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Green Witch Cycle #1
An Unlikely Coven
"Charming and utterly unputdownable." ―Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of Immortal Longings
AM Kvita's charming debut introduces New York's most powerful family of witches—and a world of secrets, spells, and supernatural shenanigans. After seven long years, Joan Greenwood is coming home. Unfortunately, her family totally forgot about it. Overshadowing her return is the news that someone has created a spell that can turn an ordinary human into a powerful witch, threatening the Greenwoods’ place at the top of the magical world. When her best friend confesses that he has secretly, accidentally kidnapped this human-turned-witch, Joan is thrust headfirst into a desperate race against her family to undo the spell before it does permanent damage to its unwilling host. Welcome home Joan Greenwood.
AM Kvita's charming debut introduces New York's most powerful family of witches—and a world of secrets, spells, and supernatural shenanigans. After seven long years, Joan Greenwood is coming home. Unfortunately, her family totally forgot about it. Overshadowing her return is the news that someone has created a spell that can turn an ordinary human into a powerful witch, threatening the Greenwoods’ place at the top of the magical world. When her best friend confesses that he has secretly, accidentally kidnapped this human-turned-witch, Joan is thrust headfirst into a desperate race against her family to undo the spell before it does permanent damage to its unwilling host. Welcome home Joan Greenwood.
393 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 2025
62 people are currently reading
12781 people want to read
About the author
A.M. Kvita
1 book87 followersAMKvita is a speculative fiction writer, artist, and worldmaker who writes about restless gods and, if you’re lucky, kissing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
July 23, 2025
Holy poopballs, you guys, this was fantastic. I wasn't initially feeling it and the first couple of chapters had me thinking that this might not be my kind of book, but it didn't take long for the endearing characters and the exquisite world-building to pull me in. I'm in awe that this is Kvita's debut novel.
An Unlikely Coven is an urban fantasy set in a New York where witches, vampires, fae, ghosts, and other magical creatures abound. The Greenwood witches are in charge of NYC's supernatural denizens, and, well … they can be a little overbearing at times. Enter Joan, recently returned home niece of head witch Valeria Greenwood and black sheep of the Greenwood family.
Joan isn't able to cast spells like other witches, but it turns out that she might just have a pretty important role in the magical world nevertheless. Her character is fantastic, and I loved her wit and sense of humor and her devotion to her friends. And I loved each and every one of her friends, too. There's CZ (Joan's best friend and vampire “royalty”), Mik (human accidentally turned semi-witch), Grace (spellmaker extraordinaire), Astoria (daughter of the head witch of California and beguiling love interest), and Wren (half witch, half fae). Together they make up the title's “unlikely coven” and they're all so ridiculously cute that I can't even stand it.
The whole “witch without powers who returns home to save the day” trope isn't exactly a new one, but it's really well done here. Joan might not be a traditional witch, but who really wants to be a traditional witch when it involves oppressing other magical creatures and having to constantly bow to the demands of your obnoxious family?
And the world-building? Swoon. It's beautiful. You feel like you're right there in New York City where magic flows through the air and supernatural beings walk amongst the humans. There's a mysterious (and dangerous!) night market selling all kinds of magical goods, a sort of witch-only subway system that zips around the city, and a NYC that might just be … sentient? And of course there's mystery and suspense and betrayal and all sorts of magic, and it all amounts to a book that's nearly impossible to put down.
Honestly, though, my review can't do this book justice. If you like witches and magic and feel-good found family stories and books with humor and heart, definitely consider giving this one a read. I'm so excited that this is going to be a new series, and I'm already looking forward to book two.
4.6 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is October 28, 2025.
An Unlikely Coven is an urban fantasy set in a New York where witches, vampires, fae, ghosts, and other magical creatures abound. The Greenwood witches are in charge of NYC's supernatural denizens, and, well … they can be a little overbearing at times. Enter Joan, recently returned home niece of head witch Valeria Greenwood and black sheep of the Greenwood family.
Joan isn't able to cast spells like other witches, but it turns out that she might just have a pretty important role in the magical world nevertheless. Her character is fantastic, and I loved her wit and sense of humor and her devotion to her friends. And I loved each and every one of her friends, too. There's CZ (Joan's best friend and vampire “royalty”), Mik (human accidentally turned semi-witch), Grace (spellmaker extraordinaire), Astoria (daughter of the head witch of California and beguiling love interest), and Wren (half witch, half fae). Together they make up the title's “unlikely coven” and they're all so ridiculously cute that I can't even stand it.
The whole “witch without powers who returns home to save the day” trope isn't exactly a new one, but it's really well done here. Joan might not be a traditional witch, but who really wants to be a traditional witch when it involves oppressing other magical creatures and having to constantly bow to the demands of your obnoxious family?
And the world-building? Swoon. It's beautiful. You feel like you're right there in New York City where magic flows through the air and supernatural beings walk amongst the humans. There's a mysterious (and dangerous!) night market selling all kinds of magical goods, a sort of witch-only subway system that zips around the city, and a NYC that might just be … sentient? And of course there's mystery and suspense and betrayal and all sorts of magic, and it all amounts to a book that's nearly impossible to put down.
Honestly, though, my review can't do this book justice. If you like witches and magic and feel-good found family stories and books with humor and heart, definitely consider giving this one a read. I'm so excited that this is going to be a new series, and I'm already looking forward to book two.
4.6 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is October 28, 2025.
December 26, 2025
In a Nutshell: A contemporary urban fantasy (NOT cozy fantasy) about a young woman who is the nonmagical one in a family of witches. Eclectic mix of characters, interesting plot with plenty of humour and danger, great use of the NYC setting. Mixed feelings about the world-building. Unnecessary F-bombs. First of a planned series. Good ending, but mild cliffhanger in the epilogue. Quite a nice debut. Recommended.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
🧙🏻♀️ Can I just begin with the fact that the lead character is named ‘Joan’? ‘Joan’!!! In an urban fantasy! That’s a unicorn right there! It is such a relief to read a fantasy where a majority of the character names are familiar and ‘pronounceable’. 😂
🧙🏻♀️ Joan. Resilient, reliable, funny, loyal. A worthy lead character.
🧙🏻♀️ CZ. I never thought I’d meet a fictional vampire I loved, but whad’ya know! It helps that he is less vampire and more best friend. We all need a bestie like CZ.
🧙🏻♀️ The strangers-turned-friends in Joan’s eclectic ‘unlikely coven’ comprising witches, vampires, and a human. All of them have a strong personality that comes out clearly in every scene despite them being part of a large group. None of them are written as perfect, which adds to their charm. (On an aside, I loved that the vampire brothers were named ‘Cain’ and ‘Abel’! 😆)
🧙🏻♀️ The two kind of families shown in the story: Joan’s toxic birth family with its incessant demand for loyalty and lack of attention, and Joan’s found family formed with the above set of characters, demonstrating that blood is not always thicker than water. Excellent presentation of complex family dynamics.
🧙🏻♀️ The characters are inclusive and diverse not just in terms of their ‘species’ (witch, vampire, fae, human) but also in race, gender identity and sexual identity. At the same time, it never feels like a checklist is being ticked.
🧙🏻♀️ The witchy worldbuilding and the use of New York in this regard. It is a New York we know and yet don't know. Quite creative.
🧙🏻♀️ The regular sprinkling of humour and banter that help offset the dark and/or emotional scenes.
🧙🏻♀️ No kitchen-sink dumping of themes in this debut. The limited number of topics helps each subplot get attention. I especially appreciate the highlight on how a few control the world’s power and money, and don’t bother about those who don’t have the same privilege. True to life!
🧙🏻♀️ The romance, or rather, the handling of ‘attraction’. I was apprehensive that the Joan-CZ bond would blossom into love. But Joan turned out to have other preferences. There are potential couplings in the book, but the story never gives highest priority to the romance track. Such thoughts are mostly limited to mentions of attraction, which is normal for the age group. No insta-love – Woohoo!
