This story is such a fun little Halloween read! It gives Practical Magic vibes for me. The 3 sisters remind me loosely of the Archeron sisters. Miranda being like Nesta, Hecate like Feyre and Celeste like Elain. There isn’t a deep dive into each character but just the overall dynamic reminds me of them.

This story isn’t spicy but the relationship between Hecate and Matthew is really sweet. I love how proud Matthew is of Hecate’s achievements and his unwavering faith that she is powerful. Hecate is a relatable FMC with her cozy cottage, Merlin her cat familiar and her questioning of her life being stagnant. The quest to learn the secrets of her mother’s life and realizing her full potential is a great way to start the fall season. The FMC is also in her 30’s, another big plus for this story

"That's the great thing about being a witch, Mom. We get to decide what is true."

How could I not be captivated by the description of this book? A Hades and Persephone retelling mixed with Halloween, and the possibility to enjoy the autumn season in the middle of summer? I had to pick it up. I read the entire book in one sitting, which is a pretty good sign of how much I liked this story. I became invested almost immediately in Hecate's story, and the entire book just felt heartwarming.

I also have a strange passion for books where magic is connected to food and cooking, and the fact that all the recipes are described in detail made me appreciate it even more.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect cozy story for the fall. The witchy, Halloween vibes mixed with the forbidden romance made for an all around fun read!

With the world building like Practical Magic, and a love like the Discovery of Witches, I was ready to be immersed from the first page, but found some problems.

Hecate is a cozy character, a witch in a small town getting ready to channel her powers to being purely a hedge witch, until strange dreams and long forgotten loves turn up on her doorstep. Matthew is the man from another coven who once betrayed her trust, but by asking for sanctuary Hecate must let him into her home, good idea or not. To top it off her absent sisters demand she get the house ready for the Samhein celebrations including Hecate's upcoming ritual to bind her powers. But returning to the house her mother called home Hecate finds a connection between her dreams and her recently deceased mother. A bargain and a changed fate leave Hecate facing a ferryman to the dead, the King Below, who's become obsessed with Hecate. She needs to trust in Matthew's knowledge of the dark arts, but may discover something else but trust beneath the surface. As the pair prepare for the night of Halloween more than one secret will be spilt between family, former loves, and a long unclaimed gift.

The story is richly written with many beautiful scenes of cottage core at their best and delightfully warming. These however were a bit heavy handed in the story themselves, leaving Matthew coming across as too much like the Matthew from a Discovery of Witches, lacking a depth that made the romance between the two a little hard to feel. There were also some snap character decisions that made no sense, one page stating Hecate was fine with Matthew's secrets and on the very next she was not. This left me feeling some things were rushed and some of the world building at the end not so clear. I feel as though some of those earlier scenes could be cut back to better build on both Matthew and the ending, including clarity and world building around the sisters and coven itself.

This was still a story richly written and Kinney's ability to make the reader feel as though Hecate was there and serving one of her special magic laden teas was what made this book a lovely witchy read.

Wowowowowowowow I really enjoyed this book! The story was amazing world building was amazing and the characters were amazing.

Thanks to the Publisher for the ARC copy of this book.
I found A Dark and Secret Magic a cosy and autumnal vibey reading. If you want to read something witchy and romantic that's the book to read next autumn. I really liked the main character and her journey of discovery tinted with a touch of mystery.
Though it wasn't perfect this book was really entertaining and very difficult to put down, I'm not an English native speaker but I read it like in 2 days.
Very recommended for a rainy autumn afternoon with a cup of tea and a cat to pet to try to feel a witch yourself!

2.25⭐️

ARC kindly provided by publisher via NetGally in exchange for an honest review.

a cute witchy fall read. nothing to wild or crazy to rave about on this one. a quick read that could be fun around halloween for some, but was just a bit slow.

Are you looking for a witchy read? Well, you found one!

As a huge fan of all things witchy, I was not disappointed with A Dark and Secret Magic. It has great world building, amazing autumnal vibes, and is the perfect thing to put you in the mood for spooky season. The romance isn't as spicy as I usually read (the door is slightly ajar and there is maybe a nightlight on) but I still really enjoyed my time with it.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC :)

I am almost kind of sad that I didn't read this in October because it's the perfect book for October! If you love all things magic, stories about witching and the perfect October atmosphere, this is the book for you. It has all: coziness, autumnal feel, magic and various magic use, sisterhood, intrigue, romance and mystery.

Kate is very brave and a heroine I really liked. She's extremely resilient and she is definitely not a damsel in distress. She's lovely and kind. I loved reading about her and through her eyes. Matthew is a good contrast to her but what I loved about him is that he's patient and so in love with her, just - hit all the right buttons, even if he did keep things from her for a good reason.

