I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and the magic system was very intriguing. I would recommend this book to young adult readers.

In 1911 New York City, seamstress Frances Hallowell accidentally awakens her magical abilities during an attack from her lecherous boss. Before she can be convicted of his murder, she's whisked away to Haxahaven, a school for witches operating under the guise of a tuberculosis sanatorium. I adored the premise of this one and really wanted to like this book, but it fell flat for me. The beginning is fast-paced and interesting, but the story slows to a crawl after Frances arrives at the magic school, right when it should get exciting. I forced myself to keep reading this one, hoping it would improve, but it was ultimately too slow and repetitive for me. I wish I had a more positive experience, since the concept ticked all the boxes for me.

This was an interesting take on a YA tale. I do think a trigger warning would be appropriate and that because of some situations might be a bit mature for young readers.

I actually went to the first in person event for this book and I was definitely going to try and read it beforehand, but it was fun being just as blind as everyone else when Sasha alluded to things happening or character details. I really loved this and can’t wait for the next book. The setting was one of my favorite things in the story and it will be so cool to see a change of scenery with all the stellar description I now expect. The characters felt raw and young, in a way that lots of YA characters lack, as if the genre has slipped straight into competent adulthood. Every element was like a love letter to YA and I really enjoyed it.

Strong beginning, but once we got into the magical school it slowed down to a crawl and quickly became uninteresting. It just, failed to grab me, and the end was kind of rushed. It was an eh from me.

4.5/5 Stars
THE WITCH HAVEN was a really pleasant surprise with how much I ended up enjoying it. One part murder mystery, one part paranormal, one part historical fiction, I savored every moment of Frances' story. I loved Frances as an MC as she goes from being a seamstress to the hallowed halls of Haxahaven Academy when she finds out that she is a witch. I also loved this interesting take on a school for female witches and the dichotomy between them and the Sons. I also found it really interesting how both secret witch/wizard associations played into the overarching theme of the time period during a time where women were fighting hard for the right to vote and have autonomy over their own lives and the culpability even some women's groups had in keeping that system going. It's certainly a timely read for today. The relationship with Finn and Frances broke my heart. That's all I can say about it without spoiling anything. It broke my heart. I also love the thoughtful way that the author portrays the relationship with Frances and Lena and Maxine. It's a well-formed friendship dynamic with them/ The friendships and relationships between the girls made me smile. Secret magic and devastating betrayals culminate in an enchanting story about women's rights in a world dominated by patriarchy, and how the worst betrayals are those you don't see coming.

Historical fiction meets fantasy in 1900s New York City, where trauma wakes up magic for young women who are then swept away to a boarding school for the magically gifted. For seventeen-year-old seamstress Frances, everything changes when she's attacked by her boss, only to find his dead body at her feet with a pair of scissors sticking out of his neck. But instead of being arrested, she's whisked away to Haxahaven, a magic school in the guise of a sanitarium. The school teaches control and safe magic, but Frances is more interested in finding out what happened to her brother--especially if it had anything to do with the magical world she now inhabits.

I enjoyed the story and the atmospheric historical setting infused with magic, and there were a lot of pieces of The Witch Haven to recommend it, but overall it didn't come together in a way that particularly blew me away. It was fine--good, even--but not great.

This historical fantasy novel is set in 1911 New York City and follows the story of Frances Hallowell, a seventeen year old seamstress whose magic comes alive during a brutal attack that leaves a man dead and Frances not knowing exactly how it happened. The next thing she knows, she is whisked away to Haxahaven Sanitarium, which, it turns out, is a school for witches.

Life at Hexahaven does not turn out to be all Frances hopes it will be, unfortunately. The headmistress makes it clear magic is dangerous and their lessons are geared toward simple and relatively safe magic. Frances knows there has to be more to it than that. When mysterious notes appear on her pillow implying knowledge of what happened to her brother, Frances sneaks out of Hexahaven to find out who and what the person knows. Things do not go quite as planned.

