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The Hunter and Her Witch
Hunter Sarah left her religious witch-hunting family behind for the freedom to be herself. Simplicity is her mantra now, as she lives and works alongside her found family of supernatural women. The day Sarah shows up at a witch’s property to build a yoga studio, though, her mantra skips a beat.
For witch Oriana, leaving her abusive ex was her first step toward a new life. Moving to Obsidian Falls and becoming a yoga instructor quickly followed. Her dismal romantic track record is proof she needs to focus on anything but love. But the moment she sets eyes on a member of the supernatural construction crew building her studio, she knows her heart didn’t get the memo.
When Oriana’s ex shows up, and Sarah’s inner Hunter responds, their painful pasts collide in a waterfall of revealed secrets and fears come to life. They must decide if their love is worth building, or better left behind.
For witch Oriana, leaving her abusive ex was her first step toward a new life. Moving to Obsidian Falls and becoming a yoga instructor quickly followed. Her dismal romantic track record is proof she needs to focus on anything but love. But the moment she sets eyes on a member of the supernatural construction crew building her studio, she knows her heart didn’t get the memo.
When Oriana’s ex shows up, and Sarah’s inner Hunter responds, their painful pasts collide in a waterfall of revealed secrets and fears come to life. They must decide if their love is worth building, or better left behind.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 11, 2025
1 person is currently reading
300 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Sullivan
7 books33 followersAlso publishes under Rachel Pudelek.
Rachel Sullivan is a dog-hugger and tree-lover who writes empowering books about characters who unearth their own inner truth and follow it to freedom. She pulls from folklore, mythology, and ancient belief systems to create her award-winning stories.
When she's not writing, Rachel works in circulation and reference services at a public library. She also enjoys hiking, wine tasting, attempting to grow her own food, and reading. She lives among the evergreens in Washington.
Visit her website: http://rachelsullivan.net/
Rachel Sullivan is a dog-hugger and tree-lover who writes empowering books about characters who unearth their own inner truth and follow it to freedom. She pulls from folklore, mythology, and ancient belief systems to create her award-winning stories.
When she's not writing, Rachel works in circulation and reference services at a public library. She also enjoys hiking, wine tasting, attempting to grow her own food, and reading. She lives among the evergreens in Washington.
Visit her website: http://rachelsullivan.net/
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 28, 2025
First thing I want to say about this book is that the story is a bit darker than what the cover might lead you to believe which was perfectly fine by me. Oriana is a new witch in the middle of deep forested Washington state. The coven there and the ancestor witches, who are still protecting the area, have been waiting for her. Now all she needs is a little help to build her yoga studio so she can make a living. Enter the Hunters who are built like a bunch of Paul Bunyans. It might be the 21st century but a witch like Oriana can’t afford to trust descendants of people who once murdered women, some of them just human and others with supernatural powers, so she kicks out the men. But unbeknownst to Oriana, a woman, who is secretly a Hunter, sticks around to help in the construction.
It’s a great setup for a story. I loved the setting, rainy and foggy, the power of nature to be both healing and sometimes threatening. My favorite aspect of the story is how fast the story moves, the non stop action, battling evil monsters but also taming the demons within. The mythology of ancient Ireland that is used got my attention as well. I also appreciate the running subtext of women fighting to stay independent and strong.
What holds me back from giving a higher rating is that there is not enough development of the mains and supporting characters. If Oriana and Sarah are built up more as individuals, then the impact is greater when they get together. Pre-destined steamy connections between paranormal beings is bread and butter for these type of stories but the characters still need to be defined. That’s all the next book needs. Go deep with the characters and the rest follows.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Arc. I am leaving a review voluntarily.
It’s a great setup for a story. I loved the setting, rainy and foggy, the power of nature to be both healing and sometimes threatening. My favorite aspect of the story is how fast the story moves, the non stop action, battling evil monsters but also taming the demons within. The mythology of ancient Ireland that is used got my attention as well. I also appreciate the running subtext of women fighting to stay independent and strong.
What holds me back from giving a higher rating is that there is not enough development of the mains and supporting characters. If Oriana and Sarah are built up more as individuals, then the impact is greater when they get together. Pre-destined steamy connections between paranormal beings is bread and butter for these type of stories but the characters still need to be defined. That’s all the next book needs. Go deep with the characters and the rest follows.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Arc. I am leaving a review voluntarily.
