ARC Review: A Wtich's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

 

A whimsical and heartwarming novel about a witch who has a second chance to get her magical powers—and her life—back on track, from the national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

Sera Swan used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and just a bit grumpily) helps her aunt run an enchanted inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guests' shenanigans, tries to keep said talking fox in check, and longs for the future that seems lost to her. But then she finds out about an old spell that could hold the key to restoring her power…

Enter Luke Larsen, handsome and icy magical historian, who arrives on a dark winter evening and might just know how to unlock the spell’s secrets. Luke has absolutely no interest in getting involved in the madcap goings-on of the inn and is definitely not about to let a certain bewitching innkeeper past his walls, so no one is more surprised than he is when he agrees to help Sera with her spell. Worse, he might actually be thawing.

Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and staying one step ahead of the watchful Guild is a lot for anyone, but Sera Swan is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone...and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.

Title: A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping

Author: Sangu Mandanna

Publisher: Berkley

Expected Publication Date: July 15, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I truly loved the other book in this world and was super excited when I heard there would be another. Don't be fooled, though, this book is not a sequel. While it takes place in the same world, the characters are all different and there is no true overlap with them.

Mandanna did a fabulous job of pulling me right into this story. I love her magical theme and how she integrates it with the characters and the plot. She's queen of the cozy fantasy plot for me. She wraps me in her stories and they give me all the good feels.

Sera is such a great character. She's funny and loving and caring. Almost too much. She barely takes care of herself. Which is commendable but also somewhat detrimental. She has lost most of her magic but wants to desperately get it back. As if that would make her a better person. But what she learns along the way is that she is already that amazing person. She surrounds herself with people who love and care for her, even if she doesn't truly let them.

Luke Larson just wants to take care of his autistic sister, Posy, and do his job. But he cannot find a good fit for his sister to be educated in the ways of magic. She doesn't fit into the "normal" box of a witch so it's harder for her to be educated that way. And his parents are no help. They just want her to be "normal" and Luke understands she is not like other witches. He grew up being different and forced into a box and he does not want that for his sister. When he finds Sera's inn, it's not by mistake. The inn allows those who need it to be drawn to it. Luke has no intentions of staying but somehow he does and it turns out to be the best thing for both him and his sister!

I love the found family theme in this book. It shows that blood is not always true to accepting you for who you are. And it shows you can find others to be your family when your own family won't. I love how they all work together to attain the goal of finding out how to bring Sera's magic back. I also love that they all are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to save each other.

Overall, this book wrapped me up and guided me through so many emotions. I laughed, I teared up, I got nervous, and then I was so happy at the end. Mandanna knows how to write a story that keeps you engaged. I was entertained the entire time. I loved the world building, the character development, and the plot. This book was charming and fun. Highly recommend picking it up and giving it a try!

Author:

Sangu Mandanna was four years old when an elephant chased her down a forest road and she decided to write her first story about it. Seventeen years and many, many manuscripts later, she signed her first book deal. Sangu now lives in Norwich, a city in the east of England, with her husband and kids.