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A Month of Magic #1
The October Witches
There’s so much to love about October – Halloween, pumpkin everything and MAGIC. Especially magic. But for nervous young witch Clemmie, this October might see the stars descend on her for the first time, bringing with them a whole month of chaotic new power. She’s spent twelve years watching her mum, aunts and cousin receive their October power and knows that, for the Merlyns, magic can get very messy.
And there are those who want to harness their magic and make it last beyond October. It’s a bold experiment, until Clemmie and her coven find themselves in mortal danger. What price must be paid for magic that never ends? Or for having magic at all?
And there are those who want to harness their magic and make it last beyond October. It’s a bold experiment, until Clemmie and her coven find themselves in mortal danger. What price must be paid for magic that never ends? Or for having magic at all?
352 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2022
19 people are currently reading
824 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Claessen
4 books17 followersJennifer was born in Reading and grew up a book worm. She studied literature and theatre at the University of Sheffield, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Canterbury Christchurch University and Central School of Speech and Drama. A teacher and theatre-maker, Jennifer loves stories, especially for children, whether on stage or page. Jennifer currently works in the West End, taking children to the theatre and lives in the East End with her partner, a Dutch toymaker, and their baby daughter. She loves reading, travel and ice cream. You can find her on her yellow bike or in a red velvet seat in the stalls, applauding.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
October 26, 2022
4 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining
October is the time for magic. Clemmie loves and dreads it. As a young witch, this October could be the time for the stars to descend on her for the first time. But magic comes with its share of responsibilities. Clemmie spent twelve years knowing how magic makes her eccentric aunts messy.
However, things seem to be much more complex and dangerous this time. Clemmie’s aunts want their magic to last beyond October, and so do the Morgans, but for different reasons. What starts as a Merlyn obsession to live as a witch turns into a life-threatening situation.
Meanwhile, Clemmie is still not sure how her magic works or if she can even use it. But it’s time for Clemmie to step up and accept her gift. Will she know what and how to do to save her family? Can Clemmie be the witch she was born to be?
The story comes from Clemmie’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
The story lands us directly in the middle of a magical mess at the beginning. It’s a bit slow to take off but goes full throttle from around 25-30%.
The mess, however, continues throughout. It is cute, annoying, eye-roll-worthy (even for the young hags), and carefree.
Clemmie is a twelve-year-old and sounds like one throughout the book. I like how she has magic but doesn’t know what to do with it. She isn’t a superhero and doesn’t pretend to be.
The aunts are quirky, loud, and full of energy (a little too much, but that’s who they are). The contrast between the Merlyns and Morgans comes out very well.
The kids (young hags) have strong personalities but are still kids with insecurities, doubts, and vulnerabilities.
The climax is super cool. It’s high action with emotions and humor interwoven together. The combination works rather well and creates a visual treat for readers.
While there’s enough history and lore, there’s no information about the whats and whys. Logical questions have no answer. You’ll enjoy this more if you go with the flow. Though I wouldn’t mind a few answers.
Not sure if there will be a sequel because things tie up well enough, but there is potential for another book or two as the kids grow. I’d be interested to read those.
To summarize, The October Witch is a delightful read and a perfect choice for October. It is emotional yet humorous, magical yet messy, and, of course, super cute.
Thank you, NetGalley and UCLan Publishing, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheOctoberWitches
One Liner: Entertaining
October is the time for magic. Clemmie loves and dreads it. As a young witch, this October could be the time for the stars to descend on her for the first time. But magic comes with its share of responsibilities. Clemmie spent twelve years knowing how magic makes her eccentric aunts messy.
However, things seem to be much more complex and dangerous this time. Clemmie’s aunts want their magic to last beyond October, and so do the Morgans, but for different reasons. What starts as a Merlyn obsession to live as a witch turns into a life-threatening situation.
Meanwhile, Clemmie is still not sure how her magic works or if she can even use it. But it’s time for Clemmie to step up and accept her gift. Will she know what and how to do to save her family? Can Clemmie be the witch she was born to be?
