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Gutterwitch
Not yet published
Expected 2 Mar 27Gutterwitch follows Joan, a scullery maid and sworn-servant to a high-born mistress who wishes upon a fallen star to be the greatest witch in the land. Blessed with the wild magic of a star, years later Joan is summoned to a prestigious witching academy, where, alongside fellow outcast Prince Caspar of Fairie, she quickly finds herself at the centre of a dark plot and a new war among witches.
Hardcover
Expected publication March 2, 2027
About the author
Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson
6 books471 followersEsmie Jikiemi-Pearson is a Sunday Times Bestselling author, and the inaugural winner of the Future World's Prize. Her forthcoming novel, Gutterwitch, sold to Penguin Random House after an intense eight way auction. In the UK, the book sold to Bloomsbury after a nine way auction.
Esmie's first novel was nominated for Best British and Irish Book at the Tik Tok Book Awards.
Esmie's first novel was nominated for Best British and Irish Book at the Tik Tok Book Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Want to Read
April 14, 2025I’m hopping on this NOW
Want to Read
December 1, 2025GIVE IT TO ME NOWWW
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you want a lovely, well rounded read with compelling characters and intriguing worldbuilding, then I would highly suggest never reading this book. Ever. In fact, please never even entertain a notion of reading this book and get far far away as soon as possible.
First of all, this was the most predictable book I have ever read. Not only was each twist painfully obvious, but there was not a single surprising thing about the plot, the characters, or anything else. I could have told you the entire plot including all the "twists" from the time I read chapter five.
There was also just. . . a lot of vaguely creepy stuff going on in the background, which very much disturbed me. The author would throw out the most horrifying random custom or the fact that people ate human flesh or some really crude statement or mention of some adult thing, it was almost like she was just trying to shock the reader, or get a reaction or something. On top of that, she felt the need to repeat every piece of information a bunch of times, and then throw in a random scene or flashback about it, just in case you missed it the first time.
Beyond that, the main character was extremely unlikable, did not pick up on any of the terribly-unsubtle clues shoved in her face, and thus was utterly SHOCKED by the appallingly obvious twists when they were finally revealed at the end. What's more, she was actually pretty terrible, and made some really bad decisions and behaved very selfishly. Which could have been a great source of character growth.
But no.
Instead, every character (and herself), constantly validated her, told her that she was justified, that she was a good person and didn't deserve all of the TERRIBLE things that happened to her. She DESERVES to be happy. She deserves to have everyone fawn over her.
And oh but they do. She was one of those main characters who was vastly unintelligent, but who was constantly lifted up, because she was special, she was important. She was SO good at magic, and everything else she ever attempted, she was going to do GREAT things with her life.
Spoiler alert, she did not.
Don't even get me started on the side characters. They were each and every one of them made of cardboard. Wait no. They were made of cardstock. All of them to a fault had exactly one personality trait, exacerbated to the point of absurdity, with zero depth whatsoever. And the descriptions. My word. Every single guy character was absolutely the most handsome man in all of existence. The main character felt the need to point this out every five paragraphs. She also felt the need to bring up Silas's 'hazel eyes' every single time he appeared, sometimes multiple times a scene. HE HAS HAZEL EYES, WE GET IT, ALRIGHT?
I have not hated a character in a good long while with the passion that I hated Silas Scowl. (Yes, that really is his name). Ever since he sleazed into the book to EVER so kindly and generously offer to let the main character study magic under him, I knew he was horrid. It was obvious that he was horrid. Everyone could see that he was horrid and slimy and rotten. Everyone except our stalwart main character, that is, who ignored the fact that he was cruel and horrid to her, the fact that he manipulated and physically hurt her, and stayed insistent that he was actually a really great guy. He just had some problems, whatever, that was fine.
