THE WITCHES OF CAMBRIDGE – Menna van Praag
Ballantine Books
ISBN: 978-0-8041-7900-3
February 2016
Contemporary Fiction

Cambridge, England – Present Day

There are six witches in Cambridge, and each has his or her own unique magic. Several of them meet in a turret at one of the colleges to discuss books. But changes are coming, and each has to face reality sooner or later.

Amandine wishes that her magical power could explain why her husband has suddenly become distant to her and their twin sons. She suspects he's having an affair, although Amandine struggles to actually believe that. Her hopes rely on her student, Noa, whose ability to hear others' secrets could explain the situation.

Heloise is Amandine's mother, and two years after her husband died, she still communicates with him, unable to go forward in her life. When she meets the father of her bookseller, Heloise finds herself emotionally confused. Is she being unfaithful to Francois, her late husband?

Kat and George have been good friends for years. In fact, Kat loves George even though he has just maintained their relationship as a friendship. Kat's sister Cosima, who is a masterful baker and owns a bakery, is desperate to find love – desperate enough to use magic. So when it is George who is the one affected by the magical pastries, Kat is torn apart by her sister's machinations.

George has his own secrets, and his magic is less obvious, but his sudden infatuation with the lovely Cosima sends him spinning.

And then there is Noa, who has no relationships because of her abilities to hear secrets. So when she meets a shadowy artist who promises to help her, Noa must handle the outcome of that assistance.

THE WITCHES OF CAMBRIDGE is a page turner. Each character is so fascinating and well written that readers will quickly get wrapped up in their lives. The magic is subtle, and each separate story is unique. This was a fun book.

Jani Brooks