4.5

Magic was actually the friends we made along the way! I joke but I am also serious because this is essentially the message of this lovely and magical book! (Also, it is a very funny book - the author has such a unique humor that reallyworks for me!) Found family is in the very focus and is so strong here, every single member of it is special in their own way, kind, messy, spirited, sweet but overall delightful! Naturally, Sera is the one who stole my heart and is such an exceptional example of pure goodness in a person. I want to be a part of her family so badly. Luke, the love interest, is amazing and hot and made me cry (loved him). I liked that the romance subplot was simply that, a subplot, we had wonderful moments and there was some back and forth, but they were dealing with bigger issues and I appreciated that. If you liked the previous book by Sangu Mandana (also witchy but a different universe) I'm pretty sure you'll like this one too.

💭 #QOTD  Would you rather be a powerful witch under the mentorship of an evil sorcerer or have little power and have your found family?

Title: A witches guide to magical innkeeping
Author: Sangu Mandanna
Pages: 352
Rating: 4/5
Spice/Romance level: 🩷🩷 - romance with no spice
#Arc eCopy ( #gifted ) - review left voluntarily
UK publish date - 17th July 2025

This was such a wholesome read.

Sera used to be the greatest witch around, but after the day she resurrected her Grandmother (and a rooster), her magic dwindled and she was cast out from the guild.

We join Sera and her mismatched found family in day to day life at the inn. Finding ways to bring her magic back, and what kind of witchy book would be complete without an evil mage!

This was an easy, predictable comfort read. With sassy. Relatable characters. (I found myself relating to grumpy Sera) with lots of cinnamon bun treats!!! 🤤

The book was easy to read and easy to follow. A lovely little world build and also based in the UK. It was funny, sweet and wholesome.

You'll love this book if you like
- rivals
- grumpy x grumpy
- autistic representation
- found family
- slowburn
- magic and Witches
- cosy fantasy
- talking foxes
- literal knights

Will you be reading this? Let me know in the comments

R E V I E W

A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

☆☆☆☆.5

Advanced Reader Copy graciously provided by Hodder and Stoughton | Hodderscape via Netgalley

Well, this book was positively charming. After many postponed release dates, it is nearly time for this spellbinding follow up to The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches to hit the shelves, and trust me, it is more than worth the wait.

As someone who often finds cosy fantasy stories lacking, I strongly believe Mandanna has conquered a tricky subgenre, effortlessly combining magical realism with heartwarming narratives about love, found-family and identity.

After losing most of her magic when she resurrected her great-aunt fifteen years ago, innkeeper Sera Swan has worked tirelessly to harness the remaining sparks of magic she holds to create a space where any who seek help, shelter or solace can find it. But whilst others may find peace at her inn, Sera still struggles with the choice she unknowingly made on that heartbreaking day all those years ago, holding out hope that one day, her magic will be returned to her. With the help of a witch-turned-fox, an attractive magical historian, her resurrected aunt, and a host of other peculiar but well-meaning inn residents, Sera finally embarks on a path towards getting her magic back. But as relationships flourish and adversaries re-emerge, Sera has to decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice to get her power back, once and for all.

This book was heart-warming, from its depiction of a brother tirelessly advocating for his autistic sister to a young woman, refusing to relinquish the only family she has ever known. Mandanna cleverly weaves together a narrative where charmingly strange characters embrace others' equally charming oddities, deftly wielding humour, romance, and a touch of grief to create a poignant and memorable story.

A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping has been one of my most anticipated releases since I read The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, one of my favorite books. It took a while for this one to be released, but it was worth the wait for sure.

Sera lost her magical abbilities after she resurrected her great-aunt at the young age of only 12. Not only did her magical abbilities leave her but she was also forced out of her learning position at the council. Ostrocized more like it. Now she runs the magical inn with her great-aunt, dealing with the strange and sometimes long staying guests that come to her. Including a certain familiar historian.

I initially struggled with the first two chapters or so when Sera was still a child. We got bombarded into the story at the very moment that her great-aunt died and there was this talking fox and not a lot made sense yet. Luckily however my struggle dissapeared once we got to adult Sera and the story settled into a rythm where the story and the setting of the inn became clearer.

The story line of Sera refinding her magical abbilities is interesting but not at all what this story is truly about. It is about accepting yourself for who you are. About learning to open up to others. To give them a chance. About accepting others for who they are and letting them be themselves. About finding your own family.

