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Windburn
Never Forgive and Never Forget. Hunted as witches during the Salem Trials and haunted by their past sins, the Crowhart women carry a deep secret and an inescapable curse.
Rhiannon Crowhart, the renegade second sister of the notorious family, returns to Dragons Island and its sleepy town of Crow’s Nest in a flurry of storms and scandal. Her homecoming is not hospitable, as the townspeople and her own sisters are keen to hold onto old grudges. Not that Rhiannon requires their welcome. She left twenty-two years ago and has never looked back–until now. After all, she hated everything about the island, the town, and the old Atelier she recently inherited.
Everything except a pair of gray eyes that look at her from the bookstore next door. Eyes that belong to the Mayor’s daughter. Eyes that Rhiannon keeps seeing in her dreams.
Prudence Fowler has never seen a more fascinating woman than the one who glides around town in four-inch heeled boots carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Rhiannon Crowhart is as beautiful as she is troubled. And, above all, Rhiannon Crowhart is dangerous.
When their connection upends both their lives, Prudence needs to choose between family loyalty and loving the woman who is Wind herself.
Rhiannon Crowhart, the renegade second sister of the notorious family, returns to Dragons Island and its sleepy town of Crow’s Nest in a flurry of storms and scandal. Her homecoming is not hospitable, as the townspeople and her own sisters are keen to hold onto old grudges. Not that Rhiannon requires their welcome. She left twenty-two years ago and has never looked back–until now. After all, she hated everything about the island, the town, and the old Atelier she recently inherited.
Everything except a pair of gray eyes that look at her from the bookstore next door. Eyes that belong to the Mayor’s daughter. Eyes that Rhiannon keeps seeing in her dreams.
Prudence Fowler has never seen a more fascinating woman than the one who glides around town in four-inch heeled boots carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Rhiannon Crowhart is as beautiful as she is troubled. And, above all, Rhiannon Crowhart is dangerous.
When their connection upends both their lives, Prudence needs to choose between family loyalty and loving the woman who is Wind herself.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2025
415 people are currently reading
1716 people want to read
About the author
Milena McKay
20 books1,517 followersMilena McKay is a Lambda Literary and Golden Crown Literary Society award-winning sapphic fiction author.
She is a cat whisperer who wears four-inch heels for work while secretly dreaming of her extensive Converse collection. Would live on blueberries and lattes if she could.
Milena can recite certain episodes of The West Wing by heart and quote “Pride and Prejudice” in her sleep. Her love for Cate Blanchett's Carol Aird knows no bounds.
www.milenamckay.com
She is a cat whisperer who wears four-inch heels for work while secretly dreaming of her extensive Converse collection. Would live on blueberries and lattes if she could.
Milena can recite certain episodes of The West Wing by heart and quote “Pride and Prejudice” in her sleep. Her love for Cate Blanchett's Carol Aird knows no bounds.
www.milenamckay.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
November 28, 2025
"A magical, breathtaking masterpiece"
What a masterpiece this book is. McKay is truly an exceptional writer, and once again she has blown my expectations out of the water with this phenomenal tale. The story itself is perfection—outstanding character development, a flawless blend of sweetness, mystery, and excitement, all woven into a page-turner that kept me hooked from start to finish.
The beautiful relationship development between Prudence (Pru) and Rhiannon was absolutely sublime. I adored how they grew both individually and together as a couple. From the beginning, it’s clear their connection is one woven by fate, whispered through the winds drifting across Crow’s Nest. Their chemistry is palpable, the tension exquisite, and every moment between them feels charged with something magical.
I absolutely loved Rhiannon’s sisters—Ceridwen, Seren, and Deryn—and her Aunt Victoria. Each one plays a meaningful role in this enchanting story, adding depth, warmth, and their own unique spark. But my heart was completely stolen by Patches and Boleyn, Pru’s possum and Rhiannon’s cat. Their blossoming little love story was utterly enchanting and such a delightful addition to the book.
Overall, this passionate and phenomenal read is crafted with the quality, heart, and magic that you always get with one of Milena’s books. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this absolute masterpiece. Your writing is truly an inspiration.
Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
What a masterpiece this book is. McKay is truly an exceptional writer, and once again she has blown my expectations out of the water with this phenomenal tale. The story itself is perfection—outstanding character development, a flawless blend of sweetness, mystery, and excitement, all woven into a page-turner that kept me hooked from start to finish.
The beautiful relationship development between Prudence (Pru) and Rhiannon was absolutely sublime. I adored how they grew both individually and together as a couple. From the beginning, it’s clear their connection is one woven by fate, whispered through the winds drifting across Crow’s Nest. Their chemistry is palpable, the tension exquisite, and every moment between them feels charged with something magical.
I absolutely loved Rhiannon’s sisters—Ceridwen, Seren, and Deryn—and her Aunt Victoria. Each one plays a meaningful role in this enchanting story, adding depth, warmth, and their own unique spark. But my heart was completely stolen by Patches and Boleyn, Pru’s possum and Rhiannon’s cat. Their blossoming little love story was utterly enchanting and such a delightful addition to the book.
Overall, this passionate and phenomenal read is crafted with the quality, heart, and magic that you always get with one of Milena’s books. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this absolute masterpiece. Your writing is truly an inspiration.
Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
November 2, 2025
4.8 ⭐️ Milena has a way of writing sapphic romances that always leave me tearful. This, to me, is a very important read, and I adore how witches are somewhat used as an allusion to current world issues. Rather than dance around things, Milena confronts them, which is incredibly cathartic to see. (I would even still say this is a cozy and comforting read, even with that.)
This is a pretty intense and spicy romance, fuelled with jealousy and protection. And I found myself routing for the MC’s from the start. I’m yet to find a book by Milena that I have not adored and I think that’s in part due to the luscious stories and vibrant characters she creates.
I really think folk will love this, and I do think it’s one of Milena’s spiciest books yet.
(Also, I can’t express how much I adore possums.)
