Caffeinated Reviewer

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna was one of my most anticipated summer releases. Narrated by Samara MacLaren, the author transports us to an inn in Lancashire where the once most powerful witch in Britain lives with her aunt. You’ll want to grab your earbuds for this delightful, heartfelt, and magical tale.

A whimsical and heartwarming novel about a witch who has a second chance to get her magical powers—and her life—back on track, from the national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

Sera Swan used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and just a bit grumpily) helps Jasmine run an enchanted inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guests' shenanigans, tries to keep said talking fox in check, and longs for the future that seems lost to her. But then she finds out about an old spell that could hold the key to restoring her power…

Enter Luke Larsen, handsome and icy magical historian, who arrives on a dark winter evening and just might know how to unlock the spell’s secrets. Luke has absolutely no interest in getting involved in the madcap goings-on of the inn and is definitely not about to let a certain bewitching innkeeper past his walls, so no one is more surprised than he is when he agrees to help Sera with her spell. Worse, he might actually be thawing.

Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and staying one step ahead of the watchful Guild is a lot for anyone, but Sera Swan is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone...and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.

I adored The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and dove into A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping with high expectations. Both stories are standalone novels and each offers magic, family, suspense, witches, and romance.

We meet Sera Swan, who once upon a time was the most powerful witch in all of Britain. She was exiled from her magical Guild, when she used magic to resurrect her recently deceased Aunt Jasmine and also accidentally resurrected a not so recently dead cat. That spell cost her most of her magic. So she and her aunt, along with a talking fox, set up an inn in Lancashire. Sera cast a spell over the inn that only allows those who need it to find their way there.

The tale that unfolds hooked me from the start with Mandanna’s delightful prose and vivid imagination. I loved the inn, the creatures there and most of all Sera.

Luke Larsen is a historian for the guild. When he and his precocious niece find their way to the inn, Sera seeks his help in locating a spell book that might contain a spell that will restore her magic. The story that unfolds builds in suspense as her mentor tries to thwart her and those in her inner circle both betray and aid her.

A romance builds between Luke and Sera. It was slow-building and sweet. The author created wonderful chemistry, and it felt genuine. The characters, both human and other, made this story come to life and left me hoping we will see more of Sera.

If you love cozy fantasy that wraps you up in comfort like a fuzzy blanket on a cold winter’ eve, then you will want to grab this one. It’s a tale of good vs evil where doing the right thing doesn’t always give you exactly what you want, but delivers unexpectedly.

Samara MacLaren narrates and beautifully captured the tone and voice of these characters. I enjoyed listening and felt it enhanced my overall experience as the story unfolded. I highly recommend listening. I cannot wait to see what this author brings us next.

Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm

About Sangu Mandanna

Sangu Mandanna was four years old when an elephant chased her down a forest road and she decided to write her first story about it. Seventeen years and many, many manuscripts later, she signed her first book deal. Sangu now lives in Norwich, a city in the east of England, with her husband and kids. Her work includes Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom, A Spark of White Fire, Color Outside the Lines, and more!

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About Samara MacLaren

Samara MacLaren is a Scottish actor, writer and audiobook narrator. She is known for her work in Dept. Q (2025), Merlin (2008) and Carapaces (2018).

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2025 Audiobook Challenge

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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