I really liked the Sangu's adult debut, but reading that was sufficient. Same formula, different characters and setting. It would work if I were specifically looking for this exact kind of read or at the airport but that's not how I read it, so I suppose it's a hard one to sell.

Full review to come

This book was everything I hoped for after TVSSOIW, warm, whimsical, and absolutely adorable. We follow Sera, an exiled witch who has lost most of her magic, as she tries to juggle running a cozy little inn, managing her wonderfully weird found family, and dealing with the unexpected arrival of Luke and Posy.

The real star of the show however has to be Roo-Roo, the undead rooster. Yes, you read that right and yes, he's perfect!!

The whole story has major warm and fuzzy winter vibes. It’s one of those books you can curl up with and fly through in no time. Light, charming, and totally comforting.

After I loved the author’s previous witch book, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, I was definitely looking forward to this title. I am incredibly grateful to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC!

In her childhood, Sera Swan was the most powerful witch of her generation. Unfortunately, she lost most of her magic after the successful resurrection of her greataunt. Ever since then, she lives in exile in a magical inn hosting a colorful mix of guests. When the inn’s magic spell leads the grumpy witch historian Luke to her door, it rekindles Sera’s hope to find and decipher a spell that could restore her magic.

The story immediately charmed me. Sera is a complex protagonist, who has had many experiences even before the beginning of the story. She longs for her magic and tries not to let it get to her, even though it is a constant of her character. It stays pervasive despite the loving found family around her. Luke is similarly lonely, even though he seems to have his life under control. It is hard for him to admit that looking for a new apartment to live in for him and his sister are not the only reasons why he is staying at the inn.

The characters give this book so much life. The inn’s guests form a bizarre but loving constellation next to Sera and Luke, and are always present with their humor and unconditional support. Sera’s resurrected greataunt Jasmine with her accidentally also resurrected pet rooster, the cursed speaking fox Clemmie, the determined yet slightly misled gardener Mathilda, the constantly armor-wearing knight Nicholas or Sera’s younger cousin Theo, who is also a witch - they all add so much to the story. Even the spelled inn itself seems alive in its continous effort to protect everyone. The breadth of characters does not mean that they stay shallow: everyone gets enough time to overcome their own struggles.

The plot follows Sera’s attempts at finding and translating the rare restoration spell, and at obtaining its obscure ingredients. The label “cozy fantasy” fits completely - there is little direct action and the suspense stems mostly from character develpoments. The pages seem to fly by as Sera has to not only learn to understand her magic, but also herself.

Despite all the magic, the book is quite realistic in regard to its modern relationships and the effects of trauma. It can be painful to read about the characters’ efforts, their need for closeness and fear of rejection. Those parts are given a lot of care, they feel so authentic that I almost forgot I was reading fantasy at times. That makes it even more rewarding to spend this story following Sera along and finding a satisfying conclusion.

And what a beautiful ending it was! I was laughing and crying even while riding the train. The community of all those different people and their mutual acceptance, a magical house, a well-written romance (even as someone who is rather allergic to romance, I could entirely enjoy this one), a lot of fun and a bit of heartbreak that is healed with cinnamon rolls and pancakes. How could I not recommend this book to everyone?

When Sera was fifteen, she was possibly one of the most powerful witches in UK. But when great-aunt died, Sera decided to resurrect her and due to this, lost almost all of her powers, was betrayed by her best friend and became excluded out of which community. Fifteen years later, she is still mostly powerless, runs an inn with her grand-aunt and quirky guests, but she still misses the time where she had all her powers. So when a chance of getting them back appears in her hands, Sera doesn't hesitate before doing everything she can to achieve her goal.

This is a cozy, warm novel with charming characters, that take you on a spectacular adventure and make you think how your past actions have affected your present. Each character is significant and diverse, making all of them a found-family with their own quirks and different, precious relationships. Although the plot was mostly predictable (especially when it came to romance), I honestly didn't mind it at all. It was an easy read, which I could take out during rainy days, when I wanted to relax after work or on the weekends. I read another book by Mandanna previously (The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches), which I adored and A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping was quite similar to it, although I still prefer Society to the Inn. All in all, this was a nice, cozy read which I would recommend to people, who usually enjoy these kind of books (especially the ones with quirky witch stuff).

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

What a wonderful story! This book is like a warm hug on a cold winter's morning. I'm definitely in my cozy fantasy era.

I absolutely adored the found family trope in this book and all the secondary characters were amazing too. I also admire Sangu's ability to write in real world issues like bigotry, racism and immigrants navigating the world into the story but manages to still retain the joy of the book. I loved Sera and Luke's relationship. I loved the fact that the romance was almost secondary in the book, in lieu of protecting those you have chosen as your family.

Ultimately, this book is about sacrificing for those you love and doing the right thing even if it means giving up something that you thought meant the world to you. Sangu made me laugh and cry as is her style. She weaves magic in her story telling and I would read anything she writes.

