The Witch Haven

Frances Hallowell works as a seamstress in 1911 Manhattan when a violent incident transports her to Haxahaven Academy - a school that trains young witches. As she begins to discover her powers, Frances questions whether the school's true purpose aligns with what she's been told. While navigating her new reality of spells and sisterhood, Frances investigates her brother's murder alongside fellow student Finn. Their search leads them through the dark corners of Gilded Age New York City and into the paths of dangerous people who want to control magic for their own ends. The story combines historical fiction with supernatural elements to explore themes of power, gender, and justice in early 20th century America. Through Frances's journey from seamstress to witch, the novel examines how women claim their own agency in a world determined to deny it to them.

Readers note the strong feminist themes and atmospheric historical fantasy elements set in 1911 New York. The magic system and friendships between female characters receive frequent mentions in positive reviews. Readers liked: - The dark, moody tone and period details - LGBTQ+ representation - Commentary on women's rights and societal expectations - Fast-paced final chapters Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in first half - Romance feels underdeveloped - Plot becomes confusing in later sections - Main character's decisions frustrate some readers Average Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (17,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (450+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.2/5 (100+ ratings) "The atmosphere and feminist themes shine, but the plot meandered too much" - Goodreads reviewer "Strong start that loses focus halfway through" - Amazon reviewer "Perfect for fans of These Violent Delights and The Diviners" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

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🌟 Author Sasha Peyton Smith drew inspiration from the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911, weaving this historical tragedy into her story's backdrop. 🌟 The book's setting, the Haxahaven Academy, was influenced by real-life locations in 1911 Manhattan, particularly the historical buildings of the Upper East Side. 🌟 The protagonist's journey reflects the early feminist movement of the 1910s, when women were fighting for both voting rights and workplace safety reforms. 🌟 The novel combines elements of magical realism with actual historical accounts of spiritualism and occult practices that were popular in early 20th century New York. 🌟 The author completed the first draft of "The Witch Haven" during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), writing 50,000 words in just 30 days.