When I first started this book, it reminded me a bit of Erin Sterling's The Ex Hex, and I do think it's a good choice for fans of the Graves Glen Series.
Though the book is more about a family's history with magic, relationships among generations, and an interesting system of magic. The romance is there, but I wanted it to be more developed overall. Overall a spooky, engaging read that would be perfect any time of year, but especially in the fall!

Book: A Circle of Uncommon Witches
Author: Paige Crutcher
Rating: 3/5 stars

A Circle of Uncommon Witches is a witchy and adventurous romance story. It follows the main character, Doreen MacKinnon, who is a witch and who risks dying from a broken heart if she does not fall in love before she turns 30. Her life might be cut short due to a curse that was put on her family hundreds of years prior - by Ambrose MacDonald, - who is a witch from an opposing family.
She is the thirteenth generation of her ancestral line of witches, making her one of the most powerful. Due to her drive, determination, and the power she holds, she decides to take it upon herself to set out and find a way to break the curse - not just for her but for her entire family. However, she only has a few months to do so, and the only person that can help her break the curse is Ambrose MacDonald himself.

The adventure that ensues by trying to break the curse ends up leading her and Ambrose on a whirlwind quest consisting of trials, tricks, and true love.
There were multiple different elements and characters included in her attempt to break the curse, which led to different perspectives and made the original goal unfortunately, much tougher for Doreen to achieve.

I thought that the premise of the story was very interesting, and the concept of the curse was unique. Doreen had a lot stacked against her, and I was glad that the story wrapped up in a way that was satisfying, but also left readers curious.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press (St. Martin’s Griffin) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of A Circle of Uncommon Witches.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press | NetGalley, for this ARC. When I first received this book, I was very excited because the premise was right up my alley. The lore in this book was captivating. I loved the trials, the curse concept, the family dynamics, and, of course, the enemies-to-lovers theme. The romance is mild and enchanting. Unfortunately, I had a difficult time getting into the book at first; the story throws you in with out much context. However, I enjoyed it more once I became accustomed to the plot and the characters. I would recommend this one to anyone who enjoys fantasy/witch stories with romantic elements.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

There were so many aspects of this book that I loved, like the enemies to lovers, the curse, the dynamics of the family, the banter. Even the romance was super sweet and warm & fuzzy feeling! I just wish I could’ve connected to the characters a little more. I’m not sure if it’s something I was missing personally, but they just felt very, not there?

thank you netgalley and st martin’s press for the opportunity to read this arc

i really wanted to like this one, but it just wasn’t for me :( the plot of the book was really weird and i just couldn’t get into it. my first official dnf🫣

A witch with a conscience that points true north. She is a member of the MacKinnon witches of Scotland who had been cursed by a rival line, the MacDonalds over 500 years ago. As it ever is, it was all about love and loss, as is the current story. Witches, entrapment, never to be loved, being loved, curses, potions, spells and trials. Now it is the trials that held my attention despite being confused by them. Sometime you just have to make comparisons and the Magic Flute by Mozart speaks to similar trials and birds - anyway, in both stories the sky darkens, the wind howls, lightning flashes which begs the questions; will they make it? Will they best the trials of courage, heart, strength and cunning? Will they ever get off that ledge or will they fall into the abyss? And what does the “Pictish Beast” have to do with anything?

Loved the story, loved Doreen, Margot, Stella and Ambrose. A happy bunch of hours spent with these witches. Many thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for a copy.

(Actual: 3.5⭐) This was overall a quick read for me despite it being a littler slow to start and hard for me to connect with at first. From a purely objective standpoint, however, I found A CIRCLE OF UNCOMMON WITCHES to be a fairly solid romantasy with an intriguing plot. I loved the trials portion of the plot the most; or, at the very least, found it to be the most engaging. Our two MCs were also fairly well-rounded and dynamic, and these same descriptors can also be used when it comes to the secondary/ensemble cast as well. That said, I did feel like something was lacking and it's still hard for me to pinpoint exactly what..... perhaps it was just the writing (as, again, it took a beat or longer for me to truly lock in for this one). Overall, I'd still rec it out to others despite my gripes because it was still a fun fantasy romp!

