3.7 Stars
One Liner: A good debut; cozy read

Hecate Goodwin aka Kate lives in a cozy cottage near the Ipswich forest in the same compound as her family house, Goodwin Manor. As a hedge witch, she prefers solitude and the company of her black cat, Merlin.
Suddenly, Kate is bombarded by nightmares, strange messages, her older sister Miranda, and Matthew Cypher, a man who once tricked her. Kate has to host the annual Halloween gathering while dealing with what would occur on her birthday (the same date). Matthew’s arrival complicates things as he comes from a coven that practices forbidden magic.
However, Matthew may be the only one to help her when the truth of her dead mother’s dark magic practices comes to the front. Turns out, Kate’s mother hid many secrets. Whom should Kate trust? What should she do?
The story comes in Kate’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
Isn’t that an adorably cozy cover? Despite the word dark in the title, the book doesn’t get too dark or dive deep into scary elements. It has a few scenes and some danger but the overall vibe is pretty much comfy.
The setting is atmospheric, be it the forest, the cottage, the manor, or the little bits of village we get to see. I could feel the mist and the darkness of the shadows lurking around and waiting for the FMC.
A lot of space is taken up by routine activities like cooking, eating, etc. This is another reason for the cozy vibe. The story progresses a little during these scenes but not all readers will enjoy it.
Kate’s arc is decent (she has her flaws) but the others are pretty straightforward. Matthew gets some sort of grey shades but then we know he is the hero, so it’s only Kate and others doubting his intentions. I do wish at least the main side characters had a little more depth.
This is a romance with some paranormal danger thrown in. While I did like the possibly enemies-to-lovers (at least for Kate) trope, the love happens too fast and some of it feels unbelievable.
The blurb calls this a celebration of the Halloween season, which is an apt description. Shaman is a big day for the witches, and the preparations start early. There’s a lot of pumpkin as well (carving, latte, etc.).
The pacing is steady. It may feel slower at times but I think the momentum sustains pretty well.
An epilogue would have been nice too. It was needed as I had a few questions about some motives, etc.
There are recipes at the end (yay) for the various dishes mentioned in the book. I like a couple of those and might try them one day.

To summarize, A Dark and Secret Magic is a cozy witchy romance with a touch of darkness and danger. It is a good debut work (and no kitchen sink). I look forward to reading more books by the author.
Thank you, NetGalley and Alcove Press, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This is a perfect autumnal fantasy read. There are so many Halloween vibes, from pumpkin picking & carving to kids trick-or-treating. And to top it off, you get the best witchy cottagecore vibes as well! I truly loved everything about this - though I am a bit sad we didn’t get an epilogue to show how the resolution plays out. I may actually try some of the recipes at the end!

10/10 will read every spooky season.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The perfect witchy book for fall! In the days leading up to Halloween, Hecate Goodwin (Kate) is getting ready for her birthday and the annual coven gathering. Normally happy to live a life mostly of solitude as a hedge witch, Kate is shocked when a man from her past arrives asking for sanctuary. Matthew Cypher is from the Pacific coven and practices magic forbidden in her coven. As they grow closer and some strange things start happening, Kate learns more about her own magic and a dangerous deal her mother made.

For fans of Practical Magic or A Discovery of Witches, it is fantastically cozy, mysterious, and romantic.

I don't even know where to begin. A Dark & Secret Magic is a magical book. Full of love, danger, the unknown, family, spells, and deceit.

Hecate, preferring to be called Kate, is the middle Goodwin sister. Her mother passed this year, taking her magic and a lot of secrets with her. Kate is a hedge witch. Born to heal and help. Miranda, the oldest sister, is a sea witch. Celeste, the youngest, is a celebrity witch. She's a master of the tarot.

Samhain is upon us and with it will come the usual celebrations for a witches' new year. But a surprise appears on Kate's doorstep prior to Samhain. Matthew Cypher. Matthew disappeared from Kate's life a decade prior when he was found alone with Kate. He has come to request sanctuary. With him come so many questions. Is he good, is he bad? But what Kate feels most of all is the pull of love.

As Samhain approaches, Kate starts having fearful nightmares. Matthew is there to try to help her navigate the days before her 31st birthday when she will fully give herself over to being a hedge witch and relinquish her other powers. But as the day approaches, Matthew tries to convince her that containment is not the answer, she must embrace her other half. Kate is torn. Does she believe Matthew, a shadow hexan, or her coven? And with her mother gone, how will she move forward?

Truly an amazing book. I was mesmerized by every little detail. It's such vivid writing. So intriguing and engaging. Honestly, this would be a series I would follow for the days to come. I want to know more. Everything. An amazing read.

