A lovely, atmospheric, cozy fall Halloween vibe.

Hecate Goodwin, a hedge witch, is facing her 31st birthday and her first Halloween since her mother's passing.
A mysterious man who specializes in dark magic from her past shows up on her door step seeking sanctuary.
Family secrets, lies, mysteries, heartbreak and tension follow as Hecate attempts to uncover answers.

I wasn't a big fan of the insta-love vibe between for the FMC. I also felt like a lot of the people surrounding her just got away with using her like a door mat without any repercussions,, not to mention the on-going effects to the coven and I would love to see them dealing with the consequences of the story's climax.

Gorgeous cottage-core vibes.

3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley, Alcove Press and Wallis Kinney for a chance to read this eARC

This cover caught my eye. It screamed Halloween vibes and it wasn't wrong. I loved the immaculate Fall atmosphere this story gave. The Samhain traditions were fascinating and a total vibe. I loved all the witchy magic from tarot, earth, to necromancy and shadow. Usually Hades and Persephone isn't something I enjoy but this worked. It felt just inspired without being a direct comparison. I enjoyed the sister dynamics and the family secrets at play. The romance had good chemistry with no spice which was nice. I loved the receipts and wonder if the physical book has some included, that'd be a fun tie in. Definitely an October read MUST. 4.5 STARS.

This book is everything you're looking for if you're looking for an autumnal, moody, atmospheric read around October! A Dark and Secret Magic follows Hecate aka Kate Goodwin on her first Halloween without her mother. Samhain is an important time for their coven of witches and Kate has to get everything ready for the celebrations by herself for the first time. It doesn't help that a handsome man from her past has showed up at her door or that she's having vivid nightmares about the afterlife. Or that she finds out her mom kept secrets from her and practiced dark magic that no witch in their coven would be ok with. Things seem to be culminating around Kate and she's not sure what to do or that her cozy little life is all about to change.

I loved this! Kinney does a great job of setting the scene and making you feel warm and cozy in Kate's cabin or damp and cold while taking a walk in the woods barefoot. The intrigue was perfect, a little slow at the beginning but once it got going, I couldn't put this down! Can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Nothing is more perfect for the fall and spooky season of the year than a great witchy book with a bit of romance, dark magic, and mystery about hidden powers and malevolent forces lurking in the night.

This book truly captured each of those elements and still seemed to hold on to the coziness of the season with references to baking and cooking, the glow of pumpkins illuminated on the side of a porch, and the crisp fall air as the leaves are turning.

Hecate Goodwin was assigned to be a hedge witch by her mother at birth, even though the rest of her cover got to chose their course of study when they turned 13. As she's grown, she's settled into her life making tinctures and foraging herbs and healing, never asking much of others but also keeping a bit of a distance from her sisters. However, 4 months ago, her mother passed and now it is her responsibility to welcome in the Halloween season and her sisters as they prepare for the holidays.

A man from her past shows up on her doorsteps a few days before the events of the year are intended to take place and his arrival also brings about questions of her own past and secrets which have been kept from her.

This book is so incredibly good and I loved every minute of it... minus how poorly her sister Miranda treats her. Right up until Miranda gets a bit of what she's asking for. Sure, it's a bit of overkill but she treats Hecate like a servant and not like a sister in any respect and it's rude and uncalled for... so, she had it coming.

This was everything my Halloween loving heart wanted after seeing the cover. It’s a book that pushes the boundaries of the cozy fantasy genre while giving us vibes reminiscent of Hades and Persephone. It felt like a love letter to all those that wait for the first hint of cool crisp air, changing leaves and grew up wishing they had magical powers. I mean just look at the gorgeous cover. I loved everything about this book especially both main characters. I really enjoyed how the MMC went full on cat dad with the FMC’s familiar. I also found the dynamic and growth between the main characters to be incredibly well done. Matthew challenged Kate in ways that forced her to rethink her outlook and what she thought she knew of witchcraft. I also thought the pacing was well done and enjoyed the countdown to Halloween. There were plenty of revelations and twists to keep me interested in the story. As someone who doesn’t read a lot of standalone fantasy books, I felt that Kinney did an excellent job taking the story from start to finish without feeling like the story was lacking in some way. I had both the ebook and audiobook. I loved Abigail Reno’s narration and felt it fit the overall vibe of the story well. I don’t think you could go wrong either way, but I really enjoyed the audio. If you’re a lover of Halloween, I would highly recommend checking this book out.

I love a witchy book and am so happy it’s finally time for some fall reading! I was wanting to love this but I had a hard time getting into it and all the jargon I didn’t understand.

“Things that need to be found tend to show up. Especially when witches are around.”

