Tides Wait for No Witch

by Natalie Summers

A magical island. A mysterious relative. A family she didn't know existed.

Inheriting a house from a dead great-aunt she’s never met should've been Sara Rivers' first clue that things were about to get weird. The talking sea otter? That was clue number two.

Sara's plan was simple: stay the six months to get her inheritance, sell the house, and figure out what comes next. What she didn't plan on was discovering she's half witch, half undine, has magic she can't control, and has a family history she was never meant to know.

Then a suspicious journal entry makes her doubt everything she's been told. The locals are friendly, the town is charming, and absolutely no one wants to talk about how her great-aunt really died.

When another body turns up, Sara realizes Katrika’s killer isn’t done.

Between mandatory magic lessons, the game shop she inherited, a runaway teen hiding out in her basement, and an infuriatingly attractive FBI agent who may (or may not) be on her side, Sara's getting closer to a truth someone killed to hide. And the killer is watching.

Welcome to Spelltide Bay, where the gossip travels faster than seagulls, sea otters have opinions, and secrets never stay buried for long.

Genres: Mystery, Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Found Family, Cozy, Witches

382 pages, ebook

Published July 15, 2026

About the author

Natalie Summers writes paranormal cozy mysteries full of witty heroines, quirky side characters, and small towns with lots of drama. She can usually be found at home in her pyjamas, plotting (entirely fictional) magical murders while debating with her British husband over whether coffee or tea is the superior writing fuel. (It’s coffee. He’s wrong.)

For stress relief, Natalie enjoys watching true crime, reading cozy mysteries, crocheting things that are technically blankets, and jotting down notes for the thousands of stories she would need to clone herself to write. Why weren’t humans born with four hands?

Reviews

[AndaReadsTooMuch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tides Wait for No Witch is part murder mystery, part cozy witch/magic, with a dash of found family and all heart! This was such a fun read, I found myself not wanting to leave this cute little island town. Because let me tell you, small island towns are a whole entity unto themselves. Natalie Summers built an incredible little community for our main character Sara Rivers. Suffering the loss of her mother just six months prior, a mysterious great aunt leaves her a house on the tiny island of Spelltide Bay. The catch is, to inherit she’ll need to stay for 6 months. Prepare to hunker down and tough it out, the last thing Sara expects is to find family, friends, a murder mystery, magic is real, yer a witch ‘Arry, and an entire crime ring. You know, your usual small island town activities! Oh and there’s talking animals.

I had an absolute blast reading this! Perfect for a summer trip or beach day, you’ll find yourself lost in the town of Spelltide Bay and everything it has to offer.

Tides Wait For No Witch comes out July 15. You’re going to want to pick up a copy (or grab it on KU) immediately. You better believe I ordered a copy for my shelf!

Huge thank you to author Natalie Summers for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[RootsfortheVillain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sara Rivers inherits a house from a great-aunt she never met and heads to Spelltide Bay, planning to stay for just six months to claim her inheritance. When she arrives, she discovers a family she never knew and learns she is half witch and half undine. Every new detail makes her more curious about her great-aunt and what really happened to her. As Sara investigates her aunt’s death, she realizes the killer is still out there and wants to keep the truth hidden.

Tides Wait for No Witch reminds me of the cozy Hallmark mysteries I love. I enjoyed the mysterious island of Spelltide Bay and its quirky residents, especially Ollie, the talking otter with a sassy attitude who loves to steal hairbrushes. Sara’s search for answers about her great-aunt’s death kept me interested. With so many secrets in Spelltide Bay, it was tough to guess who the real killer was. The ending took me by surprise, but I enjoyed how it all came together. There are still plenty of questions left unanswered, and I’m looking forward to finding out what secrets will be revealed in the next book.

Thank you to Natalie Summers for the opportunity to review Tides Wait for No Witch. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Selene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those instances where you can 100 percent judge the book by the cover…it is soo wholesome and cozy. Small town , found family, murder mystery, talking otters, witches magic , hot fbi agents,family secrets and that twist at the end. Absolutely can’t wait for book two.

Thanks to the author for my arc! The opinions are my own.

[Gina Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a magical escape filled with charm, heart, and a touch of seaside mystery, this is an absolute must read! I was hooked from the very first page. This paranormal cozy mystery is pure serotonin. I loved the main character, the intriguing mystery, and the heartwarming journey of her finding family. I usually dislike books with a large cast because keeping track of everyone gets too hard to follow, but even though this story has many characters, they were so distinct and well written that I could follow along with absolute ease. The author’s smooth and engaging writing style made the pages fly by, and the real standout for me was the incredibly silly otter, who brought so much humor and whimsy to every scene he popped up in.
This book is like a warm hug on a breezy beach. If you love quirky magical creatures, heartwarming relationships, and a solid mystery, you will love this. I can't wait to see what happens next in Spelltide Bay.

[Dara's Book Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the Spelltide prequel, Witch Way Out, so I dove straight into this one. New fav series unlocked. It's set in Spelltide Bay — a magical island where almost everyone's a witch. I want to live there. I want to be a kitchen witch.
Twists and turns on every corner. I could NOT guess the murderer. And I needed answers about Sara's mom and great aunt so badly it kept me pushing.
And the FBI agent? Smoking hot. Let's just say he's hiding more than a badge. 🔥🐉
I loved the little touches too — the crochet lesson, the apple wood hook, the knitting group with its own drama. It might actually get me to learn.
The chapters are long and things repeat a bit too much. It dragged for my taste. But the story keeps giving and I couldn't stop. Perfect for readers of L.L. Gray. Cozy paranormal whodunit, hot FBI agent included. I'm in.

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Tides Wait for No Witch (Spelltide Bay Magic Mysteries, Book 1)" by Natalie Summers is a fun paranormal cozy mystery. It has many classic paranormal cozy mystery tropes. Young, 30's-ish woman has a major life change(s). She inherits enough to make life a bit more comfortable to try something new. She arrives at her inheritance and magical abilities start kicking in. Also, the person she inherited from may not have died of natural causes after all.

Sara doesn't really know what she's doing next in life after her mom died and she lost her job. Luckily, an unknown great aunt recently left her an inheritance on a little island. There she discovers family and magic didn't know she has. As she learns more about herself she starts to question if her great aunt's passing was as natural as most of the town wants her to think.

There are lots of funny touches as well. A spitfire grandma, a silly otter, and a grumpy game store manager. There are possibilities for some game store antics in future books. Some crotchet patterns too. There is even a touch of cozy level romance.

[Sydney Darwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun little cozy mystery this was! Tides Wait for No Witch is a mash up of mystery and fantasy, with so many quirky characters that take you through the journey.

And yeah, there’s talking otters.