I was glued to the pages of The Witch Haven for much of the novel. Frances does not always make the best choices; her tunnel vision to find out what happened to her brother sometimes getting in the way. It is clear she loved him and is grieving his loss. I liked her and wanted to know what happened to her brother as much as she did. But I also was really interested in knowing more about the girls around her, especially her closest friends, Lena and Maxine, who she meets at the school, each with their own specific magical gifts. There is also charming Finn, a friend of her brother’s and a fellow magic user, who promises to teach her and her friends the kind of magic they are not allowed to learn inside Hexahaven’s walls. He also agrees to help Frances on her quest to find her brother’s killer. When other bodies turn up in the same spot where her brother’s was found, solving the mystery becomes more urgent.

I liked how the author weaves the history of the time period into the story: woman’s place in society as well as touching on women fighting for the right to vote, how race/ethnicity and class played into it, and the insidious practice of forcing Native American children to leave their families to attend schools where they often faced abuse or worse. Such details, while in the background, add a layer to the novel that only makes it stronger.

In addition, corruption, money and power play roles over the course of the novel. The witches of Hexahaven are not the only ones with magic. An old boys club, mostly made up of a membership of wizards, pretty much has everyone of authority in their back pocket. And when they learn just what Frances is capable of, their leader wants her on his side. Even if she was interested though, would Hexahaven be willing to let her go?

The Witch Haven has a good mix of magic, mystery and romance. I was swept up into this story of self-discovery, girl power, a murder mystery, a rivalry between witches and wizards, the magic, and first love. The novel was quite an adventure with many tense moments and twists. I do wish the author had given us more insight into Maxine’s backstory—there is some, but it’s mostly vague—as well as some of the other characters at Hexahaven. I think it would have more fully fleshed out that aspect of the story for me. Even so, in the end, I was pleased with the direction the author went with the novel and I enjoyed it.

Absolutely bewitching and just utterly magical!

The historical fantasy elements paired with witchy goodness really made me fall in love with this one, Sasha Peyton Smith delivers a beautifully crafted debut that still has me feeling all the witchy goodness!

This book is a ride that never let's up, there is something for everyone here. Found family, historical fantasy, witchy goodness and dark academia set against the backdrop of New York! There's twists and betrayals that you will never see coming, it had me on the edge of my seat the whole time!

I loved it so very much and I would recommend it to all, it's the perfect atmospheric read for Fall I think!

The Witch Haven had a nice gothic feel to it and was a perfectly fine, albeit unmemorable read. It was easy to read with likable characters but the pacing was slower than it perhaps should have been and the magic system was less than unique. Overall, the novel doesn't stand out in its genre as being a book that will be often talked about among fantasy fans.

In 1911 New York City, seventeen-year-old Frances Hallowell spends her days as a seamstress, mourning the mysterious death of her brother months prior. Everything changes when she’s attacked and a man ends up dead at her feet—her scissors in his neck, and she can’t explain how they got there. Before she can be condemned as a murderess, two cape-wearing nurses arrive to inform her she is deathly ill and ordered to report to Haxahaven Sanitarium. But Frances finds Haxahaven isn’t a sanitarium at all: it’s a school for witches. Within Haxahaven’s glittering walls, Frances finds the sisterhood she craves, but the headmistress warns Frances that magic is dangerous. Frances has no interest in the small, safe magic of her school, and is instead enchanted by Finn, a boy with magic himself who appears in her dreams and tells her he can teach her all she’s been craving to learn, lessons that may bring her closer to discovering what truly happened to her brother.

The Witch Haven is Sasha Peyton Smith's debut novel. I was excited to read it for a couple of reasons: it's historical fantasy AND Casey McQuiston blurbed and hyped it. I really loved the beginning of The Witch Haven. Smith's writing is solid and the events that set this book in motion are compelling. I loved the initial introduction to the magical school, I loved the historical context of the story, and I loved the friendships. Once the story started focusing more on the romance and pulling away from the school, it lost me a little. It started to feel pretty predictable. Overall, this was a fun read though!

