I have to start with a negative - this book features my least favourite fantasy trope (largely because it always seems to happen to supremely powerful FMCs) - but that's so you understand just how much I must love the book if I love it anyway! I was a bit worried that this couldn't possibly be as good as Irregular Witches but that was quickly proved wrong. It's a gorgeously cosy hug of a book, with a grumpy but warmhearted former witch, a magical historian, a skeletal rooster, a cursed fox, various misfit long-term inn residents, and a couple of witchy kids, that together equal a found family you can't help but love and want to spend more time with, plus another swoonworthy romance! Sangu Mandanna can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned.

4.5 stars

After loving The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches I've been dying to read this new story, and once again Sangu didn't disappoint.
A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping was another heartwarming book, with wonderful characters, funny moments and cozy settings. I immediately connected with Sera, who was brave and selfless, and more than once I wanted to hug her! But what I loved most was the found family trope, which warmed my heart. They really deserved all the happiness in the world ❤️

Totally recommend this story if you want to read something warm and sweet.

Ich war bereits von dem Buch „The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches“ restlos begeistert und das neue Werk „A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping“ von Autorin Sangu Mandanna, auf 352 Seiten im Verlag Hodder & Stoughton erschienen, konnte da nahtlos anschließen!
Die Bücher können völlig unabhängig voneinander gelesen werden, spielen aber im selben Kosmos.
Zu Beginn der Lektüre war ich fast schon ein wenig überrumpelt, weil man quasi direkt mitten im Geschehen startet, an einem wahren Wendepunkt der Protagonistin Sera Swan. Sie mag insgesamt die Hauptfigur des Buches sein, die Geschichte lebt aber tatsächlich wieder vom Zusammenspiel einer ganzen Reihe bunter Charaktere, die gemeinsam in der magischen Pension leben. Jeder ist etwas ganz Besonderes und macht im Verlauf der Geschichte seine ganz eigene emotionale Entwicklung durch. Mir sind sie alle so sehr ans Herz gewachsen, dass ich beim Lesen sogar die eine oder andere Träne vergossen habe.
Am Anfang dachte ich noch, dass das Buch insgesamt nicht mit der ersten Geschichte aus dieser Welt mithalten können wird, aber ich habe mich geirrt. Es war wieder eine Geschichte über Liebe in allen Facetten und Formen, über die Kraft von Zusammenhalt und Freundschaft, über emotionale Entwicklungen und darüber, dass Familie nicht immer etwas mit Blut zu tun haben muss. Die Lektüre war herzerwärmend, magisch, mitreißend und einfach nur zauberhaft - trotz aller emotionaler Höhen und Tiefen ein absolutes Herzensbuch, das weitaus mehr als „nur“ fünf Sterne verdient hat!

4.5 stars!

SOOOOOO CUTE!! I love a good cozy fantasy, and this made me feel all the warm and wonderful emotions! Count me in as a Sangu Mandanna Witchy Book stan, because I will continue to read them if she continues to write them hehe - I really enjoyed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, and I knew I'd enjoy this one too!

I love a good romp of a story, and this one was no exception hehe. The story had so much charm and whimsy to it, I had the best time reading this book! There was the perfect mixture of fun and chaos, along with more serious issues and emotions sprinkled throughout, which made it all such a lovely easy read. There was such a fun cast of eccentric characters that made up Sera's chosen family of guests at the magical inn in question - the Batty Hole Inn (yes, that's the name and yes, I laughed every time I read it).

This book honestly has so, so much heart and charm to it - there were all different types of love highlighted in here, and that's one of the things I love the most about books with the found family trope! It was so sweet seeing all the characters interact, especially watching how loyal they were to each other and how welcoming they all were. The romance was SO sweet and burned bright at exactly the right moments, it was a slow-burn romance that tended to sit more as sub-plot, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. I thought it was super fitting for how the rest of the book flows, and I just had such a wonderful time with this book!

I have to dock slight points because I was a little disappointed at how the events played out, I don't want to spoil anything especially since it hasn't released yet - but it's a trope that has been done and I haven't been much of a fan of it in other works either! IYKYK, it didn't ruin the book obviously, just my personal preferences!

Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton and Hodderscape for providing me with an e-arc via NetGalley!

