Witch Queen Rising

by Savannah Stephens

INTRODUCING YOUR NEXT FANTASY OBSESSION . . .

A Witch fated to rise.
A truce about to crumble.
One woman to stand between peace and ruin.

****

PHINE WAS BORN OF THE BAYOU . . . NOW THE TICK WITCH HAS COME HOME

For New Orleans witchkin, there is no greater honor than to become the Prime - chosen to rule. But the title is meant to pass between two rival Houses of magic, not to the wayward daughter of the former Prime who died under mysterious circumstances.

As a girl, Seraphine Barreau was dubbed the Tick Witch for her ability to feed on magic and make it her own. Even among those who alter fate and manipulate reality, she was a powerful outcast feared and misunderstood by her people. Now dragged back to continue the legacy that nearly destroyed her, Phine has her work cut out for her. She must earn the respect of her people, navigate the politics of the paranormal communities residing in her city, and heal a broken heart, all the while battling a parasitic curse poisoning witchkin. Between her werewolf ex, power-hungry vampires, and the skeletons in her family's closet, Phine must learn to make peace with her past to save her - and all of witchkin's - future.

Witch Queen Rising is the lush and haunting fantasy from Savannah Stephens, perfect for fans of Anne Rice and The Originals TV series.

Genres: Fantasy, Witches, Paranormal, Adult, Vampires, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy

Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 21, 2026

About the author

Savannah Stephens is a genre-blending fiction author, most notably writing dark and paranormal fantasy. She proudly creates the representation she did not have growing up. Her protagonists are warriors, queens, assassins, witches, monsters and more; and every one of them exemplifies #blackgirlmagic. She hopes to give readers not only fantastical worlds they can escape to, but also tools to survive the real world they inevitably come back to when the pages stop turning.

Savannah lives in Central New York with her cat familiar, Sir Beaumont of Fluffbottom, her plants, and an ever-expanding collection of hobbies she hopes to get to.

Reviews

[jenny reads a lot]

OMG DID YOU SEE THIS COVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whoa, this sounds 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Rec via Kamilah Cole

| TikTok | IG |

[Mai ༊*·˚]

My love for every black character in The Originals and the Vampire Diaries universe is making me so excited for this book.

New Orleans setting! Black witch heroine! Vampires! Werewolves!

I have never been more seated <3

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got to read this book early and I love it so much. You all need to read it!!!!

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

To begin, if I was not aware that this was a debut novel, I would never have guessed. Savannah writes like a seasoned author. The pacing of her story is consistent and flows incredibly well, while the plot is well flushed out. More details below, but there will be minor spoilers:

This story follows Seraphine, who despite having left her home a decade prior, is dragged back when she is chosen as the leader of the witches by their source of magic. This leads to political turmoil among her kind, budding relationships among other supernatural types, and of course family conflict.

The relationship between Phine and Jo starts out rocky, but given their past I understand their struggles. Phine had an incredibly cruel and challenging family life, and I felt so much sympathy for her as we slowly learn of her past. I am happy that both of these women were mature and have developed communication skills so their history and conflict was not drawn out simply for the sake of drama.

The other major characters in this story were phenomenal. Moira quickly became my favorite, closely followed by Alex. Each character had a distinct persona and it fit their role in this story, be it former lover, manipulative liar, or house leader. Though we only scratched the surface on some of these players I am eager to see how their place in this universe develops as the story progresses.

Given that we resolved one major plot point but another was acknowledged in the epilogue as needing to be done, I am going to be eagerly awaiting book 2 since I will definitely continue this series.

I am so happy to have had the opportunity to experience this rich world. POC authors are bringing new, fresh richness to fantasy.


Misc thoughts:
There were multiple items through this tory which brought me to tears and one which shook me with whole body sadness.

I felt such sympathy for Phine as she was thrust into this situation and was forced to make incredibly difficult decisions (all of which my own moral compass aligns with, especially regarding children).


Notable quotes:

"If I let my actions be dictated by how people treated me, I'd already be the monster they think I am."

"But she wasnt chosen. She was convenient." 💔

"Whats wrong with being a monster?"..... "is your concern that you will become a monster?"....."or that you will become monstrous?".

