A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna | 352 pages | 2025

Sera Swan was once 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 magical Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and just a bit grumpily) helps Aunt Jasmine run an inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guests' shenanigans, tries to keep the talking fox in check, and longs for the magical future she lost.

When she learns about an old spellbook that holds the secret to restoring her power, she turns to Luke Larsen, a gorgeous historian who might just be able to help her unlock the book’s mysteries. Luke, who has his own reasons for staying at the inn, never planned on getting involved in the madcap goings-on around him and certainly had no intention of letting certain grumpy innkeepers past his icy walls, so no one is more surprised than he is when he not only agrees to help, but also finds himself thawing.

Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and staying one step ahead of the watchful Guild is a lot for anyone, but Sera 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.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

The Witch by Freida McFadden

 The Witch by Freida McFadden-344 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Some secrets don't die―they wait.

When Julia Barlow loses her job and her apartment, she has nowhere left to go but Pemberton, her family's sprawling seventeenth-century estate in rural Massachusetts. Officially, she's there to check in on her aging grandmother. Unofficially, she's hoping the old house will give her a place to disappear.

Instead, Pemberton begins to unravel her.

Every night, the grandfather clock stops at exactly 3:41 a.m. The lights flicker without warning. And a disembodied voice cries for help outside Julia's bedroom door.

As Julia digs into the house's dark history, she uncovers the story of a woman executed for witchcraft in 1692―and realizes the past may not be finished with Pemberton yet. When decades of family lies begin to surface, Julia must confront a terrifying truth: Pemberton may be haunted by women whose voices refuse to stay silent.

Thoughts: I liked this one. It's not my favorite McFadden book, but it's pretty good. I liked the added paranormal element. She always keeps the reader guessing and I have yet to guess the entire ending. I find her books to be easy, mostly fun reads. 

The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity, Vol. 3 by Saka Mikami

The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity, Vol. 3 by Saka Mikami

Kauro Hana wa Rin to Saku #3, 192 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Rintaro and Kaoruko have been spending more and more time together, beginning to feel comfortable with each other despite their schools' rivalry. Yet their growing bond is nowhere near strong enough to break down the barriers between their two communities. In fact, Rintaro is starting to feel at a loss with his own friends, as keeping his relationship with Kaoruko a secret means continuing to lie to them! And so, Rintaro calls Kaoruko and her friend Subaru to a meeting, hoping to find a solution...

The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity, Vol. 2 by Saka Mikami

The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity, Vol. 2 by Saka Mikami

Kauro Hana wa Rin to Saku #2, 192 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Chidori High second-year Rintaro is a gentle soul, with a fierce face and an even fiercer reputation. Used to being judged by everyone around him, he finds himself thrown off balance when he meets the open-hearted Kaoruko, a girl who attends a rival school and should be his polar opposite in every way. But her genuine attitude slowly makes his walls crumble. Despite their growing relationship, the rivalry between the two schools becomes a deep chasm that may be hard to cross, especially after Kaoruko's best friend, Subaru Hoshina, finds out about their relationship...

Yona of the Dawn Volumes 1-3 by Mizuho Kusanagi

Yona of the Dawn Volumes 1-3 by Mizuho Kusanagi (576 Pages)

Summary: Princess Yona lives an ideal life as the only princess of her kingdom. Doted on by her father, the king, and protected by her faithful guard Hak, she cherishes the time spent with the man she loves, Su-won. But everything changes on her 16th birthday when tragedy strikes her family! Yona reels from the shock of witnessing a loved one’s murder and having to fight for her life. With her bodyguard Hak, she flees the palace and struggles to survive while evading enemy forces. Their journey leads them to a priest named Ik-su, who can see Yona’s future—one that includes four legendary Dragon Warriors!

Opinion: I'm enjoying this manga series. While there are some scenes that feel a bit outdated, I am really liking Yona's character arc. The vibes of this series really gives a mix of Avalon High, a Disney Channel Original movie, and The Twelve Kingdoms, a Japanese light novel series. Overall, a good manga series (at least so far) that I plan to continue reading. 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

532 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)
Charlotte Brontë tells the story of orphaned Jane Eyre, who grows up in the home of her heartless aunt, enduring loneliness and cruelty. This troubled childhood strengthens Jane's natural independence and spirit - which prove necessary when she finds employment as a governess to the young ward of Byronic, brooding Mr Rochester. As her feelings for Rochester develop, Jane gradually uncovers Thornfield Hall's terrible secret, forcing her to make a choice. Should she stay with Rochester and live with the consequences, or follow her convictions - even if it means leaving the man she loves? A novel of intense power and intrigue, Jane Eyre dazzled readers with its passionate depiction of a woman's search for equality and freedom.

A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J. Maas | 352 pages | 2026

Deep in the heart of the continent, Koschei the Deathless is stirring. Though he's been bound to a mountain lake for millennia, the insidious threat of his return now spreads across the Fae territories, attracting powerful allies hell-bent on reclaiming what was once theirs: the human lands.

The Night Court will not stand idly by while innocents are attacked. But with Prythian still piecing itself together in the wake of the devastating Hybern War, the task of uniting is proving more difficult by the day. To make matters worse, those who rule and protect the Night Court are reeling from recent betrayals and revealed truths. The rifts dividing them seem insurmountable. But to defeat Koschei's creeping shadow, they must find a way back to each other and resurrect their former alliances. To survive, they must find a way to repair the splintered harmony all around them.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)