The Witches of Moonshyne Manor: A Halloween novel
"Bianca Marais is a genius" -- Ann Patchett, #1 New York Times bestselling author
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.
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.
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Community Reviews
Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop
The Witches of Moonshyne Manor goes back and forth between six fierce witches as they recap the events of a heist gone wrong and the costs of it.
Amazing Characters
What I loved most about The Witches of Moonshyne Manor were the characters. Sometimes it can be daunting when a book has multiple POVs, and in the case of this book, we have six different perspectives. Not only that, the story goes back and forth from the past to the present.
For some readers, that can be a little jarring. However, Marais did a fantastic job of ensuring the characters layered on top of one another. Each perspective adds to the development of the story and the characters. They lead into the introduction of another one and establish the bond and history between the characters and build up those character dynamics.
These witches are not blood-related. They are a sisterhood and family of their own making and spent their lives caring for one another.
Moreover, they are all different. There is a lot of representation here in the story, with Queenie being a black woman and matriarch of the family. I love that she’s inventive and calls most of the shots. Queenie doesn’t hesitate to call people out on their mistakes but doesn’t lord it over people. She has the perfect compassion, intellect, and strength that make her a formidable leader.
There is also Ruby. Ruby is pivotal to the story. Arrested for a crime, she didn’t commit and sentenced to prison, Ruby was the reason for the heist. And only she knows where the items are. Unfortunately for her, she is suffering from a sort of magical Alzheimer’s.
Born a man, Ruby uses her magical abilities to shapeshift only to keep the appearance of a woman with bright pink hair. This is who she truly is. And unlike everyone else who uses magic for the most minor things, she keeps her magic on reserve to maintain her true identity.
Ruby’s representation is powerful and gives a powerful voice to the transgender community. Her pain and anguish at reverting to her male form crushes her. Even if it means giving up her magic to be a woman full-time, she will do it because living as a man at any time crushes her spirit.
The way Marais explores this is amazing.
Final Thoughts
The Witches of Moomshyne Manor is effortless. It goes between the characters smoothly and transitions between past and present with clarity and strong writing.
It is easy to follow and has an emotional depth that allows it to capture the reader’s attention. By giving us too many POVs, we are given the big scope of the story and the way actions are perceived and affect other characters. The story moved quickly and easily, keeping me hooked until the last page.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
Age means nothing to the powerful witches in The Witches of Moonshyne Manor, who bond over their love, their family, and their magic.
The Witches of Moonshyne Manor goes back and forth between six fierce witches as they recap the events of a heist gone wrong and the costs of it.
Amazing Characters
What I loved most about The Witches of Moonshyne Manor were the characters. Sometimes it can be daunting when a book has multiple POVs, and in the case of this book, we have six different perspectives. Not only that, the story goes back and forth from the past to the present.
For some readers, that can be a little jarring. However, Marais did a fantastic job of ensuring the characters layered on top of one another. Each perspective adds to the development of the story and the characters. They lead into the introduction of another one and establish the bond and history between the characters and build up those character dynamics.
These witches are not blood-related. They are a sisterhood and family of their own making and spent their lives caring for one another.
Moreover, they are all different. There is a lot of representation here in the story, with Queenie being a black woman and matriarch of the family. I love that she’s inventive and calls most of the shots. Queenie doesn’t hesitate to call people out on their mistakes but doesn’t lord it over people. She has the perfect compassion, intellect, and strength that make her a formidable leader.
There is also Ruby. Ruby is pivotal to the story. Arrested for a crime, she didn’t commit and sentenced to prison, Ruby was the reason for the heist. And only she knows where the items are. Unfortunately for her, she is suffering from a sort of magical Alzheimer’s.
Born a man, Ruby uses her magical abilities to shapeshift only to keep the appearance of a woman with bright pink hair. This is who she truly is. And unlike everyone else who uses magic for the most minor things, she keeps her magic on reserve to maintain her true identity.
Ruby’s representation is powerful and gives a powerful voice to the transgender community. Her pain and anguish at reverting to her male form crushes her. Even if it means giving up her magic to be a woman full-time, she will do it because living as a man at any time crushes her spirit.
The way Marais explores this is amazing.
Final Thoughts
The Witches of Moomshyne Manor is effortless. It goes between the characters smoothly and transitions between past and present with clarity and strong writing.
It is easy to follow and has an emotional depth that allows it to capture the reader’s attention. By giving us too many POVs, we are given the big scope of the story and the way actions are perceived and affect other characters. The story moved quickly and easily, keeping me hooked until the last page.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
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