These Witches Don’t Burn Review

Second Review for today. Don’t worry, we will be back to one a week starting next week. And yes, I do have a good amount set up rn.

Customary warning: This is a reminder that these are my personal opinions. My thoughts and feelings are not your thoughts and feelings. I may not always be the target  audience for a book; sometimes I am. If I do not like a book, that doesn’t mean you’ll dislike it. If I love a book or simply like a book, you may hate it. Take everything I say with this knowledge. If it sounds interesting to you despite what I’ve said, then go ahead and read it. You’ll only know you like something if you read it yourself.

That being said… Spoilers ahead.

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These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling

Synopsis From The Book

Hannah’s a witch, but not the kind you’re thinking of. She’s the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she’s ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans.

But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah’s concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah’s sure it’s the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica.

While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she’s going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem’s witches become deadlier by the day.

Isabel Sterling’s delightful, suspenseful debut is equal parts sweet romance and thrilling mystery. With everything she loves on the line, Hannah must confront this murderous villain before her coven–and any chance she has with the new girl–is destroyed.

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Fantasy-Contemporary | YA – E |Murder, Attempted Murder, Teen Drama | Love, Coming of Age, Hiding Ones Self, Friendship

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Initial Thoughts Before Reading:

Alright here we go! This book was requested by book club. I’ve wanted to read it for a while, but had not gotten around to actually doing so. I am excited for it, mostly because its witches and I have a soft spot for magic, as we all know.

Initial Thoughts After Reading:

This book was loads more drama filled than I was ever expecting, tbh. This is in no way a bad thing. I just almost cried is all. GD. Good book tho.

Plot Overview:

Hannah is an Elemental witch, one of the three types of Witches: Caster, Elemental, and Blood. Last month or so, she and her former girlfriend were caught up between three casters and a blood witch, resulting in Hannah getting hurt. Hannah and her former girlfriend, Veronica, broke up publicly. Both girls are a part of the same coven and have known each other since forever, but Hannah felt betrayed by Veronica, who did not help her.

Gemma, Hannah’s best friend, convinces Hannah to go to a party where she talks to her closest guy friend Benton. Benton asks her out and she snaps at Veronica for lying to him that she is bi. Veronica and Hannah fight when they hear a girl scream. They race to the woods where they find a pentacle drawn into the ground, and burning, with a racoon bleeding out hanging from a tree. The cops arrive and the next day Hannah takes her family and Veronica’s family, with the head of their coven, to the location. Hannah and Veronica are punished for Veronica putting out the flames with her magic.

Gemma convinces Hannah to go to a party, where Hannah investigates the boy she thinks set up the ritual. She is able to get the truth that he did the ritual to get back to his dad, but he is not magic. There Hannah meets a girl named Morgan, and crushes hard. She and Morgan kiss but the party is cut short when the house goes on fire. Hannah has to save Benton who was trapped inside, and doing so puts out the flames. She is arrested by a man named Detective Archer for arson. Her dad gets her out because he is the assistant district attorney. 

While at her house, Benton visits and a brick is thrown through her window saying she was next. Morgan and Hannah go on a date that is cut short when Hannah gets a call from Veronica that a person is attacking her. She goes to save Veronica. The coven comes together and announces that Witch Hunters are back and that Detective Archer is an agent for the Council who rules all the covens and that they are tracking the Hunters. 

Hannah apologizes for bailing on Morgan, and they make up. Hannah finds out from Cal, the new guy at work, that Nolan (a regular person) threw the brick at her house and she tells Detective Archer. She and Gemma are in the car after Hannah apologized to Morgan, when they are run off the road by an SUV. Gemma almost loses her leg, and they almost both die but they survive. Hannah tells the truth to Gemma despite it being treason to do so, and goes on another date with Morgan. On the way back from her date, she sees a fire. Her father was caught in it, and at the hospital Hannah finds out that Morgan is a blood witch. She had accidentally dated a Witch Hunter and had to flee. 

Hannah’s father dies. Hannah gets a call from Veronica that the Hunter returned, and she goes to save her. Both are captured and Hannah finds out Benton was the Witch Hunter. She tells Detective Archer over the phone and Benton reveals that he believes Witches are evil. He also says that they have a drug to make them human again, but it is still not complete. Benton is stopped and Hannah and Veronica are saved before they are burned alive. Hannah’s father has his funeral and Benton is tried for murder. Hannah knows a war is coming for them.

What I Liked:

Hannah; I do like her. She is spunky and very sarcastic, and I adore it lol.

Veronica; The stereotypical pretty mean girl. Only she is little mean, possessive and controlling yes, but not a bully. I really hope her for the best.

Morgan; She’s cute. I really want to get to know more about her. I really want to know more about her magic. Next book!

Gemma; My favorite character of the books. She took almost dying and finding out magic is real really well. I can not say I would have. I hope her leg heals.

Hannah’s family; Her father. His death made me almost cry. Her mom is great, and her grandmother being the most powerful witch? Wow, what a family.

Benton; I knew he was sus from the beginning. I really wish he wasn’t terrible, but he was terrible. The white knight boy being a fanatical, “I can save you” type, was to be expected.

Magic and Hunters; I really do love a good magic vs hunters plot. I also really like the three types of magic for witches in this and the study that goes into it. Can we learn more?

Hannah and Veronica; I liked seeing the messy-ness of their break up. The way that they were so close to each other and knew everything about each other. It was terrible to see them both so hurt, but I did like the realism of it, and how Hannah had to work towards moving on. I want to see them move on from each other even more.

Hannah and Morgan; I liked seeing this super cute relationship blossom. They are going to be so cute going forward. I want to see how this blossoms more. I also want to see how they address Hannah’s underlying bigotry towards Blood Witches.  

What I Would Have Liked or Changed:

Nothing Really

Rating: 4/5

Notable Quotes:

none

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