The Hawthorne University Witch Series

It was my freshman year when my best friend introduced me to the spring festival in Hawthorne University. I was studying for finals, but she said everyone, absolutely everyone, goes to Beltane. Because Hawthorne is weird. Men in red paint jumped flames. Ladies in white dresses with lovely flower garlands awaited the May Queen. But none of that interested me—until I decorated a tree with a super cute guy. We danced around the tree and had so much fun. But then I saw fire. And within the flames were disturbing images. Even with the spark between me and my new stranger, it had to end.

Starting school at Hawthorne University was not going well, until I met my classmate Alondra. Allie was different. She was goth. But she was also mysterious, confident and fun. I was into that. My name’s Liam. My friends call me Lee. Things got weird after I accompanied her to her haunts. Poltergeists and demons attacked little girls. I watched Alondra help exorcise these ghosts, but some of their evil stuck to me.

Broomstick, Book I: I used to not believe in witches. Cadence Hawthorne enrolls in a special honors program at Hawthorne University to be with a super cute teaching assistant. She hopes the program can help with visions of ghosts and witches, while evil from within threatens her and her newfound love.

I used to not believe in witches. Until I enrolled in Dr. Alondra Johansen's metaphysical history class. Bryce, Alondra's super cute teaching assistant, told me my element sign is Earth. I am, in fact, a pragmatic sort of girl. My name is Cadence Hawthorne, but you can call me Katie.

It was my junior year at Hawthorne University when Mira dealt me a reversed Lovers card. That meant trouble in paradise. I thought nothing of it, until Alondra introduced me to a new witch from outside our coven—Enora. Enora’s precisely the sort of witch you’d call wicked. Even worse, she used to be in love with my boyfriend.

It was my senior year at Hawthorne University when everything fell apart. I mean, all my witch friends got along fine—sort of. But I was nervous about my love life. I just had to get into Hawthorne's graduate program, because my boyfriend was going to be a professor. I didn't want to lose him. I didn't want to lose anyone.

Bryce and I are trying to revive Alondra’s old metaphysical history class. We’re in college again, this time teaching. But it’s stressful under our former teacher’s shadow. Not only that, there’s a new demon-witch messing with my love life. So I’m going through that again. Well, at least this time I have Alondra’s magic to protect me. Actually, not only do I have her magic, her spirit is inside me, possessing me. But don’t worry, Alondra’s ghost is a positive force here to help Hawthorne. I mean…are you good, Alondra?

While Bryce and I are finally enjoying some quiet time together, a dark, shadowy figure crashes into our door. And it isn't a small black bird this time. A devil is hurt, asking for my help. Well, I just have too many problems of my own now. People don't want to talk to me. And Bryce isn't touching me. So what's a witch to do? Haul up my legs, sit on a pentagram in a circle of candles, and murmur to myself. My best friend Maddie thinks I'm under a curse. But, honestly, I feel like I have to do whatever it takes to save this town, even if it means teaming up with my archenemy witch Enora.

It's the start of my second year of graduate school at Hawthorne University. (I wasn't canned, okay?) Bryce and our dean organize an orientation meeting to recruit witches. Yep, it's time to teach Alondra's "honors" program. Everything goes fine until that slithery snake-witch, Adder, barges into my home. She claims I'm cursing her master, Enora, haunting the dreams of her Abaddon coven. I'm not. Honest. But sometimes Alondra pops up inside me, acting outside of my control.

I absolutely adore Halloween. I love the vibrant fall colors and the fun and revelry. And Samhain (Sa-win) is a major holiday for witches because it represents our new year. It’s the time when the spirit world meets the living. So I wanted to throw a Halloween party for my students at Hawthorne University. Since the Billington frat house wasn’t available, I planned a party at my place. But as Maddie sat smiling in our circle, planning pumpkin carvings and costume contests, a visitor from my teacher’s past appeared, in tears, beside our bonfire.

While I’m enjoying a spicy caramel apple surprise at our local ice cream parlor, an old lady in rags rambles nonsense about candy canes to children waiting for Santa. That distracts me from prepping my young friend Cat for her college interview at Hawthorne University. Christmas turns into creepy Halloween when all the local children, including Cat, disappear in the woods. Bryce and I search our forest but become spellbound. All this voracious casting heralds the arrival of a new witch in town. The Candy Crone.