This book is truly the most perfect autumnal read. The vibes are immaculate! It's the perfect combination of cozy, yet dark. This book is like a love letter to witchcraft. It pulled at my witchy heart strings from beginning to end. It filled my heart with joy, it had me screaming and kicking my feet, and of course, it had me in tears. I loved this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel!

I've always been a big Halloween person, so naturally, I love witchy, autumnal reads. When I read the description for A Dark and Secret Magic, I knew it was something I wanted to check out. The story follows Hecate, a 30 year-old hedge witch whose magic allows her to provide healing and sanctuary to those who visit her cottage. Still grieving the recent loss of her mother, she receives short notice that she must set up her coven's annual Samhain celebration all on her own; at the same time, a necromancer from her past, Matthew, shows up seeking shelter at her home. Matthew is willing to jump in and help Hecate with all of her Halloween preparations, but while they are digging out her family's decorations, they uncover a hidden book with some dark secrets. Hecate must determine what the book means and why her mother kept it hidden - a mystery which will affect Hecate's magic and possibly even her life itself. The book is full of fall imagery, delicious food, interesting magic, and a sweet romance.

I would say you'll probably enjoy this book the most if you go into it expecting a cozy fall read that's also a reimagining of Hades and Persephone. For me, I appreciate it more if I view it as something similar to a fairy tale or mythology story, rather than a fantasy book on its own. There are a number of plot points that aren't fully developed and don't quite make sense, in the same way that fairy tales can often be confusing with details that aren't always completely explained. If you want to read a fun, spooky story featuring all things related to Halloween, you'll probably have a good time with this. However, if you are looking for a fantasy witch novel with fully developed worldbuilding, you may want to skip this book. I did enjoy reading it, but I also had a few major critiques.

I'll start with the positives. First and foremost, if you're looking for a book with a fantastic fall atmosphere, you will not be disappointed by the vibes in this one! There are so many cute descriptions of Halloween decorations, pumpkin and cinnamon treats, and other autumn-related things. It's executed really well - I could picture Hecate's cottage, her cat, Merlin, and all of her jack-o'-lanterns so clearly. I also enjoyed all of the Halloween-related activities that Hecate and Matthew did together. There's a fall festival, caramel apple making, pumpkin carving, and so much more. This book advertises itself as a celebration of Halloween, and it certainly follows through on that. The warm atmosphere was my favorite part of the novel.

Additionally, I like that the author tried to add a deeper plot to the story. These cozy Halloween books featuring witches have gotten pretty popular in the past few years, and some of them are too light without much of a plot beyond Halloween and witches and cute towns. I appreciated that this novel had a lot more going on. I especially liked the way that each witch practiced a different kind of magic. It was fun to read about book witches, sea witches, etc. I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding Hecate's powers. I also liked that Matthew's intentions were not clear for most of the story - it was fun to dissect his words and actions to try to figure out whether he was being honest.

However, there were also a couple of things that did not work for me. I found the writing to be inconsistent. The beginning of the book was especially clunky. I think it got better as it went along, but even then, the dialogue often felt unnatural. The author had a few words she repeated too frequently, and the tone often shifted unnecessarily (sometimes the characters were overly casual and other times they used more traditional language). This made it hard to grasp the characters and their personalities. I did like how easy to read the writing was, though. Even though there were so many descriptions of food and decorations, I never felt bogged down by purple prose. I just think it could have been more polished and consistent overall, although maybe this will be improved before publication.

Additionally, besides the atmosphere, everything else felt a little underdeveloped to me. All of the characters (except maybe Matthew) were a bit too shallow and one-dimensional. I could never even get a grasp of Hecate's personality, despite the fact that we were in her head the whole time. Similarly, the plot could have been expanded more. Even though I liked that the plot was more complex than that of other books in this genre, I still thought too much happened too quickly, particularly in the second half. It needed more breathing room. I wanted to see Hecate react more to all of the wild information she was discovering. And don't even get me started on the romance - I liked Matthew and I could see chemistry between him and Hecate, but it wasn't believable at all that they would fall in love after just a few days (and an afternoon ten years prior). The book also had one of my pet peeves that often comes up in underdeveloped stories: the characters mostly just meandered back and forth between a couple of set locations, which always makes the setting itself feel vague.

