Witches of Dubious Origin by Jenn McKinlay Book Review
If you’re new here, you may not know about my reading habits. Something that I’m very fond of is seasonal reading. So when I was given the chance to read and review Witches of Dubious Origin by Jenn McKinlay I was very excited because it sounded like the perfect fall read. I found this story to be very delightful. It’s a great combination of magic, mystery, and coziness. So keep reading for my full Witches of Dubious Origin book review.
And if you enjoyed this post, you may enjoy this post about romantasy books to read.
What is Witches of Dubious Origin About?
When a librarian discovers she’s descended from a long line of powerful witches, she’ll need all of her bookish knowledge to harness her family’s magic, in this enchanting cozy fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay.
Zoe Ziakas enjoys a quiet life, working as a librarian in her quaint New England town. When a mysterious black book with an unbreakable latch is delivered to the library, Zoe has a strange feeling the tome is somehow calling to her. She decides to consult the Museum of Literature, home to volumes of indecipherable secrets, some possessing dark magic that must be guarded.
Here, among their most dangerous collection, the Books of Dubious Origin, Zoe discovers that she is the last descendant of a family of witches and this little black book is their grimoire. Zoe knows she must decode the family’s spell book and solve the mystery of what happened to her mother and her grandmother. However, the book’s potential power draws all things magical to it, and Zoe finds herself under the constant watch of a pesky raven, while being chased by undead Vikings, ghost pirates, and assorted ghouls.
With assistance from the eccentric staff of the Books of Dubious Origin department—including their annoyingly smart and handsome containment specialist, Jasper Griffin—Zoe must confront her past and the legacy of her family. But as their adventure unfolds, she’ll have to decide whether or not she’s ready to embrace her destiny. (from Amazon.com)
Who is Author Jenn McKinlay?
Jenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. I think that is part of what makes Witches of Dubious Origin so delightful: it’s a great mix of fantasy, romance, and mystery. On the cozy mystery side she is known for the Decoupage Mysteries, the Library Lover’s Mysteries, the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries, and the Hat Shop Mysteries. She’s also known for Summer Reading, Love at First Book, and The Summer Share.
My Initial Thoughts
I love to read about anything literary themed. I think that’s why I’m such a big fan of Emily Henry’s books. So when I realized that this story was about a librarian I was very excited.
I related a lot to Zoe. Just doing her job and living a quiet life. It all made sense to me as a fellow introvert. But once she received the magical package at her library (containing a grimoire that had been in her family for a very long time) I realized that this story was about to take her completely out of her comfort zone.
One thing I really enjoyed about this storyline is the creativity. There are so many witchy stories out there and I appreciated how this one felt unique. If Zoe’s Grandmother or Mom were still around, they would be a great resource for trying to find out more about the grimoire. But instead, Zoe has to depend on her new colleagues (and friends) at the Museum of Literature to try to find out the truth about her family, and what happened to her mother.
What I Liked About This Book
- Zoe was a very sweet a likeable main character
- I liked the idea behind the crew at the Museum of Literature. One of my favorite scenes is when they were all hanging out at the rooftop garden.
- I enjoyed the playful flirtation between Zoe and Jasper
- I liked how Zoe was able to absorb so much knowledge. It made me laugh whenever she seemed to know absurd information. I was like, how did she do that?
What I Didn’t Like About This Book
To me, the pacing felt off. I enjoyed the story, but there were definitely parts in the middle that seemed to drag. Like the scenes when they were investigating the nursing home that the mother was living at before she died. I would have liked it more if that had been more concise. I also wish we had gotten to know the museum employees better. They were all lovable characters but certain people like Claire and Tariq we didn’t really get to know that well. I hope there are more books in the series so that we can get to know them better. I feel like there are so many directions Zoe and her magic can go in. It would be cool if she helped solve more mysteries in future books.
The Cover
Shout out to the book cover designer, because this book cover is so gorgeous! The library is beautiful and the colors give off such a warm and cozy feel. It definitely sets you up for the delightful adventure that you embark on once you open the front cover.
My Favorite Character
Although I liked Zoe and this book features a wonderful cast of characters, my favorite character was Olive. She was just kind of mean in a lovable way. She knows tons of magic and so if there are more after this one I’m sure she’ll be giving Zoe more lessons.
In Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed my Witches of Dubious Origin book review. It was so fun to read this book and learn more about Zoe and her fabulous spellbook. It really is a very cozy book to enjoy in Fall. So I hope if you are looking for a fantastic read to check out this fall that you consider Witches of Dubious Origin by Jen McKinlay.