🧙🏻♀️ The ending. Intense, interesting, and complete. I appreciate that there is no forced redemption arc for the negative characters.
🧙🏻♀️ The epilogue with its tiny but ominous cliffhanger. The perfect foundation to keep us on our toes until the next instalment arrives. But the main arc is complete, so no worries.
🧙🏻♀️ Minor point but worth appreciating: Joan orders a chai, not a "chai tea". Smart girl! 👏🏻
Bookish Okays:
🔮 The story proceeds at a steady pace but it is on the slower side, especially in the first few chapters when nothing much happens.
🔮 Too many characters at the start. It takes some time to remember who's who. Thankfully, a major chunk of these characters are adorable!
🔮 The magic system was fascinating but also went a little over my head, especially in the finale. I hope it is elaborated upon in the sequel.
Bookish Nays:
💣 The non-witchy worldbuilding is mostly ignored. Witches run the magic world, but there are vampires, fae, and other creatures also in this world, not to forget the humans. How do their paths interconnect? Are there boundaries for each species? Where do the humans fit in this version of New York? What happened to Mik’s human family when she was away? Why are vampires lower to witches? Nothing clarified.
💣 F-bombs. Sigh…
Overall, the worldbuilding was the only major issue I had. The characters and the story were engrossing enough, even when the proceedings were slowburn. For a debut novel, this book does really well on the key components.
Note that this isn't a cozy fantasy but an urban fantasy. (The publishers have marketed it correctly, but many readers seem to have jumped to the incorrect tag.) The start might feel cozy, but the story gets quite dark and tense, especially in the final quarter. The presence of cuss words also negates the cosiness.
This is the first book of a new series called ‘Green Witch Cycle’. Planned as a trilogy, the second book has already been turned in for edits. The author plans to release the remaining two books one per year. Good news for me because I don’t want to wait too long! I hope the sequels offer more details on Joan’s life prior to her return to NYC, and on the blended magical world and its denizens.
Recommended to those who would like to read a mildly dark fantasy in an urban setting. Given Joan’s age, I think this might work better for older young adults (15+) and new adults.
4 stars.
My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and Orbit for providing the DRC of “An Unlikely Coven” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Twenty-five-year-old Joan Greenwood belongs to an elite family of witches. However, she is the only Greenwood who cannot manipulate magic, much to the frustration of her parents. Returning to her home city of New York after seven years hasn’t changed their attitude towards her. The only people showing her warmth are her elder sister Molly, and Joan’s best friend CZ, a vampire.
When there’s news that someone has secretly used a new spell to turn an ordinary human into a magical witch, there is uproar in the witch world. Soon, there is a desperate power struggle to find the spell and the affected human. At the same time, CZ has a secret to share with Joan, one that could possibly put their safety and future at risk.
The story comes to us in Joan’s third-person perspective.
Bookish Yays:
🧙🏻♀️ Can I just begin with the fact that the lead character is named ‘Joan’? ‘Joan’!!! In an urban fantasy! That’s a unicorn right there! It is such a relief to read a fantasy where a majority of the character names are familiar and ‘pronounceable’. 😂
🧙🏻♀️ Joan. Resilient, reliable, funny, loyal. A worthy lead character.
🧙🏻♀️ CZ. I never thought I’d meet a fictional vampire I loved, but whad’ya know! It helps that he is less vampire and more best friend. We all need a bestie like CZ.
🧙🏻♀️ The strangers-turned-friends in Joan’s eclectic ‘unlikely coven’ comprising witches, vampires, and a human. All of them have a strong personality that comes out clearly in every scene despite them being part of a large group. None of them are written as perfect, which adds to their charm. (On an aside, I loved that the vampire brothers were named ‘Cain’ and ‘Abel’! 😆)
🧙🏻♀️ The two kind of families shown in the story: Joan’s toxic birth family with its incessant demand for loyalty and lack of attention, and Joan’s found family formed with the above set of characters, demonstrating that blood is not always thicker than water. Excellent presentation of complex family dynamics.
🧙🏻♀️ The characters are inclusive and diverse not just in terms of their ‘species’ (witch, vampire, fae, human) but also in race, gender identity and sexual identity. At the same time, it never feels like a checklist is being ticked.
🧙🏻♀️ The witchy worldbuilding and the use of New York in this regard. It is a New York we know and yet don't know. Quite creative.
🧙🏻♀️ The regular sprinkling of humour and banter that help offset the dark and/or emotional scenes.
🧙🏻♀️ No kitchen-sink dumping of themes in this debut. The limited number of topics helps each subplot get attention. I especially appreciate the highlight on how a few control the world’s power and money, and don’t bother about those who don’t have the same privilege. True to life!
🧙🏻♀️ The romance, or rather, the handling of ‘attraction’. I was apprehensive that the Joan-CZ bond would blossom into love. But Joan turned out to have other preferences. There are potential couplings in the book, but the story never gives highest priority to the romance track. Such thoughts are mostly limited to mentions of attraction, which is normal for the age group. No insta-love – Woohoo!
🧙🏻♀️ The ending. Intense, interesting, and complete. I appreciate that there is no forced redemption arc for the negative characters.
🧙🏻♀️ The epilogue with its tiny but ominous cliffhanger. The perfect foundation to keep us on our toes until the next instalment arrives. But the main arc is complete, so no worries.
🧙🏻♀️ Minor point but worth appreciating: Joan orders a chai, not a "chai tea". Smart girl! 👏🏻
Bookish Okays:
🔮 The story proceeds at a steady pace but it is on the slower side, especially in the first few chapters when nothing much happens.
🔮 Too many characters at the start. It takes some time to remember who's who. Thankfully, a major chunk of these characters are adorable!
🔮 The magic system was fascinating but also went a little over my head, especially in the finale. I hope it is elaborated upon in the sequel.
Bookish Nays:
💣 The non-witchy worldbuilding is mostly ignored. Witches run the magic world, but there are vampires, fae, and other creatures also in this world, not to forget the humans. How do their paths interconnect? Are there boundaries for each species? Where do the humans fit in this version of New York? What happened to Mik’s human family when she was away? Why are vampires lower to witches? Nothing clarified.
💣 F-bombs. Sigh…
Overall, the worldbuilding was the only major issue I had. The characters and the story were engrossing enough, even when the proceedings were slowburn. For a debut novel, this book does really well on the key components.
Note that this isn't a cozy fantasy but an urban fantasy. (The publishers have marketed it correctly, but many readers seem to have jumped to the incorrect tag.) The start might feel cozy, but the story gets quite dark and tense, especially in the final quarter. The presence of cuss words also negates the cosiness.
This is the first book of a new series called ‘Green Witch Cycle’. Planned as a trilogy, the second book has already been turned in for edits. The author plans to release the remaining two books one per year. Good news for me because I don’t want to wait too long! I hope the sequels offer more details on Joan’s life prior to her return to NYC, and on the blended magical world and its denizens.
Recommended to those who would like to read a mildly dark fantasy in an urban setting. Given Joan’s age, I think this might work better for older young adults (15+) and new adults.
4 stars.
My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and Orbit for providing the DRC of “An Unlikely Coven” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
December 10, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio/Orbit for an ALC of this book!
Too sum this up best IMO..If Season 2 of American Horror Story wasn't limited to 1 season on a television show & instead was written as a book series. leaving room for the imagination to really take off.. we would end up with something very similar to the book in front of us. And I absolutely ATE IT UP! I think what makes them feel similar is the mix of new age with old practices. I also really enjoyed and appreciated the fact that the characters experience real yearning and there's none of the insta love BS. I also love personlly when witches & vampires are in the same story, as we have here. Overall this is a very promising start to what sounds like a great series I will most definitely be continuing!
