4.2 (97 ratings)

Lessons in Magic and Disaster

Name: Lessons in Magic and Disaster
Rating: 4.2 (97 reviews)
Author: Charlie Jane Anders
ISBN: B0F9H4G9ZS

by Charlie Jane Anders

witches

About this book

Jamie is an academic living a quiet, queer life in New England, but beneath her dissertation research lies a powerful secret: she is a witch. When she reconnects with her mother, Serena, who has spent years hiding in grief and isolation, Jamie decides to bridge the distance between them by teaching her mother the craft. What begins as a gentle attempt at healing quickly spirals into something far more dangerous as they unlock the dark history hidden within an 18th-century grimoire.

This lyrical story is a masterclass in the witch genre, perfectly blending the scholarly atmosphere of an academy setting with the raw, emotional stakes of a second-chance narrative. As mother and daughter uncover long-buried scandals, the magic they practice becomes a mirror for their own generational trauma. It is a haunting exploration of how the spells we cast—and the secrets we keep—shape the people we love.

If you are looking for a paranormal read that prioritizes deep, resonant character growth alongside its supernatural elements, this is your next obsession. It is a stunning meditation on how we navigate loss, identity, and the heavy, transformative power of love. Prepare to be enchanted by a story where the most volatile magic of all is the truth.

Publication Date: May 25, 2026
ASIN: B0F9H4G9ZS

Reader Reviews

a gentle exploration of mother shaped wounds and love after loss

August 20, 2025

I was lucky enough to be part of the ARC chain and was delighted to be able to read this absolute masterpiece early. Thanks, Charlie Jane! Lessons in Magic and Disaster is a stunning meditation on grief, boundaries, forgiveness, and love. There were so many layers to this story that I'm looking forward to rereading it again now that I have a hard copy and the ebook. In the present day narrative, Jamie, a PhD student in English, navigates transphobia in academia and relationship challenges with...

Lessons in Magic and Disaster

October 6, 2025

I was so intrigued by Jamie's dissertation research which was based almost entirely on real 18th century authors and works of literature, aside from one fictional novel and imaginary correspondence (as detailed in the Historical Note). I loved the magical realism and the queer interpretation of these people and stories; it really felt like something that could be true. The magic is unpredictable and questionable in effect; Jamie is often uncertain whether events are a result of her spells or a...

Wonderfully told

December 25, 2025

This is about magic. Magic practiced, magic learned, magic and love. About being queer, about self awareness and acceptance. About learning in so many ways. PLUS it’s a marvelously told story :) A truly beautiful experience. )

a very good book about very cool things

November 4, 2025

This was in most ways, excellent and tailor made for me. I really love the intense queerness and the way magic is handled. The liminal spaces as a site of magic were spectacular! I loved the writing about that. And the 18th century stuff about lady writers about town was so fascinating. Not at all an area of knowledge for me. The one thing that really threw me off with this book was that Jamie doesn't ask Ro for what she needs pretty much ever? Like, I realise their relationship has issues, but...

Lessons learned--

February 6, 2026

Three lessons I took from Lessons in Magic and Disaster: People are *complicated*; knowing what you really want is its own kind of magic; loving someone else means trying to figure them out, too. (And also that what *really* scares me is social media gone bad.) This is a book for people who love subtle magic and stories that reflect our deeply untidy reality. )