A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping

By Sangu Mandanna

Book Overview

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - 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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593439376
• ISBN13: 9780593439371
• Release Date: July 2025
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Both wonderous and bittersweet!

An absolutely wonderful sweet (and a little bittersweet) story about a family brought together, not by blood, but by love and acceptance of those who may not fit the status quo of normality but shine in their differences coming to live at a very special inn that is also wonderful but not perfect (Just a bit odd like how it rains apple tea every Saturday in a certain room!). From Sera who lost most of her magic bringing her aunt Jasmin back from the dead (and a certain rooster who is awesome!) to Clemmie, a human cursed to fox form, or Nicholas a knight in shining armor (always ready to rescue or protect anyone in need). This story has funny shenanigans (I mean you get a fox and a helpful kid and suddenly a library is broken into!) or a goat getting loose in the garden but you also have to good messages about how people have their own quirks that may not fit into the "norm" and also down with the awful people set in their ways, prejudiced against "different" people! There is sweetness and love and people who stand with each other in the darkest of times. I did love the journey Luke took while at the inn, showing that his sister wouldn't have to go through the same trials he did. And also Sera's hunt for how to get her magic back and also how not to let the past pull her down and how a little magic can go a long way and how some things are greater than having tons of magic. This was a blast to read, even if the ending was bittersweet (yes it was good but also hurt!). I would love to be able to go to the Batty Hole Inn and see all these wonderful people and such a grand place to live.