February 11, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the arc!
I wanted to like this, it's about witches in the woods in eastern Washington—what's not to love?
I think the two main shortcomings I had with this book were the length and the tell-not-show nature. I think shorter books can work. This one is about 190 pages on the Netgalley copy I received, and there wasn't quite enough space for the author to do what they wanted to do. I also believe that because of the short page count, the author cut corners in character development. It felt rushed and the romance felt undeserved because there was no growth between them. You can't just say two people are "mates" (barf) and thus they can start saying "I love you."
There was a lot of therapy talk in this,, and honestly it felt like someone going to therapy, walking themselves through thought process in a complete monologue, stating they worked through their issues, thanking the therapist, and then leaving. You can talk about working through the internalized misogyny all you want, but sarah isn't cured two chapters later. Doesn't work like that.
I think this would be best for a younger audience,, like 14-16 years. But it didn't do much for me.
I wanted to like this, it's about witches in the woods in eastern Washington—what's not to love?
I think the two main shortcomings I had with this book were the length and the tell-not-show nature. I think shorter books can work. This one is about 190 pages on the Netgalley copy I received, and there wasn't quite enough space for the author to do what they wanted to do. I also believe that because of the short page count, the author cut corners in character development. It felt rushed and the romance felt undeserved because there was no growth between them. You can't just say two people are "mates" (barf) and thus they can start saying "I love you."
There was a lot of therapy talk in this,, and honestly it felt like someone going to therapy, walking themselves through thought process in a complete monologue, stating they worked through their issues, thanking the therapist, and then leaving. You can talk about working through the internalized misogyny all you want, but sarah isn't cured two chapters later. Doesn't work like that.
I think this would be best for a younger audience,, like 14-16 years. But it didn't do much for me.
February 10, 2025
Witch Oriana leaves her abusive ex husband behind wanting to start a new life. She moves to Obsidian Fall to open a yoga studio. The witch coven there has been waiting for her and is all about protecting the sacred forested area. Sarah is there to help build the studio. She has her own background that she is trying to escape from. Oriana and Sarah seemingly have a very instant connection.
The story is fast paced with plenty of action. There are demons, hell hounds and other entities. Everything, including the romance, feels rushed. At times I felt like I was already supposed to know things about this world. This wasn’t listed as a sequel but it may tie into other books from the author. At just over 200 pages this is a quick read. But I would have liked it to slow down and let me get to know the main characters a little better.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving an honest review.
The story is fast paced with plenty of action. There are demons, hell hounds and other entities. Everything, including the romance, feels rushed. At times I felt like I was already supposed to know things about this world. This wasn’t listed as a sequel but it may tie into other books from the author. At just over 200 pages this is a quick read. But I would have liked it to slow down and let me get to know the main characters a little better.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving an honest review.
February 6, 2025
Witches and other magical creatures. Short light and easy read with female lead. Perhaps a YA target audience. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley,and the publisher for an ARC.
January 26, 2025
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for an eArc in exchange for an honest review!
To start off, I enjoyed the concept of witches, hunters, and "wild women" with their complicated past and the ramifications of this long history on the characters in this book. This book was truly about forging your own path after surviving trauma and I did enjoy reading how the characters healed from their difficult pasts.
However, I did not enjoy the instant love between the two main characters. I did not think they had any chemistry at all and their relationship was very rushed. I wish this book was longer in order to flesh out their relationship instead of becoming mates within a few days. I really would have loved to read about Sarah coming to terms with her inner hunter and maybe getting advice from her found family. I would have also liked to read more interactions with Friday and Oriana. I just feel like I would have enjoyed it more if some things were more fleshed out.
To start off, I enjoyed the concept of witches, hunters, and "wild women" with their complicated past and the ramifications of this long history on the characters in this book. This book was truly about forging your own path after surviving trauma and I did enjoy reading how the characters healed from their difficult pasts.
However, I did not enjoy the instant love between the two main characters. I did not think they had any chemistry at all and their relationship was very rushed. I wish this book was longer in order to flesh out their relationship instead of becoming mates within a few days. I really would have loved to read about Sarah coming to terms with her inner hunter and maybe getting advice from her found family. I would have also liked to read more interactions with Friday and Oriana. I just feel like I would have enjoyed it more if some things were more fleshed out.