Until next time
Hades
🩵
Too sum this up best IMO..If Season 2 of American Horror Story wasn't limited to 1 season on a television show & instead was written as a book series. leaving room for the imagination to really take off.. we would end up with something very similar to the book in front of us. And I absolutely ATE IT UP! I think what makes them feel similar is the mix of new age with old practices. I also really enjoyed and appreciated the fact that the characters experience real yearning and there's none of the insta love BS. I also love personlly when witches & vampires are in the same story, as we have here. Overall this is a very promising start to what sounds like a great series I will most definitely be continuing!
Until next time
Hades
🩵
August 19, 2025
the cutest queer found family
October 17, 2025
when a human mysteriously gains witch powers in magical manhattan, every supernatural faction wants them, including joan greenwood's powerful family. joan's the family disappointment who can't cast spells despite her prestigious bloodline, and she'd rather protect the human than hand them over for dissection. i wasn't expecting to get so invested in her journey.
joan and her vampire best friend cz set the tone. when they team up with mik (the transformed human), grace, and astoria (joan's childhood rival turned reluctant ally), they tease each other constantly while being protective when it counts. the group chemistry is what sold me on this book.
joan can't cast spells like her family expects but is more like a conduit for magic. watching her deal with their casual cruelty while developing feelings for astoria really got to me.
the greenwood family politics add tension. they're controlling and dismissive, making joan's struggle feel grounded. she deflects their criticism with humor while clearly internalizing it, and that really landed for me.
krysta gonzales's narration handled the tonal shifts smoothly. she made joan's self deprecation funny rather than pitiful, gave cz authentic vampire charm, and kept the group's overlapping dialogue clear without losing energy.
this starts a trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger. can't wait to see where book 2 goes.
alc received from hachette audio and orbit books via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
joan and her vampire best friend cz set the tone. when they team up with mik (the transformed human), grace, and astoria (joan's childhood rival turned reluctant ally), they tease each other constantly while being protective when it counts. the group chemistry is what sold me on this book.
joan can't cast spells like her family expects but is more like a conduit for magic. watching her deal with their casual cruelty while developing feelings for astoria really got to me.
the greenwood family politics add tension. they're controlling and dismissive, making joan's struggle feel grounded. she deflects their criticism with humor while clearly internalizing it, and that really landed for me.
krysta gonzales's narration handled the tonal shifts smoothly. she made joan's self deprecation funny rather than pitiful, gave cz authentic vampire charm, and kept the group's overlapping dialogue clear without losing energy.
this starts a trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger. can't wait to see where book 2 goes.
alc received from hachette audio and orbit books via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 18, 2025
I'm a sucker for urban fantasy and lemme tell you, THIS BOOK 👏 it was a hot (witchy) mess and I loved it, the cover gives cosy vibes and whilst there are cosy moments this is action packed and full of tension, not only do we get incredible world building with depth, we get found family with a cast of characters that are so chaotic, silly and endearing its hard not to fall in love with them, this doesnt take itself too seriously but there are moments that will have you like "oh 🥹🥹" it will make you laugh and cry, I loved this more than I thought I would 😍
October 14, 2025
⭐️thank you to orbit for the arc in exchange for an honest review ⭐️
I must admit, I was very pleasantly surprised with this one. I normally dont like witch books, but when Orbit sent me this one i felt atleast compelled to give it a fair chance. This gave me all the whole queer found family realness I could want while also maintaining an engaging and complex plot. I was fully expecting this to be a cozy fantasy based on some reviews I had skimmed, but it can get pretty heavy at times. the action really was a great surprise, the stakes were staking. i also liked that there were other magical creatures in new york. it really reminded me of the shadowhunters universe in that regard, and it looks like its gearing up to have a lot of politics involving them. I'm really curious to see how this goes, and this is definitely a really good book to chose for spooky time. 4.25 ⭐️🧙🏾♀️
I must admit, I was very pleasantly surprised with this one. I normally dont like witch books, but when Orbit sent me this one i felt atleast compelled to give it a fair chance. This gave me all the whole queer found family realness I could want while also maintaining an engaging and complex plot. I was fully expecting this to be a cozy fantasy based on some reviews I had skimmed, but it can get pretty heavy at times. the action really was a great surprise, the stakes were staking. i also liked that there were other magical creatures in new york. it really reminded me of the shadowhunters universe in that regard, and it looks like its gearing up to have a lot of politics involving them. I'm really curious to see how this goes, and this is definitely a really good book to chose for spooky time. 4.25 ⭐️🧙🏾♀️
October 4, 2025
This was such a great read for the season!
I really enjoyed Joann's character growth throughout this book. She's the forgotten child, the one who can't wield magic, and the one not following in the family's footsteps.
After returning back to New York her family forgets to pick her up. Things take a turn when a human is turned into a which.
Coven's are scrabbling to be the first to find the witch to gain power and unravel the spell that caused it. You have magical politics, unlikely friends, and finding your own power. Can't wait for the next book!
Thank you to orbit, hachette audio, and NetGalley for the gifted ebook and audiobook.
I really enjoyed Joann's character growth throughout this book. She's the forgotten child, the one who can't wield magic, and the one not following in the family's footsteps.
After returning back to New York her family forgets to pick her up. Things take a turn when a human is turned into a which.
Coven's are scrabbling to be the first to find the witch to gain power and unravel the spell that caused it. You have magical politics, unlikely friends, and finding your own power. Can't wait for the next book!
Thank you to orbit, hachette audio, and NetGalley for the gifted ebook and audiobook.
January 5, 2026
After seven years away, Joan Greenwich is returning home to her family in New York. That is, if anybody remembers to pick her up from the airport. Lacking any sort of magical prowess has made her the black sheep of her powerful witch family. Worse, a rogue witch has crafted a spell that allows a human to wield magic, threatening the Greenwich’s ruling fist. Overlooked as her family hunts to find this human-turned-witch, Joan is free to help her best friend CZ who confesses to sort-of-kidnapping the human first. Vowing to hide them from her family while they search for a way to undue the spell, Joan stumbles across some unlikely allies and discovers depths to her magic she never knew existed.
This book was truly a delightfully beautiful depiction of found family. All of the characters were so lively and eccentric. Despite such a large cast, every character was fleshed out and stood on their own. Their bonds truly formed such an unlikely coven. And at the center was the deeply touching and special friendship between Joan and CZ. I love depictions of platonic love, and this book really delivered on that front.
If found family is one side of the coin, Joan’s relationship with her blood family is definitely the other. We really see the struggle Joan goes through with her familial ties. The small hopes she nurtures despite years of being let down. Never being able to shake the need to make the Greenwichs proud. That deep family trauma is very relatable, and you feel Joan’s heartbreak when she finally severs those ties.
There is some brewing romance between Joan and another witch named Astoria. Both daughters of powerful families, they share a lot in common with a slight rivalry. I liked their banter and I think they’d be a perfect match if Astoria can get her shit together. Joan getting all hot and bothered over Astoria wielding a sword was sooo relatable. I just know there’s going to be some good angst in book two.
I’m eager to see where the next installment will take us. I definitely want to see more of this world and have more interactions with other creatures. This book was spent mostly entrenched in the witching world, but I want to see more of what there is to offer.
This book was truly a delightfully beautiful depiction of found family. All of the characters were so lively and eccentric. Despite such a large cast, every character was fleshed out and stood on their own. Their bonds truly formed such an unlikely coven. And at the center was the deeply touching and special friendship between Joan and CZ. I love depictions of platonic love, and this book really delivered on that front.
If found family is one side of the coin, Joan’s relationship with her blood family is definitely the other. We really see the struggle Joan goes through with her familial ties. The small hopes she nurtures despite years of being let down. Never being able to shake the need to make the Greenwichs proud. That deep family trauma is very relatable, and you feel Joan’s heartbreak when she finally severs those ties.
There is some brewing romance between Joan and another witch named Astoria. Both daughters of powerful families, they share a lot in common with a slight rivalry. I liked their banter and I think they’d be a perfect match if Astoria can get her shit together. Joan getting all hot and bothered over Astoria wielding a sword was sooo relatable. I just know there’s going to be some good angst in book two.