In this age where women and younger girls have to deal with constant misogyny, and being told what is proper and safe by older women, this novel examines what would happen if girls try to understand themselves and instead find meaning, trust and support in each other. It could be very empowering for young women to read this and see what healthy friendships look like, and how to be friends even if you do not quite support nor agree with everything another friend does.

The Witch Haven is a fun YA historical fantasy with excellent characters. If you're looking for a story filled with magic, a school for witches, romance, mystery, and a good dose of action to boot, this is the one for you! Highly recommended!

I really wanted to love this one, and it had very good moments and characters, but it felt like more of a miss to me. It is very possible it was more of a 'right book wrong time' moment and I plan to get a physical copy which may help. The premise was so unique and I am excited to see where this story goes.

Witch Haven is a young adult historical novel set in a New York City that is run from the shadows by magic. Frances discovers her magic as it awakens to save her life, and finds herself smack dab in the middle of a magical feud. I had very high hopes for this book because I am a sucker for historical fiction, secret boarding schools, witches, and magic - but I went into this expecting it to be written like a standalone and not realizing it was the first in a series. Overall I loved the premise and the concepts behind it and I’m interested to see where book two goes. I am not a huge fan of the obsessive romance trope and so I struggled to get on board with the romance in this book especially with all of the red flags. Some major EITA However I thought the magic system was interesting and I’m looking forward to see how the witches move forward.

Sasha Peyton Smith sets her debut historical fantasy novel in early 1900s New York City. In The Witch Haven, chaos ensues as sisterhood, magic, romance, and vengeance collide at Haxahaven Academy, a secret school for witches disguised as a sanitarium. . .

I enjoyed the first half of this book a lot! Good vibes, good description, Finn was hot, very mysterious, but ultimately it was a little bit too slow for me. I skimmed the next 25%, and then didn't finish. I think that it was good, but the second half just didn't grip me the same because the middle was so repetitive. I didn't feel like anything was happening. I also wasn't convinced by the friendships.

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A stunning historical novel mixed magic and suspense.

In THE WITCH HAVEN, Smith has gifted her readers with a wonderfully compelling tale centering around a young girl thrust into the world of magic.

Though I fully acknowledge this book is a young adult novel, there is so much about this story that transcends past this classification. First, there are the historical elements and settings which instantly transport the reader back to 1911 New York City. There is a realness to the atmosphere surrounding the Haxahaven as well as the city itself. Then, you have the introduction of magic to a girl who had no idea of its existence until an unfortunate accident with a pervy boss. Frances’s journey into becoming a witch is utterly enchanting. The way Smith brings this whole world to life allows the reader to learn right along with the girls at the school.

Next, there is the mystery surrounding her brother’s death. This thread is brought into everything Frances does. It informs so many of her decisions that as the reader, I worried about her judgment at times. Finally, there are the emotional connections between the girls’ friendships as well as the budding romances sprinkled in here and there. And I would be remiss to not mention some more contemporary themes of race and sexuality this book addresses in an expertly done way.

Every moment I spent within the pages of this book was pure enjoyment. There was romance, action, mystery, and magic all wrapped up in a historical landscape. It truly is a spellbinding read perfect for readers of all ages.

This has such an interesting premise, but it fell flat for me. It's too long for a really slow story that doesn't hit its marks like it should. For an ending I expected, I needed more for it to not be a letdown.

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher, and author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved The Witch Haven. It kept me guessing from the start. this historical fantasy book quickly had me hooked and kept me interested till the very end. I am hoping there will be more because I am still wondering about Maxine and the head Mistress and what happens to the school. Francis's story broke my heart and I was rooting for her from the start. I love the friendships that were made and the mystery of this book. I found myself wanting to yell at Francis to stop or tell her ,YES! you can do it. I highly recommend this book to all witchy readers, and those that love a good story. You won't want to put this one down.