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Parents' Guide to

The Witch Haven

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Riveting historical fantasy offers thrills and romance.

Book Sasha Peyton Smith Fantasy 2021
The Witch Haven Poster Image

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What's the Story?

THE WITCH HAVEN by Sasha Peyton Smith is set in 1911 New York City, where 17-year-old Frances Hallowell is a working-class seamstress without any family: Her brother was killed unexpectedly months earlier; her father is long dead; and her mother has been in a sanitarium. When a predatory manager assaults her after hours, Frances is about to die one moment and then the next moment, her scissors have flown into her attacker's neck. But before the police can arrest Frances, two nuns appear to claim she's sick with tuberculosis and that she must report to Haxahaven Sanitarium. Frances quickly discovers that Haxahaven is actually an academy for witches, and that she had been rescued because the arrival of her magic had alerted the witches to come get her. At Haxahaven, the witches are taught to control their dangerous magic and only use it for safe, discreet domestic purposes. Frances begins to have dreams of a young man named Finn, and to believe that her magical abilities can help her solve the mystery surrounding her brother's murder.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (2 ):

Character-driven page-turner is part thriller, part historical fantasy, and its story about young woman learning to claim her magical power is hard to resist. Frances isn't always the traditionally lovable "chosen one" protagonist. She can be alternately impulsive, stubborn, selfish, and unthinking at times, but she's also clever, skilled, loyal, and protective of all she's loved. Frances is surrounded by fascinating friends at Haxahaven, and Smith does well by the supporting characters giving them all interesting backstories and motivations. Lena is particularly compelling as a Native American witch who appreciates what she's being taught but more than anything would like to return to her own community. As a young woman of color, her experience stands apart from the "White ethnic" witches and sorcerers.

The romance, which sets up a fairly obvious love triangle, seems skewed in favor of brooding and mysterious Finn (what love triangle doesn't favor the intense and edgy guy over the clean-cut and kind one?) rather than "Ivy League Oliver," who's neither magical nor gifted with a sexy accent (Finn boasts a memorable Irish brogue). While this isn't strictly speaking a romance, the love story features prominently in the plot. One of the best parts of the story is how well the author weaves in researched facts and details about life in 1911 New York City, whether it's the tree-lined streets of Forest Hills, Queens or the blue-collar bustle of the Lower East Side. The sisterhood of the young witches will appeal to readers who appreciate feminist-themed books, and the ending is just open enough to hint at the possibility of a sequel.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in The Witch Haven. Do you think the violence is necessary to the story? Why are paranormal novels so popular?

  • What do you think about the love story in the book? How does this love triangle compare to others?

  • Do you think there should be another book to follow this one? What questions do you want answered?

Book Details

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