Rep// Bisexual Woman MC, Sapphic Woman MC, Queer Man SC, WLW SCs. Central romance is WLW / Sapphic.
TWs below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.
TW// toxic / emotionally abusive ex, divorced parents (past), break in, hanging torture & imprisonment (past, briefly discussed), Salem witch trials (past), death (past), panic attacks, suicide (past, very brief mention), fire/burning, discussions about book bans & censorship.
This is a pretty intense and spicy romance, fuelled with jealousy and protection. And I found myself routing for the MC’s from the start. I’m yet to find a book by Milena that I have not adored and I think that’s in part due to the luscious stories and vibrant characters she creates.
I really think folk will love this, and I do think it’s one of Milena’s spiciest books yet.
(Also, I can’t express how much I adore possums.)
Rep// Bisexual Woman MC, Sapphic Woman MC, Queer Man SC, WLW SCs. Central romance is WLW / Sapphic.
TWs below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.
TW// toxic / emotionally abusive ex, divorced parents (past), break in, hanging torture & imprisonment (past, briefly discussed), Salem witch trials (past), death (past), panic attacks, suicide (past, very brief mention), fire/burning, discussions about book bans & censorship.
November 4, 2025
It absolutely felt while reading this that Milena McKay was back in her zone at Three Dragons, where she belongs.
These characters - from main to supporting - feel organic and beautifully add to the history and character of the island.
The chemistry between two mains Rhiannon Crowhart and Prudence Fowler is electric and while their physical connection may seem rushed, their magnetic pull will allow for nothing else.
Loved the mystery, love the additional lore of the islands. Love the witches and the tease of what is to come!
More, please! I can’t wait to hear Abby Craden’s take on these characters. Low and sexy voice work is on the way!
These characters - from main to supporting - feel organic and beautifully add to the history and character of the island.
The chemistry between two mains Rhiannon Crowhart and Prudence Fowler is electric and while their physical connection may seem rushed, their magnetic pull will allow for nothing else.
Loved the mystery, love the additional lore of the islands. Love the witches and the tease of what is to come!
More, please! I can’t wait to hear Abby Craden’s take on these characters. Low and sexy voice work is on the way!
November 5, 2025
ok, i actually finished this almost 2 days ago, but i wanted to think about my feelings about it. i think i’m coming out of this one kind of in the middle, more towards enjoying myself than not. my favorite thing about this book was the estranged sister dynamic between rhiannon and ceridwen. and in a romance book, your favorite thing NOT being the romance, is a little telling. NOW, that said, i did enjoy the romance and the mcs more than i have with some of the other recent works i’ve read by this author, but, still.
i was hopeful that the setting being back to dragons would make me love this one as much as i loved the headmistress/magdelene nox (still my favorites). that, plus witches, plus fraught sister dynamics had it hitting all of the things that, in theory, should have been riiiiight up my alley. but, i found myself not quite buying the connection between pru and rhiannon in the beginning of the book. i got to about 40% mark and had the thought that mostly, these women have just spent a few weeks looking at each other from their respective businesses and having a handful of conversations that were pretty shallow and didn’t reveal much about either of them to the audience. by that point in a novel, you should have a better handle on the main characters and i kind of felt like i didn’t? (this could def be a personal thing, and i will admit that it’s possible that i’m developing a bias against mckay because i haven’t enjoyed a chunk of the books. i can tell that i’m now approaching all new books with the mindset of “this book is going to have to prove itself to me” in ways that i likely don’t with many other authors because i WANT to like her books yall). i also noticed that pru felt like almost a different person/character in her own pov vs. how we saw her in rhiannon’s, esp with regards to their sexual dynamic. (i DID enjoy that we got both pru and rhiannon’s povs, though. it’s def usually my preference in romance, and not usually mckay’s thing, and i appreciated it here).
i don’t want to be too negative because i DID enjoy this one more than i didn’t. so, more things that i liked before i get a little more negative at the end! i looooved ceridwen and i really want to read her book asap (i saw at the end that the next book is about deyrn? not thrilled about that, tbh, we like, don’t know her at all [which, god, ok, this IS a critique, here when i’m supposed to be saying good things, but it was weird to me that ceri and seren and rhiannon all only really talked about each other?? they would mention, “the twins” at times, but they talked around deryn so much that i thought i missed it and they were going to reveal that she was dead or something??) i cannot stress how much i loved the fraught but fiercely loyal sister dynamic with ceri and rhiannon, it was 100% my fav bit and i love that it was fleshed out well. i found the aunt to be a fun character, and enjoyed the setting, and the glimpse of magdelene that we got. i'm always interested in the magic system in books and while i found this one not totally to my taste on the whole, i liked that it was different.
i think the “fated soulmates” trope is a little hard to utilize sometimes—i get that they had this instant magical connection (and the reveal of some of what was going on in their dreams) but idk, for ME, para me, spooky me, etc, i needed some more build up and it was a little lacking/too dependent on they were “fated” for each other. really i enjoyed the back half of the book much more than the first, and wanted the first half to be a little more drawn out with developments in the character work.
i think i’ve (maybe? semi?) figured out some of the disconnect with me and this author. but, i need to read the other cupid novellas in order to actually KNOW, since i’ve only read the first one. my theory is that i’m getting a little sick of her general story beats. which feels mean and bad to say. but like, every book has an older (usually significantly) ice queen who falls in love with a (in theory) bubbly young 20 something and there is always an almost cartoonishly evil antagonist working against them in some capacity (lisa AND the ex-wife were a bit much tbh. the other main one was plenty and worked better imo).
