A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping

Written by Sangu Mandanna

Narrated by Samara MacLaren

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Audio
• Release date: Jul 15, 2025
• ISBN: 9780593825969

Sangu Mandanna

Sangu Mandanna was four years old when she was chased by an elephant, wrote her first story about it, and decided this was what she wanted to do with her life. Seventeen years later, she read Frankenstein. It sent her into a writing frenzy that became The Lost Girl, a novel about death and love and the tie that binds the two together. Sangu lives in England with her husband and son.

Reviews for A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping

[Tammy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

loved this book. I am a true believer that Love and Goodness should be the answer.

[monicahill35 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a warm, cozy much-needed read. It was definitely a palette cleanser. Witches villains, found family romance, betrayal, and forgiveness, can all be found in this book

[Aidita Lo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Whimsical tale of found family, inner strength and healing. Would highly recommend if you’re looking for a cozy fall story.

[edificioenllamas · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lovely. So cozy, with a consice story, a diverse number of characters, romance, and lorts of magic.

[Quam · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The narration was great, and the story was cozy and engaging. I couldn’t predict the puzzle solutions either, which was a pleasant surprise.
The ending was a bit disappointing but doesn’t ruin the book overall.

[Bridgett Monica · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A perfect book to cuddle into, to get you thinking about how you can create coziness and love around you. Loved it!! Highly recommend. Great character development and world-building.

[denisepayne94 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing as always! It was like jumping back into my favorite world again. I cried multiple times while listening and she writes her characters with so much depth and personality that I'm just utterly in love with it all! 1000 stars

[Amanda Perez Edwards · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cute cozy magical listen. Found family. Magic system. Sweet love.

[mav1n1libby · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I hadn't read her first book yet and read this one first. It was OK. And from seeing some reviews online, it seems other people felt the same way that it didn't hit as much as the first book, so it motivated me to want to read her first book (which I did). But since technically, at the time I read this, I had not read her other one, I will try not to compare....as I already have. lol. It was cute and whimsical but I did find it to be a bit slow. I think this is the type of book that you go into just expecting to enjoy the ambiance and the quirkiness and not expect a ton of action and enjoy the vibes. If you go in that way, I think it will hit better, maybe. I have it 3 stars as I don't think it was a waste of time that I read it, but I can't say I'll be out in the world raving for everyone to read this.

[contains spoilers] There is a witch and she has powers. But because she decided to resurrect her grandma who passed while in the garden, she lost her powers because you're not supposed to do that. Also, she was a powerful witch and the person who ran the guild didn't like that she was as powerful as him, so he didn't want to help her get her powers back. She still had them, but was much more mild and not as powerful. But she had her grandma back. There were some fun characters in this including a rooster she accidentally also brought back to life with her grandma. And a witch who was stuck in a fox's body (who helped her cast the spell to bring her grandma back). And she was running a B&B of sorts. They all lived there along with another older lady and a guy who thought he was a knight. There were people in the guild who didn't think it was fair what happened to her, but didn't stand up to the powerful guy. Now it's 15 years later. And the daughter of the powerful guy is now running the guild but really still under her father's watch. There was also a guy from the guild that ends up coming to the B&B because magic can bring people there. And he brought his little sister who is also a witch and also autistic. In the end, she got her power back and she fell lin love with the guy who came. And him and his sister, Lucy, I think it was, decide to stay there. But then the powerful guy comes back and she realizes her family will never be safe with him around. And he's mad she has power back. They decide to do a power duel and she casts a spell that will get rid of both of their powers. And it works, so once again, she loses her power, but she has her family and they're all safe. And the fox is no longer in the fox body and now she's the head of the guild. That's the quick synopsis of it!

[bookwyrmm_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fun and whimsical cozy fantasy with a touch of romance.

[lazybee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a cozy fantasy about a witch and her chosen family. A really enjoyable comfort read, anyone who like The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches will love this as well. I hope Sangu Mandanna writes many more novels in this genre.

