An ancient witch explores the thrills—and perils—of online dating with hilarity and heart in a charming rom-com perfect for fans of cozy fantasy and witchy romance. Meet Thorn Scarhart, a thirty-nine-year-old witch who’s having trouble finding love in the 17th century. Despite the local matchmaker’s efforts and Thorn’s arsenal of powerful love potions, she has yet to fall in love. After the disappearance of her sister and the loss of her mother, Thorn was too caught up in…well, life, to focus on dating. Now, she fears she may have missed her chance. But, when one of her potion brews backfires spectacularly, Thorn is hurled 350 years into the future, landing in a bustling city where her once-isolated cottage is now a historical museum. While this unexpected leap through time may seem daunting, modern life does have its perks: indoor plumbing, electric kettles, and the world of online dating. At thirty-nine, the odds may not be perfect, but at least they’re not impossible . With the help of the museum’s new curator—and her charming veterinarian brother—Thorn dives headfirst into the 21st-century dating scene. And as she searches for romance, she might also find herself along the way. An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating is a delightful mix of humor, heart, and a sprinkle of magic. Cozy fantasy lovers will adore this enchanting rom-com, which is a must-read for fans of Sangu Mandanna’s The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and Erin Sterling’s The Ex Hex . “Warm, delightful and full of magic (and cats!), a book hasn’t made me laugh this much in ages!” -- Sangu Mandanna, bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches "An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating is a laugh-out-loud delight from start to finish! You'll find yourself rooting for Thorn as she grapples with 21st-century dating conventions and learns that self-discovery is more powerful than any potion. Perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy a witchy romcom full of humor and heart." -- Stacy Sivinski, national bestselling author of The Crescent Moon Tearoom " An Ancient Witch's Guide to Modern Dating transports readers to an enchanting and romantic world of magic, unexpected friendship ... and newfound love." -- Juliet Blackwell, New York Times bestselling author of the Witchcraft Mysteries and the Haunted Home Renovation series "Charming, funny and sweet, this book is like a warm hug for the soul. The epitome of cozy fantasy!" -- Katrina Kwan, author of The Last Dragon of the East Cecilia Edward is the pen name of Remy Lai, a celebrated Australian children's author and illustrator who has won the Australian Prime Minister's Literary Award and the SCBWI Sid Fleischman Award for Humor. Continuing to publish in the middle grade, YA, and graphic novel spaces, she is thrilled to make her adult fiction debut with An Ancient Witch's Guide to Modern Dating . Remy is based in Brisbane; you can find her on Instagram @ceciliaedwardbooks . Chapter One ONE “I love you,” the man would soon say. And he would be forever hers. He was a blacksmith. Forty-three years old. Widowed. Grown children. Once forged the nails that held together a duke’s chariot. Very much a gentleman. A generous lover. Those attributes were listed on the blacksmith’s résumé in the matchmaker’s Big Book of Marriageable Ladies and Gentlemen. How the matchmaker had discovered that last point was fodder for gossip among the womenfolk washing linen by the creek. “This garden is breathtaking,” the blacksmith said as he strolled along a thicket blooming with little white flowers. He knew he was in trouble. He had always thought this town he had lived in all his life was too ordinary, but today, the shrubs had never been this lush, the clouds never this fluffy, and his steps never this peppy. He was in love. And the object of his affection was Thorn Scarhart. The blacksmith and Thorn’s relationship almost never was. When Thorn had approached the matchmaker to help her find a husband, Madam Maude hemmed and hawed. There had not been a client quite as unsuitable as Thorn. Among all of Thorn’s unsuitable attributes, the most glaring one was her age. It was as huge a problem as it was a number. Most of the gentlemen in Madam Maude’s big book wanted progeny. While it was possible to feign a pregnancy through the use of pillows, it was something else to conjure up the illusion of an offspring who would have to grow in size and personality over many years. The butcher’s wife had recently conceived at forty-six, but even though she was at such an age, she was also an old hand at procreation. This was her fifteenth child. Meanwhile, the closest experience Thorn had to childbearing was when there was an especially good harvest of turnips, and she was hardly the only one in town that spring who suffered from windy colic. Still, Thorn was younger than the butcher’s wife, even if not by much. It had seemed nothing short of mir