Sara finds out she is the heir to a relatives estate that she did not know existed. The kicker? She has to move to an island she’s never been to before and call it home for at least six months.

Everyone seems to be brushing her relatives death under the rug, but Sara is convinced there’s something more to it. And she’s is intent on finding out just what happened.

This has the bones of a really good series, but I will say it was pretty repetitive (the amount of times people repeat some iteration of the phrase to stay out of trouble is astronomical), but I have high hopes for a second installment!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.

[Cozy Champagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tides Wait For No Witch is the first book in the Spelltide Bay Magic Mysteries by Natalie Summers. The amateur sleuth is Sara, a half-undine/half-witch who inherited a house on a magical island along with magical powers she didn't know she had and can't seem to control.

Tides Wait For No Witch is the kind of book that will make you remember how fun a cozy fantasy can be.

The premise of a mystery on a magical island is creatively executed. Author Natalie Summers put thought and heart into the world building. The result is an enchanting and lighthearted whodunit that seamlessly blends fantasy, light romantic tension, and suspense with themes of community, belonging, and personal reinvention.

The story is quite funny in places. Characters like Ollie the Otter break the tension with hilarious hijinks in all the right places. Ollie's scene stealing antics had me laughing out loud.

The comforting tropes of a cozy mystery are also there. We get an amateur sleuth, a useful hobby (crocheting), a skill (magic), a pet (Ollie), and a sweet flirtation with the too handsome for his own good law enforcement officer. All of these elements were well utilized in the plot and enhanced the story in a way that made them feel familiar but fresh.

I loved TidesWait For No Witch and can't wait to see what happens next in Spelltide Bay!

Thank you to Tidemeres Press for the ARC.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: Sara gets a surprise inheritance from a long lost aunt after she also loses her mother. Sara never had any of their family so she goes to her aunt's island home, because why not?
Once she gets there she finds out she inherited a house, a business, she has actual biological family, and oh---she's a witch.
But something isn't right about Aunt Katrina's sudden death and Sara is determined to figure it out. She gets help from her new half sisters (witches), an unhoused teenager with no family, and a handsome part-dragon FBI agent. They just have to figure it all out before the bad guys/forces catch up to them.
I love a mystical book and this one had new beings, powers and definite mystery. It was a nice balance of human investigation, magical assistance, and some humor and sexual tension. There were unanswered questions though, and that was frustrating. I guess I'm waiting for book 2. 🤷‍♀️

Thank you to NetGalley and Victoria Editing for an advance digital copy to review. These opinions are my own.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Sara Rivers finds herself in a small island town in a house she inherited from a great aunt she had never heard of let alone met she is understandably confused and lonely, that is until her half sister Forthy, that she didn’t know existed stormed into her life and introduced Sarah to her biological father and told her that her whole life was a lie. If that wasn’t enough Sara would soon discover that not only did she have a whole family that she didn’t know about, but she also was a witch with magical powers. This story is such a breath of fresh air to the cozy mystery genre and I honestly was blown away by how unique the story was! I can’t wait to see what other hijinks Sarah Rivers finds herself in and I really hope they include Ollie, her cute otter friend!
Thank you so much for the arc!

[Tegan novelteereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet, cozy mystery with many quirky characters that was really refreshing to read! Loved Ollie; the kleptomaniac otter along with some of the other magical sea creatures you meet along the way. I typically read fast paced thrillers and fantasy books so this was a little slower than I’m used to, but when the dragon hybrid FBI agent came into the mix and the danger escalated, I was definitely hooked! I wish more had been revealed at the end, but at least we know that book 2 is in the works! Thank you to the author for this fun ARC!

[Stacey Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

I almost DNF’d this, but I’m glad I didn’t! Overall, this was a fun read and I really enjoy the life Sara created in Spelltide Bay.

As someone who lives in the PNW, reading about the Salish Sea and the fun twist on the Resident orcas was enjoyable. Will definitely read book 2!

[BookishKB]

🌊🦦 Tides Wait for No Witch 🦦🌊

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

🔮 What to Expect
• Cozy Fantasy Mystery
• Witch FMC
• Magical Inheritance
• Murder Mystery
• Talking Sea Otter
• Small Town Magic
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: July 15, 2026
Thank you to Natalie Summers and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Simone | simonesbookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ Rating: 4.5 Stars

✨ The Vibe
A cozy magical mystery set on a charming island where sea otters talk, magic is real, found family is everything, and everyone seems to know everyone else's business.

Honestly... the talking sea otter alone convinced me to pick this book up.

📚 What the Book Is About (No Spoilers)
When Sara Rivers unexpectedly inherits a house from a great-aunt she never knew existed, she travels to the magical island of Spelltide Bay with one simple plan: stay for six months, sell the house, and move on with her life.

Instead, she discovers she's half witch, half undine, inherits a game shop, meets family she never knew existed, and learns that her great-aunt's death may not have been an accident after all.

As Sara starts digging into the truth, she realizes someone on the island is determined to keep old secrets buried.

🖤 My Reading Experience
Talking sea otters? Count me in. That alone sold me on this book. Add in a beachy island setting, magic, a murder mystery, and an attractive FBI agent, and I was immediately intrigued. I'm happy to report that this book absolutely delivered.

I caught myself laughing out loud more than once thanks to the wonderfully chaotic family dynamics, Ollie's constant commentary, and all the magical shenanigans happening around town. The humor felt natural, the dialogue was fun, and I genuinely enjoyed spending time with these characters.

This was also my first magical mystery, and I had such a good time with it. The mystery surrounding Katrinka's death kept me guessing right until the end. I honestly had no idea who the killer was going to be—which either means the mystery was very well done... or I'm just terrible at solving mysteries. 😂 Either way, I had fun trying.

My absolute favorite part of this book, though, was the found family. Sara arrives believing she's completely alone, only to discover an entire side of her family she never knew existed. They immediately welcomed her with open arms, plenty of teasing, and an incredible amount of love and protection. I adored every single one of them.

What made me love them even more was how they welcomed Ray into the family, too. She wasn't related by blood, but that never mattered to them. They respected her boundaries, made space for her, and loved her just the same. Those moments honestly warmed my heart.

I also really enjoyed that Sara never had to investigate everything by herself. Her family and newfound friends were always nearby, sharing theories, helping with research, and bouncing ideas off one another. It made the mystery feel like a true team effort instead of one person carrying the entire investigation.

And then there's Ollie. Let's be honest. He completely stole the show. Every scene with that sassy little sea otter made me smile.

💭 What Didn't Fully Work for Me
There honestly wasn't much I didn't enjoy, but I did occasionally wish the story slowed down just a little.