My review for A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (5 stars) – Heartfelt, magical and cozy

Thank you NetGalley and Sangu Mandanna for an advance copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a cozy fantasy dream come true. With a wonderfully quirky and diverse cast (including the most original animal companion), Sangu Mandanna crafts a heartfelt story that wraps around you like a warm blanket. The characters are beautifully written, their arcs feel full and satisfying, and the setting is so charming.

The plot is engaging throughout: perfectly paced with a gentle thread of romance (grumpy meets grumpier?) and just a touch of spice. You don’t need to have read her previous book to enjoy this standalone, though I did. And to my surprise, this one outshines it completely. It’s whimsical, cozy, and surprisingly profound.

A must-read for fans of TJ Klune, Travis Baldree, or anyone craving a warm, magical escape.

This was a sweet and cosy witchy read. Sera is the perfect FMC. All characters were wonderful and they were the perfect found family.

This book contains so much love. Romantic, found family, friendships and learning to love yourself.

I love the way depression was touched upon and asking for help from professionals. It was so well done.

The magic rules are a bit blurred sometimes, with the non magic parents of magical kids being more worried about magic being found out than the actual witches. This book was just a fun cosy read so I chose to ignore these things!

I was in a reading slump before this book but it pulled me out.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches was one of my favourite reads of 2023, so I have been eagerly awaiting Sangu Mandanna's next cosy romance. A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping was absolutely worth the wait! It is a perfect blend of magic, found family, and romance.

From the first page, the setting and the descriptive writing made me feel nostalgic and cosy. Mandanna has a magical way with words that transported me right into the page. I also started rooting for the characters from the first page, too.

My favourite aspect of the book was the strong found family theme. I loved following the residents of the inn as they learned how much they mean to each other. It was truly heartwarming. The interactions between the characters also led to many funny moments. I loved the chaos of Roo-Roo!

This story would be perfect for cosy fantasy fans and fans of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

This book felt like home and a warm hug. The diverse representation, the cozy inn set in Lancashire, which made my northern heart so happy and of course the found family trope we all love and adore - Sangu Mandanna can do no wrong.

Sera is exiled and running on little magic to power up her magical inn, where the most eccentric and unique characters reside. She enlists the help of Luke, a wizard historian who reluctantly helps Sera find the ingredients for a spell to resurrect her magic.

Luke’s caring nature towards his autistic sister Posy, was so heartwarming to read about. His grumpy but protective nature of the ones he loves adds to the coziness of this book. Plus, the slow burn between him and Sera was perfect. Their interactions had me giggling alongside their vulnerability with each other and it led to such a healthy loving relationship between the two.

All of the side characters were so original and added to the chaotic yet cozy atmosphere of the Inn, and this is definitely a book which does the found family trope justice. If you’re looking for a whimsical romance with a diverse range of characters, with great queer, disability, Indian representation - then this one is for you.

This book had beautiful prose and I loved the vivid world Mandanna has created. I appreciate the way she addressed racism, prejudice and classism which made sense in this magical world, as in the sub genre of cozy fantasy, it’s rare for books to be anything but fluff!

The ending made me slightly sad/ disappointed, but it fit with the plot and theme of this book. I loved the plot and writing so much, that I didn’t feel like knocking off a star because of it.

Honestly I can’t wait for this book to be released as I’ll be purchasing a copy and rereading straight away. Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an e-ARC.

I loved it. The book's message for me is essentially that everyday simple pleasures of life can be so beautiful and magical, even if you have lost abilities you once had. In Sera's case, she loses most of her magic (in chapter 1!) after casting a huge spell that drains her, and spends her time grieving the loss and fighting to get it back. But as she is fighting, she is learning about all the important, wonderful things she still has. As someone who has been in chronic pain for a few years, that message spoke a lot to me and was really beautiful. Sometimes people tell me to "just accept" that this is my life, and I don't think that's right. I liked seeing a character learn to love her current life, but who still fought for her abilities back. 💛 For me that's the key, love the days I'm in for what I do have, but keep fighting for better, pain-free days too. 💛 It was also so witty and had me giggling out loud!!

Wow! This book did not disappoint. With The Very Secret Society of Witches being one of my favourite books of last year and probably my favourite cosy fantasy of all time, I was nervous going into this because my expectations were high!

