The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais: Book Review

The Witches of Moonshyne Manor is the most recent release from Bianca Marais. Readers are taken to Critchley Hackle, a small town that is home to a coven of senior witches and men hellbent on a witch hunt! Queenie, Ivy, Jezebel, Ursula, Tabby, and Ruby may have been behind a magical heist years ago that went sideways. But will they be able to correct their mistakes and save their home from the wrecking ball?

I want to thank MIRA and Goodreads for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Witches of Moonshyne Manor. All opinions presented here are solely mine.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Five octogenarian witches gather as an angry mob threatens to demolish Moonshyne Manor. All eyes turn to the witch in charge, Queenie, who confesses they’ve fallen far behind on their mortgage payments. Still, there’s hope since the imminent return of Ruby—one of the sisterhood who’s been gone for thirty-three years—will surely be their salvation.

But the mob is only the start of their troubles. One man is hellbent on avenging his family for the theft of a legacy he claims was rightfully his. In an act of desperation, Queenie makes a bargain with an evil far more powerful than anything they’ve ever faced. Then things take a turn for the worse when Ruby’s homecoming reveals a seemingly insurmountable obstacle instead of the solution to all their problems.

The witches are determined to save their home and themselves, but their aging powers are no match for increasingly malicious threats. Thankfully, they get a bit of help from Persephone, a feisty TikToker eager to smash the patriarchy. As the deadline to save the manor approaches, fractures among the sisterhood are revealed, and long-held secrets are exposed, culminating in a fiery confrontation with their enemies.

Positives

Strong, powerful female characters. Each witch has her own kind of magic and uses it for the greater good of the coven.

The women are open and accepting of all kinds of people, as long as the person has a good soul.

Lots of push and pull throughout the story.

Negatives

There is a bit of a lull in the middle of the story. While the action is there, the pull into the book isn’t as strong as in other parts.

My Opinions

The Witches of Moonshyne Manor is a story of women working together to save their home, but most importantly, to save themselves! The witches have known each other for most of their lives and have grown to be more than just friends-they are sisters. And as such, they have their differences. But when the chips are down, they work together to find a solution.

Overall, this is an easy read. While there may be a high number of chapters, many of them are only a few pages long. The pacing varies throughout the read, ranging from page-turning (especially at the beginning) to slow and almost tedious (around the middle of the book). But the pacing helps the reader understand the struggle the witches are going through.

You will find yourself laughing, crying, and cheering throughout the book! The Witches of Moonshyne Manor learn that the past can be painful, the truth will hurt, and eventually set you free, but they still have so much to learn.

Do you like reading books about witches? Books with older main characters? What about found families? Or the growth of characters? If you said yes to any of these, you should check out The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais!

Looking for some more books to read? Check out my other book reviews and my monthly reading wrap-ups.