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The Evelyn Wight Archives #1
The Book Witch
A cursed book. An ancient coven. And a reluctant witch caught in the middle.
When thief-for-hire Evelyn steals a book drenched in dangerous dark magic, she realizes keeping it out of the wrong hands could be very bad for her health. Trouble is, a book this powerful attracts a lot of attention, so she races to get the book out of town before she gets noticed. But when the world’s oldest and most powerful coven becomes aware of its existence—and hers—she quickly finds herself long on problems and short on options.
With Valen—her client’s oversized head of security—by her side, she descends into the Dark City, a magically-sustained underworld beneath New Orleans where strange creatures roam, mad kings rule, and hell is very, very real. Faced with dangers beyond anything she’s ever seen before, Evelyn must survive and evade capture long enough to escape with the book before it’s too late.
When thief-for-hire Evelyn steals a book drenched in dangerous dark magic, she realizes keeping it out of the wrong hands could be very bad for her health. Trouble is, a book this powerful attracts a lot of attention, so she races to get the book out of town before she gets noticed. But when the world’s oldest and most powerful coven becomes aware of its existence—and hers—she quickly finds herself long on problems and short on options.
With Valen—her client’s oversized head of security—by her side, she descends into the Dark City, a magically-sustained underworld beneath New Orleans where strange creatures roam, mad kings rule, and hell is very, very real. Faced with dangers beyond anything she’s ever seen before, Evelyn must survive and evade capture long enough to escape with the book before it’s too late.
- GenresFantasy
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2025
48 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Lyra Grey
4 books4 followersLyra Grey is the author of The Evelyn Wight Archives, a contemporary fantasy series infused with Southern gothic charm, dark magic, and high-stakes adventure. A lifelong lover of folklore and the eerie beauty of the Deep South, she weaves rich settings, morally gray characters, and pulse-pounding twists into her stories. When she’s not writing, you can find her exploring haunted locales, indulging in a strong cup of chicory coffee, or losing herself in a stack of fantasy novels. The Book Witch is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 16, 2025
3.75
The Book Witch BY Lyra Grey is a plot-driven, strong female lead, urban & portal fantasy adventure.
Target Audience:
Anyone 14 up can read the book. It's neither “light” nor dark. The language & tone is easy, flowing & engaging. Neither very meandering not oversimplifying , quite perfect.
Themes and Messages:
There is a undercurrent theme of feminism sensed, as majority of main characters both protagonists & antagonists are women/ female. There is also an alluding to the treatment of women in Biblical analysis.
Plot and Storyline : 3.5
Since it is plot-driven, the plot begs some analysis. Evelyn is professional thief. She works mostly for a particular employer. This employer has her steal artifacts of magical value. At one point, she steals a book & decides that it will be too dangerous for society & the world if this book is used by her employer, & also, returning it to its original spot is also out of question. This part I fail to understand, as, as in all magical worlds, time is a intergenerational concept, & the huge harm that Evelyn anticipates has not taken place, yet. Should that not mean that the original owner of the book is capable enough of controlling & containing that evil?
I also felt very “bubble blown” by the end which was anticlimactic. It was not anticlimactic because of a cliffhanger or because it is the 1st of a series, but because of what happened in the end.
It felt like a very feel-good story about girl-power & a new magical world. But the end felt disappointing & discouraging to me.
Characters : 4
Evelyn is very likeable. In the beginning I thought that this might be a romance-mix, but it wasn't. Evelyn is simply a normal young woman who is sometimes horny. Perfectly acceptable. Evelyn's past is revealed in parts, & to a satisfactory level.
Secondary characters like Valen, Kirat, Granny Lucy & Evelyn's cats are real & relatable enough. The characters are mostly likeable. One of the characters met in the Dark City, The Second Mother, is intriguing & I really enjoyed the lore built up for her.