A cozy magical autumnal romance with a touch of Practical Magic and Hades x Persephone as a hedge witch discovers an old love and a dark family secret. Hecate Goodwin is the only hedge witch in centuries and as Halloween nears and her containment ceremony to cut off some of her magic nears... things take a turn. Halloween marks both Kate's birthday and her coven's Halloween gathering and she in charge of it. Yet suddenly Matthew Cypher appears at her door asking for shelter, and as a hedge witch it is her duty to oblige despite how much she does not want him near her after their falling out as teens. Matthew is a practitioner to forbidden magic and the boy who tricked her all those years ago. Matthew is as handsome as he is tricky. He says he's here to get away from his family but he keeps breaking down her guard with his kindness and how much he cares for her. Kate doesn't know what to make of this version of him and to make matters worse she discovers that her mother has a dark magic book that is related to Kate's own fate... and that a dark entity is coming after her. The more Kate digs into her mother's past and with Matthew's help the more she is beginning to question everything she's ever known. With Halloween looming and romance slowly happening, Kate needs to find her magic and her courage to save both herself and all those she's loved. This was an absolutely delightful cozy romantic read, filled with autumnal vibes and witchy romance. I absolutely fell in love with this book and would highly recommend this for anyone looking for a cozy witchy autumn read filled with romance and all you could ever want in an autumn book. The romance builds so well and the magic in the world was just a delight to read. I will absolutely be recommending this book to everyone this autumn!

Release Date: October 8,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Alcove Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A Dark and Secret Magic, by Wallis Kinney is the perfect cozy fall read! I loved everything about this book, so I read it in one sitting. The world building, the plot, and above all the characters make this tale rich, and inviting.

4.5 stars. What a sweet, witchy, cozy read! A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney is reminiscent of practical magic with strong themes of family, magic, and a sense is belonging.

This is the first witchy book I’ve read that delves deep into actually explaining different types of witchcraft. While I may not know if it’s accurate, the descriptions of the different types of witches - hedge, shadow, kitchen, etc - were fascinating. The “world building” in this modern setting was excellent.

The story was cute with a few high stakes moments, but overall a perfect cozy fall read. Hecate is 30 year old hedge witch who is set her routine until a hexan from the notorious Pacific Gate coven, Matthew, shows up seeking sanctuary. Hecate is charming. Matthew is mysterious and precious. The overall story explores the idea of how the choices we make us who we are meant to be. The story wraps up nicely after some pretty tense moments.

The author uses the same descriptive words often, especially the word “bemused.” That’s really the biggest issue I had. It was a fun book and I will recommend it all October!

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove for the eARC!

This book was really good, a perfect book to read during fall. The witchy atmosphere and magical world were very well written, as it blended well with the mundane. I had trouble at the beginning getting into the book, but once I did I couldn't put it down. The characters were kind of cliche but I loved the banter between the two main characters.

I am loving this cozy witchy read! The unique magic aspects, the intriguing FMC and the curious dreams she's having- all keeping me vested in the storyline. Great addition to any fall TBR!

An easy reading romance between Kate and Matthew- and their relationship to her coven and her past. This is a sort of Hallmark view of witches, with both good humor and a touch of darkness that Kate must explore in order to dispel. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of the genre.

A really cozy book perfect for the autumn!

I had so much fun reading this book - it was the perfect balance between interesting and active yet comforting. Kate was a really good main character and the supportive cast felt really fleshed out. Loved the mystery parts, LOVED the romance. Really my go to recommendation for the upcoming fall!

Hekate is a hedge witch coming up to her 31st birthday when her magical powers will be contained to just hedgewitchery. On top of planning her birthday and the covens Halloween celebrations and dealing with the loss of her mother her (rival?) Matthew arrives from a coven looked down upon by hers for practicing the dark arts arrives asking for sanctuary.
As she juggles Matthew’s arrival and the preparations for Halloween, Kate comes across an old tome shrouded in dark magic. She is horrified when she realizes the blood-red inscription is written in familiar handwriting: her recently deceased mother’s. Afraid to even touch the dark magic her mother secretly studied, Kate can turn only to Matthew for help. Her idealized memory of her mother begins to distort, and as she and Matthew grow closer, Kate has to reevaluate whom she can really trust.
I really loved this cosy cottagecore style book set in a stunning village. With a mystery to be solved and a budding romance this witchy book is a perfect read for the Halloween season.

i’ve been holding onto this one for a few months, desperate to read it in the fall, and i am so happy i did because this was such a fun and cozy read.

