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Wistoria #1

Wistoria and the Transit of Venus

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The bitter sting of betrayal is known to fade with time, yet in the secret witch community of Wistoria, it has formed a monster bent on destroying them all.


Welcome to Wistoria Summer Camp
We are excited for you to join us for a magical summer at Wistoria, a sleepaway camp run by witches! Enjoy canoe racing, specialty s'mores, and ghost stories. Please note, our lifeguards, Maddie and Jaxon, have asked campers not to venture too deep into the water so as not to disturb the "lake monster."


Maddie wants nothing more than a carefree summer working the lifeguard tower at Wistoria’s camp and the freedom to practice her newly-emerged powers. Those plans are shattered when Jaxon strolls back into her life after ghosting her all school year. As the two rekindle their friendship, Maddie can’t help but wonder how much trouble Jaxon is in. While he puts on a casual front, Maddie knows him better than anyone and is determined to uphold her best friend duties by digging up all Jaxon’s secrets to save him from pending disaster.

With the help of their new friends, Brandon, a nosy shapeshifting camper, and Lana, a cursed vampire, the four teens form an alliance to stop the twisted evil that's seeking revenge on the mountainside coven of Wistoria.

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 12, 2026

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About the author

Courtney Martin

6 books19 followers
My writing journey began at the age of fifteen. I have self-published three YA/NA contemporary and fantasy books, and Wistoria is my fourth complete book. I currently live in San Diego with my husband and our two fur babies. I am always excited to hop on a plane, love lounging by the pool with my prized possession—Kindi the Kindle—and am currently in my fantasy book era!

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5 stars
34 (60%)
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20 (35%)
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1 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Profile Image for Samantha Barrier.
88 reviews13 followers
May 18, 2026
This book gripped me in a ironic clad hold almost instantly! I quickly became obsessed with the magical town of Wistoria. The way the witches individual powers manifested and must be strengthened and developed fascinated me.

The shifter lore and how their shifter forms came to exist were unique and compelling. And the bloodthirsty vampires and the way they struggled to grow their family literally had my jaw dropping.

This story was part nostalgic summer camp coming age of vibes, and had me aching for summer movie nights with my friends as a teenager. But the deeper themes of the pull of dark magic and holding on to hope and light even when the odds are totally stacked against you, are what had me turning pages as fast as my fingers could manage, and staying up entirely too late rooting for our favorite friend group to be triumphant.

I cannot wait to re-enter this mystical, addicting world in book two, and eagerly await my next journey into the amazing adventure this author’s insane talent will gift us.

Courtney Martin has created a fan here, and potentially an annoyingly pestering one, because I need more, yesterday!
Profile Image for Shanakay.
301 reviews1 follower
August 19, 2026
From start to finish, I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going to happen next. We’ve got shifters, vampires, witches, multiple POVs, magic, mystery—and a plot twist that absolutely blindsided me.

Every time I thought I had things figured out, the story said, “Nope. Try again.” 😭

The multiple POVs kept me invested, the supernatural elements made the world so much fun to explore, and that jaw-dropping twist? I did NOT see it coming.

If you’re looking for a summer read filled with magic, supernatural creatures, suspense, and twists that keep you guessing, add this one to your TBR immediately.
1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 12, 2026
Review of advance copy received from the author.
Wistoria was such a fun and engaging book to read. From the very first page, the story grabbed my attention and never let go. It definitely wasn't a slow burn, with something always happening to keep the momentum going. The main characters are fantastic and quickly became the definition of 'found family' for me. I especially loved watching them develop their powers and abilities while remaining so supportive of one another along the way. The prose was easy to read and flowed nicely, making it a quick and enjoyable read. Overall, this book just had a great vibe, and I highly recommend it!
Profile Image for Chris Redd.
Author 4 books54 followers
September 11, 2026
I loved the witchy vibes in Wistoria and the Transit of Venus.