I’m eager to see where the next installment will take us. I definitely want to see more of this world and have more interactions with other creatures. This book was spent mostly entrenched in the witching world, but I want to see more of what there is to offer.
September 3, 2025
*Received an arc via netgalley, didn't affect my review, etc*
I’m not sure this is bad, as such – but it’s like it was written specifically to annoy me. It’s a checklist of my pet peeves, full of little things that probably won’t bother anyone else – that some readers may even be looking for! – but that needle me. I did force myself to read to 20%, but it was such a relief when I decided I wasn’t going to read more than that.
The worldbuilding is, imo, particularly lame. Urban fantasy usually doesn’t have extensive or especially unique worldbuilding, and I wasn’t expecting that – but Unlikely Coven was still a letdown in that department. The magical community is literally just called the ‘magic world’ by all and sundry (even Cassandra Clare came up with ‘the Shadow World’ or ‘Downworld’!); vampires live in groups called packs (I honestly can’t believe how much this bothered me); the crest/logo of the ruling witch family is ‘a coffin with a scythe in the background, wrapped in ivy’. (In a world with vampires, how is that the symbol of a WITCH family?) But the objectively worst part is that there is no way to discern the difference between humans, witches, and vampires. Members of the magical community can’t see or sense that another person is also magical, never mind what species they might be. This is both something that annoys me whenever it comes up, and something that breaks the entire plot.
See, a human has been turned into a witch! How do we know this? Well, witnesses saw someone at a magic market use magic! …Okay. How did they know this person wasn’t born a witch? Do humans and witches look different? Do magical folk have the witchy equivalent of gaydar? Was there anything about the magic this person was using that was Clearly Not Witch-Magic?
No?
THEN WHY DIDN’T THE WITNESSES ASSUME THIS PERSON WAS A WITCH? What POSSIBLE reason did they have to jump to ‘omg that person was born human!!!’ ? Everything hinges on this!!! If there’s no way to tell, the WITNESSES can’t tell, there are no rumours, THE ENTIRE PLOT DOESN’T HAPPEN.
Cue me screaming into a pillow in frustration.
The prose is also…just a few degrees ‘off’. It reminds me of the uncanny valley effect: it’s SO CLOSE to being perfectly normal that it’s more distracting than if it were full-on bad. I found myself staring at certain sentences, saying them over and over in my head, trying to figure out why they bothered me so much. Take this example
Unlikely Coven is written in third-person, from the perspective of Joan, our mc. So in this line, Joan is observing Grace from the outside – there’s no magical/psychic telepathy or empathy going on here. So all Joan actually sees is that Grace is smiling, then suddenly not-smiling. Which makes me ask, where does the ‘crushed it like an ant’ come from? Joan doesn’t know why Grace stopped smiling, what’s going on in her head or what she’s feeling – not only because she can only observe from the outside, because in this scene she only met Grace a few seconds ago. She’s a stranger! So she can’t even guess/assume at Grace’s feelings, because Joan doesn’t know her.
You see?
Then there’s the lines that don’t quite make sense;
‘Warm and fuzzy’ is how you describe feelings, not a house? Houses are never fuzzy? What?
That’s not a guess?
I just don’t understand what’s being said here – ghosts aren’t a species because everyone becomes one? What do those two facts have to do with each other? Wait, ARE you saying that everyone becomes a ghost? Or just that those who DO become ghosts tend to hang around for ages? And either way, what does them hanging out for ages have to do with not classifying them as a species?
Joan wants out of this conversation – that feeling continues in the next few sentences – but her mind’s ‘dancing a jig’? Doesn’t that mean she’s HAPPY? What?
I don’t understand this either – the body’s defense against something that makes you unwell is to…make you sick? No? The thing that makes you unwell makes you sick, your body’s reaction is to try to kill/get rid of the thing! What? It’s like the logic is going in the wrong direction – humans are never permeated by magic because they have a barrier! If it gets past the barrier, it makes them sick. It’s not that the magic never goes into them because it makes them sick – the magic isn’t going ‘oh, sorry, I’ll leave you alone then!’ THERE’S A BARRIER.
This kind of slightly-wrong-direction logic is all over the place, and kept making me twitch.
Finally, there’s a lot of telling-not-showing. We meet Joan’s family briefly, and they’re clearly mean and neglectful and power-hungry. But later, we’re told that not only are they like that with Joan, but that
Setting aside the fact that I don’t understand why the vampires etc OBEY the rules being set by this witch family – what the fuck do you MEAN these witches have said how many kids vampires can have?! Is that not eugenics territory? If we’re jumping to that level of evil, I’m sorry, but you do actually have to SHOW me – it’s not enough to just tell me something like that. Same with Joan telling the human-turned-witch that her family would absolutely vivisect them – sorry, WHAT?! Again, I need more evidence than ‘these witches are extremely neglectful of their unmagical daughter’. I accept they’re abusive, but it’s a jump from that to being some kind of totalitarian dictators!
Her family want to learn how to turn humans into witches, Joan thinks to build an army – but for what? The Greenwoods already rule the magic world, what is it that they want control of that they don’t have already?
The LaMortes are a vampire family – so you’re genuinely telling me that these IMMORTALS have not been able to use their longer lifespans to make long-term plans to out-manoeuvre the witches? Why not? If they’re just not smart enough, then it’s less an issue of the Greenwoods specifically; WHOEVER was in charge, the LaMortes wouldn’t be in a position of power. Right? They’re not good at politics or intrigue regardless.
I don’t know – if you enjoy urban fantasy, I don’t think this is a BAD one. If you’ve read the quotes I pulled and don’t see a problem, then you’ll definitely be fine (and I’m jealous that your brain is less obsessively nit-picky than mine!) But I’m twitching painfully every other page. Hard DNF from me.
I’m not sure this is bad, as such – but it’s like it was written specifically to annoy me. It’s a checklist of my pet peeves, full of little things that probably won’t bother anyone else – that some readers may even be looking for! – but that needle me. I did force myself to read to 20%, but it was such a relief when I decided I wasn’t going to read more than that.
The worldbuilding is, imo, particularly lame. Urban fantasy usually doesn’t have extensive or especially unique worldbuilding, and I wasn’t expecting that – but Unlikely Coven was still a letdown in that department. The magical community is literally just called the ‘magic world’ by all and sundry (even Cassandra Clare came up with ‘the Shadow World’ or ‘Downworld’!); vampires live in groups called packs (I honestly can’t believe how much this bothered me); the crest/logo of the ruling witch family is ‘a coffin with a scythe in the background, wrapped in ivy’. (In a world with vampires, how is that the symbol of a WITCH family?) But the objectively worst part is that there is no way to discern the difference between humans, witches, and vampires. Members of the magical community can’t see or sense that another person is also magical, never mind what species they might be. This is both something that annoys me whenever it comes up, and something that breaks the entire plot.
See, a human has been turned into a witch! How do we know this? Well, witnesses saw someone at a magic market use magic! …Okay. How did they know this person wasn’t born a witch? Do humans and witches look different? Do magical folk have the witchy equivalent of gaydar? Was there anything about the magic this person was using that was Clearly Not Witch-Magic?
No?
THEN WHY DIDN’T THE WITNESSES ASSUME THIS PERSON WAS A WITCH? What POSSIBLE reason did they have to jump to ‘omg that person was born human!!!’ ? Everything hinges on this!!! If there’s no way to tell, the WITNESSES can’t tell, there are no rumours, THE ENTIRE PLOT DOESN’T HAPPEN.
Cue me screaming into a pillow in frustration.
The prose is also…just a few degrees ‘off’. It reminds me of the uncanny valley effect: it’s SO CLOSE to being perfectly normal that it’s more distracting than if it were full-on bad. I found myself staring at certain sentences, saying them over and over in my head, trying to figure out why they bothered me so much. Take this example
A smile flickered across Grace’s lips before she crushed it like an ant.