February 14, 2025
3.5*
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for allowing me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Don't you sometimes feel like rating a book higher than you would just because the average rating is so low and you feel it doesn't deserve that? I'm almost tempted to rate this 4 stars. It wasn't a 4 star read for me, but 3.59 is such a low score for Goodreads and I don't think this book deserves such a low rating.
I'm not going to write a summary because you can just read it in the book page. Overall, I liked the book. I liked how it handled the trauma the characters are going through, particularly Oriana. I could relate to her because I also got involved with a narcissist in the past (thankfully it didn't last long for me), and that left me broken and second guessing myself as well, most of the time believing what that person told me about myself rather than what I knew. Reading from Oriana's perspective was frustrating but real.
I also enjoyed Sarah's perspective and history, but it didn't sit well with me that her trauma was kinda swept aside. I mean, okay, Oriana was dealing with her own stuff, but Sarah's role was only to help Oriana heal and she had to deal with everything on her own.
What I didn't appreciate was the insta-love, I get that in this book it's kinda explained why they developed these feelings so quickly and how, but there's this chapter where Sarah said something like "From what I've learned from Oriana, she isn't the kind of person to back down once she set her mind to something" (not the actual quote), okay, she did say just after, not that I've known her that long, but anyway it was like oh really you've gathered that from your four interactions over the last three days? There's also this chapter where Oriana is like "I'm going to miss our long talks" and once again it's like you've had like one of those so far, what do you mean talks in plural?
I don't know, I feel like this book tried to introduce things that in the end only served to get the couple together, like Friday's training, and were later either never addressed again or solved in a minute to get back to Oriana and Sarah.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for allowing me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Don't you sometimes feel like rating a book higher than you would just because the average rating is so low and you feel it doesn't deserve that? I'm almost tempted to rate this 4 stars. It wasn't a 4 star read for me, but 3.59 is such a low score for Goodreads and I don't think this book deserves such a low rating.
I'm not going to write a summary because you can just read it in the book page. Overall, I liked the book. I liked how it handled the trauma the characters are going through, particularly Oriana. I could relate to her because I also got involved with a narcissist in the past (thankfully it didn't last long for me), and that left me broken and second guessing myself as well, most of the time believing what that person told me about myself rather than what I knew. Reading from Oriana's perspective was frustrating but real.
I also enjoyed Sarah's perspective and history, but it didn't sit well with me that her trauma was kinda swept aside. I mean, okay, Oriana was dealing with her own stuff, but Sarah's role was only to help Oriana heal and she had to deal with everything on her own.
What I didn't appreciate was the insta-love, I get that in this book it's kinda explained why they developed these feelings so quickly and how, but there's this chapter where Sarah said something like "From what I've learned from Oriana, she isn't the kind of person to back down once she set her mind to something" (not the actual quote), okay, she did say just after, not that I've known her that long, but anyway it was like oh really you've gathered that from your four interactions over the last three days? There's also this chapter where Oriana is like "I'm going to miss our long talks" and once again it's like you've had like one of those so far, what do you mean talks in plural?
I don't know, I feel like this book tried to introduce things that in the end only served to get the couple together, like Friday's training, and were later either never addressed again or solved in a minute to get back to Oriana and Sarah.
February 8, 2025
*The Hunter and Her Witch* by Rachel Sullivan is nothing short of a masterpiece. From the very first page, it captivates with a magnetic blend of evocative world-building, emotionally charged storytelling, and deeply compelling characters that feel as real as they are unforgettable.
Sullivan’s writing is a seamless marriage of lyrical prose and sharp, dynamic action, keeping readers on the edge of their seat while immersing them in a world that feels simultaneously vast and intimate. The plot, a rich tapestry of magic, mystery, and forbidden romance, unfolds with such depth that every twist feels both earned and inevitable. The way Sullivan navigates themes of identity, power, and love is nothing less than genius, offering readers profound emotional resonance without ever sacrificing the pulse-pounding excitement of the story.
The characters themselves are truly the heart of this novel. The titular hunter, with her fierce independence and vulnerability, and the witch, whose power and heart are intricately interwoven, are complex and multi-dimensional. Their relationship—whether tense, tender, or fiery—is one of the most compelling I’ve encountered in recent fantasy literature. Their dynamic shifts and evolves, creating an emotional journey that grips you from the first chapter and refuses to let go until the final, breathless page.
