Book Review: These Witches Don't Burn

[Vanessa Tilley]

Title: These Witches Don't Burn
Author: Isabel Sterling
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mystery

These Witches Don't Burn was an entertaining read full of magic, witches, action, and some sweet romance.

The novel takes place in Salem, Massachusetts and centers around our heroine Hannah Walsh, an Elemental witch. ]Hannah is recovering from a nasty breakup with Veronica Matthews and if that wasn't bad enough, there is an increase in dark magic (beginning with an animal sacrifice) that is threatening her coven. While Hannah teams up with Veronica to discover what is going on, Hannah meets a the new girl and they begin to develop a romantic relationship. When tragedy strikes, it is up to Hannah to discover the threat and stop it before anyone else is hurt.

First off, I love the representation of LBGTQ+ in this novel. The characters are not afraid of being who they are and loving who they chose. This is one of the first novels I have read that had a transgender character which I really appreciated.

I enjoyed going through this journey with Hannah. I find her very relatable especially for those who have experienced a heartbreak. Hannah is a very creative and tenacious girl with a big heart. If you mess with her friends or family though, you better watch out. The other characters are also very interesting though I do wish we could have learned more about some of the characters' backgrounds such as Benton and how he became a Hunter.

The novel also made me nostalgic and bring back memories of high school. The book features the stereotypical high school roles with the jocks, the preppy girls who care more about their appearance and reputation more than anything else going on around, and the outcasts.

I enjoyed the developing romance between Hannah and Morgan. The author did a wonderful job portraying all the normal stages of a new love from the awkward introductions and first date to trying to determine what your relationship is becoming. It was all very sweet and there were a few special moments that were perfect!

While there is romance throughout the book, there is still plenty of action. The action continues to propel the novel so there is a nice pace and it makes the novel a page turner.

I recommend it for any fans of strong female leads, magic, or witches!