The story comes from Clemmie’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
The story lands us directly in the middle of a magical mess at the beginning. It’s a bit slow to take off but goes full throttle from around 25-30%.
The mess, however, continues throughout. It is cute, annoying, eye-roll-worthy (even for the young hags), and carefree.
Clemmie is a twelve-year-old and sounds like one throughout the book. I like how she has magic but doesn’t know what to do with it. She isn’t a superhero and doesn’t pretend to be.
The aunts are quirky, loud, and full of energy (a little too much, but that’s who they are). The contrast between the Merlyns and Morgans comes out very well.
The kids (young hags) have strong personalities but are still kids with insecurities, doubts, and vulnerabilities.
The climax is super cool. It’s high action with emotions and humor interwoven together. The combination works rather well and creates a visual treat for readers.
While there’s enough history and lore, there’s no information about the whats and whys. Logical questions have no answer. You’ll enjoy this more if you go with the flow. Though I wouldn’t mind a few answers.
Not sure if there will be a sequel because things tie up well enough, but there is potential for another book or two as the kids grow. I’d be interested to read those.
To summarize, The October Witch is a delightful read and a perfect choice for October. It is emotional yet humorous, magical yet messy, and, of course, super cute.
Thank you, NetGalley and UCLan Publishing, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheOctoberWitches
September 14, 2024
The October Witches features two sides of a family the Merlyns and the Morgans which had me chuckling when I saw this book for the spooky season.
I thought the idea of witches only having access to magic for just one month a year was an interesting one and one that I hadn't ever seen before. There's also the idea of how magic, no matter how long you have it comes with the responsibilities and expectations that can often feel heavy and our main character Clemmie feels overwhelmed as October first arrives with the chiming of the clock. Whilst not magic, this is something readers both young and old may relate to when facing a new responsibility.
I liked the realities of Clemmie's life - she's only twelve and magic is something she's got no personal experience of and is learning as she goes which often means she has no idea what to do. I liked that this meant she's just a girl with magic, it doesn't make her invincible like can happen in other books. It's a unique take on the magical experience and life for fictional witches - we often have the new-to-magic witch or the incapable one but it's rare to get the wary albeit curious one and Clemmie's wonderful for just being a child and having natural reactions to the chaos around her.
I did struggle to keep up with the plethora of aunts in the Merlyn family (and Morgan too) because they're all chaotic and sometimes it's easy to forget who is doing what which is necessary. What is good is the distinctive differences between the two matriarchal families, and whilst other readers may disagree, the calmer Morgan family did appeal because you can almost hear the cacophony of the Merlyn family when reading.
A pet hate is the usage of 'young hag' - I don't know why but it made me wince, there are other less harsh names for witches. But it's a minor and personal dislike and some readers may giggle instead. I do love how the younger characters are themselves unique, and their reactions to circumstances are very accurate for their age from the silent tantrums, to the refusal to get up and the sarcasm that goes over the heads of their elders and I giggled a few times as I could imagine my children acting that way.
This is a great book for the season, with the aforementioned plot of being denied their rite and sense of being. I wished for more magic, and I think the children reading would lie to see it too but it also has you wondering what else they're capable of.
If able, have a hot chocolate, and a warm blanket and drift away into chaos (or be thrown in) to Clemmie's life as the youngest witch in a coven of Chaos.
I thought the idea of witches only having access to magic for just one month a year was an interesting one and one that I hadn't ever seen before. There's also the idea of how magic, no matter how long you have it comes with the responsibilities and expectations that can often feel heavy and our main character Clemmie feels overwhelmed as October first arrives with the chiming of the clock. Whilst not magic, this is something readers both young and old may relate to when facing a new responsibility.
I liked the realities of Clemmie's life - she's only twelve and magic is something she's got no personal experience of and is learning as she goes which often means she has no idea what to do. I liked that this meant she's just a girl with magic, it doesn't make her invincible like can happen in other books. It's a unique take on the magical experience and life for fictional witches - we often have the new-to-magic witch or the incapable one but it's rare to get the wary albeit curious one and Clemmie's wonderful for just being a child and having natural reactions to the chaos around her.