Sara's first day on the island is... eventful, to say the least. Within roughly twenty-four hours, she discovers she has a father, grandparents, and half-sisters she never knew about, learns her mother kept all of this from her, finds out she's half witch and half undine, discovers magic is real, realizes sea otters can talk, inherits a game shop, and starts investigating a suspicious death.

And that's just the beginning.

On top of the murder mystery, we're also learning about Sara's magic, watching her settle into island life, getting to know her newfound family, helping a runaway teen, uncovering secrets about her mother, investigating a house break-in, meeting dozens of townspeople, and slowly exploring the tension between Sara and Xander.

I genuinely enjoyed all of these storylines, but sometimes I felt like I needed a little more breathing room between the big reveals. There were moments where something shocking happened, and before I really had time to process it, we were already moving on to the next revelation.

I also found that the mystery occasionally lost a bit of momentum because there were so many other things happening alongside it. I would've loved a slightly more layered and suspenseful investigation in places.

There was also a bit of repetition throughout the story. Certain plot points and conversations were revisited multiple times, and personally, I don't think all of that repetition was necessary.

One thing readers should know going in is that this isn't primarily a romance. Yes, there's attraction. There's chemistry. There's definitely some flirting. But the romance stays very much in the background.

This book is first and foremost about Sara discovering who she is, embracing her magic, finding her family, and solving a murder mystery. Personally, I didn't mind that at all because the family relationships more than made up for the slower romantic development.

🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Cozy fantasy
- Magical mystery
- Small-town vibes
- Found family
- Talking animals
- Island setting
- Murder mystery

💔 Emotional Impact
Coziness level: 10/10. Ollie the sea otter owns a permanent piece of my heart now.

🫶 Final Thoughts
Tides Wait for No Witch was such an amazing surprise. It's cozy, funny, magical, and filled with lovable characters that make Spelltide Bay feel like somewhere you'd actually want to visit.

Natalie Summers created an island that felt incredibly vivid, from its quirky townspeople to its magical sea creatures and cozy little shops. I could picture myself wandering the streets, volunteering with the sea animals, and stopping by to chat with the locals.

While I would've loved a little more breathing room between some of the many storylines, I genuinely had such a fun time reading this.

I'm already looking forward to returning to Spelltide Bay and spending more time with Sara, her wonderfully chaotic family... and of course, Ollie.

📢 Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC. As always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the arc. All opinions expressed in this honest review are my own.

1/5 stars (though it’s more like 0.5/5)

I was so excited to read this book. A talking animal companion, a murder mystery, a small town in the PNW literally right next door to where I’m from??? Hell yes!

Sadly, this was possibly one of the worst books I have read (at least this year).

This book, first of all, DESPERATELY needed some heavy editing and proofreading. The contradictions were bad enough that parts of this were unreadable. Things that happened on one page suddenly hadn’t happened on the next, names changed, details slipped, it was a mess. It read like a script almost, being about 90% dialogue and 10% everything else.

This is not going to be spoiler free and it’s probably going to be pretty harsh, so feel free to stop reading now. I urge you to try it yourself, especially if you’re looking for an unserious cozy murder mystery (it’s geared more towards a YA audience, too).

SPOILER ZONE YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

I can say with confidence there was not a single thing I liked about this book and I only finished it out of pure spite. In no order here are the main issues I had with this book (besides the desperate need for editing and proofreading).

THE CHARACTERS
Sara is the most unlikable FMC I have read in a minute. She is naive. Immature. Down right fucking stupid. She’s 32 years old. She’s an independent, grown woman, yet she walks into murder scenes, breaks into buildings, and naively believes literally everything she’s told. I almost wish she was written as a teenager or something because it would be more believable then. Like, I’m sorry, but if I was told by a lawyer I never met that some family member I didn’t know existed left me a house and a small business with the expectation that I live in said house for half a year I would be skeptical at the very least. She had the personality of a wet blanket, too. Her only hobby was crochet, which was barely relevant to the story or her character arc at all. She was so dumb in the way that she blindly did what she was told constantly. She had no complex emotions. No growth. She was the main character and she was the least interesting. Also, her being an undine-witch was only relevant to a single chapter. Never mentioned again. Never elaborated on.
The side characters were all copy and paste clones of each other, with zero personality and no importance to the plot. You could remove any of them and the story would’ve continued fine. Also, Ollie was advertised as being a side character and he had four (4) scenes. That’s it. He could’ve been removed completely and absolutely nothing would’ve changed.

THE MAGIC SYSTEM
Oh boy did it need work. On the surface it looked interesting. But there was no depth. No development. No real concrete rules. I feel like it almost made the story clunky.

THE SETTING
Okay I’m being picky. I’ve lived in the PNW my entire life. I’ve visited the San Juan Islands numerous times. I know this island is completely fictional and doesn’t actually exist but I had so many issues with it.
1. It was said to be the largest island. The largest SJI is Orcas Island (in the US) with a population of over 5,000 people. Small, sure, but not “everyone literally knows everyone and if you even breathe differently the entire island will know within thirty seconds” small. Yet this fictional island is bigger than that, which makes no sense.
2. The ferry system. Okay yeah the WADOT ferry system is ass at times. But it runs on a strict schedule and not “whenever Sara needs a ride.” Also, it takes nearly 5 hours to get from the islands to Port Angeles (important later in the book). You can’t just catch a ferry and be there in minutes. You have to take multiple boats and drive for a while and usually stay overnight because of the schedules and whatnot. That part really irritated me. Maybe the island was super close to the peninsula. But then how were people able to just hop down to Seattle? You can’t have both. Trust me, I know. I don’t think this author has ever lived in the PNW.

THE ENTIRE FUCKING PLOT
This book was just so bad I don’t know how else to say it. Literally in the first chapter Sara discovers she has an entire family and a house and a dad and sisters and she’s just fine with it. The plot twists had zero build up and were so boring that I couldn’t even be entertained. The disrespect to the Salish people was there but that’s a whole issue I’m not going into right now. This read like a young YA book meant for 13-16 year olds. It was so poorly executed and so poorly written that I wonder if the author even wanted to write it. The murder mystery? Yeah, that took the back seat. There were more Sara-drinking-coffee scenes than actual murder mystery scenes. Nothing was resolved. Nothing made sense. I read a book almost identical to this one back when I was 10 years old. Also, explain to me why this author has another book where our FMC is given a house by a late great-aunt she didn’t know existed???? How are you copying your own work????

I hated this book. I’m pissed I wasted hours of my life reading it. I wish I DNF’d when I first got bored (page. Fucking. One.)

