Review: These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling

Title: These Witches Don't Burn
Author: Isabel Sterling 
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, LGBT
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: May 28th 2019

Kindle Edition, 336 pages
Summary: 

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.

I been eyeing These Witches Don't Burn for as long as I can remember at this point. I am morbidly interested in Salem and all the witchcraft and magic that surrounds it. These Witches Don't Burn is exactly that. Hannah is an elemental witch, with the power to control water, air, earth and fire. Not the kind where there are animal sacrifices and ceremonies to hail Satan. I was really intrigued in the idea of These Witches Don't Burn because I haven't see a lot of urban paranormal fantasy in the past couple of months and Hannah is dealing with regular teenage problems. School. Working. Summer. Avoiding her Ex. Normal teenage things, (well as normal as they can get for a teenage witch.) That until dangerous dark magic appears and suddenly its all over Salem and out for both Hannah and Veronica. 

I haven't read a book that has kept me guessing cause I couldn't predict what was going to happen next. These Witches Don't Burn had a compelling plot that had me eager to see what was going to happen next. Magic, romance and character wise. I don't want to go too in depth because I don't want to spoil it for those who are planning on reading it. But where this book is fluffy, gay romance with witches it also gets extremely dark in the last 20% or so. 

I liked all the characters in this book, except for Veronica. Which I guess is natural considering she is Hannah's ex. But I found her to be extremely manipulative and persistent. Hannah does explain her reasoning behind their break up and honestly, I would have broken up with Veronica too if I was in her shoes. I also found Veronica insanely jealous when Hannah's attention shifts to the new girl, Morgan. BUT Veronica is already sleeping with someone else, so why can't Hannah move on? As much as this irked me, it is also so incredibly real. I remember my friends have the same or similar problems when they were this age. Some still do. (It irked me in the sense that I've been there and I wish I could have told Hannah that was she was doing was right and that she didn't need Veronica.) 

Overall I really enjoyed These Witches Don't Burn and I can't wait to see what Isabel has in store for these characters next. If you are looking for a fluffy, magic, gay romance that is slightly dark this is the perfect book for you.