I really enjoyed this book. It has the perfect fall vibes, it was very witchy, and the food descriptions were making me hungry! The author was even kind enough to put some of the recipes mentioned in the back of the book😋

This book was a slow burn/fade to black, but I didn’t like the book any less without those things. The plot is interesting and the magic is really unique. (I would totally choose to become a book witch if I could!)

I would have chose a slightly different ending for the book, but I was still happy with it and really enjoy that this was a standalone read.

I am so pleasantly surprised by this book! It’s both cozy and spooky, which makes it the perfect October read. My only complaint is that the romance moved too fast, it would have been better if they were good friends instead.

**𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘** 𝑨 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝒃𝒚 𝑾𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒔 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒚

Release Date: October 8, 2024

4.5⭐️3🌶

Hecate Goodwin, also known as Kate, has been living and fixing up the gatekeepers cottage on her family's estate. She's also a trained Hedge Witch and is a proud member of the Ipswich, MA Coven as part of the Atlantic Key network of covens . She grew up with her two sisters, and their mother taught them everything she knew about witchcraft, or so she thought. Until a necromancer witch from the Pacific Key, Matthew, comes and reveals the darker side of Hedge Magic that her mother never trained her for.

This book is full of cuddly black cats, witch covens, cozy north eastern small towns, herbal remedies, pumpkin carving, Halloween traditions, and old mansions that have been in the family for generations. I adored reading this book! It was perfect timing to read it just as the weather is changing for the fall season.

Highly recommend for all you spooky readers out there!

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#romantasy #fantasy #fallvibes #fallgirl #adarkandsecretmagic #walliskinney

Hecate Goodwin's specialty as a hedge witch was chosen for her before she was born. A hedge witch hasn't been born in hundreds of years, but she willingly steps into this role for her coven.  After her mother dies, a stranger from Kate's past who specializes in dark magic shows up, and strange things start happening.  As Kate starts to unravel how all this is connected, she unearths decades of secrets and lies. Can she come into her full power in time to stop what's been set in motion?

Thoughts 💭
This gave me a lot of nostalgic feelings since I could feel impressions of Practical Magic and a Hades/Persephone love story.  There was mystery, magic, romance, and all of the fall vibes.  This had a bit of a slow burn to it, but I didn't mind.  There was enough mystery and intrigue to keep me going.  I enjoyed the inner workings of the coven and their different types of magic.  This world was fun to read about. I LOVED Matthew and wish there was a little more of him and Kate, but I understand her being hesitant.  My heart broke for her and what was chosen for her, but I had a feeling it would be slightly tragic. It made me like the story even more. This book left me with a satisfied feeling and all the fall feels.  If you love witch stories, I highly suggest putting this on your short list to read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Going to be honest... I thought I was going to hate this book. I do not tend to read books with Witches (besides Harry Potter because I mean its Harry Potter!). I thought for sure I wouldn’t finish but man I am so glad I am wrong! One of my goals this year was to read more seasonal books. So, with Fall fast approaching I decided to start with A Dark and Secret Magic.

I now wish I had a cozy cottage in the woods with a cat on my lap in front of a fireplace as the fall fog rolls in after a long and stormy night! This book is absolutely wonderful for those who enjoy a good fall/Halloween book. I don’t even really like Halloween except for the adorable kids’ costumes. A Dark and Secret Magic is the perfect cozy fall witchy book. It has so much to offer! Magic, death, pumpkin carving, sisters, witches, lies, secrets, heartbreak, Halloween, and of course love and the lengths people will go to, to protect what they love most. Perfect quick read book to start the Fall season!

My one main issue is that I felt there were several instances that things became repetitive. Sometimes the wording was almost identical other times it was just the same sentence sad a different way. Might not bug some people which is totally fine. It just occurred enough for me to make note of it.

Thank you to Alcove Press, Wallis Kinney and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