[Tanya T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stars: 4.5 Stars
Start Date:11/2/25
Ending Date:11/19/25
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Form: E-ARC
Page Count:464
Publishing Date:4/21/26
Point of View: 3rd
Setting: New Orleans ,LA
Content Warning: Violence, Death of Parent, Death of Children, Blood

My Blog: https://tanyasreading.wordpress.com/2...

StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews...

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a strong debut for an author that hits all the points if you love paranormal fantasy with Witches, Vampires, Shifters, and Fae set in the fabulous city of New Orleans. 

Witch Queen Rising is a story about Seraphine Barreau. A witch who belongs to one of the two witch houses that rules the witchkin of New Orleans, that left New Orleans more than a decade ago. She is confronted with her past with the loss of the family matriarch which takes her back to New Orleans.She has to deal with her new position in the witch order and everything that comes with it while dealing with the skeletons in her past.

From dealing with a sister, an old love, a mom that resents her, and a traumatic experience that happens which is the reason why she left a decade ago.

Becoming Prime and taking up the mantle that some people in her community including some family members, feel like she shouldn't have is the least of her problems. 

To deal with leaders from the Supernatural that either want to ally with her or use her to get what they want.

To keep the community that she wants to protect from outside forces that are trying to tear it down.

It's The Game of Thrones in New Orleans. 

 Seraphine is a strong FMC that you can get behind and honestly relate to her story. Everyone has felt in their life that they didn't belong or the lone wolf in the society they are in. She ran away from her past for a better life after a horrible loss but her past came smacking her in the face one eventual night. The way she has to handle going back to the city she left behind to unpack the trauma of the past. To have to deal with people who felt like she left them or felt like she doesn't belong in a world. People were afraid of her and her powers since hers are different from the rest of the witchkin. The way she has to navigate the Witcheskin World of New Orleans from outside threats while most of them don't want to accept her,makes you feel for her. 

A Couple Critiques

A couple parts of the books did drag a little towards the middle and end of the book. I found myself sometimes disengaging with the book and trying to get locked back in. This really happens towards the last 3rd which is why it took me a little longer than it should have.. It wasn't enough for me not to be invested in the book or to dnf it but I felt certain parts need to be shorter than other parts. 

Balance Out Characters Better- This book has a lot of potential good characters that are supportive to MC but the problem is a couple important characters kind of lost page time. Two in particular that I considered very important to the Phine journey, are nowhere to be found in the last 3rd of the book. Yes she is a wonderful character who kicks major ass but she needed her right hands with her towards the climax of the book.  There are also characters that are on that last 3rd that I should care about but due to the fact they were introduced so late that I really didn't have any emotional connection with them. 

One of them in particular was Phine's childhood best friend which she hadn't seen in quite some time. She was mentioned a couple times in the book but didn't appear until the majority of the book was almost over. She did have an important part but the fact she really didn't have any page time,I didn't form a connection with her. Unlike her sister Josie and the lead of the other house of witches Alex, which we do spend some time with as Phine get used with her new role as being Prime.

 I am hoping in the second book since it is supposed to be a dulogy that it would be more balanced. There are a lot of good potential characters here to help MC which I want to see more in the second one including the ones that helped her a lot. Essentially since the villain is probably going to start an all out war everyone so it's going to be all hands on deck. 

Also it is a potential romance that will probably take form in the next book since Phine does have two potential love interests in which one of them I'm rooting for hard but I'm not saying. ( Cough Look to the future not the past. Cough) 

This is for you if you like

Supernatural Beings-Witches, Vampires, Wolves and Fae

Mother and Daughter relationship and the complexity behind it. 

Sibling Dynamics 

Found Family

Political Intrigue  

Dealing with the trauma of your past.

Dealing with feeling like you don't belong.

A unique magic system.

All the characters are Black or Bipoc. 

Also if you liked The Blood Debt series by Terry Benton Walker but want an adult version set in New Orleans this is for you.

[Mai H.]

Halloween TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Ace

[Mystie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, first things first. Do read the trigger warnings, as some subjects discussed in this book might be difficult for readers.

