When the foundations of your carefully constructed life crumble in a single day, what do you reach for? In The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland, Rachael Herron crafts a luminous exploration of a woman who discovers that sometimes the most impossible things become the only ones worth believing in. This debut foray into magical realism showcases Herron’s evolution from romance and thriller writing into something more spiritually ambitious, though not without its growing pains.
A Journey from Skeptic to Believer
Beatrice Barnard’s world implodes with devastating efficiency. Her husband’s infidelity becomes the catalyst that propels her toward Skerry Island, where a psychic’s prophecy awaits: seven miracles followed by death. What begins as a woman’s desperate flight from betrayal transforms into an intricate dance between destiny and choice, skepticism and faith. Herron’s protagonist is refreshingly grounded—an accountant whose life revolves around spreadsheets and certainties until the universe demands she embrace the inexplicable.
The miraculous near-miss with a woodchopper blade sets the tone perfectly, establishing Beatrice’s reluctant journey into a world where logic fails and intuition must take the wheel. Herron excels at capturing the internal struggle of a rational mind confronted with phenomena that defy explanation. Beatrice’s evolution from cynic to believer unfolds with authenticity that makes her transformation compelling rather than convenient.
The Holland Family Magic System
One of the novel’s strongest elements lies in its unique approach to witchcraft. The Holland women don’t cast traditional spells or brew potions; instead, they commune with the dead, each possessing a specific gift for helping souls transition between worlds. Cordelia serves as a death doula, guiding the dying through their final moments. Astrid channels protective magic. Beatrice discovers she can receive messages from those who’ve passed on.
This death-adjacent magic system feels both original and meaningful, avoiding the typical trappings of contemporary witch fiction. The magical tattoos that bind the living to the dead create a visceral connection between characters and their powers, making the magic feel embodied rather than abstract. However, Herron sometimes struggles to establish consistent rules for this magical world, leaving readers occasionally confused about what’s possible and what isn’t.
Character Development and Relationships
The Twin Bond
The relationship between Beatrice and her newly discovered twin sister Cordelia forms the emotional heart of the story. Their instant recognition and connection transcends the somewhat convenient nature of their reunion. Herron handles their relationship with delicate complexity—they’re not just long-lost sisters but magical twins whose combined power creates both opportunity and danger.
Cordelia’s acceptance of magic contrasts beautifully with Beatrice’s skepticism, creating natural tension that drives much of the narrative forward. Their conversations feel genuine, capturing both the awkwardness of strangers and the inexplicable familiarity of shared blood.
Minna: The Confident Teenager
Fourteen-year-old Minna emerges as perhaps the most compelling character in the novel. Unafraid to assert her identity as non-binary and confident in their magical abilities, Minna represents everything Beatrice has never been—self-assured, authentic, and unashamed. Their desperate need for paternal approval drives the novel’s central conflict, creating genuine stakes that feel personal rather than merely supernatural.
Herron deserves praise for crafting a young queer character who feels real rather than tokenistic. Minna’s struggles with identity and family acceptance resonate beyond their magical circumstances.
Reno and the Romance Element
The romantic subplot between Beatrice and Reno unfolds with organic chemistry that never feels forced. Reno’s grief over her deceased wife Scarlett adds depth to their connection, though some readers might find the “magical tattoo containing dead wife’s ashes” concept either poetic or overwrought. The relationship avoids common queer romance pitfalls by treating their love story as naturally as any other, which feels refreshingly normal.
Pacing and Plot Structure
The novel’s pacing occasionally stumbles under the weight of its ambitious premise. The seven miracles structure provides a clear framework, but some miraculous events feel more significant than others, creating an uneven rhythm. The middle section, where Beatrice grapples with accepting her magical heritage, sometimes slows to a crawl as internal monologue dominates over action.
