House of Spells and Secrets

by Ivy Cassidy

When three sisters return to the house that holds their forgotten legacy, the walls whisper of magic, betrayal, and the secrets their mother never told them.

A sweeping story of resilience, magic, and sisterhood perfect for fans of Alice Hoffman, Heather Webber, and Sarah Addison Allen.

Rowan Connors has lived a fragmented, nomadic life with her triplet sisters, Saoirse and Caraline. Reeling from the sudden drowning of their erratic and secretive mother, Bridget, they uncover an old photograph of her standing in front of a manor they don’t recognize–and a final request scrawled on the back of the picture. The sisters set off to find answers to the questions they've always had about their mother's past, the place she once called home, and their own magical gifts. 

They arrive to find Swallow Hall sinking into the bay, and their grandmother, Everly, living alone within its dilapidated walls. But the house is more than crumbling brick and weathered stone. It breathes with magic, bound to the land and to the bloodline the sisters never knew they carried. As they settle into the house and the mystery of their family history deepens, they uncover  a hidden enemy tied to the magic of their ancestral line. With every discovery, Rowan begins to suspect that her mother's drowning was no accident, but part of a much older, more dangerous plan set in motion long before they were born.

As the shadows of the past creep back into Swallow Hall and Everly disappears, Rowan must confront whatever forced Bridget to flee Swallow Hall before the house, its secrets, and the magic of their bloodline are erased forever.

Readers looking for emotional sibling bonds and the ancestral mysteries of Nora Roberts’ The Inheritance will resonate with this stunning read.

Genres: Fantasy, Witches, Adult

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 24, 2026

About the author

Ivy Cassidy writes stories steeped in whispered legends, moonlit nights, and quiet magic. Her novels explore the space between women’s fiction and magical realism, where emotional truths unfold like folklore and the magic is subtle but ever-present.

Writing as Melissa Bourbon, she also pens mysteries and women’s fiction, but her Ivy Cassidy books dive deeper into ancestral secrets, intuition, and the strength found in the unknown.

When she isn’t writing, Ivy can be found walking her dogs, sipping something warm, and dreaming up new stories with a shimmer around the edges.

Reviews

[joe (hiatus)]

pre-read:
thanks for the ARC💘

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swallow Hall holds its own secrets. Secrets that it will take with it if it has to.

Rowan Connors has always led a fragmented life with her sisters, Saoirse and Caraline. Things only take a turn for the worse when their elusive and rather secretive mother Bridget somehow hits her head and drowns. Shortly after her death, Rowan finds a strange picture secreted away in her mother's belongings... depicting her mother in front of a house that she does not recognize. On that image as well is her mother's last words... a last request. And so the sisters set off on a quest to find out about their mother's past, about the house that they see on the photo concealed in their mother's things, and to discover their own magical gifts.
They return back to find the island sinking, and to find a grandmother that they previously did not know about to be living within its dilapidated walls. From Everly... they learn that their last name is not Connors but is actually Early. And they learn that the dilapidated and slowly crumbling stone and brick that builds the house surrounding them is much more than just a house...it lives and breathes the magic of their bloodline... it breathes the magic of the land that it sits on...and it almost seems as though the house has secrets that it wants to share with the triplet sisters. At times, it almost seems like the house does not want them to leave now that they've returned... eager to have the sister's magic in its walls and to provide them a sanctuary to flourish....
As they learn more of their family's past, and they settle more into life on the island... the triplet sisters discover that their bloodline has an enemy, hidden quietly right alongside their magic, but twisted to serve a darker purpose... and as Rowan finds out more and more about her mother and about her bloodline...She begins to believe that her mother's death was no mere accident, but part of a deeply sinister plan set into motion long before her and her sisters were born.

As the dark shadows of the past seep more into Swallow Halls' already-crumbling walls... and the sudden disappearance of their grandmother... Rowan and her sisters must join together to confront whatever chased their mother, Bridget, from its walls... or risk their bloodline, their magic, and the house with its seemingly endless secrets from vanishing forever...

