Book Review: A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna has been one of my most anticipated reads for a long while. A couple years ago I read and loved her book, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, and since then I’ve been waiting for her next novel which was announced but the release kept getting pushed back. It finally came out a few months ago and although I had it from my pre-order I decided to wait til this time of year to read it.

The novel follows Sera Swan and Luke Larsen. Sera has lived at an inn in the English countryside with her great aunt since she was a kid and her parents were too busy globetrotting to stay in one place with her. As a kid it was quickly discovered that not only was she a witch like other members of her family, but that she was the most powerful witch in a long time. She became a mentee to one of the most powerful adult witches at the school for witches, the Guild. But when she’s a teenager her great aunt, Jasmine, passes away suddenly. When the talking fox, Clemmie, that lives with them (a witch who accidentally cursed herself to be trapped in the body of a fox) tells her how to bring her aunt back to life, she is successful but she is then banned from the Guild. Not only is she cut off from the Guild and her magical education, but she had used up so much of her magic doing the resurrection spell that very little remains.

Years go by and she is still running this magical inn that only lets people who need the inn and are worthy of it to find it. People like Luke Larsen and his little sister, Posy. Luke just so happens to be a magical historian working at the Guild and remembers Sera from school. And also coincidentally, Sera comes across a spell (thanks to her little cousin and Clemmie breaking the rules) that could restore her magic but it’s in a language she can’t translate. Luckily, Luke just so happens to be able to read that language. The translation may end up being easy enough, but the spell is anything but.

Will Sera and her family and friends be able to figure out the spell? Will Sera’s magic ever be restored? Will the Guild find out what she’s up to and that Luke is helping her? Will Luke find the home he is looking for for himself and Posy?

This was the coziest fantasy to read for this time of year. I love the magical, found family vibes that Sangu Mandanna creates. I loved the book and characters. They all just make you feel warm and fuzzy inside and I love the family they found in each other because they all needed it and had been abandoned in one way or another. Without spoiling anything, I understand and get the significance of the ending, but I still do wish the ending was a bit different.

I hope Sangu Mandanna writes another book, because I know I will love it.

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