Setting and World-Building : 4.5
The world building is easy & fluid but a bit vague. It takes a lot of time for the reader to form a picture of what “Wolves” are, & even at the end, I am not sure I fully understand. At the same time, it is amply clear that they are a group which preys on young girls, like so many in human societies that we know of. Evelyn “sees” the magic, as other people “feel” it, but it's not visual for others. I think it's a beautiful thing, that magic shows up as “shine” for Evelyn. Even apart from the magical elements, the world-building is quite enthralling – author's description of Evelyn's reading room made me put the book down & revel in a daydream for half an hour!
The lore is building up. There are many hints & anecdotes from the past & small facts. I would have liked some direct introduction, though.
Originality: 3.5
The Dark City is written in a way that felt to me – at once – diligent & evasive. It is visibly derivative, & is honest about it. (Yes, I know ,everything is derivative.) This is both very intelligent writing, & simultaneously, it raised expectations for the original parts, as the author had already used a good dose of “support”.
I would definitely read the later parts.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Book Witch BY Lyra Grey is a plot-driven, strong female lead, urban & portal fantasy adventure.
Target Audience:
Anyone 14 up can read the book. It's neither “light” nor dark. The language & tone is easy, flowing & engaging. Neither very meandering not oversimplifying , quite perfect.
Themes and Messages:
There is a undercurrent theme of feminism sensed, as majority of main characters both protagonists & antagonists are women/ female. There is also an alluding to the treatment of women in Biblical analysis.
Plot and Storyline : 3.5
Since it is plot-driven, the plot begs some analysis. Evelyn is professional thief. She works mostly for a particular employer. This employer has her steal artifacts of magical value. At one point, she steals a book & decides that it will be too dangerous for society & the world if this book is used by her employer, & also, returning it to its original spot is also out of question. This part I fail to understand, as, as in all magical worlds, time is a intergenerational concept, & the huge harm that Evelyn anticipates has not taken place, yet. Should that not mean that the original owner of the book is capable enough of controlling & containing that evil?
I also felt very “bubble blown” by the end which was anticlimactic. It was not anticlimactic because of a cliffhanger or because it is the 1st of a series, but because of what happened in the end.
It felt like a very feel-good story about girl-power & a new magical world. But the end felt disappointing & discouraging to me.
Characters : 4
Evelyn is very likeable. In the beginning I thought that this might be a romance-mix, but it wasn't. Evelyn is simply a normal young woman who is sometimes horny. Perfectly acceptable. Evelyn's past is revealed in parts, & to a satisfactory level.
Secondary characters like Valen, Kirat, Granny Lucy & Evelyn's cats are real & relatable enough. The characters are mostly likeable. One of the characters met in the Dark City, The Second Mother, is intriguing & I really enjoyed the lore built up for her.
Setting and World-Building : 4.5
The world building is easy & fluid but a bit vague. It takes a lot of time for the reader to form a picture of what “Wolves” are, & even at the end, I am not sure I fully understand. At the same time, it is amply clear that they are a group which preys on young girls, like so many in human societies that we know of. Evelyn “sees” the magic, as other people “feel” it, but it's not visual for others. I think it's a beautiful thing, that magic shows up as “shine” for Evelyn. Even apart from the magical elements, the world-building is quite enthralling – author's description of Evelyn's reading room made me put the book down & revel in a daydream for half an hour!
The lore is building up. There are many hints & anecdotes from the past & small facts. I would have liked some direct introduction, though.
Originality: 3.5
The Dark City is written in a way that felt to me – at once – diligent & evasive. It is visibly derivative, & is honest about it. (Yes, I know ,everything is derivative.) This is both very intelligent writing, & simultaneously, it raised expectations for the original parts, as the author had already used a good dose of “support”.
I would definitely read the later parts.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 5, 2025
I initially picked up this book because the cover is so freaking beautiful and who doesn't love books about books and witches?! I'm glad I did because I really ended up enjoying the story. I admit it took me a bit to get into it because of the lack of explanation of certain witchy terms/items and their uses and I still don't really understand what the shine is or totally what sniffers are tbh.
But it really picked up when Evelyn enters the underground and I really loved Kirat, I hope she is a major character as the story progresses! The world building is really interesting and I hope the author continues to fill in the gaps as the story proceeds and we learn more about magic is this world.
