This book marks the end of my October reads; the book I’ve just finished was ‘A witch’s guide to magical innkeeping’ by Sangu Mandanna. It really was a somewhat cozy read which is the perfect way to conclude this month.

‘Don’t panic, Don’t panic’ is what Sera Swan is thinking right this moment – She knows she can do this, but it is forbidden to cast a resurrection spell. Clemmie, the fox that appeared mere weeks prior snaps her out of her panic and tells her the window in which the spell needs to be cast is closing, she has to make up her mind. Her Auntie Jasmine, the one that has been looking out for her since she was little, the one that has been raising her since her parents weren’t keen on their roles.

After the spell has been cast her aunt seems to wake, as if done with her nap. But that’s not all that awakes. A fully decomposed rooster named Roo-Roo has had the blessing of coming back to live to. A skeleton rooster; how do you explain that to anyone? When Sera has been outed to the guild about her spell and the fact that her magic hasn’t replenished yet; which can only mean one thing. Her magic is all but gone and now she has been exiled with it.

15 years later;
The Inn has a few more permanent residents it seems; Theo is Sera’s 11-year-old nephew and has magic in him which made his parents become scared of him. Nicholas, the man who’s always in his knight’s armor. Mathilda, the one with the secret crush on Jasmine and Clemmie also hasn’t departed yet. Clemmie, the talking fox which once was an actual human or rather a witch before a spell backfired. Sera is content with her live, but there’s always a void where her magic used to be.

Sera’s former best friend, now Chancellor of the Guild pays them a visit. A book has been stolen from the restricted section from the Guild’s library and with recent technology and all, the culprits were caught on camera. Theo and Clemmie stole a book in which there is a spell to give Sera her magic back, but all was for nothing, since the spell has been written in a long-lost language.

Luke is a historian, working for a professor at the Guild but he has been running on fumes lately. After his parents wanted his sister out of their house because she doesn’t hide her magic, 9-year-old Posy has been living with Luke. The guild trying to teach her the ways of magic; but lacking the skills to know how to handle a child that has Autism. The professor gives him some time off, to take a break and sends him to some kind of bogus address. When he’s on his way back he comes across an inn, Batty Hole Inn? Who named that place? But alas, when a skeletonized rooster jumps in front of the car and Sera follows to shield said Rooster, the pieces seam to click in place for Luke. The professor all but send him to help Sera.

The Inn only shows itself to people who really need it, there are people that stay longer than just one night, that might even stay forever. Because at the inn, you get the sense of being part of a family. To not carry burdens on your own but share the weight.

Will Sera succeed in getting her magic back? How will Posy settle in? Will Clemmie become a witch once more?

I’m giving this book ⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars!