Dark River Magic

by Heidi McIntyre

She accidentally conjured an ancient evil. Now it's coming for everyone she loves.
Some powers are inherited. Others are awakened...at a cost.

In New Orleans, Sparrow is an artist who comes from a long line of female healers whose lineage traces back to an African Voodoo priestess. But when her mother dies under suspicious circumstances, grief drives Sparrow to perform a desperate ritual for vengeance—unleashing a force she cannot control.

Fleeing north, she finds refuge in the charming seaside town of Penbrook—and in the kindness of Josh, a strikingly handsome fisherman who offers her the chance at a new beginning. But the darkness she awakened is growing stronger—and closing in.

Josh introduces Sparrow to Madeline, the owner of an antique shop whose psychic gifts reveal a terrifying truth: Sparrow hasn't awakened a ghost, but an ancient evil bound to her own bloodline.

Sparrow and Madeline must unravel the mystery behind its origins as Sparrow learns to trust the abilities she was never taught to control—and confront the ancient force before it destroys everyone she holds dear.

Blending folklore, supernatural mystery, and unforgettable characters, Dark River Magic is an atmospheric story about grief, courage, and the freedom to embrace who you truly are.

This standalone novel is the second book in the interconnected Hidden Gems series.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

374 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 2026

About the author

Heidi McIntyre’s journey as a writer began in college when a professor convinced her to switch majors to English, igniting her passion for storytelling.

With a background in marketing consulting, Heidi specialized in fresh produce. Today, she channels her expertise into helping authors succeed as a Book Marketing Coach.

Heidi self-published her debut novel, Sea Magic, in 2023, the first in the Hidden Gems series. Her second interconnected standalone novel, Dark River Magic, will launch in August 25, 2026. She loves coffee, chocolate, yoga and visiting historical places. For more information visit www.heidimcintyre.com.

Reviews

[Sandy Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Dark River Magic by Heidi McIntyre is the first book in what I hope becomes a long-running series. It is definitely a series I will be eagerly following.

The blend of magical traditions, unique abilities, and folklore was wonderfully crafted in this story line. The author skillfully incorporates the historical roots of Voodoo alongside other forms of magic, weaving them into a captivating story about a young woman discovering her own powers, embracing her gifts, and realizing the importance of her ancestors. Along the way, the novel also includes a couple of heartfelt love stories that add depth without overshadowing the main plot.

From beginning to end, the story kept me guessing. It is a true page-turner that is difficult to put down once you begin. Every chapter reveals something new, making it hard to resist reading "just one more page."

One of my favorite aspects of the novel is its focus on strong women from different generations. Whether connected by blood or by friendship, these women share deep bonds of loyalty, love, and protection. Their relationships add warmth and emotional depth to the story while reinforcing the themes of heritage, strength, and community.

If you enjoy stories filled with folklore, magic, family legacy, romance, and powerful female characters, Dark River Magic is well worth adding to your reading list. I look forward to seeing where Heidi McIntyre takes these characters in future books.

