"An Ancient Witch's Guide to Modern Dating" by Cecilia Edward is a charming cozy fantasy that combines two of my favorite tropes: witches and time travel. The premise promised a great tale, and boy, did it deliver!
The book follows Thorn Scarhart, a thirty-nine-year-old witch looking for love in the 17th century—not an easy task at any age or period. After the disappearance of her sister and the loss of her mother, she is all alone, except for her familiar, a cat named Bandit. Despite her arsenal of powerful love potions, none bring her the love she seeks. But when one of her potions backfires, Thorn is hurled 350 years into the future—into the 21st century, no less—with her cat and a frog in tow. There, she discovers both the perks of modern life and the perils of online dating. With the help of Meg, a museum curator, and her veterinarian brother, Walls, Thorn tries to find her footing—and maybe even her perfect match.
I loved this book! Witches, potions, and cats galore graced its pages. And there was even a bit of mystery revolving around cats. I especially loved how the cats treated their owners as mere servants—because, let’s be honest, no one really owns a cat. The relationships between the felines and their so-called "owners" were delightful, and the main characters felt so real that it was easy to connect with them, especially Thorn.
Speaking of Thorn, I loved that she was in her late thirties and hadn’t given up on love. However, I didn't like the way she was treated by her mother and sister. The meaning behind her name was heart-wrenching, and the way her treatment was dismissed didn’t sit right with me. I also felt her mother and sister were forgiven a bit too easily for their actions.
The book explores themes of family, toxic relationships, self-esteem, changing oneself to meet men’s expectations, personal growth, friendship, and love. You can’t help but root for Thorn, with her unusual personality and strong character development. At first, she tries to change her looks and personality to fit men’s expectations, but she eventually realizes that isn’t the way to go.
The writing was smooth and easy to read, making it effortless to get lost in the story. The author’s style perfectly balanced humor, heart, and magic, creating a book that was both entertaining and engaging from start to finish.
Overall, I found this to be a delightful cozy rom-com/fantasy. I enjoyed the book immensely and highly recommend it. Fans of feel-good books filled with hilarity, heart, and slow-burn romance will surely love this one. It has all the ingredients of an excellent read: a fun plot, colorful characters, a fabulous setting, and a romance that makes for a warm, fuzzy experience. Full stars from me!
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* For more info about the book: "An Ancient Witch's Guide to Modern Dating" by Cecilia Edward
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