Can I please live in this book? This was magical, comforting, wholesome, hopeful, and cozy wrapped perfectly into one. But now I’m so sad that it’s over.
The writing flowed seamlessly and I found myself smiling in some parts while my heartstrings were tugged at in others. The humor, the romance, the atmosphere, the foundfamily, everything was just delightful. I love how each character feels real and I want to protect (almost) every one forever. Books like these make me feel safe and welcomed.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this arc!

I think I was a little spoiled by the author’s previous magical novel “The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches”, which was delightful and full of charming characters. By contrast I found this a paler version of a similar story. The plot was pleasant enough, that of a young witch who lost her magical powers living in a magical inn. It’s a tale of found family, a romance and a realisation of what’s most important in life, but I was disappointed that I just didn’t connect with the characters in the same way or feel the same sense of warmth and humour as I did with the Irregular witches.

Perhaps the plot could have been stronger with more adversity along the way and the romance could have had more of a build-up and some of the ‘colourful’ characters could have been less bland. Or maybe it’s just crotchety old me who doesn’t quite get the intended heart-warming feel of this book, so make sure you read some of the many 5&#9733 reviews out there as well.

Reviewer’s note: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a cozy, heartfelt fantasy full of charm, grief, healing, and just the right dash of magic.

Sera Swan inherits a magical inn after the death of her great-aunt, only to discover it’s more than she bargained for—emotionally and magically. The Weatherbone Inn is alive in its own quiet way, responding to its guests and its keeper. As Sera struggles to make peace with her past and claim her future, she’s surrounded by eccentric guests, loyal friends, and memories both painful and precious.

Sangu Mandanna’s writing is warm and gentle, with a strong emotional core. This book explores themes of identity, belonging, and moving forward after loss. The romance is light and sweet, but the real strength lies in its found family, the inn’s personality, and Sera’s journey of self-acceptance.

If I had one tiny critique, it would be that the story leans more on atmosphere and emotional depth than plot-driven action—but for a cozy fantasy, that’s part of its magic.

Highly recommended for fans of Legends & Lattes, The House in the Cerulean Sea, or anyone looking for a witchy, comforting read with real heart.

Thank you very much to the Publisher and Netgalley for granting me access to my most anticipated read, not of this year, but of the last yearS. I am all for waiting longer when the result is a good book. Sangu Mandanna won me over with the Irregular Witches. This was supposed to be the only romance book I'll read this year, which makes it unfortunate that I don't think this is a romance book. It's a cozy fantasy book. The found family was great, the side characters were great. I didn't feel the chemistry between the main love interests ( which makes a romance for me ), but the MCs are enjoyable. Would have wishes for maybe fewer domestic scenes, fewer characters and a tad more storyline and romantic built up. I overall enjoyed this, just not as much as the prior novel by Mandanna.

Thank you to Hodderbooks and netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna has been one of my most anticipated reads for a long while. I believe it started in 2022 when I first read The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and was enamoured by the brand that Sangu Mandanna brought to a story of enchantment, found family, unconditional love and acceptance and cozy romance. Trust me when I tell you that A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is of this exact same brand but made to be more.
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is EVERYTHING Irregular Witches is, but more. It’s so obvious from the very beginning that Sangu Mandanna has really dug deep and improved her craft. The story immediately hooks you in with Sera resurrecting her great aunt Jasmine with the help of a mysterious and obnoxious fox, only to lose the magic that once marked her as one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Immediately, the emotional pull is there and along with it is an ache that I bet every individual who was once considered gifted and talented only to grow into an adult at a loss against the world will be able to understand. The story starts by giving us a couple of chapters to learn about Sera as a fifteen year old – who she was, what was important to her, what she stood to lose, what she was willing to give up – before showing us her journey to regain what she lost as a 30 year old, whilst learning what’s truly important to her along the way.
The second thing I wanted to mention was the characters! A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping has a slough of characters that are eccentric yet lifelike. They’re vibrant and practically leap of the page. Whilst I wasn’t sure about them at first, they soon grew on me. Sangu Mandanna showed me why I needed to love them with their vulnerabilities and their softness. I never really expected to love Clemmie as much as I did or adore Nicholas and Theo. They were all just a big found family full of love, laughter and silliness. I love that they all found their place at the Batty Hole. I find myself wishing that Batty Hole and its inhabitants were real.
Alongside the themes of found family, there were also threads of how ethnic minorities are treated in the U.K, defiance against the guild, and finding a place of belonging. The story was really healing and full of heart and soul.
All in all, I would recommend this book to people who loved Irregular Witches, for more of the same but kicked up a notch.

I adored The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, so was very excited when I saw this book on Netgalley!
It did not disappoint and I loved the story being centred on the magical inn and those that pass through or live there. There were some fantastic characters that I was truly so invested in (especially Clemmie and Matilda!) but nothing tops the dynamics between Sera and Luke. I loved the found family theme, was immersed in the magical cosy fantasy and through the banter, my heart felt so full at the end. A truly enjoyable read!

Such a beautiful book and one I will be buying for my shelf. The characters are ones you will support and come very close to The House of Cerulean Sea for me in the sense of how I’d die supporting all of these characters. The story was really good and I loved the craziness mixed in amongst the story which does bring these characters off the page for me. Beautiful book definitely one that will stay with me

This is a cute cosy fantasy about a witch running an inn. The first 20% or so was quite slow and I did almost put it down but I’m glad I picked it up again! I preferred this to Sangu’s first book. There’s really good autistic representation as well as commentary on society and how if you don’t ’fit in’ you are othered and ostracised. There’s found family, magic and a strong sense of place.