Even with my critiques, though, this novel is still enjoyable if you're looking for a cozy Halloween read. Sometimes, I want a relaxing seasonal book that I can read in an afternoon and not think too much about. This novel is exactly that. It would be perfect for a cold October day with a cup of pumpkin chai tea. I would be open to reading other books by this author in the future, especially since this was just a debut.

2.75 stars, rounded up to 3 stars because it did make me feel all warm and cozy at times.

If you like me are aching for Halloween and cozy spooky fall vibes this book is for you. I adored our MC Kate and her cozy hedge witch cottage. I resonated a lot with her and her story, but damn would I have folded a lot faster when a dark and mysterious hunk from my past showed up. This book was fun, it had great sibling love, romance, and dealt with complicated parental relationships. The all around paranormal witchy spookiness was so well done. Everything flowed and made sense, it was the perfect book to keep me in my summerween feels.

ARC Review: A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney

Expected Publication Date: October 8, 2024

My rating: 4.5 stars⭐️

If you’re looking to add a witchy story that is a blend of cozy and dark for Halloween, I recommend this!

Hecate Goodwin, a hedge witch living in a charming cottage with her black cat, enjoys a peaceful life filled with foraging and managing her craft. Her days are simple, centered on helping other witches and wizards with their troubles. But when she stumbles upon a tome of black magic, her serene world is shattered. As a sinister family secret begins to surface, Hecate finds herself thrust into a mystery that forces her to confront the truth about her coven and her own abilities. With the reluctant help of a banished childhood friend—now an enemy, yet fiercely protective of her—Hecate must unravel the dark secrets she's been shielded from since childhood.

The author skillfully weaves together a layered plot, transitioning from the cozy charm of Hecate's daily life to the thrilling adventure of uncovering hidden truths.

I adore Hecate's soft side and her character development as she unravels each mystery. I also love the star-crossed lovers romance aspect to this. Matthew was just dreamy. The allusion of Hades and Persephone was also a lovely touch.

My only wish for this is we could have seen more "interference" of the conflict. While I adored witnessing how Hecate grew and also fall in love with Matthew, I would have loved to see how she would have fended herself from the King but ah, I understand the limits of how a single book could show this.

Overall, well, well done. Will definitely purchase the physical book to add to my collection!

Much love to NetGalley, Alcove Press and Wallis Kenney for the ARC. I leave my review voluntarily :)

I finished this book in 1 sitting! Honestly one of my favourite reads of the year.

This is a beautiful witchy, sacrificing your life for love story.

There is a mysterious past man that rocks up into Hecate life unexpectedly. She finds out truths that have been kept from her about her powers and her coven. She doesn’t know who to believe, or what to believe as her life is thrown upside down.

It’s about the FMC finding herself, accepting betrayals from the people she loves and overcoming her own self doubts and limits.

This book is heart retching but yet empowering is one’s own self confidence and control.

3/5 ⭐️

I felt like I was reading two different books. It started off with the warm cozy fall vibes. It felt a little odd that a witch would celebrate generic Halloween but that’s okay, I like orange and black Halloween like most fall girlies.

What confused me was how the book suddenly felt much more dark towards the end. I guess I forgot it was a very loose Hades and Persephone retelling. I liked the love interest but am not really believing the time it took for them to fall in love.

Unfortunately Kate’s two sisters drove me crazy!!! One seemed like a wishy washy socialite and the other honestly ordered Kate around like she was a servant. The letter she sent demanding she get the entire house ready and just ✨shows up✨ to everything done. It felt so off when they later cared about Kate and what was happening to her.

Overall I did enjoy this book, but I’m not sure if I will continue the series only due to where the end took us. If it stayed more true to being a nice low stakes fall vibes witchy book, I would have probably enjoyed it a little more.

Everything you love about Halloween and spooky season wrapped up in one book! I wanted to live in this world so I could see, touch, taste, and hear everything I was reading about. This truly is an ode to people who thrive during spooky season.