I think part of the reason the book bothered me so very much was that Joan was so passive. Every time something was suggested to her, she justified it in her own mind and then did it without even thinking of the consequences. She was pushed around and manipulated and used by everyone around her, and never once did she even realize it was happening, because she was just that thick I guess. She never stopped being entirely selfish and wholly focused on herself. And fine, write a villain origin story. I wrote a villain origin story. I've enjoyed them in the past. But let it be a villain origin story. Let your character be the villain, don't pretend like she's the good guy when she's clearly not. Let her face the consequences of her actions and don't act like she can do no wrong just because she's the main character. I think it actually might have been interesting if the author had let Joan have some real consequences for her actions, and if she either repented and resolved her character arc at the end, or else embraced her role as antagonist. Instead, she did neither, and ended the book still deluded into thinking she was completely in the right.
There is honestly a lot more I could complain about. The toxic feminist messaging, the weird love triangle, all the content I didn't even get to, the poor writing and sentences that didn't even make any semblance of sense. . . But I think I've gone on quite long enough, so I will just conclude by saying that I was extremely disappointed, and would unfortunately not recommend this book to anyone.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are thoroughly my own.
First of all, this was the most predictable book I have ever read. Not only was each twist painfully obvious, but there was not a single surprising thing about the plot, the characters, or anything else. I could have told you the entire plot including all the "twists" from the time I read chapter five.
There was also just. . . a lot of vaguely creepy stuff going on in the background, which very much disturbed me. The author would throw out the most horrifying random custom or the fact that people ate human flesh or some really crude statement or mention of some adult thing, it was almost like she was just trying to shock the reader, or get a reaction or something. On top of that, she felt the need to repeat every piece of information a bunch of times, and then throw in a random scene or flashback about it, just in case you missed it the first time.
Beyond that, the main character was extremely unlikable, did not pick up on any of the terribly-unsubtle clues shoved in her face, and thus was utterly SHOCKED by the appallingly obvious twists when they were finally revealed at the end. What's more, she was actually pretty terrible, and made some really bad decisions and behaved very selfishly. Which could have been a great source of character growth.
But no.
Instead, every character (and herself), constantly validated her, told her that she was justified, that she was a good person and didn't deserve all of the TERRIBLE things that happened to her. She DESERVES to be happy. She deserves to have everyone fawn over her.
And oh but they do. She was one of those main characters who was vastly unintelligent, but who was constantly lifted up, because she was special, she was important. She was SO good at magic, and everything else she ever attempted, she was going to do GREAT things with her life.
Spoiler alert, she did not.
Don't even get me started on the side characters. They were each and every one of them made of cardboard. Wait no. They were made of cardstock. All of them to a fault had exactly one personality trait, exacerbated to the point of absurdity, with zero depth whatsoever. And the descriptions. My word. Every single guy character was absolutely the most handsome man in all of existence. The main character felt the need to point this out every five paragraphs. She also felt the need to bring up Silas's 'hazel eyes' every single time he appeared, sometimes multiple times a scene. HE HAS HAZEL EYES, WE GET IT, ALRIGHT?
I have not hated a character in a good long while with the passion that I hated Silas Scowl. (Yes, that really is his name). Ever since he sleazed into the book to EVER so kindly and generously offer to let the main character study magic under him, I knew he was horrid. It was obvious that he was horrid. Everyone could see that he was horrid and slimy and rotten. Everyone except our stalwart main character, that is, who ignored the fact that he was cruel and horrid to her, the fact that he manipulated and physically hurt her, and stayed insistent that he was actually a really great guy. He just had some problems, whatever, that was fine.
I think part of the reason the book bothered me so very much was that Joan was so passive. Every time something was suggested to her, she justified it in her own mind and then did it without even thinking of the consequences. She was pushed around and manipulated and used by everyone around her, and never once did she even realize it was happening, because she was just that thick I guess. She never stopped being entirely selfish and wholly focused on herself. And fine, write a villain origin story. I wrote a villain origin story. I've enjoyed them in the past. But let it be a villain origin story. Let your character be the villain, don't pretend like she's the good guy when she's clearly not. Let her face the consequences of her actions and don't act like she can do no wrong just because she's the main character. I think it actually might have been interesting if the author had let Joan have some real consequences for her actions, and if she either repented and resolved her character arc at the end, or else embraced her role as antagonist. Instead, she did neither, and ended the book still deluded into thinking she was completely in the right.