Unlikely Coven is written in third-person, from the perspective of Joan, our mc. So in this line, Joan is observing Grace from the outside – there’s no magical/psychic telepathy or empathy going on here. So all Joan actually sees is that Grace is smiling, then suddenly not-smiling. Which makes me ask, where does the ‘crushed it like an ant’ come from? Joan doesn’t know why Grace stopped smiling, what’s going on in her head or what she’s feeling – not only because she can only observe from the outside, because in this scene she only met Grace a few seconds ago. She’s a stranger! So she can’t even guess/assume at Grace’s feelings, because Joan doesn’t know her.
You see?
Then there’s the lines that don’t quite make sense;
This would always be the official Greenwood residence, not so much the warm, fuzzy home of a kid.
‘Warm and fuzzy’ is how you describe feelings, not a house? Houses are never fuzzy? What?
“I don’t know,” the man guessed.
That’s not a guess?
Ghosts didn’t classify as a single magical species, as everyone died eventually and almost no one really wanted to, so they tended to hang around for ages until the universe recycled them.
I just don’t understand what’s being said here – ghosts aren’t a species because everyone becomes one? What do those two facts have to do with each other? Wait, ARE you saying that everyone becomes a ghost? Or just that those who DO become ghosts tend to hang around for ages? And either way, what does them hanging out for ages have to do with not classifying them as a species?
her mind danced a little jig, looking for a rip cord to get out of this conversation.
Joan wants out of this conversation – that feeling continues in the next few sentences – but her mind’s ‘dancing a jig’? Doesn’t that mean she’s HAPPY? What?
While magic twists unconciously through witches at some low level at all times, humans are never permeated.”
“Because it makes them sick?” Joan said, prompting her on as she ripped into her own sandwich. “The body’s natural defense against something that makes you unwell?”
“Right. So if humans have some level of protective barrier, then witches have a much more porous one.
I don’t understand this either – the body’s defense against something that makes you unwell is to…make you sick? No? The thing that makes you unwell makes you sick, your body’s reaction is to try to kill/get rid of the thing! What? It’s like the logic is going in the wrong direction – humans are never permeated by magic because they have a barrier! If it gets past the barrier, it makes them sick. It’s not that the magic never goes into them because it makes them sick – the magic isn’t going ‘oh, sorry, I’ll leave you alone then!’ THERE’S A BARRIER.
This kind of slightly-wrong-direction logic is all over the place, and kept making me twitch.
Finally, there’s a lot of telling-not-showing. We meet Joan’s family briefly, and they’re clearly mean and neglectful and power-hungry. But later, we’re told that not only are they like that with Joan, but that
Joan had watched [her family] ruin reputations, run families out of the city, mandate that vampires turn new vampires only within strict quotas, and even put attendance limits on certain fae revels to keep too many of them from banding together at once. All in the name of order. Power.
Setting aside the fact that I don’t understand why the vampires etc OBEY the rules being set by this witch family – what the fuck do you MEAN these witches have said how many kids vampires can have?! Is that not eugenics territory? If we’re jumping to that level of evil, I’m sorry, but you do actually have to SHOW me – it’s not enough to just tell me something like that. Same with Joan telling the human-turned-witch that her family would absolutely vivisect them – sorry, WHAT?! Again, I need more evidence than ‘these witches are extremely neglectful of their unmagical daughter’. I accept they’re abusive, but it’s a jump from that to being some kind of totalitarian dictators!
Her family want to learn how to turn humans into witches, Joan thinks to build an army – but for what? The Greenwoods already rule the magic world, what is it that they want control of that they don’t have already?
The Greenwoods had kept their boots on the necks of the LaMortes for centuries.
The LaMortes are a vampire family – so you’re genuinely telling me that these IMMORTALS have not been able to use their longer lifespans to make long-term plans to out-manoeuvre the witches? Why not? If they’re just not smart enough, then it’s less an issue of the Greenwoods specifically; WHOEVER was in charge, the LaMortes wouldn’t be in a position of power. Right? They’re not good at politics or intrigue regardless.
I don’t know – if you enjoy urban fantasy, I don’t think this is a BAD one. If you’ve read the quotes I pulled and don’t see a problem, then you’ll definitely be fine (and I’m jealous that your brain is less obsessively nit-picky than mine!) But I’m twitching painfully every other page. Hard DNF from me.
November 4, 2025
I loved this!! This book has everything: dysfunctional family dynamics, a protagonist whose clear-eyed assessments of her community and family are humorous and sad. And while knowing the pitfalls and biases of magical beings, she must attempt to find a different way from her powerful family's so she can protect the vulnerable and chart her own path. And a rival to not lovers but there’s potential there start to a romance, and a group of people who are square pegs in their communities, and who find common cause against their communities’ traditions and conventions to find support and family in each other.
The book opens with Joan Greenwood returning home to New York City after seven years away studying architecture. She's very reluctant, as her very powerful witch family, the Greenwoods, want her back to take her place amongst them. Joan cannot, unlike most witches, cast spells, even though she can channel magic. Her lack of ability has meant that her powerful family mostly neglects and overlooks her. She is very happy, however, to reunite with her best friend, vampire and younger brother to the powerful head of the vampire community, CZ.
The Greenwoods are extremely concerned about some very troubling news: someone has figured out how to turn a human into a witch, which means that, if this is true, then anyone can become a witch, which is not something the Greenwoods, or their California rivals the Wardwells, want.
Of course CZ discovers that the rumour is an actuality, and drags Joan into conspiring with him to find the witch who has done this to the human Mik. Mik, meanwhile, is terrified by what's happened, and Joan is determined to protect them from her family and the Wardwells.
She and CZ end up dragging others into their attempts to save Mik, including Astoria, the daughter of the powerful Wardwells, Wren, her best friend, and Grace a genius spellmaker. This coven, unlikely though it may be, is just what Mik needs, and has a mix of capabilities that allows this group to go against the Greenwoods. And against the witch conspiring against the witches.
This was such a delight, and even though I expected the self-deprecating, warm and plucky Joan would save the day, it was just so much fun getting there with her and her friends.
Did I mention I loved this book? I loved the setting, the political scheming, the overlooked daughter being the one to take the powerful down a peg, and the lovely family she makes for herself along the way.
I switched back and forth between the book and audio, which was wonderfully voiced by Krysta Gonzales. Gonzales strikes just the right balance in Joan: exasperation and hurt at her family’s machinations and neglect of her, love for those she cares for, and panic and growing confidence as her very differences from most witches allows her to see and find a different path to dealing with the shock to the magical community of a human becoming a witch is. Gonzales' take on Aunt Val was great, too.
I cannot wait to read the next in this series.
Thank you to Netgalley, Hachette audio and to Orbit Books for these ARCs in exchange for my review.
The book opens with Joan Greenwood returning home to New York City after seven years away studying architecture. She's very reluctant, as her very powerful witch family, the Greenwoods, want her back to take her place amongst them. Joan cannot, unlike most witches, cast spells, even though she can channel magic. Her lack of ability has meant that her powerful family mostly neglects and overlooks her. She is very happy, however, to reunite with her best friend, vampire and younger brother to the powerful head of the vampire community, CZ.
The Greenwoods are extremely concerned about some very troubling news: someone has figured out how to turn a human into a witch, which means that, if this is true, then anyone can become a witch, which is not something the Greenwoods, or their California rivals the Wardwells, want.
Of course CZ discovers that the rumour is an actuality, and drags Joan into conspiring with him to find the witch who has done this to the human Mik. Mik, meanwhile, is terrified by what's happened, and Joan is determined to protect them from her family and the Wardwells.
She and CZ end up dragging others into their attempts to save Mik, including Astoria, the daughter of the powerful Wardwells, Wren, her best friend, and Grace a genius spellmaker. This coven, unlikely though it may be, is just what Mik needs, and has a mix of capabilities that allows this group to go against the Greenwoods. And against the witch conspiring against the witches.
