These Witches Don’t Burn

Gr 9 Up–Hannah is a young elemental witch living in Salem, MA, with her coven. After having an encounter with a Blood Witch while on a trip to New York, she keeps the secret from her coven as they try to live a life of secrecy and blend in, until evil forces arrive to disrupt the peace and threaten the existence of the elementals. Hannah must revisit old foes and protect the ones she loves even if that means losing herself. This book includes representation of characters along the LGBTQ+ spectrum. The magic system is developed through mythology and creates an original formula for the characters. Shocking plot twists and a mystery will hold readers’ attention without giving away too much. There are moments at the beginning where the pacing is tedious, but it establishes a foundation for the story. There is a heavy focus on the romance between two characters that overshadows part of the story; however, it shows the affairs of teenagers and the vulnerability of the human side of the witches. This is a quick read; the writing isn’t complex but is dynamic in its own way.