Mika Moon is a witch, and a member of a group of witches who meet up regularly – but not too regularly. As Mika and her fellow witches all know, the rules of their group mean they’re supposed to keep their magic a secret, only see each other at these meetings, and avoid spending time with any other witches so that their magic won’t grow to a level that will be noticed. Mika follows the rules…. mostly. I mean, basically she’s going along with them, she only has one tiny account where she shares witchy videos, but so do lots of non-witches. It’s the internet. No one will actually believe that she’s a real a witch. Will they?
So starts the book, and from here it takes some unexpected turns. Starting with the fact that someone does, in fact, believe she’s really a witch – and not only that, but they want her to come and meet them. Someone who claims to have a unique opportunity for her, one that involves taking care of three children, not something she’s got much experience with. And not only that, but these three children? They’re all witches. Living together. Without an adult witch to help them learn to control their magic. The whole situation is a huge problem, and it’s just a matter of time before it blows up in everyone’s faces… very possibly literally.
Mika goes to Nowhere House as requested, not really sure what to expect. What she finds definitely wasn’t it, though. Not only do they really believe that she’s a witch, but they were telling the truth: there are three young orphans, all living at Nowhere House, all with magical powers. They want her to help the girls control their magic, and there’s a deadline – they have to be able to pass for normal girls before an outsider comes to the house who could destroy everything if he finds out the truth.
Mika is quickly drawn into the strange ersatz family that includes two caretakers, a retired actor, a librarian and a benefactor – who is nowhere to be found. Said benefactor is a mysterious archaeologist (and witch) who has brought them all together. Mika is hesitant at first, having spent her entire childhood (and adulthood, come to that) having it drilled into her how important it is to be separate from other witches. She’s shocked that these three girls are living together, and uncertain as to whether she will be able to help them with the predicament they’re currently facing, or even if she should try.
But it doesn’t take long for Mika to feel like there’s something special about Nowhere House and its occupants. It’s not just the magic, it’s that it’s…. a home. A real one, and this mismatched collection of people are a family who are loyal and devoted to one another in a way Mika has never experienced before. Soon she wants nothing more than to protect these girls and their secret, and to help them stay together despite the risks. And she’ll have to take some serious risks to make that happen.
I loved almost everything about this book. I adore found families, and I especially like it when they are comprised of people who, for whatever reason, don’t have a family of their own and have had a hard time feeling comfortable in the world around them. I adore it when kids are given unconditional love and protection, because every kid deserves that. I love reading about proper homes, ones where each member has space to call their own, each is able to express their personality and interests, and everyone makes an effort to really listen to and support one another. (I also loved the koi pond since I’ve got one of those myself!) The characters in this book are well-written – they have back-stories, flaws and complexity that allows them to grow and change as the book progresses and their relationships develop. I love books that give characters multiple dimensions, and that let them to be something other than perfect. They’re much more interesting that way. The plot was fast-paced and had great tension, and there’s even some romance sprinkled liberally on top if you’re into that kind of thing (I’m not really, but it was done well enough that it was bearable and didn’t take over the elements of the plot I was more interested in).
I’m thrilled I finally gave this book a try, because it turned out to be exactly what my exhausted brain and heart needed. I loved watching the friendships develop throughout the book, seeing Mika finally find somewhere worth trying to make into a proper home, and something worth fighting for. There are lots of great twists and turns, lots of dramatic moments, and plenty of warm fuzzies. The magic is done well too, not over the top or inconsistent, and I liked how it’s woven through the plot (mostly in the background). This is a great, wholesome, heartwarming read, and it’s one I’d definitely recommend to anyone who’s a fan of The House in the Cerulean Sea or Legends & Lattes and looking for something to read next!
A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family–and a new love–changes the course of her life.
As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules…with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.
But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.
As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn’t the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for…. – Goodreads
Book Title: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Author: Sangu Mandanna
Series: No
Edition: Audiobook (Libby)
Published By: Berkley
Released: August 23, 2022
Genre: Fiction, Cozy Fantasy/Romantasy, Magic, Witchcraft, Found Family
Pages: 318
Date Read: January 12-13, 2025
Rating: 8.5/10
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.08/5 (255,475 ratings)