I did struggle to keep up with the plethora of aunts in the Merlyn family (and Morgan too) because they're all chaotic and sometimes it's easy to forget who is doing what which is necessary. What is good is the distinctive differences between the two matriarchal families, and whilst other readers may disagree, the calmer Morgan family did appeal because you can almost hear the cacophony of the Merlyn family when reading.
A pet hate is the usage of 'young hag' - I don't know why but it made me wince, there are other less harsh names for witches. But it's a minor and personal dislike and some readers may giggle instead. I do love how the younger characters are themselves unique, and their reactions to circumstances are very accurate for their age from the silent tantrums, to the refusal to get up and the sarcasm that goes over the heads of their elders and I giggled a few times as I could imagine my children acting that way.
This is a great book for the season, with the aforementioned plot of being denied their rite and sense of being. I wished for more magic, and I think the children reading would lie to see it too but it also has you wondering what else they're capable of.
If able, have a hot chocolate, and a warm blanket and drift away into chaos (or be thrown in) to Clemmie's life as the youngest witch in a coven of Chaos.
October 23, 2022
15.10.2022
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me access to this book!
I typically don't read children's books, but I'm making more of an effort to read them so I can have a better awareness of the market at work. This was a great one to start with!
The October Witches follows Clem, a young witch experiencing her first time with magic. Coming from a family of witches, Clem has watched every woman in her family grow and play with her magic. But due to an ancient curse on their family, they can only access their powers during the month of October every year. But when they try to experiment with making their magic permanent, it goes horribly wrong. Can Clem save her family from mortal danger and restore their magic on her very first October?
A very wholesome kid's book! The humour was amazing, so quick and dry. I found the characters surprisingly deep and nuanced, each with their own clear intentions and backstory. All the witches were wacky and weird in their own unique way. I loved them. I'm absolutely looking forward to reading more that this author writes!
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me access to this book!
I typically don't read children's books, but I'm making more of an effort to read them so I can have a better awareness of the market at work. This was a great one to start with!
The October Witches follows Clem, a young witch experiencing her first time with magic. Coming from a family of witches, Clem has watched every woman in her family grow and play with her magic. But due to an ancient curse on their family, they can only access their powers during the month of October every year. But when they try to experiment with making their magic permanent, it goes horribly wrong. Can Clem save her family from mortal danger and restore their magic on her very first October?
A very wholesome kid's book! The humour was amazing, so quick and dry. I found the characters surprisingly deep and nuanced, each with their own clear intentions and backstory. All the witches were wacky and weird in their own unique way. I loved them. I'm absolutely looking forward to reading more that this author writes!
October 15, 2023
great story, a very nice idea for the magic. likeable characters and more likeable because sometimes i really wanted to kick them. the writing sometimes for me didn't flow, but that could be definitely me. can't wait for the next book in this series. if you are a child you would love it, an adult would also enjoy it i think and but you have to like middle grade books. it's definitely a middle grade fantasy book and so i think all the more enjoyable for the children.
October 27, 2022
A very interesting take on magic and witches. An ideal autumnal read with just the right amount of spookiness for middle grade readers. I enjoyed the nods to a certain mythology too.
March 2, 2023
The tiny fragments look like stars in the air. Shards graze past me but they feel soft and warm...The magic is leaving me. The magic is leaving all the witches.
It's as if I've taken off a really heavy coat that I'm happy to discard, because underneath, I see me.
Enjoyable book!
Themes: family, coven, witches, adventure, magic.
It's as if I've taken off a really heavy coat that I'm happy to discard, because underneath, I see me.
Enjoyable book!
Themes: family, coven, witches, adventure, magic.
