The Witches of Moonshyne Manor

Bianca Marais is one of my must-read authors. Born in South Africa, she now lives in Toronto and Canadian readers have whole-heartedly embraced this talented author as one of our own. 

I have been a big fan of Bianca's since reading her first book many years ago. The Witches of Moonshyne Manor has a different feel compared to her earlier books (Hum If You Don't Know The Words, If You Want To Make God Laugh & The Prynne Viper) - all of which I highly recommend reading. I enjoyed this fun romp through the lives and tribulations of a quirky coven of octogenarian witches who find themselves floundering when a heist goes sideways and their only recourse is to smash the patriarchy that threatens them and their livelihood.

Two of the things that stood out for me were the story's focus on the strength and power that comes from female relationships and Marais' wonderful attention to gender and all its beautiful and diverse fluidity. Admittedly, it took me a bit to get into the story and meet all of the characters, but once this Practical Magic meets The Golden Girls story takes off, I found myself pulled into the lives of these feisty women and the social themes Marais weaves into her story gave me much to think about. 

This is a spellbinding tale about the power of women who live life on their own terms (thank you very much!), identity and family in all its many forms. It is a entertaining read that includes humour, intrigue, important social commentary, a gaggle of witchy recipes and a cluster of cool old dames who would be a hoot and a half to hang out with.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to MIRA for my complimentary advanced copy which was provided in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 4 stars

Author: Bianca Marais

Genre: Supernatural, Mystery, Canadian, LGBTQ, Contemp Fic

Type and Sources: Trade Paperback and digital copy from publisher

Publisher: MIRA (Harlequin - HarperCollins)

First Published: August 23, 2022

Book Description from GoodReads: A coven of modern-day witches. A magical heist-gone-wrong. A looming threat.

Five octogenarian witches gather as an angry mob threatens to demolish Moonshyne Manor. All eyes turn to the witch in charge, Queenie, who confesses they’ve fallen far behind on their mortgage payments. Still, there’s hope, since the imminent return of Ruby—one of the sisterhood who’s been gone for thirty-three years—will surely be their salvation.

But the mob is only the start of their troubles. One man is hellbent on avenging his family for the theft of a legacy he claims was rightfully his. In an act of desperation, Queenie makes a bargain with an evil far more powerful than anything they’ve ever faced. Then things take a turn for the worse when Ruby’s homecoming reveals a seemingly insurmountable obstacle instead of the solution to all their problems.

The witches are determined to save their home and themselves, but their aging powers are no match for increasingly malicious threats. Thankfully, they get a bit of help from Persephone, a feisty TikToker eager to smash the patriarchy. As the deadline to save the manor approaches, fractures among the sisterhood are revealed, and long-held secrets are exposed, culminating in a fiery confrontation with their enemies.

Funny, tender and uplifting, the novel explores the formidable power that can be discovered in aging, found family and unlikely friendships. Marais’ clever prose offers as much laughter as insight, delving deeply into feminism, identity and power dynamics while stirring up intrigue and drama through secrets, lies and sex. Heartbreaking and heart-mending, it will make you grateful for the amazing women in your life.