The October Witches features two sides of a family the Merlyns and the Morgans which had me chuckling when I saw this book for the spooky season.

I thought the idea of witches only having access to magic for just one month a year was an interesting one and one that I hadn't ever seen before. There's also the idea of how magic, no matter how long you have it comes with the responsibilities and expectations that can often feel heavy and our main character Clemmie feels overwhelmed as October first arrives with the chiming of the clock. Whilst not magic, this is something readers both young and old may relate to when facing a new responsibility.

I liked the realities of Clemmie's life - she's only twelve and magic is something she's got no personal experience of and is learning as she goes which often means she has no idea what to do. I liked that this meant she's just a girl with magic, it doesn't make her invincible like can happen in other books. It's a unique take on the magical experience and life for fictional witches - we often have the new-to-magic witch or the incapable one but it's rare to get the wary albeit curious one and Clemmie's wonderful for just being a child and having natural reactions to the chaos around her.

I did struggle to keep up with the plethora of aunts in the Merlyn family (and Morgan too) because they're all chaotic and sometimes it's easy to forget who is doing what which is necessary. What is good is the distinctive differences between the two matriarchal families, and whilst other readers may disagree, the calmer Morgan family did appeal because you can almost hear the cacophony of the Merlyn family when reading.

A pet hate is the usage of 'young hag' - I don't know why but it made me wince, there are other less harsh names for witches. But it's a minor and personal dislike and some readers may giggle instead. I do love how the younger characters are themselves unique, and their reactions to circumstances are very accurate for their age from the silent tantrums, to the refusal to get up and the sarcasm that goes over the heads of their elders and I giggled a few times as I could imagine my children acting that way.

This is a great book for the season, with the aforementioned plot of being denied their rite and sense of being. I wished for more magic, and I think the children reading would lie to see it too but it also has you wondering what else they're capable of.

If able, have a hot chocolate, and a warm blanket and drift away into chaos (or be thrown in) to Clemmie's life as the youngest witch in a coven of Chaos.

A great middle grade witchy book. It had a slow start but if you can stick with it, it definitely gets better, but still not amazing for me. I love the fact it’s based on autumn and this 100% gives full autumn/ witchy and obviously October vibes which was exactly what I wanted. Definitely a short easy book but nothing that’s thrilled me and kept my interest

This book starts off very slowly. The characters are quirky and full of mischief. The ending is very good. A good book

A really good middle grade book about Halloween and young witches. Perfect for older children that are interested in spooky season

Very much enjoyed this middle grade book. It gave me all the nostalgic vibes of being a young girl, looking forward to the spooky season. I wish this book had been in my school library when I was a girl as its just the kind of thing I would have been drawn to. Greatly atmospheric and has really got me in the mood for autumn.

Loved this middle grade witchy book. I read it in October and it was full of autumn/ witchy vibes which was exactly what I wanted. I hope we get more books with these characters

A wonderful and gripping story about coming of age (in the witchy sense), the importance of family and what a difference having both sides of a story can make.

Beautifully written, I connected with the characters and loved the cuteness that cushioned the blows. Although a middle grade book I was still gripped by the story and had to know what happened next! A delightful autumn read with a great message to stay with a young reader long after the last page is finished.

I think I went into this in the wrong mood. I wanted something warm and cosy with nice autumnal vibes. Which in a lot of way this was, but I would have liked a smaller adventure. A witch getting used to her powers, not a huge war between the Merlyns and the Morgans.

The actual story was very good. I loved the feelings of family it invokes as well as the unlikely alliances. I loved the sense of hope in the bonds of friendship that it brought up. Also Bobby. Bobby was perfect and I want a Bobby of my very own.

In all, it wasn't what I was looking for but it was still a good book. Perfect for anyone looking for action and adventure and high stakes. Recommended to drink with a nice warm mug of soup by you. Pumpkin flavour optional.

What a sweet magical read this was! Bursting with family intrigue and heartfelt feelings, this is a lovely witchy adventure that feels really cosy even though it’s quite exciting. I loved the concept of magic that only works in October, and Clemmie’s family is endearingly chaotic and very well-written. A really lovely read if you’re looking for something atmospheric without actually being scary – it would suit fans of Stephanie Burgis and James E Nicol very much.

A very interesting take on magic and witches. An ideal autumnal read with just the right amount of spookiness for middle grade readers. I enjoyed the nods to a certain mythology too.

