A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping
Sera Swan was once 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 magical Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and a bit grumpily) helps Aunt Jasmine run an inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guest’s shenanigans, tries to keep the talking fox in check, and longs for the magical future she lost.
When she learns about an old spell book that could hold the secret to restoring her power, she finds herself turning to Luke Larsen, a gorgeous and icy historian who might be the only person who can help her unlock the book’s mysteries. The fact that he also happens to be her one-night stand from years ago is totally irrelevant.
Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and trying not to fall in love is a lot for anyone, but Sera 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.
By Naomi
I read mostly for escapism. I love diving into a new world, getting to spend some time with the characters, and then moving on to the next. Once in a while, however, I come across a book that changes something in me and stays with me for a very long time. A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping reminded me that the world really is a beautiful place. The characters may not be real people (even though they really feel like it), but there is an author out there that wrote them and that means there is at least one person that feels like this. And if there is one, there are always more. This book really highlighted for me that no matter how alone you might feel, there’s always someone that can relate to you.
The synopsis very accurately describes what this book is about. Even though Sera lost her magic at 15, she hasn’t lost what makes her special. She tries to pretend that she’s grumpy, but she cares so much about her aunt, her nephew, the lodgers, the undead chicken and the talking fox. Sera suffers from depression and caring so much is not always easy. There is something wonderful about being so known and seen by the people who love you. In fact, this book is so full of love and acceptance it should be mandatory reading for everyone.
Anyone who knows me will be shocked to hear that I could’ve almost done without the romance in this book, because there is already so many love between these pages. I like the pairing of Sera and Luke, a magical historian who needed a refuge for him and his autistic little sister Posy. I believe that their relationship will work out, but the story didn’t really need the romance (and that’s saying a lot, coming from me). I do want to highlight the autistic representation in a way you don’t often see in romance novels. I love that Posy was portrayed to be just right the way she is.
There’s also a deep appreciation for the immigrant experience and the cultural diversity of Britain in this book. It was so intrinsic to the story; almost all of the characters have a different background, but the still found their way to the Inn. One of the biggest themes of this book, and its greatest strength, is the found family. One thing all the characters have in common, is that they choose to be there. They choose to show up everyday for themselves and the ones they love, even when it’s hard. While some moments are a little bit heavier (chapter 20 in particular is beautiful), this is also a very funny book, which helps undercut the tension.
Sangu Mandanna is one of those authors that can make you laugh one page and cry the next. A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a lovely, beautiful book with a lovely, beautiful message.