There is honestly a lot more I could complain about. The toxic feminist messaging, the weird love triangle, all the content I didn't even get to, the poor writing and sentences that didn't even make any semblance of sense. . . But I think I've gone on quite long enough, so I will just conclude by saying that I was extremely disappointed, and would unfortunately not recommend this book to anyone.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are thoroughly my own.
Want to Read
August 22, 2025A maid who wishes upon a fallen star and becomes the greatest witch in the land? This is going to be MAGICAL, it's going to give Wicked x Disney core, I can't wait for this one. Wake me up when it's 2027.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 ⭐ A Deadly Education 🫱🏾🫲🏽 Legendborn 🫱🏾🫲🏽 Darkest Part of the Forest
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dear Reader,
The world of Gutterwitch is absolutely enchanting: literal stars with faces, adorable delivery mice and magical creatures from ocean folklore dripping with foam and pearls. A castle on a cliff by the sea. The atmospheric descriptions make me believe I experienced it all for myself and did not detract from the pace of the story. This was the part of the book I loved the most. Alongside this, there was a darker edge of themes to contrast addressing class, shame, betrayal. Is magic pure joy and delight or a result of pain in pursuit of power? Who should you trust beyond yourself esp. when it comes to questions as to who you are?
In many ways this book explores the mind, through mind magic but also the stories we ingest and create that shape how we view ourselves and the world. Although there were some lessons I wish Joan hadn’t needed to learn that made my heart ache for her, I was satisfied by her growth and the narratives she adopts as her own in the end. She is well-written in that she contains the contradiction of being hopeful, naive and trusting while scared and suspicious by her experiences and how she’s been wronged.
If you loved Wicked, I think this one will find its place with you following an Elphaba-like main character in Joan and a Galinda-like Belinda in the witch she’s grown up with and bound to with a similar balance of whimsy and dark truths.
This book does well in its foreshadowing and in all the included details, particularly the lore, so I advise a close read as I was well pleased by the craft-level recall employed.
A few of my favorite quotes to entice you (please note that these may be different from the published version):
“Some things are worth being scared for.”
“Not many people know this, but the stars are terrible gossips.”
“Light split the sky as I fell like a star toward the sea.”
This book would go best with a view of cliffs by the ocean or the sound of crashing waves or a clear night with bright stars. I hope you enjoy this read.
Yours ever,
Lady J
P.S. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC
The world of Gutterwitch is absolutely enchanting: literal stars with faces, adorable delivery mice and magical creatures from ocean folklore dripping with foam and pearls. A castle on a cliff by the sea. The atmospheric descriptions make me believe I experienced it all for myself and did not detract from the pace of the story. This was the part of the book I loved the most. Alongside this, there was a darker edge of themes to contrast addressing class, shame, betrayal. Is magic pure joy and delight or a result of pain in pursuit of power? Who should you trust beyond yourself esp. when it comes to questions as to who you are?
In many ways this book explores the mind, through mind magic but also the stories we ingest and create that shape how we view ourselves and the world. Although there were some lessons I wish Joan hadn’t needed to learn that made my heart ache for her, I was satisfied by her growth and the narratives she adopts as her own in the end. She is well-written in that she contains the contradiction of being hopeful, naive and trusting while scared and suspicious by her experiences and how she’s been wronged.
If you loved Wicked, I think this one will find its place with you following an Elphaba-like main character in Joan and a Galinda-like Belinda in the witch she’s grown up with and bound to with a similar balance of whimsy and dark truths.
This book does well in its foreshadowing and in all the included details, particularly the lore, so I advise a close read as I was well pleased by the craft-level recall employed.
A few of my favorite quotes to entice you (please note that these may be different from the published version):
“Some things are worth being scared for.”
“Not many people know this, but the stars are terrible gossips.”
“Light split the sky as I fell like a star toward the sea.”
