Sangu Mandanna has done it again—A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a whimsical, big-hearted triumph. With her signature blend of warmth, humor, and emotional depth, Mandanna crafts a cozy fantasy full of magical mishaps, found family feels, and a heroine you’ll want to hug and never let go.

Sera Swan’s journey from disgraced witch to innkeeper with a second chance is packed with charm and heartache in equal measure. The inn itself is a character, bursting with enchantment and personality, while the supporting cast (including a delightfully rude talking fox) keeps the story lively and unpredictable. And Luke? The brooding historian with a slowly thawing heart? Total scene-stealer.

At its core, this is a story about healing, hope, and rediscovering your place in the world—even when you think you’ve lost everything. Mandanna’s magic lies in how effortlessly she balances whimsy with real emotional stakes.

Immersive and beautifully written from the start. Sangu Mandanna delights again with this witchy romance of perseverance and self discovery centered on the emotional journey of its lead character, Sera, the magical inn of her creation, and her quest to restore her dwindling galaxy of power. Each character is lovingly written and brought to life through Sera's sometimes critical but fiercely protective relationships with each. From would-be knights and misunderstood children to a cantankerous old hobbit pining for love in her twilight years and a kindly aunt led to believe she doesn't deserve love. Magic is ever present but overshadowed by the importance of the people who seem to be the true source of Sera's power, which she discovers through flashbacks and the persistence of the magic that remains in her beloved inn. A sweet and empowering read for lovers of whimsy and those that believe there is a place where everyone belongs regardless of their past or public perception.

I loved "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" so I was excited to read this book. Another nice cozy read with magic and found family, and quite enjoyable.

I’m not quite sure what to feel about this one.

It’s charming, cute, and (sometimes) funny, with a cosy magical atmosphere and a loveably quirky cast. It even features one of my fave tropes - found family - so it should’ve been right up my alley. Unfortunately, I couldn’t connect with any of the characters and the romance felt underdeveloped.

The story also starts off slow and meanders quite a bit in the middle, which made it hard to stay fully invested. I found myself zoning out pretty often. Once it finds its footing, it’s a pretty quick, easy read, but ultimately not that memorable.

That said, I did really appreciate the thoughtful autism and mental health rep, and the whole thing has this endearingly British charm that gives it a nice warmth.

My biggest gripe is with the ending, which features a trope I heavily dislike, but this might just be a “it’s not you, it’s me” situation.

Overall, I didn’t love this as much as The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, but I’m still curious to read more from this author!

Sadly, this just wasn't for me. It started off great. Attention-grabbing first line, cozy vibes, interesting magical creatures. But one of my least favorite tropes in the world is when a female character loses her magical abilities, and that happened in the very first chapter. Although I tried to look past that and enjoy the book, the constant info + description dumping just completely took me out of it. Sadly not for me.

Another winner from Sangu Mandanna! I wouldn't necessarily call this a sequel, but it's definitely in the same family as The Very Secret Society. The mix of characters was truly entertaining and never really felt forced or excessive, even if they weren't complex or fully fleshed out. Sera was relatable and her relationship with aunt was touching. The pacing was well done and I never felt like it dragged or went on for too long. I can't wait to read more from this author.

4.75 out of 5

Prepare for spoilers!

Okay so I absolutely freaked out when I got approved for an early copy — thank you, Berkley!

I loved that Sera is 30…especially as someone who’s about to turn 30. Love the rep! I adored her relationships with the people around her, from her great-aunt to the quirky Nicholas. There was a comfort with the way she connected with each inhabitant of the inn which is so central to the story.

I also loved Luke. I mean a Scottish man who loves working in the library? I am sold!.

What really sold this book for me was the wholesome found family aspect. I wasn’t sure how it would compare to “The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches,” but we got there. Mandanna just knows how to write these oddball, lovable characters in a way that makes you connect with each and care deeply.

I did have one gripe, hence no 5 stars. Why do we have authors who keep writing about FMCs loving their powers!?! I hated that after all of that Sera lost her magic, and permanently!. I think I would’ve preferred if it were Clemmie who stepped into the duel…especially after her betrayal (which they got over?).

