These Witches Don't Burn (These Witches Don't Burn #1) by Isabel Sterling
"Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans.
But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah's sure it's the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica.
While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she's going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem's witches become deadlier by the day."
“We stay like that for a long time.
Until, finally, something inside starts to stitch itself back together.”
― Isabel Sterling, These Witches Don't Burn
Hannah is an Elemental lesbian witch who very recently broke up with her girlfriend, who is also an Elemental witch. And then when hints of dark magic start popping up around town, they have to work together to figure out what’s going on.
I was hooked by this book from the first page! And I really enjoyed reading about these characters. I felt for them through the ups and downs of this book. There were twists, and I was actually surprised by them. It did get unexpectedly dark at the end, which was surprising and a little upsetting. But it’s definitely got me wanting to read the next book in the series, whenever that comes out.
Genre: ya, fantasy, lgbtqia+
Representation: lesbian, sapphic
Content Warnings: Animal sacrifice, Arson, Blood, Car accident, Character death (family), Gun violence, Homophobia, Sexual harassment
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