In a small village tucked away in the woods, there lived a mysterious woman. The village folk knew her as the witch, but no one knew her true name. She seemed to possess magical powers that surpassed anyone's understanding. The witch, with her long flowing robes and silver hair, seldom made an appearance in the village. Many believed she was a recluse, hiding from the prying eyes of the curious villagers. The only time people caught a glimpse of her was when she ventured out at night, lurking in the shadows.
Weaving It All Together
Like the individual ingredients used in a spell, elements of a magical name bring distinct threads of power to be woven into a whole. In this we may play at a sort of symbolic alchemy, combining disparate elements that interact in various ways upon the psyche. Any number of elements might be included, if the result is found to be pleasing and full of personal meaning.
Once the overall name is chosen, some people will find value in incorporating numerological associations into it, either by calculating the value of the individual letters, and name-elements, or maybe paying attention to the number of letters in each part of the name, the number of vowels, consonants, etc. Names drawn from the historical record can be considered in this light as well, whether this manifests as adopting the name of an historical figure or that of a personal ancestor.
The only time people caught a glimpse of her was when she ventured out at night, lurking in the shadows. Rumors spread like wildfire, as everyone whispered about the witch's dark practices. Some believed she was in league with dark forces, while others feared she cast evil spells on unsuspecting villagers.
The witch whose name is a secret
! OUT NOW !
A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family—and a new love—changes the course of her life.
As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules… with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos “pretending” to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.
But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and… Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.
As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn’t the only danger in the world, and Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for…
Buy it now:
US and Canada (Berkley)
UK and Ireland (Hodder)
What People Are Saying
⭐️ “Mandanna crafts a cast of winningly quirky characters, each with their own part to play in Mika's path to belonging. This charming romantic fantasy is a gem.”—Publishers Weekly (STARRED review)
⭐️ “This book is like a warm welcome home and is sure to find itself being a comfort read for many… Mandanna’s first adult novel is a positively adorable romantic fantasy.” — Library Journal (STARRED review)
⭐️ “A magical tale about finding yourself and making a found family that will leave the reader enchanted.” — Kirkus (STARRED review)
“The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a warm and witchy hug of a book. Full of endearing characters, romance and found family, it's the cozy magical romance you've been waiting for. I absolutely adored it!”—Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne
“This gorgeously cozy romantic fantasy sparkles with real magic, love, and joy. A perfect comfort read.”—Stephanie Burgis, author of Scales and Sensibility and Snowspelled
“Witty, witchy, and wonderfully romantic, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches will warm your heart with its endearing characters, grumpy-sunshine love story, and gorgeously sparkling magic.”—India Holton, bestselling author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels
“Absolutely charming, adorably witty, and features an endearing cast of characters and a wonderfully tricky and romantic plot. This is a lighthearted tale of a coven everyone will long to join!”—Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches
“Sangu Mandanna spins a bewitching tale of found family, magic, and the power of love. Dark humor and bright writing abound in The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, and readers are sure to be charmed.”—award-winning author Suleikha Snyder
Extras
Read the free bonus epilogue (Major spoilers for the book included, so please only read it after you’ve read the book!)
(NOTE: If you know me from my children’s books, please note that The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is aimed at an adult audience! Content warnings you may want to be aware of: a lot of swearing, some on-page sex, discussions of trauma and past abuse, and references to the racism and homophobia experienced by the characters.)
Cassie to Faye: "Whatever you did is not affecting me it's hurting the rest of the circle."
- In Fire/Ice
No one knew for sure, but the fear and curiosity about her only grew stronger with each passing day. The children in the village were particularly fascinated by the witch. They would gather on moonlit nights, spinning tales about her powers. Some claimed she could turn anyone into a toad, while others said she could control the weather with a flick of her finger. The children were captivated by the mystery surrounding the witch, and their imaginations ran wild. But amidst all the stories and fear, there was one young girl who felt a different kind of connection to the witch. Her name was Lily, and she often found herself drawn to the woods where the witch lived. She had a sense of empathy towards the witch, sensing an untold story hidden beneath her mysterious exterior. One day, fueled by curiosity and empathy, Lily mustered the courage to approach the witch's cottage. The cottage was dark and eerie, with creeping ivy covering its walls. As Lily knocked on the creaky door, she felt a mix of excitement and trepidation. To her surprise, the witch opened the door and greeted her with a warm smile. Her eyes sparkled with kindness, and Lily knew there was more to the witch than met the eye. They spent hours talking, and the witch shared her real name - Morgana. Morgana had been a healer, using her knowledge of herbs and potions to help those in need. But as the world changed, fear started to consume the villagers, who accused her of being a witch. The fear grew so strong that Morgana was forced to live in secrecy, hiding her true identity and her ability to heal. Lily realized that the witch, whose name was once a secret, was just a misunderstood woman who had faced unjust judgment. She knew it was her mission to bridge the gap between the villagers and Morgana. With time, she would help the village see the good in Morgana, and the witch's name would no longer be a secret - it would be a symbol of healing and understanding. In a world full of fear and prejudice, it is important to remember that there is always a story behind each person, even those who are often misunderstood. The witch, with her secret name, is just one example of how compassion and empathy can break down barriers and bring people together. Let us take the time to uncover the stories hidden beneath the surface, and celebrate the diversity that makes each individual unique..
Reviews for "The Mysterious Spellcaster: Unraveling the Witch's Secrets"
- Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really excited to read "The witch whose name is a secret" as I love magical stories, but unfortunately, this book just did not live up to my expectations. The plot was slow and lacked any real excitement or captivating moments. The characters were underdeveloped, and I found it hard to connect with any of them. Additionally, the writing style felt dry and monotonous, making it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to fellow fantasy lovers.
- Jake - 1 out of 5 stars - I found "The witch whose name is a secret" to be incredibly dull and uneventful. The story dragged on with no real climax or resolution, leaving me feeling unsatisfied and uninterested. The author's writing style was uninspiring and lacked emotion, making it hard to connect with the characters or root for any outcome. I expected more from a book with such an intriguing title, but sadly, it fell flat for me. I would not recommend wasting your time on this one.
- Emily - 2 out of 5 stars - I had high hopes for "The witch whose name is a secret," but it ultimately was a letdown. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the plot lacked depth and originality. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked any real development, making it hard to care about their fates. The writing style was dry and uninspiring, failing to create any sense of magic or enchantment. Overall, while the concept seemed promising, the execution fell short for me, and I would not recommend this book.