Sangu Mandanna’s The Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches came to me by way of a book trade. “It has Cerulean Sea vibes,” my friend told me, and hot diggity damn, was she right.
Mika Moon is lonely. She is also a witch. The two truths are inextricably intertwined. All her life, Mika has been told by her mentor Primrose that witches must remain apart lest their magic get out of control, alert the public, and incite the wrath of the masses. When Mika receives an invitation to visit the well-hidden and warded Nowhere House, she’s intrigued. Upon her visit, she learns of three young witches living together under the care of four adults who wish the children to remain in their happy home. The looming visit of a solicitor has them fearful the children will be discovered as witches and taken from their grasp. The denizens of Nowhere House want Mika to teach the girls to control their magic and avoid such a fate.
If you’ve read The House In The Cerulean Sea, you can probably tell from that synopsis how Witches is similar. I mention this comparison only to entice fans of cozy, found-family fantasy. Witches has a similar structure to other books in its niche subgenres, but it also does plenty to showcase Sangu Mandanna’s talents as a writer.
I appreciated a hell of a lot about Witches, and all my praise should be bookended by the marvelous Mika Moon. Mandanna’s protagonist is layered and dynamic. Mika struggles with her deep-seated loneliness (despite having a lovely golden retriever companion) even as she displays unwavering kindness to those around her. She’s transient to protect her witchy identity, and she laments her inability to form lasting relationships simply because of who she is and what she’s been told. I love this type of character in a found-family story because they often have room to flourish and find themselves in a new environment. Mika’s arrival at Nowhere House begins with trepidation, but we see how multi-faceted she is when she interacts with the others.
Speaking of the others, what a delightful cast of characters we meet in Witches. Ian and Ken are married, and they oversee most of the goings-on. Ken loves to garden and Ian is a former actor with a talent for boisterous pronouncements and making delicious meals. Jamie manages the library and cares deeply for the three children. Lucie tends to the house, but we don’t get much from her otherwise. The three youthful witches are Terracotta, Rosetta, and Altamira, each full of quirks, dreams, and interests that will instantly capture your heart. While the book is undoubtedly Mika Moon’s story, Mandanna lets all the characters have their moments in the spotlight.
The mysterious figure behind all this is the witch Lillian, who funds the operations of Nowhere House but is otherwise usually off on some archaeological expedition.
The interactions between the cast are vibrant and sweet. Everyone wishes to grow and learn in their own way. Terracotta is the most suspicious of Mika at first, while Rosetta takes to her immediately. Jamie and Mika’s relationship is a delight, but you know I’m not gonna spoil it.
Mandanna cements herself as a bright voice in the cozy subgenre. Some novels with that label put me off because they’re afraid to dive into deep or substantive subjects. Witches grapples with them in spades. There’s even a spicy scene for those who are into that (I certainly was when it happened; props to Mandanna for her steamy vocabulary).
Chances are anyone stumbling into The Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches won’t be all that surprised with what it contains. Instead, they’ll feel snug and at-home within the pages of this heartfelt fantasy story.
Rating: The Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches – 10/10
-Cole