Different characters and setting but the same cosy, magical, and eccentric vibes. Such a comfort read that also has substance. The story was well paced and I fell in love with all of the characters in the inn. I have tried to list favourites but I honestly can’t, I loved them all! They were all so unique without being cliche or unnatural.

There was a romance that was present but didn’t take over the book, which I really appreciate. It was very cute, as were all of the relationships in this book. For me the found family aspect is much more impactful and beautiful. Sera was also an excellent main character and I loved reading about her journey.

I think I will be rereading this book very often and it is definitely a new favourite that I will be recommending to everyone!

Not as good as her other book, it just didn’t hold the same kind of magic for me. I wasn’t that bothered about Sera and Luke and it dragged in parts. A very sad 3 stars. I loved the cosy vibes but just wanted a lot more from it.

I absolutely loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches so I was incredibly excited to dive into this one and so happy that it didn’t disappoint! Sangu Mandanna has such a gift for writing cosy magical stories that are full of warmth, heart and emotional depth.

In this story we follow Sera, a highly powered witch who as a teen made the decision to save the life of her great-aunt Jasmine which unknowingly meant she sacrificed her magic. The way that she came to terms with her new normal, by creating a magical inn which then became a sanctuary for others was so heartfelt. This was a real story of self-discovery, finding and accepting yourself, and opening your heart to new people. It was also ultimately about how a chosen family is bound by love, not blood.

The supporting cast of characters was absolutely wonderful. Each person had a distinct personality, and their dynamics felt so real and layered. I adored the found family aspect, everyone had their own journey of loss, abandonment, or rejection by their biological families, and they all found comfort and belonging in one another. The love and acceptance they showed, whether it was for Nicholas and his eccentricities, or Posy and her specific needs, felt entirely genuine and never performative. The representation in terms of age, ethnicity, health, and background was diverse, but it never felt like a checklist, it felt authentic and honest.

The romance was also sweet and added a gentle layer of emotional connection that never overpowered the central themes of healing, acceptance, and home.

Mandanna’s writing is magical in the most comforting of ways, and I just fell in love with these characters and this world. I closed the book feeling like I’d been wrapped in a warm hug and honestly, what more could you want from a cosy fantasy? 5 stars!

Rating: ★★★★½

I had this book on my radar for two years, so finally getting to dive into it felt surreal. Right from the start, A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping pulls you into a cozy, magical world full of heart and charm.

At first, I wasn’t sure what to think, I went in expecting it to follow the same magic system from The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. Instead, A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping sets its own course, and honestly, that surprised me.

It took me a little time to adjust. I had to let go of what I thought the book would be. But once I did, the story completely pulled me in. The characters feel so real, like they could step right off the page. I found myself genuinely irritated with a fox (a first for me) and falling in love with a pile of walking bones. I think that says a lot about the quality of the writing.

There’s a quiet kind of magic woven through the pages , it’s really not about saving the world, but about finding your place in it. I love that both this book and Irregular Witches now have room to shine on their own.

This story was everything I needed: cozy, a little chaotic, and full of heart. I feel honored that I got the chance to read it early! Thank you so much

Title: A Witches guide to magical inn keeping by
Rating: 4 1/2⭐️/5⭐️

Let me start this by saying “the very secret society of irregular witches” is one of my absolute favorite books ever, so I went into this with high expectations, and ur delivered!

Starting of strong
The characters:
Perfection, they were varied and layered and I instantly fell in love with everyone.
Some side characters maybe didn’t get as much depth as they descended simply due to there being quite a few of them but they were still well done and each had their own individual personality and it was just a perfectly adorable “found family” sort of situation between them all.

The relationships:
Were beautiful and filled me with happiness and warmth. That’s the best way I can put it. I think Mandanna excels at writing relationships and characters and she does it beaufitully.
My only teeny tiny complaint is, that I think there wasn’t enough tension and bound up between Luke and Sera but overall that was still a satisfying and beautiful romance story.

The setting:
I’m a sucker for anything with a sentient house and this definitely fit the bill. It could have had a bit more page time in my opinion BUT that’s a very personal opinion.
The Inn is a beautiful, magical and whimsical space that fit the story perfectly and I enjoyed it tremendously! Honestly I didn’t even need any actual plot I was just happy being there with everyone.