[Sara The Story Lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tides Wait for No Witch is a whimsical, cozy small town mystery with a dash of magic and a huge spoonful of heart.
Sara, who is still grieving her recently passed mother, suddenly inherits a house on a small island from an unknown great-aunt, and she decides to move to Spelltide Bay to get her inheritance. However, she not only finds a house, but also family, secrets, magic, a *very* handsome FBI agent and... the realization that her mysterious great-aunt might have been murdered.

Honestly, this books follows the patterns of cozy mystery well, but I was thoroughly entertained by the characters, and I especially enjoyed how magic was tied into everything. This was the first time I read a book where the FMC's name was the same as mine (I don't know how I avoided that before), so it took my brain a moment to get used to it, but that's really on me.

Here is what I enjoyed about the book:
>>The vibes: it's absolutely cosy, even when the pace picks up a little, I didn't feel stressed out, which was exactly what I needed from this book. The pacing made sense for the story, and the atmosphere was enticing--what do I need to do to inherit a cozy home on the shore of a small island???
>>The found family: all the characters surround Sara are cute and kind and funny, I actually wish we spent more time with some of them (but I have the feeling we will in the upcoming book (bookS, I hope!), but the emotional journey played out really well.
>>Sara: She is a lovely heroine, her reactions are valid (I just LOVED how she just started going with anything that was happening around her like day 2. Oh, I have magic? Okay! And on she went with her investigation. Queen.
>>Ollie (and the other sea animals): I am a sucker for snarky animal companions, and Ollie is all that. I loved how he just casually pops up at the most unexpected moments to steal a hairbrush or something. I need more Ollie content, actually!
>>Xander: I cannot say anything about him that is either not either a spoiler or not for the internet... He was a very *nice* addition to Sara's story, let's just say this...
>>The mystery: I am always trying to guess the 'who did it', and I actually only figured out this one along with the characters. When we first met this particular character, I had a moment of suspicion, but then I was lead in other directions--and I also loved that those directions weren't just simple red herrings. (I cannot explain more without spoilering anything, but I think it was really well done.
>>CROCHET: As a fellow crocheter myself, I cannot say how much it meant to me that crochet was such a big part of the story! I enjoyed every time Sara and co. sat down to crochet. No notes.

What I didn't enjoy that much--that being said, I REALLY loved this book.
>>It felt like a first book in a series: by half of the story, I realised that there are some "bigger" questions that are not going to be answered in this story, if we get a proper solution for the mystery at hand (and we did!). And I feel like that affected the relationship between Sara and some of the side characters (I have many questions left and so many of them are not even about her heritage, but about the family she found, and I feel like despite *everything* she should have been asking more questions... or reading more of *things*, but I suppose that would have lead to stuff that should be revealed later...?) All in all, even while reading the book, I felt like it was setting up the next one. It's not a big issue, more of my preference when I don't need to prepare myself for waiting while still reading XD
>>At some points, Sara's inner monologue felt a bit repetitive. I think it would have been different if I read it only a couple of chapters at a time, but I read it in bigger chunks, so I didn't need the constant reminders(?) of what has happened. The example that really stood out for me was in the first half, when it was already obvious that the great-aunt was murdered, but Sara was still like "maybe she was murdered...? Probably...? Definitely need to check that out!" (It's NOT a direct quote!), and she was constantly recapping her first couple of days. (Though if stuff like this were happening to me... I might be repeating them in my mind all the time too, so...)

All in all, it was a really enjoyable, fun read, I had a great time, and I will definitely read the second one, whenever it comes out! I need more of everything (especially Ollie and Xander), and I need my questions answered, thank you very much!

I received this as an ARC from the authors, and this is my honest review!

[FabledWhimsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC for Tides Wait for No Witch in exchange for my honest review. Thank you, Natalie Summers for the ARC. Mystery and found family exist at the heart of this story. A tale of starting over again, finding your people and a place to belong. This was a book that was sweet and cosy with undercurrents of secrets waiting to be revealed. I enjoyed my time in Spelltide Bay, and only wished magical islands existed in real life, preferably with less murder!

⋆⁺₊ ⋆ ☾ ₊˚. 𓆟｡⋆༄⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ∘˙○˚.•

ଳ This story was chocked full of new faces, new places and MAGIC. There were so many threads to this story that Natalie weaves into a cosy blanket that she drapes over our shoulders to keep us warm. We follow Sara, who has inherited a house from a mysterious relative. The only caveat? She has to stay in this house for 6 months to receive the rest of her inheritance. Sailing on the fresh grief of her mother’s death, she docks upon the shores of Spelltide Bay, where magic and family eagerly await her. Not everything is what it seems on this unassuming island, and the death of her great-aunt isn’t as cut and dried as one first thought. There is a low cloud of secrets and mystery that hangs over Spelltide Bay, and Sara may just be the right person to clear the fog to expose the island’s mysteries to the light of day. The people of this town are forthcoming with their hospitality, but not with their secrets. This was an interesting dichotomy, everyone seemed desperate to speak to Sara, but danced around conversations enigmatically. I couldn’t blame Sara for being so inquisitive.

ଳ Alongside the themes of mystery, we are treated to a world that is swimming in magic and mysterious beings. Sara awakens her inner magic that her mother protected her from, and embarks on a journey not just to find her great-aunt’s killer, but on an inner expedition to find who she really is, and why did her mother hide this from her? There is a large cast of characters that welcome Sara into their open arms with love and patience. They provide a stable support system for Sara to navigate her way through this tumultuous voyage to the truth. Many of the people that we meet are warm, it was hard not to wish we were a member of this small island town. Gossip may grow and travel fast, but their love for one another superseded this. My one criticism is that, at times, I felt like there were too many characters. As much as I thought they were sweet, it felt overwhelming. I wanted a smaller cast of characters. I wanted these characters to have more time so we could fall in love with them, instead of a large cast of characters that we barely scratched the surface of who they are.

ଳ As much as I enjoyed the cosy world we dove into, I think a stricter edit would have allowed us to enjoy this more. There were moments where the plot felt repetitive, and we circled the same narrative points more often than I would have liked. I understand that Sara played fast and loose with her own safety, but a lot of the characters' dialogue was spent telling her to be safe. Natalie created some amazing characters, which I applaud her for. I personally wanted more time with them, instead of returning to plot points that had already solidified in our minds. Overall, I did enjoy this story! There were threads left unravelled that I hope will be picked up in the next book, because that cliffhanger?! My interest was definitely piqued. If you are a fan of mysteries, I think you will enjoy this one. There is a lot of emphasis placed on untangling the puzzle that is her great-aunt’s death. This is also good for fans of found family and lost souls finding a place to belong.

[Elodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, I absolutely adored this book!! I am not someone who chooses a single favourite of anything, especially books, but this may be one of my favourite books ever read. This honestly checked all the boxes for me.