Witches, dark witches, shifters and vampires, this book has it all. An unlikely alliance between summer camp leaders Maddie and Jaxon, Brandon a camper in disguise, and a rather emo vampire all make for the perfect team to combat the evil about to rain down on Wistoria. This book is packed with hilarious and vulnerable coming of age moments and just the right amount of kicking butt. Just what my human wants in a YA paranormal.

It's not often I love an ending to a book this much, but everything came together in the most twisty, satisfying, magical way. I don't know how many times I said, "OMG no freaking way!"

Favourite description because I relate to it 100%: "The vampire was dressed in a vintage cropped Lost Boys t-shirt, black jean shorts, dark stockings, and a thick gold choker necklace."

I can't wait to see how Courtney Martin wraps this up in book 2. A perfect read for spooky season.
Profile Image for AlifeInChapters.tx.
64 reviews
August 12, 2026
This was adorable! As adorable as witches, vampires and shift shapers under attack can be! I loved the different POVs, it made me feel connected to each of them. Which for me, is how I define a great book. So glad the second one is out because waiting would have been the worst. This book is creative, fast paced and sucks you right in!
Profile Image for Honeybadgerreads.
161 reviews17 followers
August 23, 2026
5⭐️
0 🌶️
1st person POV
Book 1 of duology

I had so much fun with Wistoria and the Transit of Venus! To me, this was fast-paced, magical, and a bit chaotic (in a good way).

The summer camp setting mixed with witches, vampires, shifters, ghosts, and dark magic made this an interesting premise. There was always something happening! This book had such a fun combination of cozy summer vibes and darker paranormal danger. One minute you’re at summer camp with friends and the next you’re dealing with rogue witches and forbidden magic. It kept me entertained the entire time.

I also really enjoyed the multiple POVs because it gave each character their own personality and let me connect with the whole group instead of just one person.

The friendships were probably my favorite part. I loved reading about this unexpected group coming together, especially as the danger started getting more serious. The banter, secrets, different personalities, and little relationship moments made them feel like a group I genuinely wanted to hang out with. And Brandon definitely stole a few scenes for me (my favorite character). 😂

I also loved that there’s a touch of romance without it taking over the story. The Jax and Brandon dynamic was adorable and I was absolutely here for it. 🥹

Tropes + atmosphere:
YA paranormal fantasy
Cozy town vibes
Forbidden magic
Found family
MM romance subplot
Grumpy x sunshine
Banter
Hidden identity

This book is perfect to end your summer and begin spooky season with! So if you love YA paranormal fantasy, summer camp settings, found family, supernatural creatures, multiple POVs, and fun banter then definitely add this one to your TBR.
Profile Image for JensBookishWays.
230 reviews32 followers
September 4, 2026
This book was a solid 3.5 ⭐️ read for me. I’d describe this story as a YA teen paranormal mystery romance. This book has multi-POVs between the four main teens (Jax, Maddie, Brandon, and Lana), and one for Julia.

This book has gay, bi, and asexual representation.

I enjoyed the characters, especially Brandon. He was funny and brought comic relief. I felt bad for Jax and his battle with dark magic. The friendship connections and loyalty between the four main teens were sweet but felt abrupt. I wanted more info on the motivations of the main antagonist, Roy. I really liked Julia’s chapter!

The plot was medium paced with several fast paced action scenes in the last 10% of the story. The writing had several occurrences of telling instead of showing, which caused a lot of the information to be given through paragraphs of internal monologue.

The world building was good in explaining the magic systems of each magical creature. The book spent a good amount of time building up the summer camp, but most of the action in the story occurred elsewhere, making the camp a background location. I wanted more info on the occurrence of the transit of Venus, its impacts overall, and the history of the town.

No on page spice, only steam 🍏.

There are some dark events in this book involving magical shmurder 💀

Overall, this book has the witchy vibes I was hoping for and I’d try another book by this author.
Profile Image for Twinkle.butt.reads.
499 reviews29 followers
October 21, 2026
WITCHES, VAMPIRES, SHIFTERS, AND A SUMMER CAMP FULL OF SECRETS?! BABY, SIGN ME UP FOR THE CHAOS!