[Diyora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I see that it is interesting to read this novel I follow through what is described as a cinematic scene of course lacking some details of the surrounding rooms, but it is good to have a window for my own imagination. Reading these sentences made me so grateful for the language and structure used by author it is beautiful and clear although natural way of speaking I don't like “bad” words. The naming of chapters is something new for me as a reader, chapters are not extremely long, the title in bold after chapters numeration is somehow distracting from reading flow and not informative enough for me, but maybe it was author's point right now. I have no clue why it is so disturbing to me. I am confused here what I have noted from that destruction was some inconsistency between storytelling. I mean between chapters is if I was reading theatrical script play or movie screenplay between takes. Although I see connection, I do lose flow and therefore I do not understand why there are so many chapters. I would prefer reading longer chapters. It seems to me like the book was fractioned, therefore I have this constant question in my head: why.
Only after couple of chapters, I understood there are 2 women, that give the narration of a story. Currently, titles in chapters make sense to me. I think this confusion that I experienced as a reader was caused by the first-person narration, therefore when “I” appeared I thought it was character 1 then “I” became character 2 and I got really confused.
For me details matter a lot when I'm reading a novel, fantasy, storyline for me is in details. It is a way to remember and understand characters, their choices and why they do certain things or experience certain sensations. And I have noticed that details were lacking in stories mentioning new characters for me, but I want to mention that I have not read the first book by Heidi McIntyre and therefore I may be lacking some details that were covered in the first book.
Reading some of the chapters I had chills running all over my body rising to my head. This is for me sign of a great writing indeed and I am very thankful for author for experiencing such chills. The writing is so vivid in this book. I do recommend reading it only during daylight though, if you have a good imagination and can dive inside a scene being described by an author.
I don't want to sugarcoat the whole novel by the great style of writing, but I do want to mention that I had some sensations as if I was watching a movie or I was watching a series, where 1 scene is changed by another like it was done by reading 1 chapter followed by character 1 for example and then another chapter followed by character 2. I was confused by the narration from the very beginning and this confusion it was still valid until the end of the novel, which was for me as a reader little bit disappointing. But of course, I realize that it may be a matter of style preference of narration or maybe just a matter of personal taste. I did find the storyline interesting, but some moments appeared to me as a cliche I have already seen in movies. Of course, I understand that there might be some overlaps in storylines about upbringing, education, personal connection in a family member dynamic, but still it was if I could tell what the next move of a character will be, which really distracts me and disappoints me when I'm reading. Overall, I am very happy with style and sentences. I appreciate how paragraphs were created, the dialogue was nearly perfect with some dialogues being a little bit too predictable for me, but again, it's maybe personal taste and being exposed to different books in the past.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark River Magic is a beautifully layered story that blends ancestral power, supernatural suspense, and the quiet, aching search for belonging. Sparrow’s grief is the heartbeat of the novel — raw, disorienting, and threaded with the kind of desperation that makes her ritual for vengeance feel both reckless and heartbreakingly human. The author captures that moment of crossing a line with striking clarity, and the darkness Sparrow awakens lingers over every chapter like a shadow she can’t quite outrun.

Her escape to Penbrook shifts the tone in a lovely way. The seaside town has a gentle charm that feels almost medicinal, and Sparrow’s tentative steps toward safety and connection are written with real tenderness. Josh, with his easy kindness and quiet steadiness, offers her a glimpse of a life she never imagined for herself. But the novel never lets you forget that the past is still moving toward her — the darkness she summoned growing stronger, hungrier, and unwilling to be left behind.

Madeline is a wonderful addition to the story. Her own psychic awakening gives her a grounded, intuitive understanding of what Sparrow is facing, and her presence adds both warmth and tension. The bond that forms between them feels rooted in shared experience — two women carrying different kinds of power, both shaped by forces larger than themselves. Their partnership becomes the emotional anchor of the book, especially as the danger intensifies.

The writing is rich with atmosphere, moving effortlessly between the vibrant mysticism of New Orleans and the salt‑soft calm of Penbrook. The supernatural elements feel organic rather than flashy, grounded in lineage, history, and the weight of inherited magic. There’s a lovely sense of destiny woven through the narrative, but also a strong thread of agency — Sparrow’s journey is as much about claiming her identity as it is about confronting the darkness she unleashed.

Suspenseful, soulful, and steeped in ancestral magic, Dark River Magic is a compelling standalone that explores courage, connection, and the freedom that comes from embracing who you truly are. Fans of Practical Magic and The Lost Apothecary will find plenty to love in its blend of mystery, emotion, and quiet enchantment.

with thanks to Heidi McIntyre, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Dorothy Minor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had an opportunity to be an advance reader of Dark River Magic by Heidi McIntyre. It is out of my normal genre, but I have been stretching my reading genres of late. It is book two in the Hidden Gem Series. However, Dark River Magic can be read as a standalone novel which is what I did.

Dark River Magic is a story of loss, family, family dysfunction, friendship, and redemption. Along with the family stories, McIntyre has woven magic, paranormal, and Voodoo along with a big of Russian folklore and mermaids.