Additionally, do not read this book without snacks! Get your favorites, something savoury, salty, sweet, whatever you like and a drink before you start. Trust me on that!

With those things said, let me start by saying @wordsiren (author Kamilah Cole) was, as usual, absolutely accurate about this book. She loved it, and now having read it, so do I!

I’m excited to write this review. I want others to find and read this book, and I cannot wait to explain why.

The story begins with our FMC, Phine. We meet her just as the life she ran away from catches up to her in the most electrifying way possible. She is a witch from New Orleans of great power. Power she did not want. Her life on the run is interrupted when she inherits even more power, and home comes to drag her back into the mix.

Imagine running away from home because of the fear associated with your power and then being pulled back home, with even more power running through your veins. DRAMA!!!!

When she gets there, she finds her people are in the kind of trouble no one knows how to fix.

Conflict, strong opposition, brewed with the fear the community still carries for her power, was a heady mix of intrigue and twisty plot.

My girl, Phine, had a lot to deal with. So many skeletons and so much pain. She did not always deal with the issues in the smartest way, but she for sure chose the most entertaining way for the reader. LOL!

This was a world filled to the brim with all possible types of creatures. There are witches, vampires, fae, shifters, and I suspect even more to be revealed over time. Discovering the personalities was pure joy. It was done cleverly as we simultaneously uncovered factions and relationships right alongside Phine.

There are also nosy ancestors, intriguing politics, spectacularly scary female characters, and a fledging found family. All of this plus Phine herself, a woman whose strength came from so much more than her magic, had me locked in and greedy for more page after page.

Another beautiful and riveting aspect of this book was the sheer variety of people represented within the story. Every single person can find someone they can identify with. You see yourself and you feel you could fit in here and feel seen. Something many of us will never take for granted.

On top of that, the author did an exceptional job with her descriptions. I could smell and taste this world, and every detail painted itself clearly in my mind.

One thing though, initially, the pace was a little slow, as the world was being built for the reader. But let me tell you, when things sped up, it was a flying roller coaster! Life kept pissing me off by interrupting.

This book gave me moments that had my brain shouting, SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK! The need to know what happened next surpassed all else, and when I got to that ending at 1am, well, I can confirm my brain was right.

My innards feel hungry for more and satiated at the same time. What a book!

In case it is not obvious, I think you should add this one to your TBR, particularly if you love a good paranormal mystery, with wicked family dynamics, and beings who want power at any cost. (But do not forget your snacks!)

Thank you, Gollancz, Berkley Publishing, Ace Publishing, Savanna Stephens, and NetGalley for the Arc in return for my honest review. It was my pleasure.

[Bronwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!!! Phine is a brilliant character who I instantly loved. The magic is fresh and original and nuanced, and the world building was fantastic. I’ve never been to New Orleans, but from the author’s beautiful descriptions, now I sort of feel I have. Can’t wait for book number two!

[rachel x]

"A reclusive witch who fled the burden of her bloodline rises to be the greatest among them in this lush and haunting fantasy debut."

stunned by this cover

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great debut. Really loved the book. Just hope book #2 is not far away.

[kiki’s delivery witch ౨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting big New Orleans bayou vibes, political witchy intrigue, and maybe some steamy werewolf ex drama. Y’know, something to fill that Originals sized hole left behind. And it delivers on a little of that, but honestly the first half felt like a never ending loop of: Phine zips over here to chat with some witches. Phine pops over there to meet with Sidhe. Phine swings back to High House to, you guessed it, talk to more people. Oh, and don't forget the Blight! Quick, grab the magic mirror for yet another conference call. I was waiting for her to start a group chat or something.

That said, I really appreciated Phine as a lead. Girl does NOT mope around feeling sorry for herself (well she does but she's out here threatening folks left and right when they get in her way), and I was like, yes queen, handle it. No whimpering protagonist here, thank goodness. And the reconciliation with her sister Josie? Finally! Bonding over their absolutely rubbish mom was the emotional payoff I needed, it hit right in the family drama feels without getting too sappy.

But why, why is there so much food talk? Every other page someone's describing gumbo or feelings tasting of beignets or some decadent dessert in mouthwatering detail, and I'm over here starving at midnight wondering if this book is secretly sponsored by a Cajun cookbook. Seriously, set the next one in a restaurant, it'd fit perfectly.