If you liked Sangu’s first book, you’ll like this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc

Another fabulous read from Sangu Mandanna. Cosy and full of found family. Thanks to Netgalley for early access to this story.

Heartwarming, cozy, and slyly humorous, Mandanna's writing never disappoints. There is so much to like about this. I love a plot that lets you in on its secret early on and keeps you hooked to confirm whether your hunches are right. The found family in this is a delight - all the denizens of the inn are bright and lively and create fun subplots. The cast of characters in this were so varied and all treated with the respect and space they deserved in the narrative. Alex's antics, Matilda and Jasmine, Posy and Clemmie, and all the others captured my heart just as much as Luke and Sera did. And Luke and Sera, for me, were the highlight of this. Mandanna has managed to weave extraordinarily complex and sometimes heavy topics into a light and joyous book, and have the overall tone and narrative be enhanced and not diminished. I am still somewhat in awe about some of the lines in this, and I have a feeling they will be stuck in my head for a while.

Did I get approved for the ARC of one of my most anticipated releases of the year?
Yup.
Did I squeal when I saw A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping land in my inbox?
Also yup.
Did I devour it in one sitting?
You bet I did.
And did it live up to the sky-high expectations I had?
A million times YES!

Sangu Mandanna has truly done it again. I laughed, I cried, I felt everything—and by the end, I was absolutely drowning in the FEELS. Batty Hole and its weird (in the best possible way) residents completely stole my heart. A snarky semi villainous talking fox, meddling grandmas, a zombie rooster pet, an anxious medieval knight might all sound absolutely bonkers but they absolutely make sense in this quirky, cozy, magical tale of found family. Its a story of healing, and a witch trying to keep both her inn and her heart together while fighting to win back lost magic.

It’s full of charm, warmth, and whimsy, with just enough heartache to make the comfort hit even harder. My heart is full, and I need everyone to add this book to their TBR the second it releases.

Cannot wait to force feed everyone this book the second it releases!!!!

I adored this book. From the first chapter, I was hooked. It opens in such an exciting and unique way and then unfurls into a heartwarming and delightful story of chosen family, being yourself and love. It was so beautiful and was underscored by a great plot with a great villain. Each of the characters was really well sketched out and loveable. You could feel the love the writer has for this world and these characters and the writing was beautiful. This was exactly what I needed right now and I will definitely seek out the authors other works.
If you are looking for a beautiful, heartwarming fantasy with a brilliant magic system, a dollop or romance and a ridiculous zombie rooster, this book is for you.

Last year I read (and loved) The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches so at the start of the year I put A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping in my list of my top 20 most anticipated books of 2025.

I couldn't believe my luck when I got approved for an e-ARC through @netgalley! It's not a sequel to TVSSOIW but a completely separate book set in the same world.

Sera Swan used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain, until one day saving a loved one's life takes almost all her power and Sera is left with barely a whisper. Together with her aunt, they live a peaceful life running an inn filled with quirky (but loveable) guests. Until, Sera has a chance to get her power back, risking the peaceful life they'd built.

This book is jam packed with found family, romance, autistic representation, diverse characters and a cosy magical house. It's basically my ideal book. If you like Travis Baldree, TJ Klune, or any other cosy fantasy you need to read this when it comes out in August and thank me later!

Thanks to @netgalley and @hodderscape for the e-ARC I absolutely adored it!

This book brought me so much joy! It was a wonderful read. I read an eARC of this book on Net Galley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

My second book from this author and both have been easy five stars. I’m utterly engrossed and feel so uplifted by both books. Auto buy author for me now!

This is a charming, magical novel. One for fans of cosy fantasy. We have an eclectic group of people, brought together by an inn, organised by the main character Sera who looks after everyone and keeps things running. Sera is prickly and has the weight of the world on her shoulders but is also kind, caring and wants to help others. She lost her magic as a teenager and this has weighed heavily on her ever since. She wants to look after her loveable bunch of inn residents but it’s hard without her magic. The arrival of a man and his younger sister will set Sera on a path to discover what she wants and how she can right historical wrongs.

I adored this book. The main characters are both a bit grumpy but still loveable and we see them opening up and blossoming as the book goes on. We see kind yet hurting people managing to heal through their connections with others. I was really rooting for all of their happiness. I also loved the supporting cast. We have such a fun bunch of quirky people who feel accepted and cared for in the inn, in a way that they haven’t previously in their lives.

I find this author’s writing style so utterly charming and I can’t wait to read more from them. I enjoyed this so much, I couldn’t put it down and it was such an uplifting read.

I couldn’t wait to read this one as The Very Secret Society was one of my favourite reads in 2023. This has the same found family vibes, with everyone having their quirks and being accepted for who they are. I loved the concept of the house, the relationships that were formed and grew throughout the book and felt all warm and cozy reading it. I really hope there’s more from this author in the future ☺️