idk. i always enjoy the ice queen character! i think that mckay’s character work with them are almost always the best parts of her novels, but there is often something about the younger love interest that i increasingly seem to dislike, and then i don’t root for the couples to get together (barring sam and juliette. i love sam and i love magdelene/sam and i really like juliette and enjoyed her and katerina). i think at this point, i just want to see a different dynamic from the author? like, honestly, i hope we see ceri and paloma get together!? i just think that i want something else from the usual formula because something about it isn’t quite working for me anymore despite really wanting it to. despite what this whole review says, i DID enjoy this one more than i didn’t (it just also highlighted patterns of what i think hasn’t been working for me with some of her other books, that i want to test out with the other cupid novellas to see if i’m actually right). and i will be checking out the other books in what i assume is going to be a series about the sisters, because they are all revealed to be queer. i’m not super excited about deryn being up first, because i really liked and am interested in ceri the most, but i do want to see more from this universe, and i really hope we get some other romance dynamics with the other sisters. i just want her to change it up a bit.
i was hopeful that the setting being back to dragons would make me love this one as much as i loved the headmistress/magdelene nox (still my favorites). that, plus witches, plus fraught sister dynamics had it hitting all of the things that, in theory, should have been riiiiight up my alley. but, i found myself not quite buying the connection between pru and rhiannon in the beginning of the book. i got to about 40% mark and had the thought that mostly, these women have just spent a few weeks looking at each other from their respective businesses and having a handful of conversations that were pretty shallow and didn’t reveal much about either of them to the audience. by that point in a novel, you should have a better handle on the main characters and i kind of felt like i didn’t? (this could def be a personal thing, and i will admit that it’s possible that i’m developing a bias against mckay because i haven’t enjoyed a chunk of the books. i can tell that i’m now approaching all new books with the mindset of “this book is going to have to prove itself to me” in ways that i likely don’t with many other authors because i WANT to like her books yall). i also noticed that pru felt like almost a different person/character in her own pov vs. how we saw her in rhiannon’s, esp with regards to their sexual dynamic. (i DID enjoy that we got both pru and rhiannon’s povs, though. it’s def usually my preference in romance, and not usually mckay’s thing, and i appreciated it here).
i don’t want to be too negative because i DID enjoy this one more than i didn’t. so, more things that i liked before i get a little more negative at the end! i looooved ceridwen and i really want to read her book asap (i saw at the end that the next book is about deyrn? not thrilled about that, tbh, we like, don’t know her at all [which, god, ok, this IS a critique, here when i’m supposed to be saying good things, but it was weird to me that ceri and seren and rhiannon all only really talked about each other?? they would mention, “the twins” at times, but they talked around deryn so much that i thought i missed it and they were going to reveal that she was dead or something??) i cannot stress how much i loved the fraught but fiercely loyal sister dynamic with ceri and rhiannon, it was 100% my fav bit and i love that it was fleshed out well. i found the aunt to be a fun character, and enjoyed the setting, and the glimpse of magdelene that we got. i'm always interested in the magic system in books and while i found this one not totally to my taste on the whole, i liked that it was different.
i think the “fated soulmates” trope is a little hard to utilize sometimes—i get that they had this instant magical connection (and the reveal of some of what was going on in their dreams) but idk, for ME, para me, spooky me, etc, i needed some more build up and it was a little lacking/too dependent on they were “fated” for each other. really i enjoyed the back half of the book much more than the first, and wanted the first half to be a little more drawn out with developments in the character work.
i think i’ve (maybe? semi?) figured out some of the disconnect with me and this author. but, i need to read the other cupid novellas in order to actually KNOW, since i’ve only read the first one. my theory is that i’m getting a little sick of her general story beats. which feels mean and bad to say. but like, every book has an older (usually significantly) ice queen who falls in love with a (in theory) bubbly young 20 something and there is always an almost cartoonishly evil antagonist working against them in some capacity (lisa AND the ex-wife were a bit much tbh. the other main one was plenty and worked better imo).
idk. i always enjoy the ice queen character! i think that mckay’s character work with them are almost always the best parts of her novels, but there is often something about the younger love interest that i increasingly seem to dislike, and then i don’t root for the couples to get together (barring sam and juliette. i love sam and i love magdelene/sam and i really like juliette and enjoyed her and katerina). i think at this point, i just want to see a different dynamic from the author? like, honestly, i hope we see ceri and paloma get together!? i just think that i want something else from the usual formula because something about it isn’t quite working for me anymore despite really wanting it to. despite what this whole review says, i DID enjoy this one more than i didn’t (it just also highlighted patterns of what i think hasn’t been working for me with some of her other books, that i want to test out with the other cupid novellas to see if i’m actually right). and i will be checking out the other books in what i assume is going to be a series about the sisters, because they are all revealed to be queer. i’m not super excited about deryn being up first, because i really liked and am interested in ceri the most, but i do want to see more from this universe, and i really hope we get some other romance dynamics with the other sisters. i just want her to change it up a bit.
December 8, 2025
Beautifully written, Milena has such a way with words. It feels so natural and almost poetic. I’m a huge fan. I’ve read all of her books and dare I say, this may be my new favourite of Milena’s.
I loved the couple of name drops of previous characters from the Milena McKay world 😍
I definitely highly recommend this and I can’t wait to reread with the audiobook once it’s released, which I hope is Abby Craden, because I 100% heard her voice in my head when I was reading this 🤣
Written in third person with 2x POV’s. Book One in the Crows Coven series. Return to Hometown, Ice Queen, Age Gap (12 years), Fated Mates, Forced Proximity. 5x Spicy Scenes.
I loved the couple of name drops of previous characters from the Milena McKay world 😍
I definitely highly recommend this and I can’t wait to reread with the audiobook once it’s released, which I hope is Abby Craden, because I 100% heard her voice in my head when I was reading this 🤣
Written in third person with 2x POV’s. Book One in the Crows Coven series. Return to Hometown, Ice Queen, Age Gap (12 years), Fated Mates, Forced Proximity. 5x Spicy Scenes.
November 1, 2025
I really wanted it to be 5 stars!
The story is intriguing and shrouded in mystery, it involves you and doesn't make you put down the book, 10/10 for the polt.
It took me more than half the book to put together enough pieces of the story to really understand what was happening and now it was too late to fully enjoy the story.
Despite this, I loved the subplot, the women empowerment and above all having given voice to the injustices of history and at the same time the one of the present. ALSO I loved possum and boleyn!!
Not having been able to understand the dynamic/relationship between the MCs, not having felt the chemistry between the characters, the yerning and longing (SPOILER ) and the fact that at times Rhy was too self-centered - wake up girl not everything happen becaouse of you- robbed the book of a few points.
In short, the premises were very good but for me something was missing. Overall it'a a 3.5⭐ and 4 🔥
Still this is a good book and I will look forward to the publication of the second book in the series.
And now to the best part, the topes:
-Fated Mates
-Small Town
-Forced Proximity
-Ice Queen
-Age Gap
-Opposites Attraction
-Paranormal
-Witchy Romance
-Femme x Femme
-Kinda attraction st first sight
-Praise kink
-Chin lifts
-Who did this to you?
-Protective & possessive MC
-Sapphic & Achillean rep
-Face sitting
-watch me
-spicy scene with mirror involved
-semi public sex
-straps
-spanking
CW: grief - loss of loved ones (mum, grandma and wife) -mentions of suicide mentions of character death - witch hunts of 1600s - mention of people burner alive and hang - widow MC - abusive ex - almost death experice - guilt - panic attack
The story is intriguing and shrouded in mystery, it involves you and doesn't make you put down the book, 10/10 for the polt.
It took me more than half the book to put together enough pieces of the story to really understand what was happening and now it was too late to fully enjoy the story.
Despite this, I loved the subplot, the women empowerment and above all having given voice to the injustices of history and at the same time the one of the present. ALSO I loved possum and boleyn!!
Not having been able to understand the dynamic/relationship between the MCs, not having felt the chemistry between the characters, the yerning and longing (SPOILER ) and the fact that at times Rhy was too self-centered - wake up girl not everything happen becaouse of you- robbed the book of a few points.
In short, the premises were very good but for me something was missing. Overall it'a a 3.5⭐ and 4 🔥
Still this is a good book and I will look forward to the publication of the second book in the series.
And now to the best part, the topes:
-Fated Mates
-Small Town
-Forced Proximity
-Ice Queen
-Age Gap
-Opposites Attraction
-Paranormal
-Witchy Romance
-Femme x Femme
-Kinda attraction st first sight
-Praise kink
-Chin lifts
-Who did this to you?
-Protective & possessive MC
-Sapphic & Achillean rep
-Face sitting
-watch me
-spicy scene with mirror involved
-semi public sex
-straps
-spanking
CW: grief - loss of loved ones (mum, grandma and wife) -mentions of suicide mentions of character death - witch hunts of 1600s - mention of people burner alive and hang - widow MC - abusive ex - almost death experice - guilt - panic attack
November 13, 2025
Milena McKay delivers again!
Rhiannon is an older 'established witch' from a renowned family, returning to the island with secrets. She meets Prudence, the local book shop owner, who is unaware she is a witch herself. They are drawn together by shared past memories and struggle to control their desire.
Such great character chemistry and the detailed storytelling throughout.
Its set on three dragon island home of Headmistress Nox (for those who've read it).
I love the way the author subtly references her other characters from her other books like DeVor, makes it feel familiar, like one big 'McKay Lore'.
The other 'witchy sisters' and side characters like Lachlan are all compelling. Really looking forward to the next in the Crow's Coven series.
Sapphic Witchy Magic.
Loved it, 5 stars and it goes onto my top books of the year list.
Rhiannon is an older 'established witch' from a renowned family, returning to the island with secrets. She meets Prudence, the local book shop owner, who is unaware she is a witch herself. They are drawn together by shared past memories and struggle to control their desire.
Such great character chemistry and the detailed storytelling throughout.
Its set on three dragon island home of Headmistress Nox (for those who've read it).
I love the way the author subtly references her other characters from her other books like DeVor, makes it feel familiar, like one big 'McKay Lore'.
The other 'witchy sisters' and side characters like Lachlan are all compelling. Really looking forward to the next in the Crow's Coven series.
Sapphic Witchy Magic.
Loved it, 5 stars and it goes onto my top books of the year list.
December 9, 2025
I read it in (not recognized )pre-birth labor pain so, my rating is not objective at all.
But I can say:
Atmosphere in this book is phenomenal.
Characters are compelling - MCs and sidekicks
Plot is interesting, did not imagine it going in this direction.
But I can say:
Atmosphere in this book is phenomenal.
Characters are compelling - MCs and sidekicks
Plot is interesting, did not imagine it going in this direction.
December 14, 2025
3.25 stars. I like it and I didn’t like it. I always like Milena’s chapter titles. They are just so clever and give little hints. I loved being back on Dragons. Yes, there was a cameo by the Headmistress. There was rage against the machine that has existed to hurt women. I liked Rhiannon and Prudence, but I found myself more interested in Ceridwen, Deryn, and Seryn and their relationship with Rhiannon. It was way spicier than I expected. Wooo hoooo!
There was a ton going on. Third person, dual storylines, mystery, history, and tons of characters that I was having a hard time following. There were some times I had to go back to the beginning of the chapter to know whose POV I was reading. Another thing I had a difficult time with was that there was really no conversations between Pru and Rhiannon until about 60%. Without the banter and the direct contact between them, it was difficult to feel the sparks that I wanted to feel between them.
Don’t think I didn’t enjoy this. I did! I just didn’t love it.
There was a ton going on. Third person, dual storylines, mystery, history, and tons of characters that I was having a hard time following. There were some times I had to go back to the beginning of the chapter to know whose POV I was reading. Another thing I had a difficult time with was that there was really no conversations between Pru and Rhiannon until about 60%. Without the banter and the direct contact between them, it was difficult to feel the sparks that I wanted to feel between them.
Don’t think I didn’t enjoy this. I did! I just didn’t love it.
December 18, 2025
➥ 4 stars ⋆˚࿔
I had high hopes for this one because not only was it my first Milena McKay book, it was also my very first fantasy book! And let’s just say I picked a great one 💅🏻
Full rtc!