What truly sets *The Hunter and Her Witch* apart is how Sullivan crafts a narrative that never feels rushed or contrived. Every moment, every interaction, is deliberate and adds layers to the overarching story. Whether it’s the magical elements or the raw emotional stakes, Sullivan handles them with a masterful touch, ensuring that each aspect of the world and its characters is fully realized and feels authentic.
This book does not just entertain—it transports. It sweeps you into its world, challenges you with moral dilemmas, and makes you care deeply about what happens next. With its perfect blend of fantasy, romance, and adventure, *The Hunter and Her Witch* is a rare gem in the genre, one that will resonate with readers long after they've finished it.
A bold, breathtaking triumph, *The Hunter and Her Witch* is a triumph of storytelling that sets a new standard for fantasy literature. It's an absolute must-read, and without a doubt, one of the best books you’ll experience. A brilliant, dazzling work of art.
Sullivan’s writing is a seamless marriage of lyrical prose and sharp, dynamic action, keeping readers on the edge of their seat while immersing them in a world that feels simultaneously vast and intimate. The plot, a rich tapestry of magic, mystery, and forbidden romance, unfolds with such depth that every twist feels both earned and inevitable. The way Sullivan navigates themes of identity, power, and love is nothing less than genius, offering readers profound emotional resonance without ever sacrificing the pulse-pounding excitement of the story.
The characters themselves are truly the heart of this novel. The titular hunter, with her fierce independence and vulnerability, and the witch, whose power and heart are intricately interwoven, are complex and multi-dimensional. Their relationship—whether tense, tender, or fiery—is one of the most compelling I’ve encountered in recent fantasy literature. Their dynamic shifts and evolves, creating an emotional journey that grips you from the first chapter and refuses to let go until the final, breathless page.
What truly sets *The Hunter and Her Witch* apart is how Sullivan crafts a narrative that never feels rushed or contrived. Every moment, every interaction, is deliberate and adds layers to the overarching story. Whether it’s the magical elements or the raw emotional stakes, Sullivan handles them with a masterful touch, ensuring that each aspect of the world and its characters is fully realized and feels authentic.
This book does not just entertain—it transports. It sweeps you into its world, challenges you with moral dilemmas, and makes you care deeply about what happens next. With its perfect blend of fantasy, romance, and adventure, *The Hunter and Her Witch* is a rare gem in the genre, one that will resonate with readers long after they've finished it.
A bold, breathtaking triumph, *The Hunter and Her Witch* is a triumph of storytelling that sets a new standard for fantasy literature. It's an absolute must-read, and without a doubt, one of the best books you’ll experience. A brilliant, dazzling work of art.
February 14, 2025
Oriana has left an abusive relationship and started a new life in Obsidian Falls. As she settles into herself, her powers as a witch grow and become more balanced.
Guided by the trees and her Coven, Oriana does all she can to protect the area from evil, including Hunters.
Sarah arrives in Obsidian Falls, having agreed to help her Wild Woman friend Faline build a yoga studio for Oriana. The moment Sarah meets Oriana's gaze, something in her shifts and calls to the witch.
As Sarah and Oriana circle each other, unable to stay away, it's almost too late when Sarah realises that Oriana has assumed that Sarah is another of the Wild Women. But she isn't. She's a full-blown Hunter... the only female Hunter she knows of in the male dominated Hunter history.
Can even soulmates find happiness together if they are sworn enemies with a history drenched in blood and loss?
Will Oriana and Sarah survive long enough to find out?
This was a fantastic read for anyone who loves sapphic fantasy tales interweaved with the mythical and paranormal.
I enjoyed Oriana and Sarah's individual journeys through pain and anxiety, and their internal struggles were written well, making them very relatable.
With all this said, however, I did drop one star because of minor world-building gaps.
For those unaware, 'The Hunter and Her Witch' is set in the same world as Sullivan's 'Wild Women' series. This leaves some of the Wild Women and Hunter backstory as assumed knowledge. (If you loved the parts of Faline and Marcus you saw, you should read the other series!)
Terrific fantasy read with sapphic enemies to lovers romance.