This story started to truly hit when these things became clearer. Sera who shared about her anxiety and depression, taking medications. Her great-aunt with her club foot. Luke's autistic sister. They all enrich and deepen this story with their own stories. Their backgrounds and their whole being. That is what I truly loved in this story.

As soon as I heard Sangu Mandanna was writing another witchy adult fantasy I knew that I needed to have it in my hands as I adored Secret Society of Irregular Witches so much! Thank you to Hodderscape for sending me a gorgeous proof copy to read and review.

Sangu Mandanna writes cosy, whimsical found family in such a wholesome way. You just can't help but fall in love with the quirks and sweet personalities of every character she puts to the page.

Sera felt like she wasn't worth anything when she lost her magic and seeing her character grow in self belief and self love was lovely throughout the story.

The romance is sweet and tender while also exploring themes of feeling unworthy and trusting another person not to hurt you. I found the romance to be really believable and I loved these two characters together so much.

Thank you again for allowing me the chance to read this gorgeous book, it has reaffirmed my love for Sangu Mandanna in such a massive way!

The perfect cosy fantasy book!
I loved TVSSOIW and I’ve been so excited to read this ever since and it’s lived up to its hype
Can’t wait to see what else they have in store for us

Another cosy fantasy with found family, romantic side plots and no real sense of dread. If you're interested in reading something that will probably make you tear up at times about how people feel about themselves and how they move through the world. There are characters across all ages, genders and sexualities. At times it was a bit hard to be too invested in the main story as it was so obvious that things would work out, but there is a bit of a twist at the end that I felt worked really well.

Absolutely delightful. What else is there to say? It's like a less stressful Her Majesty's Royal Coven, with a dash of T Kingfisher. An adorable romance, great characters, and a plot with just the right level of stakes and pacing for a cozy and heartwarming read.

Wow! Mika Moon and the other cast of characters from Society of Irregular Witches are my go to book friends when I need a fictional hug so I was thrilled and worried when I began to read this. I was foolish, Sangu Mandanna has smashed it with Sera and Luke.
It has a different vibe to the first novel, a slower burn to get to know Sera and her found family in the cosiest inn possible but this is a good thing. This novel has more emotional layers to explore while the magical elements are just as imaginative and spectacular.
Sera loses her magic and her life is more constrained than she expected but she muddles through creating a life but the grief for what could have been lingers. As someone with a chronic illness and disability this hit home. It felt like those emotions I've felt where laid on the page. Similarly when Luke discussed his childhood versus Posy's. I loved autistic Posy was allowed to be herself without being forced to mask. It certainly meant tissues were needed.

This is cosy witchy fiction as it should be with quirky characters, magic, and love blended with layers of self-discovery. Mika Moon has competition in the fave witch contest.

I’m all for cozy fantasy, but this is second book by this author in this genre that I’ve read, and I don’t think they are my cup of tea. It takes quirky too far for me, and we’ve got witty antics back to back with introspective moments or dark magic. I wished they had picked one angle to go for, and left it at that. There were so many different aspects discussed – every guest has a conflict, big or small, that then is resolved within a single scene. The end, after spending so much time with the characters and the journey she is on, just didn’t work for me.

I loved this book.

If you're looking for a heart-warming, cosy fantasy book, then this is the book for you!

What I really liked about this book is that even though there are romantic elements to it, this is not a romance book. It is a book that focuses on found family, a sense of belonging and second chances.

The characters at the inn are everything, and their stories is what will make you fall in love with this book. It is a book that will make you laugh, smile, cry, and fall in love with this amazing world that has been brought to us through a beautiful writing style.

The hardest part was to actually finish this book, saying goodbye to this story and these characters, and deciding what to do next.

This is the first book I read by this author but I'm sure it won't be the last!

Whimsical, comforting, and hopeful. Sangu Mandanna wrote another wonderful cozy, witchy fantasy. It's a special thing the way she cobbles together a found family out of characters that shouldn't really make sense together. I think the side characters felt much deeper in this novel than The Very Secret Society... And also more eccentric which was a delight. I wondered several times about Mika Moon and how the society witches existed alongside or in the guild we were introduced to in this book, but alas we weren't given information that tied the two together.

