A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Book Review

Melody Bowles

A Witch’s Guide To Magical Innkeeping follows in the wake of TikTok hit The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. Although it is a different story, it shares much in common with its predecessor. Anyone looking for more of the same charm and whimsy certainly won’t be disappointed.

The book opens with gifted teenage witch Sera’s great-aunt dead in the inn’s garden. Luckily, Sera’s cursed fox companion Clemmie has just the thing – a resurrection spell. The spell is a resounding success. Except it costs Sera all her magical power and results in her exile from the Guild, essentially a university for witches. The book then jumps forward to an adult Sera, still hoping one day for the return of the magic she’s lost.

Over the years, Sera has collected a number of quirky companions at the inn – the goat-loving Matilda, wannabe knight Nicholas and magical prodigy Theo. Luke and his sister Posy complete the posse. The cast are a delight, with each secondary character given his or her own moment to shine. There has been a real effort to include characters who are marginalised in different ways, whether that’s by race, economic status, sexuality, neurodivergence or disability. Each character has come to the inn searching for a place to belong, and Sera’s empathy in providing for them is presented as its own superpower, on a par with her magic. I really liked this. I feel it’s a quality that goes underappreciated in books as well as in reality. Whereas the news often contains stories of minorities being attacked, this book shows them being embraced instead.

Sera’s romantic interest is the stoic yet soft-hearted Luke, searching for a place where his autistic little sister can thrive. The inn is just the place. It’s a very sweet romance, which blends in seamlessly with the overarching themes of found family. I’d say the romance is more of a subplot – the story as a whole is much more focused on Sera’s journey to reclaim her magic.

Read A Witch’s Guide To Magical Innkeeping if you’d like a cosy, optimistic read about the power of community, found family and embracing everyone’s individuality.