This was such a delight, and even though I expected the self-deprecating, warm and plucky Joan would save the day, it was just so much fun getting there with her and her friends.
Did I mention I loved this book? I loved the setting, the political scheming, the overlooked daughter being the one to take the powerful down a peg, and the lovely family she makes for herself along the way.
I switched back and forth between the book and audio, which was wonderfully voiced by Krysta Gonzales. Gonzales strikes just the right balance in Joan: exasperation and hurt at her family’s machinations and neglect of her, love for those she cares for, and panic and growing confidence as her very differences from most witches allows her to see and find a different path to dealing with the shock to the magical community of a human becoming a witch is. Gonzales' take on Aunt Val was great, too.
I cannot wait to read the next in this series.
Thank you to Netgalley, Hachette audio and to Orbit Books for these ARCs in exchange for my review.
November 21, 2025
Gorgeously heartfelt and irresistibly addictive! A.M. Kvita’s witchy, queer and magically chaotic debut was an adventure-filled romp that not only satisfied my niche bookish cravings, (namely a witchy MC who can’t use/control her magic) but also utterly stole my heart in the process.
Set in an alternate New York with a hidden magical society, we follow Joan Greenwood. A witch from a powerful magical family who has finally returned home, only to find them in the midst of chaos. When news of a powerful spell (supposedly givng a human unrestricted access to magic) is revealed; threatening the hierarchy her family have benefitted from for generations.
But things soon escalate when Joan’s vampire bestie kidnaps the human in question. And needs Joan’s help to fix it…before the situation can get worse.
From the cosy, found family vibes and Mildred Hubble-level mishaps. To the endearingly witty banter, romantic tension and political rivalries (which made the non-stop action even more intense.) I honestly never wanted this to end!
The world-building was fun if a bit on the softer side, focusing more on the action packed, character driven narrative (and escalating sense of danger) than on the magical lore. But the characters, politics and themes explored (power, privilege, identity and ethics involving consent/gatekeeping of magic) did more than made up for it.
I also loved our witty, self deprecating (and fiercely loyal) protagonist Joan, and felt she brought soo much warmth and humour to the story.
Growing up with a lack of magical power, (in a family who’ve all but monopolised it) Joan’s insight into that world of privilege, (and the injustices faced on the outskirts) was amazing! And highlighted that friendships (like power) can uplift and heal when in the right hands. Which I loved!
Overall, a witchy, wild and heartwarming read that Urban Fantasy fans really don’t want to miss.
Also, thanks to Nazia & Orbit Books UK for the PB copy.
Set in an alternate New York with a hidden magical society, we follow Joan Greenwood. A witch from a powerful magical family who has finally returned home, only to find them in the midst of chaos. When news of a powerful spell (supposedly givng a human unrestricted access to magic) is revealed; threatening the hierarchy her family have benefitted from for generations.
But things soon escalate when Joan’s vampire bestie kidnaps the human in question. And needs Joan’s help to fix it…before the situation can get worse.
From the cosy, found family vibes and Mildred Hubble-level mishaps. To the endearingly witty banter, romantic tension and political rivalries (which made the non-stop action even more intense.) I honestly never wanted this to end!
The world-building was fun if a bit on the softer side, focusing more on the action packed, character driven narrative (and escalating sense of danger) than on the magical lore. But the characters, politics and themes explored (power, privilege, identity and ethics involving consent/gatekeeping of magic) did more than made up for it.
I also loved our witty, self deprecating (and fiercely loyal) protagonist Joan, and felt she brought soo much warmth and humour to the story.
Growing up with a lack of magical power, (in a family who’ve all but monopolised it) Joan’s insight into that world of privilege, (and the injustices faced on the outskirts) was amazing! And highlighted that friendships (like power) can uplift and heal when in the right hands. Which I loved!
Overall, a witchy, wild and heartwarming read that Urban Fantasy fans really don’t want to miss.
Also, thanks to Nazia & Orbit Books UK for the PB copy.
October 29, 2025
3.25. Joan is returning home after being gone for years but she’s coming back to a disaster. Someone has created a spell that turns a human into a powerful witch and it’s put their family legacy at stake. She needs to come up with a plan to reverse the spell as soon as possible.
This story was super cute! Perfect for the season and an interesting plot. I enjoyed the characters, side characters, and their interactions. Most of the positive things I have to say about this book are that I was just going off of vibes. The writing is included in that. The world and writing weren’t perfect and I struggled a bit at times, but if you just want a fun witchy read, this scratched the itch!
Krysta Gonzales did a great job with these characters and this story.
Thank you so much Netgalley, AM Kvita, and Hachette Audio for providing this free ALC. This published on October 28th. This is my honest review!
This story was super cute! Perfect for the season and an interesting plot. I enjoyed the characters, side characters, and their interactions. Most of the positive things I have to say about this book are that I was just going off of vibes. The writing is included in that. The world and writing weren’t perfect and I struggled a bit at times, but if you just want a fun witchy read, this scratched the itch!
Krysta Gonzales did a great job with these characters and this story.
Thank you so much Netgalley, AM Kvita, and Hachette Audio for providing this free ALC. This published on October 28th. This is my honest review!
October 6, 2025
This was really well done, I listened to the audio of this story and the narration was phenomenal. I absolutely loved Joan’s sense of humor and the devotion she has to her friends, her accidental coven is a found family and I loved every minute of this. Excellent world building and pacing. An easy enjoyable fall paranormal listen. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced copy.
September 30, 2025
Joan Greenwood is basically witch royalty- her family more or less runs New York City. Unfortunately, Joan is a witch who can’t actually do magic. She’s always felt pushed aside and ignored by her family, so she’s not really surprised when she returns home to the city after being away at college and no one seems to care. Almost immediately, though, things get interesting when news of a human-turned-witch sends the paranormal world into a tailspin. If someone has a spell that gives magical powers to humans, the repercussions could impact all of them. Joan soon finds herself caught up in a rescue plot, paranormal politics, and good-old family drama.
-Cozy urban paranormal fantasy
-Queer rep
-BIPOC rep
-Found family
An Unlikely Coven was SO much fun! It’s unlike (see what I did there?) anything I’ve ever read before! Who ever thought that an urban paranormal fantasy could be cozy? The setting and cast of characters were amazing. Joan’s sweet little found family melted my heart. The snark and banter were perfect. If you’re looking for a witchy read that’s fast-paced, action-packed, and heartwarming, this is it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for this e-ARC!
-Cozy urban paranormal fantasy
-Queer rep
-BIPOC rep
-Found family
An Unlikely Coven was SO much fun! It’s unlike (see what I did there?) anything I’ve ever read before! Who ever thought that an urban paranormal fantasy could be cozy? The setting and cast of characters were amazing. Joan’s sweet little found family melted my heart. The snark and banter were perfect. If you’re looking for a witchy read that’s fast-paced, action-packed, and heartwarming, this is it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for this e-ARC!
August 13, 2025
Book Review 📖🕯️✨
thank you so much partner @orbitbooks_us for the gifted ARC!
An Unlikely Coven
by AM Kvita
About the book 👇🏽
After seven long years Joan Greenwood is finally returning home. Unfortunately, her family totally forgot about it.
Joan's homecoming is lukewarm at best, but soon turns disastrous when news hits that someone has created a spell that can turn an ordinary human into a powerful witch, threatening the balance of the magical world and the Greenwood’s place at the top of it.
When her best friend confesses that he has secretly, accidentally, saved this human-turned-witch from an uncertain fate, Joan is thrust headfirst into a desperate race to undo the spell before it does permanent damage to its unwilling host.
Soon, Joan finds herself drawn deeper into the heart of the city’s magic, into an uncertain alliance with a (very attractive) family rival, and far beyond the limits of everything she thought her own magic capable of.