November 1, 2025
3.5 stars***
July 13, 2025
Every October, the stars come down and bless the Merlin family with magic—but only for one month. Outside of that, they're pretty ordinary. But October is amazing! This year, Clem's magic has finally manifested, and they have enough witches to create a more permanent receptacle for their magic. But those sneaky Morgan witches want it all for themselves. Clem is one of the few who isn't immediately caught up in the scuffle, and it becomes clear that if anyone is to reunite the two feuding families, it's up to her, except that Clem can't get even a little bit of magic to leave her fingertips, much less enough to save her whole family.
This went from kooky to horrifying and back to kooky so many times, I might have gotten dizzy. Which, honestly, made it a lot of fun to read. But I'm still a little confused. I love all the characters, and I think I'll enjoy the rest of this trilogy.
This went from kooky to horrifying and back to kooky so many times, I might have gotten dizzy. Which, honestly, made it a lot of fun to read. But I'm still a little confused. I love all the characters, and I think I'll enjoy the rest of this trilogy.
September 5, 2022
This is a wonderful book full of love, magic, pumpkins and a teeny tiny pony!
The characters are delightful and you can’t help but adore the Merlyn witches from the start. They are so colorful and overflowing with their individual personalities and quirks. I was especially fond of the dazed bumbling postman and, of course, the aforementioned tiny pony.
The story is quite calm at the start, allowing us to learn about the family, but then becomes fast paced and full of peril and excitement and throughout there is a sparkle of laughter. It is the ideal autumn read for younger readers who will love seeing the story from the perspective of someone their own age and will adore the magical adventure the Merlyn's go on together.
Thanks to Net Galley and UCLan Publishing for letting me follow the Merlyn's on their adventure! I will also be posting my review on Goodreads, Twitter and Amazon.
The characters are delightful and you can’t help but adore the Merlyn witches from the start. They are so colorful and overflowing with their individual personalities and quirks. I was especially fond of the dazed bumbling postman and, of course, the aforementioned tiny pony.
The story is quite calm at the start, allowing us to learn about the family, but then becomes fast paced and full of peril and excitement and throughout there is a sparkle of laughter. It is the ideal autumn read for younger readers who will love seeing the story from the perspective of someone their own age and will adore the magical adventure the Merlyn's go on together.
Thanks to Net Galley and UCLan Publishing for letting me follow the Merlyn's on their adventure! I will also be posting my review on Goodreads, Twitter and Amazon.
November 10, 2024
Picked this one up for the Halloween season after reading the book jacket blurb. Witches that only have magic during October, two covens that have been at odds with one another, coming-of-age witches that must save them all? Sounded good to me, but I was a little disappointed. There wasn’t all that much magic and the writing seemed a little disjointed at times, but I did enjoy the characters and would recommend it to middle-grades readers looking for a witchy read.
November 7, 2025
I was hoping for something like Hocus Pocus meets Harry Potter but I was disappointed. It wasn’t entirely bad but I felt like it was dragging on too much. The first half of the book was quite boring. The second half was okay. The book could’ve been half the length and the plot was kind of repetitive. But somehow it was good enough that I’m curious about the two sequels. And I did like the ending of the book. So I’d say 2,5 stars rounded down, since it just wasn’t worth 3 stars.
October 24, 2023
I enjoyed this story about a witch clan that has magic only in October, and the history and mystery behind it. All the young characters as well as their elders are nicely drawn and I felt the difficulty of this one month, the dilemma of having one's magic finally come through, and how each individual deals with it. Some good baddies here too, and unique magic.
October 21, 2025
The October Witches is a cozy, funny, and magical story written for young readers, but it’s one of those books that adults can enjoy just as much. I loved how each character felt unique and a little “weird” in the best way. With its autumn vibes, family magic, and gentle humor, it’s a perfect read for this time of year. 🎃✨
October 2, 2024
4 stars - really liked it! super cute & wholesome.
October 31, 2025
A sweet and whimsical adventure story ✨
October 5, 2023
Ganska gullig ändå men känner att den inte direkt gav mig så mycket. Passar säkert en yngre publik.