The side characters felt a bit... convenient? Like the necromancers are apparently super important later on, but they basically get name-dropped early and then poof, full introduction when the plot demands it. Show, don't tell, you know? And those Heads of Houses who are supposed to be her wise council? Phine never once sits them down for a proper brainstorm, she just summons them to bark orders. Felt like missed opportunity for some juicy debate scenes and some sort of witchy government.

Overall, solid world-building with that New Orleans flavor, and Phine's energy carried it for me, but the pacing dragged in spots and pretty much all relationships could've used more groundwork.

- Reluctant heir to the throne (witch prime edition)
- Estranged family reconciliation
- Ex is a werewolf (classic)
- Magical blight/curse threatening everyone
- Political intrigue among supernatural factions
- Food as description for everything (or just constant hunger inducer)

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just. Yes. READ THIS!

This checked ALL the boxes for me. Witches, fae, shifters, vampires. An atmospheric New Orleans setting. A STRONG female lead. Diversity abounds. And so does adversity.

Phine is one of the most memorable FMC I’ve read in a long time. She overcame so much, only to be tested throughout this whole dang book. However, she does it with strength, heart and makes plenty of mistakes. But she pulls herself back together ( literally) and continually pushes forward. She continually strives to do the right thing and be there for Witchkind. So many people face horrible injustices, and 3vil takes a heavy toll on multiple fronts. It was infuriating at times, the entitled, ignorant fools who Phine had to suffer. However, she also has the chance to mete out some pretty satisfying justice. So so satisfying.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the varied and layered characters that support our Witch Queen. Her sister, Alex, her many potential beaus (past and present) and the villainous foils all bring something different and multi faceted. No one is perfect but everyone feels real. And even possible. I am loving the group she is building around her, I was rooting for certain friendships to develop or rekindle.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t talk about the MAGIC, SO GOOD. There’s a variety of powers, talents rules and mystifying exceptions. I love how Phine experiences the world through taste, smell, most of her senses. It made me as the reader feel more immersed and engaged. It may be one of the other reasons I fell in love with Phine as a character. She feels so much and the world is truly magical through her eyes. Also I wish I could visit her on a day she is baking. This book made me so hungry.

But her powers are fascinating. The Tick Witch is truly unique, as are the powers of many of her subjects. Also. The way Magic moves through their world is sit interesting, and how they are all conn3cted. Phine is beyond powerful, yes, but also the weight of the responsibility is staggering. She is not invincible nor infallible, but she fights so hard.

OK THERES SO MUCH MORE TO THIS BOOK. BUT I DONT WANT TO SPOIL ANYTHING. I’ll just say this: Great magical house and dream library representation. That is all.

This book is sexy, scary and heartbreaking. I can’t believe it’s a debut! It bites off a lot but chews it on up. And it has so much heart. I love Phine and her cast of characters and cannot wait for the next installment!

(but also. Check triggers. This book has teeth and will leave jagged edges where it bites. Oof.)

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witch Queen Rising is a lush, dark fantasy that pulses with bayou magic, political intrigue, and the aching weight of legacy. Savannah Stephens conjures a world where power is inherited, feared, and fiercely contested—and where Seraphine Barreau, the so-called Tick Witch, must rise from exile to claim a crown that was never meant for her.

Set in a richly imagined New Orleans, the novel blends gothic tension with modern edge. Phine’s ability to feed on magic makes her both dangerous and misunderstood, and as she navigates werewolf exes, vampiric ambition, and a parasitic curse threatening her people, the story deepens into a meditation on identity, grief, and the cost of survival.

Stephens’s prose is evocative and sharp, with a rhythm that feels almost incantatory. The tropes—dark magic, sexy creatures of the night, body horror—are handled with flair, but it’s the emotional undercurrent that gives the novel its staying power.

Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and T. Kingfisher, this is a story that lingers like smoke and silk—elegant, eerie, and utterly absorbing.

Thank you to Savannah Stephens, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[⟢₊ Ana ⟣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

“𝗜𝗳 𝗜 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲, 𝗜’𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗜 𝗮𝗺.”