*I received an advance reader copy for free, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*
Guided by the trees and her Coven, Oriana does all she can to protect the area from evil, including Hunters.
Sarah arrives in Obsidian Falls, having agreed to help her Wild Woman friend Faline build a yoga studio for Oriana. The moment Sarah meets Oriana's gaze, something in her shifts and calls to the witch.
As Sarah and Oriana circle each other, unable to stay away, it's almost too late when Sarah realises that Oriana has assumed that Sarah is another of the Wild Women. But she isn't. She's a full-blown Hunter... the only female Hunter she knows of in the male dominated Hunter history.
Can even soulmates find happiness together if they are sworn enemies with a history drenched in blood and loss?
Will Oriana and Sarah survive long enough to find out?
This was a fantastic read for anyone who loves sapphic fantasy tales interweaved with the mythical and paranormal.
I enjoyed Oriana and Sarah's individual journeys through pain and anxiety, and their internal struggles were written well, making them very relatable.
With all this said, however, I did drop one star because of minor world-building gaps.
For those unaware, 'The Hunter and Her Witch' is set in the same world as Sullivan's 'Wild Women' series. This leaves some of the Wild Women and Hunter backstory as assumed knowledge. (If you loved the parts of Faline and Marcus you saw, you should read the other series!)
Terrific fantasy read with sapphic enemies to lovers romance.
*I received an advance reader copy for free, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*
September 1, 2025
2.5/5⭐️
This book had so much potential, a really interesting concept and the opportunity for an extremely unique and compelling plot, complex characters and interesting relationships. Unfortunately, I don’t think it completely lived up to its potential.
While there were some good parts, I found the plot was simultaneously slow-moving and extremely rushed. Similarly, the storyline and plot were both over-explained and under-developed. Like, some smaller plot points, like Oriana’s ex, were over analyzed whereas crucial plot elements like the history of these magical beings or the romantic relationship between Sarah and Oriana were rushed and almost felt like afterthoughts.
In summary, I think this book could’ve been really good but unfortunately just fell short and didn’t deliver like I was hoping it would.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This book had so much potential, a really interesting concept and the opportunity for an extremely unique and compelling plot, complex characters and interesting relationships. Unfortunately, I don’t think it completely lived up to its potential.
While there were some good parts, I found the plot was simultaneously slow-moving and extremely rushed. Similarly, the storyline and plot were both over-explained and under-developed. Like, some smaller plot points, like Oriana’s ex, were over analyzed whereas crucial plot elements like the history of these magical beings or the romantic relationship between Sarah and Oriana were rushed and almost felt like afterthoughts.
In summary, I think this book could’ve been really good but unfortunately just fell short and didn’t deliver like I was hoping it would.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
February 1, 2025
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
this is sarah and Oriana story....
sarah is a hunter though as a woman she was never encouraged to be her true self.... her role was to breed to bring her sons into the world, she was controlled with pills....
Oriana was a witch but she was also a victim of domestic abuse.... she finally left her abusive husband and was trying to make a new life for herself and one that hopefully she could be help for others
she had wanted a new studio built to begin her new adventure and when a team of supernatural builders turned up she had to turn most of them away..... they were hunters... and she didnt want them on her land...
what she didnt know was that sarah was a hunter
things were going to get very strange for the two of them...
would have liked a bit more depth to some of the characters but on the whole an enjoyable read... would be interested in reading more from this author
this is sarah and Oriana story....
sarah is a hunter though as a woman she was never encouraged to be her true self.... her role was to breed to bring her sons into the world, she was controlled with pills....
Oriana was a witch but she was also a victim of domestic abuse.... she finally left her abusive husband and was trying to make a new life for herself and one that hopefully she could be help for others
she had wanted a new studio built to begin her new adventure and when a team of supernatural builders turned up she had to turn most of them away..... they were hunters... and she didnt want them on her land...
what she didnt know was that sarah was a hunter
things were going to get very strange for the two of them...
would have liked a bit more depth to some of the characters but on the whole an enjoyable read... would be interested in reading more from this author
February 3, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
2.75 stars
This book feels like the second in a series, or a spin-off series following a completed one, though the book isn’t marketed as such.* Characters refer to previous events that have some small impact on this book, but never follow it up. The events of this book hint at a greater world and a great evil, but this book isn’t where any of that happens. This book is, in my opinion, a lot of wheel spinning plot wise and some character moments, but ended up leaving me waiting for something to happen.