The climactic showdown with the malevolent Taurus spirit and the rescue of Minna from the family mausoleum delivers genuine tension, though the resolution relies heavily on convenient timing and newly discovered powers. The prophecy’s ultimate subversion—Beatrice dies and returns rather than simply dying after seven miracles—provides a satisfying twist that reframes the entire narrative.
Herron’s Writing Style and Voice
Herron brings a conversational, intimate tone to her prose that makes complex magical concepts accessible. Her background in romance writing serves her well in crafting believable relationships, while her thriller experience adds tension to supernatural encounters. The dialogue feels natural, particularly between family members navigating decades of separation and misunderstanding.
However, the narrative occasionally suffers from over-explanation, with characters discussing their feelings and motivations at length rather than allowing actions to reveal character. The frequent shifts between past and present sometimes muddy the timeline, though this improves as the story progresses.
Themes and Deeper Meanings
At its core, this is a novel about choosing faith over fear, love over safety. Beatrice’s journey from spreadsheet-dependent accountant to magic-embracing witch mirrors many readers’ own struggles with control and trust. The theme of found family resonates throughout, as Beatrice discovers that blood relationships can be both gift and burden.
The book thoughtfully explores grief and how we honor the dead while remaining present for the living. Each character carries loss—Beatrice mourns her marriage, Reno grieves her wife, Minna seeks a father who cannot love them authentically. Their magical abilities become a metaphor for how we stay connected to those we’ve lost while building new relationships.
Minor Criticisms
The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland occasionally indulges in wish fulfillment that undermines its emotional stakes. Beatrice’s convenient discovery of her magical heritage, while necessary for the plot, sometimes feels too neat. The antagonistic spirits lack the complexity of the human characters, feeling more like plot devices than genuine threats.
Some readers might find the resolution too tidy, with relationships restored and powers fully embraced within a relatively short timeframe. The book could have benefited from exploring the long-term consequences of Beatrice’s transformation more thoroughly.
Comparison to Similar Works
Readers familiar with Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic series will recognize the blend of family dysfunction and supernatural gifts, though Herron’s approach feels more grounded in contemporary concerns. The book shares DNA with Sarah Addison Allen’s garden-magic novels but tackles heavier themes of mortality and identity.
The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland occupies similar territory to Deborah Harkness’s All Souls series, though with less historical scope and more focus on personal transformation. Fans of Susanna Kearsley’s time-slip romances will appreciate the blend of supernatural elements with realistic relationship development.
Final Verdict
Despite occasional pacing issues and some convenient plot resolutions, The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland succeeds as an emotionally satisfying exploration of family, faith, and finding yourself when everything familiar falls away. Herron has crafted a magical world that feels both fantastical and grounded, populated by characters whose struggles resonate beyond their supernatural circumstances.
The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland works best when focusing on the intimate relationships between its characters rather than its magical plot machinations. Beatrice’s transformation from skeptic to believer provides a satisfying arc that many readers will find personally meaningful. While not every element lands perfectly, the book’s heart remains strong throughout.
For readers seeking magical realism with emotional depth, The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland offers a worthwhile journey into a world where love proves the strongest magic of all.
Similar Book Recommendations
If you enjoyed The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland, you might also like:
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow – Another story about discovering hidden magical heritage with beautiful prose
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow – Sisters reconnecting through witchcraft with strong feminist themes
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman – The classic tale of family magic and breaking generational curses
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab – Magical realism exploring identity and memory
The Death of Magic by Katherine Arden – Another tale of rediscovering lost magical abilities
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – Gothic magical realism with family secrets
The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska – Three sisters discovering their witch heritage
The Witch Haven series by Sasha Peyton Smith – Young women discovering magical powers during historical periods
About the Author
Rachael Herron has previously published romance novels with Avon, upmarket women’s fiction with Berkley, memoir with Chronicle, and thrillers under R.H. Herron with Dutton. A dual US/NZ citizen, she currently lives in Wellington, New Zealand with her wife. Her diverse publishing background shows in this genre-blending novel that incorporates elements from across her literary experience.