🕯️ My thoughts:
I fell in love with this group of friends. This is exactly what I imagine when I think of the found family trope! You’ll get so much more
than magic in this book. I have got to say I really enjoyed the sapphic slow burn in this one but not nearly as much as the friendship between Joan and CZ. That friendship right there is what FAMILY is. I could feel it from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. With its chaotic magic, a quest of a lifetime, and a charming coven, the only thing you can do is love this book. I was giggling while simultaneously on the edge of my seat waiting for all the answers. I simply could not read it fast enough! If you’re looking for an endearing witchy read that absolutely hit the nail on the head regarding power hungry villains, found family, and the underdogs coming out on top… you absolutely need to add this to your TBR. An Unlikely Coven is out 10/28/25!
P.S. I read a little sneak peek of book two and I will be impatiently be waiting to get my hands on it!!
Happy reading 📖 ✨🕯️
thank you so much partner @orbitbooks_us for the gifted ARC!
An Unlikely Coven
by AM Kvita
About the book 👇🏽
After seven long years Joan Greenwood is finally returning home. Unfortunately, her family totally forgot about it.
Joan's homecoming is lukewarm at best, but soon turns disastrous when news hits that someone has created a spell that can turn an ordinary human into a powerful witch, threatening the balance of the magical world and the Greenwood’s place at the top of it.
When her best friend confesses that he has secretly, accidentally, saved this human-turned-witch from an uncertain fate, Joan is thrust headfirst into a desperate race to undo the spell before it does permanent damage to its unwilling host.
Soon, Joan finds herself drawn deeper into the heart of the city’s magic, into an uncertain alliance with a (very attractive) family rival, and far beyond the limits of everything she thought her own magic capable of.
🕯️ My thoughts:
I fell in love with this group of friends. This is exactly what I imagine when I think of the found family trope! You’ll get so much more
than magic in this book. I have got to say I really enjoyed the sapphic slow burn in this one but not nearly as much as the friendship between Joan and CZ. That friendship right there is what FAMILY is. I could feel it from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. With its chaotic magic, a quest of a lifetime, and a charming coven, the only thing you can do is love this book. I was giggling while simultaneously on the edge of my seat waiting for all the answers. I simply could not read it fast enough! If you’re looking for an endearing witchy read that absolutely hit the nail on the head regarding power hungry villains, found family, and the underdogs coming out on top… you absolutely need to add this to your TBR. An Unlikely Coven is out 10/28/25!
P.S. I read a little sneak peek of book two and I will be impatiently be waiting to get my hands on it!!
Happy reading 📖 ✨🕯️
October 28, 2025
This book summoned me. Mysterious witch spell turning a human into a casting witch. Over here please pick me. I loved this Sapphic story of witches found family and fighting against unfair power. The vampires and moon creatures that come together with our outcast Witch has the best found family dynamic that I just want to join and be apart of. These characters accidentally kidnap the human turned witch that everyone is looking for. This leads to chaos and explosive family dynamics. This is a fast paced story that is in constant motion. The narrator Krysta Gonzales did an amazing job portraying these characters and their emotions and fear. This felt like a full cast narration with easy of listening and easy transitions. I would definitely recommend the audiobook for this book. This is the first in a series and I can’t wait to see what this group of unlikely friends does next. The epilogue had me hooked and I love a good sneak peak at the end of the ebook edition.
October 29, 2025
Witchy season around and needed a something to satisfy that need and I got it with Joan and her unlikely coven. This was a fun, cozy read perfect for those loving magic, friends that are more family than family, and inklings of a possible slow burnish eventual relationship. AM Kvita’s world is beautiful, diverse, and everything accepting that our current state of affairs is not. I did find the writing very detailed and maybe a little too technical. I found myself having to go back and re-listen a few times to make sure I understood what they were explaining.
I look forward to seeing what happens in this version of NYC and what more Joan and her coven can protect and save. Krysta Gonzales provided all the voices and was fantastic.
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this #alcread in return for my honest opinion.
I look forward to seeing what happens in this version of NYC and what more Joan and her coven can protect and save. Krysta Gonzales provided all the voices and was fantastic.
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this #alcread in return for my honest opinion.
September 29, 2025
Rating: 4.5 stars
This is book has so much heart. The characters are intriguing, the world building absorbing, and the plot is so fast paced and gripping you’ll find yourself breaking out in a little bit of a sweat. But on top of that, the character dynamics are where the story really shines. Joan is the black sheep in her family, always dismissed and undervalued without being completely cast aside. Her journey toward creating and embracing her found family is so well done.
I want to next book in the series immediately!!
rep: Black lesbian mc and a diverse cast of side characters
Thank you to Orbit for the arc!
This is book has so much heart. The characters are intriguing, the world building absorbing, and the plot is so fast paced and gripping you’ll find yourself breaking out in a little bit of a sweat. But on top of that, the character dynamics are where the story really shines. Joan is the black sheep in her family, always dismissed and undervalued without being completely cast aside. Her journey toward creating and embracing her found family is so well done.
I want to next book in the series immediately!!
rep: Black lesbian mc and a diverse cast of side characters
Thank you to Orbit for the arc!
October 15, 2025
If anyone so much as breathes wrong on this little found family then they will be hearing from me 😤
This was such a fun and whimsical debut. I love a good found family and Joan really builds herself a good one. The love and friendship that blossoms between these characters was so heartwarming.
I’m giving this book 3 stars simply because the first half of the book kind of struggled to chug along. Often times it felt like a lot of tell instead of show. However, as the book progressed, I think the author really started to find their rhythm. The characters felt stronger by the end and so did the story.
I’m excited to see what Joan and her ragtag team will be getting up to in the next book.
Thank you Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC!
This was such a fun and whimsical debut. I love a good found family and Joan really builds herself a good one. The love and friendship that blossoms between these characters was so heartwarming.
I’m giving this book 3 stars simply because the first half of the book kind of struggled to chug along. Often times it felt like a lot of tell instead of show. However, as the book progressed, I think the author really started to find their rhythm. The characters felt stronger by the end and so did the story.
I’m excited to see what Joan and her ragtag team will be getting up to in the next book.
Thank you Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC!
October 22, 2025
4.75 stars.
Ok, wow — this was such a fantastic story!
It had chaotic energy, an incredible magic system and world, and the quirkiest, sweetest cast of characters. It was packed with action, conflict, and heart, making me laugh at the sass and banter one minute and cry over a tender moment the next.
I’m such a sucker for found families, but there was something extra special about this one. I loved how Joan chose to leave behind her coven and family of power to build her own — a coven of oddballs and castaways. It beautifully captures that family isn’t just about blood; it’s about belonging and being cherished for every part of who you are.
Ok, wow — this was such a fantastic story!
It had chaotic energy, an incredible magic system and world, and the quirkiest, sweetest cast of characters. It was packed with action, conflict, and heart, making me laugh at the sass and banter one minute and cry over a tender moment the next.
I’m such a sucker for found families, but there was something extra special about this one. I loved how Joan chose to leave behind her coven and family of power to build her own — a coven of oddballs and castaways. It beautifully captures that family isn’t just about blood; it’s about belonging and being cherished for every part of who you are.
October 24, 2025
The vibes in An Unlikely Coven are very Encanto meets Dimension 20:The Unsleeping City, and its such an unexpected but enjoyable combination. I loved the found family aspect that was at the heart of this story. The family dynamics were intense in all the right ways with layers of tension, love and generational magic woven together seamlessly.
The magic system felt well throughout and made sense for the world we were in. I really appreciated how diverse and distinct the cast of characters was. The overall plot was solid, though for me it was more about the atmosphere and emotional connections. I was in it for the vibes.
Joans family on the other, seems pretty irredeemable and I really wonder how that’s going to play out in the next book. An Unlikely Coven is a strong start to a series that blends heartfelt magic, complicated relationships and a deep sense of belonging.
