The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton

Last year, I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing India Holton’s debut novel, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, and I fell hard for its zany screwball charm and immediately added the sequel to my reading list. At last, The League of Gentlewomen Witches is here and it does not disappoint! (Well… technically, it’s here in two days — mark your calendars for March 15!) If you enjoy banter and absurd hijinks and magic and characters learning to value what makes them unique, this book may be for you.

My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an eARC for an honestly enthusiastic review and to India Holton for the many much-needed laughs (and cackles and shrieks) that probably frightened my neighbors as I read.

When the lost amulet of Black Beryl, the first witch, resurfaces, every witch and pirate in London vies for the (dis)honor of stealing it — and keeping it. When the worst pirate of the lot makes off with it, a pirate and a witch join forces to steal it back… and their respective criminal communities join forces to separate them, lest they actually overcome their differences and thus put generations of (gleefully) bitter feuding to waste.

The feud and the respective sides’ commitment to it is probably my favorite thing about this book. They like their feuding, darn it, and no youngsters will get in the way of it! Nor will silly little facts, like how witches and pirates are basically the same, except for the fact that witches do their magic in secrecy (or would, if witches existed *wink wink wink*) and pirates fly their houses around and land wherever they want, even if another house happens to be there already. Watching the flamboyant pirates and uptight-but-just-as-bloodthirsty witches bend over backwards to keep the feud going even as they work together, all while exchanging the most delicious backhanded compliments, had me laughing out loud… and rooting for the feud to never end because it really is too fun to give up for anything.

Which brings me to the two people endangering that feud with their “reluctant” fraternization, Charlotte and Alex. They would have you believe they’re just as dedicated to the feud as their comrades (Alex even has a legitimate reason for hating witches), but the gentlewoman and gentleman doth protest too much, methinks. Their words are barbed — and their hands are full of even more dangerous weaponry — but their attraction and growing affection are undeniable. They made me laugh out loud and swoon, but they absolutely did not make me cry. There was just a lot of dust in my eyes, okay?? Very inconvenient that that happened just as they realized their love for each other.

Honestly, though, my heart squeezed. Despite the outward differences between the straight-laced good girl and the incorrigible rake, Charlotte and Alex are kindred spirits. Both cynical and wounded, they never expect to find friendship and safety with anyone, let alone each other, and they fight tooth-and-nail to hold onto their delusions, just like the other witches and pirates trying to hold onto the larger feud. But if a pirate and a witch are holding hands as they declare their undying hatred for each other… will you believe your eyes or your ears? Personally, I believe my heart, which says these two belong together. Because with each other, they can be strong, fierce, gorgeous, brave… and most important, vulnerable.

Much as I loved The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, in my heart of hearts, I love The League of Gentlewomen Witches even more — which, really, is exactly what I want when reading the follow-up to a debut novel. Holton has done a great job not only maintaining everything that made the first book great — the humor, the banter, the action (I could write a whole post on how well she handles visual comedy and action in a written medium), and all our favorite characters — but also improving on it. The humor is funnier, the romance swoonier, and the plot zippier. I’m excited to see Holton continue growing as an author — and to follow along on more adventures in the wonderfully zany world.

Until the next installment, however (dare I hope Bixby will get some love? you know how I enjoy a proper butler with a wild side), I’m off to steal a tall, dark, and handsome stranger’s briefcase and hope it will lead to a goodhearted kidnapping and a shenanigan or two. Tally ho!

—b