Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love books about witches. I seek them out and they are always on my most anticipated reads list. That is why I requested A Circle of Uncommon Witches by Paige Crutcher. I also read other books by this author and enjoyed them.

Unfortunately, I did not feel the same for this novel. I gave this book until page 50 with me starting and stopping it. I even headed over to the audiobook with my public library app and I still could not get into the story.

I already knew where the story was heading very early in the book and the plot did not grab my attention enough to listen through the whole journey.

With the reviews I have seen I know I am probably in the minority, and I know so many others would be into this book.

I wanted to love this book. It took me a long time to get into it and I almost DNF'd it multiple times because the exposition felt so long and dragged out, and to be honest- rather boring. There were times I felt like I had completely missed pages because details were mentioned so briefly they didn't stick in my brain long enough to play out. If the pacing were quicker, I think I would have loved this one but with the slow-pace it just missed the mark for me. What did work, however, were the strong relationships between the characters. While the characters weren't necessarily built up enough for me, I appreciated the way they interacted with one another throughout the story. I will try reading books from Paige Crutcher in the future but this one just was not for me, unfortunately!

Nobody does witches like Paige Crutcher! I was instantly drawn into this tail from the very beginning. Generational magic and curses, forbidden Love and tragedy. I loved the McKinnon women and thought that their love for each other was evident, even if their actions were a little misguided. I enjoyed Doreen as a character and it was nice to see her figure out her magic and how everything fit together. I think that her resilience in going against the grain of such a strong female matriarchy was really a true testament to how strong those bonds are. I liked the love aspect of this one and in true Crutcher fashion I loved the added intrigue of the ghosts and the other world. I cannot wait to see what she writes next.

A Circle of Uncommon Witches is brimming with heart, magic, and some seriously compelling character dynamics—I mean, Doreen and Ambrose? I was invested. And the relationship between Doreen and Margot? Absolute goals. Ride-or-die energy, fierce loyalty, deep love—it gave me all the feels.

The world Paige Crutcher created has so much potential. It’s lush and layered and mysterious, but it also felt like it needed another editorial pass to fully pull it together. The worldbuilding was often disjointed, and POV shifts happened without warning—even mid-chapter—which pulled me out of the story more than once.

Still, the vibe? Excellent. A story that questions whether true love is worth the cost? Right up my alley. But I’m left with some big question marks. Why did Stella treat the girls the way she did? Why was Doreen left to stumble through revelations on her own until the trials? That lack of clarity was frustrating, especially because the emotional stakes were otherwise so strong.

But here’s the thing—I loved this cast. I loved the idea of this world. And I definitely want more from these witches. Fingers crossed there’s another book on the way, because I’d happily return to this coven of chaos.

DNF @12%.
Wasn’t what I was expecting. It started with them having stingers (?) and ultimately I kept reading a few pages and putting it back down.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced digital copy!

Thank you St. Martin’s for the review copy. I enjoyed A Circle of Uncommon Witches a lot and would recommend it.

A Circle of Uncommon Witches by Paige Crutcher has some of my favorite elements/tropes- enemies to lovers, witchy vibes, etc. I read this in the fall and it was the perfect time! Recommending this to all my friends!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an ARC of this title.

Rating: 5/5
I received the eARC for my honest opinion.

If you have never read one of Paige Crutcher books you are missing out. I love that you will find magic, romance, enemies to lovers, witches and so much more. This book will pull you in and you will not want to be coming back to reality when you’re done reading it. It’s a cute modern day witch story about a curse, and it’s a romance curse that was placed on the MacKinnon family. You will meet Dorren who is determined to break the curse that was placed on her family, but on the adventure to set her family free she finds out a lot about herself, her family members and the person who placed the curse on her family… oh did I mention that there is love in the air?

I found the plot to have been well done, I loved that I was able to picture what the characters were doing. I liked that the pace wasn’t too fast or too slow, but perfect in the middle. I know others will say it’s the same plot but told differently but I didn’t find this to be the same because of the way that this author writes, she makes it more about the characters and what they have to go through and what they go through, the happy, uplifting, cozy read. I found the characters; Doreen and Ambrose to have been well written, easy to connect with and likable. I really liked that it was throughout the journey and leading a helping hand to each other, watching their chemistry build the tension between these characters was so much fun. I found it easier to connect with Doreen and her cousin Margot, because you can see how they both want something different for their lives, not just to live with people who they don’t love or really have a connection with. They want more for their lives and when Doreen is ready to go you see how much those two are connected and how much their friendship/love goes.

I cannot wait to see what Paige will put out next, because I know that I will love it.

I want to thank NetGalley and SMP for the opportunity to review this book.

For many generations, Doreen MacKinnon”s family had live with a curse that has prevented them from finding true love, and in the end, dying from a broken heart. Being the 13th generation of witches and her family, she decides to make it her personal quest to break the tragedy that has followed her family.

Paige Crutcher’s A Circle of Uncommon Witches created a captivating and entertaining story. I’m a sucker for a good paranormal story and I have that special place for a good witch story. This one involves an entire history, spending generations of a family. A curse that made many people suffer in the same one that backfired on another. The story is surely an adventure with some unexpected twists that leave a satisfying conclusion. Whether you call it paranormal romance or fantasy romance, it definitely had a great deal of good world building and intrigued me to keep turning the pages.