Perfectly charming and cozy, dashed with a secretive dark past and exploring the bonds between three sisters... this was the perfect read for October, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you are a fan of Practical Magic, of Nora Roberts' The Inheritance, and also a fan of the fantastical... of finding your own magic and your own power...I would highly recommend adding this to your to-read pile.

Thank you to Alcove Press, to the talented Ivy Cassidy, and to Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and the rest of my reviews can be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....

[Katy Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really fulfilled my desire for a spooky, witchy read as Halloween is quickly approaching. I love the use of Irish culture and Gaelic in this story, as well as the symbolism of three powerful sisters who together are something even bigger than they knew. The characterization of Rowan was well thought out and flowed nicely with in the story. I wish there were more books about Caraline and Saoirse because I adore them. Although it was not explicitly stated, I definitely am under the impression that Saoirse is autistic and I enjoyed that representation especially because of how natural it felt in the story and how Rowan just understood that Saoirse needed to do things in a certain way and didn’t try and force her will upon her sister.

I would really recommend this book for people who love a witchy read filled with mystery and sisterly love.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

[Cris ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Charming, Witchy Read Perfect for the Cozy Season!

House of Spells and Secrets by Ivy Cassidy is an absolutely charming and delightful read, perfect for curling up with when the air turns crisp. This book delivers on its promise of a cozy atmosphere, weaving together sisterhood, ancestral magic, and a gorgeous, mysterious old house that practically breathes.

The story of the Connors sisters returning to Swallow Hall to uncover the secrets of their mother and their magical legacy is wonderfully layered. It truly captures that Halloween feeling—not the scary kind, but the nostalgic, pumpkin-spice-and-spell-casting vibe.

If you're a fan of the cinematic witchy charm of Practical Magic (especially the movie!), you'll find so much to love here. The focus on the strong, sometimes fractured, bond between the sisters and the deep connection to their family's magical history gives it that classic, inherited-power feel. It's a sweet, witchy tale of finding your home and your power, and I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend for your fall TBR!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy.

[Mandy_lovestoread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect Witchy Comfort Read

Thank you to NetGalley, publishers and author for this Arc.

House of Blood and Secrets was the perfect cozy autumn read. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to curl up with a cup of spiced tea and a blanket, feeling all the Practical Magic vibes.

The three sisters reminded me so much of Charmed, each with their own personality but completely bonded, add in the found family and you have a witchy read that’s nostalgic and heartwarming.

It’s not too dark or heavy, more pumpkin-spiced witchcraft, making it the ideal Halloween read if you love sisterhood, found family, and a little supernatural comfort.

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

"House of Spells and Secrets" by Ivy Cassidy is a book for all you cozy fantasy Irish Witchy book lovers. Set in the 1970's, triplets Rowan, Saoirse, and Caraline return to their ancestral home of Swallow Hall that is on Bird Island and sinking into the Chesapeake Bay. The house had been built by their distant grandfather, Patty, after he ran away from Ireland, his witch mother and his wife. He started a new life and family in the United States with the magic book he stole from his mother. However, the house with some long distance encouragement from his mother and new wife hid the book on him. Now the house is trying to protect the book from any dark influences, which may mean completely sinking into the bay.

This is where the triplets com in. Several generations after Patty livid in the home, their grandmother is still there. Their mother had been moving from town to town with them. Seemingly hiding from something or someone. Upon her untimely death, Rowan, discovers an old photo with information about the house on the back and a whispering telling her to find answers there.

Caraline, the oldest triplet, has a gift inn the kitchen, with men's attractions, and possibly fire. Saoirse, the middle triplet, is a garden witch making all things grow, knows what to use them for and has a way with the swallows that follow them. Then there's Rowan, the youngest triplet, she seems to taste everyone's feelings and has a general sense about things but doesn't totally know what her purpose is until they get back to the house on Bird Island. That's where she truely comes into her own. Rowan is the focal point of the book but it takes all three sisters to vanquish the trouble that's come for them and stop the house from sinking into the bay.

There is a little bit of mystery to this book. The girls have to figure out what happened to their newly discovered grandmother when she goes missing shortly after their arrival to Swallow Hall. This means discovering more about their ancestors and destiny. Could their unknown father be behind everything or a possible distant relative born from Patty's 1st wife. A parallel but dark branch of the family. Honestly, the culprit was someone I was say had to be them the whole time. They have a particular Irish name that I've come to associate with either a trickster or a womanizer. They even pulled the trick on the girls that I thought they might have.