a dark and secret magic follows hecate, a hedge witch, through her journey of uncovering secrets, the extent of her magic, and love. if you love practical magic, this one is for you!!! if you enjoy crisp stormy autumn mornings with a cup of coffee and fresh baked goods, THIS. IS. FOR YOU.

i absolutely adored reading hecate’s character growth and her journey of self discovery, with the help of a cutie shadow boyyyyyyyy. i think this book does a great job of capturing moods and vibes. i think if you are looking for a book that is plot heavy and will suck you in to the conflict, and have you on the edge of your seat, i don’t think this is it. i think this book excels at being a cozy mood read, which is why i think it is the perfect halloween story.

i thoroughly enjoyed reading this from start to finish, i felt like it was very well paced and engaging. however, the ending fell off a bit for me. overall, it seemed rushed and like they were trying to just tie up loose ends. i do wish the ending was a smoother and more emotional experience.

🕸️ a must read if u love 🕸️
life x death magic
black cats
practical magic
stormy weather, sitting by the fire place with a cup of coffee
baking fall goodies

Hedge witches are supposed to provide comfort and healing, at least that’s what Hecate (Kate) has been told by her mother and her coven, who live amongst regular humans in the charming town of Ipswich. She happily lives a quiet, solitary life with her familiar, a black cat, and spends her days gathering herbs in the surrounding forest to make tinctures and salves for her apothecary shop. Her sense of peace is thrown into complete disarray when in quick succession she learns she’s expected to host the coven’s Halloween gathering, has a worrisome nightmare, and finally, an unexpected knock on her door leaves her with an unexpected, unwanted visitor who suggests her magical duties and power far exceed what she was taught to believe.
I loved how the cozy, autumny atmosphere contrasted with the dark magic, lies and secrets Kate is forced to confront, and how she grows and finds her strength. The ending wonderfully echos a Greek myth, a perfect resolution to a book that I was so happy to have had the opportunity to read. Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an advanced readers copy, and to Wallis Kinney, the author, for creating a book that encompasses all that I love about fall, magic and mystery at the same time. A perfect book not only for Halloween, but any time of year.

I was utterly enchanted by this delightful book! The story had the perfect blend of magick, witches, Halloween and romance. I wish that I could step into the world that Kinney created. This is one read that can't be missed.

Spooky, cozy, and everything I wanted in an autumn read. Between the carving of pumpkins, the best little black cat, and the loose Hades x Persephone love story.. I literally couldn't get enough. I only wish there had been a little more to the ending of the story, but alas – I will absolutely be picking up a physical copy come publication day!

This was probably one of the most FALL books I’ve ever read. I immediately fell in love with the setting and the slow cozy pace of this book. I want to be a witch in a cottage knitting and baking and occasionally showing up to work at my apothecary . Is that so much to ask?

There’s romance , there’s secrets , there’s sisters, there’s covens, there’s Halloween, and the cutest cat named Merlin, he’s just so sweet I cannot not mention him.

I loved this book , I only wish there were more to the story and the world, like perhaps a second book haha. The ending felt rushed BUT it made complete sense and felt like one of those fairy tale endings where you’re left to imagine what happens next. It also made me feel like starting the book over again.

I have already recommended this book to all my friends. It’s just so good.

This is the *perfect* Halloween read.
This story is filled with deliciousness autumn descriptions that pull your senses into Kate's world, such as: "Every golden strand of happiness in this town can be traced back to a meal she cooked at some point her life."
And the way Matthew loves Kate, "It's not about you being delicate...it's about preventing any discomfort on your part whatsoever. For my own pleasure and peace of mind."
I could easily read this book every October. I can't wait to get my own physical copy. Highly recommend this book, preferably reading it next to a fire, with hot chocolate and your cat (or dog) curled up next to you.

What do you do when your entire path has been decided for you? when the mother you loved and trusted kept dark and dangerous secrets? lied to you about your own Gift. what do you do when your entire Coven might be keeping dark secrets, when they might be contributing to a terrible darkness? What do you do when you have to look within yourself, and realize everything you thought you knew, was a lie? you fall in with your once enemy, that's what you do. she never meant to discover a dark and terrible secret about her own magic. she never expected to learn about a great evil wicked coming for her. she certainly never intended to have to invite her childhood enemy into her home. but, he is there, and he is charming, and his magic is dark and dangerous and she should definitely kick him out... but her cat likes him, and he likes her cooking, and she can't seam to keep her feelings pushed down.

this was a thrilling tale full if mystery, twists and turns, and of course, Enemies to lovers. a perfect read for fans of Halloween, romance, and dark magics.

This book was slow at parts but other parts definitely made up for it. The loved the characters and the story. Will definitely read again.