[mktoronto · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had assumed this was a sequel to The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches so I was confused at first when I didn't see any connections to the characters or world of that book. Then I realized it was using the same premise of oddball characters that didn't fit anywhere else and the need to hide witchcraft from that book, but using it to look at issues of loss and identity. Sera is a character who to prevent one great loss creates another and her wrestling with that loss creates a fascinating, multi-dimension core of the story. Luke is someone who is all about protection, which we see in his relationship with his sister Posy. I loved how their romance slowly unfurled.

The cast of characters around them were also delightful and I liked how magic was described and used in the book. Definitely worth reading.

[foggidawn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As a young witch, Sera Swan had the most promising magical talent in decades -- but she sacrificed her magic when a resurrection spell to revive her beloved aunt took more power than expected. For the last fifteen years, she's been just an innkeeper with the tiniest smidgen of magic. She can place heating spells on the old building during the cold months, and on a good day she might be able to patch a hole in the roof, but that's all. That is, until the day she learns about a revitalizing spell that might bring her magic back. Is it mere coincidence that Luke, a witch who knows archaic languages, comes along right at the same time she needs someone to translate the spell? And once that's done, can she find a reason to get him to stay?

This is a fairly cozy fantasy, full of found family, quirky animals, and descriptions of delicious food. The romance is a very slow burn for most of the book, though it gets there in the end. In fact, it's all a bit slow for the first half of the book, though I found I didn't mind it. Just don't go into it expecting something pacey. I enjoyed it, and would recommend it if you're looking for something comfy to read.

[bookescapest · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely needed this book this week while the weather was drizzly and gray. Sera was once a witch whose powers riveled those of the greatest magical power like Albert Gray. Yet one spelled robbed her of most of her magic. Over years and years of waiting and trying to regain her powers, she finally has a lead. A restoration spell, but the ingredients are somewhat unusual. A hilarious and rare cast of characters surrounds Sera and her magical inn and support her in her quest. The only downfall is this book is somewhat predictable, but sometimes you are just in the mood for a lighthearted book that is comforting.

[kayanelson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cute book. I really liked the beginning and end but the middle lagged. Sera loses her powers. She is surrounded by her chosen family at her inn. She falls in love, gains her powers and loses them all over again. But it’s all ok because she is in love!

[jennybeast · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Adorable, and just as satisfying as I hoped it would be. I love a grumpy protagonist. I love an underdog coming out on top. And I love that the found family in this book -- from the armored knight to the autistic, floating child, to the surprising background romantics and the deeply irritating transformed fox. It's a wild ride, but a lovely, satisfying one. Great heart, great magic, great romance.

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.

[bell7_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

*E-ARC provided by the publisher through Edelweiss Plus for an honest review - thank you!*

Sera Swan has more power than any witch in a generation, but when she uses a resurrection spell to bring her great-aunt Jasmine back to life (and, less intentionally, reanimate the year-long dead rooster's bones), her magic is fractured and she's exiled from the Guild. Fifteen years later, she has made a home for herself and a found family of her great-aunt, Clemmie the talking fox/cursed witch, teenager Theo, and a few guests at their inn who never left. She learns that there is a restoration spell she may be able to use to heal her magic. Meanwhile, Luke and his sister Posy arrive with challenges of their own but possibly the ability to help Sera with the spell. And though Luke and Sera first start at odds, then tentatively friends, they can't let their growing feelings go anywhere since Luke's not planning on staying forever.

I was really excited to see a new book coming out by the author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. This is a standalone, where a Guild of witches has their own school and library, but it does keep that similar cozy feel even while touching on serious issues. Luke and Sera have both felt like outsiders for various reasons, as Sera is an immigrant and not from a magical family. I love the inn's found family and acceptance, and Sera's really coming in to her own of knowing and accepting herself. A nice, warm blanket of a read I'd return to again in a heartbeat.