One of my absolute favourite things about this book is the setting. Sara travels to Spelltide Bay after learning she has inherited a house from a great-aunt she never knew existed. Natalie Summers absolutely nailed this island town. She made it feel incredibly cozy, magical, and fun all at the same time! I mean, a place I can go see sea creatures like Otters and volunteer to help take care of them? Sold! Plus, the town has some super interesting characters that I look forward to learning more about in book 2!

From now on, when someone asks me which book town I would love in, it'll be 100% be Spelltide Bay.

Another one of my favourite aspects of this book is Sara's found family. Outside of learning she has a great-aunt she never knew, Sara also learns she has more family members she didn't know existed. This family was incredibly charming and fun. They are the family that anyone would dream of having. Not only did they have a lot of playful banter and teasing, they were also incredibly protective of each other and always had one another backs. The way they accepted and loved Sara right off the hop was beautiful. Same with how Sara and her family accepted Ray into the fold, even though she isn't biologically family. They accepted her and included her always, while ensuring they respect her boundaries and meet her where she was at.

Now, while this book is absolutely a cozy fantasy, it is also a cozy mystery, which makes up a large part of the story. So, if you are a mystery lover like me, absolutely check it out! Sometimes I struggle with cozy mysteries because they can be super simplistic, but this one felt layered and it kept me guessing the entire time. The only thing I'll say is that there are several mysteries at play and not all are answered, as this is just book 1 in the series, where I'm sure the larger questions will be answered later. However, the main mystery on the island that Sara was dealing with is completely answered in a way I was satisfied with. I did also love that while Sara is the main person investigating, her family and new found friends are never far behind! This often makes it seem like a fun group is investigating together and we get to hear different theories and perspectives, which I loved!

Also, for anyone that likes a little romance in their stories, look no further! While not a large part of the story, there is some building tensions between two characters in this book, which was super fun! I am looking forward to seeing how their relationship grows as the series continues.

As a side note, this book has made me realize I never want to live in a super small town. Like, what do you mean people know my business before I've even told them? 😭 As a super private person, I feel like I've shared tons of you know my full legal name, favourite colour and cats name, so I would not fare well in a town that knows everyone's business 😅

Lastly, I need to give a specific shout out to Ollie! What I would pay to be able to talk and hang out with a sassy sea otter!

Seriously though, this book releases July 15th and I highly recommend you check it out! I read the entire book in a single sitting and I really think many others will adore it like I did!

Thank you NetGalley and Natalie Summers for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sara really boarded a boat thinking she was just going to claim a house from a great-aunt she'd never met, wait out six months, sell everything, and move on. Sweet, optimistic woman. Within what feels like one very aggressive Tuesday, she finds out she has magic, a father, grandparents, half-sisters, a game shop, a murder to investigate, and a sea otter named Ollie who has absolutely no interest in pretending to be normal. Honestly, the poor woman barely had time to unpack.

And this town... these people know everything. You cannot sneeze in Spelltide Bay without three neighbors discussing whether it sounded magical. The gossip travels at a speed that honestly deserves scientific study. Sara keeps trying to quietly process the fact that her entire life has basically been one enormous family secret, while everyone around her is like, "Anyway, welcome! Here's your magical inheritance. Also someone may have been murdered. Pancakes?" The emotional whiplash was incredible.

I adored watching Sara slowly realize she wasn't as alone as she'd always believed. Finding out your mom kept an entire side of your family hidden would send most people into a spiral that lasted at least six business months. Sara barely gets six business hours before another relative appears, another secret falls out of a closet, or somebody hands her another magical responsibility. The woman deserved a nap almost as much as she deserved answers.

Then there's Ollie. I cannot overstate how much this opinionated little sea otter behaved like the neighborhood retiree who has appointed himself president of everyone else's business. Every time he showed up I immediately paid attention because I knew he was about to either say something completely ridiculous or accidentally become the smartest creature in the room. Frankly, several of the humans could've benefited from listening to him a little more often.

The mystery kept doing that cozy mystery thing where everyone smiles politely while collectively refusing to answer the one question Sara actually asked. Every conversation felt like someone saying, "Oh, your great-aunt? Wonderful woman. Terrible about... well... never mind." Which, naturally, made Sara dig even harder. She has the exact personality type that hears "leave it alone" as a legally binding challenge. Between magic lessons, a runaway teen hiding in her basement, an FBI agent who kept wandering into her life at suspiciously convenient moments, and the growing pile of unanswered questions, she never had a chance at having a quiet stay.

Somewhere underneath all the magic and murder was a really sweet reminder that family isn't just about who was there from the beginning. Sometimes it's the people who show up when your whole world falls apart and simply refuse to let you face it alone. That part got me more than I expected.

This ended up being a 3.5 star read for me. I had so much fun hanging out in Spelltide Bay, even if I occasionally wished everyone would stop dropping life-changing revelations on Sara long enough for the poor woman to finish a single cup of coffee. I'll absolutely be back for the next visit... mostly because I need more Ollie in my life.

Whodunity Award: For Employing the Only Sea Otter Who Could Solve a Murder, Judge Your Hair, and Steal the Entire Book Without Even Trying

Huge thanks to Natalie Summers and NetGalley for the ARC. I came for a witchy inheritance and somehow left emotionally attached to a sarcastic sea otter. Frankly, I should've seen that coming.

[Tracy Condie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun series starter that instantly draws the reader in with new twists and turns with almost every chapter! If you are a fan of the cozy character, Mitzy Moon, then you are going to be absolutely charmed by Sara Rivers. This cozy is set on an island off of the Northwest Pacific coast, an island with a town that is occupied by the most interesting and unusual of characters, and apparently everybody knows everybody else's business. Imagine the surprise when Sara, who recently lost her mom and her job, learns that she has inherited a house and so much more. Sara who has had to be strong for the majority of her life, because she and her mom only had each other and they were constantly on the move. Sara will learn the importance of community, of family, of giving back, and helping others. That is not to say that she did not have it in her, but rather she did not have opportunities thrust upon her to stretch those people skills.


The emotional roller coaster of this cozy is tempered with a bit of sass, a family secret, a smoking FBI agent, and a whole support system unlike anything that Sara could have ever imagined. Sara is going to need a whole lot of yarn to crochet herself back to a happy place. The paranormal parts make the story even more colorful than I could have ever imagined. Almost everyone has a special ability, okay, almost everyone is a witch of one sort or another. Sara is half water witch and half undine; I had to look up the definition of undine. Essentially, Sara is one with the water and the water is one with her which also means that the water "speaks" to her as does Ollie, the kleptomaniac otter. He is so much fun and such a cutie! Sara's dad Bennett makes magic in the kitchen, half-sister Frothy has the gift of foresight (sort of), Bennet's mom Warra likes to play with fire, and his dad Torrent has water abilities. Oh, and that smoking hot FBI guy, well he's part dragon on his mother's side. How could you not want to pick this book up and start reading?
Still not sure, then let me tell you about the murder mystery aspect.