Set in Penbrook, a delightful seaside town, the story introduces readers to Madeline and her aunt Phoebe, Josh and his grandmother Fanny, Peter, Madeline’s love, and Chelsea, Madeline’s best friend. They all live in Penbrook. Then readers also meet Sparrow and her uncle who live in New Orleans. Sparrow flees NO after her mother’s untimely death to get away from the sorrow. She has no plan in place. When her car breaks down, handsome Josh comes to her rescue. He tells her the car needs a new transmission which Sparrow can’t afford. Josh agrees to take Sparrow to Penbrook, so the two set off together.
Meanwhile, Madeline, owner of a lovely antique shop, receives an unusual and disturbing package. The package has no return address on it. It contains a letter that looks as if it were written over a hundred years ago along with a Voodoo bracelet and an ornamental box. The letter tells Madeline that a young woman is coming to Penbrook and that Madeline must help her. But who is the woman and how is Madeline supposed to help?

Before she left NO, Sparrow drank tequila and conjured up a malevolent spirit. Thinking that getting away from NO will get rid of the spirit, Sparrow starts on her trip, not knowing where she will go until she meets Josh.
Alas, the spirit follows Sparrow, so her newfound friends must help her navigate new waters and get rid of the malevolent spirit for good. With psyche ability, some holy water, and help from Noah who straddles this world and the next, the friends help Sparrow get rid of the evil spirit and resume their normal lives.
The story melds magic, the supernatural, and amazing characters who carve out a strong friendship in the process of getting rid of the demon.

[Kimberly Brumley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advanced Reader Copy Review originally published on Reedsy:
Dark River Magic tells the second chapter of Madeline's life after she discovers her newly awakened psychic abilities. While this story is a sequel to Sea Magic, the details of the previous book are succinctly described here in a way that would make this story a good standalone novel. Madeline, Aunt Phoebe, and Madeline's spiritual mentor, Noah must confront an old magic that is released by grief and guilt. Sparrow, inexperienced and against her own good judgement, tries to recreate a ritual while drunk. She is grieving the untimely loss of her mother and wants revenge on the person responsible for her death. However, Sparrow quickly learns that powerful emotions like grief can unleash forces beyond our control. She flees New Orleans and is guided to Madeline's doorstep.

After having read Sea Magic, the characters in this story were familiar and comfortable. The spiritual and non-spiritual cast of Madeline's life can always be trusted to support her as she tries to use her new gifts to help those in need. Not all of their methods are helpful, and Madeline must learn to trust her instincts as well as her new abilities. Because Sparrow comes from a long line of spiritualists, she also has gifts that must be mastered before she can learn to help herself. What seems like a mishmash of folklore and seemingly unrelated spiritual traditions quickly turns into a reminder that all magic comes from within.

Both of the stories in this series are very simple to follow and easy to read. This book is well suited for anyone that prefers their main characters a little imperfect, unfinished, and still figuring things out. Madeline and company are very likeable characters, and the reader finds themselves rooting for her as she and Sparrow take control of abilities that both are only beginning to understand.

[Annie Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a fast-paced convergence of New Orleans voodoo spirituality and the New England-oriented ghost stories, young women Sparrow, grieved by the untimely death of her mother, heads north to get away from what she’s inadvertently unleashed in the Big Easy. Getting away isn’t easy, especially when your ancestors’ spirits travel widely through time and space. Through spiritual meddling, Sparrow is directed to Madeleine and her Aunt Phoebe, plus the usual other suspects from McIntyre’s universe.

Madeleine has come to terms, somewhat, with her own spiritual gifts, but is appropriately wary of friends and family who ignore her warnings and leap into a world of dark magic that none of them are prepared for. Sparrow’s arrival, while portended, creates more questions than answers. The story builds through a haunting, mediumship gone awry, and afateful show-down that brings past and future together for Sparrow.

More than a ghost story, Dark River Magic follows Sparrow through a complex process of self-discovery when running away turns out to be the same as running toward. The enormous upheaval in the spiritual world mirrors her emotional state, and McIntyre follows both threads to a satisfying resolution.

I recommend this book! The author’s careful handling of varied spiritual/religious practices reflects research and respect. She’s written a page turner that doesn’t sacrifice character to plot.

