A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
Cozy Fantasy
July 15, 2025, by Berkley

Review by Angela

I discovered this author when I read The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches a couple of years ago and absolutely fell in love with its charm and humor. I think when I found out that this author was publishing another book set in this world I was over the moon excited. I think this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025. My expectations were high, and I was not disappointed one bit.

Sera Swan was once a very powerful witch, until she used a spell to resurrect her beloved and recently diseased aunt and lost all her magic. Now, fifteen years later and exiled from her Guild, she’s living a simple life running an inn with her aunt, placing small protective spells over the land that will bring travelers to her door that need peace and comfort the most. Her household is full of quirky, unique characters that have found their way to her and now have made the inn their home. There’s Clemmie, a witch who has trapped herself in the body of a fox and is desperate to find a way to fix her predicament. Matilda, a woman who loves gardening, goats, and Sera’s aunt Jasmine, but not necessarily in that order. Nicholas, a knight at the medieval fair who pretty much wears his armor 24/7. Theo, Sera’s cousin whose magicless parents weren’t sure what to do with him, so he moved in with Sera to fully embrace his magic. And last but not least, Roo-Roo, a zombie like chicken who was accidentally resurrected along with Jasmine, Sera’s aunt. Let me tell you, it’s a crazy, fun ride from the first page.

Sera is just living her semi-normal life, full of exasperating friends and family, when one day the new leader of the Guild, and also her ex-best friend, Francesca, pays an unexpected visit to retrieve a spellbook stolen by Theo and Clemmie. This is when Sera realizes that there might be a way to get her magic back. If only she can find someone who can read the ancient language the spell is written in to translate.

Enter in Luke Larsen, a magic historian who, along with his younger sister Posy, finds himself at Sera’s front door. He knows exactly who she is and what she lost all those years ago. He needs to find a safe place for his sister who has special needs and doesn’t know to hide her magic from the human world. When he first arrives, he insists that it’ll only be for one night. But one-night turns into two, which turns into a week and it’s not long before he gets sucked into Sera’s world and enamored of life at the Inn.

They begin to work together to find the components needed to cast the spell to regain her magic. Sera goes through this journey throughout the book where she really begins to look at her life differently, finding strength and discovering what really matters most. Her found family, the home she’s made for herself, her new love.

This is probably the most charming, tender, and sweet romance I’ve read this year. It was like a warm hug just when I needed it. The dialogue was full of wit and humor. The characters wonderfully supportive, accepting and loving. Highly recommend.

Final Grade- A