There are artifacts, tunnels, and tidewolves, oh my. Not to mention that the mysterious benefactor, great-aunt Katrika left behind a house, a business, and a whole lot of secrets, but no straightforward answers to any of Sara's questions. Like why does no one think it odd that a perfectly healthy woman just falls down dead on the beach in the middle of the night? Sara relies on her wits and some new skills to sus out the clues. For example, she interviews orca whales that transfigure into wolves. The addition of the Innuit mythical Akhlut folklore aka tidewolves is a nice touch. This story has so many layers. It is similar to varying dive depths in the ocean, and the deeper Sara gets, the darker and murkier the mystery becomes. While this mystery is sure to be a stand-alone, not everything is revealed by the end of this tale.

Sara is a character after my own heart, with a touch of sass, a good head on her shoulders, a dash of daring, a whole lot of heart, and a healthy appetite for good food. Reading about all of the tasty baked goods inspired me to bake a batch of Sourdough Chocolate Chip Scones, which might console me while I wait for the next book.

[Yvonne (vonnie_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

3.5 stars!

This was such a fun, magical read that completely held my attention.

The story follows Sara Rivers as she moves to the cosy Spelltide Bay after inheriting a house from a great-aunt she never knew existed. What she discovers is an island full of magic, mayhem, and an ocean of secrets. I loved the whole premise of this book. The magical community and found family elements brought so much heart and charm to the story, and when you add in the murder mystery, I was completely engrossed. I was genuinely kept guessing about the killer's identity throughout, and there were so many layers to the overall mystery. We don't get answers to every question by the end, which has left me excited to see where the next book takes the story.

The found family aspect was especially well done. I loved how accepting everyone was of Sara from the moment she arrived. They welcomed her with open arms, and the love and support they showed her was so heart warming. They were definitely a little chaotic, bringing plenty of humour to the story, but at their core they were the kind of family anyone would be lucky to have.

Alongside finding a new family, Sara also discovers the existence of magic and her own magical heritage. I really enjoyed watching her come to terms with her abilities and begin her magical training, which even included talking to adorable otters and elusive orcas. I would have liked a little more focus on her lessons, though, as some of her development happened off the page and was talked about rather than shown. It feels like we've only scratched the surface of her powers, so I'm excited to see her continue to grow in book two.

While romance isn't the main focus, we're given a lovely tease of something developing between Sara and the dashing FBI agent, Xander. There's plenty of chemistry, flirting, and witty banter, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of their relationship.

While there was a lot to love, I did feel the story became a little repetitive at times. Certain conversations and points were revisited more than necessary, which slowed the pacing in places. I also think perhaps too many new plot points were introduced at once. I would have preferred a little more depth and focus on fewer elements rather than having so much thrown at both Sara and the reader. And, as mentioned before, I would have liked more showing rather than telling in parts.

Overall, I had a wonderful time reading this and completely fell in love with the enchanting world of Spelltide Bay. If you enjoy cosy, small-town fantasy with found family, and a compelling murder mystery, then this is definitely worth picking up. It's the perfect summer read, and I'm already looking forward to book two!

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

[Michelle Dsouza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this knowing absolutely nothing about Natalie Summers, and I came out already wanting the next book.

Tides Wait for No Witch is exactly the kind of cozy fantasy I love. It mixes magic, mystery, small-town charm, family drama, a sprinkle of romance, and just enough humor to keep everything feeling light without losing the emotional moments.

Sara was so easy to root for. One minute she's living her perfectly ordinary life, and the next she's discovering an entire magical family tree nobody thought to mention. Honestly, most people would need months to process that level of emotional whiplash. Sara gets approximately five minutes before another secret appears, another family member materializes, or someone casually hands her yet another magical problem to solve. The poor woman never stood a chance.

And then there's Ollie.

I don't think I've loved a talking sea otter this much in my life. Every time he wandered onto the page, I knew something entertaining was about to happen. He somehow managed to be equal parts comic relief, professional busybody, and accidental voice of reason. More than once I found myself thinking the humans should probably just ask Ollie what to do and save everyone the trouble.
The mystery itself kept me guessing for most of the book, although I wasn't completely sold on the final reveal. It wrapped up a little too conveniently for me, and I wasn't entirely convinced by how everything came together. The motive in particular felt thin for what the story had been building toward. That said, the ending immediately set up the next mystery, and now I need Book Two because that cliffhanger absolutely did its job.

One thing I really appreciated was how the story handled family. Beneath all the spells, suspicious deaths, magical lessons, and increasingly bizarre situations was a reminder that family isn't always the people you've known the longest. Sometimes it's the people who appear when your life completely unravels and decide they're staying anyway. That thread ended up meaning more to me than I expected.

The dialogue was genuinely funny, the magical chaos never took itself too seriously, and the cast had that cozy mystery quality where everyone seems to know something but collectively agrees not to answer the one question the main character actually asked. Sara, of course, has exactly the kind of personality that hears "don't investigate" and immediately treats it like a personal challenge.
This was such a fun introduction to a new-to-me author. I'll definitely be picking up the next book because I'm far too invested in this wonderfully chaotic little island now.

I received this ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Allie McCormack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tides Wait for No Witch had me hooked from page one — Sara's voice is warm and funny, and Spelltide Bay itself is such a vivid, lived-in setting that I wanted to move in immediately. Finding her family was genuinely charming — they're welcoming and patient with her, clearly understanding just how disorienting it must be to discover an entire family and heritage she never knew existed. And her ability to talk to sea creatures is such a fun extension of the undine side of her magic — the orca pod especially was a wonderful touch (the talking sea otter alone was delightful, but a whole pod of orcas? Awesome). All of it — the found-family thread, the magic system, the slow build of her relationship with the island and its secrets — is doing exactly what a great cozy paranormal should do. Natalie Summers clearly knows how to build a world readers want to stay in.

Where the book lost me a bit was the pacing of the reveals. On day one alone, Sara learns she has a father, grandparents, and half-sisters she never knew existed; that her mother lied to her about all of it her whole life; that magic is real, that she's a witch, and that sea otters can talk to her. That's a lot to stack in twenty-four hours without much room to breathe between revelations, and the same instant-acceptance pattern carries into the mystery — Sara goes from discovering her magic to investigating a murder almost immediately, and later, she and her sisters pin a smuggling operation and a money-laundering shell company on a quick glance at some financial records, when in reality both usually take real forensic digging to uncover. Moments like these pulled me out of an otherwise immersive read, because the pacing and mystery mechanics didn't get the same careful groundwork as the world and characters did.

