For fans of Alice Hoffman, Sarah Addison Allen, and Adriana Trigiani, The Witches of Cambridge reveals an astonishing world where the heart’s deepest secrets give way to the magic of life-changing love.Be careful what you wish for. If you’re a witch, you might just get it. Amandine Bisset has always had the power to feel the emotions of those around her. It’s a secret she can share only with … It’s a secret she can share only with her friends—all professors, all witches—when they gather for the Cambridge University Society of Literature and Witchcraft. Amandine treasures these meetings but lately senses the ties among her colleagues beginning to unravel. If only she had her student Noa’s power to hear the innermost thoughts of others, she might know how to patch things up. Unfortunately, Noa regards her gift as a curse. So when a seductive artist claims he can cure her, Noa jumps at the chance, no matter the cost.
Noa’s not the only witch who’s in over her head. Mathematics professor Kat has a serious case of unrequited love but refuses to cast spells to win anyone’s heart. Kat’s sister, Cosima, is not above using magic to get what she wants, sprinkling pastries in her bakery with equal parts sugar and enchantment. But when Cosima sets her sights on Kat’s crush, she conjures up a dangerous love triangle.
As romance and longing swirl through every picturesque side street, the witches of Cambridge find their lives unexpectedly upended and changed in ways sometimes extraordinary, sometimes heartbreaking, but always enchanting.
Praise for The Witches of Cambridge
“Intriguing and original . . . The magic that works wonders for modern-day English witches also charms readers in this delightful and quirky romantic tale.”—Publishers Weekly
“A lively and whimsical tale of romance, family, and friendship sure to delight her fans and newcomers alike.”—Booklist
“Fans of Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic are sure to enjoy The Witches of Cambridge. . . . [Menna] van Praag’s writing is lyrical and the story sweetly affirming.”—BookPage
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It was magical!
Books set in Cambridge are sure to catch my eye and the witchy group who hold their meetings perched on the roof of one of the colleges drew me in immediately. The characters are extremely engaging and the many cake/cafe scenes are a bonus. I truly enjoyed following them, as they navigated their personal challenges in the context of their special gifts.
The story follows Noa, Kat, Cosima and Amandine, who happens to be the president of the Cambridge University Society of Literature and Witchcraft. Menna Van Praag manages to create whimsical worlds that show the ups and downs of love relationships.
The author’s writing is beautifully descriptive. The first chapter has just one of many examples, “Amandine closes her eyes as the clock ticks past midnight. She tries to ignore the tug of the full moon and the flutter in her chest as its gravity squeezes her heart.”
Though I enjoyed the story, I didn’t feel that any of the characters particularly stood out, and the shift from one storyline to another was disconcerting at times. Perhaps with fewer characters to follow the story might’ve flowed better and moved along a bit faster.
The author’s writing is to be savored, though, and kept me reading even when my interest in a couple of the story lines waned. (Received a review copy.)
This is a quirky little book. If you are a fan of magical books and read Sarah Addison Allen or Alice Hoffman you will like this.
A fun read, a story to remind us that we shouldn’t have to hide who we really are from the ones we love. An inspiring tale of how a community of friends can help you through anything
This author has a delightful turn of phrase — a joy for readers and an inspiration for those who appreciate the craft of writing. She was able to create an original yet believable world from a great premise. Highly recommend for readers who love great characters, an interesting take on the world, and who love a light but thoughtful read.
I enjoyed the age range of characters, from teenage to grandparent.
Quick read, I enjoyed the story.
I loved this book. From the great story line to the depth of the characters. Magic, love, romance and dreams that touched my heart and soul. Menna van Praag writes beautifully and I look forward to reading her other books!
I enjoyed the book but I would have appreciated if the author would have translated the phrases used in the spells. It’s frustrating to be quickly reading along then hit “Dī, tē perdant. Tē malēdicō. Dī, tē perdant. Tē malēdicō.” with no translation following it. It detracted from the overall experience. Other than that the book was excellent.
This book was interesting and enjoyable but the author could have filled it out more. It left me feeling that something was missing.
I love reading Sarah Addison Allen and Alice Hoffman, this author reminded me of them. I liked that not everything was predictable but surprises fit into the storyline as well.
Found it hard to follow. Inconsistent story line