The book started off a bit slow for me, but once I got into it, I became much more invested and excited to see how everything unfolded.

The writing is strong, especially for a Debut novel & I really enjoyed the worldbuilding / magic system. The Southern gothic atmosphere was so immersive. I’ve never been to New Orleans, but this book definitely made me want to visit!!

Phine is a great FMC. She is strong, relatable, and easy to root for! I really enjoyed following her journey.

The story focuses on political power, magic, and personal transformation and is not a romance. However 🤭 there was a vibe between Phine and another character (no spoilers!), and if book two leans into that even a little, I’d be very excited to continue the series.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. Just be sure to check the trigger warnings before starting!!!

𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 ⁀➴
✨Magic and monsters
✨Witch FMC
✨Reluctant heroine
✨Horror fantasy
✨Southern gothic vibes

💌 Thank you, Ace Books, for the gifted physical ARC copy! All thoughts are my own.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witch Queen Rising is an emotional, powerful fantasy full of magic and politics. I won’t lie, it didn’t quite grab me at first and I put it down for about a month before trying again, and goodness am I glad I restarted it!

Phine is a lost, powerful witch who has been made Prime of the witches of New Orleans after the previous Pirme, her estranged mother, died. Phine’s story is full of sadness yet I felt her start to really come alive throughout the book. I loved how Savannah Stephen’s described New Orleans, it truly transported you into her world!

My only gripe with this book is that the pacing felt a bit off throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion for a copy of this ARC!

[Carolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy The Originals, you will definitely love this one. This is a great debut novel, with a compelling main character. I couldn’t help but root for Phine and her success. The characters were amazingly thought out and their relationships were remarkable, even when everything seemed to always be about to go wrong. I just wished we got to see more of The Troop involvement in the overall story, but maybe we’ll get that if there comes a second installment.

Check the trigger warnings before reading this one!

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was utterly hooked from the first chapter and felt for Phin and all the adventures/ challenges she faced from the first couple of pages.
The world building, character development, the main characters, the side characters, and the vivid images that Ms. Stephens created. If you are looking for an interesting read that doesn't feel like every book out currently, I would say to pick this one up for a remarkable fall read.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seraphine “Phine” Barreau, fled New Orleans and her powerful mother, the Prime witch. After her mother dies under mysterious circumstances she is forced back to New Orleans and into all the politics between the two ruling witch houses, the vampires, and the werewolves. I liked the way the supernatural world was created. It’s a bit different from other similar books set in NOLA. I cannot wait to read the next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an early copy of this book and I could not put it down! I was hooked from the first few pages. It is beautifully written. The imagery and detail make you feel like you are there down to Phin's fabulous outfits. It was an emotional roller coaster. I am so invested in Phin's journey and the characters in her world. I cannot wait to read it again!

[K.C. Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gripped me from the second I started reading. Savannah's writing is powerful, the imagery beautiful, the character's smart, sexy, and absolutely enthralling. Love, love, loved it!

[Kamilah Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

You ever just finish a book and go, "Wow" and "Oh my god" and also "WOW"?

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely my new favorite! One of the best books of the year! Love the main character!

[Ada]

***why?***
LOOK AT THAT COVER! To be honest at first I thought it was a new Martha Wells book because of the title style. Then I looked better and fell in love.

[Shafaah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not going to lie I judged this book by the cover and I'm so glad I did! I went into it expecting a typical romantasy with lots of over the top sex scenes and a Mary Sue FMC and instead I got a complex protagonist who pushed aside any kind of romance because she simply didn't have have time for it! Serphine was a breath of fresh air and one I've been searching for all year. I loved the worldbuilding and was so happy to see an entirely black cast of characters. Not a white face insight and it absolutely made the story much more enjoyable. It was so nice to read about poc characters that didn't have to deal with racism and instead I got to experience black joy at it's fullest. Well maybe joy isn't the right word, there was nothing happy about this book but I still enjoyed it! The magic system was interesting and I loved the huge cast of characters. Some more than others, I'm looking at you Remy.
I'll definitely be not so patiently waiting for the next book.