Det som framförallt saknas är atmosfär. Jag som är en höst-girlie vill ha miljöbeskrivningar i överflöd med många detaljer och intryck, något som saknades i boken.Konceptet var intressant, men det tog lång tid innan ploten kom och då hade jag hunnit bli ganska uttråkad.
Det som framförallt saknas är atmosfär. Jag som är en höst-girlie vill ha miljöbeskrivningar i överflöd med många detaljer och intryck, något som saknades i boken.Konceptet var intressant, men det tog lång tid innan ploten kom och då hade jag hunnit bli ganska uttråkad.
October 10, 2023
Read it with, ironically, my aunt. She stopped before the halfway point. I continued on, curious to see how the plot played out. The plot was too slow and repetitive. Could have been half the length. Can see that she tried to make it quirky and entertaining, but wasn’t that way for me.
October 2, 2023
The older witches were very odd. Enjoyed it more as the focus centered on the girls. Underwhelmed.
October 4, 2023
THE OCTOBER WITCHES is such a joyful autumnal read full of magical shennanigans.
I really enjoyed getting to read a book that wasn't the dark and moody side of the autumn, but all the colour and fun of it. This book has giant pumpkins and witches and a very determined postman. It is absolutely atmospheric, but in the "pumpkin spice" way rather than the "graveyard" variety. It's full of magical chaos.
I really liked the premise - what would happen if you only got one month of magic a year? Everyone wants to extend their magic forever, but also some witches just want to make soup in large cauldrons or snazz up their wardrobe. The magic is both everyday and spectacular at once.
There are little Royal Mail delivery card scattered throughout (the "we missed your delivery" cards put through doors when the national post service can't find anyone to open the door.) They were so funny. I am very familiar with these cards and so the notes (starting off commonplace and then getting increasingly more bizarre as the book went along, but with a deadpan tone) was such a nice little touch.
There are some light Arthuriana touches to this book - the Merlyns and the Morgans are the main ones but there's one more that I cannot talk about without spoilers but I loved it. However, it is a very light touch so more like taking the idea and then teleporting to another continent. It makes for nice easter eggs without every trying to be a retelling.
I really enjoyed getting to read a book that wasn't the dark and moody side of the autumn, but all the colour and fun of it. This book has giant pumpkins and witches and a very determined postman. It is absolutely atmospheric, but in the "pumpkin spice" way rather than the "graveyard" variety. It's full of magical chaos.
I really liked the premise - what would happen if you only got one month of magic a year? Everyone wants to extend their magic forever, but also some witches just want to make soup in large cauldrons or snazz up their wardrobe. The magic is both everyday and spectacular at once.
There are little Royal Mail delivery card scattered throughout (the "we missed your delivery" cards put through doors when the national post service can't find anyone to open the door.) They were so funny. I am very familiar with these cards and so the notes (starting off commonplace and then getting increasingly more bizarre as the book went along, but with a deadpan tone) was such a nice little touch.
There are some light Arthuriana touches to this book - the Merlyns and the Morgans are the main ones but there's one more that I cannot talk about without spoilers but I loved it. However, it is a very light touch so more like taking the idea and then teleporting to another continent. It makes for nice easter eggs without every trying to be a retelling.
October 19, 2025
Carlton in Lindrick Book Club - October Read 🧙🏼♀️🍁🍂🎃
⭐️⭐️½
There’s a great underlying idea here — a magical family bound by October, sisterhood, and secrets — but it felt like the spell fizzled halfway through. I really liked the strong female bonds, especially between Clem and Mirabelle, and I loved the way their relationship developed… but the rest of the cast felt a bit… cardboard cut-out! The Morgan adults were boring villains, no nuance, just flat “baddie” energy.
My main struggle was the tone. It wasn’t sure what age bracket it was aiming for. My book club picked this up thinking Young Adult, but it read much more like a children’s book — and not quite in the Nevermoor or Narnia league. The writing style felt too young for the length and complexity of the book. And I say that as someone who devours both kids’ and YA lit like a hobbit at second breakfast.