This book is the perfect read for your fall TBR list. It was charming, gripping, romantic, and mysterious all at once and I know this will be a for sure reread during Halloween week.

Blurb: A warm, spellbinding tale about a witch and the secrets her coven has been keeping from her, with echoes of the classic Hades and Persephone story, in the tradition of Practical Magic and Witch of Wild Things.

The gist of this review: I absolutely adored this book. The characters were so beautifully developed and had such realistic and complex feelings. The pacing was perfect and all the plot reveals were so well paced. It wasn't as predictable as I thought it would be, given that it's loosely inspired by Hades and Persephone, so I appreciated the originality in how Wallis Kinney approached their story. Though there were some moments that the writing was a little confusing, it never took away from the intriguing mystery.

The magic system in this book was clear and understandable, and I loved how many unique types of magic could be practiced in these covens. (I would love to be a book witch please! If you know, you know). With the story being set the week of Halloween, the aesthetic of the setting seeped through the pages. The written imagery was gorgeous and I swear I could smell the pumpkin spice and feel the warmth of the fireplace.

There were themes of grief and family/community secrets, and it added a well-balanced depth and darkness to the story that I feel developed so well in the plot towards the end. Everything felt like it tied together seamlessly and when it all fell into place, I felt all of Hecate's grief and rage for not knowing what was truly happening her whole life.

Overall, I think this book could be an essential for a cozy fall reader! If you like a good witchy, magical mystery that has emotional depth, this book is for you!

RELEASE DATE: October 8th, 2024

A Dark and Secret Magic is a cozy modern fantasy. The cover of this book had me hooked right in, and I saved it to read on a wet rainy day on the couch with a hot cup of tea.
The magic system in this book feels very soft and nostalgic, I love a witchy book, and this has plenty of mystery and magic, oh and romance of course!
I really enjoyed the world building in this book, the character development and side characters were fantastic!
Thank you to Net Galley, Alcove Press and Wallis Kinney for the ARC of A Dark and Secret Magic in exchange for my honest review!

Anyone who loves Charmed and cozy fall mysteries will absolutely love this book. A little dash of mystery, a whole lot of magic, the perfect book to snuggle up in your favorite blanket while sipping on your first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season.

This was what warm cozy witchy book dreams are made of. I was so absorbed in the lives of every character we were introduced to and if you’re a Practical Magic or even just an Alice Hoffman fan do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this. I am OBSESSED.

A Dark and Secret Magic is a wonderful seasonal read but truly can be enjoyed anytime. Hecate Goodwin is hedge witch. Her birthday is approaching on Halloween and her older sister has asked her to host the coven Halloween party in their family home. Throughout the preparations she uncovers a secret about her mother which calls into questions her memories. To complicate things Matthew Cypher has shown up on her cottage door step asking for asylum. He is no ordinary guy though because he practices dark magic. While the story has some darker elements involving the King Below, the overall feel is quite cozy. Seeing Hecate uncover a mystery that has affected her her entire life and grow into the witch she was meant to be was nice. Matthew is a wonder book boyfriend as well. I recommend this one if your looking for a book jump start your fall reading.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Perfect Fall setup - load the season with this read
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃
I’ll be extremely honest- I’m not done reading it yet… HOWEVER, the ambience this book brings just from the beginning is the absolute Fall buildup we need.
As soon as I was done with page one I was like, ok, she knoooows what she’s doing. Giving us Fall-core.

I’m at about 60% and will come back to edit once I’m done. But so far would absolutely add this to your fall (or pre fall) TBR!

My Rating 3/5

This book started off pretty slow and I had to trudge through but it did end up picking up towards the middle. I will say what I liked most about it was the fall vibes, everything was so fall and cozy!
The main character talks a lot about food...like a lot. Was a little odd but it's kind of relevant to her character? Idk it just made me hungry sometimes. I love reading green witch stuff so if you love that type of stuff you'll like that aspect of the book.
My biggest gripe unfortunately --the romance. Which in a romance novel not so good. A bit of a spoiler ahead here but the love interest apparently loves her for TEN YEARS based on one afternoon together. It was so unrealistic it completely took me out of the story. Especially considering how much he does for her because of that.
In the end I thought the book was okay, it seems like there might be a second coming? I like it enough to read that one when it comes out .

