The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith | Book Review

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A New York Times Bestseller
Deluxe edition with special embellishments on first printing only!

“Spectacular, singular, and spellbinding.” —Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue

The Last Magician meets The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy in this thrilling and atmospheric historical fantasy following a young woman who discovers she has magical powers and is thrust into a battle between witches and wizards.

In 1911 New York City, seventeen-year-old Frances Hallowell spends her days as a seamstress, mourning the mysterious death of her brother months prior. Everything changes when she’s attacked and a man ends up dead at her feet—her scissors in his neck, and she can’t explain how they got there.

Before she can be condemned as a murderess, two cape-wearing nurses arrive to inform her she is deathly ill and ordered to report to Haxahaven Sanitarium. But Frances finds Haxahaven isn’t a sanitarium at all: it’s a school for witches. Within Haxahaven’s glittering walls, Frances finds the sisterhood she craves, but the headmistress warns Frances that magic is dangerous. Frances has no interest in the small, safe magic of her school, and is instead enchanted by Finn, a boy with magic himself who appears in her dreams and tells her he can teach her all she’s been craving to learn, lessons that may bring her closer to discovering what truly happened to her brother.

Frances’s newfound power attracts the attention of the leader of an ancient order who yearns for magical control of Manhattan. And who will stop at nothing to have Frances by his side. Frances must ultimately choose what matters more, justice for her murdered brother and her growing feelings for Finn, or the safety of her city and fellow witches. What price would she pay for power, and what if the truth is more terrible than she ever imagined?

The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith has kicked off a bountiful season of books featuring witches. If this book is any indication to go by, then I have some great reading ahead of me. As it turns out, I really, really enjoyed The Witch Haven. This book nearly had it all for me. Suffice to say, I cannot wait to see what’s next — and if there’s going to be a sequel.

Smith’s debut is set in New York City in 1911. It follows Frances Hallowell who is a seamstress just trying to make ends meet while also dealing with the grief of losing her brother. One night, Frances is attacked by the shop’s owner. It is like a switch is flicked. She snaps and uses magic that she did not even know existed, much less knew that she had. And so, Frances is whisked away to Haxahaven which is a school for witches. Frances is excited, but it turns out, school still follows the rules of patriarchy and society. Meanwhile, trouble is brewing within the city and a fight for ultimate power is about to break out.

I thought that The Witch Haven was an atmospheric read that got me in that exact mindset I want to be in for autumn. This book captivated my attention from page one and I did not want to stop reading. Also, I really wanted a sequel (just looked on goodreads and see that this is going to be a duology) immediately because I have to know what happens next. As for the romance, I was not a super huge fan — it did not have the sparks or burn that I like. The friendship bits were superb though. Also, the diversity on the page was interesting — at one scene we see white privilege explained. Also, I did want to note, one of the characters is Indigenous and she attended a boarding school meant to take away her culture. I can’t speak for the rep, just wanted to note it.

If you’re looking for a captivating read that is historical fantasy with a strong young lady as lead, pick up The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith pronto.

@aprilbooksandwine

Book review: The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith #HPRadicalReuse #booktok #thewitchhaven ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

♬ I Put Spell On You – naya

The following two tabs change content below.

• Bio
• Latest Posts

April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

Latest posts by April (Books&Wine) (see all)

• Three Middle Grade Recommendations - May 27, 2025
• Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake | Audiobook Review - May 24, 2025
• You Lucky Dog by Julia London | Audiobook Review - May 22, 2025