Board Games and Broomsticks: the spellbinding new cosy fantasy and the perfect autumnal read

A spellbinding new cosy fantasy for autumn 2026, perfect for readers of Lucy Jane Wood and Sarah Beth Durst!

Nyssa Hawthorne is at the top of her game: as a high-flying mage leading a coven, she has everything she's ever wanted. But her job requires long days, late nights and endless spell-casting - this witch is burnt out! And when a simple enchantment almost goes disastrously wrong, Nyssa realises she needs to hang up her broomstick and put herself first.

Retreating to her late grandmother's lakeside cottage - a place she's avoided for the last decade - Nyssa rediscovers her collection of beloved board games with endless worlds to escape into. Vowing to share this magic with the locals, Nyssa opens a board game cafe in the village with well-worn sofas, a stove in the corner, and blankets covering every surface. Soon, she's surrounded by friends old and new.

When an old enemy arrives on her doorstep, Nyssa mixes her witchcraft with the boardgames in the ultimate roll of the dice. What follows is a tale of adventure, found family, romance and discovering your inner magic...