I enjoyed the plot of this story immensely, but admittedly didn't love the resolution at the end. I felt like Sera deserved to have it ALL after so many years of struggling, and I understood the moral of the story, and that she didn't need to have it all to have it all, but I still wanted her to have it anyway. This is very much a me problem. That was convoluted, but I'm trying not to give anything away and I think people should form their own opinions after they get to the end.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Another warm magical hug of a book from Sangu Mandanna. Not a single thing about this book I didn't like and nothing I write about it will give it the justice it deserves. It needs to be read to fully feel what this book is.

The cast of Characters is full of representation and diversity and 100% lovable. The found family love singing from the start. The inn, where it rains tea and blooms teacup wildflowers and can only be found by those who need it, is a magical little character in itself and is the kind of place I yearn for, as I'm sure everyone does when reading this book.
I enjoyed the grumpy/grumpy romance between Sera & Luke, Grumpy/Sunshine is my favourite trope so seeing Sandu play with that was really exciting. (Although deep down we all know Sera is sunshine really.) And the background love story of Jasmine and Matilda was absolutely beautiful.

It's a book full of hope, that teaches us the real magic in life is where we make it. It's family, it's love, it's home.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

‘A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping’ introduces us to Sera Swan, once a witch with unimaginable power, now running her family’s inn and dealing with the consequences. Of what, you may ask? Perhaps just a tiny, forbidden resurrection spell she performed as a teenager that both lost her most of her magic and had her exiled from the Guild of Sorcery. 15 years later, Sera has resigned herself to running the inn, with its gaggle of wacky guests, an undead rooster, and a talking fox. When a blast from the past enables Sera to access the spell that could restore her magic, she is thrilled - the only problem is she cannot read the ancient language it is written in. But when Luke, who happens to be a bit of an expert in these sorts of this, and his younger sister turn up one night, Sera’s prayers may be answered. Except Luke has made it clear he’s leaving in the morning and he doesn’t want to help.

The inn, however, has other plans…

Writing:
Third person narrative that is chock full of quips, one liners, and ridiculous shenanigans that had me giggling throughout. The author manages to create such a whimsical little world, but then out of the blue will hit you with lines that gut you entirely. Accessible, immersive, and like a big warm hug.

Setting:
The majority of the book takes place in Batty Hole Inn (I know!) and honestly, it almost feels wrong to describe the inn as a setting, because it truly felt like another character. The shtick with the inn is that when she was younger, Sera cast a spell over it that had persisted to this day. Only people who NEED the inn are able to find it. The fallout of Sera’s inability to do Big Magic anymore means the inn is just as chaotic as its inhabitants, with wildflowers blooming spontaneously in teacups and the room that rains apple blossom tea for an hour on Sundays. It had its quirks (putting it lightly) but it was the cosiest setting and I honestly felt I was THERE. I also am sad that it isn’t real. Or is it? Please, let it be real.

Characters:
Sera is our leading lady and she is oh-so-relatable. Essentially a former ‘gifted’ kid, losing most of her magic and feeling stuck running the inn aged 30, she’s grouchy as anything but with the biggest heart going. At times grumpy then immediately becoming sunshine, the duality of Sera was fantastic and her entire character arc was beautiful and brilliant.
Luke, similarly, has that same grumpy persona hiding his squishy little heart, and was a wonderful MMC. His love for his sister was so wholesome and I enjoyed watching Sera and Co. break down his hard shell and draw out the real Luke.
Now, the ensemble cast really made this book sing. Jasmine, Sera’s great aunt (the recipient of the aforementioned resurrection spell), is a steady, warming presence. Matilda, one of the guests-turned-lodgers, with her vegetable garden of dreams and extreme penchant for getting into everyone’s business (but in the nicest possible way) was excellent and extremely funny. Nicholas, my esteemed knight, has my entire heart - literally, he is another guest-turned-lodger who ran away from his super rich, posh family and now works at a medieval fair as a knight 3 days a week but also wears his armour basically every day and is constantly threatening to defend Lady Sera’s honour. I just can’t cope, he was SO silly but completely adorable. Theo, Sera’s cousin, who was sent to live with her because his parents couldn’t hack having a magical kid, is a sweetheart whose friendship with Luke’s sister, Posy, just had me clutching my heart - essentially, he immediately becomes her ‘big brother’ and it is the purest thing. Posy, who is autistic and magical, and therefore has essentially been sent to live with Luke by her own parents because she doesn’t understand why she shouldn’t keep her magic secret, was just wonderful. In one hand, she holds a variety of leaves, and the other, she clutches my own little autistic heart. And Clemmie, our talking fox (and former sorcerer who accidentally turned herself into a fox - oops) was the sassiest animal companion and played such a big part in the story. I loved her complexities and her journey throughout.