That said, the vibe was cosy and had a flicker of autumnal charm. I just wish there’d been more October magic — the smell of bonfires, the crunch of leaves, a bit more pumpkin-spice worldbuilding! The setting had the potential to be pure witchy aesthetic perfection, but the author missed a trick (or treat) there.
I’ve passed this onto my 11 and 13 year old girls - hopefully they will enjoy it a bit more than our book club did! 🎃🍁🍂
⭐️⭐️½
There’s a great underlying idea here — a magical family bound by October, sisterhood, and secrets — but it felt like the spell fizzled halfway through. I really liked the strong female bonds, especially between Clem and Mirabelle, and I loved the way their relationship developed… but the rest of the cast felt a bit… cardboard cut-out! The Morgan adults were boring villains, no nuance, just flat “baddie” energy.
My main struggle was the tone. It wasn’t sure what age bracket it was aiming for. My book club picked this up thinking Young Adult, but it read much more like a children’s book — and not quite in the Nevermoor or Narnia league. The writing style felt too young for the length and complexity of the book. And I say that as someone who devours both kids’ and YA lit like a hobbit at second breakfast.
That said, the vibe was cosy and had a flicker of autumnal charm. I just wish there’d been more October magic — the smell of bonfires, the crunch of leaves, a bit more pumpkin-spice worldbuilding! The setting had the potential to be pure witchy aesthetic perfection, but the author missed a trick (or treat) there.
I’ve passed this onto my 11 and 13 year old girls - hopefully they will enjoy it a bit more than our book club did! 🎃🍁🍂
October 21, 2023
I picked this up in Exeter Waterstones recently and I was really looking forward to a witchy read this October. I like children’s literature and I always think that if a children’s book can’t be enjoyed by an adult, it’s not likely to be enjoyed by a child either. And although I thought this book was… ok… I thought so much more could have been done with it.
There were lots of under developed characters in the book and sometimes I felt like it did go on a bit unnecessarily in places. It also didn’t flow as well as I’d have liked it to. To say the witches only got their magic every October, there wasn’t really a great deal of magic that happened. I was a little disappointed in this, I won’t lie, but I have read some really great children’s literature this year so maybe my expectations were a little bit high.
There were lots of under developed characters in the book and sometimes I felt like it did go on a bit unnecessarily in places. It also didn’t flow as well as I’d have liked it to. To say the witches only got their magic every October, there wasn’t really a great deal of magic that happened. I was a little disappointed in this, I won’t lie, but I have read some really great children’s literature this year so maybe my expectations were a little bit high.
November 1, 2022
The Merlyns and the Morgans are two branches of the same gnarled and twisting witch family tree, descendents of the original Merlyn & Morgan, the first witch sisters, but they only see each other twice a year: once, at the beggining of October when they gather to recieve their magic from the stars and again on All Hallows when the magic returns to the stars. This year is Clemmie Merlyn's first October but the adults want to make the magic last all year round... Featuring plenty of magical shennanigans, a pony called Bobby, a giant pumpkin and a very confused but determined postman who might be more than he seems.
Reads like a forgotten classic and a perfect book to curl up with during the Autumn/Winter season.
Reads like a forgotten classic and a perfect book to curl up with during the Autumn/Winter season.
August 24, 2022
Entertaining read suitable for witchy fantasy readers 9 years up to any age. Two hostilely clashing covens of witches celebrate the first day of October together with the return of magic into their lives, and then go their separate ways. But having magic for 1 month a year isn’t enough for the ‘older Hags’ they want magic year round. But magic comes with cost and maybe the ‘younger hags’ will discover and teach all family is more important and that too much magic all year round is too much for any witch. Thank you to UClan Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine.
August 29, 2022
Ohhh this book is such a delight! The perfect autumn read, it's written with so much warmth and it's deliciously full of cozy-spooky witchy magic, along with some lovely callbacks to Arthurian legends. I adored all of the characters, especially Clemmie's delightfully wacky Merlyn family of witches, and reading their adventures left me feeling full of stars, just like the Merlyns in October. I can already tell that I'll be re-reading this story many times - maybe as an annual autumn treat! HIGHLY recommended. (I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this one, but I'm now planning to buy a finished copy, too!) Perfect for fans of Amy Wilson or Diana Wynne Jones.