Can't wait for the next book, will def be reading it!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
But it really picked up when Evelyn enters the underground and I really loved Kirat, I hope she is a major character as the story progresses! The world building is really interesting and I hope the author continues to fill in the gaps as the story proceeds and we learn more about magic is this world.
Can't wait for the next book, will def be reading it!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 30, 2025
During the day, Evelyn is a basic witch who lives life as a normal person, but at night she is a book thief for hire. She is tasked with recovering another book for her usual customer, but her normal merchandise is not what it appears. Now she must team up with an unusual group of misfits to find a way to keep everyone safe. This is a fantastic slow burn fantasy with twist and turns along its epic plot! The cast of characters is phenomenal and loved getting to know them all! This book was one I couldn’t put down once I picked it up! I just had to know what was going to happen next. Definitely a must read for slow burn romantasy lovers who love enthralling adventures, creatures of all kinds, and some witty comebacks! I’m so excited to see what the next book holds!
March 29, 2025
The Book Witch by Lyra Grey is an engaging and thrilling read that combines dark magic, intrigue, and a reluctant hero caught in a web of danger. Evelyn, a thief-for-hire, steals a cursed book filled with dangerous dark magic, and soon realizes that keeping it out of the wrong hands could cost her more than she ever expected.
Evelyn is a tenacious and compelling protagonist, and her journey is filled with excitement and mystery. The world-building is exceptional—Grey creates a fascinating universe filled with ancient covens, magic, and secrets. The depth of the world and the magical elements make the story immersive and enjoyable.
The characters are well-developed and add layers of richness to the plot, making them both relatable and intriguing. I loved following Evelyn's adventures and watching her grow throughout the story.
Overall, The Book Witch is a fantastic blend of magic, suspense, and strong character development. If you're a fan of magical worlds and complex characters, this is a book you'll definitely want to dive into.
Evelyn is a tenacious and compelling protagonist, and her journey is filled with excitement and mystery. The world-building is exceptional—Grey creates a fascinating universe filled with ancient covens, magic, and secrets. The depth of the world and the magical elements make the story immersive and enjoyable.
The characters are well-developed and add layers of richness to the plot, making them both relatable and intriguing. I loved following Evelyn's adventures and watching her grow throughout the story.
Overall, The Book Witch is a fantastic blend of magic, suspense, and strong character development. If you're a fan of magical worlds and complex characters, this is a book you'll definitely want to dive into.
July 26, 2025
What a wildly immersive read! The Book Witch by Lyra Grey casts a powerful spell from page one. Evelyn is a brilliantly complex heroine - fierce, flawed, and full of heart.
The scene where she falls to her knees to greet her cats? I could so relate, but don’t let the purring fool you. This story dives deep into the eerie and the epic.
From New Orleans rooftops to a labyrinthine Dark City filled with illusions, monsters, and myth, the dialogue crackles, especially between Evelyn, Valen (the gruff protector with a surprising soft side), and Kirat (badass Gatekeeper goals). The moment with Second Mother? Chilling, heartbreaking, beautifully written.
I loved the balance of gritty danger, ancient magic, and unexpected emotion. With curses, witches, blood-soaked realms, and shadowy politics, this isn’t your average urban fantasy. It’s richer. Darker. Bolder.
Highly recommended for fans of witchy lore, strong female leads, and dark magical adventures with heart. Park your broomstick. Read it in bed with your familiar!
The scene where she falls to her knees to greet her cats? I could so relate, but don’t let the purring fool you. This story dives deep into the eerie and the epic.
From New Orleans rooftops to a labyrinthine Dark City filled with illusions, monsters, and myth, the dialogue crackles, especially between Evelyn, Valen (the gruff protector with a surprising soft side), and Kirat (badass Gatekeeper goals). The moment with Second Mother? Chilling, heartbreaking, beautifully written.
I loved the balance of gritty danger, ancient magic, and unexpected emotion. With curses, witches, blood-soaked realms, and shadowy politics, this isn’t your average urban fantasy. It’s richer. Darker. Bolder.