I had high hopes for this one because not only was it my first Milena McKay book, it was also my very first fantasy book! And let’s just say I picked a great one 💅🏻
Full rtc!
November 6, 2025
We’re back on Dragons! This time with a different red head in charge…although, the Headmistress herself does make an appearance 😉
Windburn, is book one of four and brings a new addition to the McKay universe by giving us witches, family secrets, scandal, fated mates and of course, a possum. What more could you possibly want?
4.5⭐️
Windburn, is book one of four and brings a new addition to the McKay universe by giving us witches, family secrets, scandal, fated mates and of course, a possum. What more could you possibly want?
4.5⭐️
November 6, 2025
Milena NEVER disappoints!! The Queen of ice queens, the Queen of age gap, sapphic romance. Probably my favorite author!! I wasn’t sure how she would pull off the whole witch aspect of the characters since her other books don’t have magic. She hit it out of the park.
I love Rhiannon and Pru! Milena is an expert at tension and chemistry. I also loved the side characters. They were more dimensional and had me wanting to know their stories as well!
She said this is her spiciest book and it definitely is! She is always able to write spice scenes with class. There are little Easter Eggs throughout the book and of course Headmistress Nox makes an appearance or two!
While some of the world building can be said to have been done in The Headmistress, Milena does a good job at building the witch aspect of the world in Windburn. I look forward to the next book— learning more and potentially seeing glimpses of Pru and Rhiannon.
I love Rhiannon and Pru! Milena is an expert at tension and chemistry. I also loved the side characters. They were more dimensional and had me wanting to know their stories as well!
She said this is her spiciest book and it definitely is! She is always able to write spice scenes with class. There are little Easter Eggs throughout the book and of course Headmistress Nox makes an appearance or two!
While some of the world building can be said to have been done in The Headmistress, Milena does a good job at building the witch aspect of the world in Windburn. I look forward to the next book— learning more and potentially seeing glimpses of Pru and Rhiannon.
December 9, 2025
Okay, so first of all: I now desperately want to change my government name to Patience Petunia (Patches to friends and family). That is genuinely one of the most beautiful, whimsical names I’ve encountered in my three decades on earth. But it’s also nice to know that my actual name, Abigail, is apparently witch-royalty level common 🤭
Now onto the book itself… *deep breaths*
Windburn definitely had me intrigued from page one. The opening had that instant-hook energy! And the writing? Classic Milena McKay — poetic, moody, full of lush metaphors. It’s that signature prose that feels like slipping into velvet.
But as I kept reading, I realized I wasn’t connecting with the story and the MCs as much as I’d hoped to. I’ve adored McKay’s previous books, so I came in fully expecting to become unhinged about this one too. And while there’s a lot of potential in the mystery, the magic, and the worldbuilding, the combination of heavy metaphors + magical intrigue + puzzling inner monologues started to wear me out. At one point I genuinely had to pause because my brain was like “Ugh, I’m trying, but there is a LOT happening here!”
And maybe because of that, I completely missed the moment when the chemistry between Prudence and Rhiannon was supposed to ignite. Either it wasn’t there yet or I needed more buildup — and I hate that I needed more buildup especially in a McKay book — because she usually delivers age-gap romance like nobody else!
I also found the mystery dragging, and somewhere up to the halfway mark I almost skimmed ahead just to get answers. I wanted to feel invested in the characters and their dynamics, but the constant riddles, layered metaphors, and inner spirals made everything murky. The banter — especially between the Crowhart women — was genuinely witty and fun, but many of the dialogues were just like everyone was speaking in puzzles!
Still, there was one theme that hit me hard: Rhiannon suppressing her full power out of fear and guilt. As someone who’s still closeted at home and at work, that feeling of holding yourself back to stay safe — and the slow, heavy ache that comes with it — was painfully relatable. The book nailed that metaphor for me, whether intentionally or not.
Overall, Windburn is a solid introduction to McKay’s take on witches and magic. There are unanswered questions and loose ends, but enough threads left dangling that I’m curious about where the series goes next. And honestly? The side characters, like the other Crowhart sisters and their aunt Victoria, high-key stole my attention. They feel ripe for deeper, juicier storylines. So yes, I’ll be keeping an eye on Book 2.
— — — — —
Below are the bullet-point notes I took while reading. I’m certain I left out a few when I rewrote them into paragraphs:
Pros
* Strong intrigue right from chapter one
* McKay’s signature lush, poetic prose
* Interesting magical framework and worldbuilding
* The Crowharts are genuinely entertaining and witty - LOVING THEIR ESTRANGED FAMILY DYNAMIC OVER THE ROMANCE?!
* A relatable and emotionally effective theme about hiding your true self!!
* Solid setup for future books in the series…
Cons
* Multiple noticeable typos throughout the book (this pulled me out of the story more than once, what’s happening???) !!!
* Romance and sexual tension lacked buildup for me - why are they suddenly having sex???!
* The mystery plot dragged at times
* Some scenes felt overly metaphorical, making the story harder to follow (I learned a couple of new words though)
* Character motivations AND emotional beats were sometimes confusing or unclear - like what just happened?! I had to reread that!!
* Chemistry between the leads is not quite landing for meeee - help!! 💔
* Dialogue occasionally felt too riddle-like, making character connections harder to grasp
Now onto the book itself… *deep breaths*
Windburn definitely had me intrigued from page one. The opening had that instant-hook energy! And the writing? Classic Milena McKay — poetic, moody, full of lush metaphors. It’s that signature prose that feels like slipping into velvet.
But as I kept reading, I realized I wasn’t connecting with the story and the MCs as much as I’d hoped to. I’ve adored McKay’s previous books, so I came in fully expecting to become unhinged about this one too. And while there’s a lot of potential in the mystery, the magic, and the worldbuilding, the combination of heavy metaphors + magical intrigue + puzzling inner monologues started to wear me out. At one point I genuinely had to pause because my brain was like “Ugh, I’m trying, but there is a LOT happening here!”
