These Witches Don’t Burn –Review

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.

–Goodreads Synopsis

Author: Isabel Sterling

My Rating: 3.75/5

My Favourite Quote: Is she actually . . . Flirting. With me? Oh god. What do I do?

I saw the cover of this book and a knew I had to read it. When I first read the summary, I was a bit hesitant that this story might be pretty trope-y but I was soon pleasantly surprised by the story.

The characters in this book are my favourite part of the book, as they all feel very fleshed out and realistic. We learn early on that the main character Hannah has recently broken up with her girlfriend, and their early interactions show them both struggling with their feelings towards each other in the aftermath of their breakup. I also have to say that Hannah’s subsequent romance is adorable, and I want to read the second book if only to see how that relationship unfolds.  

The magic in this story is really interesting and explained in a really natural way. I was really intrigued by the different types of witches: Elementals, Casters, and Blood witches and their dynamics amongst each other.

The first half of this book read almost like a movie; every plot point seems very well timed. However, this started to break down later on. I really enjoyed this book, but the last third of the story wasn’t as strong. It just felt like it would be an action scene that would be fairly abruptly resolved, then go back into a more interesting in between scene with character building but then abruptly action would happen again. Nearing the end of the book the plot just felt rushed, which was a shame because I wanted to stay in the world a little longer!

Overall, I did like the characters and the world of this book, and I would recommend it if you want some more witch-y reads this season!

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