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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 when peril comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for....
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
August 23, 2022 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593590850
- File size: 287698 KB
- Duration: 09:59:22
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Starred review from May 9, 2022
A misfit witch finds her place in the world in this utterly enchanting fantasy from Mandanna (A War of Swallowed Stars). Witch Mika Moon has never felt like she belonged; as an orphaned child, she was raised by a controlling older witch named Primrose and educated by a succession of nannies, each of whom was whisked away before they could realize Mika’s power. She’s never told anyone her secret, but as an adult she takes a risk by posting videos online in which she “pretends” to be a witch. It’s all harmless fun—until retired actor Ian Kubo-Hawthorn recognizes her as the real deal. He invites her to Nowhere House, home to a found family working together to raise three young, untrained orphan witches. The children’s unchecked magic has become impossible to contain, and Ian recruits Mika to become the trio’s live-in magic tutor. But not everyone is pleased with the arrangement: “devastatingly handsome” Jamie Kelly, the house librarian, is hyperprotective of the children, and despite the immediate heat between him and Mika, he’s determined not to let her melt his icy exterior. Mandanna crafts a cast of winningly quirky characters, each with their own part to play in Mika’s path to belonging. The masterfully shaded relationships between Nowhere House’s residents give rise to plenty of touching moments sure to tug on readers' heartstrings. This charming romantic fantasy is a gem. Agent: Penny Moore, Aevitas. -
Samara MacLaren narrates a magical romance between a sunshine witch and a grumpy librarian. Having lived her whole life in isolation from other witches, Mika Moon is both exhilarated and anxious to tutor Rosetta, Terracotta, and Altamira, three young witches. MacLaren captures Mika's sunny disposition, as well as her deep-seated need to protect her heart. While she delivers three distinctive personalities for the three girls, MacLaren's performances are utterly believable and age appropriate. Her portrayals of the adults who watch over them--flamboyant Ian, unflappable Ken, comfortable Lucie, and prickly Jamie--are just as memorable. Overall, MacLaren's warm and charming narration makes up for any small flaws in the narrative. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine -
Starred review from October 1, 2022
Children's author Mandanna's (Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom) adult debut follows Mika Moon, an orphaned witch who finds her place in the world. Mika was raised to keep her magic secret and avoid connecting with other people, especially other witches. All that changes when she accepts a job tutoring three young witches. Narrator Samara MacLaren communicates the novel's cozy atmosphere, complete with quirky side characters and adorably precocious children. MacLaren deftly captures the movement between Mika's sunny dialogue and her guarded inner monologue, allowing listeners a glimpse into her pain and insecurity. She instills strong personalities and creates distinct accents for each character, which is impressive, since the characters range widely in age. Listeners will empathize with Mika and hope that she finds happiness in this found-family story. The novel features a light enemies-to-lovers romance and a lyrical, if not in-depth, magical system. VERDICT Mandanna's enchanting fantasy will have wide appeal and is a must-buy for all public library collections.--Matthew Galloway
Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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