The only reason I am not giving this five stars is that for me personally, something we learn from Ginny very early on spoils the ending, or at least it did for me. But please don't let that stop you from reading, I really did genuinely enjoy reading this - it took me a few days but only because I was constantly waiting for little pockets of peace to read this undisturbed.

This book was nothing like what I was expecting! Based on the description, I was expecting a cute cozy fantasy, but what I got instead was a high stakes magical adventure. It had a great blend of plot and romance and an interesting cast of characters. This book is overflowing with autumnal vibes and would be perfect to read in October, cuddled up under a blanket, sipping a pumpkin spice latte!

The vibes in this book are so cozy and unique!

“A Dark And Secret Magic” blends Halloween, magic, mystery, romance, cottagecore, and witchy elements into a delightful read!

I found it very enjoyable during the summer, but I can just imagine it being ABSOLUTELY fantastic to read in late autumn as Halloween approaches!

The magic in the story is really captivating and easy to understand.
The plot is engaging and well-paced, making it a fun read.
The "forbidden" romance aspect was charming, though I wished Kate and Matthew's relationship had a bit more development during the story.

The recipes at the end of the book were a wonderful addition, I'm definitely planning to try some of them out!

To conclude i think that if you are looking for a cozy read about witches, mystery and a bit of romance, this book is waiting for you!
I suggest just to wait until autumn to read it as you will surely enjoy it more deeply!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book!

A Dark and Secret Magic is witchy, mysterious, magical, and romantic! If you're looking for a new cozy autumn-halloween read, this is it!

Kate is a hedge witch who lives in a secluded cottage with only her black cat Merlin for company. She enjoys her quiet days gardening or preparing tinctures for the apothecary she owns. When Matthew shows up at her doorstep, shortly after finding out she is supposed to host the Halloween celebration for her coven, her solitude is broken. Matthew, in contrast to Kate, practices dark (forbidden) magic. Though as we all know, dark and light cannot exist without one another, which is portrayed on multiple levels.

Kate is probably one of my favourite heroines I've read thus far. She's soft and loving, clever and decisive, and not your usual damsel in distress. She takes her faith in her own hands, and I loved her for it.

Need I talk about Matthew? Swoon worthy! The way their relationship developed was lovely to see, and although there was miscommunication, I didn't hate it - Shocker, I know! They compliment each other so well.

Witchy girlies, this one is definitely for you! 🫶🏻🍂

thank you netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

A perfect Autumn read for the crystal girlies or anyone looking for cozy, witchy, cottage vibes!

This story was so fun and enjoyable -- witches, shadow magic, secrets, cute romance, yummy recipes, & the coziest autumn aesthetic.
I really enjoyed the magic within this book, and felt it was very digestible and easy to comprehend. The storyline was fun and well paced in my opinion. I loved all of the secrets and the dark magic aspects that we learned as the story progressed. I did, however, wish there was more detail about the coven or even more of an exploration into the other magic specialties outside of our MC's abilities. The Halloween vibes were fun and felt so nostalgic. I absolutely love celebrating Halloween, so I am so excited for everyone to read this in October when it releases.

The "forbidden" romance storyline was cute, but I was definitely wanting a little more from Kate & Matthew. The chemistry felt a little off for me, and then the feelings started to feel a little rushed because I wanted more tension/build up between the two.

The recipes included at the end of the book were such a fun touch! I was drooling over everything that Kate made throughout the story, so having the recipes at the end was a happy surprise!

Many thanks to Alcove Press & NetGalley for this ARC in exchange of my honest review. All thoughts are my own!

Utterly delightful and absorbing, I love how Matthew marches in and shakes up Hecate’s cottage world. ✨🔮🕯️As the title implies there’s all manner of dark magic afoot and secrets piling up until they crash like dozens of skeletons fallen out of the closet, culminating on Samhain with fate sweeping in. 🍁🎃🍂 Topped off with lots of wholesome witchy aspects that spell one delicious weekend read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

This book had all the underpinnings of a fleshed out magic world, a heroine who is hell bent on uncovering a secret (and learning more about her powers as a hedge witch!!) and a hot powerful shadow magic boyfriend. As someone who reads a lot of witchy romance books, I think it's important to figure out what makes this book different from the others - and I would say this leans into the fantasy over the romance, insofar as the magic system is clearly at the center. There's an element of darkness and mystery that makes it less fluffy than some of the witchy romances I enjoy reading (thinking of Erin Sterling.) If anything, this book feels reminiscent of Hazel Beck's series - there's that same rich, descriptive style of writing with a heroine coming into her powers and into her own with an attractive MMC who just wants to see our FMC find herself. The romance is slower to build, which makes sense given its second chance romance - and the author did a great job of interspersing worldbuilding with mystery at the start so that the book felt well-paced. Honestly, the perfect witchy book to cuddle up with a cup of tea when you're looking to dig in for a few hours.