This book would go best with a view of cliffs by the ocean or the sound of crashing waves or a clear night with bright stars. I hope you enjoy this read.
Yours ever,
Lady J
P.S. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the arc!
This book is SO STINKING GOOD!!! Joan is such an engaging and thrilling protagonist - she is relatable, has a strong sense of voice, and her whole life trajectory changed with her one wish. Her relationship with Belinda reminded me a lot of Wicked - a scorned girl below her station who wears black and is friends with a blonde beautiful girl who supplements her lack of wits with charm and connections.
And Caspar gives such Cruel Prince vibes! Of course his personality is nothing like Cardan but it was sweet to see a black-haired fae character once more.
I ADORE the writing in this book and I’m so impressed that the sheer amount of plot and twists are contained to just this installment! The pacing was excellent. I highly recommend reading this book!!
This book is SO STINKING GOOD!!! Joan is such an engaging and thrilling protagonist - she is relatable, has a strong sense of voice, and her whole life trajectory changed with her one wish. Her relationship with Belinda reminded me a lot of Wicked - a scorned girl below her station who wears black and is friends with a blonde beautiful girl who supplements her lack of wits with charm and connections.
And Caspar gives such Cruel Prince vibes! Of course his personality is nothing like Cardan but it was sweet to see a black-haired fae character once more.
I ADORE the writing in this book and I’m so impressed that the sheer amount of plot and twists are contained to just this installment! The pacing was excellent. I highly recommend reading this book!!
September 18, 2026
There’s something about a story that starts with a wish and immediately makes you question whether getting exactly what you want is actually a good thing. And GutterWitch really said, “Be careful what you wish for” and then proceeded to make that warning everyone’s problem.
I was completely hooked by the premise. It has this dark, almost storybook quality to it, where everything feels magical and beautiful on the surface, but there’s always something lurking underneath. The world felt whimsical, eerie, and just unsettling enough to keep me curious about what was going to happen next.
Joan was definitely the heart of the story for me. I loved watching her discover her powers and slowly understand that learning how to control them was also tied to learning how to understand herself. Her magic felt connected to her identity in a way that made her journey feel much more personal than simply discovering that she had powers.
That being said, I wanted more from her character development. Joan has been through A LOT, and while her trauma is clearly important to her story, I sometimes felt like the book introduced something emotionally heavy and then moved on before I had enough time to really sit with it. I would’ve loved a messier, more gradual healing process because I think it would’ve made her growth hit even harder.
The pacing was another little issue for me. There were sections where the story dragged, and I definitely felt that slow-down. And as for the big twist… yeah, I unfortunately clocked that one early. The “mastermind” was suspicious enough from the beginning that the reveal felt more like confirmation than an actual surprise.
Even with those little flaws, I really enjoyed this. The atmosphere alone carried me through some of the slower moments, and I loved how the story balanced magic with themes of identity, power, and self-discovery.
Not a out of this world read, but definitely one that left an impression. Dark, strange, atmospheric, and beautifully written in that slightly eerie fairytale way. I had a genuinely good time with this one.
I was completely hooked by the premise. It has this dark, almost storybook quality to it, where everything feels magical and beautiful on the surface, but there’s always something lurking underneath. The world felt whimsical, eerie, and just unsettling enough to keep me curious about what was going to happen next.
Joan was definitely the heart of the story for me. I loved watching her discover her powers and slowly understand that learning how to control them was also tied to learning how to understand herself. Her magic felt connected to her identity in a way that made her journey feel much more personal than simply discovering that she had powers.
That being said, I wanted more from her character development. Joan has been through A LOT, and while her trauma is clearly important to her story, I sometimes felt like the book introduced something emotionally heavy and then moved on before I had enough time to really sit with it. I would’ve loved a messier, more gradual healing process because I think it would’ve made her growth hit even harder.
The pacing was another little issue for me. There were sections where the story dragged, and I definitely felt that slow-down. And as for the big twist… yeah, I unfortunately clocked that one early. The “mastermind” was suspicious enough from the beginning that the reveal felt more like confirmation than an actual surprise.