And maybe because of that, I completely missed the moment when the chemistry between Prudence and Rhiannon was supposed to ignite. Either it wasn’t there yet or I needed more buildup — and I hate that I needed more buildup especially in a McKay book — because she usually delivers age-gap romance like nobody else!
I also found the mystery dragging, and somewhere up to the halfway mark I almost skimmed ahead just to get answers. I wanted to feel invested in the characters and their dynamics, but the constant riddles, layered metaphors, and inner spirals made everything murky. The banter — especially between the Crowhart women — was genuinely witty and fun, but many of the dialogues were just like everyone was speaking in puzzles!
Still, there was one theme that hit me hard: Rhiannon suppressing her full power out of fear and guilt. As someone who’s still closeted at home and at work, that feeling of holding yourself back to stay safe — and the slow, heavy ache that comes with it — was painfully relatable. The book nailed that metaphor for me, whether intentionally or not.
Overall, Windburn is a solid introduction to McKay’s take on witches and magic. There are unanswered questions and loose ends, but enough threads left dangling that I’m curious about where the series goes next. And honestly? The side characters, like the other Crowhart sisters and their aunt Victoria, high-key stole my attention. They feel ripe for deeper, juicier storylines. So yes, I’ll be keeping an eye on Book 2.
— — — — —
Below are the bullet-point notes I took while reading. I’m certain I left out a few when I rewrote them into paragraphs:
Pros
* Strong intrigue right from chapter one
* McKay’s signature lush, poetic prose
* Interesting magical framework and worldbuilding
* The Crowharts are genuinely entertaining and witty - LOVING THEIR ESTRANGED FAMILY DYNAMIC OVER THE ROMANCE?!
* A relatable and emotionally effective theme about hiding your true self!!
* Solid setup for future books in the series…
Cons
* Multiple noticeable typos throughout the book (this pulled me out of the story more than once, what’s happening???) !!!
* Romance and sexual tension lacked buildup for me - why are they suddenly having sex???!
* The mystery plot dragged at times
* Some scenes felt overly metaphorical, making the story harder to follow (I learned a couple of new words though)
* Character motivations AND emotional beats were sometimes confusing or unclear - like what just happened?! I had to reread that!!
* Chemistry between the leads is not quite landing for meeee - help!! 💔
* Dialogue occasionally felt too riddle-like, making character connections harder to grasp
October 30, 2025
Where do I start. You say a sapphic romance with witches?!? I say, YESSSSS! And this is only book one 🤯. I’m already anticipating the next in the series. Get ready for Easter eggs galore that bring back sweet memories of past characters and stories!
McKay has a way with words and weaves them into beautiful, heartfelt stories about WLW. This book jas lesbian, bi and gay male rep along with subtext relating to current events throughout the story. Sometimes the parallels are difficult to swallow as I live in this nightmare occurring in the US right now. That said, I was absorbed as I read the story of Rhiannon and Pru (MCs) and the Crow sisters. I appreciated the historical references to The Burning Times and hold those that were murdered during that time for simply existing.
The chemistry between the Rhiannon and Pru is pure fire 🔥. I believe this is the spiciest book I have read by McKay thus far 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. As they explore their attraction and seemingly karmic connection, events draw them closer together. Each with their own history and wounds from previous relationships they stumble, yet continue to be drawn back to each other and slowly open to the truth before them.
There are twists and turns and surprises as the story unfolds. Some I guessed and some took me by surprise. Always appreciated. This is a must read as we close out 2025 and I wait, with anticipation, for the audiobook and book number 2 in the series, Firewild! Well done McKay! Thank you for sharing your stories with us.
I received an arc from the author and leave my review voluntarily.
McKay has a way with words and weaves them into beautiful, heartfelt stories about WLW. This book jas lesbian, bi and gay male rep along with subtext relating to current events throughout the story. Sometimes the parallels are difficult to swallow as I live in this nightmare occurring in the US right now. That said, I was absorbed as I read the story of Rhiannon and Pru (MCs) and the Crow sisters. I appreciated the historical references to The Burning Times and hold those that were murdered during that time for simply existing.
The chemistry between the Rhiannon and Pru is pure fire 🔥. I believe this is the spiciest book I have read by McKay thus far 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. As they explore their attraction and seemingly karmic connection, events draw them closer together. Each with their own history and wounds from previous relationships they stumble, yet continue to be drawn back to each other and slowly open to the truth before them.
There are twists and turns and surprises as the story unfolds. Some I guessed and some took me by surprise. Always appreciated. This is a must read as we close out 2025 and I wait, with anticipation, for the audiobook and book number 2 in the series, Firewild! Well done McKay! Thank you for sharing your stories with us.
I received an arc from the author and leave my review voluntarily.
December 8, 2025
3.5⭐️This was an okay read. I found several typos and had difficulty knowing who speaking at times. Also too much insta love in this one. I needed more personality development and less suggestion.
November 11, 2025
This book is basically Bridgerton meets sapphic witches. And it’s not done well. Typos abound. The magic system is not flushed out, nor EVER fully explained. We don’t find out what the will says that has Rhy stuck on this island in the first place until the last two chapters. Characters are laughing and rolling on the floor and I didn’t read a joke. There is talk about fated mates and the question of “if you are truly choosing this person,” which is never returned to. In fact they NEVER talk about being mates!Instead we are thrown around by a messy plot with pop in character.
This book was all over the place. There were bits I really enjoyed. But, then I would spend so much time trying to decipher simple sentences that the author insists on scrambling into something she thinks in heightened. It’s not. It’s a distraction.
This book was all over the place. There were bits I really enjoyed. But, then I would spend so much time trying to decipher simple sentences that the author insists on scrambling into something she thinks in heightened. It’s not. It’s a distraction.
Read
November 20, 2025DNF at 53%
I've given this book more than a fair chance at winning me over and for some strange reason it's just not happening. I'm not going to force myself to finish it and I'm not going to punish myself for wondering why I don't want to.