The second I heard this book was a witchy romance with an enemies to lovers trope I sprinted over to NetGalley to get my hands on a copy. I really enjoyed this book however it didnt blow me out of the park, the writing was good and the storyline was intriguing but it wasn't anything to write home about.
With that being said I wil still be reccommending this book especially in the fall time when the spooky witch vibes really shine through.
Thankyou to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC!

Loved this book! A fun twist on a love-curse. A unique magic system and immersive world building felt at once fantastical and grounded in true witchcraft and mythology.

I genuinely enjoyed reading this book! I was delighted when I realized it was a standalone. So many authors lately have tried to stretch their story over several books and I think Crutcher did a great job of telling a story with a compelling, sufficiently complicated plot in a one-book format.

I would've loved a bit more backstory if only because it was so interesting! I loved the concept of witches cursed to never find true love; but also being forced to marry before the age of 30 or face death. What a choice! I think every reader could find it within themselves to grapple with that decision along with Doreen and Margot.

While we're making wish lists, I also would've loved more time with Ambrose and Doreen. I liked their relationship but the reader would've benefited from getting to watch it grow and develop a bit more.

I honestly was sucked into this book from the beginning. I loved the setting and the plot. I liked the characters, even Doreen and Margot's morally gray family members. I look forward to reading more from Paige Crutcher in the future and would love to read a book about Margot and Dean next.

It took me forever to read this book for some reason but I kept wanting to come back. I never felt like I wanted to DNF, perhaps I was just savoring it. I truly enjoyed every aspect of the story. It is so visual, fantastical, dreamy, and otherworldly. Such an intriguing plot that kept me guessing. It was mysterious and full of secrets and twists and I almost never knew what to believe was real, even till the very last line. The MCs were easy to root for and the subtle romance in the book gave me butterflies!
I'm glad I was introduced to Paige Crutcher through this book and I'm excited to read some of her other witchy books.

Thank you St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the arc!!

I really enjoyed this book! It was well written, entertaining, and simply magical. I loved the concept and story line of the book.

A confounding obstacle course of spiritual and emotional ordeals will hopefully bring an end to a horrible curse.

My very first feelings were sympathy for these witches and this curse that basically left them with two terrible choices as adults. The curse was explained in great detail and very cleverly when we met Doreen and Margot in the first chapter. They are two very likable characters and I was rooting for Doreen to find a solution.

Ambrose got a raw deal and his selfish motives at the start made complete sense. For some reason, that I'm not entirely sure of, Ambrose made Doreen believe they were going to see someone who could help with breaking the curse. This led them to the trials in the underworld, which were fantastic and intricate and reshaped Doreen's view of her own world and abilities. The complicated plot surrounding Ambrose's curse and Ada's own history was confusing at times and it took a while to unravel all those parts.

Doreen and Ambrose were clearly attracted to each other from the start, but I wasn't all that convinced about them as a couple. I wanted to be. Ambrose spent most of the story pining for Lenora and denying any connection to Doreen, and then it all suddenly changed (with a good explanation, I should add). But that made it more difficult to believe in Ambrose's feelings for Doreen.

Overall, it was an interesting and enjoyable read, but there were a lot of things happening that were difficult to piece together. If you like witches, curses, and spending time in alternate realms, then this might be for you.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A bewitching and enchanting tale that blends magic, mystery, and mild romance. The writing is immersive and spellbinding drawing the reader into a different realm. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you Paige Crutcher, St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own,

DNF at 40% - and it was a struggle to get that far! I had high hopes for this book based on the synopsis but unfortunately the book just didn't land. The characters seemed very disconnected and clunky along with a clunky story line. I was constantly confused as to where the characters were going and what the point of each excursion was. It felt very much like a dream where to start in the middle of a situation without much build up and explanation.

Sadly for me this book didn't hit the way I was hoping.

Interesting, but I have to admit that I lost the plot several times.
I enjoyed Doreen, Ambrose, and Margot, but the way things were interwoven was a bit confusing.