Even with those little flaws, I really enjoyed this. The atmosphere alone carried me through some of the slower moments, and I loved how the story balanced magic with themes of identity, power, and self-discovery.
Not a out of this world read, but definitely one that left an impression. Dark, strange, atmospheric, and beautifully written in that slightly eerie fairytale way. I had a genuinely good time with this one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Okay, the premise ATE. It feels like a fairytale where the protagonist wishes upon a star (like, quite literally), except apparently the universe doesn’t believe in free gifts and everything comes with a price. Because OF COURSE it does.
And it reminds me a lot of Wicked. It gave me that same dark fairytale feeling that made Wicked so memorable to me, and weirdly enough, reading this felt nostalgic and comforting even when things got properly eerie.
The world-building was honestly captivating. It was dark, whimsical, and a little unsettling, exactly how I like my fantasy settings. The writing made it pretty easy to dive into the story, although sometimes the plot did drag in places. Still, it didn’t ruin the overall experience.
I also really loved that the heart of the story is Joan’s self-discovery. Learning what her powers are, understanding them, and figuring out how to control them becomes this much deeper journey of understanding herself. It felt surprisingly reflective, and I was HERE for it.
But Joan has been through A LOT, and sometimes I felt like her trauma was introduced with all this emotional weight only to be wrapped up a little too quickly. I wanted more time to actually see her healing process, or even better, give me a messier character development arc.
And the main twist… I’m sorry, but I CLOCKED IT. The supposed mastermind was suspicious as hell from the beginning, so when the reveal finally happened, I was basically sitting there like, “Mmhm. Yup. Thank you for confirming my suspicions.” It took away some of the fun of trying to figure out who was behind everything.
Overall, this was a dark and beautifully written fairytale with a captivating world and a moving self-discovery journey. A little draggy and predictable, but still a very enjoyable read!
════════════════════════
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!
And it reminds me a lot of Wicked. It gave me that same dark fairytale feeling that made Wicked so memorable to me, and weirdly enough, reading this felt nostalgic and comforting even when things got properly eerie.
The world-building was honestly captivating. It was dark, whimsical, and a little unsettling, exactly how I like my fantasy settings. The writing made it pretty easy to dive into the story, although sometimes the plot did drag in places. Still, it didn’t ruin the overall experience.
I also really loved that the heart of the story is Joan’s self-discovery. Learning what her powers are, understanding them, and figuring out how to control them becomes this much deeper journey of understanding herself. It felt surprisingly reflective, and I was HERE for it.
But Joan has been through A LOT, and sometimes I felt like her trauma was introduced with all this emotional weight only to be wrapped up a little too quickly. I wanted more time to actually see her healing process, or even better, give me a messier character development arc.
And the main twist… I’m sorry, but I CLOCKED IT. The supposed mastermind was suspicious as hell from the beginning, so when the reveal finally happened, I was basically sitting there like, “Mmhm. Yup. Thank you for confirming my suspicions.” It took away some of the fun of trying to figure out who was behind everything.
Overall, this was a dark and beautifully written fairytale with a captivating world and a moving self-discovery journey. A little draggy and predictable, but still a very enjoyable read!
════════════════════════
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!
September 2, 2026
First, thank you, NetGalley and Random House publishing, for letting me get an ARC of this book.
5/5— stars
A maid wishes to be the greatest witch in the world. I love the premise. It’s so good, and everything else is perfect. This feels so much like Wicked, so if you are a fan, you have to read this.
The setting is amazing. The love interest reminds me of Pietro, but it also feels like its own story. I dare to say it’s better. The descriptions make you feel like you are there. It’s so good, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
- Dark Academia
- Love triangle -ish ( I knew who is was the love interest right away, also ended up hating Silas)
- Politics
Favourite quote:
If you have to hide your true self in order to be loved, it’s not a love worth having.
5/5— stars
A maid wishes to be the greatest witch in the world. I love the premise. It’s so good, and everything else is perfect. This feels so much like Wicked, so if you are a fan, you have to read this.
