The Reluctant Witch: Year One: Young Adult Urban Fantasy Academy

· Santa Cruz Witch Academy Book 1 · Kristen S. Walker
4.5
35 reviews
Ebook
222
Pages
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About this ebook

From author Kristen S. Walker comes a young adult urban fantasy academy about witches and clean lesbian romance.

A young witch who just wants to be invisible. A beautiful mermaid who doesn’t belong. A secret relationship that threatens the entire academy.

Brie only agreed to try the witch academy to make her mother happy. She assumed she would learn Water magic. But when the students were assigned to their Elemental classes, she ended up in Earth. The list of reasons for her to leave the school keeps growing—her roommate is a bully, she doesn’t understand her classes, and everyone judges her for her infamous family name.

Then a beautiful mermaid named Gabriella catches her eye at the beach. Merfolk aren’t allowed in Santa Cruz because they’re dangerous killers, but Gabriella is friendly and kind. She agrees to show Water magic to Brie as long as she keeps their meetings a secret.

Brie lies to everyone about Gabriella, even when her Fae mentor asks her to investigate merfolk. But when the secret relationship strains her friendships, tanks her grades, and threatens her position at the academy, Brie learns that love comes at a high price.

She must choose between her first love and her magical school—or lose everything.

The Reluctant Witch is the first book in a YA urban fantasy academy series. It features the daughter of Rosa from the Fae of Calaveras trilogy, but it takes place twenty years after the original series and does not require prior reading. If you like teen witches, magical schools, and introverts who have to overcome their wish to be left alone, you’ll enjoy Kristen S. Walker’s latest novel.

Buy today!

Rated PG-13 for mild profanity and sexual references. LGBTQ characters and relationships.

Look for the Santa Cruz Witch Academy series:

Third Generation Witch: Applications

The Reluctant Witch: Year One

The Salty Witch: Summer School

The Daring Witch: Year Two

Ratings and reviews

4.5
35 reviews
Phoebe Stevens
May 31, 2024
Take a shot everytime the main character mentions she's vegan. Alcohol poisoning for sure. This book was actually pretty enjoyable. I didn't expect much of it given its god-awful cover, but the romance was fun and the plot was well thought out. A good read if you're looking for a typical y/a fantasy with a lesbian twist!
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Sara Aida Salwanie
July 10, 2025
A YA world of witches, faerie folk and mythic creatures living side by side with humans with a dash of clean f/f romance without the steamy goodness. The story is captivating enough except for Brie's constant whining and complaining about everything and Damian being somewhat overbearing and obnoxious at times almost killed the story. But Brie's decision to put on her big girl panties and deal with her problems was inspiring. It was a fun and enjoyable read!
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Uchechi Ifey
November 10, 2023
I like it because if there is watch's I will have to read it . The story is that best The story looks like a great summer Please let me check on the best way to read the book
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About the author

Fantasy author Kristen S. Walker dreams of being a pirate mermaid who can talk to sharks. She's proudly bisexual, Wiccan, a liberal feminist, and lives in northern California with her family and two rescued pets. To find out more about her stories, please visit kristenwalker.net.

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