Which brings us to the next point, the plot:
Eh it was there it was fun but don’t go into this expecting anything major plot wise.
It’s a cute little story about finding your home and believing in yourself. And it was perfect in achieving that.
My only issue was the ending (don’t worry I wont spoil it), it’s also the only reason why this book didn’t get 5 stars for me. I just dislike these types of endings and I get it, it made sense for the big message and morale of the book but personally I just can’t stand this specific type of ending scenario.

Lastly the writing:
The writing is beautifully lyrical and full of whimsy, with a strong emotional core. That said, the book’s message about finding magic in the ordinary and embracing yourself just as you are was sometimes laid on a little thick. Which isn’t anything bad per se but at times it felt just a bit too on the nose.

Overall:
What can I say? I inhaled this book in less than 24 hours and now I’m sad it’s over.
It was beautiful and cozy and felt like a warm hug.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes cozy fantasy, cottage-core, rom-coms and the found family trope.

10/10

i am a bit conflicted on how to rate this one. all the discussion around childhood neglect and found family with the characters in the inn served as reminders of what humanity is capable of when we band together. however, the characterization of some of the characters especially with how the plot played out with the ending makes it hard for me to recommend to all students as a cozy fantasy dealing with those topics, but for some, this would hit so hard.

Well this was just lovely and even better than the first book. This is so heartwarming and fun with some great characters as well as a strong storyline. Just what I needed after some heavy reads. Highly recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

This was one of my most awaited books of the year - and the joy and excitement I felt when I received the advanced copy is hard to describe. I was so worried that the magic from the first book would be too difficult to recreate, but I can wholeheartedly share that this story was just as amazing!

I think the author’s superpower is her ability to create a story full of warmth, heart, and genuine magic. I adore the found‑family trope when it’s done right - in this book we have such a diverse mix of characters, all living together under one charming roof. If that's not enough to charm you, there's a zombie chicken, a talking fox, slightly scary villain, and a whole load of love, acceptance, and kindness.

I giggled, I cried, I laughed out loud, and even swore at some of the characters - so, if you love magic, chaos, and all the perfect vibes, you might adore this book as much as I did.

I can't wait to re-read it again in July, once it is fully out in the world!

4.75/5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

5/5 stars! Did I read this entire book in one sitting? Yes I did. Did I laugh and tear up in equal measure? Yep. I loved Sangu's first book and was ready for the coziness, found family, and romantic energy in this book...and boy did I find it. I will read anything this author writes. Add in a naughty fox and I was hooked!

A Witches’ Guide to Magical Innkeeping unfortunately didn’t live up to my expectations. I loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and have been counting down until the release of AWKTMI. The best way I can describe this book is average hence my three-star rating. There are things to link and things to not like.

The character work is once again done very well and pulled me in to care about the MC and her found family, I do love that trope. I sympathised with Sera and while not all her actions seem logical, I bought into her story arc.

Where the book lost me was the development of the love interest, it felt very unnatural and forced. I don’t know what the author was trying to achieve with the storyline, but it felt very stop start. Internally he is telling himself not to get involved and then with no motivation whatsoever is helping the MC. When the slow burn eventually ignites it’s in the most ridiculous circumstances that are so unbelievable I almost DNF’d the book there.

The overall plot was strong, and it had a lot of potential, the solutions to getting the magic back were cute and made sense. It really tied into the found family trope and getting the MC to believe in herself. Once that was solved the last 30%ish become very predictable and slightly convoluted. For me I could have done with a few less ‘twists’, it’s not what I want in a cosy read and again were way too predictable.

I did enjoy most of what I read, however A Witches’ Guide to Magical Innkeeping didn’t leave me thinking about it for weeks in the same way that The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches did. I’ll remember that I read this book but it’s not a memorable read.

“the very secret society of irregular witches” was one of my favourite reads of last year and sangu mandanna has done it again. This book is absolute perfection, five stars is not enough.
If you love cosy fantasy, or even if you don’t… this is the most adorable, wholesome read.
Following witch Sera who loses her magic after resurrecting her great aunt (and a zombie chicken) and her family of misfits in there quest to provide a refuge for anyone in need whilst trying to figure out how to get the magic to return. Throw in a little romance, a bad guy and an ex friendship and you have a story which rivals The house on the cerulean sea.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc of this one!