October 12, 2022
Every October two opposing concerns of Witches receive their powers and by Halloween their powers disappear. For Clemmie it's her first year receiving powers.
No October witch has a good first October, last year her cousin ended up trapped in the Arctic!
This October is no different, when the feud between the two cobwebs heats up, it's up to the four younger members of the covens to join together to prevent a magical war.
This was such a great book to read in October, there's a lot of lore, history and family secrets contained in the pages with an important message of sisterhood throughout.
It also has a beautiful cover that's looks embroidered.
No October witch has a good first October, last year her cousin ended up trapped in the Arctic!
This October is no different, when the feud between the two cobwebs heats up, it's up to the four younger members of the covens to join together to prevent a magical war.
This was such a great book to read in October, there's a lot of lore, history and family secrets contained in the pages with an important message of sisterhood throughout.
It also has a beautiful cover that's looks embroidered.
March 1, 2024
I enjoyed this book when it was doing the slice-of-life stuff with the Aunts using their magic at the beginning of October and relishing the return of their powers, while Clemmie is learning to use her own magic for the first time. Where this book became a bit of a slog was after the conflict with the Morgans ramped up. It was hard for me to follow who was where, who was being held captive, the situation everyone was in, and who we were supposed to be rooting for. But it was a charming little read, and I was pleased to see there is a sequel (not yet released in the US? I think? Kind of odd, but there you are).
Read
January 12, 2025In The October Witches, Jennifer Claessen cleverly blends autumnal magic, quirky families, and Arthurian legend to create a charming Middle Grade novel. In this land, magic only works in the month of October. There are two warring covens, the Merlyns and the Morgans, and a pre-teen who is about to inherit her magic. This young lady’s relatives grew a magical pumpkin, planning to expand the time their magic could work, but the rivals have other plans. The “young hag” (which is not a very nice name, IMO) and her contemporaries must devise a way to work together to save the day. Super cute and a lot of fun.
September 9, 2022
This is a lovely book full of magic, pumpkins and love!
The characters are delightful and you can’t help but adore the Merlyn witches from the start.as colourful as they are with their individual personalities.
The story starts a bit slow, however this is allowing us to learn about the family, but then becomes fast paced and full of peril and excitement and throughout there is a sparkle of laughter.
It is the ideal autumn read for younger readers who will love a story from the perspective of someone their own age and will adore the adventures together.
The characters are delightful and you can’t help but adore the Merlyn witches from the start.as colourful as they are with their individual personalities.
The story starts a bit slow, however this is allowing us to learn about the family, but then becomes fast paced and full of peril and excitement and throughout there is a sparkle of laughter.
It is the ideal autumn read for younger readers who will love a story from the perspective of someone their own age and will adore the adventures together.
October 23, 2022
The family, and therefore the book, is very chaotic. There seemed to be endless aunts and I couldn't really tell them apart until at least halfway through the book. Clemmie isn't much like the rest of her family, she seems to be the only sensible one which seems to make her the misfit. It's also a bit of a lonely life, not being able to mix with non-magical people.
I had a hard time understanding how the girls trusted the other witches and this reduced my enjoyment of the book. However, the epic battle at the end is pretty cool and I liked how it concluded.
I had a hard time understanding how the girls trusted the other witches and this reduced my enjoyment of the book. However, the epic battle at the end is pretty cool and I liked how it concluded.
February 7, 2023
This is a perfect autumn fireside hug of a book, full of gentle magic, imagination, kookiness, kindness and very large vegetables. I love the sweet hopefulness of main character Clem, in both her relationships with her mother, cousin and witchy aunties and in her approach to her first October of magic. I also think a lot of kids will relate to her greatest reluctance: to risk seeming silly. It builds into a fun adventure with great baddies, an exciting climax and lots of mysteries, all wrapping up just in time for Halloween. Loveliness!
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