A Dark and Secret Magic - by Wallis Kinney (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

A warm, spellbinding tale about a witch and the secrets her coven has been keeping from her, with echoes of the classic Hades and Persephone story, in the tradition of Practical Magic and Witch of Wild Things.

Hecate Goodwin, Kate to her friends, has curated the perfect life as a hedge witch, living in a secluded cottage with only a black cat for company. She spends her days foraging herbs from the Ipswich forest, gardening, and creating tinctures to sell at the apothecary she owns. Most evenings pass without her speaking to another human being, an arrangement she quite prefers.

Kate's solitude is thrown into disarray when her older sister, Miranda, reaches out and asks her to host their coven's annual Halloween gathering. The day marks the beginning of the new year for witches and is also Kate's birthday. The pressure from her coven to make the evening memorable mounts as the event draws near. To complicate things further, a handsome man from Kate's past turns up at her cottage, asking for sanctuary. It is Kate's duty as a hedge witch to honor this request, much to her dismay. Matthew Cypher is no ordinary lost soul-he's a practitioner of forbidden magic who's tricked Kate once before, and her guard is up.

As she juggles Matthew's arrival and the preparations for Halloween, Kate comes across an old tome shrouded in dark magic. She is horrified when she realizes the blood-red inscription is written in familiar handwriting: her recently deceased mother's. Afraid to even touch the dark magic her mother secretly studied, Kate can turn only to Matthew for help. Her idealized memory of her mother begins to distort, and as she and Matthew grow closer, Kate has to reevaluate whom she can really trust.

A Dark and Secret Magic is a celebration of the Halloween season and a love letter to anyone who drinks pumpkin spice in August and carries the spirit of a witch inside their heart all year long.

Review Quotes

Praise for A Dark and Secret Magic

USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

"[A] wonderful addition to the oeuvre."
--The Nameless Zine

"An intense, magical novel that keeps you engaged in the story. Fans of witches and magic will enjoy this one."
--Red Carpet Crash

"Wallis Kinney weaves a bewitching tale of magic and romance. With a heady dose of dark magic tempered by beautiful prose and smart, loveable characters, A Dark and Secret Magic is a celebration of love and hope."
--Lori Nelson Spielman, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany

"A Dark and Secret Magic is the perfect book for a cozy autumnal night. A must-have for your Halloween TBR shelf. I was utterly entranced from start to finish."
--D. L. Soria, author of The Cottage Around the Corner

"What a gorgeous, emotional story about family secrets, finding our true paths to our real selves, and love that transcends death--plus enough kitchen magic that I could practically taste the glorious concoctions through the pages! Can't wait for readers to sink into this book!"
--Hazel Beck, USA Today bestselling author of Small Town, Big Magic

"A warm hug on a crisp Autumn day, this book was stunning. The perfect cozy fall fantasy, full of twists, intricate world-building, forbidden love, and the simple beauty of Octobers."
--Sophie H. Morgan, author of the Toil and Trouble series

"Wallis Kinney spins a delightfully witchy tale of family secrets, forbidden magic, and thrilling romance that is sure to cast a spell on readers. I was enchanted by Kate's journey of self-discovery as she uncovers the true calling of a hedge witch."
--Maureen Kilmer, author of Suburban Hell, Hex Education, and Nightmare of a Trip

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Wallis Kinney's biggest sources of joy in life are science and fairytales. She tries to imbue elements of both into every story she writes. She studied planetary science and molecular biology at the University of Colorado and has a master's degree in economics from Purdue University. She wrote A Dark and Secret Magic as a gift for her older sister, in honor of all the years they spent celebrating the magical wonder of Halloween together. Wallis lives in Dallas, Texas, with her family. In her free time, she enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons and making videos on YouTube that document her writing process.