If you love witchy stuff and cozy fall vibes I think you might enjoy this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC!

A Dark and Secret Magic is somewhere between cozy fantasy and straight up modern fantasy. Cozy elements are definitely there including an opening scene of our protagonist crocheting a pumpkin decoration, and recipes at the end of the book for things such as hot chocolate and banana bread. However, once we get into the story, more elements of the dark underside of the tale are introduced. Of course, there is a love story, but we also explore relationships with parents who have passed, siblings who are both a pain in the a$$ and your best friends, and those whom you have trusted, but may no longer be trustworthy.

Overall a great read. It took me a while to get into the story. Probably because I was attempting to read it at peak summer in 90+ degree weather and the entire book takes place the week before Halloween. It’s definitely a perfect read to get you in the mood for spooky season.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for accepting my request to read and review this book early

Let’s be honest, I fell in love which the cover and absolutely HAD to read it.

The autumnal vibes were poppin.

I would say this book is a cosy fantasy, with the kind of magic and witchcraft that feels nostalgic and soft, I adore witchy books like this they are so comforting.

I also didn’t get bored by the “coziness” which I have found in other books like this.

I really enjoyed Hecate and Matthew, I mean 10 years is a long time, but we love pining!

This is definitely the kind of fantasy I would recommend to romance lovers that want lower stakes and a lot of tension. If you’re after a more crazy story you mind find this a little too slow.

My only complaint personally is that there were a few times I found the lacing a little slow but I know it’s a hard balance.

Overall really enjoyed it and will definitely be looking more into this author.

“You are not what you should be, little girl.”

Reading this book you are flooded with the sensuality of autumn..the wonderful dark orange and brown colors, the smells of cinnamon and rain, the foggy mornings, the mysterious forests and of course the pumpkins..And all of the above covered by a sheet of mystery. .Dark secrets that the protagonist, a powerful witch who did not choose her powers, must discover with the help of a charming and protective necromancer...

It is an atmospheric story, well written and with excellent descriptions. By reading it you will enter the world of witches, a cozy but also mysterious world, you will learn great recipes for hot chocolate, beverages and sweets and you will surely love the love story that develops under many difficulties..

If you are looking for the next book to read this autumn and especially for Halloween, then this should definitely be your first choice!

"We are locked into each other, neither one willing to be the first to break."

A wonderful blend of cozy and spooky magic, with the story set in the lead-up to Samhain and giving me all the witchy content I had hoped for when I read the synopsis.
Hecate Goodwin is the only hedge witch, thanks to her mother choosing that for her at birth. After her mother’s passing, the lead-up to Samhain comes with warning dreams, unwelcome guests, and dark magic.
The characters and story felt mature and included a nice dash of romance without venturing into the spicy adult content. The story was somewhat slower-paced, but still progressed fast enough to capture me and keep me hooked until the final pages. Overall, a well-written seasonal fantasy that delivers all the essential magic with an intriguing plot.
As a lover of all things witchy, spooky and Halloweeny, this was a wonderfully enjoyable read I very much recommend.

This is an eARC review.

This. Was. So. Good.
I am so ready for fall, and this was the perfect cozy, magical, witchy book for it. The writing was so descriptive that I could see everything playing out in my head like a fall movie you want to watch every fall season. The story was so well introduced and executed. The magic system was so creative. I loved the characters that I was supposed to love and hated the characters that I was supposed to hate. I immediately need more books like this in my life.

A Dark and Secret Magic is set against a cozy, autumnal atmosphere and will make for a fantastic read upon its October release.

I enjoyed the combination of Hecate’s practicality and emotions as a character, as well as her complex relationships with her sisters and fellow witches. While I enjoyed the overall mood of the book, the initial pacing of the story and smidge of an insta-love backstory was lost on me. Regardless, this is a great addition to an evening spent with a hot chocolate and a soft blanket.

Thank you, NetGalley and Alcove Press, for the opportunity to read this ARC.