But set the mystery mechanics aside, and there's so much to love here. The characterization is genuinely strong — Sara feels like a real person reacting to an upended life, her half-sisters each have distinct personalities and chemistry with her, and the supporting cast (the infuriatingly attractive FBI agent included) is fun and well-drawn. The game shop, the runaway teen subplot, and the magic lessons all add great texture without feeling overstuffed. And Spelltide Bay itself might be the real star — it's exactly the kind of cozy, gossip-soaked, secret-keeping small town that makes this genre so addictive. The overall plot, separate from the murder-solving logic, moves well and kept me turning pages.

This is a NetGalley ARC review.

[Parvathy I · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟 4.5 Stars

This book completely surprised me, and I ended up loving it! 🧙‍♀️🌊✨ From the very beginning, I was hooked by the magic system and the mystery surrounding the small community of Spelltide Bay. The secrets, the hidden truths, and the questions surrounding Sara's great-aunt's death kept me turning pages long into the night. 🔮📖

Sara arrives in Spelltide Bay after losing almost everything. She lost her mother six months ago, recently lost her job, and plans to stay in her great-aunt's house for a few months before selling it and moving on with her life. Instead, she discovers an entirely new world waiting for her.

Not only does she meet the father she never knew, along with his family, but she also learns that she is half witch and half undine. Suddenly, she's dealing with magical powers she can't control, a family she never expected, and growing suspicions that her aunt's death was not as natural as the local authorities claim. Add in a handsome FBI agent and a budding romance, and Sara's life becomes much more complicated than she ever imagined. ❤️🔥

The mystery was easily one of my favorite parts of the book. Every answer seemed to lead to more questions, and I loved trying to figure out what was really happening in Spelltide Bay. The magical elements blended perfectly with the investigation, creating a story that was both cozy and suspenseful. 🕵️‍♀️🌙

What truly made this book shine, though, was the characters. Every character felt fully developed, even the supporting cast. Each person had their own personality, purpose, and role in the story, which made the world feel rich and alive. I quickly became attached to them and genuinely cared about what happened to everyone. 🥹💕

I especially loved Sara's character growth. Watching her slowly accept her newfound family, embrace her magical abilities, and gain confidence in herself was incredibly satisfying. Her journey felt natural and heartfelt, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. The atmosphere of this book was absolutely wonderful. Spelltide Bay felt like a place full of magic, secrets, and possibilities, and I never wanted to leave. 🌊✨🏡

Overall, this was a fantastic mix of mystery, magic, family, romance, and personal growth. I fell in love with the characters, the setting, and the story, and I am already impatiently waiting for book two! 📚💖🧙‍♀️

[Lilith's_Library_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Natalie Summers for providing this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Tides Wait for No Witch is a beautifully immersive fantasy that blends oceanic magic, witchcraft, and emotional storytelling into a rich, atmospheric reading experience. From the very first pages, Natalie Summers pulls you into a world where magic is as unpredictable as the sea—and just as powerful.

The setting is one of the standout elements of this story. The ocean feels alive throughout the narrative, shaping not only the world but the characters’ choices, fears, and destinies. There’s a constant sense of movement and inevitability, like the tide itself is guiding every event forward whether the characters are ready or not.

At the heart of the story is a witch navigating power, identity, and survival in a world that doesn’t always welcome her. Her journey is both external and deeply personal, and I loved watching her grow into her strength while confronting the weight of expectations and hidden truths. Her resilience made her incredibly compelling to follow.

The supporting characters add depth and warmth, each bringing their own motivations and emotional layers to the story. Relationships evolve naturally, shaped by trust, tension, and shared hardship, making every interaction feel meaningful and grounded.

One of my favourite aspects of the book is its balance of magic and emotion. The witchcraft elements are richly woven into the world, but they never overshadow the characters’ personal journeys. Instead, they enhance them—creating a story that feels both powerful and intimate.

By the final pages, I was completely swept away. Tides Wait for No Witch is the kind of fantasy that lingers like salt on the skin—beautiful, haunting, and impossible to forget.

"The sea does not wait for anyone—and neither does a witch learning to claim her power."

If you love witchy fantasy, ocean magic, atmospheric world-building, emotional character arcs, and stories where nature itself feels alive, this is one you’ll want to dive into.

✨ Tropes & Themes
🌊 Sea Magic
🧙 Witch Protagonist
✨ Elemental Fantasy
🌙 Atmospheric World-Building
💔 Identity & Self-Discovery
⚔️ Survival & Power
🤝 Found Connection
🗝️ Secrets of the Deep
🔥 Emotional Growth
📖 Character-Driven Fantasy

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sadly, this was a DNF at 30%.

I'd been looking for a cozy mystery to read, preferably one with a queer female lead, but since those seem nonexistent, I requested this one. The cute cover caught my eye, and I tend to like cozy mysteries with supernatural or paranormal elements, so this seemed right up my alley. Unfortunately, the execution wasn't there and the book was in desperate need of an editor.

First, the book moves far too quickly. Within the first chapter Sara gets to the island, sees her new house, and then immediately gets an information bomb dropped on her. And within the next few chapters, it's just more information bombs. The book doesn't let you settle into the world at all. Like give me a chapter or two to getting to know the setting and main character and such before you jump into everything. I would have cared far more about everything if I'd been given more than two seconds to get into the world.

The book is also quite repetitive. It'll tell you something in a chapter and then tell you again a few chapters later (if not the very next chapter) like we didn't already know the thing. It will also essentially recap what you just read like it's having to spell everything out for you which can feel insulting. Readers are smart enough not to need that. Like look at the first paragraph of chapter nine. Why are we recapping who everyone is? This isn't a TV show that needs a "previously on." Beyond that, there was also very repetitive wording like far too many exchanged looks/glances, someone's head/mind spinning, etc.

The main character also just comes off as unintelligent. She wonders if Forthy had been in the attic. Uh yeah, she told you she had been just a few days before. In chapter nine, Sara's so surprised the door is behind the game store. They literally told you to meet them behind the building so why are we surprised at this? And why are we suddenly asking what the council is when they've been brought up repeatedly at this point? I don’t know if this was intentional or if it’s an editing issue.

The whole magic apprentice system was an interesting idea, but I was so frustrated by everything else that I was struggling to get through the book. Eventually, I decided to end the frustration and deliberately DNF a book for the first time.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Karolina Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book felt like being handed a cozy blanket, a hot cup of tea and then being told “By the way, there’s magic involved.” Naturally, I was sold immediately.