All in all, this is a very entertaining book. If you're a fan of Nora Roberts books about Irish women discovering magical destinies but wish the romance was toned down, then this is the book for you. I say that because that's what I prefer too. So this is a great option and I look forward to more.

[Kimberley Pecino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this cozy witchy fantasy, centred around 3 sisters who are trying to solve the mystery of their mother's life before she passed. I think this would be perfect for fans of Charmed, or Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries. Don't want to say too much because *spoilers*, but I LOVED that the house was a character itself!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I am a sucker for a spooky, witchy read and this checked every box for me. I loved the dynamic of three powerful sisters and their legacy. If you love Practical Magic, then this will be right up your alley. It was nostalgic, sweet and cozy. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced ebook in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Deviant Quill Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

House of Spells and Secrets by Ivy Cassidy is a novel I truly wanted to love, and in many ways, I almost did.

Set in the 1970s and steeped in a rich gothic atmosphere, the story follows three sisters who arrive at Swallow Hall, their grandmother’s house, and the place where their mother grew up. The house itself feels alive, layered with inherited magic, memory, and history. There is a strong Irish cultural presence throughout the book, from language to traditions and celebrations, clearly inspired by Celtic roots and beliefs that have survived into modern Wicca. This aspect of the novel is beautifully done and will resonate deeply with readers who appreciate folklore, ancestral magic, and stories grounded in real cultural heritage. The idea at the heart of this book is lovely, intimate, and full of potential, especially knowing it was inspired by a real person.

Unfortunately, the execution does not always live up to the strength of the concept. The pacing is very slow, and not always in a way that serves suspense. Scenes meant to feel tense or mysterious often linger too long, allowing the tension to dissipate rather than build. There is also a noticeable amount of repetition, both in language and in ideas. Emotional beats and revelations are introduced repeatedly in very similar ways across chapters, sometimes even within the same pages, which creates a sense of stagnation instead of progression. Certain phrases and scene structures recur so often that they begin to feel mechanical, pulling the reader out of the story.

The writing itself would benefit from a tighter editorial pass. Some descriptions are overly crowded without adding depth, and several scenes suffer from abrupt transitions, where characters seem to move from one place to another without clear narrative flow. The climax, in particular, feels underwhelming compared to the long buildup leading to it, which is disappointing given how much atmosphere and promise the story establishes early on.

That said, there is genuine heart here. The world, the cultural grounding, and the emotional intent are strong, and the story itself is meaningful, even if it doesn’t fully deliver on its potential. With more focused editing and narrative discipline, this could have been a truly powerful Gothic fantasy. As it stands, it’s a book I appreciate for what it tries to do, even while wishing it had been given the space and care to become what it so clearly wants to be.

Tropes & Vibes
Cozy Gothic
Family bonds
Slow-burn mystery
Female empowerment
Return to roots

Review copy provided by Alcove Press @ Net Galley

[Judith Cormier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley. I would rate this closer to 3.5 stars, but I enjoyed it enough to upgrade it to a 4 on Goodreads.

This is a story about triplet sisters who lose their mother and go in search of a place that she seemed to be pointing them to. What they find is a highly unusual house, Sparrow Hall.

I enjoyed the sisters' journey throughout the book. While it was slow-moving at times, I never found it boring, and I think that was due to the richness of the author's writing. While I don't usually care for flowery writing, I found that this author didn't overdo it. She kept it very real and necessary to really set the scenes.

I did have a few issues with the book, which is what held me back from giving it 5 stars. Because it could have been a 5-star if these things hadn't bothered me so much. Firstly, it was sorely obvious that Rowan, our narrator, was our "keeper." I think if the author had written it to point more to one of the other sisters, that could have perhaps led to a different conclusion. I think having the entire story narrated from just Rowan's POV didn't help in that case. POVs from all of the sisters would have not only enriched the story but also left me guessing.