Plot:
Honestly, this book didn’t even need one. It could simply be sustained purely on the vibes, but there was one so I guess I’ll comment on it. It was simple, but in the best way. Sera wants her magic back, and we are swept along on that journey. There are several subplots, including the romance, that are interwoven very nicely, and I enjoyed that each character had their moments and arcs, which only ever added to the overall experience.

Romance:
Our main romance was great. Sera and Luke are kind of grumpy x grumpy, which may be my new favourite trope, but their grumpiness is simply a thin veneer and it was SO good watching them fall helplessly for the other. This is also an example of how to plot a beautiful romance without relying on painful tropes (miscommunication, I’m looking at YOU) yet still deliver a heartwarming ending.
There was also a small, secondary romance that I won’t spoil but safe to say, I was kicking my feet with that one.

Themes:
You want themes? Rapid fire: loss (of magic, of yourself) and the reclamation of this; exile (from family, society, and/or a magical Guild), which pairs nicely with belonging, be it with other people or in a place you’d never expect; found family (a family I would truly pick up Nicholas’ sword for); and diversity - being different, not fitting in, not being from the ‘right’ background or family, or not having a brain that works like most people’s do - and how that should be CELEBRATED and not used as an excuse or reason to keep people out, make them feel small, or just plain old be horrible about.
The biggest takeaway I got from this book was about finding your nuance, your weirdness, or your differences, or whatever you want to call it… Finding the things that make you, YOU, and accepting them. Loving them. Celebrating them. Being proud of them. The below quote I feel sums up this better than my rambling does:

“Does it make you happy?”
“Yeah.”
“And is it doing anyone any harm?”
“No?”
“Then who the fuck cares what anyone else thinks?”

And maybe it sounds simplistic or whatever, but the heart behind this entire book just hit me like a truck and I had actual little (big) tears in my eyes and I just felt healed, man.

Overall:
If you can’t tell, I bloody loved this book. It was cosy, whimsical, and absolutely bonkers. I laughed, I cried. It made me feel warm and wonderful. I ended it with a big fat smile on my face and even writing this review, I can feel the tears threatening to spill. I don’t know what to say other than this book spoke to my heart/brain/soul and I replied ‘fuck yes’.

Recommendation:
If you want cosy fantasy, a slow burn romance with emotional healing, a cast of absolutely ridiculous and loveable characters, the best found family, and a whole lot of magical shenanigans, pick up this book. Please.

Rating:
5 🌟

Sera made a life-changing decision (and not just for herself) as a teenager, and she's still paying for it fifteen years later as she helps to run an inn full of characters (human, animal, magical and non-magical). When the opportunity arises to possibly restore her powerful magical abilities, could she - should she - pursue it?
There are so many threads running through this book, and they knot together extremely well to produce a compelling and heartwarming tale. The romance between Sera and Luke is just one of those threads, and I liked how it didn't take precedence over everything else, because there are more important themes at play. The relief of finding a place where you're accepted for exactly who you are, even if it's not the place you thought you were heading for. The difficulties of doing what's considered the wrong thing for the right reasons. And the choices to be made around great power and how it should be used. All of that is interspersed with great dialogue and many humorous moments - I was definitely a fan of the skeletal chicken who's still going fifteen years after accidental resurrection - and helped greatly by a cast of nuanced characters that will live long in the memory.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

With thanks to Hodderscape and NetGalley for the advance copy!

Sangu Mandanna is back with another heart-warming, hilarious novel focusing on found family and believing in yourself. I had a great time with these characters; the stakes were high enough to keep the pages turning but the whole thing was cosy enough you wouldn’t be spilling your cuppa on your autumnal blanket. I love the feeling of warmth this author’s stories bring; they envelop you and really connect you to the heart of the characters. And there’s a zombie rooster… we love Roo Roo.

Such a beautiful and heartfelt story. Perfect if you want a cozy read that is sure to improve your mood. I loved everything about this book!

In this book, we follow Sera Swan, who used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Searching to regain her magic, she finds herself thrown together with librarian Luke Larsen. Eventually Sera will come to realise that she doesn't have to do it all alone and that love might be the best magic of all.