I love a good witchy read. I liked the take and angle in this story. I like the way the characters developed and the pace kept me up all night turning pages

I had a hard time getting into this book, which did bum me out because the description sounded like something I would immediately love. I did enjoy the book in the end, I am glad I stuck it out. It was a very enchanting read that was pretty fast paced and easy to read.

Thank you Paige Crutcher and St. Martin’s for the ARC in exchange for my review

I chose this book because I tend to love all things witchy. Unfortunately this one wasn't for me. There was so much going on and it was hard to connect with the characters. 3 stars

A Circle of Uncommon Witches 3.5/5 ⭐

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

The book follows Doreen MacKinnon, a powerful witch, as she sets out on a quest to break the generational curse put on her family 300 years ago by Ambrose MacDonald. To break the curse, Doreen must work with Ambrose (who is still alive and has been imprisoned) to complete a series of trials. As the two get to know each other, they cannot deny the growing attraction. Doreen must choose how far she is willing to go to break the curse, and what she's willing to sacrifice. Will true love be worth the cost?

🏰🔮✨🧙🏻‍♀️🩶

I was really drawn to the premise of this book, and Paige did not disappoint! I found myself laughing so much during my reading. The banter was TO DIE for! The enemies-to-lovers dynamic will do it for me every time. It is so nice to pick up a book that is fast-paced and FUN to read. Also, I adored the setting of this book. I am a sucker for all things Scotland! 😚

I highly recommend you check this book out if you love romantasy, witches, and tension!

A solid 3 star fantasy romance about witches. I didn't give it more stars because there was A LOT going on and was hard to follow at times. Some of the side characters and plots likely could have been cut out and the book would have flowed better.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Circle of Uncommon Witches by Paige Crutcher is an enchanting and captivating fantasy that follows a group of witches with unique powers who come together to protect their secrets and navigate the challenges of their magical world. Crutcher's writing is immersive and filled with charm, blending mystery, magic, and strong character development. The plot is engaging, with plenty of twists and emotional depth, making it a perfect read for fans of magical realism and stories about female empowerment.

Okay so . . . A Circle of Uncommon Witches has lots of magic, folklore, and POVs. Maybe even too much? Fantasy is one of my favorite things but there was A LOT happening here.

Ancient families, curses, trials, ghost, gods, liars, tricksters, and other random beings and creatures. And the magic system was quite confusing. I will say there was such vivid imagery, and traipsing around Scotland with this band of characters was pretty fun. There are so many lovely quotes throughout and Doreen deserves the world. Parts or this kept me hooked and parts of this truly had me confused. Also for all the anti-insta lovers out there, this may not be for you. I don’t have a problem with it usually, but this one had me scratching my head a bit. Nevertheless, a fun book, just be prepared to ask yourself “wtf?” more than a few times.

*Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

A Circle of Uncommon Witches has a charming premise and a richly magical atmosphere, but it struggles with pacing and character depth. While Crutcher’s lyrical writing shines, some plot points feel underdeveloped, making it hard to stay fully invested.

Dive into a world of magic and romance as two unlikely enemies work to break a 300-year old curse before their very existence is eliminated. If you love a great paranormal adventure battling a creepy soul-sucking witch, then you need to check out A Circle of Uncommon Witches.

Doreen MacKinnon is a stubborn, impulsive, and courageous witch who aims to break a curse before she turns 30 or risk dying from a broken heart. The problem is she needs help from the one man responsible for the torment of her coven never being able to find true love. She did not think her journey would involve freeing a trapped witch, going against her family, stepping through a portal, and getting feelings for a man she should not trust with her life.

Ambrose MacDonald is the witch who cursed the MacKinnon witches who took his true love away. He’s mysterious, angry, and extremely resilient. I mean, this guy is trapped and tortured endlessly in a nightmarish time loop and still manages to keep his sanity. I found Ambrose captivating with his little smirks and natural protectiveness toward Doreen. The banter between them is fun and refreshing. It’s not just the typical good vs. evil vibe but a promising tension that keeps you on your toes.

Ms. Crutcher juggles an intricate plot and complex character development while creating a compelling story that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

If you’re looking for a blend of magical adventure, unexpected twists, and a little romance, give this one a shot.

Thank you to Ms. Crutcher for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

i hadn’t realized that i read the author’s debut novel until about halfway through this book 🫣

this was a fun romantasy full of witches and generational curses, with Scotsmen. i truly have a knack for reading scottish romances without knowing they’re set in scotland…

i also listened to the audio, and i really enjoyed the narrator!

I loved the concept of the book and the overall idea, but something about it didn't quite work for me personally. The pace of the story and romance felt too fast - almost disorienting, if that makes sense? When romances don't have enough build up of an emotional connection and time for small moments before the flourish of their relationship, it feels forced and unrealistic. I enjoyed some of the side characters moments, the trials, and the friendships, but aside from that, not much else. I never felt compelled to pick the book back up but was never put off by it either, I just felt neutral. I could live without knowing what happened next. The ending did not round out the book well either.