[Brigitte Lansaw-Bridges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to a book with nods to voodoo and its culture as well as psychics and mediums. You follow Sparrow which has just lost her mother to what she believes is murder. Her family goes back generations of voodoo priestesses. In her grief she tries to summon a deity to find out the truth behind her mother’s death. She realizes she made a mistake when she starts to feel a malevolent presence near her. She leaves everything and takes off for no specific place, just the farthest from New Orleans. Her car breaks down and stranger, Josh offers her a ride to his hometown, Penbrock. Meanwhile, in Penbrock, Madeline has received a strange package. She is a medium. The package and accompanying letter point to the arrival of Sparrow and the need to help her. The story follows both ladies and the problems this deity is causing. They will have to discover their real self’s to abolish this deity back where it came from. They find a true family in the people that assist with task of abolishment. The story ends with a new arrival to Madeline’s doorstep which sets up the continued story.

[Jacqueline Boulden · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Sparrow wanted was to find the person responsible for her mother’s death. Instead, she unleashes an evil spirit that refuses to leave her alone. Hoping to escape it, Sparrow flees New Orleans for the coastal community of Penbrook, Connecticut—but the malevolent presence follows her. There she meets Madeline, a psychic who has been expecting a visitor. Madeline uses her abilities to help others and runs an antique shop with her aunt. With the help of others in the community, Madeline and Sparrow must find a way to defeat the destructive spirit so Sparrow can finally live in peace.

Heidi McIntyre skillfully weaves her research into West African spiritual traditions and Slavic folklore throughout this mystery, which opens with a fast-paced, heart-pounding encounter. Readers who enjoy mysteries steeped in paranormal activity, supernatural battles, and folklore will find much to enjoy in Dark River Magic, the second book in McIntyre’s Hidden Gem series.

I received an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[E.D. Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark River Magic, the second book in the Hidden Gems series, is a dark, compelling story that is both entertaining and haunting. This dual-POV follows Madeline and Sparrow as they dabble in dark magic to stop an evil spirit.

The story embeds the history of the entities while also moving the story forward. The author does a great job merging book 1 into book 2, and previous knowledge is well summarized so you don't have to read book 1 first.

This women's fiction also focuses on the main character's transformation, creating not just an action story but also an emotional journey.

If you enjoy paranormal fiction, you'll love Dark River Magic.

I received a copy of this novel before publication, and this review is entirely my own.

[Janet Koops · Rating 5 out of 5]

A drunken night and an uttered spell leave the main character being followed by an evil spirit. Trying to outrun it, she ends up in a quaint coastal community that is no stranger to the paranormal.

What I especially enjoyed about Dark River Magic was the way it weaves together spiritual traditions, magic, and folklore from different cultures. The stories of two women gradually come together, each with her own love story, while a warm community of friends grows into a found family around them.

I also loved the focus on women of different generations and the different ways they relate to magic, spirituality, love, and one another. There’s plenty of darkness in the story, but it’s balanced by friendship, romance, community, and a strong sense of belonging.

[Diane Prettyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heidi McIntyre’s new book DARK RIVER MAGIC returns readers to Madeline’s antique store on the coast of New England. Her path crosses with Sparrow who flees from New Orleans after experiencing eerie warnings she feels are connected to her Voodoo heritage. When Sparrow arrives in New England, she’s greeted with this sign: Welcome to our enchanting seaside hamlet home of the Penbrook mermaid. More to come on this enchanting tidbit. As the story progresses, McIntyre spins a tale with vivid unpretentious prose, rich with the practices of the Voudon-Catholic traditions of New Orleans, and connects them to the tales of Captain William Randall featured in the first book of the series.

[Ana Ayestas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Magic wraps you in the charm of Penbrook, a small New England town where nothing is quite as ordinary as it seems. The blend of voodoo, psychic abilities, and spirits that cross realms creates a setting that is delightful and unpredictable. Sparrow was lovely. After accidentally summoning a spirit after a tragic loss, she uncovers the strength to embrace the legacy that has always been hers.


I also really enjoyed the cast of characters. They were like great friends you'd happily spend an afternoon with, sharing stories over a cocktail and lemon cookies. Their friendships, quirks, and loyalty give this cozy novel warmth and heart.

[Lee Brothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

So interesting and intriguing! Had me hooked within the first paragraph! Love the characters and the way that fate and Karma enter- weave in Lives!! Very profound!