Listen here, book besties. When someone says magical summer camp, I'm thinking friendship bracelets, bonfires, questionable decisions, and maybe a little teenage drama.

COURTNEY MARTIN SAID, "THAT'S CUTE. NOW ADD DARK MAGIC, BETRAYAL, DANGER, AND SOME SUPERNATURAL NONSENSE!"

Welcome to Wistoria, where the summer camp activities include swimming, making friends, discovering your powers, and apparently TRYING NOT TO DIE.

Maddie just wants to enjoy her summer, practice her magic, and mind her business. But then Jaxon comes strolling back into her life after ghosting her for an entire school year.

SIR?! THE AUDACITY!

And because this is a fantasy novel, we already know that boy isn't just carrying emotional baggage. He's carrying SECRETS, TROUBLE, and probably enough magical drama to get everybody involved.

Then we have Brandon, our nosy shapeshifter, and Lana, a cursed vampire, joining the madness.

Four teenagers. Different supernatural backgrounds. One very dangerous situation.

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?!

EVERYTHING, BESTIES. ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.

What makes this story so appealing is the combination of magical world-building, found family, friendship, and the darker mysteries lurking beneath those adorable summer camp vibes.

And can we talk about how refreshing it is to have a fantasy where the friendships matter just as much as the supernatural danger?!

Because sometimes the greatest magic isn't the spells. It's finding people willing to stand beside you when everything goes sideways.

But don't get too comfortable with the cozy witchy atmosphere. This story has a darker side, and those secrets aren't staying buried forever.
Profile Image for KellyM.reads.
107 reviews2 followers
June 3, 2026
This was such a cute summer read! Filled with magic, lovable characters, and multiple POVs that kept the story engaging, it was an easy book to get swept up in. This book never lets you catch a break because there's always something happening. The fast paced plot kept me engaged from start to finish, and Maddie was absolutely adorable. I loved following everyone's journey. Brandon was hands down my favorite character! A fun, entertaining YA fantasy that's perfect for summer reading.
Profile Image for Jess Bohanick.
438 reviews13 followers
October 20, 2026
This was such a fun story! I'm always a sucker for found family, and that's exactly how I'd describe Maddie, Jax, Brandon, and Lana. They were all brought together to try to stop darkness from taking over Wistoria, and I loved seeing this group come together.

Give me a group of characters who find their people while fighting something bigger than themselves, and I'm in!
Profile Image for Sabrina  Krueger.
29 reviews1 follower
October 27, 2026
From the first page to this book, it caught your attention. It was one of those books that you just had to keep reading to see what would happen next it kept you on your edge of the seat the whole time..
The connections the characters had with each other was wonderful.
There was magic shape shifters vampires it has it all . This book had them all. truly enjoyed reading this book and I cannot wait to read the next find out what happens next.
Profile Image for Kelley Christianson.
19 reviews1 follower
May 31, 2026
A captivating and easy read!

I’d truly recommend this book to anyone. It has characters you want to succeed, is fast paced and easy to follow, truly anything you’d want in a summer read.
Profile Image for Amy.
282 reviews16 followers
September 16, 2026
Whoa! What a YA fantasy! I took my time reading it as I usually do with fantasy books, but don’t take that as an indicator of how I feel about the story. I loved it! First of all, I loved the LGBTQIA representation. IMO, it’s so important to have this in YA novels.