The setting is amazing. The love interest reminds me of Pietro, but it also feels like its own story. I dare to say it’s better. The descriptions make you feel like you are there. It’s so good, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
- Dark Academia
- Love triangle -ish ( I knew who is was the love interest right away, also ended up hating Silas)
- Politics
Favourite quote:
If you have to hide your true self in order to be loved, it’s not a love worth having.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Gutterwitch is proof that a book can make me feel completely unhinged in the span of one sitting. Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson writes with this energy that makes everything feel a little dangerous and a little fun at the same time. I had to keep putting it down just to sit with what I'd read for a second. This is one of those books that reminds me why I love fantasy as a genre in the first place.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2026
3.76 stars
⭐️ ARC review ⭐️
What a great Wicked reimagining. Gutterwitch brought its own magic system, academic setting and characters with the familiar feel of Wicked.
I liked Joan’s character a lot and really enjoyed the initial dual love interest potential. At first I was really leaning towards Silas, but I’ve always been a sucked for a bad boy and a forbidden romance.
Some very interesting character arcs and a gripping plot. Definitely need to see where this story goes in book 2.
⭐️ ARC review ⭐️
What a great Wicked reimagining. Gutterwitch brought its own magic system, academic setting and characters with the familiar feel of Wicked.
I liked Joan’s character a lot and really enjoyed the initial dual love interest potential. At first I was really leaning towards Silas, but I’ve always been a sucked for a bad boy and a forbidden romance.
Some very interesting character arcs and a gripping plot. Definitely need to see where this story goes in book 2.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Classic YA is BACK and better than ever!!!!! This extraordinary series opener is the perfect blend of familiarity and originality; WICKED meets SHADOW & BONE meets the pure joy and genius that is Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson. Every single page crackles with magic and I have absolutely no doubt that GUTTERWITCH deserves to be the next YA phenomenon.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was a really solid, engaging young adult fantasy. I really enjoyed the plot, it was fast paced and enjoyable, with plenty of intrigue and mystery, and a really fun magic system and world! The falling star concept is endlessly interesting as a premise, and I particularly loved the scenes that engaged with this, although I do wish (lol) we got even more detail regarding the magic, the lore, how it all works and the world surrounding the academy. That being said, this is maybe not the aim of the book, as providing something heartfelt and easy to read.
I enjoyed the academic setting, the writing style was great, and I loved the atmosphere the book embodied, like a dark fairy-tale, cautionary and fantastical. There were a lot of particularly poignant, emotional scenes, although I wish these were given more room to breathe.
My favourite part was probably some of the characterisation, and the relationships in the book, especially the character work and the complicated feelings between Joan and Belinda- I loved the complexity here! I loved Joan, her journey reckoning with herself and learning to accept her power, although I do think that more could've been done here, with more time spent dealing with her trauma and, specifically, the ramifications of that trauma on her life and personality now. It could've been more gritty, and her arc could've been less predictable.
The 'villains' were horrifically unlikeable and two- dimensional, which I understand in the sense that there are just some terrible, no good, irredeemable people, and there is no point in getting any closer to them, but from a personal preference perspective, I do like antagonists to be more complex! Anyway, take this one with a grain of salt.
The biggest negative of the book for me was that almost everything that happened was painfully predictable, to the point where it became frustrating that the main character, or even the male main character who was perhaps in a better position to be objective, couldn't figure things out. I saw all of the plot twists coming from a mile away, and although I liked the ending, I found it much less satisfying than I'd hoped, and it was, again, predictable, and dare I say, a little overdone as a trope.
There were also just a couple of elements that I felt weren't handled or justified properly.
Overall, however, I had a great time with Gutterwitch, and if it sounds like your vibe, I would absolutely recommend giving it a go!
I enjoyed the academic setting, the writing style was great, and I loved the atmosphere the book embodied, like a dark fairy-tale, cautionary and fantastical. There were a lot of particularly poignant, emotional scenes, although I wish these were given more room to breathe.