The characters just do not make sense to me, their exchanges (or lack thereof) are weird af and there's not enough information to make me feel like it's fine that they don't know each other and don't speak but just fuck and have this weird power play dynamic going that went from 0 to 100 in like 30 seconds.
I've given this book more than a fair chance at winning me over and for some strange reason it's just not happening. I'm not going to force myself to finish it and I'm not going to punish myself for wondering why I don't want to.
The characters just do not make sense to me, their exchanges (or lack thereof) are weird af and there's not enough information to make me feel like it's fine that they don't know each other and don't speak but just fuck and have this weird power play dynamic going that went from 0 to 100 in like 30 seconds.
November 5, 2025
4,5 ⭐️
November 14, 2025
DNFed at 62% I have not put a book down in years, usually I can power through, but this one is just killing me.
I WANTED to like this so badly but it was just sooooo bad. The plot line was SO confusing and so difficult to follow, I was confused for at least the first 5 chapters.
Also, the development between the characters felt like it happened out of nowhere, it had the makings of a slow-burn… but they forgot to let the audience in on any of it. So it was just… they’re strangers with a tense relationship… now they would die for each other.
Seems people either love this or hate it and I hate that I’m in the second category :(
I WANTED to like this so badly but it was just sooooo bad. The plot line was SO confusing and so difficult to follow, I was confused for at least the first 5 chapters.
Also, the development between the characters felt like it happened out of nowhere, it had the makings of a slow-burn… but they forgot to let the audience in on any of it. So it was just… they’re strangers with a tense relationship… now they would die for each other.
Seems people either love this or hate it and I hate that I’m in the second category :(
November 20, 2025
Windburn is a great start to a new series from Milena McKay. It's got her signature Ice Queen (and another redhead, yes please and thank you), a delightful younger paramour, family secrets (on both sides), and an interesting cast of supporting characters.
It did feel a bit...odd, I guess?...to be back on Dragons Island with magic, given that there wasn't any in The Headmistress/Magdalene Nox, but the plot was engaging, and I liked the magic system and elemental connections. Rhiannon, a member of the town's founding family who grew up in Crow's Nest, has reluctantly returned home to an inherited (and somewhat derelict) shop. She's struggling with some inner demons and a lot of guilt as she works to turn the location into something of her own. Prudence, a member of the town's other prominent family and the mayor's daughter, owns the bookshop next door, and there's an immediate connection between the two.
I loved both Prudence and Rhiannon. They were interesting, multi-dimensional characters, with realistic struggles (well, other than the magical ones) that were handled well, although at times I felt like I wanted a bit more romance between them. Rhiannon's family—an aunt, older sister, and younger twin sisters—played a large part in Rhiannon's development, and they were wonderful. There was some family tension, but the love between them was clear, although we didn't get to see much of twin Deryn as she lives out of state.
There was a lot going on in the story, but the biggest issues the two face were satisfyingly resolved, with some mysteries left open to (presumably) be unraveled in future stories. I'm looking forward to reading more and seeing how things go for the rest of the sisters as we get more.
Now for the one big (to me) negative. Before I say it I will add the caveat that if this had been an ARC I would have assumed that this would have been fixed prior to publication, but I read the public release, so...there are a LOT of errors in this book. Typos, missing or incorrect punctuation, that type of thing. I know it happens, and there will always, always be something that gets missed, but this wasn't just one or two things; this was pervasive to the point of distraction, and I really wanted to break out my red pen. I actually considered rounding my rating down because of it, but ultimately decided against it because 1: I really did enjoy the storytelling, and 2: I think I can be a little harsher than some when it comes to this, so I don't know how much of my frustration was just the proofreader in me rearing her head. Regardless, it's still worth the read.
It did feel a bit...odd, I guess?...to be back on Dragons Island with magic, given that there wasn't any in The Headmistress/Magdalene Nox, but the plot was engaging, and I liked the magic system and elemental connections. Rhiannon, a member of the town's founding family who grew up in Crow's Nest, has reluctantly returned home to an inherited (and somewhat derelict) shop. She's struggling with some inner demons and a lot of guilt as she works to turn the location into something of her own. Prudence, a member of the town's other prominent family and the mayor's daughter, owns the bookshop next door, and there's an immediate connection between the two.
I loved both Prudence and Rhiannon. They were interesting, multi-dimensional characters, with realistic struggles (well, other than the magical ones) that were handled well, although at times I felt like I wanted a bit more romance between them. Rhiannon's family—an aunt, older sister, and younger twin sisters—played a large part in Rhiannon's development, and they were wonderful. There was some family tension, but the love between them was clear, although we didn't get to see much of twin Deryn as she lives out of state.
There was a lot going on in the story, but the biggest issues the two face were satisfyingly resolved, with some mysteries left open to (presumably) be unraveled in future stories. I'm looking forward to reading more and seeing how things go for the rest of the sisters as we get more.
Now for the one big (to me) negative. Before I say it I will add the caveat that if this had been an ARC I would have assumed that this would have been fixed prior to publication, but I read the public release, so...there are a LOT of errors in this book. Typos, missing or incorrect punctuation, that type of thing. I know it happens, and there will always, always be something that gets missed, but this wasn't just one or two things; this was pervasive to the point of distraction, and I really wanted to break out my red pen. I actually considered rounding my rating down because of it, but ultimately decided against it because 1: I really did enjoy the storytelling, and 2: I think I can be a little harsher than some when it comes to this, so I don't know how much of my frustration was just the proofreader in me rearing her head. Regardless, it's still worth the read.
November 1, 2025
magic, mystery, spic and laughs. yes, please!!
Milena McKay delivers another adorable sapphic romance novel, with all the things we love about her writing style with some added mystery and intrigue!
The first book in the Crows Coven series, we get to meet the clan and the townsfolk, while falling in love with our main characters, and some of the side characters (Lachlan, what a darling!!) and the pets (hello, Patches and Boleyn).
If you know McKay’s writing style, you know the way she can invoke the senses with her imagery and she does this perfectly in Windburn too.