The book feels unbalanced, and the pacing is rushed when it comes to plot moments, and languid when it comes to character introspection. The writing is fine, but overall feels like just so much missed potential.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
2.75 stars
This book feels like the second in a series, or a spin-off series following a completed one, though the book isn’t marketed as such.* Characters refer to previous events that have some small impact on this book, but never follow it up. The events of this book hint at a greater world and a great evil, but this book isn’t where any of that happens. This book is, in my opinion, a lot of wheel spinning plot wise and some character moments, but ended up leaving me waiting for something to happen.
The book feels unbalanced, and the pacing is rushed when it comes to plot moments, and languid when it comes to character introspection. The writing is fine, but overall feels like just so much missed potential.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
June 22, 2025
The Hunter and Her Witch is a sapphic fantasy set in the misty forests of Washington State. I was drawn in by the promise of romance and magic, but this leaned much heavier on the supernatural and occult elements than I expected.
The world of witches, Wild Women, and ritual magic is detailed and immersive, but coming in without much background in witchcraft or the lingo, I found parts of the story hard to follow at first. The setting, with its lush and eerie Pacific Northwest forests, is a definite highlight, and the characters have strong, independent voices.
That said, the romance felt underdeveloped for my taste. I was hoping for more on page romance between the leads, but the focus stayed largely on the magical conflict and lore.
Who it’s for: Readers who love witchy fantasy, rich occult worldbuilding, and lush real-world settings will likely enjoy this.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
The world of witches, Wild Women, and ritual magic is detailed and immersive, but coming in without much background in witchcraft or the lingo, I found parts of the story hard to follow at first. The setting, with its lush and eerie Pacific Northwest forests, is a definite highlight, and the characters have strong, independent voices.
That said, the romance felt underdeveloped for my taste. I was hoping for more on page romance between the leads, but the focus stayed largely on the magical conflict and lore.
Who it’s for: Readers who love witchy fantasy, rich occult worldbuilding, and lush real-world settings will likely enjoy this.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 27, 2025
I love a good paranormal romance, but this wasn't it. This is the first book by this author and I'm not saying it will be last, but this one didn't entice me to read another.
This book was about forging your own path after surviving trauma which I could relate to, so that part was nice, but the relationship between Sarah and Oriana was unbelievable. It was the instant love that didn't seem real with no chemistry and no time to flesh out the relationship. I had a a very hard time getting into this book and had to force myself to finish it.
Unfortunately the story could have been much better, with seeing how Sarah coming to find her found family and etc, but no. This just wasn't a good book, but that may be just my opinion.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was about forging your own path after surviving trauma which I could relate to, so that part was nice, but the relationship between Sarah and Oriana was unbelievable. It was the instant love that didn't seem real with no chemistry and no time to flesh out the relationship. I had a a very hard time getting into this book and had to force myself to finish it.
Unfortunately the story could have been much better, with seeing how Sarah coming to find her found family and etc, but no. This just wasn't a good book, but that may be just my opinion.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy in return for a review
This is a sweet story of two people with trauma falling in love. Oriana is recovering from an abusive ex, while Sarah is recovering from an abusive family/growing up in a cult. Faline is a wild woman with a problem, namely she needs a witch to help her daughter; said witch wants a yoga studio to be built. Luckily Faline has just the people, a group of exhunters!
Only Oriana doesn't exactly want a bunch of people who hunted her people hanging on her property. So that limits who can help. Faline just doesn't mention that Sarah also happens to be Hunter.
None of this is going to come back to bite them at all. Especially as the connection between Sarah and Oriana grows. A lot of religious trauma in this one and a lot of rather unnecessary hate.
This is a sweet story of two people with trauma falling in love. Oriana is recovering from an abusive ex, while Sarah is recovering from an abusive family/growing up in a cult. Faline is a wild woman with a problem, namely she needs a witch to help her daughter; said witch wants a yoga studio to be built. Luckily Faline has just the people, a group of exhunters!
Only Oriana doesn't exactly want a bunch of people who hunted her people hanging on her property. So that limits who can help. Faline just doesn't mention that Sarah also happens to be Hunter.
