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Everglade: Rise of the Witch
Everglade loves to hate witches. And as the daughter of the last witch, Wren Westerly is the most hated person in town. She can only imagine what would happen if the townspeople found out she could actually see magic … even if she has no idea how to use it.
But when magic leads Wren to an enchanted necklace and reveals her secret, it's not just Everglade chasing her. It's the Eater – a terrifying creature who is determined to drain all magic from the world, and who really, really wants that necklace.
Leaving Everglade with nothing but the necklace, two accidental travel companions, and directions from a goat, Wren finds herself in a new and infinitely more magical world. And she's the only one who can save it from the Eater. That is, if she can figure out magic.
No pressure.
Welcome to the world of Everglade, where the truth about witches is tangled with lies, and being yourself is the biggest risk of all.
But when magic leads Wren to an enchanted necklace and reveals her secret, it's not just Everglade chasing her. It's the Eater – a terrifying creature who is determined to drain all magic from the world, and who really, really wants that necklace.
Leaving Everglade with nothing but the necklace, two accidental travel companions, and directions from a goat, Wren finds herself in a new and infinitely more magical world. And she's the only one who can save it from the Eater. That is, if she can figure out magic.
No pressure.
Welcome to the world of Everglade, where the truth about witches is tangled with lies, and being yourself is the biggest risk of all.
- GenresFantasy
Kindle Edition
Published May 27, 2025
7 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 27, 2025
Everglade Rise of The Witch is a must read for everyone. Full of action, magic, adventure and loads of lovable characters this book will become an instant favourite. Black's use of vivid language, humour and excellent world building seamlessly transports the reader into the story. But by far my favourite part of this story is the banter and interaction between the main characters Wren, Blue and Wish. They make a great team. Grab your copy now and read it over and over again while you wait for Book Two.
October 10, 2025
Do you like a middle grade story about magic, witches and adventure?
As a big fan of the Woodwitch series, I was delighted to get an advanced reading copy of Everglade - Rise of the Witch by Kitty Black.
What is it about?
Everyone in Everglade loves to hate witches and this is particularly felt on Betrayal Day. It’s Wren Westerly’s least favourite day as she is the daughter of the last known witch in Everglade.
Living with this is already difficult enough but what will happen if the people of Everglade find out that Wren has started to see Magic herself? A school excursion brings new things to light and Wren has to make a life changing decision.
This is book one of what will be a trilogy and I am very excited to see where the story will take me!
As Wren tries to find her own place in life, I got enveloped by the events and loved meeting her friends.
And may I point out that Kitty Black has chosen a most excellent name for one of her characters: Sabine 💕☺️ I might be slightly prejudiced but this is also my official request for more pages with Sabine in the next instalment. Please! 🙏
And I love Wish’s bunny slippers! I might finally have to get some myself 🐰🐰
The inclusion of a map is always a big plus for me and if there is one criticism, it is that I would like more illustrations. In saying that, I should stress that I really appreciate that the book has some illustrations in the first place but I would love more of them. They are by Rebecca Crane and they are fabulous.
Kitty Black is from Perth, Australia and Everglade is her debut middle grade book.
Thank you so much @affirmpress and @kittyblackauthor for sending me an ARC! I had a fantastic time reading it and will certainly read the other books in the trilogy when they come out.
The book is a gift but opinions are all my own.
As a big fan of the Woodwitch series, I was delighted to get an advanced reading copy of Everglade - Rise of the Witch by Kitty Black.
What is it about?
Everyone in Everglade loves to hate witches and this is particularly felt on Betrayal Day. It’s Wren Westerly’s least favourite day as she is the daughter of the last known witch in Everglade.
Living with this is already difficult enough but what will happen if the people of Everglade find out that Wren has started to see Magic herself? A school excursion brings new things to light and Wren has to make a life changing decision.
This is book one of what will be a trilogy and I am very excited to see where the story will take me!
As Wren tries to find her own place in life, I got enveloped by the events and loved meeting her friends.
And may I point out that Kitty Black has chosen a most excellent name for one of her characters: Sabine 💕☺️ I might be slightly prejudiced but this is also my official request for more pages with Sabine in the next instalment. Please! 🙏
And I love Wish’s bunny slippers! I might finally have to get some myself 🐰🐰
The inclusion of a map is always a big plus for me and if there is one criticism, it is that I would like more illustrations. In saying that, I should stress that I really appreciate that the book has some illustrations in the first place but I would love more of them. They are by Rebecca Crane and they are fabulous.
Kitty Black is from Perth, Australia and Everglade is her debut middle grade book.
Thank you so much @affirmpress and @kittyblackauthor for sending me an ARC! I had a fantastic time reading it and will certainly read the other books in the trilogy when they come out.