Highly recommended for fans of witchy lore, strong female leads, and dark magical adventures with heart. Park your broomstick. Read it in bed with your familiar!
August 29, 2025
It isn’t often that I read a fantasy novel and enjoy it as much for the way that it is written and the skill of the author as I have with The Book Witch. This is what Lyra Grey has achieved with Book 1 of the Evelyn Wight Archives. In addition, it is a fast-paced story of a young woman living in New Orleans who steals magical books to order. This dangerous existence becomes more so when she is commissioned for a more difficult theft.
This book deserves to be read, and it is an endearing blend of dark magic, urban fantasy and romance. I loved the emotional responses of Evelyn and her human flaws; she sets out on a journey to prevent her latest theft from getting into the wrong hands. With the help of Valen, this is an adventure you will be captivated by, be desperate to know what happens next and become lost in a familiar, but strange new world.
This book deserves to be read, and it is an endearing blend of dark magic, urban fantasy and romance. I loved the emotional responses of Evelyn and her human flaws; she sets out on a journey to prevent her latest theft from getting into the wrong hands. With the help of Valen, this is an adventure you will be captivated by, be desperate to know what happens next and become lost in a familiar, but strange new world.
March 24, 2025
It has some of my favorite things: witches, wolves, vampires, and is set in New Orleans. I was very excited about reading this book. It was a good read and didn’t bore me to death but I felt like it was missing some action in some places. When you’re on the run from stealing a very important and powerful book, you expect to run into more trouble than not. It’s a very good story line I just wish it had more action! I will be continuing the series as it does end on somewhat of a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to see what the FMC does now!
September 18, 2025
4.5 stars
This book was a great beginning to The Evelyn Wight Archives. I found the characters intriguing, the mystical elements fascinating, and the world of The Dark City truly spellbinding.
The magical creatures in this world are very descriptive and compelling. How they interact with and around each other was fascinating.
I did not see the twist coming. I look forward to the next books, and hope it ties up nicely at the end. Valen definitely has some explaining to do. Book 2, here I come.
This book was a great beginning to The Evelyn Wight Archives. I found the characters intriguing, the mystical elements fascinating, and the world of The Dark City truly spellbinding.
The magical creatures in this world are very descriptive and compelling. How they interact with and around each other was fascinating.
I did not see the twist coming. I look forward to the next books, and hope it ties up nicely at the end. Valen definitely has some explaining to do. Book 2, here I come.
March 25, 2025
I got to read an advanced copy of this book, and I loved it! I read a lot of urban fantasy books and I get a little tired of it sometimes because the plots all start to run together after a while. Not this one! I really liked the New Orleans setting (I want to go there now!) and I thought the various side characters were fun and unique. I got scared a few times, too, which was unexpected. Overall I think this was a really good first book in the series, and I'm excited for the next one.
March 29, 2025
I loved reading The Book Witch. Evelyn is a tenacious and intriguing character, and I loved following her adventures. The world the story is set in was fascinating and well developed, and so much fun to learn about. The story was interesting with enough action to keep things moving, but not so much that it feels gratuitous, and I loved the darker tone. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 31, 2025
This was a strong start to the Evelyn Wight Archives series, it had that element that I was hoping for from a fantasy world that I was looking for. It was everything that I wanted from this type of book. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and thought they worked in this universe. Lyra Grey wrote this perfectly and am excited for more in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 29, 2025
this was different to what I expected it to be. for some reason, I thought it would be darker? I still liked it though and the section with the Alice in wonderland references was really cool!
Think I want to read it again sometime, and maybe I'll enjoy it more, just wasn't in the right headspace for this book when I read it.
Think I want to read it again sometime, and maybe I'll enjoy it more, just wasn't in the right headspace for this book when I read it.
April 7, 2025
When I read "...thief-for-hire Evelyn...", I knew whatever took place between the cover of this book would be nothing short of amazing. Dark magic, old covens, and a story full of suspense and adventure is just what I needed!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 3, 2025
This was an enjoyable story and I had fun reading it. I hope the series continues as the ending was left a bit open.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 23, 2025
A journey into ...