4 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining

October is the time for magic. Clemmie loves and dreads it. As a young witch, this October could be the time for the stars to descend on her for the first time. But magic comes with its share of responsibilities. Clemmie spent twelve years knowing how magic makes her eccentric aunts messy.
However, things seem to be much more complex and dangerous this time. Clemmie’s aunts want their magic to last beyond October, and so do the Morgans, but for different reasons. What starts as a Merlyn obsession to live as a witch turns into a life-threatening situation.
Meanwhile, Clemmie is still not sure how her magic works or if she can even use it. But it’s time for Clemmie to step up and accept her gift. Will she know what and how to do to save her family? Can Clemmie be the witch she was born to be?
The story comes from Clemmie’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
The story lands us directly in the middle of a magical mess at the beginning. It’s a bit slow to take off but goes full throttle from around 25-30%.
The mess, however, continues throughout. It is cute, annoying, eye-roll-worthy (even for the young hags), and carefree.
Clemmie is a twelve-year-old and sounds like one throughout the book. I like how she has magic but doesn’t know what to do with it. She isn’t a superhero and doesn’t pretend to be.
The aunts are quirky, loud, and full of energy (a little too much, but that’s who they are). The contrast between the Merlyns and Morgans comes out very well.
The kids (young hags) have strong personalities but are still kids with insecurities, doubts, and vulnerabilities.
The climax is super cool. It’s high action with emotions and humor interwoven together. The combination works rather well and creates a visual treat for readers.
While there’s enough history and lore, there’s no information about the whats and whys. Logical questions have no answer. You’ll enjoy this more if you go with the flow. Though I wouldn’t mind a few answers.
Not sure if there will be a sequel because things tie up well enough, but there is potential for another book or two as the kids grow. I’d be interested to read those.

To summarize, The October Witch is a delightful read and a perfect choice for October. It is emotional yet humorous, magical yet messy, and, of course, super cute.
Thank you, NetGalley and UCLan Publishing, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

The family, and therefore the book, is very chaotic. There seemed to be endless aunts and I couldn't really tell them apart until at least halfway through the book. Clemmie isn't much like the rest of her family, she seems to be the only sensible one which seems to make her the misfit. It's also a bit of a lonely life, not being able to mix with non-magical people.
I had a hard time understanding how the girls trusted the other witches and this reduced my enjoyment of the book. However, the epic battle at the end is pretty cool and I liked how it concluded.

I typically don't read children's books, but I'm making more of an effort to read them so I can have a better awareness of the market at work. This was a great one to start with!

The October Witches follows Clem, a young witch experiencing her first time with magic. Coming from a family of witches, Clem has watched every woman in her family grow and play with her magic. But due to an ancient curse on their family, they can only access their powers during the month of October every year. But when they try to experiment with making their magic permanent, it goes horribly wrong. Can Clem save her family from mortal danger and restore their magic on her very first October?

A very wholesome kid's book! The humour was amazing, so quick and dry. I found the characters surprisingly deep and nuanced, each with their own clear intentions and backstory. All the witches were wacky and weird in their own unique way. I loved them. I'm absolutely looking forward to reading more that this author writes!

Every October two opposing concerns of Witches receive their powers and by Halloween their powers disappear. For Clemmie it's her first year receiving powers.

No October witch has a good first October, last year her cousin ended up trapped in the Arctic!

This October is no different, when the feud between the two cobwebs heats up, it's up to the four younger members of the covens to join together to prevent a magical war.

This was such a great book to read in October, there's a lot of lore, history and family secrets contained in the pages with an important message of sisterhood throughout.

It also has a beautiful cover that's looks embroidered.

I really liked the premise of this book and the title is great. I was engrossed for the first few chapters and then I struggled to stay interested in the story. I think I struggled with the characters. I think I will try and give it another read at some point in the future if I get chance.

This was an entertaining read and absolutely perfect for Autumn - it is full of witches, magic and Halloween- What is not to love!

One thing I always appreciate in a book is the atmosphere that is created and The October Witches was pretty good at creating a spooky but fun one. I absolutely loved the character names, the Morgans and the Merlyns, a very clear homage to Arthurian legend. Clemmie is great and I enjoyed going on the journey of using her magic for the first time.

A very cosy middle grade fantasy. I really liked it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

I've really enjoyed reading 'The October Witches'. This is a fun, middle grade read about a family of witches and their rivals as they try to harness their magical powers past the month of October. Told from the point of view of Clemmie, a young hag who has her first October when she discovers her magic. This is a fun read as the Merlyn family disguise their magical ways in October and try to harness their power into a giant, organically grown pumpkin. There is an ongoing fued between the Merlyns and I've really enjoyed reading 'The October Witches'. This is a fun, middle grade read about a family of witches and their rivals as they try to harness their magical powers past the month of October. Told from the point of view of Clemmie, a young hag who has her first October when she discovers her magic. This is a fun read as the Merlyn family disguise their magical ways in October and try to harness their power into a giant, organically grown pumpkin. There is an ongoing fued between the Merlyns and Morgans, whose family have separated and split from one another centuries ago. Are the Morgans really what they seem dressed in their pure white robes? A fun story about family, love, friendship and magic as the Merlyns and Morgans fight against each other.

There's so much to love in this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great world builing, lovely characters adn story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Halloween, witches, exploding pumpkins. Merlin, Morgan, Pendragon. This book has it all. So impressed with the writing style, I finished it in one sitting. Doesn't feel like you are reading children's fiction at all. The story is great. A fantastic Halloween read!

The October Witches is about two families of witches, the Morgans and the Merlyns. They descended from the original Morgan and Merlyn, who fought each other for power. This resulted in their families only being able to harness their magical powers for one month a year, October. This October, Clemmie (Merlyn) is nervous about finally using her magic for her first October. She has spent the last 12 years watching her mum and aunties use their magic and of course, the mess that comes alongside it.

I really enjoyed this book, though it is completely different to what I normally read! It was fun to get to know the Merlyn family, each with their own unique type of witch. This book is the perfect Autumnal read, especially for kids who want to experience a bit of magic this Halloween or those of us who don't like horror.