Overall, I lvoed this story and I need more from Mandanna - books offering a warm hug with sweetheart characters.

I really enjoyed this book! Literally the best found family. Super cozy. I loved all the characters and found them all heartwarming. It was a beautifully written story. It was close to being a five star read for me. It’s hard to explain but I had a feeling of boredom while reading it even though I loved everything that was written. But I think it was in general a slow paced low stakes story. I shared a review post on Bookstagram for this and have it linked below.

i've been waiting so long for this sequel. i was so disappointed when it kept getting pushed back, but the long wait was worth it.

this one has so many quirky characters. which is pretty much my favorite.

the romance does take a back seat, but the found family vibes make up for it! i am a sucker for found family, and this one delivered in every way!

I loved everything about this book. The vibes were EXACTLY for my taste. I love the setting of the story as well as the characters. Honestly, this job would be so fun. I wish I could do this in real life. The biggest thing for me was that I was gifted this arc by Berkeley thank you so much for this arc to represent the underrepresented voices which for me as somebody with a neurodivergent disability reading about this represented in this book was really important for me. The slow burn Romance amazing. And I’m a sucker for any kind of story that involves our own family. If you’ve been debating about reading this book, I highly recommend that IMMEDIATELY add. Coziness was scrumptious and for me this would be the perfect read for spring or fall.

Cozy, sweet, and enjoyable all around. For those who like found family, witch society, diversity, and a bit of hot romance, you'll have a fun time enjoying this book.

💭 ⓂⓎ ⓉⒽⓄⓊⒼⒽⓉⓈ
I wanted this book to work for me so badly. I kept reading, hoping I would connect more with the characters and storylines. I think it might have just been a timing thing. Maybe if I read it at a different moment, I would have felt differently. But I struggled with the romance; it felt like it developed out of nowhere, and the overall pacing was really slow for me. That said, the side characters were fun, diverse, and quirky, and I think a lot of readers will enjoy that aspect. The found family theme was a definite highlight and really the reason I kept going. Overall, it just didn’t fully come together for me, but if you loved her first book, I still think this one is worth a try.

📚 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
🪄Cozy fantasy
🧙🏻Witchy vibes
💕Romance
🫶🏼Found family
❤️Heartwarming
💡Self Discovery
🗣️Diversity representation

🪄𝕄𝕐 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾🪄
⭐️⭐️⭐️

💕Q U O T E: 𝐻𝒾𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓎 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝒶𝒹𝑒 𝓈𝑒𝓃𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹, 𝒶𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝓁𝓁, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝒽𝒾𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓎 𝒾𝒻 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒶 𝒸𝑜𝓁𝓁𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝑜𝒻 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑜𝓂𝓅𝓇𝑒𝒽𝑒𝓃𝓈𝒾𝒷𝓁𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝓅𝓇𝑒𝒽𝑒𝓃𝓈𝒾𝒷𝓁𝑒?

🙏 Thank you Berkley Romance for this free ebook.💕#BerkleyPartner #Berkley #BerkleyInstagram

Another cozy, heartwarming tale from Sangu Mandanna!

I fell head over heels in love with Mandanna's writing after The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, and I knew I would be equally obsessed with Sera and her beloved motley crew of inn guests. This story is one of found family, second chances, and the power of believing in yourself.

Sera Swan lost her magic after saving someone near and dear to her, and she wishes for nothing more than to see the galaxies of stars she had long ago. What ensues is an adventurous trek to cast a restoration spell, and along the way, Sera discovers there is more than what meets the eye when it comes to, not only her guests and loved ones, but herself.

A highly entertaining and whimsical fantasy, this book will have you on the edge of your seat, smiling from ear to ear, all the while cozied up underneath some blankets. I adore this story with all my heart, and I cannot wait to see what comes next from Mandanna!

This is a lovely, quirky tale about the magic of found family, trust, and hope. The eccentric cast of characters at the inn is the heart of this soft and lighthearted read. Fans of Mandanna first book, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, will enjoy this one just as much.

I adore anything from Sangu Mandanna and was anticipating this one for YEARS! It did not disappoint. I just can’t get enough of the found family aspect of her stories. It is cozy magic and love at its finest. Five stars!

