These Witches Don’t Burn (These Witches Don’t Burn #1)

High school lesbian witches, bisexual dads, transgendered coworkers- this book has something for literally everyone, which I liked, but I was left a little surprised at some points. At 30 years old, I feel like an old fuddy duddy. If Id have tried to come out in high school it would have been met with only slightly less backlash than when I actually did come out in college. Im so happy that times have changed and feelings & acceptance have evolved, but its a totally different world from when I was a young adult.
Overall, this book was adorable and Im already looking forward to its second act. The characters were endearing and relatable. The dialogue was fluid and fit these teenage girls perfectly. The twists & turns kept everything fast-paced and, even though the concept could be considered far-fetched, it was believable & entertaining. The witchcraft isnt all spells & darkness like most witchy books and Sterling emphasizes the way their elemental magic *feels* within their bodies, which was a neat & interesting breath-of-fresh-air take.
Id recommend this to any young adult – he/she/they – and anyone with interest in witchcraft, teen drama, or the queer community. Five Rainbow Stars.

I bought it for a middle schooler, and I think it would be appropriate if it werent for a sex scene (I thought they were kissing, but it specifically says later that they were having sex). Ill be holding onto this for a few years until the kid truly understands what sex means… and in the meantime Ill be eagerly awaiting the sequel because I NEED to know what happens next!
The types of witches in the book are actually widely acknowledged types of magic (in real life). I dont know if the author is part of a coven or if she just did her research, but it makes the whole story come alive when you realize that you might be buying coffee from a member of one of these covens.

When my book group, the Lit Coven, (Google them if you’re looking for a YA fantasy reading group!) decided to read this book, I was late to the party. Id instituted a summer book buying ban and decided against reading anything I didnt already own, but obviously I folded, (DUH) and bought this. It only took me reading the description before I was clicking BUY and devouring it upon its arrival.

Okay, so lets start with setting. Ive only been to Salem three times, but Sterling put me back there pretty much immediately. From the touristy areas where all the witch shops are, to where the more suburban houses are, it was New England through and through. She did a great job at setting the scene and using the historic undercurrent to highlight the very real threat for her main characters in 2019. I loved how this modern day clan of witches lives and breathes the history of what happened in 17th century Salem, and Sterlings writing made that happen for me.

Another thing I quite enjoyed about this book are the very real and relatable characters in this book. Hannah is a solid main character. Shes, like many of the other MCs I tend to like, not perfect, but learning and growing. She relies on others, seeks truth, doesnt just accept things as fact, and questions everything the adults tell her to believe. Go Hannah!

She trusts her judgment and believes in her friendship with Gemma, even when she knows it goes against everything shes ever learned. She trusts her heart and her mind. But shes a teenager, so shes also learning how to come to terms with heartbreak, and relationships. Shes also a really strong example of an unapologetic and badass lesbian. I love Sterlings writing of her character.

At one point, a side character, Benton thinks he can persuade her to date him, and shes like, um, no dude, Im gay. The way Sterling injects the social commentary of turning girls straight here was so smooth and so easily done, just a quick conversation. Then it was done and handled, and then both Hannah and Benton move on, as friends.

Morgan is also badass. Shes bi, and so cool. Hannah assumes shes a lesbian, theres a clarifying convo in there about assumptions, and then they move on and its literally no problem. Another cool move by Sterling. Morgan is confident, calm, and perfect for Hannah the complete opposite of Hannahs ex, Veronica.

Veronica is the epitome of unhealthy relationship.

-Okay, hold up

Listen. I promise this book is about witches. But Sterlings writing is SO GOOD we have to talk about how she writes these characters.

Okay, back to Veronica. So unhealthy. Manipulating. Wishy washy. She wants Hannah back, but only so Hannah doesnt have someone else. Ugh. But so well written. Isabel Sterling. You are so so good at writing characters and character interactions. For real.

The plot itself is kind of like a mystery whodunit but with witches and a teenage love triange thrown in for good measure — if you’re into that sort of thing. As its in Salem, and its called These Witches Dont Burn, there are some assumptions you can make, right? Someone wants to burn witches. So people are after Hannah – the witch. Despite, everything though, throughout the whole book, I wasn’t actively trying to figure out who it was that was trying to hunt witches. I’m usually pretty good at guessing who the bad guy is, but this time, it took me a bit to figure it out.

BUT

I REALLY LIKED that. I liked not knowing. I didnt want to figure it out. I wanted to enjoy the story and the mystery. I was so wrapped up in the characters and the drama of the romance and the family / clan dynamic that I didnt guess who the witch hunter(s) was/were until the end.

These Witches Don’t Burnwas amazing. I am putting it in my classroom with a big huge 5 Stars on it so my kids know it was an amazing read.

So, this was a last minute, buying on a whim kind of book. I did not expect to get to it as soon as I did. I thought “oh, I’ll get to this around Halloween” which is when I try to save a lot of my witchier books. The themes of paranormal books, especially those that are witch centered, always feel better to read in October. Anyways, I listened to this book on audio and holy cow was it amazing.

Isabel is a debut author so the attachment she managed to cause between the characters and I is amazing. It normally takes a while for a character and I to click, if we even do, but Isabel managed to do just that within the first few pages of These Witches Don’t Burn. Also, while I do not pick up much on the atmosphere of books, this one made me feel like I was in the middle of it all, watching these scenes unfold. I held my breath with these characters, I gasped with them.

Hannah is a character who is dealing with some PTSD of an incident in New York and she is also recovering from a breakup from her best friend and girlfriend, Veronica. The relationship between these two made me roll my eyes, not because of the cliche of it but because Veronica annoyed the crap out of me but I still adored her.

Another thing that this book touched on besides lesbian witches is the addition of bisexual characters as well as a transexual character! I had a feeling going into the book that the main character was lesbian but the addition of the bisexual representation and then the transexual character was a very welcome surprise.

I havent been gripped by a YA fantasy in a long time and this did it. I loved the writing, the characters, the dialogue, and most of all: the queer representation.

Not only is there more than a handful of token queer characters, but the main character is queer.

I love witchcraft stories and love how the author has woven this world, where different types of witches exist.

I really hope there are more to come. Cant wait to read the next one.

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