story perfectly captures the rugged, serene beauty of a small lakeside town where the pines are thick and the secrets are even thicker.

What I Loved
The Setting: The author does a fantastic job of building the "Northwood" atmosphere. You can almost smell the crisp mountain air and the woodsmoke. It’s the ultimate "cozy" setting that makes you want to curl up with a hot cup of cider.

The Magic System: I was captivated by the protagonist’s journey. Watching her realize that the fairy tales and legends she grew up with aren’t just bedtime stories, but a living, breathing part of her world, was handled with a wonderful sense of wonder.

The "Cozy" Vibes: For the first half of the book, the pacing is gentle and immersive with focus on the protagonist's self-discovery. But no need for worries: the pace changes as the protagonist begins to face an hidden enemy.

[Oona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley

Rating 4⭐

This book is a cozy, eventful and magical read. It follows Mary as she moves into her grandfather's home after he has died in mysterious circumstances. She finds new parts of her identity in the magical world that she stumbles upon in the woods that she was told to never go into by her grandfather when he was still alive. And all this while running her own coffee shop!

I love how the magic system works! It was easy to follow and the world building between real world and Other was cozy and whimsical. The history of the Other was explained to the reader in the story as well as having snippets of book quotes at the start of each chapter. I love the concept of having such quotes at the start of chapters!

I found the character of Mary to be very lovable and easy to relate to. There was a lot of good character development from both Mary and Andras especially in the end of the book.

I recommend this to everyone who loves coffee shops, witches, magic and fall!

[Georgia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was perfectly cosy and magical; I can imagine reading this under a blanket in the Autumn along with a large mug of hot chocolate. The descriptions of the Other were lovely and built the picture of the mystical world beautifully.

It is quite a slow-paced book to start with with lots of the action happening in the later half of the book. There was quite a lot of dialogue and world building in the earlier chapters but this eased off and there was more going on once the background of the story had been explained.

I enjoyed the development of Mary and Andras’ relationship and I liked the ending although I would have liked to have found out what happened to the other characters. I also still can’t quite wrap my head around the portal logistics and why they can’t use other portals to get into the human world.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it was a easy and gripping read.

[Shay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC as an e-book through Netgalley. Thank you!

A New Witch in the Northwoods is the debut novel from Elise Posledni, set in Northern Wisconsin. I was immediately drawn in by the whimsical, cozy cover! The cozy vibes definitely continue into the pages of the romantic fantasy.

We follow Mary's journey of self-discovery, with a nice little mix of two worlds that pur FMC finds herself trying to navigate. One, a cute small town with her new coffee shop, and the other, a secret magical world she had no idea she was a part of!

I feel like the story had a solid concept base, and while I enjoyed it, it did feel like it wasn't entirely done. I think this story would absolutely shine if the characters, the pacing, and the story were given a bit more depth.

If you like found family, urban fantasy, discovering hidden family secrets, and cozy vibes, this one just might be for you!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

[ShannonsParty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don it think I am going to be able to finish this book, but that does not mean you shouldn’t read it. Please read this if it looks interesting to you, especially for this first time author.

(1) It is really well written. The world building is phenomenal. I have enjoyed this long walk, but I am just not “plowing” through it like I normally read.
(2) The story does move, but at 65% we are just getting to maybe the possible conflict. Will it conclude? Will we end on a cliffhanger? IDK
(3) I DO hope there are more books to this storyline. If there are, I may go back and finish, because the WORLD BUILDING WAS AMAZING!
(4) I think the people reviewing this book may not be the intended audience, which is why ratings are so low. There is 1 scene that includes smeggsy time, but it is not heavily detailed. This makes me think that this book truly is intended for young adults, over the age of 14/15.

[Kay Storey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lovely and refreshing novel! The respect for witchcraft, world building and romance kept me enthralled from beginning to end.

The love story at the center was beautiful, but I was disappointed in the FMC’s lack of understanding that caused the main “conflict” between her and the MMC, it felt juvenile for her character. The excerpts from different wizard/demon lore and books at the beginning of each chapter kept me interested and ultimately made me wanting more information about the past wars and history of the Other. My biggest disappointment was the abrupt ending, this novel is BEGGINGGG for a prequel, a sequel? An epilogue?!

Overall, I’m sad that there’s not more to this world with another book, but happy to have lived in it, if ever so briefly.

[Rishika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

This book was very atmospheric and you could really feel the setting of this book from the writing. The two main characters were nicely characterized and their romance increased in depth in a reasonable way. The main conflict (and the mystery!) was around 15-20% for almost the whole book and ramped up to 90-100% immediately around 70% in. I do wish there was a more gradual increase in tension rather than it happening all at once. There are some major info dumps happening which again I think is the same issue of no gradual progression in the writing.

In conclusion, if you want romance you would like this book. If you like a mystery, you would maybe prefer something else.

[Rich DiCriscio · Rating 3 out of 5]

A New Witch in the Northwoods is at its best in the world it creates. Elise Posledni does a great job building a setting that feels grounded in the far north of Wisconsin while still carrying a sense of magic just beneath the surface (or through the portal). It genuinely feels like straddling two worlds, and that’s where the book shines.

Where it falls short is in the characters, who often feel a bit thin— Mary in particular. With more depth and development, the story could have been much more emotionally engaging.

Even so, it’s an enjoyable read and still worth your time, especially if you’re drawn to immersive settings and atmospheric world-building.

[Chrisg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley

I'm giving this book 3.5 stars. The blurbs at the beginning of every chapter were just not really adding much to the story, so I really didn't care for them and the book could have definitely done with much shorter blurbs or none. The plot and the small mystery was interesting and I'm glad I kept on and finished the book. I would have liked a little more depth and development in the characters. All in all a cozy little witchy fantasy, I'd probably read the next one if it's a series.

[Samantha Betterman · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for an atmospheric fall book to add to your autumn tbr, definitely keep this one in mind! This book is such a cozy, magical realism/fantasy book that brings in the fall vibes but also keeps you on the edge of your seat. I got a bit lost towards the end of the book, BUT do not let that stop you from loving this read!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from Netgalley

A cute, whimsical, cozy read. I loved the lore in the beginning of each chapter, although they barely touched the surface throughout the book. The plot was a little slow & I felt the main characters were missing that sort of spark to make it a loveable pairing. But still a cute read.

Big thanks to Netgalley & the Author for providing this advanced reader copy in exchange for my review. All thoughts and honest opinions are my own.