My only gripe (which will not be impacting stars) is that the ARC was really poorly formatted for the kindle, and just had the tiniest font on NetGalley's app, and that definitely had me picking up and putting down the book over and over because I kept getting frustrated.

Thank you SO much to the author and NetGalley for this arc!

Let me tell you I've been in such a Halloween state of mind lately and this book brought me back to the magical fun essence of Halloween. I loved the storyline and it had the right amount of magic and fun, I would have loved more depth into the coven and more magic systems but I absolutely want to pick up a physical copy when this is released! I also LOVED the included recipes at the end of the book!

*** I received an e-ARC of this book from Alcove Press through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review***
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🍂🎃☕️ Oh my gosh. This book is a MUST read. Instant cozy vibes. And look at that cover 😍 My autumn loving heart was so happy. It has all things fall- a cozy cabin, witches, Halloween, Samhain, magic, evil, and love. I could not put it down and read it in one sitting. This should be at the top of your fall reading list!

✨ Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley.

And so it begins… The story of Hecate - Kate - Goodwin, hedge witch of her coven, 6 days before Halloween (loved the counter and foreshadowing that comes with it). The novel throws us into the cosiest cottage at the most wonderful time of the year. Autumn and Halloween are my fav seasons of the year and the book captures the atmosphere, the smells, the colours and the feeling in a particularly magical way!

The story as such is not outstandingly new, but the way it is told is just so calm yet exciting and somehow enemies to lovers? Because 10 years ago Kate had an encounter with a hexan from the Pacific Gate, a coven that is not necessarily on good terms with the Atlantic Key coven because they practise their magic in the forbidden dark arts. When Kate experiences an ominous and disturbing dream one night in which Mags, an old (and by then deceased) witch from her coven, tells her about a book written by her mother and the King Below, the mood is set for Samhain and the days to come, and when the aforementioned Pacific Gate hexan unexpectedly appears at her door and asks for shelter, things get really spooky (and, of course, tingly).

The story is cosy throughout, I can't describe it any other way. The recurring conflicts between Kate and her two sisters, as well as the bickering between her and Matthew, are lively and funny in a fresh way. I particularly liked the types of magic and how the coven works. As well as kitchen and hearth witches, there are also book witches, time witches, meta-magick witches, garden witches and more. They all have to pay a price for using their magic. Texts and books that Ginny (book witch) reads rub off on her personality and she can grasp the content in moments, but to truly internalise a book and absorb her inner library (which she can visit Sherlock-like to research), she must give up knowledge otherwise. ‘Like all crafts, their magic requires sacrifices’. I found these subplots incredibly interesting and they made Ipswich and the story so vivid.

I don't want to go into the big conflict and the family secret at this point, but it's eerie and mysterious. It’s also not groundbreakingly new, but I don't think well-told stories have to reinvent the wheel to inspire. It's clear from the start that Matthew didn't come to Ipswich entirely altruistically and that there have probably been some misunderstandings in the past, but it was still fun to watch him and Kate playing cat and mouse. I was surprised how little drama there was in some of the conflicts between Kate and her sisters. For Matthew mummifying Miranda's arm, she reacts quite calmly towards Kate. I mean, he killed part of her limb out of an overprotective instinct, but Miranda doesn't give Kate hell about it and the sisters get back together without too much tension and emotional disaster. I liked that very much. There were several of these situations that I found similarly terrific to Becky Chambers Wayfarer. The lack of exaggerated emotions leaves more room for action and relevant emotions and story.

For me, this was a wonderful read. I enjoyed it from the start and loved the setting and location. It was a bit ‘Wednesday’ and ‘Gilmore Girls‘, but in pumpkin spice and double cream. The next time I'll read the book will be just before 31 October, when hopefully all the trees will be orange-red and the weather a bit harsher. So if you like atmospheric, magical romance with charm and humour and a lively small town, Ipswich is the place for you!

Overall, this was a lovely, cozy, witchy read that would be perfect for spooky season, especially because it takes places in the days leading up to Samhain. It has an interesting magic system where each witch specializes in certain, different types of magic such as hedge, kitchen, book, etc.

The only issue I had was the speed of the main romance. While I liked both Matthew and Hecate and ended up liking them together, it just felt a bit rushed.

Definitely worth picking up for a quick cozy October read when it comes out!

Absolutely loved this. Hecate (Kate) is the first hedge witch in 200years and doesn't fully understand her power until a handsome hexan from another coven lands on her door asking for refuge.

This is a super cosy Samhain read with a slow burn romance & superb character growth and I love that there's recipes included at the end of the book.