A simply sweet story about family, being who you are, and trusting others. It starts out a bit slow but gradually builds and before long, you are fully immersed into the story and into the lives of the characters. Almost to the point you don't want it to end.
Mika is a witch and a lonely one at that. She lives in a world where you have to hide who you are or take the chance of being persecuted. Even being with other witches is an impossibility as that much magic together can cause disaster. On top of that, all witches are orphans. So besides the âonce in a blue moonâ meeting the witches get together to have, Mika keeps a solitary life moving around and running her own website. When she is contacted about a teaching job for 3 young witches, she is hesitant but also curious. When she arrives at the home, she finds the caretakers consisting of Ian, Ken, Lucie and Jamie. Even though she has her doubts, she decides to give it a chance and finds more than a job within this warm, loving home.
The part that stands out in this book for me is the characters. They were the type that I just wanted to hang out with. Along with the story line, it was a very fun read. Would love to read another book in this series just to see the girls as they grow older.
I read The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna in August 2023 for book club, and I really enjoyed it. This is a great option for readers who want a 'seasonal' book in September or October but don't like scary/horror novels.
I liked Mika Moon, the main character, who's searching for a place she can call home. Little did she know what would await her when she knocked on the door of Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. I enjoyed the cozy mood (so much tea!), strong theme of found family, and a touch of romance in this plot, which is magical realism (my preference) rather than fantasy. I especially enjoyed the plot twist that caught me completely by surprise! Some in our group said this reminded them of The House in the Cerulean Sea while I compared it to Legends & Lattes.
The audiobook narrated by Samara MacLaren was wonderful; her accent added to the sense of place.