The book is a gift but opinions are all my own.
August 27, 2025
“I don’t think I thanked you for giving me this highly important - and in no way a total disaster - task.”
It’s back to the fantasy genre, and I was laughing out loud from the first page of this one, finishing it pretty quickly thereafter.
The story is set in ‘Everglade’, where everyone fears witches. Unfortunately for our young protagonist, Wren, she is the daughter of a long dead witch & is despised around town. She has learnt to manage this loathing but what Wren hasn’t learnt is how to get rid of the magic she sees, and one day this magic leads her to an enchanted necklace which eventually unlocks Wren’s witch powers. But an evil creature, the Eater, wants this necklace, and will stop at nothing to get it & rid the world of all magic. Soon enough, Wren is on the run, heading to the magical land of Meadow Court & trying to find out all she can about this mysterious necklace, her own magical powers & how to defeat the tyrannical Eater. With some help from new found allies, will Wren be able to harness her magical power for good or will her inner self doubt allow the Eater to overcome her & destroy all magic forever?
I’ve got to admit, I loved the humorous tone of this one & thought it was bloody hilarious. It was a fantasy adventure, but it was also a comical story that was a barrel of laughs. Kitty has done an incredible job creating a lineup of quirky characters, whether it be the sarcasm of the Oracle, the literal minded observations of Wish, the bumblings of Mr Grey, King Ares & his Meadow Land newsletter, or the Eater and his annoyance of Parent Teacher Associations, they will all have you in stitches. The book also cleverly explores themes of self doubt, anxiety & belonging through the use of an inner voice Wren calls ‘Sludge’.
Well done Kitty on a fantastic middle grade debut. Can’t wait for book 2 now!
#LoveOzMG #middlegradereads #middlegradebooks #bookstagram #kidsbooks #mgreads #middlegrade #middlegradefiction #readmoremiddlegrade #middlegradebookstagram #mgbooks #mgbookstagram #mgbookshelf #middlegradebookreview #middlegradelit #teachersofinstagram
It’s back to the fantasy genre, and I was laughing out loud from the first page of this one, finishing it pretty quickly thereafter.
The story is set in ‘Everglade’, where everyone fears witches. Unfortunately for our young protagonist, Wren, she is the daughter of a long dead witch & is despised around town. She has learnt to manage this loathing but what Wren hasn’t learnt is how to get rid of the magic she sees, and one day this magic leads her to an enchanted necklace which eventually unlocks Wren’s witch powers. But an evil creature, the Eater, wants this necklace, and will stop at nothing to get it & rid the world of all magic. Soon enough, Wren is on the run, heading to the magical land of Meadow Court & trying to find out all she can about this mysterious necklace, her own magical powers & how to defeat the tyrannical Eater. With some help from new found allies, will Wren be able to harness her magical power for good or will her inner self doubt allow the Eater to overcome her & destroy all magic forever?
I’ve got to admit, I loved the humorous tone of this one & thought it was bloody hilarious. It was a fantasy adventure, but it was also a comical story that was a barrel of laughs. Kitty has done an incredible job creating a lineup of quirky characters, whether it be the sarcasm of the Oracle, the literal minded observations of Wish, the bumblings of Mr Grey, King Ares & his Meadow Land newsletter, or the Eater and his annoyance of Parent Teacher Associations, they will all have you in stitches. The book also cleverly explores themes of self doubt, anxiety & belonging through the use of an inner voice Wren calls ‘Sludge’.
Well done Kitty on a fantastic middle grade debut. Can’t wait for book 2 now!
#LoveOzMG #middlegradereads #middlegradebooks #bookstagram #kidsbooks #mgreads #middlegrade #middlegradefiction #readmoremiddlegrade #middlegradebookstagram #mgbooks #mgbookstagram #mgbookshelf #middlegradebookreview #middlegradelit #teachersofinstagram
May 31, 2025
Everglade: Rise Of The Witch by Kitty Black
☀️☀️☀️🌤️ (3.75 rounded up)
Huge thanks to Affirm Press for this ARC copy!
This was such a fun start to a series! It is full of magic, mischief and mayhem!
The setup was simple, but there's a maturity in the execution that I appreciated. There were several moments where the story could have been overexplained, but thankfully Black held back and let the readers do the work. This kind of reading experience is so important for children! I mostly enjoyed the silliness and humour, and the writing overall felt mature and ambitious for this age bracket.
Wren as a character was very easy to read, and very relatable. Blue is a firecracker and a fantastic friend - though I suspect there might be more at work there as the series goes on. Wish's backstory felt a bit vague, so I hope we learn more of that in future instalments. The baddies felt like a good mix of evil and funny, which is perfect for this age bracket (plus one of them is a very recognisable caricature from the current political landscape...)