This fluffy witchy romance is a heartwarming read. I recommend reading it when you are not in a cynical point of view but instead want to curl up into the warm embrace of a positive, accepting and cosy book hug!

A recommend read for fans of cosy fantasy romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars

I am not even joking when i say i have been waiting for this book for WAY too long! After the absolutely beautiful Secret Society, I have had this on pre-order for over a year. So you can imagine the joyous squeal i let off when i was accepted for an ARC.

Tropes:
Magic
Cute and Cosy
Found family

Summary: I don’t know what it is about Sangu that makes these books absolutely, devastatingly beautiful. Literally from the first page. Sangu has a serious talent in these cute and cosy witchy romances and I need 100 more of them, right now :). Magical Inn-keeping had grabbed me in a chokehold from the very first page and I just couldn’t put it down. It was so easy to be fully emerged in this book, between the cute and cosy, witchy vibes, found family, and lightweight feel, its just perfect and i will not take any criticism on this book, or any book from Sangu. The characters all stand out in their own way and each one is loveable, they literally jump at you with every turn of the page. Sera was easily my favourite this time around. This book is heartwarming cute and cosy. I will now begin counting down the days till Sangu releases another book!

Mandanna is the queen of cozy witchy romances. I adored The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, and I love this one just as much. Filled with a quirky cast of characters, a swoon worthy romance and so many bloody emotions, I absolutely felt transported to Batty Hole Inn (yes that's actually it's name.)

Sera Swan went from being one of the most powerful and promising young magicians England has ever seen to having barely no magic in the space of a minute, resurrecting your Great Aunt will apparently do that to you, especially when you accidentally bring back a years dead Rooster to boot. It's a loss that weighs heavily on her, and it is a loss, having this thing that made you special, made you safe being almost ripped away from you. She never regrets her decision, she would save her Aunt all over again if she had too, but that doesn't mean she can't resent her a little for dying on her in the first place. Sera's one of those characters you just fall into, you know her, you become her and through that you feel her highs and lows, of which there are plenty. Though this may be a story with a HEA, it definitely doesn't start that way and Sera, along with Luke, have their own demons, their own grief to overcome before they can become the people they need to be.

Luke has always lived his life with one foot out of the door. Never willing to overstay his welcome, something that stems back to his non-magical parents treatment of him as a child and their current treatment of his little sister. He tries his hardest to remove himself from the daily goings on at the Inn, not wanting to get himself wrapped up in the quirky found family he has found himself living with. But things don't always work out how we plan, and after Luke finds himself roped into a plan to help Sera get her magic back, he starts finding the idea of leaving the Inn, and Sere, harder and harder to swallow.

I quickly found myself wrapped up in this wondrously quirky found family, Jasmine, Sera's Great Aunt and the only person to love her for just being herself. Clemmie, a witch who accidentally cursed herself into a Fox, Matilda, a scheming older woman who found herself at the inn years ago and never left. Nicholas, the Medieval Fair Knight who takes his day job a little too seriously. And then Theo and Posy, Sera's nephew and Luke's sister who find themselves with their respective family members due to their parents inability to look after their magically gifted children. Oh, and we can't forget about Roo-Roo, the undead rooster running around. If it sounds quirky that's because it absolutely is, but Sandanna makes it work, makes you fall in love with each and every one of them... skeletal rooster and all.

I loved the story, how Mandanna wove all the different kinds of grief and trauma through it whilst still managing to make it feel lightweight. Both Sera and Luke have trauma from their past that's been dragged with them everywhere they go, and Mandanna doesn't give them an instant fix, nor a magical one, more we see them being worn down by the people and love that surrounds them. The plot itself was fairly simply, but Mandanna brilliantly weaves in some plot twists, some being incredibly emotional, to ensure we stay hooked. Not that we needed them because the characters interactions were enough for me to keep reading.

It's a story filled with so many different versions of love. The main focus being the found family we have at the Inn, but alongside that we have familial love as well as romantic. Sera and Luke's romance was wondrously slow burn and filled with tension, but it's not the main focus of the book. Mandanna made the time to focus on all these different relationships, giving space to each and every one and, while I lived for every interaction between Sera and Luke, it was the found family that I found myself the most invested in.

If you love quirky stories filled with characters that leap off the page, a brilliantly delivered magic system and a swoon worthy romance, this is the book for you. I loved this just as much as Mandanna's previous cozy witchy romance, and can't wait to see what she delivers next.