Hex Education

Kilmer (Suburban Hell) enchants with this cozy fantasy novel that follows a disbanded coven who reunite to prevent magic from upending their lives. Sarah, Alicia, and Katrina were college freshman who, while casting a spell to shape their futures, accidentally burned down their dorm. Katrina desired fortune, Alicia wanted fame, and Sarah conjured a loving family. Twenty years later, Sarah is married with two children and only uses magic for mundane tasks, such as cleaning her house and crafting spells to ward off raccoons. She’s invited to a commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the dorm fire, and though she has no desire to attend due to guilt-fueled anxiety, she agrees to go in support of her sister-in-law Nancy, who was badly injured in the blaze. Once there, Sarah sees Katrina, the owner of a successful biotech startup, and Alicia, a famous magician, for the first time in two decades. With a reporter seeking to uncover the truth behind the fire, the coven fears losing everything if their secrets are exposed. Despite a lackluster mystery involving the circumstances of the conflagration that reveals itself late in the story, the magical hijinks, pop culture references, and colorful cast (including a sassy talking cat) are sure to entertain. Fans of contemporary fantasy will find much to appreciate. (Sept.)