None of this is going to come back to bite them at all. Especially as the connection between Sarah and Oriana grows. A lot of religious trauma in this one and a lot of rather unnecessary hate.
March 10, 2025
Personally, I enjoyed reading this book. The synopsis was really eye-catching and to be honest, the story is dark which is a contrast to the cover of the book. The romance felt a bit pushed in my opinion. I am a sucker for “mates” or “predestined” lovers but I felt like they didn’t have much individual character development to make the “getting together” part of the story feel as strong as it should’ve been. There was a lot of telling instead of showing, which is not something bad but it felt like I was being told a story instead of reading the story. I really enjoyed the fantasy aspect of this story which is something that I was excited to read about, especially with how one’s own individual powers can be healing but also hurtful.
I’d like to thank NetGalley for providing this earc to me and also Bold Strokes Books Inc.
I’d like to thank NetGalley for providing this earc to me and also Bold Strokes Books Inc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2025
From page one, The Hunter and Her Witch pulls you into Obsidian Falls like you’ve been living there all along. Sarah and Oriana’s story is a beautiful mix of emotional depth, slow-burn romance, and supernatural intrigue. Rachel Sullivan has a gift for balancing tender moments with high-stakes tension, and the chemistry between the leads is electric without ever feeling forced.
What really stood out for me was how authentic the characters felt, their struggles, their healing, and the way they navigate love after pain. Add in a vibrant setting and a dash of danger, and you’ve got a story that lingers long after the last page.
If you love sapphic romance with magic, heart, and a bit of heat, this one’s for you. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Rachel Sullivan.
What really stood out for me was how authentic the characters felt, their struggles, their healing, and the way they navigate love after pain. Add in a vibrant setting and a dash of danger, and you’ve got a story that lingers long after the last page.
If you love sapphic romance with magic, heart, and a bit of heat, this one’s for you. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Rachel Sullivan.
February 11, 2025
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Oriana is looking for a new start in life after leaving a relationship that wasn’t great. She moves somewhere new to become a yoga instructor and hiring a crew to help build a yoga studio. She meets Sarah who is a hunter she drawn to her even though Oriana doesn’t know at that time who Sarah is Oriana doesn’t trust hunters because of how they hunt. I enjoy the read I love the action parts of the story and both of main characters were great I just felt the romance was bit rush we didn’t really get see the build up and I wanted more of Sarah and her found family.
Oriana is looking for a new start in life after leaving a relationship that wasn’t great. She moves somewhere new to become a yoga instructor and hiring a crew to help build a yoga studio. She meets Sarah who is a hunter she drawn to her even though Oriana doesn’t know at that time who Sarah is Oriana doesn’t trust hunters because of how they hunt. I enjoy the read I love the action parts of the story and both of main characters were great I just felt the romance was bit rush we didn’t really get see the build up and I wanted more of Sarah and her found family.
April 6, 2025
I'm not quite sure what I expected going into this. I enjoy paranormal romance and I also enjoy lesbian books. I liked the development of the main characters and how the interactions were between them for the most part. The history with the Hunters and how that all works with witches and Wild Women was actually really interesting.
There were themes being explored with past relationships and childhood history affecting mental health that I thought was really good too.
For some reason this book just didn't do it for me. There were a few things in there that just didn't work and maybe someone else would enjoy. I don't want to give anything away spoiler wise so I will just say that.
There were themes being explored with past relationships and childhood history affecting mental health that I thought was really good too.
For some reason this book just didn't do it for me. There were a few things in there that just didn't work and maybe someone else would enjoy. I don't want to give anything away spoiler wise so I will just say that.
February 6, 2025
Dark, intriguing, and full of supernatural tension, this story pulled me in right away! Oriana’s journey as a new witch in the Washington wilderness was compelling, and the tension between witches and Hunters added great depth. The instalove romance might not be for everyone, but I enjoyed the chemistry and mystery surrounding the characters. There were missing backstory elements that made me want to read the previous books, but overall, this was an engaging first read from this author. I’ll definitely be checking out more!
February 17, 2025
The world of witches, huntresses, wild women and other magical beings is beautifully crafted in this story. A huge amount of detail is given about covens, rituals and goddess lore, all of which is interesting and entertaining. But, and it’s a big but, in the context of this also being a romance, there is so much information about the fantasy aspect that it kind of swamps the two leads. They both have compelling backstories and cool abilities so a bit more attention spent on them would have made the book more engaging.