OH MY GOSH!! I loved this book. Our underdog, Kate (Hecate Goodwin) was relegated to being a hedge witch by her mother, but seems very much the glue to her community. She has made peace with her role and mostly loves her life and especially the peace of her cottage where she controls her life. Her quiet is interrupted by the very diverting return of Matthew, a blast from her past, shows up on her door seeking sanctuary. Now everything is turned on its head and she’s on point for hosting the new year celebrations, no pressure girl, you got this. Such a fun read. I need more of this in my life. Romance, magic, such a pleasure read!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Dark and Secret Magic
Author: Wallis Kinney
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: October 8, 2024
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A Dark and Secret Magic will be one of the fall season’s best “Witchy Woman” books. Hecate Goodwin, known as Kate, is a hedge witch. A hedge witch helps with her ability to move between this world and the spirit world. A good hedge witch helps those who have passed from life cross the vale into their next life. A hedge witch is also a healer. The story occurs during Samhain, known as Halloween when spirits can roam freely. Kate is scheduled, at 31, for a special ceremony to “contain” her magic. Enter Matthew Cypher, who comes from a different coven and practices dark witch magic. He has been waiting for this day to try to protect Kate from the hounds of hell who will rise on her birthday. They fall in love. I might sound like a lunatic, but this book is a GREAT WITCH book. I LOVED IT. I never felt like the story slowed, the writing was excellent, the climactic scene was a good type of CRAZY, and the ending satisfied me. Wallis Kinney is the author, and she has written the best start of October witch book I have read in a long time. It may be the best Fall book I have read in a while. If you like fantasy fiction, paranormal fiction, and witches this will be a super book selection for you. Bravo to Miss Kinney for a book well done. As a plus, the cover is gorgeous. #ADarkandSecretMagic @WallisKinney @NetGalley #witch #paranormal #magicalrealism #Halloween #Samhain #romance #rituals #truelove #soulmates @alcovepress
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.
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Thank you for letting me read this book, I loved it so much I made sure I bought the special edition of it from unplugged book box.

I love the cover art and this book is a perfect start to the fall season especially for around Halloween. I'm a huge cozy fantasy reader so this checked off that box for me.

I would and did buy this book, and I would definitely recommend it to a friend. I would love to read more from this author.

A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney is perfect for a Halloween read, or any time of year if you love spooky year round like I do. This was a cozy fantasy set in the fall that follows a witch as she uncovers family and coven secrets at a big turning point in her life. One thing I absolutely loved was having an older fmc. It was a refreshing change from the usual teenage or young adult protagonists. The plot was cozy and interesting but did drag at some points. The magic was fun and whimsical. The romance was swoon worthy. A Dark and Secret Magic is definitely worth adding to your fall tbr.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

If you could shake this book, autumn would fall out. What a fantastic, charming, and sexy read and Kate was such a likeable easy to follow protagonist, her LI did fall a bit short compared to her but it was still fun to read their back and forth banter. This is definitely an auto buy author!

A Dark and Secret Magic is witchy, mystical, twisty, and all things fall! I really enjoyed all of the cozy descriptions of autumnal foods and traditions as well as the bit of romance. Also love the cover, which conveys the spirit of this book perfectly. Would definitely recommend this for getting into the spirits of the season!

Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Available on October 8th!

A hidden book heavy with dark magic, a handsome & charming blast from the past, a black cat named Merlin, & many different kinds of witches all set in the time period leading up to Halloween: you’re not going to want to miss this cozy & mysterious story as we head into spooky season!

Kate is a hedge witch who leads a simple life making things for the apothecary she co-owns, & she chooses to live in the gatekeeper’s cottage on her family’s property instead of the main house, Goodwin Manor. The manor has sat empty since her mother’s passing, but in light of another death in their coven Kate’s older sister is demanding she make the place presentable ASAP so they can host annual Hollween gathering. In addition to all of the many preparations she now must make, a man from Kate’s youth has invoked the right of sanctuary (a request she, as a hedge witch, cannot deny) so she has an unexpected house guest, & on top of that she finds an seemingly evil book with her mother’s handwriting in it…

I loved the many different kinds of magic (there was a BOOK WITCH!) in this book, & the cover is perfection. The fact that the chapters all have titles was something I really liked, & the recipes at the end of the book are going to keep me busy. The mystery aspect of this book & the lore around the eerie happenings was plotted in an intriguing way that had me turning pages, & I’ve already decided this may have to be an annual re-read kind of a story for me when Fall comes every year.

Thank you very much to NetGalley & Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC! Hecate "Kate" Goodwin was decided to be the hedge witch years ago, as such, she has lived a fairly secluded life, but her quiet life is through for a loop when she is tasked with throwing the coven's Halloween party, a task her mother was responsible for prior to her passing. To make matters worse, Kate is first visited by the spirit of one of the coven's older members, followed by the arrival of her first love (and the first person to break her heart) Matthew Cypher. Soon Kate is juggling her responsibilites for the party, her feelings for Matthew, and a hidden family secret that threatens to destroy everything. Weaving magic with family secrets and a forbidden romance, A Dark and Secret Magic is a great read for fans witchy tales like Practical Magic and Garden Spells.

I love how this felt both cozy and like a witchy fantasy too. We had some higher stakes than I normally experience in cozy fantasies and I liked that. All the small details with the spells and food was an adorable touch. I did however feel like I was told there was a connection between our two MC's but I didn't quite feel it (He seemed very all in though). I did think our FMC didn't get answers to her questions until the very end and I couldn't help but feel that if I were in her shoes I couldn't move forward without at least more than what she got. Although this wasn't a win for me personally, it was charming and very magical. I love forward to seeing what Wallis Kinney writes next!

Thank you so much for my ARC!