Paige Crutcher's "A Circle of Uncommon Witches" is a fun, fast-paced story filled with magic, sisterhood, and adventure. The relationships between the women were the highlight for me—fun and dynamic. It's the kind of relationship that would translate perfectly to the screen; I could see this as a movie or series one day.

I jumped in feet first because the premise sounded awesome. And I loved the energy of the beginning, but somewhere in the middle, the story started moving almost too fast. At times, it felt like too much was happening, and I got distracted.

That said, I still really enjoy Paige Crutcher's writing and look forward to reading more from her. Even though "A Circle of Uncommon Witches" wasn't my favorite, it had plenty of charm.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader's copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book is not my usual sort of book. I’ve read very few stories about witches but nonetheless very much enjoyed this title. The author creates memorable characters, a well-crafted world, and an interesting and exciting plot. It is the kind of story that one reads waiting for a happy ending and resolution. Read this one to see how it all turns out.

Recommended to readers who enjoy romance, magic, a bit of fantasy and a fun story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press-St. Martins Griffin for this title. All opinions are my own.

Note that I began my review on the site with the summary that is here on NG. I credited it.

A Circle of Uncommon Witches by Paige Crutcher is a story of adventure, romance, and destiny, all by asking one question: is true love worth the cost? After being kept from his true love, Ambrose MacDonald curses the MacKinnon witches, preventing them from finding true love. In turn, they imprisoned him; he'll outlive everyone, trapped in a tempest. Doreen MacKinnon is destined to die thanks to a curse placed on her family by Ambrose after he he lost the woman he loved. If she doesn't fine true love, her fate is sealed.

But there's something different about Doreen and her cousin. They are the 13th generation of Scottish Witches which means they are more powerful than those who came before. Every single person she shows an interest in, falls under her thrall. So when she discovers where Ambrose has been trapped, she releases Ambrose who has been trapped in a tempest and tortured for the past three hundred years. He agrees to help break the curse although he is more interested in vengeance against her family than helping.

As the two work together, sparks start to fly but Doreen must keep her eye on the bottom line: ending the curse and saving her family. Even if it means heartbreak. Together, they enter a series of trials, which take them to a castle in Scotland, off a cliff, and into a world beyond their wildest dreams. But soon Doreen must choose how far she is willing to go to break the curse, and what she's willing to sacrifice. Both Doreen and Margot are curious witches. Margot can create her own spells, while Doreen remembers every spell she's seen, or encountered.

Doreen narrates the novel primarily, although there are chapters where Ambrose speaks as well as Ada (who is an underworld Witch), which allows readers to explore the story from all viewpoints. There are journal entries, also, that are read aloud in parts, which helps to fill in the background of some of the more historical figures that play an important role. The story is a good mix of romance and fantasy but light on the witchcraft and obvious spellwork by our main cast of characters with Doreen, Ambrose, and Margot, despite witches being in the title. Also, I am still waiting for answers on the ending and since I hate open ended endings, thus my rating.

A Circle of Uncommon Witches has a compelling premise—generational curses, forbidden love, and a reluctant alliance between enemies. The setup promised a mix of adventure, romance, and magical intrigue, but the execution didn’t always fully deliver.

The magic system sometimes felt inconsistent, with moments where the rules seemed unclear or underdeveloped. There were also character shifts that felt abrupt. Some significant emotional or personality changes happened so suddenly that I found myself flipping back to see if I had missed something (I hadn’t, reading on an eBook). This sometimes gave the impression that parts of the story were rushed or incomplete, making it harder to fully invest in the characters and their journey.

That said, the overall story was enjoyable, and I generally like most books I finish. There were moments of strong atmosphere and some compelling emotional beats, but the book leaned heavily on familiar fantasy tropes, especially the “chosen one” concept, without always adding enough depth to make them feel fresh.

Ultimately, A Circle of Uncommon Witches had the potential to be something more than it was. It’s an entertaining read, especially for fans of witchy fantasy romances, but it left me wanting a little more depth and development in both the world-building and character arcs.