Imaginative beyond Alice in Wonderland. Heavy with scenery and description. A necessary glitch given the multitude of twists and turns in an imaginary place.
I gave it 3 stars because of the added vulgar language and the several final edit oversights.
Imaginative beyond Alice in Wonderland. Heavy with scenery and description. A necessary glitch given the multitude of twists and turns in an imaginary place.
I gave it 3 stars because of the added vulgar language and the several final edit oversights.
September 10, 2025
Deze ging heel snel! Originele (voor mij) verhaallijn, grappig, beetje doorzichtige niet te vertrouwen romantic interest en nog genoeg te vertellen. Dit boek voelde als het eerste hoofdstuk van een groter verhaal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2025
Loved it! Once it comes out I'm going to recommend it to my sisters book club. Defiantly a fun read!
April 5, 2025
I devoured this book from beginning to end. It is written in a fun way and therefore keeps your attention. Characters were fun and had depth
September 13, 2025
I’m reading the whole series!
What a fun book I love stories of witches especially during this time of year October is my favourite month! Really good Read recommended it.
What a fun book I love stories of witches especially during this time of year October is my favourite month! Really good Read recommended it.
December 5, 2025
Unexpected
This book was very interesting and not what I was expecting from the title...it is well written and even though I wasn't really a fan of the ending I am very intrigued to keep reading this series
This book was very interesting and not what I was expecting from the title...it is well written and even though I wasn't really a fan of the ending I am very intrigued to keep reading this series
November 29, 2025
mind blowing plot twist at the end of the book that was not expecting. looing forward to next book in the series.
June 19, 2025
I quite love witch-themed books, so I was excited to give this a try after reading the blurb. The plot lives up to my expectations for sure, as it’s unique and creative whilst also using recognisable elements of witchcraft and magic. Overall, the plot is quite enjoyable to follow along.
The characters are somewhat hit or miss. Introductions to characters usually feel quite awkward and unnatural, giving a similar feeling as when authors introduce their characters by telling you their height and weight. I find it difficult to guess the ages of the characters as they sometimes feel like teenagers and sometimes feel like grown adults. I also feel that too many unnecessary characters are introduced, which makes it somewhat difficult to remember names.
As a result of characterisation issues, the dialogue sometimes feels forced. It can be unnatural at points, but it is thankfully very easy to read and doesn’t get confusing.
Unfortunately, I feel that the writing style doesn’t flow very well, and feels awkward at points. Like the dialogue, some sentences feel forced, but thankfully easy to understand and read. It’s clear the author enjoyed writing ‘The Book Witch’, though, which comes through in their work.
I also do very much like the cover of the book. It’s aesthetically pleasing and sets the tone of the book quite well. There are also many references to existing media which are nice to see though can feel somewhat overdone at times.
Overall, this wasn’t a negative experience at all, and I quite liked the story. I’d recommend it to those who want a relatively short read and who enjoy magic-themed fantasy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The characters are somewhat hit or miss. Introductions to characters usually feel quite awkward and unnatural, giving a similar feeling as when authors introduce their characters by telling you their height and weight. I find it difficult to guess the ages of the characters as they sometimes feel like teenagers and sometimes feel like grown adults. I also feel that too many unnecessary characters are introduced, which makes it somewhat difficult to remember names.
As a result of characterisation issues, the dialogue sometimes feels forced. It can be unnatural at points, but it is thankfully very easy to read and doesn’t get confusing.
Unfortunately, I feel that the writing style doesn’t flow very well, and feels awkward at points. Like the dialogue, some sentences feel forced, but thankfully easy to understand and read. It’s clear the author enjoyed writing ‘The Book Witch’, though, which comes through in their work.
I also do very much like the cover of the book. It’s aesthetically pleasing and sets the tone of the book quite well. There are also many references to existing media which are nice to see though can feel somewhat overdone at times.
Overall, this wasn’t a negative experience at all, and I quite liked the story. I’d recommend it to those who want a relatively short read and who enjoy magic-themed fantasy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews