Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.
Publication Date: March 24, 2026
Rating:
Goodreads Synopsis:
When three sisters return to the house that holds their forgotten legacy, the walls whisper of magic, betrayal, and the secrets their mother never told them.A sweeping story of resilience, magic, and sisterhood perfect for fans of Alice Hoffman, Heather Webber, and Sarah Addison Allen.
Rowan Connors has lived a fragmented, nomadic life with her triplet sisters, Saoirse and Caraline. Reeling from the sudden drowning of their erratic and secretive mother, Bridget, they uncover an old photograph of her standing in front of a manor they don’t recognize–and a final request scrawled on the back of the picture. The sisters set off to find answers to the questions they've always had about their mother's past, the place she once called home, and their own magical gifts.They arrive to find Swallow Hall sinking into the bay, and their grandmother, Everly, living alone within its dilapidated walls. But the house is more than crumbling brick and weathered stone. It breathes with magic, bound to the land and to the bloodline the sisters never knew they carried. As they settle into the house and the mystery of their family history deepens, they uncover a hidden enemy tied to the magic of their ancestral line. With every discovery, Rowan begins to suspect that her mother's drowning was no accident, but part of a much older, more dangerous plan set in motion long before they were born.As the shadows of the past creep back into Swallow Hall and Everly disappears, Rowan must confront whatever forced Bridget to flee Swallow Hall before the house, its secrets, and the magic of their bloodline are erased forever.Readers looking for emotional sibling bonds and the ancestral mysteries of Nora Roberts’ The Inheritance will resonate with this stunning read.
Review:
House of Spells and Secrets is a magical fantasy that weaves together themes of legacy, hidden truths, and the power of connection. Rowan and her sisters, Caraline and Saoirse, are unexpectedly pulled back to the childhood home of their mother; one they didn't even know existed. To find a magical, kind of creepy and chaotic house and their grandmother who is trying to keep it all together. Somehow they have been called back to this place and the magic of Swallow Hall alongside the power within them is now all or nothing.
The story follows Rowan, the youngest triplet, whose unusual ability sets her apart. She often feels like the odd one out and has trouble connecting with non-family because of her gift. Her sisters had very tangible gifts - cooking and herbalism, that obviously help others, whereas Rowan's tasting of intent is strange and often unhelpful in comparison.
I liked the character development of Rowan as the book progresses, not only does she have to find herself, so to speak, but she also has to accept herself. She has to come to terms with her magic being important and also that she is very much connected to her sisters. The evolving bond between Rowan and her sisters reinforces the story's core, that they are strongest together.
The plot carries a steady sense of mystery, and the atmosphere is particularly well done. The grandmother, the unpredictable magic of Swallow Hall, and even the ever-present swallows add a layer of charm and strangeness that brings the setting to life. While the ending feels a bit rushed and somewhat predictable, the overall reading experience is immersive and will be especially suited for a rainy spring afternoon or a gloomy fall day, when the eerie tone can fully settle in.
Overall, this was an entertaining, witchy take on the haunted house story, with a strong emphasis on sisterhood and family. I think readers of mystery and with a love for that witchy, eerie vibe will like this one.
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