April 13, 2025
thanks to netgalley for providing me an arc of this book!
this was a quick paced witch and hunter romantasy that doesn't waste a line of dialogue to get the story across. i appreciated the quickness, as it kept me interested. but i wished there was more character development, especially of Oriana. this book also tackles some really intriguing topics (mainly the patriarchal design of the hunters) but doesn't have the page length to really get into any of it, but that would've opened the book into something that it isn't in its current form.
this was a quick paced witch and hunter romantasy that doesn't waste a line of dialogue to get the story across. i appreciated the quickness, as it kept me interested. but i wished there was more character development, especially of Oriana. this book also tackles some really intriguing topics (mainly the patriarchal design of the hunters) but doesn't have the page length to really get into any of it, but that would've opened the book into something that it isn't in its current form.
February 10, 2025
I was excited for this book but it fell short for me. The story started well but the speed in which the main relationship moved was too quick in my opinion.
The author could have taken more time ti establish the main characters as individuals before the instant relationship.
It was a quick read so good for an afternoon of reading but not a book I will revisit.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review
The author could have taken more time ti establish the main characters as individuals before the instant relationship.
It was a quick read so good for an afternoon of reading but not a book I will revisit.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review
January 22, 2025
Me gustó, de verdad que sí. Tanto Ofelia como Sarah me parecieron personajes carismáticos con mucha historia de fondo, pero le falta trabajo de edición, ya que hay partes que parecen incompletas (aunque no lo sean) o se dejan escenas a medias, y en la siguiente ya se pasa a otro tema.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2025
give me 300 more pages now
May 21, 2025
I expected a bit more...
- I would like to thank Netgalley and Bold Strokes for the eARC -
STANDALONE
Oriana is a witch, and after leaving her abusive ex, her only goal is to build her yoga studio and have a normal, simple life. But when she's tasked with training a young witch in exchange of having her studio built, normal becomes unattainable. Because among the workers is Sarah, a hunter. Her enemy.
I saw hunter/witch romance but make it wlw and I jumped. This book was a very quick read, and for once, I wish it wasn't. Even if the story was overall interesting and the world intriguing, I felt like everything was rushed and underdevelopped, which was a bit disappointing for me. Of course, it's a personal opinion, but the plot evolved very quickly and everything happened in the span of a few days (hours?) which felt very fast for everything there was to unpack. Whether it was the romance or the intrigue in itself, I expected a bit more time for development of the characters and the setting. However, the intrigue in itself was intriguing and had a lot of potential, I think. Both women were interesting and I liked the hunter/witch vibe despite the lies and secrets it involved. All in all, it could have been an amazing read if it was a bit more developped.
I don't necessarily recommend, unless you don't mind very fast-paced and rushed stories!
“I’m broken. He broke me.”
“No. You’re hurting. Hurting is temporary. Broken isn’t.”
TW: violence, abuse, assault, sexual content, blood, sexism
- I would like to thank Netgalley and Bold Strokes for the eARC -
STANDALONE
Oriana is a witch, and after leaving her abusive ex, her only goal is to build her yoga studio and have a normal, simple life. But when she's tasked with training a young witch in exchange of having her studio built, normal becomes unattainable. Because among the workers is Sarah, a hunter. Her enemy.
I saw hunter/witch romance but make it wlw and I jumped. This book was a very quick read, and for once, I wish it wasn't. Even if the story was overall interesting and the world intriguing, I felt like everything was rushed and underdevelopped, which was a bit disappointing for me. Of course, it's a personal opinion, but the plot evolved very quickly and everything happened in the span of a few days (hours?) which felt very fast for everything there was to unpack. Whether it was the romance or the intrigue in itself, I expected a bit more time for development of the characters and the setting. However, the intrigue in itself was intriguing and had a lot of potential, I think. Both women were interesting and I liked the hunter/witch vibe despite the lies and secrets it involved. All in all, it could have been an amazing read if it was a bit more developped.
I don't necessarily recommend, unless you don't mind very fast-paced and rushed stories!
“I’m broken. He broke me.”
“No. You’re hurting. Hurting is temporary. Broken isn’t.”
TW: violence, abuse, assault, sexual content, blood, sexism
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