My minor gripes are that the second act dragged a little when Wren was learning her magic, and throughout the entire book I was pointedly aware of each simile that was used - the technique felt too repetitive across the story to enjoy, it would have been nice to see it mixed up.
I had a great time reading this fast paced magical adventure. If you are seeking a book about the power of friendship, self-confidence, and education, this is one I'd recommend!
"'Y'know, I don't think your aunt likes me.'
'She doesn't,' Wren exhaled, and then looked sidewards at Blue. 'She thinks you can't be trusted.'
Blue brightened. 'It's nice to be understood.'"
☀️☀️☀️🌤️ (3.75 rounded up)
Huge thanks to Affirm Press for this ARC copy!
This was such a fun start to a series! It is full of magic, mischief and mayhem!
The setup was simple, but there's a maturity in the execution that I appreciated. There were several moments where the story could have been overexplained, but thankfully Black held back and let the readers do the work. This kind of reading experience is so important for children! I mostly enjoyed the silliness and humour, and the writing overall felt mature and ambitious for this age bracket.
Wren as a character was very easy to read, and very relatable. Blue is a firecracker and a fantastic friend - though I suspect there might be more at work there as the series goes on. Wish's backstory felt a bit vague, so I hope we learn more of that in future instalments. The baddies felt like a good mix of evil and funny, which is perfect for this age bracket (plus one of them is a very recognisable caricature from the current political landscape...)
My minor gripes are that the second act dragged a little when Wren was learning her magic, and throughout the entire book I was pointedly aware of each simile that was used - the technique felt too repetitive across the story to enjoy, it would have been nice to see it mixed up.
I had a great time reading this fast paced magical adventure. If you are seeking a book about the power of friendship, self-confidence, and education, this is one I'd recommend!
"'Y'know, I don't think your aunt likes me.'
'She doesn't,' Wren exhaled, and then looked sidewards at Blue. 'She thinks you can't be trusted.'
Blue brightened. 'It's nice to be understood.'"
April 7, 2025
The first book in an exciting new series for middle grade readers (8-12). In the town of Everglade witches are the enemy. As the daughter of the last witch, Wren Westerly knows that more than most. Every year on Betrayal Day Wren has to pretend to celebrate with everyone in town the day the last witch died. The day her mother died. And every Betrayal Day the magic tries to catch her attention, but Wren knows being a witch is bad. Witches are aligned with The Eater - after all, they betrayed the town to him. The Eater wants to devour minds and souls of everything human or monster. But when a magical shows Wren a glimpse of who she might become she has to leave the precarious safety of Everglade and its protective wall. The wall that keeps witches, creatures and the Eater out. But what if the wall hid a more magical world from the people of Everglade? And what if the real danger was inside it?
The Everglade series promised to be a magical adventure for kids who love mystery, magic and a little bit of mayhem! If your child likes Nevermoor, Land of Stories, or The Worst Witch this will check all the boxes. Wren is smart and resourceful, her friends provide plenty of comic relief to keep young readers entertained. The truth behind The Eater and the witches proves to be more complicated than it first appears and there is the promise of more plot twists in future books!
The Everglade series promised to be a magical adventure for kids who love mystery, magic and a little bit of mayhem! If your child likes Nevermoor, Land of Stories, or The Worst Witch this will check all the boxes. Wren is smart and resourceful, her friends provide plenty of comic relief to keep young readers entertained. The truth behind The Eater and the witches proves to be more complicated than it first appears and there is the promise of more plot twists in future books!
June 26, 2025
This is such a fun, magical story with a great main character. Wren is relatable and easy to connect with.
There’s a great mix of action, mystery, and funny moments (the goat especially made me laugh). It has that classic witchy fantasy feel, but with a fresh voice.
There’s a great mix of action, mystery, and funny moments (the goat especially made me laugh). It has that classic witchy fantasy feel, but with a fresh voice.
August 18, 2025
A fun magical middle grade read full of humour, magic, and mischief.
The first in a series of three books Everglade 1 is a delightful read with a relatable main character, great supporting cast, lots of banter between the characters Wren, Blue and Wish, and enough plot twists to promise more excitement in the next two books.
Themes of friendship and self confidence also makes this book highly recommended for your middle grade reader.
The first in a series of three books Everglade 1 is a delightful read with a relatable main character, great supporting cast, lots of banter between the characters Wren, Blue and Wish, and enough plot twists to promise more excitement in the next two books.
Themes of friendship and self confidence also makes this book highly recommended for your middle grade reader.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews