The Witches of Cambridge

Author Menna Van Praag

Menna Van Praag’s The Witches of Cambridge was very reminiscent of Alice Hoffman’s Practical magic, and I almost felt as if I was immersed in a Hoffman novel.  The Witches of Cambridge received a naughty but nice, not quite as good as the excellent Hoffman always receives!

The University Society of Literature and Witchcraft meets in Boston, high on rooftops, and the four members take turns deciding where the location shall be.  Amandine feels emotions: she feels everyone’s emotions, and the whirl in her head never ceases.  Amandine and her husband Eliot are going through a rough patch; should Amandine use her powers to find out what is going on? And does she really want to know? Amandine’s student, Noa, can hear people’s thoughts, and considers this a curse.  Kat, a mathematics professor can cast spells to make people do what she wants, although she does not use her powers.  And Kat’s sister, Cosima, is a bakery chef, and is not as considerate as Kat.  Cosima WILL use her powers to sprinkle enchantment and love spells into her baked goods to bewitch a man to fall in love with her.  Only that man is Kat’s best friend, George.

Sweet and full of generosity of heart, The Witches of Cambridge adorn each page with frothy fun and subtle and not so subtle witchcraft as they weave their lives to entwine each other.  And when Noa meets a con man witch who offers to take her powers away.  As Santiago pulls Noa’s powers into his own hands, Noa realizes what is happening and calls all of her friends help to get her out of her bind.

Absolutely enchanting, The Witches of Cambridge provides that winter read that lifts the spirits and touches every reader with good feelings and a fairytale high!  Definitely a “chick” novel that will brighten your day and illuminate your nights.

We received a product to facilitate our review. All opinions are our own

DETAILS

• The Witches of Cambridge: A Novel is available at Amazon.com and other booksellers.