The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a novel that combines several well-established literary genres and tropes, inhabiting a niche in the greater world of magical realism. The modern landscape of the broader fantasy genre holds a spectrum of fiction from lighthearted magical realism set in modern, real-world locations to serious high fantasy in completely fictional universes, as inspired by classic fantasy titles like The Hobbit. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches falls on the lighter end of the spectrum, its setting even more grounded in the real world than its witchy predecessors like the Harry Potter series. Although both these titles take place in modern-day England, where non-magical humans are often hostile toward magic and magic users, Mika’s universe lacks an alternate world (like Hogwarts in the Harry Potter books) in which magic can be practiced openly and in groups. Mika’s magical lessons, instead, take place in the much smaller, cozier setting of Nowhere House. In addition, this novel features several common fantasy character tropes. Primrose, for example, embodies the “Old Crone” trope as a stern yet respected source of wisdom for Mika and the other witches of the Society.

The setting of Nowhere House allows the novel to dip its toes into the waters of domestic fiction and experiment with well-established tropes like found family and the sunny-gloomy romance dynamic. As Mika steps into the role of caretaker and mentor for Rosetta, Terracotta, and Altamira, the novel begins to resemble classic domestic fiction titles like Little Women, because the three young girls learn lessons about magic, conflict resolution, and trust. The idyllic landscape of gardens surrounding Nowhere House’s lived-in and comfortable interior contribute to the cozy atmosphere, as in other domestic fiction works, like those by Anne Tyler. In addition, the gathering at the Nowhere House of eight people who aren’t blood relatives gives the novel space to explore the trope of found family, which is common in both domestic fiction and fantasy titles. The presence of three generations of people in the same house and functioning as a family despite—or perhaps because of—their different and difficult backgrounds follows the well-established trope of family being those you surround yourself with—those you choose to love.

Meanwhile, the romance between Mika and Jamie, which the close quarters of Nowhere House supports, embodies the popular romance trope of grumpy versus sunshine. Jamie, the brooding, mistrustful, and “devastatingly handsome” librarian, is both a stark contrast and a complement to Mika’s sunshiny, optimistic, ever-cheerful persona as the novel’s protagonist. The narrative explores their unfolding romantic chemistry primarily through their contrasting perspectives on life and their struggle to trust one another. The grumpy versus sunshine romantic trope is nothing new but has gained popularity in the modern, millennial-oriented romance novel landscape through bestselling novels like It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey and Beach Read by Emily Henry. Aligning with the established parameters of the trope, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches affirms that opposites attract: The optimistic female lead brings out the best in the pessimistic romantic interest and vice versa.