There are witches, shifters, vampires, a ghost, and humans. There are friendships and enemies. There is good magic, as well as, dark magic. There is a camaraderie of brave teenagers stepping up to do good for their different communities. The action at the end was so engaging! I also can’t believe the ending and will be jumping right in with book two! What a great book!
Profile Image for Amber K.
1,433 reviews63 followers
October 18, 2026
Fantastic mix of witches, vampires, and shifters. I loved how our four teenagers banded together to try and stop this dangerous evil that was coming for their town despite their differences. Amazing storyline and characters and tons of action and danger!
Great witchy vibe and story!
Profile Image for S.L. Zeidan.
Author 1 book12 followers
October 21, 2026
Okay, first of all, can we talk about how STUNNING this cover is?! I was hooked from chapter one! This was such a quirky, cozy read with all kinds of supernatural characters. I especially loved how the witches' powers worked and the way they emerged. Such a cool concept! It has that nostalgic coming-of-age feel that I absolutely love, and I think it's perfect for YA readers (No Spice). The story was super fast-paced, the multiple POVs were really well done, and I loved the friendships that came along the way. Brandon was definitely my favorite character! I loved this world, and the LGBTQIA+ representation. Such a fun read, thank you 💕
Profile Image for Ivy.
Author 2 books2 followers
September 15, 2026
Now this is the kind of magic I want-magic that does my dishes!
I loved the world the author created, from witches and shifters to vampires. There are also some wonderful friendships throughout the story, which add a lovely feel-good element alongside the darker aspects of the book.
The story really picked up pace towards the end, and I could not put it down during the final part because I simply had to know what would happen!
The book ended on a cliffhanger, and I cannot wait to see where the story goes next. Bring on Book 2!
Profile Image for Ary.reads.
284 reviews7 followers
September 3, 2026
This was such a fun YA fantasy! ✨ Wistoria and the Transit of Venus pulled me in with its magical summer-camp setting, secret witch community, supernatural elements, and a group of teens who find themselves caught up in something much bigger than they expected.

I loved Maddie as a protagonist. She’s loyal, determined, and fiercely protective of the people she cares about. When Jaxon suddenly comes back into her life after essentially ghosting her all school year, Maddie knows something isn’t right—and of course, she can’t just leave it alone. Watching her uncover his secrets and try to figure out how to help him made for an engaging storyline.

The friendship and found-family aspects were another favorite. Maddie, Jaxon, Brandon, and Lana make such an interesting group, and I loved seeing their personalities and abilities come together as they worked to protect their community.

The magical world Courtney Martin created is imaginative and atmospheric, and I especially enjoyed the mix of witches, shapeshifters, vampires, friendship, mystery, and romance. It has that perfect YA feeling of characters discovering who they are while navigating complicated relationships and a threat they never saw coming.

Overall, this was a 5-star YA fantasy for me—magical, entertaining, and filled with characters I genuinely enjoyed spending time with.
Profile Image for Katie.
877 reviews55 followers
June 16, 2026

This book hooked me from the very first page and never let go. Filled with vampires, witches, shifters, dark magic, betrayal, action, and so much more, it made for an absolutely enthralling read. The author has an incredible talent for drawing readers in and immersing them completely in the story. Although it’s categorized as young adult, it didn’t feel that way to me. The pacing was fast, the plot was captivating, and I found it to be a fantastic read from beginning to end.
Profile Image for Kerri Stoner.
Author 3 books25 followers
August 27, 2026
Witches, Vampires & Shifters!

This was a fun, easy to read, YA book—need I say more?

Book 2 is out, and I will continue reading. 🤩
Profile Image for Teazoon.
165 reviews1 follower
July 24, 2026
I ate this book up and I’m desperate for book 2!

Thank you for the amazing representation of the ace community, not too many books have characters that identify as such.

This book is the perfect Summerween read from the paranormal to the camp setting by the lake. You fall in love with each main character and get to watch their love for each other grow. This book has you guessing what will happen next or who will get with who. I really enjoyed this book and I really care for the author, so please give this novel a shot🫡💕
Profile Image for Trinity Arreola.
35 reviews
September 25, 2026
A book with vibes that match with an adult version of Halloweentown, dark magic, and unlikely friends! I really like this book, especially the end. I had a lot of a mixed feelings while reading the book. I was having a good time reading it. I was sad during some parts. I was on edge during some parts. It really is a mix of emotions in a very good way! I read it just in time for spooky season😁🎃📚🖤
Already started reading book 2!
Profile Image for Cassie.
31 reviews3 followers
August 27, 2026
4.5 stars!

This book captured my interest from the absolute beginning! I started this book and did not want to put it down!