My favourite part was probably some of the characterisation, and the relationships in the book, especially the character work and the complicated feelings between Joan and Belinda- I loved the complexity here! I loved Joan, her journey reckoning with herself and learning to accept her power, although I do think that more could've been done here, with more time spent dealing with her trauma and, specifically, the ramifications of that trauma on her life and personality now. It could've been more gritty, and her arc could've been less predictable.
The 'villains' were horrifically unlikeable and two- dimensional, which I understand in the sense that there are just some terrible, no good, irredeemable people, and there is no point in getting any closer to them, but from a personal preference perspective, I do like antagonists to be more complex! Anyway, take this one with a grain of salt.
The biggest negative of the book for me was that almost everything that happened was painfully predictable, to the point where it became frustrating that the main character, or even the male main character who was perhaps in a better position to be objective, couldn't figure things out. I saw all of the plot twists coming from a mile away, and although I liked the ending, I found it much less satisfying than I'd hoped, and it was, again, predictable, and dare I say, a little overdone as a trope.
There were also just a couple of elements that I felt weren't handled or justified properly.
Overall, however, I had a great time with Gutterwitch, and if it sounds like your vibe, I would absolutely recommend giving it a go!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DNF 44%.
Thank you to the author, Random House Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was super excited to read a new Dark Academia book but this book is way too slow paced for me. The magic type is unique and the school with its puzzles is amazing. I feel that a plot should have been forming at 44% but nothing is going on.
Thank you to the author, Random House Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was super excited to read a new Dark Academia book but this book is way too slow paced for me. The magic type is unique and the school with its puzzles is amazing. I feel that a plot should have been forming at 44% but nothing is going on.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dark and mystical and utterly romantic--this book feels like a centuries-old fairy tale that somehow also dissects so many current events and issues. The world is rich and the magic system is unique, and reading it feels like stepping into the Otherlands and experiencing it yourself.
Want to Read
December 5, 2025Making sure PRH knows I want to be on the mailing list for this masterpiece right now 🥰 📝
Like seriously? Right now!
*WINK WINK* “call me” 😘
Like seriously? Right now!
*WINK WINK* “call me” 😘
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
y’all are not ready for how good this book is.
calling it now, but it’s gonna be the next big thing.
joan is THAT GIRL.
calling it now, but it’s gonna be the next big thing.
joan is THAT GIRL.
Review of advance copy
Quickly becoming one of my top ten authors!
Want to Read
June 7, 2026give it to me nooooowwww!!!! <3
July 30, 2026
Loved this! Though now have to wait for part 2 of a series that hasn’t been published yet… sigh
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Now THIS is a modern day fairytale. Exquisite worldbuilding filled with whimsy is grounded in finding your place in a world that has always cast you aside. This is fantasy at it's very best.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
wow I loved this book fiercely!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had the pleasure of getting to read this early and haven’t stopped thinking about it since. From the very first page, I was totally immersed in Joan’s story: a scullery maid who wishes upon a fallen star, and faces the spectacular, wild and terrifying consequences.
The writing is absolutely mesmeric, the plot is addictive, twisty and perfectly paced, and the characters within it are complex and so full of heart. It is a delicious work of fantasy but also an exploration of what it means to come-of-age, to fall in love, to be a friend and to understand your own power.
GUTTERWITCH is the kind of book you lose yourself and your surroundings to. That sweeps you up into its dark and brilliant universe and doesn’t let you go. It was a genuine pleasure to read and Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson is a force to be reckoned with. I can’t wait to see the new life it takes on, out in the world.
The writing is absolutely mesmeric, the plot is addictive, twisty and perfectly paced, and the characters within it are complex and so full of heart. It is a delicious work of fantasy but also an exploration of what it means to come-of-age, to fall in love, to be a friend and to understand your own power.
GUTTERWITCH is the kind of book you lose yourself and your surroundings to. That sweeps you up into its dark and brilliant universe and doesn’t let you go. It was a genuine pleasure to read and Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson is a force to be reckoned with. I can’t wait to see the new life it takes on, out in the world.
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