And what happened to Hazel, the dog? Because she was there and then she wasn't. That was a huge miss on the part of the author. She could have used the dog much more in the story, and having her just not even mentioned in the last 30% or so of the book was just weird.

The loss of their mother and the disappearance of the grandmother would, again, have been much better from all three POVs, instead of just Rowan's.

I guess I'm sounding a bit like a broken record here, and even considering these things that bothered me, I still enjoyed the story very much. Beautiful writing in a beautiful story.

[Emily Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of people are rating this book quite highly, so maybe it's me and I'm just not the right reader for it. They certainly aren't wrong about the nice things they are pointing out. It's just that I couldn't get past this one thing that grated on me:

The three triplets have magic together. They do everything together. Including falling into a mystery of creepy house and family heritage. That sounded like a great premise. I was expecting this warm feeling of family connection between the sisters and I was imagining writing about how hygge the feeling was. Except it wasn't that at all, I'm afraid. The one sister is described as "free spirited" which is a nice way of saying selfish brat who selfishly refuses responsibility. She wants to whine about the house. She feels trapped. She wants to leave without telling anyone where she's going. Then when they find her, she lies about how she 'left a note.' She wants to run off with random men she doesn't know. And despite the fact that her sister has the magic gift of knowing who people really are, she never bothers to ask her sister "Is this guy OK?" "Is he up to no good?" Her sister asks her to stop, that it's not a good time to behave like that. Doesn't matter. I had a hard time putting up with the selfishness and it started to feel a little bit like a plot device. I'll have this character selfishly do stupid and irrational things to jam my characters into situations that I will have to write them out of instead of figuring out how to get rational characters into that spot organically. The problem is probably me. *I* wouldn't put up with a sister that behaved like that. Therefore *I* find it unbelievable that the sisters in the book do. Not a single other person has mentioned this in their review. Therefore, the problem has to be me.

[Alba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Alcove Press and I've Cassidy for the early E ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

House of Spells and Secrets has been a bit of a strange reading experience for me.

On paper, this should have been everything I love. There is an enchanted, mysterious atmosphere, a house full of secrets, and a story that promises magic, family bonds, and hidden truths. The writing itself is good, even quite pretty at times, but the pacing made this feel heavier than it needed to be. At just under 300 pages, it took me far longer to get through than expected.

My biggest struggle was with the characters. The story wants you to feel the deep love between the sisters and the strength of their bond, but for me, that emotional connection never fully landed. Everything felt a little flat, as if I was being told how strong these relationships were instead of being allowed to experience them.

The plot also suffers from repetition. Certain ideas and pieces of information are revisited again and again, which makes the story feel circular rather than layered. I often felt gently guided through what I was meant to feel or think, rather than being allowed to discover those emotions for myself. Because of this, even moments that should have carried more weight did not fully land.

By the end, my feelings did not change enough to shift my impression. This is not a bad book, and I can see why it might work for some readers, especially those who enjoy slower, atmosphere-driven fantasy. For me, though, it feels like a story that could have benefited from being tighter. With fewer repetitions and a little more trust in the reader, it might have had the emotional depth it was reaching for. As it stands, this is a solid three-star read. Beautiful ideas, but not quite enough to fully pull me in.

[John O’Donnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Alcove Press for the arc copy of House of Spells and Secrets.

When I saw this book on NetGalley I had to request it immediately! I love anything witchy. The book follows triplets Rowan, Caraline and Saoirse, as they come to terms with their mother’s sudden death and try to find their place in the world without her.

I enjoyed the plot of self-discovery for the three women as they navigated their new life in Swallow Hall. I loved seeing their confidence and magic develop over the course of the book. The mystery of the house and their family history was a running theme throughout the book that I felt was paced well and ended satisfyingly.

As an Irish person from the area which Biddy Early was from, it was interesting reading about her. However, there were moments of the book that I did find hard to read like Biddy’s letter where she wrote phonetically, as it did feel like a bad attempt at doing an Irish accent. Also the use of the Irish language as a magical language was not translated correctly.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and wanted to see where Rowan and her sisters would end up. It was a nice stand-alone book that was a good palette cleanser.

[Windsor Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from NetGalley for a review. This was such a fun story! I’m a little wary of many books about witch sisters, only because I’ve read a few I didn’t like, but this one is original.

Siblings and triplets, Rowan, Caraline, and Saoirse, have lived their entire lives on the run at the behest of their mother, Bridget. When Bridget suddenly dies, the girls are left with no information about the past and no idea of what to do in the future. They find a childhood picture of their mother, which leads them to Bridget’s hometown. Once there, they discover Bridget’s childhood home and meet their grandmother.

Everyly, the grandmother, tells the girls about their mother and her life before she left, and also about their lineage of magic. The house is not only their ancestral home, it’s also magical and sentient. It protects the family. Kind of like The House of Wind, but less sex positive.

This was an enjoyable read. The story is interesting and unique, I did feel like the end came on too quickly and was a little rushed. Even so, this is a great book and I hope you get a chance to read it!

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an interesting read. It had all the elements of my favorite things, but it started out very slow and I just couldn't get into it. I put it down and read something else and came back to it. When I did I fast-forwarded to where the girls arrived at New Bethel looking for Swallow Hill. Once the book got there it was fast paced and hard to put down. (That's why the 4 stars)

I'm not sure why I struggled with the beginning, I think it was just hard for me to get into it. Looking back I realized it was setting up what was going to happen at Swallow Hill.

SO, please keep reading if you get stuck in the beginning like I did. You will not regret it as it was so good.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC for my honest review. I look forward to seeing what Ivy Cassidy writes next.

[Madz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of the story is great! following the mysterious death of their mother, three witches find out about their family home and go looking for answers.

The storyline is amazing, and the writing kept me on edge throughout the book. However, I didn't feel the sisterly bond we were told about. The book was carried more by the plot than the characters. I couldn't connect to anyone, and the writing felt lacking.

We barely knew about the fmc and her sisters' lives before their mothers' passing. The fmc had the most page time, and her sisters felt like secondary characters, it made me dislike them slightly as I felt that they were barely there.

The book is a great read, and I don't regret it. It just left me with a lot of unanswered questions.

[Jazz · Rating 4 out of 5]

House of Spells and Secrets was a really cosy read for this time of year. I enjoyed getting to know the 3 sisters and watching their familial relationship grow with their grandmother. Their journey to uncover their mothers secrets and the magic within them was really captivating and easy to follow. I did however think there were parts i felt were unnecessary to the progression of the story. Overall a really good read, get yourself to Swallow Hall to experience it for yourselves!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was interesting because the entire book felt like backstory and/or world building. I really enjoyed it while reading and it was fun to find it was fiction based on a real person. It personally just kind of felt unfinished to me I wanted to get more of the lives of the girls past the centuries old problems. Plus everything that happened was very predictable. It wasn't bad but I think a continuation of their lives after "defeating evil" would've been a better ending.

[Liz Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

In House of Spells and Secrets, Cassidy has crafted a tale of family, legacy, and magic, with a seaside home as alive as the story itself. Readers of witchy books will love losing themselves in pages brimming with the dark history and bright hope of the Connors sisters and the witches who came before them.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

House of Spells and Secrets is a story of magic, mystery, family, self discovery and a house that lives and breathes through its Keeper. This book is beautifully written; the characters are so easy to get attached to and I was invested right from the start. A very enjoyable read, I certainly hope that there is another in this world to come!

[Theresa P-Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unpredictable with twists and turns, the history/memory/folklore in this story feel like protagonists in their own right. A book of magic… magic in the sisters, in Swallow Hall, in the earth, the trees … with interesting bits of folklore leading the reader on, wanting to know more. I loved this book!

[Katy]

Thanks to Aclove Press for the ARC!

I'm not going to rate this book yet because I was unable to finish it. I was intrigued by the premise and it even kept my interest in the first quarter of the book. I didn't quite make it half way through before I got tired of muddling through.
DNF-plan on going back to it later! (2/2026 rating is 2/5 stars)

[Hillary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh no! Someone is in terrible danger! I can sense it! ...but I think I'll just wander around town listlessly for a few weeks, meet some people, enjoy having a house with personality even if said personality is best described as torpid with a protective bent...