Sera, a witch without her magic, runs a magical inn full of lovable misfits. Sera lost her magic saving her beloved aunt, Jasmine (& indecently resurrected RooRoo, a skeletal chicken). Luke & his little sister, Posy unexpected to all, including themselves, show up and take refuge at Batty Hole, the inn. Sera’s world is turned upside down after their arrival, with newfound hope that her magic can be restored. Sera takes this challenge head on, with found family rallying behind her.

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping felt like home. Batty Hole was an incredible, cozy, and safe space for its characters that didn’t fit in society’s molds, both magical and non-magical. Sera went on a journey reclaiming her power, finding herself, and falling in love, while keeping sight on what matters to her most - her chosen family.

The story celebrates diversity in the residents of the inn, enriching the characters with rich personalities, highlighting the strengths that neurodivergent, queer, & disabled folks bring to the table, showing up as their imperfectly perfect selves.

Another cute and cozy witch book from Mandanna is a balm for actual reality. Another cute and cozy witch book from Mandanna is a balm for actual reality.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

"My name is Sera Swan. My magic is a galaxy. I belong in the sky, but I stopped being able to fly. And maybe that would have been okay if I could have become a creature of the earth instead, but this world, down here, it doesn't want me."

4.5 stars

This was such an unexpectedly emotional and beautiful story.

A lot of this book ended up being unexpected for me. There ended up being a pretty great ensemble of characters, some that took some time getting used to and others that were great from the start, but they all worked together well.

Sera and Luke were so entertaining and I loved watching their relationship slowly bloom. But the heavy hitter here was 100% Sera. Her journey to not only get her magic back but also her mental health was 🤌 I was tearing up several times as she struggled with herself and her past and it was just so similar emotionally to what I've gone through in my life so I was connecting to her on several levels.

This is a very character driven story with not a lot of action to speak of. More cozy fantasy vibes with the main storyline leaving a lot of space for character developments and I enjoyed it so much 🩷

3.75! The long-awaited sophomore novel by Sangu Mandanna!I absolutely loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, so I was eagerly anticipating this one. The story follows Sera, who lost her powers while reviving her only living relative. Years later, while running her family’s inn, she embarks on a journey to regain what she lost.

What I loved most was the found family element. The magic surrounding the inn only allows certain people to enter, those who truly need it. I loved how this subtly told us that everyone at the inn was there for a reason, which made their bond even more meaningful. It created space for so many cozy, comforting, and hilarious moments that reminded me of everything I adored in Mandanna’s debut.

As for the romance, it’s a slow burn (which I personally love!) and more of a subplot. I didn’t mind that, as we still get plenty of great interactions between the characters. That said, the book fell a little flat for me overall. I struggled to connect with Sera and Luke in the way I usually do with characters, and the pacing was off—the first 25% felt very slow, and the middle dragged a bit. There’s a plot element that’s built up throughout the book but feels unresolved toward the end. While I understand the author’s decision for how it wrapped up, I was left a bit disappointed.

That said, it may just not have been the right book at the right time for me—I could definitely see myself appreciating it more on a future re-read.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars - I absolutely loved this book! I adored The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and couldn't wait to read more from Sangu Mandanna.

What I Loved: The relationship between Sera and Jasmine was truly heartwarming. I love their connection and how they are so supportive of each other through everything that's happened to them. The community that was built at the inn with Nicholas, Clemmie, Matilda, and Theo was so special and such a fun part of the story. The addition of Luke and Posy was exactly right and I love that they finally found a place of acceptance and unconditional love. The quiet and tender love that bloomed between Luke and Sera was absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed the quest to recover Sera's magic and all the hiccups and shenanigans that came with that.

The Only Thing I Didn't Like: <spoiler>why in the world did Sera have to fully lose her powers?! I appreciate that Sera was really able to accept herself and recognize that she has so much value regardless of how much magic she has, but like WHYYYYYY. The writing was so gorgeous that I could almost accept the ending, but it just bummed me out. I blame the shear amount of fantasy stories that have done this to every female character ever.</spoiler>

Overall, I truly cannot recommend this enough. Absolutely loved this and will be a favorite of 2025 for sure. Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the eARC - all opinions are my own!