For fans of her work, she’s also woven into the story—too many count—nods to some of her other books. And there’s a guest appearance from the beloved Mrs Nox.
The chemistry and magic (pun intended) of the love story will keep you reading to the end as a good romance novel does. And once you’re finished you’ll be left wondering about all the twists and turns of the suspense yet to come in Book 2. Thankfully it’s less than six months away!
Milena McKay delivers another adorable sapphic romance novel, with all the things we love about her writing style with some added mystery and intrigue!
The first book in the Crows Coven series, we get to meet the clan and the townsfolk, while falling in love with our main characters, and some of the side characters (Lachlan, what a darling!!) and the pets (hello, Patches and Boleyn).
If you know McKay’s writing style, you know the way she can invoke the senses with her imagery and she does this perfectly in Windburn too.
For fans of her work, she’s also woven into the story—too many count—nods to some of her other books. And there’s a guest appearance from the beloved Mrs Nox.
The chemistry and magic (pun intended) of the love story will keep you reading to the end as a good romance novel does. And once you’re finished you’ll be left wondering about all the twists and turns of the suspense yet to come in Book 2. Thankfully it’s less than six months away!
November 1, 2025
Absolutely worth the way
Was this one and only book read october 2025 ?
Yes and yes .
Would recommend it yes it has fastastic word building lore and it was joy to read!
I can't wait to delne in this word more and as series continues.
Was this one and only book read october 2025 ?
Yes and yes .
Would recommend it yes it has fastastic word building lore and it was joy to read!
I can't wait to delne in this word more and as series continues.
November 7, 2025
Uuuugggghhhhhhh!!! I wanted to love this book so bad but in the end it just wasn’t there for me and I’m mad..mad at this book, mad at what it could’ve been and mad that I wanted it to be more. Normally I see this author and am immediately hooked but this time I couldn’t connect with the characters and it was hard to figure out why they would do certain things or act a certain way. I could tell the author was going for this great mystery arc about the past and the magic but it felt more confusing than mystery. Finally around 53% you can put enough together to figure out some of the story but by that point your just ready for the characters to give you a straight answer and to stop talking in fucking riddles to each other. I don’t know, parts of this book just felt very disjointed and the word and grammatical errors really threw me out of the story a few times. I simple read through edit would catch most of them. I liked our two main characters but didn’t really buy their chemistry as fast as the author brought them together. I don’t know, it’s an ok book..I might read the next one, just a little bummed right now.
November 17, 2025
You can't go wrong reading a book by Milena McKay and this one doesn't disappoint! Rhiannon Crowhart comes back home to Dragons Island and Crow's Nest! She's inherited the Artelier from her deceased wife. She's also from the Crowhart clan of women (witches). Next door to the Artelier is the towns bookstore, owned and run by Prudence Fowler.
Centuries ago, the Fowler men did everything they could to name the Crowhart women of being witches (and many more innocent women), and put them to death in horrible ways. But one female Fowler risked her life to save Elizabeth Crowhart, only to perish.
Now, back to the present, Prudence finds Rhiannon fascinating.
This is a hugely interesting and sizzling story! A FAVORITE! Worthy of more than 5 stars!
Centuries ago, the Fowler men did everything they could to name the Crowhart women of being witches (and many more innocent women), and put them to death in horrible ways. But one female Fowler risked her life to save Elizabeth Crowhart, only to perish.
Now, back to the present, Prudence finds Rhiannon fascinating.
This is a hugely interesting and sizzling story! A FAVORITE! Worthy of more than 5 stars!
November 22, 2025
This book was beautiful! Between the plot that had me sucked in from the beginning as well as a heartbreaking romance, I never wanted to put it down and was so sad when it ended. Milena McKay put me into the town of Crow’s Nest like I was one of the visiting tourists. I loved learning about the Crowheart’s magic and history with the Fowlers, with all of it bringing Prudence and Rhiannon together. The writing in the book was so immersive, it made me FEEL everything the characters felt and SEE everything they saw. Milena McKay is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
December 10, 2025
A unique paranormal romance
I went into this one a little skeptical, unsure of how exactly the paranormal aspects of the story would play out. Suffice to say I was very pleasantly surprised that it all not only tied into the very real history of the Salem witch trials, but intertwined with the story and characters flawlessly.
Both of the main characters are lovable in their own ways, and when they come together sparks fly and the spicy scenes are a masterclass in writing such scenes.
I went into this one a little skeptical, unsure of how exactly the paranormal aspects of the story would play out. Suffice to say I was very pleasantly surprised that it all not only tied into the very real history of the Salem witch trials, but intertwined with the story and characters flawlessly.
Both of the main characters are lovable in their own ways, and when they come together sparks fly and the spicy scenes are a masterclass in writing such scenes.
November 4, 2025
Breathtakingly awesome
This book is Breathtakingly awesome, a amust read. The heartache, love, magic, family and historical representation are astounding. In this story we are visited with past MC'S we love and hopefully a few new ones to come. Well done Ms Milena McKay well done.
This book is Breathtakingly awesome, a amust read. The heartache, love, magic, family and historical representation are astounding. In this story we are visited with past MC'S we love and hopefully a few new ones to come. Well done Ms Milena McKay well done.
November 14, 2025
2,4/5 ☆
it’s just not for me
it’s just not for me
November 8, 2025
I’m disappointed that I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would. But I did not feel the connection between Rhiannon and Prudence at all. Their first moments seemed rushed and too confusing. Everyone was crying all the time. The “who did this to you” scene had a potential, but it was poorly executed. Everything seemed rushed, yet it wasn’t… it was hard to follow without being confused why a certain character is acting the way they were acting. I’m sad, because I love other McKay’s books, but this one was not it. The relationship between main characters was so weird, because what do you mean you are living together but barely even spoke to each other? It was a no for me. I hope the second book will be better. This one lacked the depth and slow burn Milena always managed to pull off.
Read
November 8, 2025DNF at 37%. I wish I could care about these characters but I don’t. This is not what I was expecting. 🥴
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