When you look at the cover of the book, you think it’s going to be a very cute and fun read, but the second you start reading it, the shock of where this book is going to take you hits! Wistoria has such an amazing fantasy theme that also throws in a sense of coming-of-age. You follow multiple characters on this journey at summer camp but while you’re enjoying this cute and fun story, the twists and plot has you needing more!

I often have a hard time, reading stories about characters that are younger than I am, but every character in this book was extremely relatable! You can understand their struggles and where they are coming from!

BUT….be prepared because the end of this book had me screaming at the book while reading it!! So make you grab book 2 because you’ll need it!
Profile Image for Teresa Trencher.
35 reviews
May 18, 2026
Wistoria and the Transit of Venus feels like the last golden weeks of summer wrapped in magic, campfires crackling beneath constellations, whispered secrets in cabin bunks long after curfew. Witches, vampires, shifters, and ghosts are woven together into a world that feels chaotic in the gentlest way possible. Cozy despite the danger. Tender despite the monsters.

What stayed with me most was the friendship at the center of it all. The kind that feels fierce and fragile at the same time. The kind forged in late-night confessions, shared fears, and choosing each other again and again even when things begin to unravel.

And that ending. It closes the story just enough to leave you breathless and satisfied, while quietly opening a door to something darker waiting on the other side. The kind of ending that makes you stare at the ceiling afterward knowing the story is not finished with you yet.

Already waiting for book two.
Profile Image for Ashley Calvert.
34 reviews5 followers
July 7, 2026
Absolutely loved this story. I’m not much of a fantasy reader, but this one? Chefs kiss!! Witches, vampires, shifters, ghosts, it had it all. There were multiple pov’s that had me wondering what was going to happen next so I needed to keep reading.

Maddie and Jax are lifeguards at Wostoria’s summer camp. Maddie and Jax are in high school and once they get their special magical gifts, they have a year to strengthen their power. While there, they meet a boy named Brandon and they become fast friends. Someone has a secret that needs to be decided if it can be shared with their friends to be able to save the town. I’m so excited to read the next book when it’s available. I HAVE to know what happens.
Profile Image for Lidia Fernandes.
Author 1 book5 followers
October 9, 2026
I just finished Wistoria and the Transit of Venus by Courtney Martin and I really enjoyed it!
This is a YA paranormal fantasy featuring witches, vampires and shifters. It's beautifully written and very fast-paced.
It's a cozy, magical read with no spice, just pure magic. Perfect if you love paranormal with a lot of heart.
Profile Image for Cheydubs4📚.
105 reviews1 follower
July 8, 2026
Wistoria is my new favorite fantasy world! You’ve got witches, shifters, AND vampires?! All that and a bag of chips! 🤩 what a fun & Wild journey I just went on. The ambiguous ending stressed me out but at least I had fun along the way right? 😅
26 reviews
September 18, 2026
Fun and cute read.

Usually I don't read much of this genre, but it was perfect for a fall read. It kept me trying to see how the friendship grew and secrets around them.
Profile Image for Meredith.
130 reviews4 followers
August 3, 2026
Great Small Town Paranormal Fantasy read!

This has witches, shifters, vampires, ghosts, and humans! This was a fun mystery that takes place in small town Wistoria. The characters are loveable and eccentric with witty humor. I really enjoyed the storyline and am excited for book 2!
Profile Image for Amanda Uttech.
182 reviews8 followers
June 12, 2026
4.5 - if you’re a strictly fantasy girly but want to enjoy a summer read this season, I HIGHLY recommend this book!

It starts off with 2 friends who work at a summer camp for witches every year. They befriend a shifter, who I was hesitant to trust at first, but their friendship makes you fall in love with this book. The multiple POVs allow you to grow a connection with all the characters. Warnings of witches practicing dark magic have the witches, shifters, and vampires coming together to stop it. This was a little darker than anticipated for YA, but it made me love the story that much more. I LOVED the fast paced ending and Julie coming into play as well as the clever teleportation. You’re left on a little bit of a cliffhanger, but don’t worry, book 2 will be coming soon!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews