The Witches of Cambridge

Another lovely book by Meena. Set in Cambridge it is about a group of friends who each have a special ability. They meet around the turrets and spires of Cambridge university, with their floating fires, and hot chocolate, they are untouched by falling snow or rain. This really captures the imagination.Amandine is an empath and knows her husband has a secret. Noa is isolated by her ability to see and speak only the truth. Cosima yearns for a baby, while baking with sprinkles of enchanted sugar. Kat is a spellcaster, who harbours an unrequited love. My favourite is Heloise, a widow, whose story is written with real sensitivity and hope.This is not paranormal in the way of "A discovery of witches", it is actually a very human story with the magical realism gently done. Meena writes beautifully, with a lot of empathy and understanding of people. The bittersweet ending is very moving. You will probably enjoy this if you like Sarah Addison Allen, Alice Hoffman or Ali Shaw, or books about romance, magic and friendship.

I enjoyed this book but I was expecting it to be more about magic and witches and it wasn't really. It was more about a group of women in Cambridge trying to find their way through various love issues and a small side story about black magic. it seems to be trying to appeal to all types of female readers - from widows, busy mums who feel neglected by their husbands, single mums, young women trying to find love etc etc. Although I did enjoy it, I'm not sure I'd recommend it on really. It was ok! Kept me entertained but as i purchased this on kindle and actually paid for it (usually i get the free ones or from authors I know and love) I was a bit disappointed. I had high hopes I guess.

Anyone got time for a read during the forthcoming holidays? Have you got time to purchase a book? I am just finishing ‘The Witches of Cambridge’ by Menna Van Praag. Now I am not a romantic and do not read ‘love stories’ and this book is about several witches in Cambridge who have romance problems and a whole range of emotions to go with them. However, they all have psychic gifts and abilities from empathy (thereby reading the secret emotions of others), telepathy, channelling a partner who died a year before and other gifts. What is interesting is the spells included in baking with various herbs and their effects which are quite funny. The spells are glossed over but there is a glossary of all the herbs and their effects and recipes for cakes etc. at the back of the book. There is an also a tall dark handsome male witch who seems to sort out problems for his chosen little female witch and some odd antics going on. A light read, funny but informative too. I normally read history and crime fiction so it was a strange choice for me to buy, but it may entertain some of you over the holiday period

This was another enjoyable story from one of my favourite authors.The characters are really likeable and mysterious, and the story lines are entwined.All the individual stories are equally important,and are told in tandem with the story of a young girl who needs their help,and who unwittingly ends up helping them too.There are sad moments,and happy times,with magical spells thrown in.Menna van Praag does not disappoint.She's a great story teller and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes escapism, but doesn't mind if everything isn't just predictable and perfect.

Menna is rapidly becoming my favourite author. Her characters are interesting and her stories entrancing -literally as there is magic in the mix and probably something sprinkled in the print that keeps me reading all night. Some people dislike happy endings and positive outcomes as unrealistic but Menna is not shy of the dark side and life's tragedies. I love the way that Menna puts women at the centre of her stories without marginalising men and how her men help to put women at the centre of their stories without feeling emasculated. This is 21st century writing embracing equality with a genuine feel-good factor. She is open about the flaws that everyone has and positive about moving on and that is realistic so long as we want it to be. I can't wait for the next one and, yes, Cambridge really is like this.

The Witches of Cambridge is a light, enjoyable read about modern witches and also about families, the bond between sisters, the mother-daughter bond, as well as about secrets and romantic love, loss and healing. Some of the minor characters flit in and out with little character development, but in a short book this is only to be expected.The Americanism of using 'diapers' instead of nappies annoyed me for a book set in England, but other than this minor quibble, I liked the book very much and cared about what was happening, especially to Noa, Amandine, Héloïse and George. I will be seeking out more books by Menna van Praag.

First time i have read a book by this author but will not be the last. Set in the beautiful city of Cambridge, the characters and their stories of friendship, love and magic capture your imagination.

Menna van Praag is a new author to me and I enjoyed this tremendously. I shall look for more by this writer. The fundamental notion of an ancient coven of witches could have been developed a bit more. Sir Isaac Newton (Oxon not Cantab) would have been a useful kicking off point. The mechanics of magic in the book needed to be explained a little more. The recipes for cookies were largely unread by me.

...is what the author calls her writing in an interview at the end of the book, and it's an apt description I was thankful for as I wouldn't have known how to describe this kind of fiction to someone else. The House At The End Of Hope Street was my first encounter with Menna van Praag, and after The Witches Of Cambridge I'll definitely be checking out her other books.This book was hard to put down, it made me feel with and for all the characters, even though there were some I rooted for more than others, and there might have been a teary moment or two as well. Although I haven't been to Cambridge in a very long time and certainly can't remember details, Menna van Praag manages to make the city come alive and made me think I might want to revisit.There were several characters' personal stories going on in parallel in this book, but you never get confused, Menna van Praag manages both their individual stories as well as their connecting story very well. All in all, a delightful and recommendable book.There was one thing that I really found annoying, though - the ebook is "printed" completely in italics. For me, this made following the lines a little harder, even unpleasant, to read.

Not one of my favoritesIt was a good easy read thoughFelt it lacked a bit of depth, didn't pull me in to the story as much as I would have likedI didn't feel connected to the charactersat times, I felt there could have been greater depth within who they were.

Lovely, gentle, soft, quirky, I enjoyed this novel, it was a gentle read, nothing too angsty, nothing too sad, just a little darkness but nothing to fret about. Well worth the time if you use books to relax your mind.

This is a little darker than her previous work, and I was a little unsure about a third of the way in. Found it quite sad and disturbing. The language is still beautiful, and somehow, everything resolves, I should have just trusted Cosi.

Menna van Praag again give us a story to uplift our spirits

This is funny, easy reading and a mood raiser. Definitely recommended.

Audible narration stops half way through a word in the middle of a sentence and it is not the end of book.

Was a bit boring

Menna van Praag has a very simple yet evocative way of writing which draws the reader in and makes her books a pleasure from beginning to end.

Love affairs, loss, deception, the awkwardness of early adulthood, the power of a secret - this beautiful and completely captivating book has it all!“Witches?!” you may be thinking. Yes, but not the ones you may be imagining (with broomsticks, etc). The characters are regular people like you and me whose thoughts and actions are woven with an underlying magic that feels so real and natural in the very compelling world of this story that it makes one wonder if that magic actually exists in real life.The characters in this book stayed with me even when I wasn't reading it. I thought about them and wondered what would happen to them. While reading the book, I experienced a sheer sense of pleasure and delight in getting to know them and watching their lives unfold.With gloriously vivid descriptions, surprising twists and turns of the stories and beautifully real, honest & relatable glimpses into the characters' innermost thoughts, this book is a gem.

I had high hopes as I started this book and for a few chapters it was interesting and seemed like it might be fun. But then it all turned into nothing: the plot went nowhere; the characters acquired no depth; and there was no chemistry in any of the relationships. The witchcraft was hardly present and sort if seemed incidental. In all this was a boring read and I admit I skimmed through parts just to get to the end. This was my first book by this author and I'm afraid it will have to be my last. I cannot recommend this one.

I love this book - the way she susses out the characters, peeling off the layers as we go, pulling you deeper into the story. I often try to figure out the ending when I read a book, but with Menna van Praag's books, she keeps you guessing until the end, and is always a delightful surprise. I enjoy magical realism as a genre, because I think it allows for a fuller understanding of human nature. This may seem paradoxical, but we are more than what we think we are, and this book nudges us in that direction. You just can't help but root for her characters to grow and get to their "happy endings". A very good read.

This is one of those books where upon reading the last word and turning the page to find it really was the last word and the end of the book, you give a small sigh, content in knowing that all is right in the world you just left as well as in the world to which you've just returned. There are a number of characters to keep straight, but you will settle in as you learn each one's secret ability and personality. For me, this author's books are the perfect blend of real people and real life with a delightful touch of magic, and this was no exception. A real gem.

Finished reading late last night. I love Menna van Praag's gorgeous, sensuous writing. I love the characters, with their authentic struggles and traits, and magical abilities. I love how Menna shows us positives and negatives of people, situations, and abilities -- and how the polarities yield to a beautiful whole.The relationships! The people! The magic . . . highly recommended.

A very enjoyable light read.