Darn that Jenn McKinlay anyways. I just finished Witches of Dubious Origin and I already want a sequel. I don’t even know if this is a standalone or not, but a book featuring a librarian who is learning at the Museum of Literature’s special collection, Books of Dubious Origin (BODO), definitely has possibilities for sequels.
Zoe Ziakas knows her grandmother and mother were witches, but when she was fourteen she promised her mother she would never practice witchcraft. Instead, she’s quite content to hide away as a librarian at the Wessex Public Library in Connecticut. However, a month after her mother’s unexpected death, a grimoire appears in an envelope addressed to Zoe. Zoe’s close friend Agatha is a kitchen witch who refers her to the Museum of Literature in New York City for answers.
Despite her eagerness to stay in Wessex, she visits the library where she’s told the grimoire is a powerful book that was sealed by a blood oath, and only a member of the Donadieu family can open it. That’s the family name of a French coven of witches known for their gift of necromancy, communicating and even raising the dead. Zoe wants nothing to do with magic, and returns home, only to receive several visitors. Onte is a woman who claims only Zoe can send her back to the grave because Zoe’s grandmother brought her back from the dead. Along with a dead Viking who attacks the house looking for the grimoire, the two visitors force a reluctant Zoe to agree to learn to translate and use the grimoire.
As she fails lessons from three powerful witches and mages, she’s attracted to Jasper Griffin who protects her, and assists her. But, all her new acquaintances will have to join forces with Zoe to discover the secrets of the grimoire, fight a powerful witch, and fight the dead who are brought back to kill her. Dead bodies, ghouls and ghostly pirates are now just in a day’s work.
Witches of Dubious Origin is a powerful adventure of found family and women learning to use their powers. There’s magic, a touch of romance with a sexy mage, a wonderful raven, and a library to die for, along with a librarian willing to fight for knowledge, family and friends. Of course I want a sequel!
Jenn McKinlay’s website is https://jennmckinlay.com/
Witches of Dubious Origin by Jenn McKinlay. Ace, 2025. 384p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley from the publisher, through NetGalley, with no expectation of a positive review.
I already own this! Just haven’t gotten to it yet in the big pile. You’ve made me even more eager to read it now, Lesa.
I liked it so much, Kim, that I. bought a copy after reading it. IF there’s a sequel (big if), I want to read it again beforehand. If not, I’ll still want to reread it someday.
What a great title! I’ll have to check it out
Great book, too, Gina.
I have it on hold at the library.
I hope you like it, Sandy.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Lesa. As I mentioned before, I’m first on the holds list at the library for this book and can’t wait to read it.
It’s terrific, Margie.
Lesa, I was lucky enough to attend a recent event at the Poisoned Pen with Jenn telling about this book. As far as I can remember, she did say that there would be (or maybe likely would be) a sequel. Haven’t started it yet, but will in days to come. I got to go to two author events at the Pen and loved it. We were on a trip to Phoenix for a week. My copy is still winging it’s way to me as I bought enough books to decide to ship them rather than putting them in my suitcase. Ha! Good excuse, right? Glad you enjoyed it.
I hope there’s a sequel, Kay. I’m glad you were able to get to a couple events while you were in Phoenix. The events are fun, and Jenn is so much fun. Now, I’ll keep my fingers crossed that it does wee enough that ACE wants a sequel.
Terrific review! I’m reading this right now, thanks to you, and loving it.
Oh, I’m glad you’re loving it, Kaye! I loved it enough to buy a copy AFTER I read it.
I understand. THAT makes for a very special book, indeed. ❤
Jackie says it sounds a little like Darynda Jones’s Betwixt and Between series, that features witches. a dead (not dead) witch grandmother in the basement, etc.
But, is there a librarian in that series, Jeff?