Thanks to Netgalley, Orbit and Hachette Audio for this ALC that I chose to listen to and review.
The magic system felt well throughout and made sense for the world we were in. I really appreciated how diverse and distinct the cast of characters was. The overall plot was solid, though for me it was more about the atmosphere and emotional connections. I was in it for the vibes.
Joans family on the other, seems pretty irredeemable and I really wonder how that’s going to play out in the next book. An Unlikely Coven is a strong start to a series that blends heartfelt magic, complicated relationships and a deep sense of belonging.
Thanks to Netgalley, Orbit and Hachette Audio for this ALC that I chose to listen to and review.
October 31, 2025
This one had a bit of a slow start, but as I pushed through I became more and more invested in the story. Some of the dialogue is awkward and cheesy, but the storyline is intriguing and I really enjoyed the fresh magic system and society! Plus- the ending! So many questions… can’t wait for the next book :)
Thank you to NetGalley for an alc of this book in exchange for an honest review
Thank you to NetGalley for an alc of this book in exchange for an honest review
October 4, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to Orbit and the author for the e-arc and ALC.
This book was pretty good! I do wish we had a little more world building and explanation of the magic system. I know sometimes urban fantasy doesn’t go into as much detail with world building, especially since this took place in New York, but I was still left wanting more. I did enjoy the found family aspect and liked the quirky group that came together. The epilogue was intriguing and I may continue the series when book 2 releases.
🎧: I thought the single female narrator did an excellent job. Her range of voices for both male and female characters was great. Her narration was engaging and very clear and easy to listen to.
Thank you to Orbit and the author for the e-arc and ALC.
This book was pretty good! I do wish we had a little more world building and explanation of the magic system. I know sometimes urban fantasy doesn’t go into as much detail with world building, especially since this took place in New York, but I was still left wanting more. I did enjoy the found family aspect and liked the quirky group that came together. The epilogue was intriguing and I may continue the series when book 2 releases.
🎧: I thought the single female narrator did an excellent job. Her range of voices for both male and female characters was great. Her narration was engaging and very clear and easy to listen to.
September 15, 2025
I am so obsessed with this. Full review to come. Legit going to be one of my favorite fall reads ever
November 25, 2025
An Unlikely Coven, the first book in the Green Witch Cycle by A.M. Kvita, is a fun, fast-paced, and heartfelt fantasy debut with a great found family dynamic.
Joan Greenwood is a fantastic protagonist. She's witty, loyal, and stronger than she (and her family) gives herself credit for. Returning to New York City and her elite witch family, she’s immediately reminded why she left. In a family obsessed with power, she’s the only one who can’t cast magic. The way her relatives dismiss and belittle her is terrible, and I understood why she didn't want to return to them. Even the "nicer" ones aren't very nice.
I really liked the contrast between Joan’s cold, manipulative family and the warm, chaotic group of friends she gathers around her. Her found family, especially her best friend CZ, a charming vampire with a big heart, brings so much humor and tenderness to the story. Their friendship is one of my favorite parts of the book, and I loved how each member of Joan’s chosen family brings something unique to the group. Together, they create a sense of belonging and support that’s everything her blood relatives are not.
The worldbuilding is another strength. Kvita’s version of modern New York is so intriguing with its hidden magic, secret rivalries, and dangerous enchantments. The magic system and the social dynamics between the different supernatural groups are definitely going to come into play as the series develops, especially as powers develop and family dynamics change.
And while the plot moves quickly and is full of action, secrets, and a few morally gray choices, it’s balanced well with heart-warming moments of vulnerability and growth. There are also a couple of slow-burn romances starting to take shape, and I’m excited to see where those go in future installments!
Overall, An Unlikely Coven is an entertaining contemporary fantasy with humor, magical intrigue and suspense, unique characters, and an amazing found family. Special thanks to Orbit Books for sending me a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Joan Greenwood is a fantastic protagonist. She's witty, loyal, and stronger than she (and her family) gives herself credit for. Returning to New York City and her elite witch family, she’s immediately reminded why she left. In a family obsessed with power, she’s the only one who can’t cast magic. The way her relatives dismiss and belittle her is terrible, and I understood why she didn't want to return to them. Even the "nicer" ones aren't very nice.
I really liked the contrast between Joan’s cold, manipulative family and the warm, chaotic group of friends she gathers around her. Her found family, especially her best friend CZ, a charming vampire with a big heart, brings so much humor and tenderness to the story. Their friendship is one of my favorite parts of the book, and I loved how each member of Joan’s chosen family brings something unique to the group. Together, they create a sense of belonging and support that’s everything her blood relatives are not.
The worldbuilding is another strength. Kvita’s version of modern New York is so intriguing with its hidden magic, secret rivalries, and dangerous enchantments. The magic system and the social dynamics between the different supernatural groups are definitely going to come into play as the series develops, especially as powers develop and family dynamics change.
And while the plot moves quickly and is full of action, secrets, and a few morally gray choices, it’s balanced well with heart-warming moments of vulnerability and growth. There are also a couple of slow-burn romances starting to take shape, and I’m excited to see where those go in future installments!
Overall, An Unlikely Coven is an entertaining contemporary fantasy with humor, magical intrigue and suspense, unique characters, and an amazing found family. Special thanks to Orbit Books for sending me a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
November 27, 2025
3.75 stars
An Unlikely Coven is a snappy, magic-soaked contemporary fantasy about Joan Greenwood—the lone magic-less member of a powerful witch family—who returns home and immediately gets pulled into a dangerous spell gone wrong. There’s a human-turned-witch on the verge of implosion, a vampire BFF with chaotic energy, and a beautiful rival who makes “uncertain alliances” feel like foreplay.
Kvita delivers witty banter, a lovable queer and BIPOC cast, great found-family vibes, and a sweet sapphic slow burn. The pacing can wobble, but the charm carries it. A fun, fast debut —full of heart, humor, and just enough magical chaos to keep you hooked.
An Unlikely Coven is a snappy, magic-soaked contemporary fantasy about Joan Greenwood—the lone magic-less member of a powerful witch family—who returns home and immediately gets pulled into a dangerous spell gone wrong. There’s a human-turned-witch on the verge of implosion, a vampire BFF with chaotic energy, and a beautiful rival who makes “uncertain alliances” feel like foreplay.
Kvita delivers witty banter, a lovable queer and BIPOC cast, great found-family vibes, and a sweet sapphic slow burn. The pacing can wobble, but the charm carries it. A fun, fast debut —full of heart, humor, and just enough magical chaos to keep you hooked.
July 21, 2025
Out October 28th, 2025
Kvita introduces a ragtag group of witches who are more likely to hex their own shoes than save the world—but that’s part of the fun. The story leans into its whimsical tone, with spells gone sideways, awkward alliances, and a setting that feels like your favorite cottagecore playlist got tangled in a thunderstorm. It’s lighthearted and endearing, even when the plot meanders like a broomstick with a broken GPS.
That said, the pacing can be uneven, and some character arcs feel like they’re still steeping. But Kvita’s voice is playful and full of promise, and the world she’s building has the kind of cozy magic that makes you want to curl up with a mug of something herbal and keep reading. It’s not perfect, but it’s a fun ride—and I’m curious to see where this coven flies next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for this ARC!
Kvita introduces a ragtag group of witches who are more likely to hex their own shoes than save the world—but that’s part of the fun. The story leans into its whimsical tone, with spells gone sideways, awkward alliances, and a setting that feels like your favorite cottagecore playlist got tangled in a thunderstorm. It’s lighthearted and endearing, even when the plot meanders like a broomstick with a broken GPS.
That said, the pacing can be uneven, and some character arcs feel like they’re still steeping. But Kvita’s voice is playful and full of promise, and the world she’s building has the kind of cozy magic that makes you want to curl up with a mug of something herbal and keep reading. It’s not perfect, but it’s a fun ride—and I’m curious to see where this coven flies next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for this ARC!
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