The Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman

I enjoy Alice Hoffman's stories, especially those involving witches and magic (see Practical Magic). Her books are not in the fantasy genre but rather in the magical realism vein. That's a big difference for me.

Set at Radcliffe College in the 1950s, it follows two women: Ava, a young woman whose abilities as a witch were kept from her, and Lauren, from a prominent Cambridge family who uses her magic whenever possible. Both are selected to join the Lilith Society, a college secret society for witches only. Here they learn the history of witches in Massachusetts, especially the Salem witch trials. It is here that Ava discovers letters written in the 1600s that help her understand witchcraft and the burden that goes with it. As Lauren and Ava bond, they rely on each other to navigate the politically charged era of McCarthyism, misogyny, and the limited freedom women were allowed. 

This book opened my eyes to just how recent women were allowed societal freedom. Even now, as our right to govern our own bodies is being withdrawn, we still have rights we (I) take for granted. The Witches of Cambridge is an entertaining and enlightening book. It is beautifully written and weaves the past and present into a riveting read. I loved how Ava and Lauren grew as women and how they drew on each other's strengths. I believe this may be the beginning of a new series. If so, I can't wait for the next book.

 4/5 stars.

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Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher

 I usually like T. Kingfisher's books, especially the ones that are take-offs on fairy tales (A Sorceress Comes to Call, Thornhedge), but this book, not so much. It is a dark horror story that is downright creepy — as in creepy, crawly bugs.

Sonia Wilson is a scientific illustrator who worked with her father until his death. It's 1899, and there aren't many prospects for women, especially with Sonia's talent. Unhappy as a teacher, she is in luck when a scientist offers her a position illustrating his forthcoming book on insects. When she arrives at his manor house, she finds that the scientist, Dr. Matthias Halder, is not very personable, and the locals and Halder's staff are keeping secrets about her predecessor and a mysterious building in the woods. What is more upsetting is Sonia's suspicions about how Halder is conducting his research. Are his scientific principles warped and methods unlawful? A determined Sonia is willing to put herself in danger to find the answers to her questions.

I admit that I skimmed some of the more graphic descriptions of the effects of the parasitic insects on both animals and humans. While the writing and pacing are good, the subject matter is off-putting. If you are squeamish,  this is probably not a good read for you. 

3.5/5 stars.

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King Sorrow by Joe Hill

I've liked Joe Hill's previous novels and short stories, but with his latest novel, King Sorrow, I've been converted to a full-on fan. This book, an epic tale of greed, ambition, and friendship, is his best yet. 

Arthur, Colin, Allie, Van, Donna, and Gwen are college friends who enjoy experimenting with the occult. When Arthur is blackmailed into stealing rare books from the college library, they band together to summon a dragon, King Sorrow from the Long Dark. Little do they realize that their seemingly innocent act will have grave consequences, as they find themselves in a lifelong pact with the dragon--they must choose a sacrifice every year or one of them will be the next victim. This burden weighs heavily on their shoulders. 

Spanning decades, the book follows the friends as they mature and go their separate ways. Bound by the pact with King Sorrow, they face a never-ending commitment to finding a yearly sacrifice, often with innocent individuals as collateral damage. Arthur explores ways to end the Faustian agreement, but not all his friends are willing to relinquish their power. As the rift among the friends deepens, they each face a moral dilemma that strains their relationships, inviting the reader to empathize with their predicament. If you enjoy horror stories with great characters facing morally dubious situations, I recommend this book. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is October 21, 2025.

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The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness

 I loved the first three books in this series*; even the fourth one, which read like a standalone, was good. This book is my least favorite. It had a good story, but it did drag in parts—nothing that a good editor couldn't have fixed.

This story is set a few years after the end of the third book, The Book of Life. The twins are now seven years old, and Mathew and Diana live most of the year in the US, where Diana teaches at Yale and Mathew is continuing his creature DNA research.

The school year is over, and the family is preparing to spend the summer in England when a letter arrives from the Congregation, notifying Mathew and Diana that it is time for the twins' magical abilities to be tested. At the same time, Diana receives a message from her great-aunt, Gwyneth Proctor, telling her that she must come to the Proctor family home of Ravenswood. Once at Ravenswood, Diana learns it is time to develop her higher magic skills, with Aunt Gwyneth as her tutor.

This story is good because it explores an area of magic viewed as dangerous in the previous books. Diana and Mathew must come to terms with the fact that Diana is an even more powerful witch than they previously believed. Overall, I did like the book, but I found the pacing uneven and got bogged down in places. 

3.5/5 stars.

* The previous books in the series, in order, are A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, The Book of Life, and Time's Convert.

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