The story follows Sara, who heads to Spelltide Bay after inheriting a house and a game store from a great aunt she never knew existed. Honestly, if a mysterious relative wanted to leave me real estate and a business, I’d be on that ferry before they finished the sentence. What Sara finds instead is a whole new chapter of her life filled with unexpected discoveries, quirky locals and more surprises than she bargained for.

One of my favorite parts was watching Sara slowly settle into island life. Her entire world basically gets flipped upside down and yet she handles it far better than I would. I would’ve spent at least three business days staring into space and questioning everything.

The characters were an absolute delight. Xander was charming, the townspeople were wonderfully eccentric and the family dynamics added a lot of heart to the story. But let’s be honest…Ollie the otter understood the assignment and proceeded to steal every scene. If Ollie has fans, I am one of them. If Ollie has no fans, assume I’ve been hexed.

I also loved the atmosphere of Spelltide Bay. It has that magical small town vibe where everyone seems to know everyone, secrets are floating around like seagulls and somehow even the mystery feels cozy. The fantasy elements were easy to follow, making this a perfect comfort read for anyone who wants magic without needing a flowchart and three notebooks to keep track of everything.

My only small complaint is that I wanted a little more excitement in parts of the mystery and readers looking for a romance heavy story should know that the romance takes a gentle stroll rather than a full sprint. But honestly, that didn’t stop me from enjoying the journey.

My final thoughts, this was a charming, feel good cozy fantasy packed with found family, magic, mystery and enough small town charm to make me seriously consider moving to a fictional island. I had a great time with it and will definitely be returning to Spelltide Bay for the next book.

Final Verdict: Came for the magic, stay for the found family, and accidentally become emotionally attached to an otter.

[Diane Knutzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am beyond thankful to have gotten an ARC version of this book from NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op!

6/5 ⭐️

This is one of the best books that I had ever read! It was cozy, fun, heartwarming and impeccably written.

The way that the author tied together every single little detail and character of this book was beyond impressive. The clues were written in a way that kept you thinking, but never able to guess who it was. The subplots (between character growth, learning powers, the mystery of why her mother left and the overall main mystery) were perfect. They made it so that there was always something intriguing about the book that kept roping you in.

The characters in this book were some of the best characters I have read in books. They were all well developed; even the supporting characters! Every single character added something to the story and each character had their own unique personality. There was also incredible character growth over the course of the story. As a reader, I was able to connect with and fall in love with the characters.

The setting of the story was well described. As someone who is beyond familiar with Washington and the Pacific Northwest, I thought the author did an impeccable job of making you feel like you are there. The author created a town that actually felt like it would be a part of the Pacific Northwest. It had all the correct characteristics, climate and geography. The author really captured the essence of the Pacific Northwest.

The found family aspect of this book was heartwarming and touching. I could feel the love!

The romance of the book was perfect. It built up the perfect amount of tension and left you rooting for them. When they finally do kiss, it is the perfect resolution to the romantic tension.

The beginning of the book was one of the best introductions to a story. The ending of the book was wrapped up in a way that made sense and was tidy. The ending also left you desperate to read the next book.

Overall, this was one of the best, and most well written books that I have ever had. I wish the next book was out now because I desperately want to read it! I plan to buy the physical copy when this book comes out and I would love to buy one for my mom and best friend as well.

[Abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Tides Wait for No Witch is about Sara, a former real estate secretary whose mother recently died. She inherits a house on an island from a great aunt who she’s never met (with the stipulation that she has to live there for 6 months before she can sell it). When she arrives, she learns there was a lot her mother had been hiding from her.

First, the good, I really enjoyed the setting and the side characters, they were so funny and gave the story a lot of heart. I loved the talking marine life and the magic system and magical creatures. The tidewolves were fascinating and something I’ve never read before. All the different types of witches and magical people were so original and interesting.

Sadly, I felt like this book was trying to do too many things all at once. There were so many interesting aspects to it, but it felt as though most didn’t get the time or detail they needed to feel fully fleshed out. The mystery didn’t grab me, and I didn’t understand why Sara started investigating in the first place (she was a real estate secretary!). Sara frustrated me with how easily she accepted everything, how naive she was and how casual she was about breaking and entering (and how she trusted cops).

Everything was too fast paced for me. The first 50% all felt like setup and revelations, I didn’t have a chance to take a breath and get to know Sara (beyond her liking crochet) or enjoy the island small town setting, the marine animal rescue, or the found family. I was promised cosy, but there was no time to enjoy the cosy. And, within a day or two of meeting the love interest (there’s a very minor romance subplot) she’s almost kissing him.

I found the ending underwhelming (though not predictable) and didn’t fully understand the motivations behind it. The investigation overall felt a bit too easy. Maybe mystery just isn’t my genre, but I would’ve enjoyed this more without the mystery plotline and it was just about Sara discovering her magic and becoming part of the community. She could still investigate why her mother didn’t tell her about it, just don’t feel the murder plotlines were necessary.

Thanks to the author for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

[Aoife · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. I found Tides Wait For No Witch a really interesting book. Loved the cozy mystery aspect and Spelltide Bay is certainly a seaside town full of surprises and magic.

Sara finds herself unemployed just after losing her mum, when a mysterious inheritance arrives from a great-aunt she didn’t know existed. This involves her moving to Spelltide Bay where she has to live in her great-aunts house for 6 months before she can choose to sell. Now that seems very straightforward, but nothing really is in this town. Sara soon discovers her family she never knew existed, a shop that was her great-aunts’, that she may have a magical streak in her and there happens to be unresolved murders occurring in Spelltide Bay, including her great-aunts’. How will Sara juggle it all?!

I really enjoyed the flow to this book, the chapters were well paced and there was a lot of character back-stories to follow. Ollie the sea-otter was a highly entertaining and mischievous character - what would Spelltide Bay be without his knowledge of magical-lore and charm?! I liked Sara’s character - she is even-tempered, empathetic, kind, with the right amount of skepticism and curiosity.

The magic-system was really interesting and detailed and the world-building with the seaside setting and the ocean was spot on - very atmospheric, calm, and cozy. The only slight downside is I felt a lot had been packed into the first few chapters about Sara’s new life, so the momentum stalled slightly near the middle of the book. That said, it picked up very quickly. The mystery aspect was executed really well - I didn’t suspect the killer for a while, and there was plenty of twists and turns throughout which kept me on tenterhooks.

Overall it was a really enjoyable cozy magic mystery. Book 2 seems to be not too far away so I’m really looking forward to reading the next in the series. I flew through this book and would highly recommend.

Side note: Also loved the crochet references throughout.

Thank you to Natalie Summers, the publisher and NetGalley for this arc for free to leave a voluntary review. All opinions are my own.