Witches of Dubious Origin was a cozy fantasy romp with just the right amount of magic, mystery, and snark. Zoe Ziakas started out as your classic quiet librarian, but one cursed book delivery later, she was neck-deep in a legacy of witches, undead troublemakers, and a raven with boundary issues.
The world-building was whimsical yet rich, especially the Museum of Literature and its Books of Dubious Origin (honestly, I want to work there). Zoe’s discovery of her magical lineage felt both thrilling and grounded, and the pacing rarely lagged. The supernatural hijinks—ghost pirates! Viking zombies!—added levity, while the emotional threads around her missing mother and grandmother gave the story heart.
And then there was Jasper Griffin, the smug, suit-wearing containment specialist who somehow managed to be equal parts infuriating and swoon-worthy. Their banter crackled and the slow-burn tension made this magical mystery even more fun.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I always love books by Jenn McKinlay and this new one, which is very different for this author, is no exception! Zoe is a small town librarian who is aware that the women in her family, her ancestors, were witches. But she saw the bad effect it had on her own mom and grandmother, and she wants nothing to do with any of it. She is content and secure in her life as a small town librarian. Her hand is forced when a mysterious book is delivered to her. A grimoire -- a manual for witches -- that has magic powers of its own that compel Zoe to change course and to plunge into an adventure that has her looking into what really became of her mother and grandmother. I hope this is the first in a series! Great title that I look forward to recommending. I think even readers who say they don't like fantasy will enjoy this.

This is Jenn McKinlay's first foray into fantasy and I think it's a good start. The main character Zoe is a librarian who receives a magical book and has to figure out what to do with it. I liked Zoe quite a bit and she evolved over the course of the book. Her main love interest is a sexy brit Librarian, liked that quite a bit. The side characters could use a bit more fleshing out but I hope to see more of them in future novels.

It is because of the 2-star review someone else gave this I felt compelled to read this! And honestly? I have no idea what real librarians do however I loved the library in this book! It's like the library in Doctor Who that was run by CAL the AI - that probably offended librarians everywhere too but I still loved that episode!

Witches of Dubious Origin is a bookish, witchy cozy fantasy with National Treasure-meets-Harry Potter energy and a librarian protagonist: Zoe who's smart, grounded, and just sarcastic enough to feel real. When a creepy, sealed grimoire shows up at her library and undead pirates start crashing the party, I was fully in!

Hello secret departments, magical books, ghostly chaos. I could've done without the bird sidekick but I guess that's better than the owl in Harry Potter. There’s some zany action which felt a little out of place but I didn’t care. It was totally predictible in a good way.

So to the person who hated how librarians are portrayed here: I respect the opinion, but I’m team Zoe all the way.

4.5 stars from me. I hope this kicks off a long series, because I’d happily follow Zoe and her spell-slinging squad through many more magical mysteries.

An excellent start to a new series by one of my favorite authors! Magic, and witches and cozy cottages....everything I could have hoped for! Zoe Ziakas lives a quiet life as a reference librarian in a small town. That all changes when she receives a mysterious package in the mail followed by a mysterious undead visitor at the door. Zoe is descended from a long line of witches, something she has ignored until now. I loved this book! There are lots of surprises and very good character development. I could easily visualize all of the characters. The ending was surprising and the romance slow and believable. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

I love a good cozy fantasy, and this book seriously delivered. If you're a sucker for library settings, national treasure kind of vibes, mystery and magic, this is absolutely up your alley.

The characters were amazing. The main character was relatable, fun and strong. No weak female main character energy here, she wanted to stand on her own feet and take care of her problems on her own. I love that in a character. The side characters absolutely enhanced the feel and enjoyment of the story too. Such huge found-family vibes, which I LOVE. And they were completely lovable, each in their own ways.

With the journey of figuring out the mysteries of the story, it was fun, exciting and eventful. I did not at all see it unfolding the way that it did and that just makes a book even more enjoyable for me. I want that little jaw drop moment and the "whaaaaat?" feel. It was great and the author really made it compelling to read the journey and they seriously delivered with the outcome.

The romantic sub plot was really cute and well done. I really enjoyed that it wasn't a cornerstone of the story too. I thought the book being mostly focused on the magic and the mystery was exactly what it needed. That being said, the little bits of romance thrown in were swoon worthy and cute.

There wasn't a moment with this book where I was bored, I never once zoned out while reading, it was just that addictive and interesting. I really recommend this as a cozy and witchy fantasy/mystery. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Jenn McKinglay creates a highly cozy and entertaining world of magic and mayhem in WITCHES OF DUBIOUS ORIGIN. A story truly rife with adventure!

Jenn Mckinlay does such a good job at a cozy, comfy book. Just the right amount of adventure and romance mixed together.

I tend to enjoy cozy, witchy takes and this was one of those. No high stakes but you still feel engaged and needing to know how everything resolves. Well-written and I look forward to reading from this author again.

A totally enjoyable cozy fantasy. I am a great fan of Jenn McKinlay writing and really enjoy her “Library Lover’s Mystery” series. So, as soon as I saw this ARC on Netgalley I had to request it. I am so glad that I did because I read it in one sitting and can’t wait for another in the series. It had plenty of action, a sprinkle of romance, a dash of mystery and so much more. You can’t help liking Zoe, who leads a quiet life as a librarian in a small New England town until a mysterious book shows up for her at the library. This is when Zoe is introduced to the Museum of Literature and the guarded collection of Books of Dubious Origin. The book that mysteriously appeared at Zoe’s library ended up being her family’s grimoire with holds some very powerful spells. That is when Zoe life completely changes from a very dull and quiet to tons of action and near-death experiences. She ends up needing help from the eccentric staff of the Museum of Literature. Pick up this book and enjoy a great fantasy and find out what happens to Zoe and her helpers from the Museum of Literature. I highly recommend this book.

I’m too annoyed by how librarians are being portrayed to finish reading this. The main character’s job was obviously chosen to help support her personality just as much as to allow an avenue for learning about the grimoire, and what I read oh her I found unlikeable.