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The world Sangu Mandanna has created is similar to our own. Here witches exist but they must hide their powers from regular people and even hide from one another. All witches are orphaned at birth or soon after as an old curse causes the parents to die. They grow up largely in isolation as it is dangerous for witches to gather together - their magical powers will draw attention. Mika Moon keenly feels this isolation and never stays in one place too long so as to not form an attachment to anyone. The only time she gathers with other witches is on the third Thursday every third month and it is in largely desolate places. How long, though, can she hide herself away without totally losing who she is?
Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.
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| August 2022; Berkley; 978-0593439357 audio, ebook, print (336 pages); paranormal women's fiction |
I don't read a lot of fantasy but when I do, I generally like it to include witches. With the title The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, I was expecting a humorous women's fiction or chick-lit type story. What I got was a much more serious and thought-provoking novel.
Mika Moon is a thirty-something Indian woman living in England. She has lived in England since her mother died shortly after her birth. As her maternal grandmother was also a witch, she isn't alive either to raise her. There isn't much mention about her father or his side of the family. Another witch, Primrose, brought Mika to one of her homes to be raised by nannies and tutors. Whenever the nanny or tutor would discover Mika was a witch, Primrose would erase their memory and send them on their way. So Mika grew up without any emotional attachments and it has followed her into adulthood.
While there are witches in this book, it is more about belonging and finding your place in the world. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a sweet story. Mika may be a witch but her childhood trauma is something every reader can understand and to some extent identify with. How many us have felt like we didn't belong or didn't fit in?
The characters are great. They are a bit eccentric but they are truly motivated by love. They are the kind of people that you hope to surround yourself with - people who are more than friends, they are family.
If you are looking for a sweet story with a beautiful message then this should be your next read.
Buy The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches at Amazon
Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.
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You convinced me to give it a try, but I just ordered a sample instead the entire book. I'm not sure I can handle a book where the parents die as soon as their child is born. I'll come back and order the book through your site if the sample intrigues me without depressing me. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe title would've made me think it was going to be a humorous book, too. I did not know that are called books were not necessarily or. Good to know. Now I'll start looking a little deeper into them. I usually go right past them, assuming it's going to be demons and more evil than good. Thanks for the news.
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