Hannah Walsh is a witch, more specifically, an Elemental. One of the three witch Clans, Elementals have an affinity for earth, air, water, and fire magic. Living in Salem, Massachusetts, Hannah and her coven live by strict rules, dedicated to keeping their existence a secret from normal humans.
Hannah thought her summer vacation would be normal by even human standards. She has plans for pool parties and has a job she loves at a local tourist trap. She was even starting to get over her ex, Veronica, after a particularly messy breakup.
But when she attends the end-of-the-year bonfire with her classmates, she stumbles upon evidence of a blood ritual. Terrified by what she's seen, she starts to find evidence of blood magic all over town. Hannah is certain a Blood Witch has moved to Salem, and she's determined to find them before they hurt someone.
But she's not strong enough to do it alone, so she's forced to ask Veronica to help. They'll have to put aside their rocky past in order to protect their coven.
Not to mention Hannah's just caught the attention of a gorgeous ballerina who's new in town. And hanging out with your ex isn't the best way to start a new relationship.
Isabel Sterling's YA novel is an exciting story that blends fantasy, action, mystery, and romance. She tries a new take on the witch history in Salem, and successfully blends several different magical practices into her world.
Not only is the world engaging, it's also easy to get invested in the characters. The main characters spanned several different interests, hobbies, and orientations. Complex character relationships were also well crafted. For example, Hannah's constant struggle to distance herself from her ex, when she's the only other Elemental her age. Their relationship is a constant source of tension, and it's believable.
For me, how an author handles teen slang always stands out. Though this novel is set in modern time, Sterling did not try to utilize current slang, significantly lowering the chance readers will find her dialogue cringey. She does, however, fall back on inserting "like" into the middle of sentences to indicate informality, so some readers may find that uncomfortable.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It was an engaging and easy read. I was invested enough to finish it in only a few days. This is the first in a series, the second novel being This Coven Won't Break, which came out only a few months ago. I fully intend to read it.
If you're interested in These Witches Don't Burn, you can reserve a physical copy here. If you prefer ebooks, you can find a copy here.